What is the daddy of all stations?

[infobleep]

According to the platform announcer at Surbiton this morning and also one day last week, the daddy of all stations is London Waterloo. It gave me a smile and brightened up my day so good on whoever it was.

Got me thinking though, what is the daddy of all stations for you? I find Redhill a useful station to pass through on the north downs line. Guildford has good connections as does Clapham Junction but for look and history, I'd currently nominate York.

 

[Mike99]

Penge West..(or East)............... No, Manchester Piccadilly, .........I was born in Penge

 

[D6975]

I'd agree with York.
The Old Manchester Victoria was another possibility.

 

[Ash Bridge]

At the London St. Pancras reopening ceremony, in his speech the SNCF chairman reputedly admitted (although reluctantly) that this was the finest Railway Terminal in Europe.

 

[LexyBoy]

At the London St. Pancras reopening ceremony, in his speech the SNCF chairman reputedly admitted (although reluctantly) that this was the finest Railway Terminal in Europe.

I think the translator confused "gare" with "galerie merchande"...

 

[LeeLivery]

York, its a lovely station. However, London Waterloo, Clapham Junction and London Paddington aren't far behind on my list. (Wellingborough is the daddys daughter for me haha).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I think the translator confused "gare" with "galerie merchande"...

I really like London St Pancras, from my early childhood, now I like it but not as much as before
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Penge West..(or East)............... No, Manchester Piccadilly, .........I was born in Penge

I use Penge East often - though the footbridge is a joke there. I like Sydenham Hill...

 

[plastictaffy]

Bristol Temple Meads.
Just because.

 

[DarloRich]

Daddy? What on earth does that mean? :roll:

Darlington - perhaps that would be the Grandfather

 

[Strathclyder]

For me, it has to be Glasgow Central. In my view, it is one of the finest stations in the country.

 

[TheEdge]

Berney Arms. A station so brilliant it doesn't need to compensate for anything.

Also Paddington. I love the roof, the lovely Western destinations on the boards and also the fact to my mind with a bit of squinting the HSTs could still easily be Kings, Castles, Counties and Halls.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I think the translator confused "gare" with "galerie merchande"...

Yes maybe

But I think this also applies to most other major Rail or Air terminals these days.

 

[Mike99]

I use Penge East often - though the footbridge is a joke there. I like Sydenham Hill...[/QUOTE]

I went to senior school by train from Penge East to Bromley South for 5 years starting 1969, I used to stand at the very end of the the platform which gave a tight view right down the tunnel to Sydenham Hill!

 

[LUKAnorthwest]

I would have to say Manchester Central Station. It is way before my time but seeing old pictures and attending conventions there, gives me a sense of what the railway lost. Plus the approach along the over truss iron bridges would of been a great entrance to this once cathedral of the railways


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[Sapphire Blue]

There isn't a dad so I nominate Poppleton.

 

[eMeS]

I would have to say Manchester Central Station. It is way before my time but seeing old pictures and attending conventions there, gives me a sense of what the railway lost. Plus the approach along the over truss iron bridges would of been a great entrance to this once cathedral of the railways

My memories of Manchester Central go back to WWII. Our local station was Chassen Road, and I used to like arriving at the platforms where there were display cases of ship models. Anyone else remember them? Plus the smell of the sweaty horses, and the feed in their nose-bags. Weren't there also very small petrol powered vehicles used for moving carts around the station? It was much later that I learnt about Liverpool Road, Manchester being the world's first passenger station with regular services or something.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Liverpool_Road_railway_station

 

[6Gman]

Edge Hill?

Longest continuously-used railway station in the world!

Allegedly.

[And it feels like it!]

 

[CaptainHaddock]

PENIStone?

 

[midlandred]

For me, it has to be Crewe, then Birmingham Snow Hill, in the 50s!

 

[185143]

PENIStone?

how old are you??

 

[ADRboy]

Glasgow Central

 

[Starmill]

how old are you??

Clitheroe.

 

[LeeLivery]

I use Penge East often - though the footbridge is a joke there. I like Sydenham Hill...

I went to senior school by train from Penge East to Bromley South for 5 years starting 1969, I used to stand at the very end of the the platform which gave a tight view right down the tunnel to Sydenham Hill![/QUOTE]

I've never tried that at Penge, I always go to the other end. I have seen the view from Sydenham Hill station, it still amazes.

 

[asylumxl]

At the London St. Pancras reopening ceremony, in his speech the SNCF chairman reputedly admitted (although reluctantly) that this was the finest Railway Terminal in Europe.

Shame everything but the Eurostar concourse is a shambles now.

Everything in the domestic areas is being allowed to fall in to a state of disrepair. The toilets in the circle area no longer have hot water. The cheapness is amazing.

 

[Busaholic]

Shame everything but the Eurostar concourse is a shambles now.

Everything in the domestic areas is being allowed to fall in to a state of disrepair. The toilets in the circle area no longer have hot water. The cheapness is amazing.

All the money has gone on Kings Cross. I spent three years working bang opposite St Pancras in the 1970s and watched the place slowly decaying then: hope this doesn't herald the start of another long decline. The suburban services going via Thameslink, although entirely logical, means the remaining domestic services northwards are very much the cinderella to the Eurostar and HS1 and would be hard-pressed to justify a terminal of their own. Still, it is Grade 1 listed, not that that prevents deliberate inaction by owners without continual public scrutiny.

 

[gordonthemoron]

I preferred St Pancras when it was Valhalla (long dark teatime of the soul)

 

[Busaholic]

I preferred St Pancras when it was Valhalla (long dark teatime of the soul)

St PAncras the DADDY? Apologies straightaway

 

[Clip]

Clitheroe.

Tee Hee.


As for the topic - Newcastle central.

 

[LowLevel]

Birmingham New Street despite being a hole. So bustling and busy and still in it's way railway like, doors slamming, whistles blowing, signals shining and trains everywhere.

It might be slightly sad but I sometimes blow my whistle at some stations that have fallen from grace somewhat completely unnecessarily just to hear it echoing off the empty buildings and the train again - it's part of the soul of the railway to me.

I love St Pancras but as others have said the domestic side is very poor.

 

[cf111]

Birmingham New Street despite being a hole. So bustling and busy and still in it's way railway like, doors slamming, whistles blowing, signals shining and trains everywhere.

It might be slightly sad but I sometimes blow my whistle at some stations that have fallen from grace somewhat completely unnecessarily just to hear it echoing off the empty buildings and the train again - it's part of the soul of the railway to me.

I love St Pancras but as others have said the domestic side is very poor.

I'm almost a bit disappointed when I'm on a train or at a station and I don't hear a whistle as a train departs.

Glasgow Central for me as well.

 

[CC 72100]

I think the translator confused "gare" with "galerie merchande"...

Like Paris St Lazare then... No wonder the French were generally impressed with St Pancras, it's what they want their stations of the future to be like.