For some reason, virtually all of the railroad ticket offices in St. Paul were located on the four-block span of North Robert Street that is visible in this photograph. New York Central Lines' office is apparent in the Pioneer Press building on the right. According to a 1912 directory, ticket offices of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul R.R., the Chicago & Great Western R.R., the Chicago and Northwestern R.R., the Minneapolis & St. Louis R.R., and the Soo Line R.R. were all in the 300 block of North Robert Street (in the immediate foreground). The ticket office of the Great Northern R.R. was in the 400 block. Ticket offices of the Northern Pacific R.R. and the Burlington Route were in the 500 block. The ticket office of the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific R.R. was in the 600 block.

The streetcar turning right into Robert Street is negotiating what is known as a non-clearance curve. If a streetcar on Robert Street heading away from the viewer was present, it would have to wait until the turning car finished its turn before proceeding straight ahead. Most streetcar systems rebuilt intersections to allow clearance for turns. Philadelphia may still have a few of them left in their trolley system. Motorists and pedestrians in cities with streetcars are familiar with the front and rear overhang "swing" of a streetcar turning a corner.

Below is the same view from September of 2008.

The tower and flagpole just right of center belong to the Ryan Hotel, at 6th and Robert, demolished 1962.

The building with the New York Central Lines office is the Pioneer Endicott, built in 1890, and now houses apartments.

"Half the fun of having feet is Red Goose shoes."