Friday, June 26, 2015

To the Trains

industrial deco - rivets and steel plate
Yesterday friend Larry and I needed a bit of city.


So we grabbed the GO train at Oshawa and felt awfully sophisticated zooming above the hoard labouring along 401 (that artery we'd just left, and would have to face again at day's end.)


Teamway - so called because of the teams of horses
which travelled this route hauling ships' cargo to the city







A wander around Union Station and a reccy of the new Metrolinx Union Pearson Express station satisfied my train nut friend's appetite for rail.



deco delight - needing attention




A highly distracted walk (as we both stopped to snap things which interested us) and totally delightful chat  led us to the AGO for lunch at FRANK, to fortify ourselves (delightfully) for yet more wandering.




An eclectic mix of old and new architecture  - and stories about everything, supplied by that 30 year resident of the city.

Plans to do it again? Oh yes.

I've always loved the GO transit logo
UP Express station
a successful design fusion - great space



















I've always loved the GO transit logo. Here's a link to the design history. The writer uncovered the identity of the creator of the logo (which goes largely unnoticed and undervalued for its brilliance, in his opinion) as Frank Fox, of the Gagnon Valkus agency. The date? 1967. A great read about a great design. Love this quote: "Sometimes that happens in design. A happy accident."

the evolution of signage
coffee from the Drake kiosk while you wait?



This Globe and Mail article from May 28 describes the vision and intent of the UP Express. No more ticking taxi meters in traffic jams on the 401, but an efficient and sophisticated swoop into downtown from your international business flight. Snazzy.









Plans to write more about my day in the city?
Oh yes.

 But for now I'll leave you standing at the station.
at

2 comments:

  1. KarenWJuly 1, 2015 at 5:48 PM

    We did a tour all the way to Hamilton/Aldershot on the GO the other day. I wish I'd gone to the top level to see all there is to see from above. On the return trip it was to dark to even see the CN tower :(

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  2. Ancestral RoofsJuly 1, 2015 at 8:15 PM

    Thanks for dropping by Karen. I loved the upper deck. My friend pointed out the finer details of all the engines and rolling stock we saw, including some shiny aluminium cars that once had been part of The Canadian, our Toronto-Vancouver route. Next trip - Aldershot!

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