York Station Leeman Rd pedestrian tunnel

[102 fan]

Hi

Am I right in thinking that the pedestrian tunnel beside Leeman Rd had an opening in the middle leading into the railway station?

Thanks

 

[David Dunning]

Can’t speak for pre 1987 when I arrived in York but it never has to my knowledge

 

[102 fan]

Can’t speak for pre 1987 when I arrived in York but it never has to my knowledge

From what I remember it was the Edwardian era.

 

[theblackwatch]

From what I remember it was the Edwardian era.

You have a good memory!

Seriously though, I've been a using the tunnel since the mid/late 70s and can't remember an opening - but I'll have to have a look for the traces of it next time I go through (which isn't that often now the 'new' entrance has opened).

 

[47444]

The Scarborough platform (nos 2 and 4) has glass panels in its side walls where it crosses this tunnel, I assume to provide light into the tunnel.

Any former access would have been at this location, but there is absolutely no sign of one today.

 

[P Binnersley]

There is no pedestrian access visable on the 1891 map, but there was an access road up towards what is now platforms 10/11.

Changes to Old Maps website - Landmark Information Group

To avoid licensing confusion and better support professional users, Landmark has retired the Old Maps site. We're now focusing on enhanced historical mapping services for commercial use.

www.old-maps.co.uk

 

[47444]

There is no pedestrian access visable on the 1891 map, but there was an access road up towards what is now platforms 10/11.

What are now platforms 10 and 11 were only constructed in the late 1930s and not fully commissioned until the power box was opened circa 1950.

 

[Caboose Class]

There's a video on YouTube which actually takes you through the tunnel at night. The tilework looks pretty original and intact to me.

 

[greyman42]

Slightly off topic, but if i remember correctly there used to be tunnel from Leeman Road GPO sorting office to the station which would of run under the pedestrian tunnel, accessible by lift at the station.

 

[sjpowermac]

I believe the answer to the question is ‘yes’.

It is shown in the 1889 map linked to here:

Georeferenced Maps viewer - Map images - National Library of Scotland

The consensus seems to be that it closed in 1932.

Image of both map and of the entrance to the ramp attached below.

I’ll try and get a picture tomorrow of how it looks now and if there are any signs remaining.

Info from the FB group ‘York station platform, the good old days’.

 

[dazzler]

Slightly off topic, but if i remember correctly there used to be tunnel from Leeman Road GPO sorting office to the station which would of run under the pedestrian tunnel, accessible by lift at the station.

I'm pretty sure that the tunnel from the sorting office doesn't cross under the road/pedestrian tunnels. The lift shaft from platforms 2 & 4 is the Scarborough Bridge side of the road tunnel. Sadly it's not really visible on Street View, but if I remember I shall take a wander down platform 2 on the way to work on Thursday and check!

 

[sjpowermac]

I'm pretty sure that the tunnel from the sorting office doesn't cross under the road/pedestrian tunnels. The lift shaft from platforms 2 & 4 is the Scarborough Bridge side of the road tunnel. Sadly it's not really visible on Street View, but if I remember I shall take a wander down platform 2 on the way to work on Thursday and check!

I believe this is the correct answer. The lift down from platform 4 is definitely on the sorting office side of Leeman Road, visible in this picture with the arrow marking the lift.

The tunnel from the lift runs under platform 2 and Examination Road tracks along with the Cinder Lane footpath. The map shows roughly the route. I’m not aware of any other connection from the station to the sorting office, but happy to be corrected

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Oct 2021 ==

Slightly off topic, but if i remember correctly there used to be tunnel from Leeman Road GPO sorting office to the station which would of run under the pedestrian tunnel, accessible by lift at the station.

You made me think about this topic, I’d always assumed the same thing until I looked carefully at some pictures I took from the footbridge over Leeman Road!

 

[David Dunning]

From what I remember it was the Edwardian era.

Yes that would be possible

 

[theblackwatch]

I believe the answer to the question is ‘yes’.

It is shown in the 1889 map linked to here:

Georeferenced Maps viewer - Map images - National Library of Scotland

The consensus seems to be that it closed in 1932.

Image of both map and of the entrance to the ramp attached below.

I’ll try and get a picture tomorrow of how it looks now and if there are any signs remaining.

Info from the FB group ‘York station platform, the good old days’.

Thanks for posting that Simon, I was totally unaware until now that the long tunnel under all the lines was (if I'm seeing things rightly) at one point two totally separate structures. Every day is an education!

 

[sjpowermac]

Thanks for posting that Simon, I was totally unaware until now that the long tunnel under all the lines was (if I'm seeing things rightly) at one point two totally separate structures. Every day is an education!

You are most welcome. I only became aware of this when I read the thread on FB last year.

Having gone back and had another look at the thread, there’s a fascinating view overlooking the station.

Given how wide the gap looks in this picture, I do wonder now if the picture I posted earlier is actually of the ramp or of another passage.

I’ve heard mention that there were some public conveniences in the tunnel, given the smell there on some days I think some people don’t realise they closed in the 1920s!

(Yes, every day is a school day, quite literally for some of us!)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Oct 2021 ==

Hi

Am I right in thinking that the pedestrian tunnel beside Leeman Rd had an opening in the middle leading into the railway station?

Thanks

Nice topic you’ve introduced, I hope my posts have helped

 

[greyman42]

I believe this is the correct answer. The lift down from platform 4 is definitely on the sorting office side of Leeman Road, visible in this picture with the arrow marking the lift.

Yes, that is correct.