http://www.wral.com/news/local/noteworthy/image/12195698/?ref_id=12195692\
looks like a parking garage to me in the Brutalist style
Views of what? It appears that not much can be seen from the two bottom floors. Multi-modal station?
Johnny
If I had read the earlier thread first, I would have known that the building already exists, and not much can be done to its appearance with the funds that are not available. Also, I would known, as I surmised, that it is to be a multi-modal facility (just as what was the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal is now the New Orleans Union Station).
Deggesty(just as what was the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal is now the New Orleans Union Station).
Just a little factoid, Johnny. For several years I worked in the New Orleans main Post office building which is next to the station. During my lunch hour I would go over and play the pin ball machines.
John
Bonas,
If you really want to see an ugly Amtrak station you should check out the one in Providence, RI. Amtrak built it in the mid 1980's to replace an older cavernous station that is now some kind of office buildings. From the ground the current station is a low gray windowless concrete block. In some pictures the dome is visible but as you come to the station all you see is the gray block. Police cars parked around it make it look like a prison without the charm. There is a clock tower but that doesn't really help. I can't imagine a more ugly building.
But inside it is different. It is a fairly small station with a central waiting room. There the dome is both visible and attractive and benches are in a circle around the edges of the dome. As you enter from Gaspee Street you walk by a news stand and gift shop. Tickets and information on on the left; the Cafe La France on on the right and it serves decent and reasonably priced food. In the back is the baggage room and rest rooms. And although small it is big enough for Providence. There are stairs and an escalators down to the tracks along with elevators. In addition to Amtrak trains MBTA commuter trains run north to Boston and south to Providence Airport and then Wakefield, a suburban commuter stop. And since my time is spent inside I don't think about the outside.
But outside is still ugly as sin.
Well, without the federal funding, how'll they pay for it?
John WR Bonas, If you really want to see an ugly Amtrak station you should check out the one in Providence, RI. Amtrak built it in the mid 1980's to replace an older cavernous station that is now some kind of office buildings. From the ground the current station is a low gray windowless concrete block. In some pictures the dome is visible but as you come to the station all you see is the gray block. Police cars parked around it make it look like a prison without the charm. There is a clock tower but that doesn't really help. I can't imagine a more ugly building. But inside it is different. It is a fairly small station with a central waiting room. There the dome is both visible and attractive and benches are in a circle around the edges of the dome. As you enter from Gaspee Street you walk by a news stand and gift shop. Tickets and information on on the left; the Cafe La France on on the right and it serves decent and reasonably priced food. In the back is the baggage room and rest rooms. And although small it is big enough for Providence. There are stairs and an escalators down to the tracks along with elevators. In addition to Amtrak trains MBTA commuter trains run north to Boston and south to Providence Airport and then Wakefield, a suburban commuter stop. And since my time is spent inside I don't think about the outside. But outside is still ugly as sin. John
Another ugly Amtrak station was the St. Louis Amshack. A supposedly temporary station that served for decades until the new station was built.
As I look at a map of Raleigh which shows both tracks and streets, I wonder how easy it will be for the passenger trains that go through Raleigh to reach a station which is on West Martin Street (the location of the building)
As to Amshacks, you should see the one in Salt Lake City, which used to have parking right by the station but now patrons have to cross the street (no traffic light) and Trax tracks in front of the station and go around to the track side to enter.
I dunno - it's not all that bad. Granted, it's not a classical design, but I can imagine worse.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Deggesty As I look at a map of Raleigh which shows both tracks and streets, I wonder how easy it will be for the passenger trains that go through Raleigh to reach a station which is on West Martin Street (the location of the building)
The station building moves north compared to the current station, with access from a different street, but the actual platform(s) will be in essentially the same area as the current platform. Some new trackwork is planned and trains should have as easy access to the platform as today, if not better.
Proposed site map here:
http://www.ncdot.gov/projects/raleighunionstation/download/P5500RUSRevisedSitePlan.pdf
Thanks, CJtrainguy.
