Demo Watch: Baxter Elevated Train Station Destroyed
Site of demolished train station
Baxter Elevated Train Station Before Demolition (BS File Photo)
Site of demolished train station
Baxter Elevated Train Station Before Demolition (BS File Photo)
Detail of station platform canopy
Sign declaring "No Trespassing"
Former entrance to the station platform
Baxter Elevated Train Station Destroyed
Baxter Elevated Train Station Before Demolition (BS File Photo)
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Here is a link to a few shots I snapped DURING the demolition.
Hated to see it go… -
Jonas
October 27th, 2009
2:21 pm
0Ryan, you would be there for the demo… At least somebody captured it.
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casey
October 27th, 2009
5:49 pm
0 -
I’ve been wondering for years why we can’t take these rails back! When all the kerfuffle over the T2 rights of way (may that project not rest in peace; may it haunt KIPDA to action) I couldn’t help but wonder about: A) the existing I-65 rights of way and escapements, and B) this CSX-squandered rails right through the heart of most everything.
Seriously, why are we continuing to let CSX to squander OUR infrastructure? When was the last time CSX actually invested in that infrastructure? They don’t care about Louisville… to some extent we are just “roll through territory” for them (increasingly so as Louisville’s traditional manufacturing jobs are outsourced and UPS picks up much of Louisville’s freight).
It should be easy for us to demand our rail lines back in this city, and to bring passenger travel back to them: how much public money was invested in them?
It would be nice if there were a public transportation authority that Louisvillians could complain too, but KIPDA seems disinterested in real solutions (and is in the uncomfortable situation of having to report to Kentucky’s state legislature that too often thinks nothing but rural) and TARC is hamstrung in turn by KIPDA it seems.
I’d love to see one of the mayoral candidates use “Take Back Our Rails” as a platform. If I had any aspirations to mayor, that’s what I would do.
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Gary Guss
October 27th, 2009
6:19 pm
0Great place for a Bike Trail !
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Becca Barhorst
October 28th, 2009
2:16 pm
0I can’t believe they tore this place down! I’m a recent graduate of duPont Manual’s photography program, and I can’t tell you how perfect this place was for a great photo. For years, kids in the photography classes have ventured up the dilapidated staircases to photograph the crumbling brick, abandoned shoes, and vivid colors of the graffiti. Not only that, but the station was christened with perfect, orange sunlight on an autumn afternoon that yielded excellent pictures. This place will definitely be missed by all the curious kids with cameras around their necks.
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Demolition of this station is definitely a tragedy. If security were a concern, I imagine there could have been other ways to shore up the property including sealing off access from Baxter Avenue or blocking up the doorways to the building.
Thanks, Ryan, for the link to your photos of the actual demolition, I am glad there is a record of it going on even though it’s a little painful to watch!
Casey and Gary, I like that you’re thinking about how the track structure and right of way could be better used by the community. It just seems too obvious to me that the alignment of the tracks throughout the entire county would make a great light rail line. The two major industry’s it serves, as far as I can tell, are the Ford plant off Westport Road and the D.D. Williamson Plant in Clifton. It’s likely to remain freight rail for quite some time, though.
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dan
November 12th, 2009
12:44 pm
0Casey,
Great link to the article on using the rr as an elevated park in NYC. That is what is happening to the Big 4 bridge.
Regarding some of the other comments:
Unfortunately the building was in such bad shape, it was nothing but an eyesore and a health hazard. I’m as nostalgic as the next guy, but due to years of neglect, it was unsafe and it needed to be torn down.
CSX does a lot of positive things for this community. But the reality is, it was a huge liability for them. It was their private property, and based on the amount of graffiti, trash, condoms, liquor and beer bottles, and so on- if someone was injured, raped or killed there, they could be held liable for having a public nuisance, and been sued for a lot of money. Since they owned the property, and after obtaining the proper demolition permits, they had every right to tear it down.
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For those interested, I just finished putting together the following page about the Baxter Station and some of its history on my web site:
http://www.louisvilleartdeco.com/architecture/BaxterStation/BaxterStationRR.html
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Jim, what a fascinating and in-depth look at the station’s history, thanks for putting that together. I was particularly interested in the proposed Walnut Street underpass that appears to have been built in the elevated train structure. Assuming property acquisition weren’t an issue, would it be possible to create such a street alignment today?
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Branden, Thanks for your kind words.
Assuming property acquisition and building destruction wasn’t an issue, yes… it would be possible to actually create the Walnut Street (Muhammad Ali) extension.
Of course, there’s little chance that the businesses currently located in the direct path of that extension would sell and vacate, and (I would guess) even less chance the city would pay to purchase the properties… raze the buildings… build a bridge over Beargrass… and finally lay the road. Plus, I’m not sure how much would be gained (at least at this time-period). Perhaps that’s one of the reasons it was never fully implemented…..cost-benefit just wasn’t there? -
Thanks, Jim. I am always interested in the historic street grid and the proposed changes or improvements that have occurred over time. Like you said, it would be really tough to pull off today, but it’s interesting to discover that such a route was proposed at one point.
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Allie E Filley
February 26th, 2010
11:36 am
0In regards to the train platform, it was well overdue. I believe sealing it off would only make it hard for those that appreciated it. And would pose no barrier against those that wanted to get in anyways. And the money that it would cost to shore up all angles would probally cost in similarity to that of the demo. I have lived in Irish Hill more many years and have enjoyed having a photo shoot on that platform and taking many other beautiful photos and sunrises. It would be a lie for me to say that it isn’t painful in some way to see it destroyed. However. Even though I am a historic and nastalgic buff. But, some things I have to let go. Especially when the people that frequently occupied the area were not with the best of intensions. I’m glad to see it gone and I think it will make the neighborhood a little safer. I understand some can not understand that. But, I was robbed there walking underneath those tracks. And lost every bit of money and even my shoes.
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