A TRAVELER'S TREASURE; GLENDALE STATION RENOVATED.

Byline: Mary Lou Aurelio Daily News Staff Writer

It will be a trip back to the future when refurbishing is finished in July on Glendale's 1924 railroad depot, city officials, travelers and train buffs say.

``It's wonderful that they have preserved it,'' said John Lee of Burbank, who has been spending many days since his retirement outside the station watching the Amtrak and Metrolink trains. ``I'm sure the people who built it in 1924 would be surprised it's still here.''

Well, maybe not.

According to the March 25, 1924, edition of the Glendale Evening News, which printed a description of the new station: ``Nothing has been omitted to give Glendale a station of such advanced design as to care for the city's future as well as present needs. The station is very substantially built, of fireproof reinforced concrete construction . . . equipped with every modern facility for handling passenger and freight traffic.''

For two years, the city of Glendale has been restoring the Spanish colonial revival style depot building at 400 W. Cerritos Ave. During that time, the station has continued to serve as an Amtrak and Metrolink stop, and when it is done the newly restored depot will become the Glendale Transportation Center. It will accommodate cars, bus service and taxi transportation, in addition to trains.

Besides restoring the building, which retains many of its original features, the project includes expanding the parking lot to 450 spaces, increasing the platform length to accommodate longer trains and expanding the bus bay area.

The cost of the renovation of the depot and construction of the parking lot and other outdoor amenities is $4.7 million, paid for with a combination of state and county money.

The depot, however, will be the centerpiece of the new facility.

With the assistance of the city's historical commission, Glendale officials have ensured that the 1924 newspaper description of the depot will still hold true:

``The waiting room is particularly attractive, the walls finished to give the effect of old adobe. The doors are massive, carved and studded with hammered brass nails. On the exterior, the windows are decorated with wrought iron bars, artistically twisted.

``At the south end of the station is a portico where the traveler may sit in the open if he chooses. This space is roofed with cedar logs, giving a most unusual effect. In type it is different from any other station of the Southern Pacific system and is considered the most beautiful on the line.''

The original architectural plans for the station could not be located, but the city reviewed historic photographs collected by the Glendale library, said Jano Baghdanian, city traffic and transportation administrator.

While there are some pictures of the exterior, there is only one photograph in the library's collection that shows a portion of the interior.

The 1943 pictures indicate that significant changes had occurred. A new ticket counter had been built along the entire width of the waiting room. On the building's exterior, the original open portico had been enclosed with glazed walls and a roof, converting the space into a lunch room.

A new, open waiting room, similar to the original, had been built adjacent to the east side of the lunch room. In 1979, ticket agent Bruce Gaughan and Friends of the Building initiated a massive beautification campaign, Baghdanian said.

Except for maintenance, no other major changes were made to the station between 1979 and the 1990s. The original character and fabric of the 1924 building is largely intact, Baghdanian said.

He said in addition to being restored to its original look, the station is being brought up to meet earthquake and building codes.

Outside improvements, besides the extra parking spaces, include signalized crossings for pedestrians and shelters for travelers.

While Amtrak travelers and Metrolink commuters still catch trains there, the station itself has been closed for more than two years.

Commuter Sibby Carter of Pasadena admired the work.

``I think it's wonderful. This is amazing,'' she said looking at the station's cream-colored Spanish-style exterior, arches decorated with peaks and swirls like a fancy wedding cake.

``I think they're going all out,'' Carter said. ``I wish they'd do that to the Pasadena station. It's a shame to let these old buildings go.''

``The wrought iron is nice. It looks good,'' said train station fan Ernie Small of La Canada, who remembers the station in its heyday. ``I've been coming here since 1939, since I was a kid.''

Lee, a train buff who knows the station's history, lamented its 1997 closure but said it was not surprising that the restoration has taken time.

``Can you imagine - from 1924, with that style of electrical wiring and plumbing - bringing it up to 1997 standards?'' Lee asked. ``It was long past due.''

Ron Yamasaki of Glendale, who also enjoys spending time watching the trains come and go, said he is looking forward to the station's grand reopening.

``We'll all be there singing,'' Yamasaki said.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

PHOTO (1 -- 2) Glendale is renovating its historic train station, which is set to reopen in July.

(3) Hernan De Los Angeles, left, and Juan Mancia restore the station's original lamps.

Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News