Beautiful Abandoned Train Stations From All Over the World

Here at Flavorpill, we’re suckers for gorgeous photographs of abandoned and decaying spaces, and of course, for lovely architecture, no matter what state it’s in. Recently, we showed you some of the most beautiful train stations in the world – but what happens when those gorgeous places run their course? Though much beautiful architecture tends to fall to pieces beautifully, we think there’s something particularly fascinating about looking at a place that was once such a bustling center of activity after it has gone to seed, a specific feeling of lack that imbibes the place with an eerie glow. Click through to take a peek at our gallery ten gorgeous abandoned train stations from close to home and from far reaches across the globe, and if we haven’t mentioned your own favorite decaying beauty, please add to our collection in the comments.

Abandoned Station in Abkhazia. Photos by Ilya Varmalov.

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What a crime of wastefulness. Such beauty should not be allowed to rot and fall prey to eventual demolition and probably replacement with some modernist/brutalist monstronsity. These should be restored and used, either as train stations or for other public purposes.

I think the most heartbreaking one is Michigan...

I see the harried ghosts of all the travelers checking their watches...

The one in Santiago, Chile is not really abandoned. While it's no longer used as a station, it is used as an art gallery, a place to host cultural shows, and even this year's Comic Con was held there. It's still beautiful, though :)

It is so sad that these spaces are no longer used. However they have proven to be places, when revamped, which can transform a city or area within a city. I am thinking of St Pancras station in London mostly which could so easily have been abondoned or demolished. It is now one of the most fantastic public spaces in Europe. Perhaps a run down city like Detriot would benefit from such a transformation to their station.

I used to work at the Michigan Central Station in the 60's. Work nights and all that you could find in the station were prostitutes

Old Train Stations, Monuments to a by-gone era. Every City in the World has such Monuments, not just Train Stations. In Chicago we call it the "Lost City". Truly some spectacular Architecture that has been lost to the "wrecking ball" over the years, but think of the jobs it creates to tear down and rebuild; if the sites aren't simply left as urban brownfields...

What would those cost today to build? How about restoring the those buildings to their original beauty. Great place for small shops at a low cost. Make them into a mini mall of shops. Terrible shame to let them decay like that.

DeeGee you are not a dork at all. You just realize what bad writing looks like!!!

Josh Garnett - RE: Canfranc I am going there in a few days. It is actually in Spain, but near the French border. It is still used - with 2 regional trains per day which can be booked from Spain's main rail company www.renfe.com, leaving from zaragoza :) Rail europe talks about this train "El Camello" (The Camel): http://www.raileurope.ca/europe-travel-guide/spain/index.html

Some of these photos remind me of the first chapter in the amazing film "Naqoyqatsi" where the camera dollies through similar abandoned buildings. See the photos below... http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/383/91965786za4.png/sr=1 http://b.vimeocdn.com/ts/161/407/161407619_640.jpg

Is this a train stations, I can't believe this. but there is atmosphere like railway station.

wow this train station is so big

there are so many unused fantastic buildings. I just love old buildings. Too bad they are not being refirbished and reused. The stories that they could tell. That one in Russis is beyond fantastic.

@Josh Garnett: This station isn't in France, but in Spain. Now, there are plans for rewamping it as hotel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canfranc

Estacion Central en Santiago de Chile, este país tuvo hermosas estaciones y magnificos trenes, hoy son solo recuerdos que van muriendo poco a poco...

"... a specific feeling of lack that imbibes the place with an eerie glow." Yes, sometimes when I've been drinking, things take on an eerie glow. But in this case, I think you mean "imbues." God I'm a huge dork.

You missed the station of Canfranc, in France; built in the 19th century as a sign of cooperation between France and Spain, it was never really used, and is infrequently used by French railway companies. The village in which it is located has 200 inhabitants, but the station is gloriously big. http://www.forbidden-places.net/explos/19/5l.jpg

Railroad station architecture was/is a forgotten jewel of the last century and a half. The design elements of these buildings are exquisite even as they decay. Sadly, so few are saved for new use and instead, torn down for parking lots. As a culture, we should be more innovative and find ways to save these magnificent structures.

How sad. I grew up in Dearborn in the fifties and seeing what's become of the city just makes me sad.