Posts Tagged ‘ Rail History Preservation Project ’

Our legacy to our children before our memories fade

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Going up or coming down? Bridge and viaduct construction was an integral part of the Union Terminal construction project

Going up or coming down? Over the last 70+ years, the landmark has been the subject of wonder, awe and unfortunately from time to time, of thoughts to tear it down and reclaim the land for other uses.

The Cincinnati Union Terminal building has had a couple of lives– in service of trains, as a shopping mall and now as the Cincinnati Museum Center.

The construction of the Terminal was a one time thing in our history. Never before or again will opportunity, need, art and function come together to shape our surroundings.

Could we build a stadium for $41,000,000.00? An airport?

As one railroad club member is fond of saying, maybe a lane of highway. Even if we had put away that money in the 1920′s with inflation and interest, the cost of building a landmark like the Cincinnati Union Terminal could not be repeated.

Capturing the history of the building, rail history and the effect this had on Cincinnati is a legacy we need to capture and share–to preserve our memories for our children before they fade…

Please consider how you can help, by sharing memories here in the comments sections, by volunteering or donating.

Thanks~!

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Lean Six Sigma and TQM from the PMO

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Union Terminal Project Management

Back when I was but a wee pup, we did project management the hard way – with Microsoft Project! Printing out a gantt chart took many, many minutes. Back in the day of Union Terminal’s construction, the architects drew their gantt charts by hand, just like their blueprints.

The construction project was so controlled and disciplined, they even had a project font created specifically for blueprints and planning. The planners even created an ‘expected mortality’ chart to estimate the loss of life during construction (which we also hear was extremely minimal, thank goodness).

Take that, six sigma!

More planning and construction photos can be seen in the galleries. Please feel free to look around, comment and ask questions. Our club experts are standing by…

 

 

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Drawing that train…

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Cincinnati Union Terminal Company executives, architects and contractors

Back in the days of the Terminal planning and construction, men wore suits, people smoked at meetings and donuts were conspicuously missing from the center of the room. These were the executives who made the decisions that shaped the building and grounds. More of these photos can be seen in the galleries. Click here to view images from the recently posted volume 11 from the Gibson Yungblut collection.

 

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Passenger Platform, Rotunda & Ramps

Passenger Platform, Rotunda & Ramps

This is a great perspective of Cincinnati Union Terminal, captured from one of the passenger platforms. No one really gets to see Union Terminal from this vantage point anymore,...

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So THAT’s How The Controls Work!

So THAT’s How The Controls Work!

Funny how the tours of Tower A never talk about the little men under the control desk, running everything! (How do they feed them?) Seriously, though – the guys...

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Can You Hear Me Now?

Can You Hear Me Now?

This artifact can currently be seen on display in Union Terminal's control Tower A - radios like this were used by railroad and terminal personnel to communicate across distances...

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A Roundhouse Isn’t Just a Karate Move….

A Roundhouse Isn’t Just a Karate Move….

The roundhouse is where trains were serviced and realigned before the cranes used today became popular. The centerpiece of the roundhouse’s functionality was the turntable, which allowed engines and...

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Gotta give, must have…

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Gotta give, must have…

  The Work The Cincinnati Railroad Club is trying to save some of the Cincinnati area’s richest history for future generations – making it available for enjoyment and research...

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Spreading the word!

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Spreading the word!

We at Edgecliff Press are excited to be working on a tremendous project for the Cincinnati Railroad Club. This project starts with 70,000+ items and a blank digital slate....

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Preserving the Past for Future Generations

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Preserving the Past for Future Generations

The Cincinnati Railroad Club is working to digitally capture and catalog their expansive collection of local and regional historical railroad artifacts. This effort will make the collection available to...

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