The charm of an open air train platform, to me, is its seemingly lack of boundaries. One is the tiny HW station in my area.
There are no gates on ground level, just a small ticket counter, a few free newspaper stands and some card reading machines. Two staircases lead up to each side of the overground platform, where there is only a small canopy on each side to give shelter.
I like how the platform is leveled with the neighboring tree crowns, so branches stick out from side fence like bushes, making you wonder if the fences actually exist. Indeed there seems to have no enclosure, but the fact that it is raised above ground separates the space like an entity itself. An island. I remembered seeing some historical images of this station, and I guess somewhere in time the platform was raised to allow pedestrians to cross under it. So the tracks gradually slope down after leaving the platform.
The track bends out of sight at the end of the platform. I sometimes imagine waiting for a ride in theme parks, where here is simply a take off point for anticipating riders. Funnily most are wearing suits. The whistle-like shrieks from the metal track announces the machine approaching, then the shiny red-blue colored train pulls in, stops, until it takes off again in the bigger go-round.🎢
06.04.24
