Abandoned for decades, the old train station is crumbling from weather, fire and age. It is sad to see a once-stately limestone buildng deteriorate from disuse
The train station sits with huge blue tarps hanging at odd angles, flapping and snapping in the wind. Fire damage has caused the roof to cave in here and there, and shattered windows with rotting frames exude a sorrowful loneliness from the deserted building. It used to be an elegant two-storey limestone structure featuring large arched windows with crisp, white frames, set off by a black roof. Lower ancillary buildings are still attached but not in much better shape.
Once a bustling, busy train station built in 1860 for the rail line through Kingston, the limestone building was replaced decades ago by the new modern train station on the other side of town. The lower buildings of the old station were used for several years as a Pig and Whistle Restaurant, but the good times did not last. The restaurant closed and the building sat empty, a temptation to damaging interlopers, the eroding weather and the march of time.
There have been recent rumours of a sale by the owner, CN. Costing more than $1.5 million to fix up the train station, it seems the company prefers to put the task in fresh hands. Apparently, a recent newspaper article stated, the building’s heritage designation and red tape has prevented CN from even putting on a new roof to prevent further decay. That’s pretty sad, since this beautiful, unusual piece of history is collapsing before our eyes.
Let’s hope the new owners will have more success with restoration of the 148-year-old train station, before it is too late to bring a spark of life back to the darkened windows.
