The Lost LEEDS CENTRAL Station - What Remains?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ย. 2024
- Join me as we explore the disused and lost Leeds Central Station site.
The site is now completely unrecognisable, and is home to large office and apartment developments. But some relics still remain, nestled amongst the glass modernist buildings.
HUNSLET LANE STATION:
• The Lost LEEDS HUNSLET...
LEEDS CITY STATION
• Is There Another Old S...
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#adventureme #exploration #history #disusedstation #disusedrailway #wagonhoist #leeds #leedshistory
Another excellent video. I have a number of connections to Central Station. My great-grandfather also worked there from about 1880 for the
GNR and I have the plaque from his presentation clock when he retired in 1915. I also have a photo of the whole of the station staff taken around 1900 standing next to a Stirling Single locomotive of the GNR. When I started my railway career in the District Civil Engineer's office in Wellington Street in 1960 we were half way between City and Central stations and I used Central on a number of occasions in the course of my work. Later when the railway sent me to college in Bradford, I used the station on a daily basis. When working in York at the Chief Civil Engineer's office, I was involved in design work on the Leeds Combination Scheme which ultimately lead to the closure of Central Station. Keep up the good work Darren. The history of railways in the West Riding is complex and fascinating
.
This is fab, thanks Darren. I moved to Leeds in 1983 and the hoist was at the centre of a massive car park and a short-lived retail park. The second hoist had long gone and the developers would have loved to have knocked them all down to make way for more glass fronted instantly forgotten tower blocks. At one time there was an effort to turn it into a restaurant of some sort but happily it remains, an anachronism in the modern world.
Thanks. Yeah I remember the retail park.
Darren, your visual fades using the old B&W's is great, they really help make the story come alive. The brick and stone work on the Central Station shows real craftsmanship. your work improves with every video. This was outstanding. "Still waiting for the rollercoaster" lol...........
Thanks Mike. Coming soon
Another great step back in time. The old photos bring everything into context.
A crying shame Leeds Central closed. The current station has been short of capacity for many years even after the 2001 rebuilding! If Leeds had a second station this would make things a lot easier.
It sure would these days
Absolutely fascinating video! Love the way the old relics still sit amongst all the faceless modern buildings!
Good to see again, Darren. Quite a story for the future. Your transposed photos are amazing. See you on the next. Cheers Darren.
Thanks Martin
Amazing, outstanding superb. Compelling viewing. Thank you for excellent filming, footage and narration.
Thanks Shirley
As a kid the sight of that wagon hoist was always a source of much excitement. Not because of the hoist itself (although I do have an interest in railways) but because it meant we were paying a visit to the Green Giant toy shop! Later on it meant a visit to the quasar place or Sound Control, where i'd go and stare longingly at music equipment I couldn't afford!
Good memories
Great vid as ever Darren .
Is sad to see the loss of so much classic architecture . It a shame we did not have the opportunity to capture in great quality all this before it was obliterated . Great that you are going out and capturing whats left and the excellent image overlays so we can at least get the feel of what it was like before .
I doubt in 50 years someone will be doing the same for the office blocks and apartments .
Thanks Lewis. Yeah probably not
Its a little frustrating as its the kind of archetecture you cannot get back. But some of these beutifull buildings have been saved. Theres something special about old railway architecture.
Amazing how Building Lines survive redevelopment - sometimes even over centuries. Your vid here showed that brilliantly.
Thanks matey
i remember train spotting at Leeds Central in 1964. The main class the was Deltics, some unnammef, with the very early Brush 4s. The Queen of Scots Pullman would come in from London and go North via Ripon with a change of engine. Other trains had through carriages to Bradford, again with a change of engine. The L&Y route services were with "Calder" BRCW DMU.
Great as usual. Love the old photos at the end with you pointing out what was where.
Thanks mate
This is my walking route when I go to the city,thank you for bringing it alive.
