Ugliest Station

[Kris]

Many contenders here : - favourites have to be

Euston

Coventry

Birmingham

Pokesdown

 

[Tom]

I vote Pokesdown.

 

[Snapper]

Oh I dunno. Coventry is a classic design of the era, and still in pretty good nick.
I'd suggest Manchester Victoria (the 'new' bit):

http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/p39787374.html

 

[37372]

Derby looks awful with the seemingly permanent roof repairs going on...

 

[Coxster]

Fleet's main building (down platform) isn't really anything special:

http://www.coxster.co.uk/railphotography/miscellaneous/stations/Fleet.htm

 

[Z12XE]

Colchester North (Down Side/Main Ticket hall especially)

 

[Demps]

You forgot Leeds.

Birmingham isnt that bad, and looks really hot from the outside, classic modern acrhitecture.

 

[Max]

You forgot Leeds.

Birmingham isnt that bad, and looks really hot from the outside, classic modern acrhitecture.

Leeds isn't bad at all I'd say! Birmingham is pretty grim, i hate architecture from that period!

 

[andersley]

I will be going to Derby on saturday, and agree that the station looks awful! About time they got around to fitting a new roof.

 

[CraigS]

Ore on the Hastings - Ashford line is Ore-ful I mean awful.

There are two waiting shelters that have no glass in + have been shot at. The signs have bullet marks in and there is some graffiti on the platform.

Ore used to be better 20 years ago when there used to be a station building that looked nice.

 

[WessexWarrior]

I don't find Pokesdown too bad.

I do, however, have an aversion bordering on hatred of some of the stations on the Lea Valley Lines, such as Broxbourne or Harlow Town.

They can't even knock them down, because these abominations are Grade II Listed!

 

[Mojo]

Sea Mills. Some may find the early 20th Century station building attractive, (now used by a non-railway business), but the whole station is a dump and run down. The brick platform shelter looks awful, and the bus type shelter now has no glass!

http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/seamills.php

 

[gordonthemoron]

Sunderland

 

[westcoaster]

brum snow hill

 

[plikma]

Leeds isn't bad!

Brum NS is hell on switching trains - cold, dark, hurts your eyes. Also 10x noisier. Bizarrely I ahve no idea what it looks like from the surface - is there any surface buildings?

 

[Kris]

Leeds isn't bad really - didn't recognise it when I went there a couple of weeks ago (been about 10 years since I travelled to Leeds by train).

Anybody know why they have those wiggly bits welded on to the rails in the bay platforms? Makes a heck of a noise when the train comes in.

 

[Donny Dave]

Anybody know why they have those wiggly bits welded on to the rails in the bay platforms? Makes a heck of a noise when the train comes in.

They are for increased adhesion as you approach the buffers. Also to let the driver know it's time to apply the brakes. And yes, they are very noisy.....

 

[Kris]

They are for increased adhesion as you approach the buffers. Also to let the driver know it's time to apply the brakes. And yes, they are very noisy.....

Duh! Stopblocks :roll:

Oops - collision. Didn't realise I had to apply the brakes yet :tard: Can't see how they'd increase traction myself.

 

[D306]

how is Euston an ugly station? i've been there so many times, i like the station. it's like my 3rd station that i go to a lot. but how is it an ugly station?

 

[Z12XE]

They are for increased adhesion as you approach the buffers. Also to let the driver know it's time to apply the brakes. And yes, they are very noisy.....

The zig-zag welds are for track circuit purposes.

The rail heads have rumble strip welds added to them (Figure 5); these ensure a good electrical contact between the rail and wheel for track circuit purposes. Rumble strips are commonly used where the train service is insufficient to ensure that rust, detritus and contaminants do not build up on the surface of the rail and thus inhibit train detection.

----------

Can't see how they'd increase traction myself.

They dont, as thats not what they are for

 

[Kris]

how is Euston an ugly station? i've been there so many times, i like the station. it's like my 3rd station that i go to a lot. but how is it an ugly station?

Cos it's a disgusting, dark, concrete mess. Typical 60's crap architecture that destroyed the previous beautiful buildings.

 

[deanparkr]

Pokesdown.... defo Pokesdown!!

 

[Tom]

The zig-zag welds can also be seen on LUL.

 

[westcoaster]

zig zags are only found in bays and dead end platforms, not ot sure as what they are there for but i think it is to do with the noise they make give an extra reminder ( sound) that the buffers are ahead (visual).

 

[Z12XE]

not ot sure as what they are there for but i think it is to do with the noise they make give an extra reminder ( sound) that the buffers are ahead (visual).

Its nothing to do with that, see my post 4 above yours which explains what they are for

 

[kestrel]

galaxy is correct, the zig zag welds are there purely for track circuit reason's

the big big red lump of metal with a red light on it at the end of the platform! is a reminder that you're at the end of the line so should stop!!

 

[Tom]

Ironically if you hit the buffers it counts as a SPAD...

 

[Z12XE]

the big big red lump of metal with a red light on it at the end of the platform! is a reminder that you're at the end of the line so should stop!!

Very true!

A drivers route knowledge is enough to remind them where the end of the line is, especially now with TPWS in such places which needs to be slowed down for in advance.


With or without TPWS i'd hate to be approaching buffer stops at line speed until reaching the last 50 metres!

 

[Craig]

Billingham on the Durham coast looks like a complete dump.

 

[37427]

Stratford

London Euston

Liverpool Lime Street

Folkestone Central

...and proberbly London King's Cross, once it gets the refurbishment it was said to have.