Walk past Paris' stunning Gard du Nord and it's easy to admire the grandeur of the architecture. A little less subtle is that the statues are personifications of the cities serviced by the station. At the top, in the middle, you will find majestic Paris, flanked by the French Imperial Eagle and a shield bearing the Paris Coat of Arms. She also holds what appears to be a bouquet. To her left and right are the principle international destinations: London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Berlin, Vienna, Warsaw, and Cologne - all realized by famous 19$^{th}$ century sculptors. Lower down are 14 smaller statues, representing destinations within France. Gare du Nord's architecture is not the only exceptional aspect of the station; it is also the busiest station in Europe, with 214 million passengers annually.
Bonus:
A labourer tasked with building navigable routes (generally roads, canals, or railways) is traditionally called a navvy.
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