A modern station for today's travelers: The Amtrak Station by Menards

American travel by train may be experiencing a bit of a revival. In 2019 Amtrak, America's sole long-distance passenger-carrier, moved more than 30 million passengers. While their numbers are up, they are considerably smaller than the 290 million rail passengers carried in 1964.

Gone are the days of gigantic passenger stations designed for tens of thousands of customers daily. Replacing many of these majestic granite and marble structures are more economical designs for providing services and comforts to today's savvy rail riders.

The Basics: The Amtrak Station is a fully assembled and decorated modern design. It is made for smooth arrival and departure of passengers. The building has a modest footprint, 9-½ inches wide by 6 inches deep. The building's walls and support columns are smooth, resembling poured concrete. The base also has a concrete appearance. There are add-on details in front and rear. The red overhanging roof has bright exterior lighting.

The station has spot to plug in a power supply as well as drop-down pigtail plug for use with a Menards 4.5 volt power supply, Menards SKU 279-4061, 279-4062, or 279-4050. You may wish to consider the no. 279-4681 9-piece Plug & Play accessory kits to serve multiple structures and vehicles. All are available separately.

Why you need this: While there are many stations on the market that are designed for running O gauge passenger trains modeling the 1930s though the 1960s, this model is spot on for anyone running contemporary trains, whether they are Amtrak, regional commuter trains, or even modern era steam excursion trains.

The front of the station has two traveler figures, one with a suitcase and the other examining a listing of local attractions. Jack the German shepherd lounges out front, greeting all comers. To the right are a trashcan and a blue mailbox. Above them is the tried and true station board for the Station Master to annotate arrivals and departures.

The entrance has 12 tall glass panes, and a double door with add-on handles. There are two additional tall windows on each side, both accented with tall brown flower boxes.

The trackside of the building mirrors the 12-pane window and door arrangement from the street side. You'll find a lone traveler is departing with a roller suitcase, while two others await the next train, chatting near a pile of luggage.

The building is a blue-gray color, but the top is a striking red. All four sides have a large Amtrak sign with the "pointless arrow" logo recently revived for the rail carrier's 40th anniversary. The signage is striking when illuminated: Each letter of Amtrak comes on in sequence, next is the red of the arrow's tail, and finally the blue arrow shaft. Once on, it remains steady and then sequences once again.

The Amtrak station is a great addition to your city scene. It is a unique building that is a great spot to park passenger trains, taxi's, and even city busses. Make this the intermodal center of your O gauge city!

Shipping Dimensions: 12.76 H x 9.13 W x 6.26 D

Shipping Weight: 2.4375 lbs