Old Photos of Stations

[MidnightFlyer]

Hi,

I've looked on RAILSCOT etc, but cannot find anything. I am looking for internal/external photos of stations such as St Pancras, Manchester Piccadilly and Leeds before the refurbishment, all out of curiosity to see how much has changed (not so much stock etc, more the buildings and design). Any links/info/photos will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Lampshade]

Loads of old Piccadilly here: http://images.manchester.gov.uk/Res...ly+station&QueryOption=Anywhere&Submit=Search

The colour ones start around #60+.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Loads of old Piccadilly here: http://images.manchester.gov.uk/Res...ly+station&QueryOption=Anywhere&Submit=Search

The colour ones start around #60+.

Awesome, the colour ones really are interesting, so much changed when they turned it into an airport terminal. I am having to guess what it looked like, but from what I can tell, it was low-roofed, compact, and the ticket office is still where it was...

Thanks!

 

[142094]

Leeds has changed quite a bit. Imagine being able to step onto a train where McDonalds is now...

 

[4SRKT]

Leeds has changed quite a bit. Imagine being able to step onto a train where McDonalds is now...

Somewhere, buried deep beneath the current Leeds station are the horrendous Gents' bogs of the old station. These fabled toilets, which even rivalled the Augean stables when it came to the task of cleaning them out, were in the subway that is where the main bridge is now (the other bridge was there in the old layout). Everyone going to any platform other than 1 - 5 (today's 4 - 8) was forced to walk past this rank, disgustingly stinky place, and if you were desperate enough to have to venture in...... Heaven help you.

 

[ainsworth74]

Imagine being able to step onto a train where McDonalds is now...

Wait... What!? hock:hock:

 

[4SRKT]

McDonalds is where Leeds Wellington station was (Midland Railway). The high, vaulted ceiling in that bit where the shops are is very similar to the ceiling of the concourse of the old Bradford Forster Square station. From the 1930s styling I guess both must have been rebuilt by the LMS at about the same time. The NER's New station was the bulk of what became Leeds City, with Wellington becoming the parcels depot. The rebuilt Leeds station has added 3 new platforms (1 - 3) from the old Wellington site, which was at a lower elevation than New.

 

[ainsworth74]

Interesting, thanks

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Somewhere, buried deep beneath the current Leeds station are the horrendous Gents' bogs of the old station. These fabled toilets, which even rivalled the Augean stables when it came to the task of cleaning them out, were in the subway that is where the main bridge is now (the other bridge was there in the old layout). Everyone going to any platform other than 1 - 5 (today's 4 - 8) was forced to walk past this rank, disgustingly stinky place, and if you were desperate enough to have to venture in...... Heaven help you.

I remember those!

Did they simply entomb the whole room rather than actually remove it? If so, some archaeologist in 1000 years time is going to get a very nasty shock!

 

[4SRKT]

I'd like to think they simply sealed up the subway, bogs and all. That way as you say some future archaeologist will be truly appalled!

 

[yorksrob]

I'd like to think they simply sealed up the subway, bogs and all. That way as you say some future archaeologist will be truly appalled!

I've no doubt they're still there to amaze and horrify future generations

I liked the pictures of Piccadilly. I only went there a couple of times before the refurb but I'd forgotten how low key the facilities were.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Thanks for all the responces guys, just St P left to cover. Once more, any photos would be great (though the stories are good too!), as would anything of any other stations for this category, can't think of any ATM though.

With reference to the Leeds subway, is it under/was it located at the Eastern (smaller) footbridge, or the larger Western footbridge, next to the bays and ticket gates?

Thanks!

 

[4SRKT]

I've no doubt they're still there to amaze and horrify future generations

I liked the pictures of Piccadilly. I only went there a couple of times before the refurb but I'd forgotten how low key the facilities were.

TBH I don't think I've been there except to change trains since the refurbishment, so am not very familiar with the way it looks now. Since moving to the Bradford area 11 years ago Victoria has been our Manchester gateway.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

TBH I don't think I've been there except to change trains since the refurbishment, so am not very familiar with the way it looks now. Since moving to the Bradford area 11 years ago Victoria has been our Manchester gateway.

Thnkyou, anyone have any photos of Victoria before the MEN Arena destroyed it? Piccadilly is quite nice, shame they built it as an airport terminal though.

 

[Mojo]

The LT Museum has some photos of St Pancras in their photographic collection: http://www.ltmcollection.org/photos/

 

[4SRKT]

Thnkyou, anyone have any photos of Victoria before the MEN Arena destroyed it? Piccadilly is quite nice, shame they built it as an airport terminal though.

Probably not what you meant but here's a shot of a GRCW class 128 parcels unit outside Victoria in 1985. No MEN in sight.

