Supervision: A. E. PERLMAN, Chief Engineer. D. & R.G.W. C. M. LIGMTBURN, Assistant Chief Engineer, D. & R.G.W.
Construction: W. E. RYBERG COMPANY, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Services: Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad. Rio Grande Trailways.
This flashing white and blue structure, costing approximately $40,000. permitted four outstanding improvements. FIRST, it replaced four outmoded structures previously housing the offices of the railroad and bus line. SECOND. it eliminated expenditure in repair and future maintenance possibly as great as the cost of the new building. THIRD. it effected economies through consolidation of official railway. bus, and passenger facilities. FINALLY, it permitted many basic improvements in the track arrangement serving the yard area.
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EXTERIOR. It is noteworthy that this lovely Station houses not only the joint facilities for railroad and bus passengers, but also the Terminal Administrative and Operations Offices, the Yard Office, and a Car Foreman's Office, and yet its maximum measurements are but 99' long by 50' in width. Its interior arrangements are effectively coordinated so that patrons of both services benefit to the greatest possible extent in comfort and convenience.
The Station is a two-story structure, except for the single-story semi-circular Waiting Room at the west end. Its southern elevation faces the business section of Salida at the end of one of the most important thoroughfares. With the exception of the circular treatment of this western bay, the general trend of architecture is rectilinear. but not severe. The clever use of blue in bands, courses, and trim creates a colorful and most pleasing effect against the background of Tenderfoot Mountain to the north, and the other swelling heights which extend along its east-west axis.
This most prominent building is of Fireproof brick construction. painted white. Doors. sash, and cap course of both the two-story part and the Waiting Room are blue. The taller part of the building is adorned near the top by 3 horizontal bands of blue: by way of further modernization, over the entrance door, there are 3 vertical streamers reaching roof level. Somewhat reminiscent of World's Fair influence is the prominent masonry pylon which climbs up the western face of the building from the Waiting Room roof to extend above the roof level of the two-story section.
Atop the Waiting Room roof and visible for a great distance down the Salida thoroughfare is a large Neon sign whose stream-lined letters. "Rio Grande," pierce a symbolic heart, bringing to glowing life the railroad's slogan, -Through the Rockies Not Around Them".
The Station has parking areas and broad drives around it so that the Trailways Buses may come right up to its main entrance, or go directly to the train platform.
INTERIOR. There are 4 outstanding features executing the modern theme which characterizes the interior treatment: Plain, unadorned walls; rectilinear lines; the great variety of contrasting colors, and electronic lighting through fluorescent fixtures.
The Waiting Room This public area is semi-circular in shape with a radius of 25' and a "base" of 50' at its widest point. An additional area of approxi-mately 44' x 17', homogeneous with the Waiting Room, is used for the Ticket Offices of the Railroad and the Bus Line.
Cream tinted plaster walls, topped by a cove, rise to a white plaster ceiling, which lies below a fully insulated roof. At the west end of the Waiting Room, 6 large sectional steel sash window openings form the bay whose width exceeds an arc or 120° through which may be viewed a scenic panorama. The trim of these windows and 4 others is blue, and all are equipped with Venetian blinds.
Against the curved wall beneath the windows of the bay is a series of settees with red leather-upholstered seats and backs. Heat radiation grilles are installed beneath the settees.
Illumination is furnished by continuous fluorescent fixtures concealed in the cove near the ceiling.
The floor of the Waiting Room-Ticket Office area is concrete with a mottled red asphalt tile laid in square pattern, spreading overall to a black border and wall base.
The Ticket Offices There are two offices, one each for the Railroad and the Bus Line. Actually these "offices" are open working areas. located at the east end of the Waiting Room in the corners opposite each other. Between them, a door leads to the Men's Toilet and the Express and Baggage Room. The Women's Toilet and Rest Room are located off the south side of the Waiting Room near the entrance.
Each Ticket Office is enclosed by a very modern type open-top counter with wood front sloping from a broad top to a narrower base. The top is free of wickets, and is covered with a brilliant yellow plastic sheeting.
Luggage Checking Facilities Close to the Bus Ticket counter are 8 convenient Self-service Luggage Checking Lockers. These are in a handy location, out of the main lanes of travel from entrance to train platform, yet are sufficiently near at hand to permit quick pick-up of stored articles, which is one of the primary considerations in choosing the location for luggage checking equipment of this nature.
Rest Rooms In keeping with the general scheme of interior treatment, both the Men's and the Women's Toilets are plain yet colorful, with plaster walls . tinted cream in the Men's and light green in the Women's Rooms. A small Rest Room is adjacent to the Women's Toilet. Modern plumbing and sanitary equipment has been used, with white porcelain and chromium plated fixtures. As in the Waiting Room, the floor is red asphalt tile with black border and base.
Other Facilities The eastern section of the ground floor, completely away from the public areas, is utilized by a large combination Baggage and Express Room: a Yard Office; and the office of the Car Foreman.
The upper story of the Station. reached by a stairway from the corridor leading to the Baggage Room, and by another at the east end of the Station directly from the street, contains the offices of the Trainmaster, Dispatchers, and Telegraph Operators. These are grouped about a Locker and Wash Room for employees. The floor is similar to that on the ground floor. Walls and ceilings are plaster, except in the Dispatchers' and Telegraph Operators' Rooms; these have sound deadening treatment. Fluorescent lighting is, of course, employed here as well as downstairs. Floor type radiators furnish heat from the Terminal Boiler Plant.
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