European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 3, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Left the imposing facade of Paris care do Nord. At the care de Lyon below left waiting for a train is strictly for the dogs. The Orient express below right takes on passengers at Austerlitz station. Right the care de Lyon clock Tower and the Entrance to the station s famed be train Bleu restaurant. Emp Lesto travel the train stations of Paris Story and photos by Linda White travel editor the development of the steam engine in the last Century had a great Impact on architecture As Well As on transportation. Railway stations had to accommodate the new monsters As Well As the people Riding in them. Engineers were designing Gigantic Sheds of Iron and Glass while architects took flights of fancy into the past to construct the temples to travel. Paris has six Grandes Gares major railway stations All but one richly ornamented 19th Century buildings. Railway travel in France started in 1837 with the first passenger service Between Paris and Saint Germain in Laye. The terminus was just a platform but As railway lines became networks the platforms grew into stations. Most of the Paris stations standing today were built within 25 years of that first train ride. Each of the stations serves a different Region of France and Europe. Thus the traveler going through Paris May have to make a mad dash across town to change trains. But it would be a shame if he were in too big a Rush to look at or even Dally for a while in the stations he is passing through. The care do Nord is a masterpiece of railway architecture. It was built by  heals redesigned the place de la concorde 4o serve the North of France. To get the full effect of the station which has been classified a historical Monument Cross the Rue de Dunke que and look at it from a distance. Its three Arches correspond to the vaulting Over the tracks. The huge Central Arch with its Thermal window has been copied for hundreds of stations. The nine statues gracing the top of the station represent leading cities of Europe. Paris of course stands in the Center flanked by London Vienna Berlin Cologne Brussels Warsaw Amsterdam and Frankfurt. The statues in the Arches personify cities of Northern France. Inside Large Halls  the platform area. Curli cued columns offer support to the weary As Well As to the roof. Travellers crowd the souvenir shops Newsstands and cafes and at Rush hour clog the Entrance to the metro in a scene that is repeated at stations across the City. The care de i est serving Eastern France and Central Europe in t far away from the North station. Rue St. Quentin and the Boulevard Magenta link the two the streets were Cut specifically to connect them. Its classic architecture has been retained despite the fact that it has been enlarged several times. The Central building is intact set Between pavilions on each Side. The glazed canopy however masks the carved arms of the larger cities served by the station. One of the most outstanding features of the station is the big Rose window. At its base is a clock supporting statues that represent the Seine and the Rhine. The seated figure is Strasbourg the original destination from this station. Inside a Stone Balustrade Balcony looks out Over the hallway and the platforms. At the far end is a Wing built Between 1925 and 1932 that reflects the style of the period. Care Saint Lazare can be reached from the care de i est by following Boulevard Haussmann. This station is a relative late Comer having been built in 1892 at the site of the original Saint Germain station. Trains Here come and go to the Normandy Region of Western France. The architect is believed to have made his design from some first ideas for the Gare do Nord. There Are two symmetrical wings off a Central Pavilion now concealed by the hotel in front of it. The ground floor is marked by big arcades. Saint Lazare has a marked absence of sculptures and lacks the voluptuous decor of other stations. Perhaps this is because it was built at the Start of the state railways and others were built by private firms. From the ground level take the escalators or climb the massive stairway to the concourse. The War memorial at the top of the stairs has been a rendezvous for decades it is More noticeable than the memorials at any other station. The care de Lyon Home of the super fast Tiv trains heading Southeast has a restaurant Worth a trip to the train station. No sterile station atmosphere Here. The train Bleu Lush with lace and Linen has been officially preserved since 1972. Cheerful cherubs float around the ceiling murals and the service is equally cheerful. The bar is furnished with leather chairs and couches that you can sink into without being swallowed. Outside the station is dominated by a big clock on an imitation Belfry. The whole station is a bit elevated from the surrounding Street reached by Steps when the first platform was built Here in 1848, it had to be raised about 30 feet to protect it from flooding by the Seine. The station got its present look in a renovation Job for the Universal exhibition of 1900. The statues out front celebrate technical Progress Prosperity Commerce and agriculture. Those on top Are the cities of Paris and Marseille. Gare d Austerlitz serves southwestern France and Spain. It looks a bit Chunky but what it lacks in Pizazz it makes up for in practicality. The separate arrival and departure areas Are particularly helpful since this is the busiest station after Lyon. Arrive at the Boulevard de i Hospital and leave from the qua d Austerlitz. The Gare Montparnasse serving Britanny and Western France was reconstructed Between 1966 and 1969. No ruffles and flourishes Here. It s All cold practicality like the High Rise office buildings that surround it. 10 stripes Magazine apri 3,1986 apri/3,1986 stripes Magazine 11