Despite only having returned from Africa a few weeks ago, I’m all ready for another vacation. Thankfully, I’m taking tomorrow off and will be spending the long weekend relaxing in the Poconos. I’m not even going to bring my laptop – though having my newly-acquired Blackberry somewhat defeats the purpose.

The one thing I couldn’t resist though, was to check and see if there were any interesting old rail stations nearby the place I’m staying. I found a beautiful one on the internet – only to find out that it was gutted by fire several years ago. What is it about train stations and fires? As if we didn’t have enough to worry about from people wanting to tear down history in the name of progress, fires have ravaged quite a few train stations that I’m familiar with. Canaan Union Station was the victim of an arson, Pawling’s station burned in 1984, and even beautiful Sharon had a fire, though it was later restored. The old Ontario and Western station that I happened to stop at last weekend was also the victim of a blaze, and for many years has just sat, lonely and abandoned.




Photos from YouTube video by kizzo11

There is something about HDR photos that somehow lend themselves to portraying the character of an abandoned ruin. Somehow they just feel more lonely, and a bit creepy. I’m not quite sure if I even like these photos, as they might be a little too much. But they do show the character of a once-beautiful station, constructed in 1892, until its apparent “death” in 2004. In the time between then it served as a station, then much later a nightclub, and as a home for various shops. But perhaps, there is hope for this place after all. The Middletown Community Health Center is looking to restore the station over the next three years, at an estimated cost of five-million dollars. Hopefully this place will have a happy ending after all.

 
 
   
   
 
   
 
    
   
   
 

4 Responses

  1. Tyler Trahan says:

    Heheheh YouTube AudioSwap continues to amuse me… “Bodies?” Really?

    I agree with you that HDR images of urban decay work really great. I actually really like your processing because it’s not totally over the top like a lot of people seem to like. They still look like…actual photographs, rather than digitally created images by a 13 year old going nuts in Photoshop!

    I don’t know if you’ve done much research on the Old Lady (New York, Ontario, & Western or NYO&W) but it seems to me like one of those historical railroads that you would find really fascinating. It has quite an interesting story, to say the least.

  2. Tyler Trahan says:

    *er, that would be Old Woman, to fit with the initials…duh. I blame my brain overheating due to the lack of air conditioning but it’s probably just me being stupid.

  3. human says:

    this is a great set of pictures. i really like discarded things. it’s not out of any morbid obsession with decay, but it’s a reminder to cherish what you value most and that all things came from “nothing” and return to “nothing.” of course, i do hope the building gets restored, but there’s a certain peace about it being abandoned.

    i probably would have tried some b&w treatments instead of hdr, but i’m not a real photographer.

  4. maddie says:

    You guys should have a go fund me page. I would’ve a donation

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