The old wagon lifting tower at Wellington Place.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Thu 12 May, 2011 3:55 pm

There is an interesting article with images on page 5 of today's YEP relating to the 160-year-old wagon lifting tower at Wellington Place (the site which was once the Central Station).It is reported that a £15,000 repair job has been launched to preserve the tower, which is said to be a unique part of Leeds's rail heritage. It is also reported that Leeds Civic trust is to install a blue plaque, as the tower is of specific historical interest.

carith · Post by **carith** » Thu 12 May, 2011 4:51 pm

I worked on the demolition of the Central station back in the mid 1970s. The lifting tower building was fenced off and we were given strict instructions that we were not to touch it although at the time we thought that we were clearing up the whole site.It is a beautiful building and I believe it now has grade 1 listed status.

jim · Post by **jim** » Thu 12 May, 2011 4:53 pm

I note that the YEP makes the usual mistake (they are not alone in this) of stating that the two wagon towers to the centre and to the left of the 1868 picture "stood either side of the old viaduct running into the Leeds Central railway station". The tracks into the Central passenger station are in fact those to the right of centre of the picture, and the towers actually stood either side of the lines on the branch viaduct leading to the high-level Goods Warehouse of the L&NW and L&Y Railways. This was in Wellington Street goods yard, some distance west of the passenger station along Wellington Street.There was also a third wagon lift to be seen at the extreme left of the 1868 picture, adjacent to a number (about six) of sidings to the south west of the passenger station. That lift was of slightly later date then the other two, and was demolished along with the rest of the site. It also retained the majority of it's shaft top machinery for some years after the two original lifts lost theirs, still being in place in the mid 1960s. I am able to say this with some confidence, as I was able to climb the access stairs to examine it during my years as a BR Outdoor Machinery fitter.

Post by **chameleon** » Thu 12 May, 2011 8:45 pm

You might akso like to look at this amongst others on this subject -http://www.secretleeds.com/forum/Messag ... ighLight=1

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Thu 12 May, 2011 9:03 pm

YEP article now online:http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... _1_3372369

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Fri 13 May, 2011 8:54 am

"It comes as Leeds Civic Trust prepares to install a blue plaque on the 160-year-old tower at Wellington Place, the site of the old city railway station."Wrong on two counts, City Station is still there, and as has been mentioned the tower was not part of Central, but was part of the goods station.

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Sat 14 May, 2011 10:49 pm

LS1 wrote: "It comes as Leeds Civic Trust prepares to install a blue plaque on the 160-year-old tower at Wellington Place, the site of the old city railway station."Wrong on two counts, City Station is still there, and as has been mentioned the tower was not part of Central, but was part of the goods station. That's only one mistake , to be pedantic

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Mon 16 May, 2011 9:32 am

drapesy wrote: LS1 wrote: "It comes as Leeds Civic Trust prepares to install a blue plaque on the 160-year-old tower at Wellington Place, the site of the old city railway station."Wrong on two counts, City Station is still there, and as has been mentioned the tower was not part of Central, but was part of the goods station. That's only one mistake , to be pedantic yes yes, thanks Drapesy!

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 16 May, 2011 5:28 pm

LS1 wrote: drapesy wrote: LS1 wrote: "It comes as Leeds Civic Trust prepares to install a blue plaque on the 160-year-old tower at Wellington Place, the site of the old city railway station."Wrong on two counts, City Station is still there, and as has been mentioned the tower was not part of Central, but was part of the goods station. That's only one mistake , to be pedantic yes yes, thanks Drapesy! The first mistake though, was demolishing its partner - I believe the intention was to list both but sumat went wrong

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 26 Jul, 2011 9:40 pm

There is a report titled 'Raising a plaque to a piece of railway past' on page 22 of today's YEP. It is about the unveiling "last night" of a blue plaque at the old wagon hoist in Wellington Place. The report also has a little bit of the history of the hoist.I have tried to find if there is an online version of this report but if there is one I have not been able to find it so far.