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UER Forum > Archived Canada: Alberta / BC > Underneath The Marine Building (Viewed 1053 times)
Gimpster 






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Underneath The Marine Building
< on 10/1/2009 9:37 AM >
Posted on Forum: Infiltration Forums
 
It's possible to find your way into the lowest levels of the Marine Building in downtown Vancouver.
Goes down past where they did the renovations, so everything is still how it was back when it was made in the 1930s! Really cool stuff down there. I haven't gone through and tried every door down there or done too much poking around, or even gone down with a decent camera. But it's definitely really interesting, and I'm captivated by the place every time I go down there.
Also there's one room where the Skytrain roars past the window every time it leaves Waterfront. The door to the room is locked, but you can watch the Skytrain go by through the glass windows on said door. Fun times!

Mowgli-dog 


Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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Re: Underneath The Marine Building
<Reply # 1 on 10/1/2009 12:35 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Also the nearby train station (Waterfront Station) has several lower levels that are not used. There are still grand bathrooms with marble slab stalls, an old cold storage facility and other neat stuff.

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." -George Orwell

Rest in peace, my pal Mowgli - the best dog there ever was.
TacDical 


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Re: Underneath The Marine Building
<Reply # 2 on 10/1/2009 4:29 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
thats sounds real interesting i think im going to be making a trip to vancouver soon i will have to check that out

SD

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Gimpster 






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Re: Underneath The Marine Building
<Reply # 3 on 10/1/2009 7:39 PM >
Posted on Forum: Infiltration Forums
 
Waterfront Station sounds cool! I'll have to go poke around there.

Mowgli-dog 


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Re: Underneath The Marine Building
<Reply # 4 on 10/2/2009 1:14 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Likely very difficult to get into. I knew a security guard several years ago that took me on a little unadvertised tour.

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." -George Orwell

Rest in peace, my pal Mowgli - the best dog there ever was.
nobody 


Location: VANCOUVER B.C.
Gender: Male


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Re: Underneath The Marine Building
<Reply # 5 on 10/2/2009 12:09 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Mowgli-dog
Also the nearby train station (Waterfront Station) has several lower levels that are not used. There are still grand bathrooms with marble slab stalls, an old cold storage facility and other neat stuff.


Took a little walk down in the basement awhile ago myself. That stretch of waterfront is cool. As we have discussed before you can make out some of the original architecture of that end of the dunsmuir tunnel portal. Not the original but the next version.

N.

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SteamPunk 


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Re: Underneath The Marine Building
<Reply # 6 on 10/2/2009 5:34 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Mowgli-dog
Also the nearby train station (Waterfront Station) has several lower levels that are not used. There are still grand bathrooms with marble slab stalls, an old cold storage facility and other neat stuff.


The WCE crews still use this area, and the small "hotel" rooms (the ones with the windows facing the sidewalk) for the daytime layover, until the evening trains leave for mission.



I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me, and it'll happen to you, too!
Mowgli-dog 


Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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Re: Underneath The Marine Building
<Reply # 7 on 10/2/2009 8:22 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
While I've never been in, I understand those crew quarters on the bottom level are quite nice. I worked for transit when WCE first started up. The rooms weren't built yet so they put the crews up in the nearby Waterfront Centre Hotel, which is 5 star and pretty nice.

When they completed the rooms the crews had gotten used to the swank hotel. They complained about the water supply in the building, CP put them back into the hotel while they investigated. When that was cleared, the crews were put back into the rooms, then they complained about air quality. Again, more testing and sweet hotel rooms. Finally that all got straightened out and they were put back into the rooms in the station. They've been there ever since, I guess they ran out of things to complain about.

There are several levels to the station, you need only look at the elevation difference between the tracks and Cordova Street. It's an interesting building, and of course contains the tunnel to Post Office all the way up on Georgia Street.

Surprisingly, I haven't been able to find many archival photos taken from inside the station in areas other than the main waiting room or at track level. If anyone has any, please share.

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." -George Orwell

Rest in peace, my pal Mowgli - the best dog there ever was.
Gimpster 






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Re: Underneath The Marine Building
<Reply # 8 on 10/13/2009 4:05 PM >
Posted on Forum: Infiltration Forums
 
I went down there last week, but I wasn't able to find any of the extravagance Mowgli mentioned... I found my way into some lower parking lots with some hints of the old architecture (old brick walls and such) but no marble bathrooms or anything...
Anyone know if these old relics are beneath Waterfront Station (as in the skytrain/seabus station) or Waterfront Center?

Mowgli-dog 


Location: Vancouver, B.C.
Gender: Male




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Re: Underneath The Marine Building
<Reply # 9 on 10/14/2009 2:35 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Its the lower floors of the building itself, not the parking area. If you were to walk across the skybridge to the Seabus terminal, go outside and look back towards the station you can see that there are 2-3 floors below the main street level.

The WCE crew sleeping quarters are located on the bottom level, you can recognize them by the more modern windows with curtains and bars on them.

Back in the passenger train day, I would imagine that there was an interior stairwell and elevators that passengers could take to get from street level down to the track level. That's why I'm interested in seeing some historical photos of that era, but, so far I've not been able to find any.

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." -George Orwell

Rest in peace, my pal Mowgli - the best dog there ever was.
Yaweh Qanna 


Location: Burnaby BC
Gender: Male


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Re: Underneath The Marine Building
<Reply # 10 on 10/15/2009 1:06 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I've noticed that about Waterfront a few times actually and wondered what was down there. My interest is sparked. I will have to take a look soon.

live forever or die trying
SteamPunk 


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Re: Underneath The Marine Building
<Reply # 11 on 10/17/2009 4:57 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I noticed new fences on CP's waterfront yard recently.

I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me, and it'll happen to you, too!
imprezawrxsti 


Location: Portland, OR
Gender: Male


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Re: Underneath The Marine Building
<Reply # 12 on 10/18/2009 2:55 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
i can't speak for the Marine Building, but there are some really cool places in the lower levels under the Convention Centre. you can see the skytrain go through the tunnel, there's the potential for some really sweet long exposures. the lower level is more like a big parking garage, with one side open to the waterfront. we were down there on a snowy(!) night, and it was nice being able to walk for blocks and blocks without getting wet.

guess i'll have to come back soon and get those photos then...

do you know how to waltz?
Mowgli-dog 


Location: Vancouver, B.C.
Gender: Male




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Re: Underneath The Marine Building
<Reply # 13 on 10/18/2009 4:41 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
The Skytrain tunnel is very close to the Marine Building. You are correct, an interesting area, few realize that Cordova street is supported by huge steel I-beams and you can drive underneath it. It's actually a nice short cut to get out of the downtown core on a congested afternoon.

Anywhere you have such a drastic change in street elevation, you will have your requisite tunnels, sub basements and general cool out of the way locations. This area is very similar to Front Street in New West.

Gimpster; post your photos of the Marine Building.

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." -George Orwell

Rest in peace, my pal Mowgli - the best dog there ever was.
Agent Skelly 

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Location: Oregon Territory
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Re: Underneath The Marine Building
<Reply # 14 on 10/20/2009 6:25 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I've seen somewhere pictures of the underbelly of the Marine building...and I can't think of where...

UER Forum > Archived Canada: Alberta / BC > Underneath The Marine Building (Viewed 1053 times)



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