The Underground Brewery Stories about brewing beer and train traveling from Tom Coughlin

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2180156/Spectacular-photographs-abandoned-railway-stations-left-fall-pieces-world.html

A photo album of abandoned railway stations from the UK Daily mail. Wonderful shots, no commentary though.

Here’s the backstory on the North American photos:

The (Detroit) Michigan Central station was built in 1915 (designed by the same team who did Grand Central Terminal, who sold the Michigan Central on the idea of the *tallest* strain station. It never achieved anything close 100% tenant occupation (due both to it’s huge size, and it’s remote suburban location–a good site in terms of the rail junction of lines to Ontario and Pontiac, but far from downtown).

The UP Station (Oakland, CA), is also in the suburbs–it was situated on the trolley line leading over the Oakland Bay Bridge to provide for a convenient connection to downtown San Francisco. With the demise of East Bay trolley lines, it was completely in the wrong place, but Amtrak continued to use this station for the California Zephyr well into the 2000s, when an earthquake mortally wounded it. I’ve photoed this building several times through a tall cyclone fence-too beautiful to tear down, too costly to restore.

The Redlands, CA ATSF railway station is situated on a downtown trackage loop that was abandoned in the 1950s. The train stops nearby, in San Bernardino–which has lots of commuter service to LA these days. The old Redlands station is preserved.

Not the case for the moldering Gary, Indiana Union Station and Jersey City Jersey Central stations–in both cases, lots of passenger trains and/or light rail in the immediate area, but those rail lines that go to other stations.

My apologies to train station devotees at The Mail–the old IRT City Hall Station is not abandoned, just closed. It was built on a turn-around loop which is still in service, so you can ride through it, and it sometimes gets opened for tour groups.

Train travel and photography–natural compliments. Both introduced in the mid 19th century. The developing western rail lines, and the places along side them, were extensively photographed during their construction, for the benefit of investors and promoters.

These photos, popularized as postcard images and in the popular press, led to America’s fascination with the Old West, Native American culture, and places of natural splendor. Conversely, photographing trains led to the development of a number of photographic techniques–panorama cameras, long exposures using multiple flashbulbs. wide-angle lenses, twilight photography, etc. Apexart is at 291 Church St., and the show is free. Unfortunately, the shows turn over quickly there. Exhibit info.