Outside Greater London, what's the best maintained (a) large (b) smaller station

[railfan99]

As a foreigner, I like architecture.

But I also appreciate well maintained structures.

With the criteria of the main station building being at least 100 years old, and excluding the Greater London area, what's your vote for the best maintained (a) larger and (b) smaller station?

Those two latter terms are subjective but most of you wonderful UK locals will have a fair idea of what's a larger (York or Manchester Piccadilly) or smaller (Loughborough or Saltburn) station.

I'm talking mostly external walls and decorative features, not so much internally as the latter may have been renovated in recent years.

Treatments like tuck pointing appeal to me, or platform awnings in the delightful, unique English style with much clear glass and beautifully engineered support columns.

An attractive clock tower from Victorian times would be a winner.

Perhaps you can contribute according to pre-nationalisation operator: GWR, LMS, LNER or SR (though many stations of the latter may have been in the excluded Greater London).

 

[The exile]

Wemyss Bay (ex Caledonian Railway) must be a long way up the list!

 

[S&CLER]

As a foreigner, I like architecture.

But I also appreciate well maintained structures.

With the criteria of the main station building being at least 100 years old, and excluding the Greater London area, what's your vote for the best maintained (a) larger and (b) smaller station?

Those two latter terms are subjective but most of you wonderful UK locals will have a fair idea of what's a larger (York or Manchester Piccadilly) or smaller (Loughborough or Saltburn) station.

I'm talking mostly external walls and decorative features, not so much internally as the latter may have been renovated in recent years.

Treatments like tuck pointing appeal to me, or platform awnings in the delightful, unique English style with much clear glass and beautifully engineered support columns.

An attractive clock tower from Victorian times would be a winner.

Perhaps you can contribute according to pre-nationalisation operator: GWR, LMS, LNER or SR (though many stations of the latter may have been in the excluded Greater London).

Grange over Sands on the Furness line would get my vote for the smaller station category, and Ulverston on the same line is not far behind it. Several of the stations on the Settle and Carlisle have been well restored and maintained.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Grange over Sands on the Furness line would get my vote for the smaller station category, and Ulverston on the same line is not far behind it. Several of the stations on the Settle and Carlisle have been well restored and maintained.

Both of those stations, especially Ulverston, are terribly maintained. The signage is dated with stickers all over it, the paint is peeling and in Ulverston's case the roof is held up by scaffolding and covered in bird muck. The condition of these beautiful stations is rather sad in my view.

Also at Ulverston the island platform PIS is always broken.

 

[zwk500]

It's been a few years since I was there, but Lewes and Eastbourne were always well-kept smaller stations. (Lewes is debatably a big station). Brighton-Eastbourne and Lewes-Wivelsfield generally have quite well maintained stations, but those two stand out.

 

[Purple Train]

Is Frome still as well-maintained as it used to be, or has it been slightly neglected in the intervening years?

 

[DarloRich]

Why exclude London? I wouldnt say stations within Greater London are more or less well maintained than those without it!

I would second Weymes Bay mind!

 

[BeijingDave]

Of the ones I travel to reasonably frequently, best maintained large station is Manchester Piccadilly and worst is Chester.

 

[ScottGallagher]

Both of those stations, especially Ulverston, are terribly maintained. The signage is dated with stickers all over it, the paint is peeling and in Ulverston's case the roof is held up by scaffolding and covered in bird muck. The condition of these beautiful stations is rather sad in my view.

Also at Ulverston the island platform PIS is always broken.

Ulverston has been gloomy for years, especially with the derelict nightclub extension attached to it.

Dated signage and peeling paint sums up Northern in general, not likely to change any time soon.

 

[===gricer===]

Okehampton

 

[Skie]

For a major station I’d say Liverpool Lime Street. It’s just had a major upgrade so internally it’s in good condition (a bit modern, but you can see the historical features that remain including the original platform stones) and externally it looks like the grand old terminus it is, especially if you count the North Western hotel attached to the front. It’s also over the road from St Georges Hall and the central library and world museum, which are both in some magnificent buildings, worth an oogle for anyone.

Plus you can hop on a train and visit Irlam, which is a nicely maintained smaller staton.

 

[Railwaysceptic]

When I was at Stamford Station a few years ago, I thought it was a lovely building and pretty well maintained. I hope it still is.

 

[Peter0124]

Glasgow Queen Street high level since it got its new refurbished look.

 

[DustyBin]

As already stated, Wemyss Bay is very well cared for and rightly so.

Darlington is actually pretty decent, there’s been a fair amount of restoration work carried out in recent years.

 

[Magdalia]

The Great Eastern Railway did a good terminus: try Hertford East, Kings Lynn and Norwich.

