Rail centres that have fallen from grace?

[glbotu]

I'm surprised no-one has considered London Broad Street. The decline was long and slow, but given 27 million passengers in 1902 and one train per 2 minutes in the peak, travelling from pretty much everywhere (services running from the Midland, the Great Northern and the NLR), down to not existing as a station in 1986, I think it's a prime candidate for important railway centre that has fallen from grace. A slight reprieve over the Kingsland Viaduct from London Overground, but it's no Broad Street station (and certainly not 30 tph). It also had a major adjacent goods yard, which also no longer exists.

The Farringdon (Street)/Holborn Viaduct/Ludgate Hill area is also considerably reduced from what it now was, despite the Thameslink services and I'm not just referring to the removal of the City Widened Lines service to Moorgate. London Reconnections has a good blog post here:

http://www.londonreconnections.com/2012/london-terminals-fullsome-farringdon-part-1/

The area had a major freight section as well as having a City of London passenger terminus.

 

[cle]

Mentioned them in the rising thread, didn't see this one

Crewe.
Watford Junction.

Neither are finished by any means and frequency wise are still very healthy, but WCML timetabling have seen these fall a little from their peak as important stops on the route...

 

[swt_passenger]

Manors.

Alleged to have been (1910s) the station with the most through platforms anywhere on the ECML between Finsbury Park and Waverley.

Now it's so badly signed you wouldn't even know it was there...

 

[jopsuk]

yet the last two times I've been through Manors there's been someone on the platform- and not with a notebook or camera in sight.

 

[tigerroar]

I thought the route was closed following a major derailment at Winchcombe in 1976 and it was found that due to the reduction in loose coupled freight and a redcution in freight in general, it was deemed that the Lickey route could handle all trains and so it was not financially worth re-instating the line.

That's probably more right than my version. I always though there was a land slip in Cheltenham and they decided the line couldn't cope with heavier trains. I wasn't old enough to be there at the time though

 

[steamybrian]

Christs Hospital..
Reduced from SEVEN platforms to two.
Junction of closed routes to Guildford and Shoreham-by-sea.

Aberystwyth
Once had 5 platforms now has one
OK- loco shed and two platforms restored when Vale of Rheidol diverted into the main station.
Wetherspoons now occupy former concourse, booking office, enquiry office, first floor offices and old station buffet.

Morfa Mawddach now a one platform unstaffed request halt
When it was Barmouth Junction it had 5 platforms, refreshment room, booking office and full station buildings.
Services to Dolgellau , Ruabon, etc

 

[Buttsy]

That's probably more right than my version. I always though there was a land slip in Cheltenham and they decided the line couldn't cope with heavier trains. I wasn't old enough to be there at the time though

Me either, but I was around...

 

[AndyLandy]

Mentioned them in the rising thread, didn't see this one

Crewe.
Watford Junction.

Neither are finished by any means and frequency wise are still very healthy, but WCML timetabling have seen these fall a little from their peak as important stops on the route...

I thought about Crewe. Time was just about every WCML express called there, nowadays, it sees 2tph each way. Not that that's anything to complain about, but it's not the almighty WCML hub it used to be.

 

[Welshman]

I thought about Crewe. Time was just about every WCML express called there, nowadays, it sees 2tph each way. Not that that's anything to complain about, but it's not the almighty WCML hub it used to be.

It even used to have ex-Western Region services on the lines to Shrewsbury and to Wellington via Market Drayton.

 

[RichmondCommu]

I thought about Crewe. Time was just about every WCML express called there, nowadays, it sees 2tph each way. Not that that's anything to complain about, but it's not the almighty WCML hub it used to be.

True but there is more to Crewe than just the station. The workshops employed thousands during it's heyday and now there is hardly anything left. However at least Basford Hall is still busy and the town still supports two TMD's.

 

[12CSVT]

To a lesser extent, Scunthorpe ....

On the other hand, Scunthorpe steelworks is the largest industrial railway system in Britain.

 

[RichmondCommu]

It even used to have ex-Western Region services on the lines to Shrewsbury and to Wellington via Market Drayton.

Hauled by Class 25's and later on Class 33's.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Manors.

Alleged to have been (1910s) the station with the most through platforms anywhere on the ECML between Finsbury Park and Waverley.

Now it's so badly signed you wouldn't even know it was there...

Did Manors decline coincide with the introduction of the Metro?

 

[6Gman]

True but there is more to Crewe than just the station. The workshops employed thousands during it's heyday and now there is hardly anything left. However at least Basford Hall is still busy and the town still supports two TMD's.

If you include Arriva/LNWR you could argue it now has three TMDs! And it still has a railway works. Just.