Fantastic again Darren, I have seen the pic of the front of the station b4 but I could not quite picture where it was exactly until now. For many years that spot became the small front carpark to the Royal Mail MLO (Mechanised Letter Office). I walked thru many times like 1000's of us Posties back then, the Hotel was the Wellersley then, the bar there comprised the full width of the Hotel, often heaving with Posties. Then you mentioned the Aireside Trading Estate, MFI, Jolly Giant Toys (I think) and where we bought our 1st brand new sofa, can't remember the name. Thanks again for stirring up Leeds memories.
Wasn't there a gaming place there too
Thanks Terry
I work at Wellington Place, and love how the modern buildings flank the historical wagon hoist. It's great to see how it looked back in the day, love the fades between the modern images and the old images.
Thanks Steven
I'm working on one of those buildings next to it so if I can get you pictures of the top I will. They are building a park at the top as I have seen the architect plans.
Yes please ste
Yes they are planning something like the High Line park in New York.
The amount of time and effort you put into your vids is well appreciated.
Happy memories of the station. Loved the underslung bracket starting signals.
Last time I was there, the Flying Scotsmen was bring a train in, and K2 class Great Marquess took it on to Morecambe IIRC.
Another superb video.
I work in that building - so fascinating to realise it used to be Central Station! Thanks for this video
Thanks Tom
I have been hoping you would do this one... 1:43 in and what an aerial pic - thanks for this already....
Thanks Chris. Glad you enjoyed
The first I knew of this station was when I visited Leeds with my partner Lara, who is from Scotland. She loves Leeds and wanted to explore the area and about 3 years ago we stumbled upon the wagon hoist tower which I was previously unaware of. We took photos and eventually I looked up the history of the station and watched a video of a train journey from central into Bradford exchange. This video has filled in a lot of gaps for me. As always, well researched and very informative. I didn’t know there were so many stations in Leeds in the early days of the railways, thank you I really enjoyed this upload.
Thanks mate. Glad to fill in the gaps.
Born in Leeds and lived here all my life, i never knew about this, i found it facinating, thanks for for this video, great work.
Glad you enjoyed it
I did not know Leeds had so many stations. And I can't even say that I never looked at old maps because I have. There are substantial differences between Leeds centre as I remember it as a kid and today, but compared to the same span of time in the mid 20th century, it's hardly changed.
Edit: The biggest change in Leeds for me was just out of the city centre to the east, where there was a huge imposing block of flats called the Quarry Hill Flats. They were quite the eyesore when I was a kid, but I understand they were reasonably splendid and modern in post-WW2 Leeds. At some point they were demolished, but I can't think of Leeds without picturing them.
Lots of goods passing around back then. Probably why.
Fascinating. I just found your page. I remember the old Central Station and my father taking me up the steps and showing me round - sometime in the 1940's. I will have been very small - much younger than the others here today. The station (and most of central Leeds) had atmosphere, which went out of the window with modern building developments. We didn't use it much - as you mention, Leeds City station took most of the traffic. Central was just something you walked past,until it closed down.
Thanks mate.
I'm the Building Manager for Central Square so really enjoyed this.. I've shared the link to my Tenants on our app. Thank you for this amazing insight
Thanks Roy. Hopefully it helps to know the history they are built on.
@@AdventureMe yes. We knew the history and if you go into CS you’ll see the manifestations on the windows are based on train tracks. Our art installation also represents the train lines leaving the station and the animations are based on history including when the land speed record was beaten by a steam train that set off from Central Station in the 1800s
@@roytaylor5279 Brilliant. Love stuff like this.
Nice share. Beautiful presentation and narratives. Interesting to watch 👍🏻
Thanks mate
I haven't lived in Leeds for 20 years and found it hard to get my bearing until the cart hoist. Instantly back to my childhood on the way to Jolly Giants. Great video.
Thanks Rob
Quality insight on local history? That's a sub! I'll be working through your back catalogue over the coming days! Love it!
Thanks mate. Welcome aboard. Lots of local content on here.
Great video as usual. Love the old photos and the fades are fantastic.
Thanks mate
Brilliant. Love the lay over pics. Looking forward to the next ones.
