I could have sworn I’ve posted pictures of the old Wabash Depot which sits over the train tracks that MetroLink uses. Do you have any memories of using this station when it was open? It’s been closed for decades.
A Blog detailing the beauty of St. Louis architecture and the buildup of residue-or character-that accumulates over the course of time.
Wasn’t there talk of rehabbing it few years ago? Do I misremember Joe Edwards being involved with it?
Back in the late ’50s-early ’60s, my sister was dating a Notre Dame student and the Wabash ran to Chicago and then hooked up with an interurban that ran directly to South Bend. I recall many visits with her to that station and picking her up. I don’t recall much about the interior, save that it was pretty elaborate, at least compared to our MoPac station here in Kirkwood.
While obvious, one descended stairs (elevator in ‘my day’) to get to the tracks.
A-HA – from 2016: https://nextstl.com/2016/05/new-owner-historic-wabash-station-loop-wustl/
Yes, there was talk of opening a restaurant or some sort of event space. I don’t know what happened to that plan.
What a ridiculous missed opportunity to use this AS THE METRO STATION when Metro opened. Another example of why Metro has been the failure it is IMHO.
I agree that utilizing the station as part of the Metro platform would have made sense, welcoming residents and visitors in grand style to one of St. Louis’s most important entertainment districts. Combined with the trolley platform, it would have just made sense.
My father was an employee of the Wabash Railroad. We used to ride train that left about midnight to chicago. I was very young about 7 years old and I can still feel the thrill and see the train head light coming through the tunnel under Delmar Station. It was a magnificent and unforgettable sight
I miswrote “elevator,” when it should have been “escalator.”
My sister cleaned this building at night in mid to late 80’s..i was only 10ish.i remember being there on a new years eve when she brought me along to clean it one time.i believe it was a lighting showroom at the time..the two things that stick in my mind was it was the first time i ever saw a bidet, and in the basement the glass doors that opened to the tracks were chained closed and you could see bums walking by..beautiful building still.