Leeds Railway Station's 'Lost World'

[BIG N]

I knew exactly where your photo was Phil, but as you say if people have not been down there it could be hard to relate to it.Good point too about not removing it because the had to cut part of the arches out to put it there in the first place, seems they will be stuck with it forever - someone had better turn them lights out LOL

[Phill_dvsn]

BIG N wrote: I knew exactly where your photo was Phil, but as you say if people have not been down there it could be hard to relate to it.Good point too about not removing it because the had to cut part of the arches out to put it there in the first place, seems they will be stuck with it forever - someone had better turn them lights out LOL That light inside the subway is what i'm interested in BigN. I'd like to know what's in the subway. Any of the old retro adverts?I'm wondering if electrics, and cables run through there these days. It's certainly an excellent ready made duct space across the platforms, if so-then there is still a way in for maintenance work e.t.c.            

[cnosni]

Phill_dvsn wrote: The stairs at the top of platform 5 were really quite wide if you recall Chameleon. Remember it had the wooden handrail in the centre of the stairwell?? I seem to think that wooden handrail ran along the subway walls as well? I seem to think the subway was painted a light blue colour, the top half anyway. Can anyone ese remember? I know those toilets used to stink to high heaven. I always remember the comical graffiti on the Durex machine down there.It said 'Insert baby for refund'          Your right about the subway entrance Phil,but donnt forget it was all filled in,and is now covered by the slightly raised piece of platform/step now adjacent yo the barriers.Agree about the phone,cant see any need for such a phone in a public subway.If there was one then itd been smashed every otrher Saturday during the football season.Im assuming that this is part of what some of the Netburk Rail guys go on about,plus they say there are fottings of the old station buildings.

[cnosni]

Phill_dvsn wrote: This is the City station subway viewed from underneathhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/609290838/*Note there appears to be an internal light still shining in the subway through the vent*I think you can judge it's width (minus a block wall either side)I think it's substantially wider than the Y.E,P subway picture. The difference in construction smacks you in the face when you compare the two subways. Mine is most definately a 1960's concrete and block wall construction, the girls Y.E.P shot is Victorian in it's gloomiest best.I second you on letting folk who are genuinely interested seeing these places lol          Well you dont normally even ask!!!

[chameleon]

cnosni wrote: Phill_dvsn wrote: This is the City station subway viewed from underneathhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/609290838/*Note there appears to be an internal light still shining in the subway through the vent*I think you can judge it's width (minus a block wall either side)I think it's substantially wider than the Y.E,P subway picture. The difference in construction smacks you in the face when you compare the two subways. Mine is most definately a 1960's concrete and block wall construction, the girls Y.E.P shot is Victorian in it's gloomiest best.I second you on letting folk who are genuinely interested seeing these places lol          Well you dont normally even ask!!!

[jim]

OK guys,I've got to help you on this one.The,tunnel shown is probably the subway of the pre 1967 New Station.It must date back to the 1870s/80s when Leeds "New" WAS new.For the youngsters that station had only three through platforms which prior to 1967 were numbered 11,12,and 13.To get from 11 to 12 and 13 there was a wide footbridge more or less centrally positioned in the station with both steps and ramps,but for heavy items and for the elderly and disabled there was a subway with water hydraulic lifts to access it.The platform 11 lift had a further lower level which could be used to access the Queens Hotel and the refreshment room basements by using the various arches and passageways.The lifts were powered by water power at 900 lbs/sq in piped along the viaducts from an engine house at Marsh Lane goods yard in massive cast iron pipes.The subway and both lifts are still down there and last time I was down there-about 15 years ago-the subway was used as a storeroom by the Signal and Telegraph department and was reached from their messroom adjacent to their main switchroom.That switchroom is probably the "control room" mentioned in an earlier thread.I believe it was for telephone purposes,but I'm not absolutely certain.How do I know all this?Well,during the 1960s I was the last fitter to be in charge of maintaining those lifts.I spent many hours down there,and walked most if not all of the arches and passages right up to 1995.In the 60s there was no lighting and it was all done with Tilley lamps!Hope this helps.

[buffaloskinner]

Well thats thrown a new light on it then .... no pun intendedThanks for the info Jim

[chameleon]

Progress! Keeping thinking Jim lad, however small the tit-bit, let's have please!

[mhoulden]

On the same subject, I know what's now platform 1 used to be called platform W. When was it made available for passenger use as part of Leeds City station and are there any photos of when it was used for goods or as part of Wellington St? Between 1984 - 2001 I lived in Hebden Bridge so Leeds was somewhere to travel to rather than from and my memory's a bit hazy. Being 5 in 1984 didn't help.

[Phill_dvsn]

mhoulden wrote: On the same subject, I know what's now platform 1 used to be called platform W. When was it made available for passenger use as part of Leeds City station and are there any photos of when it was used for goods or as part of Wellington St? Between 1984 - 2001 I lived in Hebden Bridge so Leeds was somewhere to travel to rather than from and my memory's a bit hazy. Being 5 in 1984 didn't help. Here's a picture of the last train to use the old Wellington (parcels) platforms in July 1997.http://snipurl.com/uuedlIt's looking rather sad and overgrown by this date.Here's a wider view of the PCD area a few years earlierhttp://snipurl.com/uuee3