Preston station mini office block?

[Bletchleyite]

I've just seen this photo posted on a Facebook group:

Photo of Preston station from the south, from either a drone or helicopter, photographer unknown

I've never noticed it before, but there appears to be a mini office tower thing built over the inner end of the bay platforms. What is/was it used for?

 

[Skie]

It reminds me of the now demolished Royal Mail structure that was at Liverpool Lime Street and was part of the system that handled post, conveying it underground to the sorting office. There is a Royal Mail sorting office next to Preston station, so perhaps a similar thing might have been built?

 

[Bertie the bus]

It will remind you of that because it was effectively the same thing but conveyed mail overground via a covered bridge which was demolished 20 or so years ago.

31411 Preston

31411 at Preston on the 19:20 Blackpool North - Manchester Victoria on 18/08/92.

flic.kr

 

[GRALISTAIR]

A place of my misspent childhood and youth.

 

[driver9000]

It used to have a conveyor belt footbridge to the Royal Mail sorting depot. It doesn't have a use now.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

All of the above are correct!
I remember the Royal Mail building on the west side being built, early 1980's.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Cheers all.