The Plaza, Las Vegas

[GG-1]

On the same subject, I wonder if the hotel was built with the station that Amtrak used from the start, with the intention that UP use it, and then it was empty until the Desert Wind started, or whether the station facility was developed for Amtrak.

Aloha

I traveled to Vegas twice on the DW both times the exit from the station was alongside the casino, with the Platform on the rail side of the building. I think on both these visits the name was Union Plaza. The name had changed to Main Street station on a later visit and most of the place seemed the same.

There are some pictures in my gallery on Vegas.

 

[the_traveler]

Aloha
I traveled to Vegas twice on the DW both times the exit from the station was alongside the casino, with the Platform on the rail side of the building. I think on both these visits the name was Union Plaza. The name had changed to Main Street station on a later visit and most of the place seemed the same.

I hate to correct you Eric - but I will! :lol:

Main Street Station is another casino down the street about 1/4 mile. However, the trains (either UP or Amtrak) ALWAYS stopped at the (Union) Plaza!

 

[railiner]

Considering the time it takes to plan and build a hotel this big, I'm sure it was started several years before Amtrak was formed. The railroads were in bad financial shape, and selling off stations in prime locations (see Penn Station, NY) was one way of raising money.
The plan probably was to operate a station in the casino, but after Amtrak was formed and the CoLA cancelled, I don't think there was actually rail service until the Desert Wind was started in 1979.

Considering the time it takes to plan and build a hotel this big, I'm sure it was started several years before Amtrak was formed. The railroads were in bad financial shape, and selling off stations in prime locations (see Penn Station, NY) was one way of raising money.
The plan probably was to operate a station in the casino, but after Amtrak was formed and the CoLA cancelled, I don't think there was actually rail service until the Desert Wind was started in 1979.

Agree with that, that the station had to have been demolished before the CoLA stopped service, and there was no passenger rail service from May 2, 1971 until 1979. On the same subject, I wonder if the hotel was built with the station that Amtrak used from the start, with the intention that UP use it, and then it was empty until the Desert Wind started, or whether the station facility was developed for Amtrak.

That is what I have said in my posts....

 

[GG-1]

Aloha
I traveled to Vegas twice on the DW both times the exit from the station was alongside the casino, with the Platform on the rail side of the building. I think on both these visits the name was Union Plaza. The name had changed to Main Street station on a later visit and most of the place seemed the same.

I hate to correct you Eric - but I will! :lol:

Main Street Station is another casino down the street about 1/4 mile. However, the trains (either UP or Amtrak) ALWAYS stopped at the (Union) Plaza!

Aloha

It is good you corrected me. but the distance may not be a 1/4 mile. The Main Street Hotel is next door to the Plaza. Parking lot are big in Vegas but a 1/4 mile for that one is a bit much. I now have to check the pictures I took of the station from my room when I was last there. The Station may be still Visible and/or there.

 

[alanh]

Here's a link showing old aerial photos of the area: http://www.historicaerials.com/?poi=10740

In the 1973 and later photos, the low wing at the northern tip of the hotel is the train station, so it does look like it was built as part of the hotel initially.

Trainweb has some photos from 2001 of the old station at ground level.

 

[zephyr17]

Here's a link showing old aerial photos of the area: http://www.historicaerials.com/?poi=10740
In the 1973 and later photos, the low wing at the northern tip of the hotel is the train station, so it does look like it was built as part of the hotel initially.

Trainweb has some photos from 2001 of the old station at ground level.

Good to know. I went through there a number of times on the Desert Wind, and the station always had the blocky, stripped down feel of late 1970s Amtrak built stations, so I always assumed it was put in by them under some kind of contract with the Union Plaza.