Riihimäen rautatieasema ja Rautatienpuisto

English translation (from the Finnish)

The text above is the record as published by the Finnish Heritage Agency (Museovirasto), in Finnish. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Finnish Heritage Agency (Museovirasto); it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

Riihimäki is one of the most significant places in terms of traffic, as a junction station on the main lines. The built environment that has developed over the past hundred years in the area is abundant and well preserved, and it reflects the history and operation of the railways in an exceptionally varied way. In the Rautatienpuisto area, which grew up alongside the railway and the station, a considerable stock of both private and public buildings from the late 19th century and the early 20th century has survived.

The oldest surviving building stock in the area dates back to the time of construction of the first railway line, the one from Helsinki to Hämeenlinna, in the 1850s.

The railway area extends west of the station as a wide residential area and east of it as an equally extensive depot area. The area comprises the large working-class residential area of Rautatienpuisto, built from the 1850s to the 1920s; a well-kept park characteristic of VR's areas; an exceptionally handsome series of engine sheds; and a rare telegraph equipment workshop. The functionalist station building, designed by the architect Thure Hellström, was built in the 1930s.

Among the building stock, in addition to the telegraph equipment workshop, there are other rarities such as the engineer's house, two schools and an association building. On the eastern edge of Rautatienpuisto are the former VR doctor's house and a private station hotel, as well as the dwelling of the caretaker of the Kara outdoor grounds.

A landmark associated with the station complex is the red-brick power station of Paloheimo Oy, which has been built on its southern edge since the 1910s. On the western side is a church from the early 20th century and a parish hall from the 1960s.

History

The Riihimäki station area came into being with the construction of the railway behind Karan kartano (manor) in the village of Herajoki. The Helsinki-Hämeenlinna line was built in 1857-1862. Riihimäki was chosen as the junction station of the Pietari line, and construction work on the eastern line expanded and enlivened the station area in 1868-1870.

When the railway was built, a telegraph line was also laid alongside the track. To maintain it, the Valtion Rautateiden Telegrafikonepaja was established in Riihimäki in 1881, and it grew into the centre of the state telecommunications administration. The building was extended in 1888, 1901, 1907 and 1929.

In the 1850s, a master builder's house, two workers' residential barracks for the railway builders, and a residential building for railway officials were built in the area. The last of these served as the residence of the track engineer from the 1870s onwards. In the 1860s and 1880s, residential barracks for railway workers were built in the area, and in 1880 an elementary school was built by the Railway Board.

The locomotive shed was completed in 1869 and was extended in 1876, in 1892, and several times in the 20th century. The water tower was completed in 1892 and heightened in 1928.

The Jugendstil stationmaster's house and a second school were completed in 1907 and 1908. In the 1920s, five more residential apartment blocks were built in the area.

Private building was represented by the residential building of the so-called Riihimäki manor on the outer grounds of Karan, completed in 1868 and converted into a hotel in 1879, a partly two-storey timber building.

The Paloheimo oy power station was completed in 1910, the chimney in 1934, and the north wing, designed by architect Toivo Paatela, in 1949. The factory hall and the gas turbine section were completed in the 1950s to the design of architect Veli Valorinta.

Riihimäki was established as a prayer-house parish of Hausjärvi in 1899, and the parish became independent in 1909. The church was designed by the architectural office Nyström-Petrelius-Penttilä and was completed in 1905 with voluntary funds collected by Riihimäki residents and with support from the Railway Administration. The church was thoroughly restored to the designs of architect Kauno S. Kallio in 1927. The last restoration, which added a new sacristy to the building, was carried out to designs by Eila and Heikki Havas in 1977-1978. The parish hall next to the church was built in 1964 to designs by architect Erkko Virkkunen.