over 12 million people pass through vancouver's waterfront station each
year but few of them realize that their commute is taking them through
one of vancouver's oldest and perhaps most haunted buildings
opening in 1914 the waterfront station was the third station to act as the west coast
terminus for the canadian pacific railway line the first station was located in port
moody british columbia and operated for 10 years before transferring downtown to a second location
at the foot of granville street in 1899 just one block west from the current waterfront station
just 15 years later the current waterfront station opened and began to greet travelers arriving at
their destination on the west coast this new station would have a sense of class and elegance
and would inspire awe with its stunning white ionic style columns
in addition to being a train station the west side of the building housed restaurants in a dance hall
the east side of the building contained full-time residences and lodging for travelers the building
was designed in neoclassical style with the outside covered in perfect rows of red brick
over the past five years the facade has been carefully restored any bricks needing repair have
been individually removed and carefully refinished or replaced with a similar vintage brick
in the center of the building is waterfront station's main hall which features two large
clocks facing each other high on the east and west walls hidden high up above was a
series of original paintings done by adelaide langford today these have been preserved and
are some of the last best remaining original railway station paintings in the country
standing outside the station is a bronze sculpture installed in 1921 called angel of victory
this is one of three identical sculptures installed in canada
commissioned by the canadian pacific railway to honor the more than eleven hundred cpr employees
who perished during world war one the other two sculptures are installed in winnipeg and montreal
the sculpture also known as winged victory depicts an angel carrying a deceased soldier to heaven
at the moment of death in 1977 waterfront station began to transform into a public transit hub
with the arrival of the sea bus
then just two years later the canadian pacific railway ceased operations at waterfront station
after being taken over by via rail
the last passenger train departed from waterfront station on october 27
1979 filled with 200 people bound for montreal and running just 15 minutes behind schedule
at one point the station building was slated for demolition
however due to public opposition the station building was saved and renovated
then in 1985 the building was given new life when it became one of the stations
for the newly constructed skytrain line just in time for the opening of expo 86
and 1995 saw the reintroduction of rail service to the station with the launch of
the west coast express commuter rail train so today this heritage building is a busy hub that
connects the city's various public transportation systems and because of all this hustle and bustle
few people realize that they're passing through what is perhaps vancouver's most haunted location
one of the most famous ghost stories from the waterfront station
is of a railway worker that can sometimes be seen on rainy nights
this is said to be the ghost of hub clark who was killed in 1928 while making repairs
in the rail yard after slipping on some wet tracks he was knocked unconscious
and then horrifically decapitated after being run over by a passenger train since then
people have reported seeing the headless brakeman roaming the tracks lantern glowing in his hand
waterfront station's knight security guards have also witnessed operations and other
poltergeist-like activities one night a guard saw the ghost of a woman in a 1920s flapper dress
she was dancing alone in a corridor on the west side of the building
and he swears he could hear the sound of 1920s music playing while she danced
when he approached her the music stopped and she suddenly vanished
other guards have also claimed to hear depression era music emanating throughout
the halls even though this music isn't being emitted from the station's sound system
another security guard got the fright of his life while patrolling the northwest corner of
the building as he entered an empty room lit only by his flashlight he encountered the ghost of an
old woman she was glowing phosphorous white and had a mournful look to her face and as he stood
there she began to reach out to him terrified he ran from the room and the woman wasn't seen again
in another report a night watchman experienced poltergeist like activity in the east side of
the building as he walked through a storage room filled with old desks
the desks moved together behind him without a sound
when he turned around to exit he found that his path was blocked by the desks
stunned and completely frightened the security guard leapt over the desks and ran from the room
in addition to these encounters security guards have also heard the sounds of phantom footsteps
walking along the tiled floors of the building late at night when no one else is around
others have seen the ghosts of three little old ladies sitting on a station bench
as if waiting for a train that never arrives
in the daytime thoughts of ghosts fade as
thousands of travelers hurry about on their daily commute
but if you're at the station late at night when most of the city is asleep
you just might catch a glimpse of one of these mournful souls
thanks for joining us to explore the history of vancouver's waterfront station
if you enjoyed this video please remember to join us on our next adventure