Thanks Judith
Darren, your research and presentation of the information is second to none. Brilliant as always !
Thanks Babs. Glad you enjoyed
Love the first transition with a car in exactly the same position in both shots (and the Moss Bros poster). You truly are the king of transitions. Without those, there is a lot of imagination required but those, bring the past back to life, even for a few seconds.
Yeah that was pure coincidence with the car. I did it on my Hunslet Goods Railway video with a train too.
Another excellent "now and then" look at Leeds railways with usual fade-in images. Great stuff Darren.
Thanks mate. More coming
I work in Central Square it's fantastic to see the history of the site and surrounding areas. Fantastic video.
Thanks Chris
The Royal Mail Mechanised Letter Office (MLO) used to be where Central Square is now. I worked there for about 8 months in the 1980s. When the MLO was built there was an underground car park but the builders could not stop it flooding so they just filled in the entrance ramp and tarmacked over it. That meant there was always a shortage of parking places as a lot of postmen worked there. One of them was a relative of mine. The Jolly Green Giant (discount toy warehouse) was next door and he used to park in their staff car park until one day he found they had gone home early and chained up the gates. A friend of his, a lorry driver, asked him what was wrong and he told him. "Wait here, I'll get the key"; he said. He came back with a 7 ton lorry and reversed into the gates, snapping the chain. He never parked there again, in case they asked him about it. 🙂
I'm not exactly a railway enthusiast but i do love local history. I did really enjoy this video, well put together and presented. I don't think i can quite remember the station but i do remember the demolished land being used as a coach park. It was more or less opposite where the wellington st bus station was. The land was raised as you describe. I remember it especially as my dad took me onto the raised area and said choose a bus. He was taking me out for the day and gave me the choice. We went to morcambe by coach.
Thanks mate. I'm not a railway enthusiast either. I just like history
Great video as always, how good were these engineers so many years ago that had not got the technology they have today, thanks again Darren
youtube recommended your channal cause i got interested in watching abandoned engineering on yesterday tv, and watching you video kinda gives me the sense of that.
Thanks mate. Glad you found the channel. I have loads of similar videos on here.
Not one to normally comment on you tube videos but have to commend you on this , the past and present animations are superb and bring the story to life.. excellent!
Thanks Russell. Glad you did comment.
Wow, I moved to Leeds 20 years ago and I've always wondered about that 'building of mystery' that you see when rolling into Leeds station on a train. I was also a bit panicky in case they bulldozed it during the massive development of the area. So happy to find out, at last, about the wagon hoist and the other erstwhile Leeds stations. Thank you! x
No problem. Glad to help
Had no idea these wagon hoists still existed. Hope that viaduct becomes something for the community in the future. Looking forward to the next part.
I think it will be around a long time now
That was so informative, I have worked in that area since the 70s . It all makes sense now with the waggon lift and why the Wellesley hotel as I have known it is so detailed. I also remember going on holiday once from the central station as a child and my dad moaning it was too far out of town to carry the cases.
Thanks Christopher. See your dad had a point
Quite enjoyed this retrospective of Leeds railway history. Thank you.
Thanks Jim
That was GREAT. Leeds is such a beautiful city, as you well know. Many thanks indeed for this part of the past I ddin't know. What a rich history. Many thanks.
Thanks for watching
Great video. Fabulous presentation and brilliantly researched
Thanks Dean
This is fantastic! The change in this part of the city is astounding and also quite sad! It's now generic set of city apartment blocks and commercial units
I know totally unrecognisable
Fantastic film great to see some parts still remaining. I'm glad we repurpise our history now and not level it for steel and glass soulless buildings.
Thanks nick
Well done once again Darren great stuff!. The two streets either side of the G N R Hotel and the Station are named after the early company The Leeds &Thirsk, which became The Leeds Northern, viz Thirsk Row and Northern St.
There were four hydraulic operated towers to lower/raise 20 ton wagons to ground level for unloading etc, all operated by the joint companies L & Y and L N W R incorporating four tracks under cover. The tower that has been saved is NOT the one identified at the video end but at the other end and same side.