The passenger services to Chester, Shrewsbury & beyond, Stafford, Birmingham, Stoke, Manchester & Liverpool are probably as good (or better) than they've ever been. Like many other places it has lost through services to places like Barrow, Blackpool and the like, and the loss of through trains to the South West is to be regretted, but the only routes it has lost are the pretty limited services to Northwich via Middlewich, and Wellington via Market Drayton. Neither of which were exactly major destinations!

 

[3141]

Talking about Ayelsbury, go about 7 miles down a single branch to Princes Risborough, and you have another former junction. Used to have links to Oxford, Thame, Line to Birmingham was singled, both through tracks were removed, the Up platform abandoned leaving the North facing bay and Down platform remaining. Leaving only a link to Ayelsbury and a one train per 2 hours to London. Thankfully, things have got much better thanks to NSE/Chiltern.

You can add the route to Watlington to the list of places you used to be able to reach from Princes Risborough.

When I was living near there from 1987 it was the Up platfrom that was in use and the Down platform that was disused.

Also there was an hourly service to London - alternately one from Banbury and one from Aylesbury. Was it worse than that at some time between 1967 and 1987, or are you thinking things were even more run down than they actually were?

 

[AndyLandy]

From a purely "destinations served" basis, I'm often wont to bemoan the loss of services from Hartford station. These days, it only gets an hourly call by the LM Birmingham-Liverpool service. Once upon a time, it was served by West Coast, CrossCountry and even the Wales Alphaline services.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Whilst it was never a major railway centre, I think the sheer aura of repressiveness that Ore's decline has provided is definitely worthy of mention. It used to have a small EMU depot with a goods yard and a utilitarian yet pretty station; all casualties of railway evolution...or devolution as some of the cynical amongst you'll say. It's not too bad as far services go though (Off-peak direct trains are:1tph Victoria, 1tph Ashford, 1tph to Brighton), although you may as well just get the bus down to Hastings' station.

It's my "local", and in-between the uneven concrete and palisade fencing, it could easily be substituted as the railway station for Guantanamo Bay!

First post, go easy on the newcomer.

 

[cle]

From a purely "destinations served" basis, I'm often wont to bemoan the loss of services from Hartford station. These days, it only gets an hourly call by the LM Birmingham-Liverpool service. Once upon a time, it was served by West Coast, CrossCountry and even the Wales Alphaline services.

You could also add Congleton as a similar story (except the Wales services).

 

[DarloRich]

I'm pretty certain that Darlington also had a loco works? I guess you could also add Shildon to my list with its wagon works producing HAA's amongst many others.

Yes Darlington had quite a substantial locomotive works - closed in 1966, it is now a Morrison’s. Stooperdale Hall still stands and is home to the Railway Pension Fund, amongst others. Of course, Tornado was built in Darlington on part of the old works site at what is now known as Darlington Locomotive works on Hopetown Lane. Some say that the town never really recovered form the loss of the works.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlington_Works

Shildon Works was closed in 1984 and part of the site is occupied by the NRM Locomotion museum. it is a blow from which that area of County Durham is still struggling. There is an interesting article here from the Northern Echo about the impact of closure.

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/features/columnists/mikeamos/johnnorth/4196533.Works_outing/


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shildon_railway_works

March. Now a prison/immigration centre.

Apart from the huge Network Rail yard there!


May i suggest Stratford

 

[BlythPower]

Yes Darlington had quite a substantial locomotive works - closed in 1966, it is now a Morrison’s. Stooperdale Hall still stands and is home to the Railway Pension Fund, amongst others. Of course, Tornado was built in Darlington on part of the old works site at what is now known as Darlington Locomotive works on Hopetown Lane. Some say that the town never really recovered form the loss of the works.

Don't forget Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns built a lot of locos at their plant in Darlo. IIRC there was a carriage or wagon works there too. The TMD was substantial in steam days and had an allocation of 08s and DMUs into the 1980s. Then there's the various branches and sidings serving long lost engineering companies, the original S&D route, Dinsdale PW depot, etc, etc.

 

[DarloRich]

Don't forget Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns built a lot of locos at their plant in Darlo. IIRC there was a carriage or wagon works there too. The TMD was substantial in steam days and had an allocation of 08s and DMUs into the 1980s. Then there's the various branches and sidings serving long lost engineering companies, the original S&D route, Dinsdale PW depot, etc, etc.

Indeed, I thought i would start with the big ticket items!

The wagon works was at Stooperdale/Faverdale

There are some photos on this site worth looking at. All of the industrial facilites are basically one long works, which has all gone.

http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/...ULATED_PLACE=DARLINGTON&ADMIN_AREA=Darlington

 

[RichmondCommu]

If you include Arriva/LNWR you could argue it now has three TMDs! And it still has a railway works. Just.

Hmmm as far as I know Crewe Diesel has been closed for quite sometime and is now only used to store withdrawn loco's. So on that basis I had only counted two TMD's. Still, thats still the same number that were there in BR days!

