A look back in time at Union Depot’s treasured past.

CHOO CHOO! ALL ABOARD FOR TRAIN DAYS!

COVID-19 Protocols: We are following the guidance of state and federal health officials to protect all guests, vendors and staff. Here are the health and safety measures that will be in place during this event:

• Based on current guidelines within Ramsey County buildings, face masks will be required for all guests, vendors and staff while indoors. They are not required on the train platform.
• Hand sanitizer stations will be provided throughout the event.
• Janitorial staff will complete routine sanitizing of all high-touch areas.
• If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, please stay home. Temperature checks or proof of vaccine will not be required for event entry.

TRAIN DAYS FAMILY ACTIVITIES
– Kid activity area from 10 AM – 1 PM Saturday and Sunday
– DJ and contests for families 10 AM – 12 PM Saturday and Sunday
– Take home craft kits and coloring kits
– Model trains
– Train equipment tours

AVAILABLE CONCESSIONS
– Station 81

TRAIN EQUIPMENT OPEN FOR TOURS AND VIEWING

FRIENDS OF THE 261 Milwaukee Road E9A No. 32A

Milwaukee Road E9A No. 32A was built in 1955 by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors. It was one of 12 E9A units and six B units built to Union Pacific specifica­tions for use on Union Pacific’s “City” streamliners when they switched from the Chicago & North Western to the Milwaukee Road between Chicago and Omaha in 1955. They were also used on other Milwaukee Road trains including several which served Union Depot, such as the Olympian Hiawatha between Chicago, the Twin Cities and Seat­tle/Tacoma, and the Twin Cities Hiawathas and overnight Pioneer Limited between Chicago and the Twin Cities. No. 32A is one of only four Milwaukee Road E9s known to survive.

The locomotive was acquired by the Twin Cities based non-profit Friends of the 261 in 2019 and is painted orange and maroon to fit with the majority of the Friends rail passenger car fleet. Since Milwaukee Road E9s were only painted Union Pacific yellow colors, the group decided to adopt a “blended” scheme that harkens back to original Milwaukee Road diesel schemes. It is a combination of the Milwaukee Road’s 1947 E7 locomotive scheme with orange substituted for gray, and the 1950s E7 scheme which featured orange and maroon. The design features the large nose “wing” logo used on the E7s when they were delivered to pull the Hiawatha streamliners. Union Depot Train Days is the first public display of No. 32A wearing its new colors.

FRIENDS OF THE 261
Milwaukee Road Skytop Lounge Observation Car Cedar Rapids
Built: 1948, Milwaukee Road Shops
Historic significance: Used on Milwaukee Road passenger trains that served Union Depot, the only operational car of its type

Milwaukee Road Skytop parlor lounge observation car Cedar Rapids was built by the Milwaukee Road at its Milwaukee Shops in 1948. The lounge area at the rear of the car is unique since it is 90 percent glass, with multiple rows of windows reaching up to form the ceiling. This solarium contains 12 seats, with an additional 24 seats in the interior of the car. The interior also features wood paneling, characteristic of Milwaukee Road designs.

Designed by famed industrial designer Brooks Stevens, the Cedar Rapids is one of four parlor observations cars that entered service in 1948 on the Twin Cities Hiawathas between Chicago and the Twin Cities. Stevens also designed six sleeper Skytop observations for the Chicago-Seattle/Tacoma Olympian Hiawatha. Three of the parlor observations survive, but the Cedar Rapids is the only car that is operable.

The Skytop is a favorite of the passengers on Friends of the 261 steam excursions, and also makes several charter moves on Amtrak each year.

FRIENDS OF THE 261
Milwaukee Road Super Dome No. 53
Built: 1952, Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company
Historic significance: Used on Milwaukee Road passenger trains that served Union Depot

Super Dome No. 53 was one of ten built by Pullman-Standard in 1952 for the Milwaukee Road and is one of the heaviest dome cars ever built at 224,000 pounds. They were so heavy because of the massive air conditioning system required to cool the full dome. Numbered 50-59, the Milwaukee Road began taking delivery of the Super Domes in late 1952. The name was chosen via an employee naming contest. No. 53 was used on the Chicago-Twin Cities-Seattle/Tacoma Olympian Hiawatha and the Chicago-Twin Cities Morning and Afternoon Hiawathas, which made regular stops at the St. Paul Union Depot. The Friends of the 261 acquired the car in 2005 and uses it for excursions behind Milwaukee Road steam locomotive No. 261 and charter trips behind Amtrak trains. It includes a downstairs kitchen, and a bar and lounge area under the  dome.

FRIENDS OF THE 261
Milwaukee Road Lounge Car Fox River Valley
Built: 1952 by the Budd Company for Pennsylvania Railroad
Historic significance: Example of the parlor and lounge cars once common on North American passenger trains

The Budd Company built this car in 1952 for the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Congressional and Senator service between New York and Washington, D.C. It served as a parlor car and carried the number 7139 and was named Henry Hudson. It originally had 29 parlor seats and one drawing room; an airline type galley was later installed. It went to Penn Central in 1968 when Pennsylvania and New York Central merged, and was acquired by Amtrak in 1971. In 1973 Amtrak converted it converted to a galley-lounge car. In December 1983 Amtrak converted the Henry Hudson to head end electrical power as cafeteria car No. 8703.

