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Ontario Northland/Northern Ontario Transportation

cplchanb said:
View attachment 618726
full trainset... i have to say this looks BETTER than the via ventures except for Lumi. the paint scheme is symmetrical unlike the disconnected via loco livery from the rest of the train
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Looks gorgeous! Reminds me of the Dutch intercity trains.

IMG_4418.jpeg
 
Allandale25 said:
^ Official Notice here of the demo

View attachment 620748
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Thanks for bringing it forward. This is quite unfortunate, as ONR would have been the owner of the structure throughout its 108-year history, and it looked in sound condition when I passed through there and on Streetview. But it's not a remarkable structure either; Cobalt, Mattagami, and Timmins (now as a bus station) are more substantial stations. Cochrane too, but that was built by the NTR, not T&NO/ONR.

I guess it was just in the way.
 
Admiral Beez said:
Seems reasonable enough. And there's nothing special looking about the station, IMO.

14705415858_00fe518e2f_h.jpg
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It may not be very remarkable, but with the new station being much like a mush shelter, this has a bit better character. Sadly,if it is not practical to renovate it, then there is no other option.
 
I remember when I lived in Fredericton and would go down to McAdam for work. Their train station was beautiful. It’s too bad a tourist train doesn’t go there.

mcadamstation.ca

McAdam Railway Station - A National Historic Site

Come on in and take a tour. It’s a story of railroad history when ridin’ the rail was the only way to travel! A Canadian Pacific Heritage Railway Museum.
mcadamstation.ca mcadamstation.ca
 
cplchanb said:
Any update from Siemens on whether the sets have entered production?
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There's someone who must live near the production facility that takes pictures/drone pictures and who posts them on Instagram. Can't remember the handle at the moment but I think a few others here know who I'm referring to.
 
This, from the Northlander Business Case:

Matheson
Matheson Station, which is owned by Ontario Northland, was a train stop for the Northlander Passenger Train service. The Station building, located at 385 Railway Street, Matheson, was constructed in 1916. Currently, the Station building is vacant and closed. The Station building contains a waiting area, service counters, and barrier-free accessible washrooms. he asphalt paved area, located at this location, serves as a parking lot and train Station platform. Local transportation is not available at this location. The Station building and site are generally in poor to fair condition.

It obviously has 'had some work done' (as they say in Hollywood), but I'm not surprised that a building that has essentially abandoned for 12 years, and likely lacked TLC when it was in use, is beyond reasonable repair.

Admiral Beez said:
I remember when I lived in Fredericton and would go down to McAdam for work. Their train station was beautiful. It’s too bad a tourist train doesn’t go there.

mcadamstation.ca

McAdam Railway Station - A National Historic Site

Come on in and take a tour. It’s a story of railroad history when ridin’ the rail was the only way to travel! A Canadian Pacific Heritage Railway Museum.
mcadamstation.ca mcadamstation.ca
Click to expand...
That is quite the structure (I worked with a guy who was born and raised in McAdam). It was a hub for N-S lines that no longer exist, including to St. Andrews NB. It probably didn't hurt that Wm. Van Horne had a summer estate there.
 
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micheal_can said:
It may not be very remarkable, but with the new station being much like a mush shelter, this has a bit better character. Sadly,if it is not practical to renovate it, then there is no other option.
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lenaitch said:
It obviously has 'had some work done' (as they say in Hollywood), but I'm not surprised that a building that has essentially abandoned for 12 years, and likely lacked TLC when it was in use, is beyond reasonable repair.
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I do agree with @lenaitch and it likely is in poor shape and would need a significant amount of work, but one has to wonder if it truly isn't "practical" to renovate it, or if it is just cheaper to replace it with a shelter. Certainly a new shelter will be cheaper to operate and maintain than an old, full fledged station. Granted Matheson is the 4th smallest community on the route.
 
If it is in poor shape, the question I would ask is, where was the stewardship over the past 12 years while it stood idle? From the photos, it does appear to have had plenty of TLC in earlier times - roof, windows, etc have been updated. Demolition by neglect is a common reality but never to be condoned.

A building this old may have lead (and possibly asbestos) abatement issues and may need HVAC, electrical, and plumbing work to be brought to codes - as well as accessibility changes, etc. If it were to be repurposed, the mods needed will need to last for the next 25 years, so limping along with the legacy amenities just isn't realistic.

I hate to see a landmark building of any type torn down. Heritage is about the connection to the community, and not just how pretty the building is.

But, on a straight comparison of - demolish this building and build a new shelter, versus repurpose this building and invest in it, I can't fault a town with a finite budget for choosing the former.... I just hope that the replacement is potentially of landmark value, and not just a bus shelter.

- Paul
 
crs1026 said:
If it is in poor shape, the question I would ask is, where was the stewardship over the past 12 years while it stood idle? From the photos, it does appear to have had plenty of TLC in earlier times - roof, windows, etc have been updated. Demolition by neglect is a common reality but never to be condoned.

A building this old may have lead (and possibly asbestos) abatement issues and may need HVAC, electrical, and plumbing work to be brought to codes - as well as accessibility changes, etc. If it were to be repurposed, the mods needed will need to last for the next 25 years, so limping along with the legacy amenities just isn't realistic.

I hate to see a landmark building of any type torn down. Heritage is about the connection to the community, and not just how pretty the building is.

But, on a straight comparison of - demolish this building and build a new shelter, versus repurpose this building and invest in it, I can't fault a town with a finite budget for choosing the former.... I just hope that the replacement is potentially of landmark value, and not just a bus shelter.

- Paul
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Matheson-Black River likely has nothing to do with it except possible building permits and inspections if ONR wanted to re-use it. It's replacement will be a kiosk. There is no longer a need for facilities for a ticket agent, station operator, freight shed, etc.

Railways Are traditionally poor stewards of their infrastructure. They're better now things like but rotten ties piled wayside (at least they don't burn them anymore, unkempt ROWs, rusting structures, etc. are pretty common. Since the ONR had no inkling that passenger service would ever be resumed until a year or so ago, I'm not sure why they would spend money to keep it in standby.
 
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