Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Meet me on the corner of Furnace and Watertank..



I know that like Andrew in Melbourne many of you are interested in the railway history of your own and other cities around the world. When I was in Midland on Sunday taking photos of the ROA platypus it was hard to ignore the history all around this area. The old workshops and the surrounding area is being redeveloped, hopefully leaving some of the history intact. You can read more about the history of the Midland Railway here.


In 1995 Rail Heritage WA were given access to the Midland Workshops and despite broken promises from the government of a State Rail Heritage Centre being developed, in 2006 the group were asked to vacate, but you really should check this link to see all the marvelous restorations they did while there and are still doing now. I'm guessing that railway tracks once ran through the numbered arches in the background above. Can you imagine this area back then full of activity, noise and smoke belching out of the many train funnels.. magic! Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe.. p.s. still hot (37C yesterday) stormy weatherp.p.s. Aimee's birthday today, my baby is all grown up :)

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33 comments:

  1. Oh, this area is a treasure and I do hope at least some of it is left and restored!

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  2. Even with this building in the foreground looking a bit out of shape, there's potential there. It has character.

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  3. I do agree with the others and I do hope this area is preserved/restored!! A treasure it is indeed!! Hope your week is going well -- a fun one, I'm sure, with Aimee's birthday to celebrate!!

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  4. It could use some paint, but it is an interesting building!

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  5. Happy Birthday to Aimee. Love your images. That's a really interesting place to explore.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  6. Love the way the sky brings out the more muted colors of the buildings.

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  7. I love to wander around old buildings like that, Grace. Let's hope they get restored.

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  8. Every now and then, a blog post sends me off on an hours long internet search and this post did exactly that. I looked up all kinds of train service in Australia sometimes going to cities I'd never heard of before so using Flickr, I'd search those city names and find all kinds of photos from those places. I feel like I've had a little arm-chair tour of Australia. I notice that there are not nearly as many train opportunities in WA as there are on the eastern side of the country. But the one that goes from Perth to Sydney looks like it would be quite an adventure. Needless to say, I loved this post. Those old buildings are great and inspiring!

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  9. I can't shake the feeling I had two days ago! I like it though and it would definitely deserve restoration!

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  10. It seems to be a film set ....

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  11. Very interesting post Grace, I love history and I love trains. When I was a little girl my hometown had a lovely wooden railway station with wooden steps up to a bridge over the rail tracks. I liked the smell of the steam trains, when they went through the station the steam came up through the gaps in the wood :-)

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  12. Good heritage...now it's full winter here :( have a nice days, Arianna

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  13. I did make the connection. Where'd she get those RED locks? You goldy; she reddy?
    Love these photographs today.

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  14. I find these old historical buildings of great interest. And that sign is too funny! Who would name a street "Furnace" or "Watertank"?

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  15. I LOVE historical places like this. I HATE it when developers happily bulldoze them in their quest for money. Great photos Grace! I'd love to see this in person.

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  16. Too many wonderful old buildings are torn down in the name of "progress." I hope this one isn't one of the casualties.

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  17. What a beautiful and interesting old building

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  18. Those old buildings are just wonderful. I hope they can be restored. I had already commented on Aimee's blog and now I will go back and wish her a happy birthday!

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  19. The street names are good No one can not notice what went on there with such names. The old building looks like it could be saved. I'll have a look at the links when I have more time.

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  20. Wonderful name for an intersection, probably named for the original use of the areas. I don't think we have anything nearly as strange.

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  21. A love this trio Grace. They would look great enlarged and hanging on the wall.

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  22. It'd be a shame not to restore all of those neat old buildings and let them fall apart.

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  23. Some things are historical heritage and have to be preserved I think.

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  24. I adore old sights like this. I can almost feel the energy that was once there.

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  25. Wonderful old building, Grace, love it !
    p.s. Happy Birthday to Aimee !

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  26. I find such beauty in old abandoned things. Strange. Tom The Backroads Traveller

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  27. a building for photographer with the texture

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  28. Three nice images of this historic (and deteriorating) train station. Well done.

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  29. Wonderful images !!! I like a lot.
    Hugs

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  30. All your recent posts are gorgeous! I have no words!

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