 

[GazUk]

Hello all

I think really a lot of the large stations and regions on the network have really fallen from grace take a look at my home town, Rugby -I know in the last few years its had a major remodelling track wise and had station improvements with 3 new platforms and a new station frontage,and has a small rail freight depot adjacent to the station and a major rail freight depot situated 3 miles away at crick but the town,which was a major junction that had 7 routes from it only has 3 now,had a decent marshalling yard along with a goods depot, large loco shed and a loco testing station,which has all gone now!

 

[ChilternHenry]

You can add the route to Watlington to the list of places you used to be able to reach from Princes Risborough.

When I was living near there from 1987 it was the Up platfrom that was in use and the Down platform that was disused.

Also there was an hourly service to London - alternately one from Banbury and one from Aylesbury. Was it worse than that at some time between 1967 and 1987, or are you thinking things were even more run down than they actually were?

I may just be confused, the UP platform would be the one in the Birmingham direction, whilst the down platform would be heading towards London? If that is the case, it was definitely the Down plat that was kept open.

 

[Bevan Price]

Quite a few towns/cities that retain a railway station, but lost one or two others , mainly due to Marples - Beeching, but some closed earlier. A few examples:

Leicester - lost Central & Belgrave Road.
Nottingham - lost Victoria, London Road (High & Low Levels), Arkwright Street.
Sheffield - lost Victoria.
Manchester - lost Central & Exchange.
Liverpool - lost Central & Exchange.
Glasgow - lost Buchanan Street & St. Enoch.
Edinburgh - lost Princes Street.
Birkenhead Woodside - 6 or 7 platforms and through services to London Paddington, Llandudno & (during summer) South Coast resorts. Part of site now used as bus park.

Bury - had 2 stations, Bolton Street & Knowsley Street, with through services to/from Bolton/Liverpool, Manchester, Accrington/Burnley/Colne, Bacup, and to Yorkshire.
Bolton St. still exists as heritage status on ELR. Only other service is Metrolink from a rather gloomy Bury Interchange.

 

[507 001]

Birkenhead Woodside - 6 or 7 platforms and through services to London .

You could also include the Birkenhead dockside system, and the Mersey Docks and harbour board system on the other side of the river.

 

[AndyLandy]

Hmmm as far as I know Crewe Diesel has been closed for quite sometime and is now only used to store withdrawn loco's. So on that basis I had only counted two TMD's. Still, thats still the same number that were there in BR days!

As far as I can tell, Crewe is where Mk2 coaching stock goes to die. :/

 

[yorksrob]

Whilst it was never a major railway centre, I think the sheer aura of repressiveness that Ore's decline has provided is definitely worthy of mention. It used to have a small EMU depot with a goods yard and a utilitarian yet pretty station; all casualties of railway evolution...or devolution as some of the cynical amongst you'll say. It's not too bad as far services go though (Off-peak direct trains are:1tph Victoria, 1tph Ashford, 1tph to Brighton), although you may as well just get the bus down to Hastings' station.

It's my "local", and in-between the uneven concrete and palisade fencing, it could easily be substituted as the railway station for Guantanamo Bay!

First post, go easy on the newcomer.

And a casualty of vandalism. The clapboard building had not long been repainted in the late 80's when the arsonists struck (I remember seeing it when it had been burnt out but not yet demolished).

 

[tom1681]

Quite a few towns/cities that retain a railway station, but lost one or two others , mainly due to Marples - Beeching, but some closed earlier.

And Norwich - lost Victoria and City stations.

 

[Waverley125]

Blackburn & Bolton now shadows of their former selves.

 

[Bevan Price]

Quite a few towns/cities that retain a railway station, but lost one or two others , mainly due to Marples - Beeching, but some closed earlier.

And a few more:
Dundee lost Dundee West, Dundee East & Esplanade.
Hull lost Cannon Street.
Dewsbury lost Central, Market Place & Savile Town (the latter never got a passenger service, only freight)
Leeds lost Central, plus Marsh Lane, Hunslet, (Holbeck Low Level & High Level) on the edge of the city central region.
Derby lost Friargate.
Chesterfield lost Central & Market Place.
Ashton under Lyne lost Oldham Road & Park Parade.
Oldham lost Central, Clegg Street & Glodwick Road, then also Mumps & Werneth in the conversion to Metrolink.
Plymouth lost Friary & Millbay, plus several outer suburban stations.
Pontypool lost Crane St. & Clarence St, plus a steam depot and extensive sidings.
Rotherham lost Masborough & Westgate.
Swansea lost Victoria & St. Thomas, plus several suburban stations.
Wigan & St. Helens each lost a Central station (the present St. Helens Central was formerly Shaw Street)