Amtrak sold the car in 1995. It ran in charter service through operator Mid-America Railcar, wearing the names Henry Hudson and Keystone Grill. Paxrail acquired the car in October 2013 and renamed it Warriors Rest. The Friends of the 261 acquired the car in 2018.

The Friends of the 261 renamed the car Fox River Valley and extensively remodeled it. Work included mahogany wood in the entire car, new rest rooms, repairing HVAC systems, custom carpeting, LED lighting upgrades, and cutting in five new windows. It is used on steam locomotive excursions and charter moves on Amtrak trains.

TWIN CITIES AND WESTERN
Twin Cities and Western Railroad Company is a regional railroad based in Glencoe, Minnesota operating over 229 miles of track and serving some of the most productive agricultural counties in Minnesota and South Dakota. TC&W is the largest shortline railroad in Minnesota! This year TC&W are celebrating their 30th anniversary!

CANADIAN PACIFIC
Canadian Pacific No. 6644 is a 4,300 horsepower Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACU that the railroad uses to take the message of military pride across the CP system. CP personnel studied the paint colors and patterns that branches of the Canadian and U.S. militaries applied to tanks, planes and warships. Based on their research, they devised the livery for the 6644, which is numbered to commemorate the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on “D-Day” June 6, 1944 during World War II.

CP 6644 wears the camouflage colors applied to “Spitfire” fighter planes flown at Normandy on D-Day. No. 6644 is one of five specially painted locomotives CP unveiled in 2019 to honor the culture and history of the armed forces in the United States and Canada. It is making its first appearance at Union Depot Train Days.

UNION PACIFIC
Union Pacific No. 1943, “The Spirit of the Union Pacific” is a 4,300 horsepower Electro-Motive Diesel SD70AH that the railroad designed as a tribute to the United States Armed Forces. The locomotive was built in 2016 and repainted in its special colors in 2017.

Created in collaboration with Union Pacific veterans, the locomotive name is connected to a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress funded by war bond contributions from Union Pacific employees in 1943. The plane was christened The Spirit of the Union Pacific and assigned to the 571st Bomber Squadron. The Spirit of the Union Pacific was shot down on its fifth mission during a raid on enemy installations in Munster, Germany.

Each color on the locomotive is symbolic of a branch of the armed forces. Its front represents Air Force Silver, and the blue stripe is a reflection of the former Strategic Air Command’s “nose sash.” The lettering inside the sash is the original hand-drawn font used on the B-17. It is followed by the Coast Guard’s “Racing Stripe” and the Navy’s Battleship Gray, which frames Union Pacific’s traditional American flag. The military camouflage is a nod to the Army and Marines.

A message on the rear of the locomotive is dedicated to U.S. prisoners of war and those missing in action, featuring the POW/MIA symbol and its motto, “You Are Not Forgotten.”

The Spirit is one of only 16 specially painted locomotives Union Pacific has unveiled in its 159-year history. No. 1943 is making its first appearance at Union Depot Train Days.

AMTRAK
Locomotive number 161 was manufactured by General Electric. The P-42 is the workhorse of the Amtrak diesel fleet with more than 180 units in active service around the system. P-42s haul Amtrak long distance transcontinental and corridor trains on routes not electrified. They can travel up to 110 mph, where track and signal conditions permit, and can generate 4,250 horsepower.

TRAIN DAYS VIDEO MINISERIES FROM VIRTUAL TRAIN DAYS 2020

Join us online for a six-part video miniseries, highlighting memories of Union Depot, the history of trains, interviews with railroading experts and more! 

Virtual Train Days – Episode 1 | Memories of Union Depot

Virtual Train Days – Episode 2 | How the Steam Locomotive Changed History

Virtual Train Days – Episode 3 | Luxury Train Travel

Virtual Train Days – Episode 4 | The History of Railroading in Saint Paul

Virtual Train Days – Episode 5 | Q & A With Railroad Experts

Virtual Train Days – Episode 6 | Union Depot and Railroads Today

This video miniseries will feature partners such as The Friends of the 261 and the Minnesota Transportation Museum to showcase interesting lessons and educational insights.

Check back here to see the rest of the video releases or follow Union Depot on social media to make sure you don’t miss a moment!

ALL ABOARD FOR UNION DEPOT COLORING SHEETS!

Download these PDF coloring sheets and wow us with your artwork!

Participants of all ages can post their completed coloring sheet on social media and tag #traindays for a chance to win a prize package valued up to $250! 

Are you looking for another fun activity for your kids to complete? Download our free 10 page activity book that includes coloring pages, puzzles, word finds, mazes and fun facts about Union Depot!