The N E R & G N R yards were at ground level, accessed via the bridge shown below the viaduct arches at 14.08/15.00.The G N R fought very hard to gain access to Leeds Central but it was worthwhile as they gave the best availability to London KX and with the most prestigious trains etc. The fifth tower was accessed from Northern St.
It’s very pleasing to hear that the remaining arches are to be incorporated into the new developments ( heard it elsewhere too).
There used to be a Datum post at the top of the gradient from which all distances were measured from to wherever. There is a very large one on York Station ( G. Hudson ?)
I was a service engineer on the E E Co Deltics for four years (61 to65) at Leeds Central so was very sad to see it pulled down but
WWll just delayed the combining with City.
Many thanks again Darren, keep up the good work, I’m in my eighties now and they bring me great joy, like the Lds New Line epic which I used a lot when dieselised in the sixties.
Thanks for watching Kenneth.
Brilliant loved all of it, fills the gaps to what I already knew. I didn’t realise there were three separate rail company’s goods coming in there 😮 glad the wagon lift is listed, also glad the viaduct is going to be partially saved. Loved the fades and old photos. Keep up the good work Darren 🤩😎
Thanks Sue
Brilliant. I could watch your videos all day.
Thanks Noel
Amazing, I have just popped along today. Still lots of development going on but the "sky garden" is looking great!
Yeah it's nice in summer
Great research Darren. Keep up the excellent research on the history of the Region. I also like the work of Reese on the type of mass transit needed for the futire prosperity of West Yorkshire building on the fantastic history.
Anyone remember the centre four entertainment place down near the train lift building.
Also the jolly giant toy store down there as well.
Great video. I always wondered what the old building was down there. I spent a lot of time down that way in the 80s and 90s.
Another interesting video would be how the canal basin in Leeds has changed over the years.
Was Centre Four the arcade place?
I've been trying to remember what that place was called. I spent a lot of time in there playing Street Fighter 2 as a kid.
Yes it was centre four. The laser quest part was pretty good too.
I certainly do
Didn't know about the old walkway, will have a look when next in Leeds. Another fascinating film, thanks Darren!
Thanks Dave. Yes do check it out
Well Darren,here we go again, another superb video highlighting Leeds's railway past. I didn't realise you can get up close to the wagon hoist and have a proper look
at it. Up to a few years ago,there was a derelict bracket signal on the viaduct ,you could see it when leaving or arriving at Leeds station.
As usual, the fade ins ,before and after shots are brilliant.
Cheers Darren for another cracking. video, Top rank again
Thanks Richard. Yes you can walk all around it now.
What an absolute star you are, I have so very much enjoyed all your videos, but especially the railway centred ones ones in and around Leeds. The research you clearly spend so much time on really adds to the high quality of your Videos. Keep up the great work ... I love them and am looking forward to see what you've uncovered in this series, Martin K.
Thanks mate. I do put the effort in, no point telling half a story lol
i would love to do a video like this about glasgows abandoned and forgotten railway tunnels, lines or bridges, theres tonnes of history here it fascinates me.
Thanks Scott, you should do.
So many changes in that area I remember looking at the wagon lift when it was in the middle of a retail park there.
Do you remember the Royal Mail building on Whitehall road
I don't remember that no. I vaguely remember the retail park.
I do remember the big post office
@@dragonheatgaming5005 It wasn't so much a post office as a sorting office; the tower block also housed the North East Postal Region admin offices, which moved there from Park Row.
Great vid Darren! We visited a few pubs in that area last week and remarked just how much the area had changed. Looks a bit like New York these days 😏
Thanks Steve. Yes it does
Brilliant video, I work in this area every day. It’s fascinating to learn more about our great city
Glad you enjoyed it
Another brilliant video,them fades away are fantastic.,Leeds has a fantastic railway history,just wish my dad was still here to show him.
Thanks Rob.
Darren, your photo-fades are amazing!
