Leeds Railway Station's 'Lost World'

[jim]

Looking again at the photo of the 1892 fire posted by Cardiarms I notice details I missed before.Firstly the one beam remaining overhead in the background confirms my identification of this site as the canal link-it may even be the one shown in the recent photo,or at any rate it's predecessor.Secondly,would it be too far-fetched to presume that the void and beam in the foreground are the lock chamber and lock-gate balance-beam?They would appear to be in the right relevant positions if the picture was taken looking south. Thirdly it occurs to me that the first section of tunnel,under the Wellington Station appears to have been an arch whilst the remainder under Leeds New was basically a long and wide girder bridge.This would tend to agree with my belief that the failure was due to the effect of intense heat on metal girders and also explain why the section of the canal tunnel carrying the Wellington Station approach tracks survived.On another subject,I see some of you have been entertained by my brief description of Norman.I must take this opportunity to plug two wonderfully funny books by my erstwhile school and work colleague Mike Collins.entitled "Railway Character Lines"and "Too Busy To Delegate".The second contains a photograph of the said individual,and a hilarious story in which he is one of the main protagonists.I can't recommend these books highly enough,I laughed all the way through,and they demonstrate how much sheer FUN it was to work for the Railway from the Fifties onwards.        

[Chrism]

jim wrote: For the exact position of one of the lock gates,look at the map that Chameleon posted at 08.46.If you blow it up twice,one pair of gates and part of the lock chamber can be seen.The rest of it will then be under the first Wellington station,but it's relationship with the wider basin,the main canal,and the river is clear.The map is Godfrey's Leeds sheet 14 1847-1863 large scale,entitled LeedsStations which shows Wellington,Central,and most of Wellington St Goods.Leeds New hasn't been built,the sheet containing the then Marsh Lane terminus hasn't been published,and Leeds's first main line station,that of the North Midland Railway at Hunslet Lane is shown on Sheet19,Pottery Field.For the contributor who asked about the King's Mill and Oil Mill water courses,they are clearly shown on Sheet 15,Lower Briggate and Riverside.Hope this helps. Just incase anyone missed it, here it is highlighted. I'd love to see some pix of the swimming bath too.

[chameleon]

Chris, I think we are heading for techy issues again - pictures were erratic in their opening the other week you'll remember and trying to open your repost of my map, I just get the html code!I think we are going to have to get admin up again for an overhaul soon.Meanwhile, if anyone really needs the big image, I've put it here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/chameleon2008/4437220147/

[Brandy]

Chrism wrote: jim wrote: For the exact position of one of the lock gates,look at the map that Chameleon posted at 08.46.If you blow it up twice,one pair of gates and part of the lock chamber can be seen.The rest of it will then be under the first Wellington station,but it's relationship with the wider basin,the main canal,and the river is clear.The map is Godfrey's Leeds sheet 14 1847-1863 large scale,entitled LeedsStations which shows Wellington,Central,and most of Wellington St Goods.Leeds New hasn't been built,the sheet containing the then Marsh Lane terminus hasn't been published,and Leeds's first main line station,that of the North Midland Railway at Hunslet Lane is shown on Sheet19,Pottery Field.For the contributor who asked about the King's Mill and Oil Mill water courses,they are clearly shown on Sheet 15,Lower Briggate and Riverside.Hope this helps. Just incase anyone missed it, here it is highlighted. I'd love to see some pix of the swimming bath too. How cool is that chris,we lose one pool(Olympics) and then we gain another

[Chrism]

chameleon wrote: Chris, I think we are heading for techy issues again - pictures were erratic in their opening the other week you'll remember and trying to open your repost of my map, I just get the html code!I think we are going to have to get admin up again for an overhaul soon.Meanwhile, if anyone really needs the big image, I've put it here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/chameleon2008/4437220147/ Seems OK to me. Maybe we do need a spring clean tho' as the site is very slow at uploading for me. I only cropped and highlighted as it makes it easier to see.

[chameleon]

Chrism wrote: chameleon wrote: Chris, I think we are heading for techy issues again - pictures were erratic in their opening the other week you'll remember and trying to open your repost of my map, I just get the html code!I think we are going to have to get admin up again for an overhaul soon.Meanwhile, if anyone really needs the big image, I've put it here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/chameleon2008/4437220147/ Seems OK to me. Maybe we do need a spring clean tho' as the site is very slow at uploading for me. I only cropped and highlighted as it makes it easier to see. Appreciate Chris - just thouht some might want the full =-size file. The remainder of the map is in there too for 'research' purposes

[jim]

Thanks for the maps guys,as a total computer incompetent (thats mpe,not nti.....) I'm not up to such technicalities,and it really helps to have such tools available.Now,where were we? Back to Neville Street and head down Sandford Street.Note that the walls are very different.On the right everything is massive stone masonry,to the left all is brick.To add to the variety,the roof changes it's composition too often to list.The openings and entrances to the right I can't be specific about,but believe some were to the posters and publicity stores and workshops,and one or two may have connected to the B.T.Police Club,since occupied by a succession of clubs and restaurants.After four or five arches this side is a blank wall nearly to the other end.On the left I was lucky enough to find two of the doors open,reminding me that the first has always been a food and drinks stores and,unlike many arches,is directly connected to the station above.Can't remember if it serves pub,refreshment room,or on-train refreshment supplies.Most of the rest of the doors serve different parts of the S&T "empire",though one leads to a general materials store for station cleaning etc,and another can be identified by it's vents as containing the main heating boilers and air conditioning.From the S&Tcomplex there is a stairway and six-person lift to the surface,coming out just inside a door near the gents at platform level.Back in the undercroft,not far from the stairs,I recall opening a door and coming across the derelict remains of the vacuum exhausters which used to work the station tubular message system.More later.    

[Chrism]

What about the Swimming Baths Jim, who were they for? Were they public or for the rail workers? Did you ever see it?

[jim]

Sorry Chrism,I have no knowledge of these-I had to go back to the Godfrey map to find out what you were talking about!I did explore the arches which were built on their site and have no recollection of any remains which might have led me to wonder what they were.If any ground or sub-ground level traces had been left,they could have been obscured by the horrible lime-like substance I mentioned.It was really vile stuff,it stunk,it appeared like a quicksand,and somehow gave the impression of being very caustic and corrosive.I would think that contact with boots or overalls would have been terminal.About the only use I can think of for the stuff would be to dispose of bodies in,but then I've occasionally been told I have an over active imagination.It's probable that no trace of the baths survived the construction of Leeds New,and as to a railway connection,I can't recall bath provision for railwaymen other than very basic facilities in eginemens overnight lodging-houses,in the 1960s,let alone the 19th century.    

[Chrism]

I've trawled Leodis to no avail.