The Union Station Experience

[Darkstar416]

About a month ago, simply Dan and myself decided to take the Toronto Railway Historical Association's "Union Station Experience" tour. It happens on the last Saturday of every month at 11:00 and is a mere $5. Very good value for the money! You can reserve a spot by e-mailing: uniontours@trha.ca

Most pics speak for themselves, so I'll keep commentary to a minimum. Anyway, here's the pics!

You guessed right, this isn't the original ticket/info stand.

These trains are mainly used on the weekends and is part of the ongoing effort to fix the tracks leading in and out of the station. The project won't be completed until 2012!

Work crews on said tracks...

Anyone have Ted Roger's e-mail?

View of the Royal York from "the moat."

This western underground concourse matches the one on the east (now currently used by GO) and will eventually be a second GO councourse to help disperse the crowds. It is currently being used by rental car companies.

These same battery-powered machines have been transporting luggage at union station sine the station opened!

Where they get their power from...

The President's former office (now used mostly for movie sets).

Can anyone see the spelling mistake?

And that's that!

I must say though that Toronto is truly blessed with a gem of a station. I believe that now more than ever. However, after taking a fairly detailed tour of the place it saddens me to see how just about every square metre of that station is screaming for help. Better usage, better flow, modernization, etc. Let's hope it happens soon!

 

[ronald1987]

That's one grand station. I love the interior of that Hall.

The tracks seem kind of messed up though, look at how odd these wooden shelves are positioned relative to each other:

How are you and SimplyDan doing ? Did you recover from the jetlag already

 

[spmarshall]

I did the tour back in the early Spring.

A web page I (mostly) wrote a few years ago on Union Station (on Transit-Toronto) was recommended by the organizers as a brief history of the station. That was neat.

 

[SD2]

Great pics.

Unfortunately I find the real Union Station experience often feels like you're walking through some sort of bargain strip plaza.

 

[Observer Walt]

^ Agreed. It's a magnificent old building, and it could be so much more attractive.

Thank you for these pictures!

 

[samplain]

Can anyone see the spelling mistake?

Sault STE-Marie

 

[Suicidal Gingerbread Man]

Thanks for the tour!

It would be nice if they could renovate the trainshed so that it is less gloomy.

 

[nstuch]

is the shooting range one of the stops on the tour?

 

[Darkstar416]

Unfortunately it wasn't.

 

[unimaginative2]

GO is planning to renovate the train shed. This includes replacing wood beams and replacing those concrete ventilation slats with identical new ones. It shouldn't look any different than it does now after the renovation is complete, since the train shed is a heritage site.

 

[Observer Walt]

I'm not usually one to advocate tampering with heritage structures. However, this train shed has little to recommend it. It's dark, dirty, and gloomy. Give us a more modern skylight-style roof to let some light in.

 

[Bogtrotter]

Nice pics. The upper level is of course a gorgeous building- one of Toronto's few architectural gems. The lower level indeed feels a bit like a bargain basement. A lot has to do with the fact that the ceilings are low, but such a grand building begs for more elegant fixtures and furniture down there. The washrooms are particularly nasty as well- at least fix the hand-dryers!

The historic train shed shouldn't be untouchable architecture imho. It's in dire need of an overhaul.

 

[hkskyline]

Looks like the tour for Doors Open.

 

[simply Dan]

This tour is longer, far more comprehensive and provides more information for those who participate.

 

[thx1038]

i love the last shot