We continued to walk through this (see previous post) until we came out the main entrance.

Booking Hall wall and clock:-

Booking Hall:-

Mural and Clock:-

Reverse view of interior semi-circular window:-

Canopy above main entrance:-

Figures by main entrance. (These are mirrored on the other flank of the doors):-

Clock Tower:-

Main Entrance and facade. (A stitch of two photos):-

My first glimpse of Helsinki Central Railway Station was from a distance. I had seen this clock tower on the way to the Sibelius Monument and thought, that looks deco, so resolved to photograph it on the way back:-

We wandered closer to investigate and discovered the building it served is the Central Railway Station. I suppose technically it’s not Deco as it was designed and built before 1920. It has elements of Art Nouveau tipping over into Deco though. The building is a masterpiece.

This is only its side entrance:-

Close-up on arched window. Note also canopy and doors:-

The interior was stunnning. This, arched ceiling, clock, interior partition windows is the least of it. The light fitting is a bit modern, though:-

Great decoration below arched ceiling:-

Looking towards main entrance. Rule of three in partition windows. Great decoration on pillars and surround:-

Concourse:-

Arched window from inside:-

This arched partition window is wonderful:-

Hallway:-

Detail:-

Another arched window:-

There’s more of this to come!

Московский вокзал, (Moskovsky Vokzal, the Moscow Station, aka St Petersburg-Glavny) would dominate Vosstaniya Square, St Petersburg, if it were not for the Leningrad Hero City Obelisk (see previous posts.)

It’s a pity that woman is in the photo but I was pressed for time:-

Russian railway stations supposedly got their designation, Vokzal, from the visit a Russian official made back in the day to observe the new-fangled railway stations at first hand. He was shown Vauxhall Station in London and said to be mightily impressed by it. It is possible that the name actually comes from Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens as Vauxhall was used in Russian for such attractions and the first railway line in the country terminated near one.

Moskovsky Vokzal is where you catch the trains to Moscow (or alight from if you came the other way):-

Interior:-

I spotted this frieze further into the station but couldn’t get any closer due to the barrier:-

At first I thought the sign in the photo below was for no smoking. But it’s a heart that’s struck through, not a cigarette. Since it says Rapiscan I assume it’s a security scanner and if you have a pacemaker you’d best avoid it:-

There was also a quite impressive set of doors on to Vosstaniya Square:-