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No Comments [ Add Comment ]Boost Union Station's future
Incredibl
e as it seems, Ogden is keeping "The Train of Tomorrow" under wraps.
As reported by the Standard's Charles F. Trentelman, The Moon Glow, "the gem of the Union Station train collection," is nowhere to be seen at the city's Union Station. It is sitting at Business Depot Ogden, shrink-wrapped in plastic. Whether it will be restored depends on Union Station finding the funding.
The Moon Glow was built by General Motors in 1947 as an observation and lounge car. As Trentelman reported, "The Train of Tomorrow" failed due to the emerging popularity of air travel and the family passenger car. Most of the train -- including the Moon Glow -- ended up in wrecking yards. But the Moon Glow was saved by Union Station railroad aficionados, who discovered it in 1985 in an Idaho junkyard.
There are a lot of old trains in Ogden. A few are at Union Station. Most sit on a siding at BDO, exposed to the elements. Most will never be restored and will likely one day be sold for scrap metal.
There's no doubt that Ogden is aggressively pursuing a future that includes tourists, sports enthusiasts and new businesses. Mayor Matthew Godfrey and his administration deserve a lot of credit. We hope that future plans for Ogden's growth involve Union Station. It has the potential to be an even bigger draw for tourists and Top of Utahns.
We can think of a lot of ideas for Junction City to use Union Station and the railroad:
* Why not provide attractive train rides from Ogden to, say, Deweyville, or the Golden Spike National Historic Site at Promontory? Perhaps taking the train might be an option for easier access to the bird refuge in Box Elder County.
* Brigham City wants commuter train travel to Box Elder County. Why not link Brigham City and Ogden with train travel? We used to have that. It would make sense to bring back these routes, which would be enjoyable, short rides.
* How about a commuter rail link to Thiokol's rocket division? It might provide a more convenient rail transport of Thiokol's motors and employees. In fact, if given the opportunity, Top of Utah manufacturers might prefer to link to a new rail system, thereby reducing the amount of heavy trucks on Interstate-15. That would make travel safer, and trim maintenance costs.
Ogden has a lot to offer, but we shouldn't neglect our railroad's appeal. The rails remain an attractive and profitable venture for Ogden. The first step is helping Union Station to reach its full potential.
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