Thanks James
Darren, I really enjoyed this one. I’ve long been intrigued about the history of Central Station and why the main one is City. Great Video. Thanks
Thanks Stephen
It's interesting to hear how many stations were in Leeds. Most have gone or been heavily modified. A new Leeds City Station is urgently required to match the Berlin Hauptbahnhof. The City of Bradford also needs a new through station at the site of Forster Square. In addition, the West Yorkshire Region needs the long promised mass transit system to match London, i.e., the Docklands Light Railway.
Great stuff. Another brilliant insight into the history of my home city.
I don't live in Leeds anymore but I do love to see the history of the city and you present the facts so well.
Thank you and keep up the good work.
Thanks Pete.
Great video! My Great Grandad used to work at the Central and Holbeck stations. He lived where the Armley Gyratory is now when they was row upon row of terrace houses which were flattened in the slum clearances, shame. Regarding the railway hotel, if you look at the top floors they are different brick. There was a fire and I believe those floors were added during the rebuild.
Yeah the top floor is an addition.
That was excellent thank you, love your then and now stuff.
Awesome, thank you!
This is really interesting. I've lived in leeds for 3 years since being at Uni - I live really close to this site and always wondered what exactly it was whilst walking about and taking photographs. It's a nice reminder of what once was long before the new buildings were put up.
Thanks Jake. Glad you enjoyed it.
Great video Darren. Like the way you fade the old photos in.
Thanks David
Queen victoria arrived here when she officially opened the town hall
Yes apparently so. It would have been the biggest one at that time.
Excellent content as ever Darren.
I can get you access to the Monkbridge site and Dark Arches under Leeds Station.
Leeds Station is a Pandora’s box
Thanks Gary. If you can. I'd be up for both.
There is a beautiful towpath walk along the canal all the way towards Kirkstall Abbey if you pass under Monk Bridge. Unbelievable how tall it is from the waterside level.
Yeah I love it down there
Another amazing video. I vaguely remember Central Station. We used to pass it going home from Leeds on the old 77 bus to Bramley Town End.
Thanks Anthony
Excellent video thank you. I remember going to Central Station with my Dad. I was born in 1961 and I remember seeing a steam train there so it must have been when I was a maximum of 6 years old as it closed in 1967. I remember the little hut at the top of the slope into the station from Wellington Street - it always fascinated me as a child that there were some old white ceramic teacups underneath the hut where it was raised off the ground on wooden supports - I wonder if anyone else remembers them!?
Thanks mate
Even better second time round and this time on the big screen.
Yes in 4k
Just joined your channel to give you a bit of support and appreciation as I love your videos Darren. Your then and now fades are astonishing and I always look forward to what adventures you take us on next.
Thanks mate. Glad you are liking.
Happy memories of going there with my parents for our holidays and also the goods shed and slope when I worked in York Place in the '70's
Thanks Chris
Another excellent rail related video Darren thanks for posting
Thanks Pete
I wish I had a Tardis to go back and visit these lost places. I've been to Leeds a few times but didn't know any of this. I'm from Sheffield, I actually miss the hole in the road we had in our city centre. I really wish they wouldn't demolish some of these wonderful old buildings. Thank you for History tour on this.
Thanks Lindsey
Another terrific video and your register of the before and after pictures is extremely accurate, going to watch again to enjoy it a second time. Thank you Darren.
Thanks David
So that’s where central square offices gets their name ! Fantastic development project for Leeds
The viaduct is going to be turned into a cycle walking path once monk bridge and latitude purple is complete, mid next year
Thanks Andrew
Fantastic! Really well put together, very informative, helped me visualise. Thanks very much
Thanks Oliver
Brilliant as always. I love your films. The before and after photos that you show are so meticulously brilliant that i can't help coming back to them again and again. It must take you ages to find the exact spot tgat the before photo was taken from but I truly enjoy your work and skill.
Thsnk you very much.
Yes it does take ages. Then it takes a lot longer to edit.
