Imagine yourself stepping back in time to 1889. The Antiga Estação Ferroviária Campo Grande stands before you. It is a testament to Brazil’s burgeoning railway era.
This station whispers tales of a time when trains ruled. They connected São Paulo’s coast to its interior. The Antiga Estação Ferroviária Campo Grande played a vital role in this network. It facilitated the transport of goods and people.
Built by the São Paulo Railway Company, a British enterprise, the station was initially a maintenance stop. The company needed wood from Paranapiacaba. This wood fueled the brick factories in Ribeirão Pires and São Caetano do Sul.
But the Antiga Estação Ferroviária Campo Grande soon evolved. It became a hub for passengers. It also transported firewood and coal. Imagine families from the ABC region disembarking here. They sought idyllic picnic spots in the surrounding hills. Sometimes they would even walk to Paranapiacaba.
The station’s architecture reflected Victorian influences. Large windows adorned its brick facade. The design incorporated practical elements. They included so-called guillotine windows. These windows promoted ventilation. The English inventor Robert Hooke is attributed to be the mastermind behind it.
Note the materials. Many came from afar. The roof tiles were made by St. Henry Marseille in France. Each tile weighed almost three kilograms. They traveled thousands of miles to cover this building.
The Antiga Estação Ferroviária Campo Grande faced years of neglect. A fire in 2010 caused significant damage. The building was at risk of collapse.
But thankfully, a restoration project was launched. It was completed in 2020. The project was funded through the Lei de Incentivo à Cultura. MRS Logística, a cargo transport company, sponsored the restoration. The total investment was R$ 1.746.599,96.
The restoration was meticulous. Workers cleaned and tested each of the two thousand tiles. They then put them back on the roof. Damaged wooden windows were replaced. They were recreated in the English guillotine style.
The restored Antiga Estação Ferroviária Campo Grande now serves a new purpose. It is a control center for MRS train operations. The station also hosts educational activities.
Interestingly, the restoration uncovered unique architectural details. One window on the northwest facade had a cement sill. Other windows had cast iron sills. The sun’s position influenced this design choice.
The Antiga Estação Ferroviária Campo Grande also features an oculus. This round opening near the roof allows for cross-ventilation. The project also replicated missing iron air vents. These vents help regulate the building’s temperature.
The restoration team also involved the community. They held online educational activities. They compiled a Participatory Inventory of Cultural Heritage. This document preserves the history of the station.
The Antiga Estação Ferroviária Campo Grande stands as a symbol of resilience. It blends history with functionality. This echoes the project’s motto. It preserves heritage to consolidate history. It ensures this iconic landmark will endure for generations to come.