Stations not known by their "official" names?

[Rail Ranger]

There was also Cardiff General (before it was renamed Cardiff Central in 1973).

 

[Djgr]

Many stations used to be suffixes “General” but are no longer (eg Chester, Banbury, Reading) but the only one I know of that is still signposted thus is Wrexham General.

Are there any "Exchange" stations left (e.g. Liverpool, Wrexham, Bradford)?

 

[D6130]

Are there any "Exchange" stations left (e.g. Liverpool, Wrexham, Bradford)?

Don't think so. There was also Manchester Exchange....but that also closed many moons ago. AIUI Wrexham Exchange was so-called because it was the interchange for main line services at the adjacent General station. However those stations in the big Northern cities were named after the nearby corn, wool or cotton exchange buildings.

 

[Krokodil]

Wrexham Exchange got absorbed into General

 

[yorksrob]

Strangely enough, the old Bradford Forster Square always seemed nearer to the Exchange building than where the old Exchange station would have been.

 

[D6130]

Strangely enough, the old Bradford Forster Square always seemed nearer to the Exchange building than where the old Exchange station would have been.

Very true....although it's about equidistant between the two new stations.

 

[yorksrob]

Very true....although it's about equidistant between the two new stations.

Yes, they're both much further away from eachother now as well, which is annoying.

 

[Barnsley]

Don't think so. There was also Manchester Exchange....but that also closed many moons ago. AIUI Wrexham Exchange was so-called because it was the interchange for main line services at the adjacent General station. However those stations in the big Northern cities were named after the nearby corn, wool or cotton exchange buildings.

The current station in Barnsley was named Exchange when Courthouse Station was open

 

[mmh]

Also on this line, it's somewhat commonplace to ask for a ticket to "The Junction".

I've only ever known railway staff (and a minority of them) to say "the Junction," to all locals it's just "Junction" (for both the station and the town.)

Likewise, "Llandudno Town" is never said except by some staff.

 

[Paul AC]

Ref Exchange stations, there's "Exchange Square" tram stop on Manchester Metrolink, which is in Exchange Square; and which is next to the Corn Exchange building. The Royal Exchange building is nearby, this was a cotton exchange.

 

[midland1]

The current station in Barnsley was named Exchange when Courthouse Station was open

I always think that a station called exchange must be a big station i.e. Liverpool etc. but Barnsley only had one platform. Was that the smallest exchange?

 

[William3000]

"General" probably fits best for both Oxford and Cambridge, although my preference would be "City". Either that or give it a personal suffix, maybe 'Cambridge Newton' and 'Oxford Hooke' to continue the rivalry?

Colloquially people already call Cambridge ‘Cambridge Central’ or ‘Cambridge Main’. ‘General’ is too Great Western for Cambridge!

 

[Par]

Ref Exchange stations, there's "Exchange Square" tram stop on Manchester Metrolink, which is in Exchange Square; and which is next to the Corn Exchange building. The Royal Exchange building is nearby, this was a cotton exchange.

Also Exchange Quay on the Eccles Line.

 

[RichardAsh1981]

Didn't Chester also have the 'General' suffix prior to the closure of Northgate in about 1969?

Yes.

 

[70014IronDuke]

Yes, after nationalisation. Prior to that it was just Reading, but probably referred to as the Great Western station.

That's quite fascinating it was so recent. But what was Reading West - that was surely GWR too, wasn't it?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Didn't Chester also have the 'General' suffix prior to the closure of Northgate in about 1969?

When exactly did Chester station officially change its name? When there was a goods train / passenger train, rail crash there, back in May 1972, fairly sure it was still being referred to by many as 'Chester General'.

 

[Rail Ranger]

When exactly did Chester station officially change its name? When there was a goods train / passenger train, rail crash there, back in May 1972, fairly sure it was still being referred to by many as 'Chester General'.

October 1969 according to various online sources. Presumably after the closure of Chester Northgate station on 6th October 1969.

 

[Dr_Paul]

Not quite in the spirit of the thread, but both Windsor & Eton Central and Windsor & Eton Riverside are, for understandable reasons, never referred to by their full names by locals. It's always "Central" or "Riverside" in Windsor itself (not sure about Eton as I don't move in those circles); those in Slough or environs often refer to plain "Windsor", or "Windsor Central" if a distinction is required. Quite a few people I know (i.e. it's not just me!) also use "TCR" instead of Tottenham Court Road.

I've never heard anyone refer to the ex-LSWR station at Windsor as anything but Windsor, except on railway announcements where the 'and Eton Riverside' suffix is always used. I remember 455s with the name in full on the front indicator, thus requiring it to be in tiny letters and unreadable over ten feet away. As the ex-GWR Windsor station has never to my knowledge been served by trains from Waterloo, the suffix on the indicator was surely superfluous.

 

[Purple Train]

I've never heard anyone refer to the ex-LSWR station at Windsor as anything but Windsor, except on railway announcements where the 'and Eton Riverside' suffix is always used. I remember 455s with the name in full on the front indicator, thus requiring it to be in tiny letters and unreadable over ten feet away. As the ex-GWR Windsor station has never to my knowledge been served by trains from Waterloo, the suffix on the indicator was surely superfluous.

Indeed. It was "Windsor & ER" on the Desiros, which, during the late Queen's lifetime, I thought was a nice touch. I'm not sure if the Etonians felt similarly.