Darren, the design of the office building next to the hoist was designed to create a reflection (or a ghost) of the remaining hoist to create the 'pair' that were situated in that location.
I didn't know that. Thanks
@@AdventureMe no worries :) I know the guy who designed it that’s all :)
What another great video, this time of Leeds, great presentation as always love the fade overs that bring it alive. Amazing to reflect what has been swept away, but also what remains and what is to be retained. The viaduct that is to be developed into a walkway is similar to what was done in New York. It seems there are still enlightened people around.
Yes apparently so
Another interesting video Darren. remember the remaining wagon hoist was surrounded by car parks until maybe 10 years ago. I’d always wondered what that building was.
Great video as always, really enjoy the lost railway stuff as it's also local to me.
Thanks Alan
Great stuff Darren, pleased at least one hoist building still stands , love how they cut the corner of the elevated walkway. Looking forward to part 2 .
Thanks mate
Thank you! My office is one of those huge new modern ones and it overlooks that old building and I was very curious as to what it actually was so thank you :)
Thanks Hazel
I remember it well. we always caught the train to London from there.
Thanks Katie
I do too, many years ago!!!
Thanks guys . Leeds city is my loves ♥️♥️♥️
A wonderful video, showing how much can still be found if you know where to look and are prepared to research. I came to Leeds in 1966 to attend university and well remember coming into Central Station. A hearty well done
Thanks John
Great presentation as ever. I would argue the current city station is in fact incapable of dealing with the volume of trains is now has to accommodate. This is evident when you travel by train into this station, as trains always stop in the approach to the city station to await its turn for a free platform before it can proceed into the station.
Yes sometimes they do. It could have done with this station now.
Brilliant stuff Darren. TBH I was totally lost as it's far too long back in time that I lived anywhere near Leeds. I know the Batley buses start point was just round from the Queens
Hotel on Aire Street I remember the road island in front of City station with all the nymphs on the lampposts and the road leading to the Headrow. Somewhere round there was the cubs/scouts uniforms shop too where I was taken for uniforms and badges. It was a big treat to be taken to the city as a kid!! The road back via Geldherd Road down into Batley, no motorway built then!! Lots more I could Witter on about too. There was a discreet gay bar in the station Queens Hotel too. All heady stuff when a younger man!! There was a great coffee bar and snack café near the nymps square. The Cylon tea shop and café further down the Headrow below Lewis store. The amitron artwork in the Merridon Centre. I'm sure a lot of your followers of a certain age will remember all these things. Cheers DougT in Mancs (ex Batley born)
Thanks Douglas
Always wondered what that structure (waggon hoist) was. Wonderful video
Thanks Martin
I don't know this city but nonetheless this is interesting stuff and right up my street. The old stills and your 'before and after' shots are brilliant
Thanks mate
Very interesting video. As I understand it, the hoists were of unique design, so there are no others or their plans to compare to fully understand the mechanism, but engines themselves would not be entering them. Only wagons were hoisted, being uncoupled on the viaduct onto small turntables at each entrance and then pushed along tracks into unloading bays in the Wellington Street goods yard below. There were four turntables on the viaduct level, and the other hoist on the opposite side of the viaduct had instructions to also be preserved, but was, as you say, 'accidentally' knocked down. The hoists were researched by the current land developers, and there is a freely downloadable 16 page pdf on the internet, though I can't recall exactly where, featuring lots of pictures and speculation on its workings.
Yes I would love to know how they worked
Darren, if you intend to get on top of the viaduct, I would strongly suggest you try now. As the construction is going on, I would imagine there is security on site but a hard hat and yellow vest usually bypasses this sort of thing. You can gain access at the end where it it Ts with the live railway line or from the construction site where there is a ramp built up to it. I believe the ramp will be removed after construction of the new high-rises is completed to prevent access.
Edit: I wrote this before you finished speaking and I hope you’re right on the top of the viaduct being used, it’s a huge space, hopefully it’s close enough to the centre not to be wasted like the Holbeck Viaduct
It's really difficult as there's construction workers everywhere