European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 21, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Backtracking through history Paddington station was built As the London terminus of the great Western railway in 1854, but its vast Interior is still an exciting space. British rail archives european train stations Are High temples to the age of steamy Craig r. Whitney the new York times the great Railroad stations of the 19th Century were like the cathedrals of preceding centuries monuments to Faith. The arched roofs of the train Sheds built mainly with steel or Iron instead of Stone soared like immense churches and spoke eloquently of the optimistic belief in Progress that was symbolized by the railroads themselves. Americans shared that belief and built some of the grandest stations of ally grand Central and Pennsylvania stations in new York City and Union station in Washington d.c., among them a and then let them crumble or be torn Down before rediscovering their vitality and restoring some that remained. European Railroad stations never fell into quite such neglect if Only because Europe was More densely populated and More thickly packed with medium size cities. It needed its railroads even after the coming of the automobile and the air plane. But these remained utilitarian places acquiring a Patina of cinders rust Pigeon droppings and commercial additions that  it hard for travellers today to appreciate their original  England was the Birthplace of railroads and it seems fitting that London would have such a Rich variety of temples to steam. The High Arches of the big train Sheds after All were designed to. Accommodate trains pulled by steam locomotives which needed the breathing room while they. Panted after the Long run from Scotland or the West  waited to pull out with an express. The sheer optimism and Energy some of these buildings still radiate More than a Hundred years after they were built give a sense of the spirit of the age. Paddington station for example was built As the London terminus of the great Western railway in 1854, but its vast Interior designed by the Engineer is Ambard kingdom Brunei is still an exciting space today though Only diesel locomotives and 125-Mph British rail intercity turbocharged Long distance express trains Are a tethered to the Railhead. The Cathedral inspiration for these buildings is nowhere More evident than at St. Pancras station whose Quot facade Quot built As the adjoining Midland grand hotel is a shimmering victorian gothic vision of Spires and Arches in polychrome Brick and Stone. Even the architect sir George Gilbert Scott said after it was completed in 1872 that possibly it was Quot too Good for its purpose Quot the six Story hotel with a big clock Tower and countless Pinnacles and columns closed in 1935, though its lower floors Are used As Railroad offices. It is now sheathed in scaffolding for exterior restoration and the work is expected to last for years but. It does not affect the station. The train shed just behind the hotel the work of . Barlow looks substantially As it did when it was completed in 1868 a one great soaring Arch of Iron and Glass its 55-too ribs spanning 240 feet and reaching 100 feet High an engineering feat in its Day. A huge clock dominates the concourse just in front of the hotel s Back Wall. The ticket Hall near track 2, also has the original Oak panelling and to buy a ticket there for Leicester Chesterfield Sheffield or Luton is in a sense to go Back in time about a Hundred years except for the modern timetable displays. A new kind of train shed transformed into an exciting terminal for the new High Speed electric continued on Page to january 21, 1993 stripes Magazine 3