Station to Station

Railway stations have long held a special place in the public's affection. The lure of the great terminus has been especially strong, the breathtaking grandeur of its architecture fused with a promise of adventure and escape. This book is a celebration of the railway station's life and architecture. It examines the history of these fascinating structures, the great events - both fictional and real - that have occurred there, and how they have formed an integral part of the life of the cities they serve. Steven Parissien discusses the many architectural styles and developments that stations have witnessed over the past 150 years - from the early provincial and colonial railways, the Victorian Gothic of London's St Pancras and the Beaux-Arts splendour of Grand Central Station in New York, to the modern structural feats of Nicholas Grimshaw's Waterloo International Terminal and Santiago Calatrava's Lyon Satolas. Archive pictures, railway ephemera and new photography are combined to create a fascinating visual record for all those interested in trains, railway stations and travel.'The book has good, often luscious photographs and drawings rich in historical resonance. Station to Station is an interesting, at times fascinating, read for architects, historians and anoraks alike.' (Architects' Journal) 'An excellent choice of illustrations, superbly laid out and backed up by long informative captions. Perusal of the two together will leave the reader in a golden glow.' (Times Literary Supplement) 'Steven Parissien leads readers on an absorbing, copiously illustrated journey through the vaulted interiors of real-life rail terminals around the world. His graceful narrative encompasses major shifts in civic history, design, popular taste and passenger requirements.' (Los Angeles Times)