Most unusual use for a railway station building

[northwichcat]

On Simon Reeve's Mediterranean series currently being shown on BBC2 he went to a turtle rescue centre located in a former booking office at a rural station in Italy. Does anyone know a more unusual use for a railway station building?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

There's something a bit perverse about Brunel's Temple Meads being used as a *shudder* car park... I appreciate that wasn't what you were quite after though!

 

[northwichcat]

There's something a bit perverse about Brunel's Temple Meads being used as a *shudder* car park... I appreciate that wasn't what you were quite after though!

Pontefract Baghill station building used to be used by Learner Driver Centres, which seems particularly ironic given the token level service that station gets.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Milton Keynes Central doubled up as the United Nations headquarters in one of the Superman films. Again not quite what you're after but still unusual!

 

[Dai Corner]

Locally, Newport has become offices for the City Council where the public can go and enquire about their services. It's called the Information Station.

Caerleon is a veterinary surgery.

 

[pdeaves]

Nowadays it seems unusual to be able to buy rail travel in many station buildings (as opposed to the million and one other things available to part you from your cash)
I can't remember which station off hand, but at least one became a chapel (and at least one was originally a chapel before becoming a station building).

 

[Calthrop]

In Blaenau Ffestiniog, the station building of the Ffestiniog Railway's former Duffws terminus -- close by the present Blaunau Ffestiniog station -- was long ago converted into, and still functions as, a public toilet facility.

 

[John Webb]

Nowadays it seems unusual to be able to buy rail travel in many station buildings (as opposed to the million and one other things available to part you from your cash)
I can't remember which station off hand, but at least one became a chapel (and at least one was originally a chapel before becoming a station building).

Are you thinking of Walsingham:
Walsingham Railway Station

© Copyright Ashley Dace and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Now a Russian Orthodox church. (Click on photo to go to the larger original.)

 

[bnm]

The nearest former station building to me is a branch of The Original Factory Shop.

 

[MotCO]

I'm not sure if it was a former station or engine shed, but in Alnwick there is a large second hand book shop in it.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

In Blaenau Ffestiniog, the station building of the Ffestiniog Railway's former Duffws terminus -- close by the present Blaunau Ffestiniog station -- was long ago converted into, and still functions as, a public toilet facility.

I can think of several current stations which seem to serve that purpose, albeit unofficially!

 

[randyrippley]

Morecambe Promenade station
Market hall, pub, theatre, Kentucky fried chicken and cinema
while the goods shed at what was Euston Rd station is a builders merchants

Lancaster Green Ayre - a public park

Halton - a boat shed for Lancaster Uni rowing club

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The former Epsom Town railway station in what is now Upper High Street hosts several shops, most of which have now become food outlets, and the former waiting room is a photographer's studio.

 

[xc170]

The nearest former station building to me is a branch of The Original Factory Shop.

View attachment 54091 View attachment 54092

Where is that, can't quite tell from the architecture?

 

[bnm]

Where is that, can't quite tell from the architecture?

It's the former Chard Central station in Somerset.

 

[SteveP29]

I'm not sure if it was a former station or engine shed, but in Alnwick there is a large second hand book shop in it.

I was going to mention that one.

Upstairs in Chester le Street station is a place where they do Zumba and other fitness related exercises like that.
Downstairs there is a small printers.

 

[eastwestdivide]

The Paris station Gare d'Orsay is now an art gallery/museum, Musée d'Orsay.

 

[northwichcat]

The Paris station Gare d'Orsay is now an art gallery/museum, Musée d'Orsay.

Closer to home what used to be Liverpool Road station in Manchester is the Museum of Science and Industry, while what used to be Manchester Central station is a conference centre.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Is the Mid Cheshire Line Mouldsworth Station building or at least part of it still home to Whistles Hair & Beauty Salon?

 

[underbank]

Hest Bank is now offices. Windermere is now a Booths supermarket.

 

[EveningStar]

I'm not sure if it was a former station or engine shed, but in Alnwick there is a large second hand book shop in it.

Former station.

Bookshop is excellant and cafe serves a sausage sarnie to die for ... get them to add the red onion marmalade.

 

[edwin_m]

The former Lord's Bridge station is the operating base for a radio telescope. The actual antennae can move along a section of the trackbed.

 

[306024]

Mistley on the Harwich branch is now a hairdressers and beauty salon. Built in 1854 in the same style as the nearby former maltings buildings it is grade II listed.

 

[bnm]

Also in Somerset, Ilminster's former station is a dog grooming parlour.

 

[Strathclyder]

The former Balloch Central station building is now used as a tourist information centre:

Sticking with Strathclyde/Greater Glasgow, the former Bridgeton Central is now a newsagents (was formerly a Ladbrokes betting shop):

And finally, the original (and utterly magnificent) St. Enoch subway station building (grade A-listed to boot) is now a Caffe Nero branch (was formely, like Balloch Central, a travel info cente). Yes, this one is a slight cheat, with the station itself still being open, but it's also one I just couldn't ignore:

I realize that these aren't nearly as unusual as the ones already listed above, but this nevertheless is a interesting cross-section of possible station building re-uses.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Whitstable houses a nursery

http://www.choochoos.co.uk/whitstable/

 

[A Challenge]

The original oxblood-red frontage for Hyde Park Corner LU station is now a posh hotel called The Wellesley.

 

[eldomtom2]

Locally, the surviving station buildings have been converted into two cafes, a house, and a parish hall.

 

[PeterY]

A good use for an old water tower at Romsey

 

[Basher]

About 1996, I project managed the conversion of the old goods shed at Langley Park to a car refurbishment unit.