Allen Keller

Visiting Washington Union Station

December 8, 2020 By Allen Keller & filed under Model Railroad Academy Blog.

Here is the iconic Union Station in Washington, DC. Our private car arrived here from Chicago during the great Pandemic. And during normal times the station is overflowing with people coming and going, but during the virus many stores and restaurants in the station itself are closed. Also, by the time we arrived Amtrak had reduced its work force by 20%. Long distance trains had been reduced to only 3 days a week, instead of daily.

New Orleans & The Union Passenger Terminal

November 24, 2020 By Allen Keller & filed under Model Railroad Academy Blog.

The New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal was opened in 1954 and now serves Amtrak, Greyhound buses and the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (the famous New Orleans streetcar system). The station was built behind the former Union Station on Loyola Avenue. At one time 44 passenger trains served the station daily. Today only 3 passenger trains make calls at the station.

Riding a Private Railcar

November 11, 2020 By Allen Keller & filed under Model Railroad Academy Blog.

What is it like to ride a private railroad car for ten days? While this experience may not be for everyone, those of us with a devotion to trains can find this a wonderful vacation. Expect first class service on a private car even though Amtrak is trying to reduce the movement of private cars. There are about 100 private cars in the country but not all are available to charter. So how do you find a suitable car?

St. Louis Union Station

November 11, 2020 By Allen Keller & filed under Model Railroad Academy Blog.

This is the famous St. Louis Union station, a perfect example of Richardson Romanesque Architecture. Opened in 1894 the station was renovated in 1985 after years of neglect. Today it stands as a venue for food, shopping, and entertainment.

The Hardware Supply Background Building

March 30, 2020 By Allen Keller & filed under Model Railroad Academy Blog.

Here is another background building that my friend Curt Goff needed for his railroad. This kit offers some modification options that I could not pass up.

Assembling a Walthers Background Building

February 28, 2020 By Allen Keller & filed under Model Railroad Academy Blog.

For a number of years, Walthers has offered its large buildings in a version that fits nicely against a backdrop for layouts with limited space. I built the full-size version of this furniture building for my Bluff City Southern more than 20 years ago, so why would I need to read the directions? Well, I…

Riding Amtrak on the California Zephyr

September 5, 2019 By Allen Keller & filed under Model Railroad Academy Blog.

This is the Sacramento station which hosts not only Amtrak but California sponsored commuter trains and buses. This building has been under renovation since 2012, but so far, no restaurant has been opened. However, another 5 to 10 years are needed to finish the work.

Riding Amtrak on the City of New Orleans Pt. 2

August 28, 2019 By Allen Keller & filed under Model Railroad Academy Blog.

This is the interior of the Galesburg, Illinois Amtrak station where we de-trained from the California Zephyr. The late arrival of the Zephyr made this our only choice to connect with the City of New Orleans for the return to Memphis. Had we continued to Chicago we would have missed our connection with the City.…

Riding Amtrak on the Coast Starlight

August 28, 2019 By Allen Keller & filed under Model Railroad Academy Blog.

When it’s time to leave Portland, we depart from the beautiful Union Station. There are even palm trees planted in front of this hundred plus year old building. The Coast Starlight will take us to Sacramento where we plan to catch the train back to Chicago. Inside the well-maintained station are some really great neon…

Riding Amtrak on the Empire Builder

August 14, 2019 By Allen Keller & filed under Model Railroad Academy Blog.

We board the Amtrak Empire Builder at Chicago’s Union Station which is the hub for all public rail in Chicagoland. We will be on this train for 2 nights and 3 days for the 2200-mile journey. It’s mid-afternoon when we follow the other sleeping car passengers from the Metropolitan Lounge to our track. It’s hard…