Maroc - TIMBERBIZ.COM.AU - A La Une - 08/Sep 00:55

Escalation Sensation

‘Escalation Sensation’ chronicles the history of the last operational wooden railway escalators in Australia. After 60 years of service, the much-loved wooden ‘Otis’ escalators at Town Hall and Wynyard Stations in New South Wales were retired and replaced in 2017. Source: Timberbiz The NSW Railways first installed escalators for the deep underground stations at Wynyard and Town Hall when they opened in 1932. They were an innovative people-moving technology adopted by Bradfield to bring an ambitious transport plan to Sydney. Escalators proved to be an integral part of the new underground railway system moving large numbers of passengers quickly in peak hours between street, concourse and platforms. Adopting the ‘modern’ escalator was a signal that Sydney was on par with the latest railway technology and design from around the world. Despite metal alternatives being available at the time, replacements in the 1950s were again OTIS wooden tread machines. Once installed, the robust 1950s escalators were well maintained by dedicated railway staff that extended the machine’s working life considerably in two of the busiest stations on the network. Over the years they became a ‘must-see’ for Sydney visitors and a fond experience for regular users. While in operation the escalators moved thousands of Sydney commuters and visitors each day, right up until their retirement in 2017. After rumbling reassuringly for over 60 years, at the end of their working life they were some of the rarest and much-loved escalators in the world. Completed throughout 2017-18, ‘Escalation Sensation’ chronicles the history of the wooden escalators in Town Hall and Wynyard Stations. It also captures lasting memories and the final days of operation prior to their retirement in 2017. A booklet Escalation Sensation traces the introduction and evolution of escalators, and their use into the public transport network in NSW and Australia. It looks at the principals of how escalators work and how they have evolved over time. It then focuses on the much-loved wooden escalators installed at Wynyard and Town Hall Stations from their installation in the 1930s, their replacement in the 1950s and their replacement in 2017. A documentary is also available that has a series of interviews conducted with historians, railway staff and project teams who maintained and upgraded the historic escalators. The documentary captures their perspectives to produce an absorbing narrative, supported by motion graphics, historical images, archival and contemporary footage of the use, maintenance and final days of the wooden escalators. The video is at https://vimeo.com/265110938