Kind of looks like a "Days Inn" I stayed in once in Kokomo, IN.
eolafan Kind of looks like a "Days Inn" I stayed in once in Kokomo, IN.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Providence+train+station&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=1BB496606FD4E8CF46B84124373FECC38DBD59FD&selectedIndex=46
Here what Providence lost above
Maybe I am misreading the caption under the picture of the station, but I have the impression that the station was in Boston.
dknelson eolafan Kind of looks like a "Days Inn" I stayed in once in Kokomo, IN. Jim, did it have "strolling hostesses" like the Days Inn in Brooklyn Center MN? That was a motel stay not to be repeated .... Dave Nelson
BonasHere what Providence lost above
That is a picture of Boston's old Park Street Station. The station originally was the Boston terminal of the Boston and Providence Railroad. The road was built so people might take a night boat to New York without having to go around Cape Cod. The Park Street Station was torn down about 1910 when Boston's South Station was built.
The link below is to the best pictures I know of to the three stations that served Providence. The first station is often shown with Civil War Troops marching to the train to take them to defend Washington, DC shortly after Fort Sumpter.
https://sites.google.com/site/rrstationsofprovidence/
Note that the tracks in the upper left are the old SAL tracks, on yet he S-line. These are the tracks that tha SEHSR line will come into the station on. The tracks across the bottom are he old SOU (NCRR) tracks the Amtrak currently uses. Capital Yard is to the north a mile or so.
Architects offer first look at planned Raleigh Union Station
I'm amused at the "first look" in the previous post. The drawing is mostly a view down a train platform that could be any of dozens of Amtrak stations. In the far background there is a building of some sort. If the most striking feature of the plan is a generic platform, that says quite a bit about the planned station.
The comments on the view I read this morning are quite interesting. The criticisms are, in general, well stated. I agree with those that deplore the distances that must be walked--but I also think of the distances from the entrance to trainside in stations such as those in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington. As to the trackside shelter, many of us know that few canopies are extended to the edge of the platform, but leave an open space (the station in Salt Lake City does not have any sort of shelter by the track). Since the building apparently was not designed to serve as a parking garage, I doubt that the upper floors could be so used.
This is a case of making use of what is available without moving the station out of town, as was done in Richmond and Jacksonville.
I wonder when views of the planned building as modified will be available.
The NCDOT Rail Division hosted a tour of construction activities at Union Station recently. The station should open sometime in early 2018. A third frequency of the Piedmont service will be added at that time.Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but won't this be the only Amtrak station in the southeast with an elevated platform?
matthewsaggie Note that the tracks in the upper left are the old SAL tracks, on yet he S-line. These are the tracks that tha SEHSR line will come into the station on. The tracks across the bottom are he old SOU (NCRR) tracks the Amtrak currently uses. Capital Yard is to the north a mile or so.
I was scratching my head about that, because I first thought of the old SAL passenger station and there was no wye near that station.
Be happy you HAVE an Amtrak station. We here in Columbus haven't had one for almost 40 years (in a metro area of close to 2M people). Drive 150 miles, and you have the privilege of catching a train at some time between 1 AM and 6:30AM. I'd be happy to board a train via a converted PortAPotty.
CatFoodFlambe Be happy you HAVE an Amtrak station. We here in Columbus haven't had one for almost 40 years (in a metro area of close to 2M people). Drive 150 miles, and you have the privilege of catching a train at some time between 1 AM and 6:30AM. I'd be happy to board a train via a converted PortAPotty. Well said.
Well said.
Besides, beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Regarding the comments about the Providence, RI stations, if you go to the website http://sites.google.com/site/rrstationsofprovidence you will see pictures of three stations side-by-side; one built in 1848, one in 1898, and the latest built in 1986. To me each is appealing in its own way but each reflects its time and the resources available. Which you like or don't like will depend on your taste but I'm sure if it was a popularity contest, each station would get votes. We are all different. Consider the Durham, NC Amtrak station not far from where I live. It was once a tobacco warehouse. Some may love the architecture of the old building and be grateful it survived to be recycled. Others may find the old brick building too severe and would prefer a more sleek, modern design. I think we need both -- the old and the new architecture. It makes life more interesting.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.