SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

I took a train over to Manchester yesterday and the conductor, who was a bit more verbose than usual, but in a good way, was doing his bit as we pulled out, and started 'I'd like to welcome aboard passengers who have joined us at Leeds City station'. This tickled me a little as, while it's still the official name, there aren't any other stations called Leeds now. Is it just a historical thing?

simong wrote: I took a train over to Manchester yesterday and the conductor, who was a bit more verbose than usual, but in a good way, was doing his bit as we pulled out, and started 'I'd like to welcome aboard passengers who have joined us at Leeds City station'. This tickled me a little as, while it's still the official name, there aren't any other stations called Leeds now. Is it just a historical thing? I think the station at Hull is still called "Paragon" And I believe Sheffield's is still called "Midland" even though Victoria (Great Central) has been closed for about 40 years.

Actually I think the conductor was incorrect - it's official name for several years has been 'Leeds Station' but the old name still lingers on. When there was a 'Central' Station it had a purpose of course, to differentiate it from that.

At least he didn't say "Leeds City Station Stop", so let's be thankful for small mercies!

I was on a train a while back sat near two elderly ladies, when the automated voice announcing the next station came on. One of them commented "hasn't this driver got a lovely voice,very well spoken,you'd think he'd get a job on't wireless instead of driving a train" It made me smile

drapesy wrote: Actually I think the conductor was incorrect - it's official name for several years has been 'Leeds Station' but the old name still lingers on. When there was a 'Central' Station it had a purpose of course, to differentiate it from that. National Rail seem to call it Leeds (station code LDS) now. I was trying to remember what it says above the main entrance (apart from the terrible 'Gateway Yorkshire' thing). Hull Paragon is still correct but Sheffield Midland is now Sheffield. This might depend on who owns the station.

The stations are all owned by whatever Network Rail is called this week (ie, by us, the great British taxpayer) but many are operated by the main franchisee (Northern, NXEC, etc) for the area.Leeds is classed as a major station though so is operated by the railway rather than one of the train operating companies.It's still Leeds City Station to me, and I was born after Central closed!

I seem to remember when I was a kid, that what is now the station was "Leeds New" which at the time struck me as odd as it was pretty delapidated, whilst the bit which adjoins the Queens Hotel (and looked new) was "Leeds City".

raveydavey wrote: The stations are all owned by whatever Network Rail is called this week (ie, by us, the great British taxpayer) but many are operated by the main franchisee (Northern, NXEC, etc) for the area.Leeds is classed as a major station though so is operated by the railway rather than one of the train operating companies.It's still Leeds City Station to me, and I was born after Central closed! ..................................................................................................I still remember with sadness that awful Saturday teatime when Central with all its wonderful history closed. The staff of W.H.Smith's bookstall and the glorious refreshment room were in tears. The last train to leave - very heavily overloaded - was a two car diesel for Harrogate , if I remember rightly just after 6.00 pm. Of course it was one of the fairly new and unjustifiably maligned first generation diesel railcars in that dignified rich dark green livery.Fascinating and handsome trains they were, with their glorious AEC "bus transmission" gearchanging and sound effects to prove it !!

I remember my parents taking me to Knaresborough on the train from Leeds Central - and how disappointed I (and they) was that it was a diesel railcar (which had just been introduced) and not a steam train. That would be about 1956 I think.We went to Butlins at Skegness twice from Leeds Central - the last time in 1964. When did it close?