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Museum Railway Station, on the underground City Circle route at the southern end of Hyde Park in the central business district. In Sydney, Australia.
Designed by John Bradfield in the Inter-War Stripped Classical architectural style. Museum's signage and cream tiling with maroon highlights are reminiscent of a typical London Underground tube station of the era, however its layout of central tracks under a grand arch are more in keeping with older stations of the Paris Métro.
Railway development in Sydney began with the opening of the Sydney to Parramatta line in 1850. The terminus was a considerable distance from most of the City's shops and workplaces. Disembarked railway passengers were required to either walk or be horse drawn and in later years steam and electrically powered trams.
Throughout the second half of the 19th century and early years of the 20th century, Sydney developed a tram based public transport system. However, the growth in population and increased residential density in the inner suburban areas resulted in the heavy congestion.
In 1894 funds were made available and plans prepared for a railway line extension. A change of Colonial Government, however, caused the abandonment of the project.
Mounting public concern over the increasing congestion of street traffic eventually forced the Government to appoint a Royal Commission in 1890, however due to concerns of loss of an area of Hyde Park the plan was abandoned.
No further action was taken until 1896 when the Premier was forced "in the interest of the safety and comfort of the travelling public' to appoint a second Royal Commission to investigate and report on a suitable route. In 1900, agreement on a City railway service could not be achieved again.
In 1908 a "Royal Commission on Improvement of the City of Sydney and its Suburbs" was appointed and recommended a plan for a loop railway. Six underground stations were to be located in the positions of the Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, St James, and Museum stations of today.
In 1912 the Government commissioned the engineering firm of Mott and Hay who recommended lines to the suburbs. The scheme was not adopted being judged expensive, inefficient, and impractical on numerous counts.
In February 1915 the Chief Engineer of Metropolitan Railway Construction, John Bradfield, after studying the city railways of Europe and North America, submitted his "Report on the Proposed Electric Railways for the City of Sydney".
Work on the City railway system commenced in 1916 with the firm of Norton, Griffiths and Co beginning excavations tunnelling and foundation building. After the firm's contract was cancelled in early 1918, work was taken over by the Department of Railways. Funding problems resulting from World War 1 austerity measures and political indecision forced construction to cease.
From 1917 to 1922, Bradfield maintained a publicity campaign to rally support for his scheme. He presented papers before conferences, professional bodies, public groups, union organisations and the popular press. A City railway built to his plan would benefit workers, property owners and local government.
Excavation work for Museum Station began in 1922, the imagination of the public was captivated as crowds gathered daily to view construction of the tunnels and stations beneath the Hyde Park grounds.
The railway attracted tens of thousands of people during the first few weeks of its operations, "swarms of interested mothers and fathers, together with their children, thronged the platforms and stairways examining Dr Bradfield's super Christmas box to the public".
Information Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_railway_station
39313
Museum Railway Station, on the underground City Circle route at the southern end of Hyde Park in the central business district. In Sydney, Australia.
Designed by John Bradfield in the Inter-War Stripped Classical architectural style. Museum's signage and cream tiling with maroon highlights are reminiscent of a typical London Underground tube station of the era, however its layout of central tracks under a grand arch are more in keeping with older stations of the Paris Métro.
Railway development in Sydney began with the opening of the Sydney to Parramatta line in 1850. The terminus was a considerable distance from most of the City's shops and workplaces. Disembarked railway passengers were required to either walk or be horse drawn and in later years steam and electrically powered trams.
Throughout the second half of the 19th century and early years of the 20th century, Sydney developed a tram based public transport system. However, the growth in population and increased residential density in the inner suburban areas resulted in the heavy congestion.
In 1894 funds were made available and plans prepared for a railway line extension. A change of Colonial Government, however, caused the abandonment of the project.
Mounting public concern over the increasing congestion of street traffic eventually forced the Government to appoint a Royal Commission in 1890, however due to concerns of loss of an area of Hyde Park the plan was abandoned.
No further action was taken until 1896 when the Premier was forced "in the interest of the safety and comfort of the travelling public' to appoint a second Royal Commission to investigate and report on a suitable route. In 1900, agreement on a City railway service could not be achieved again.
In 1908 a "Royal Commission on Improvement of the City of Sydney and its Suburbs" was appointed and recommended a plan for a loop railway. Six underground stations were to be located in the positions of the Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, St James, and Museum stations of today.
In 1912 the Government commissioned the engineering firm of Mott and Hay who recommended lines to the suburbs. The scheme was not adopted being judged expensive, inefficient, and impractical on numerous counts.
In February 1915 the Chief Engineer of Metropolitan Railway Construction, John Bradfield, after studying the city railways of Europe and North America, submitted his "Report on the Proposed Electric Railways for the City of Sydney".
Work on the City railway system commenced in 1916 with the firm of Norton, Griffiths and Co beginning excavations tunnelling and foundation building. After the firm's contract was cancelled in early 1918, work was taken over by the Department of Railways. Funding problems resulting from World War 1 austerity measures and political indecision forced construction to cease.
From 1917 to 1922, Bradfield maintained a publicity campaign to rally support for his scheme. He presented papers before conferences, professional bodies, public groups, union organisations and the popular press. A City railway built to his plan would benefit workers, property owners and local government.
Excavation work for Museum Station began in 1922, the imagination of the public was captivated as crowds gathered daily to view construction of the tunnels and stations beneath the Hyde Park grounds.
The railway attracted tens of thousands of people during the first few weeks of its operations, "swarms of interested mothers and fathers, together with their children, thronged the platforms and stairways examining Dr Bradfield's super Christmas box to the public".
Information Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_railway_station