 

[Wyvern]

Try this site for over 1200 pictures mostly from the early sixties of old stations:

Wikimedia Commons: Category-Photographs by Ben Brooksbank

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Thanks for the link, looks good, I was more looking for 1970 onwards, after steam etc, when most of what was going to be closed was closed. Still looking for photos of old Leeds

 

[yorksrob]

TBH I don't think I've been there except to change trains since the refurbishment, so am not very familiar with the way it looks now. Since moving to the Bradford area 11 years ago Victoria has been our Manchester gateway.

I must admit, I'd have loved to have been to the old Victoria - Looked a fascinating place - even more than the current Victoria which is fascinating in itself. I think thats got a blocked up subway underneath as well.

MattE2010 - Theres some good footage on youtube from before the MEN squatted on it. Type in Manchester Victoria 1989.

 

[4SRKT]

Manchester Victoria was one of the most atmospheric stations on the network. It was huge, sprawling, and had proper main line trains. The fact that there was more often than not a class 40 and/or a class 25 idling away in the centre roads certainly helped!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

With reference to the Leeds subway, is it under/was it located at the Eastern (smaller) footbridge, or the larger Western footbridge, next to the bays and ticket gates?

Neither; it was closer to the western than the eastern footbridge though. The entrance was roughly where the customer information point desk is. So roughly ½ way between the barriers at the entrance and the western footbridge.

 

[4SRKT]

The western footbridge has replaced the subway. As with the western footbridge, the subway was the principal link across the station.

 

[theblackwatch]

Somewhere, buried deep beneath the current Leeds station are the horrendous Gents' bogs of the old station. These fabled toilets, which even rivalled the Augean stables when it came to the task of cleaning them out, were in the subway that is where the main bridge is now (the other bridge was there in the old layout). Everyone going to any platform other than 1 - 5 (today's 4 - 8) was forced to walk past this rank, disgustingly stinky place, and if you were desperate enough to have to venture in...... Heaven help you.

I cannot disagree with you about those toilets. You'd get part way down the stairs and could smell them. It wasn;t just in the last year or two they were like that, they had always been awful from what I remember. I wonder if they were demolished or was the place just filled?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I cannot disagree with you about those toilets. You'd get part way down the stairs and could smell them. It wasn;t just in the last year or two they were like that, they had always been awful from what I remember. I wonder if they were demolished or was the place just filled?

I think that locals generally agreed that they were sealed off, just to clear things up about Leeds: it looked like a massive grey shed, it was horrible, stingy, dark, damp and generally nasty. Is this a suitable conclusion?

Has it changed for the better since the refurb (the only thing I possess of Leeds before the refurb is a Quail diagram), such as pasasenger facilities, environment etc? (I know the building is certainly impressive.)

Are the shops on the island platforms what occupy the site of the subway (and from what I can gather, toilets?)

 

[4SRKT]

Are the shops on the island platforms what occupy the site of the subway (and from what I can gather, toilets?)

There was always a buffet on the wide island platform housing platforms 12-15 (the south face of which is at a higher elevation to the north), but I don't recall it was as extensive as it is now. The layout of this part of the station is the same as it was then, although the platform numbers have changed (was 9-12 IIRR, with 10 being the recessed bay at the west end, and 11 the Selby bay. 12 was the last platform: the current 16 and 17 are completely new and built on goods loop). I'm going there in a few minutes and will see if I can see any trace at all of where the subway was.

 

[yorksrob]

I think that locals generally agreed that they were sealed off, just to clear things up about Leeds: it looked like a massive grey shed, it was horrible, stingy, dark, damp and generally nasty. Is this a suitable conclusion?

I think that's probably a bit harsh. It was very uninspiring and a bit dingy. The nearest comparison I can think of is that it was a bit like a fairly modern farm or industrial building. Tidy but austere. The new trainshed is a great improvement - fitting for a city.

There are some fairly well camouflaged manhole covers where the steps were covered over by the ticket barrier and near the buffers of platform 13.

 

[4SRKT]

Had a dekko today and there's absolutely no trace in the platform surfaces of where the subway was. I'm certain the entrance was more or less exactly where the Journey's Friend kiosk with the massive Coke advert on the side now stands on the wide island platform 12-15

 

[yorksrob]

Had a dekko today and there's absolutely no trace in the platform surfaces of where the subway was. I'm certain the entrance was more or less exactly where the Journey's Friend kiosk with the massive Coke advert on the side now stands on the wide island platform 12-15

I think that's too far over towards platform 15. I think it was further towards platform 12 just beyond the buffers of platform 13.

 

[table38]

IIRC, weren't there two separate sets of stairs up onto what is now P12 and P15?

I'd imagine the subway must be still there, it's way too useful for running utility cables and pipes through. Ergo, there must be an access point somewhere...

 

[yorksrob]

IIRC, weren't there two separate sets of stairs up onto what is now P12 and P15?

I'd imagine the subway must be still there, it's way too useful for running utility cables and pipes through. Ergo, there must be an access point somewhere...

No, there was just the one. Having had a brief look over tonight, the kiosk is actually further over towards platform 12 than I'd thought so it probably is around the right distance between 12 and 15. I still think it was nearer to the buffers of platform 13 though.