Near Hertford East is a complete contrast in the 1960 brutalist Broxbourne and Harlow Town!

Big through stations add Newcastle and Bristol Temple Meads in with York.

My favourite clock is at Edinburgh but on the North British (now Balmoral) Hotel, so debatable whether it is part of the station.

And I'd agree on Stamford and Wemyss Bay.

 

[DustyBin]

The Great Eastern Railway did a good terminus: try Hertford East, Kings Lynn and Norwich.

Near Hertford East is a complete contrast in the 1960 brutalist Broxbourne and Harlow Town!

Big through stations add Newcastle and Bristol Temple Meads in with York.

My favourite clock is at Edinburgh but on the North British (now Balmoral) Hotel, so debatable whether it is part of the station.

And I'd agree on Stamford and Wemyss Bay.

I very nearly nominated Newcastle, but as I spend so much time there I tend to notice all of the disrepair! It is actually a nice station though generally.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ulverston has been gloomy for years, especially with the derelict nightclub extension attached to it.

Dated signage and peeling paint sums up Northern in general, not likely to change any time soon.

It is interesting that current Northern has put huge (some may say excessive) effort into rolling stock refurbishment, some of which didn't really need it, but is doing nothing at all to stations. Or are they on Network Rail's bill even if TOC operated?

 

[Western Lord]

Near Hertford East is a complete contrast in the 1960 brutalist Broxbourne and Harlow Town!

They may be a complete contrast but all three are listed buildings!

 

[The exile]

The Great Eastern Railway did a good terminus: try Hertford East, Kings Lynn and Norwich.

Near Hertford East is a complete contrast in the 1960 brutalist Broxbourne and Harlow Town!

Big through stations add Newcastle and Bristol Temple Meads in with York.

My favourite clock is at Edinburgh but on the North British (now Balmoral) Hotel, so debatable whether it is part of the station.

And I'd agree on Stamford and Wemyss Bay.

Though Bristol Temple Meads is understandably not looking at its best at the moment. Give it a couple of years….

 

[HarryF]

I’m found of York
There’s even a first class lounge now
Nicely maintained, nice staff too!

 

[_toommm_]

The FOSCL (Friends of Settle and Carlisle Line) maintain their stations fantastically through a set of volunteers. I’m particularly fond of two of the most rural stations, Dent and Ribblehead. A heater you can turn on yourself and a good Wi-Fi connection in the middle of nowhere is just what you need in the depths of winter whilst waiting for your train in a cosy waiting room.

 

[Ken H]

Grange over Sands on the Furness line would get my vote for the smaller station category, and Ulverston on the same line is not far behind it. Several of the stations on the Settle and Carlisle have been well restored and maintained.

Settle looks good.

 

[Brooke]

A few suggestions, considering the OP is looking for intact architectural features:

Large London station - St Pancras, Marylebone, Paddington, Kings Cross

Large Non-London - York, Newcastle, Huddersfield, Bristol Temple Meads, Glasgow Central, Norwich

Small Non-London - Wemyss Bay, Hebden Bridge, Kings Lynn, Settle & Carlisle line as mentioned above

 

[railfan99]

DarloRich, I excluded Greater London as the excellent architecture of stations like St Pancras is well known internationally, and on a forthcoming trip I'll be travelling fast through the London suburbs given how your trains accelerate away from origins like Euston, so won't see much.

I've been on S&C, and also changed at Darlington for (ultimately) Saltburn, Whitby and Pickering: agree all those are marvellous.

I am hoping to overnight at Norwich: photos of it look A1.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

DarloRich, I excluded Greater London as the excellent architecture of stations like St Pancras is well known internationally, and on a forthcoming trip I'll be travelling fast through the London suburbs given how your trains accelerate away from origins like Euston, so won't see much.

I've been on S&C, and also changed at Darlington for (ultimately) Saltburn, Whitby and Pickering: agree all those are marvellous.

I am hoping to overnight at Norwich: photos of it look A1.

If you like classic traditional station architecture ther'es some really nice intermediate ones on the branches from Norwich out to Sheringham, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. Acle's one of my favourites.

https://c8.alamy.com/comp/B2TK9D/platform-buildings-at-acle-railway-station-norfolk-england-uk-B2TK9D.jpg

 

[Agent_Squash]

It is interesting that current Northern has put huge (some may say excessive) effort into rolling stock refurbishment, some of which didn't really need it, but is doing nothing at all to stations. Or are they on Network Rail's bill even if TOC operated?

Indeed - it's somewhat ironic stepping out of a new 195 at a relatively poorly maintained Ulverston...

 

[Lucan]

Big through stations add Newcastle and Bristol Temple Meads in with York.

I think the point is how well maintained they are, not how grand the architecture is. Temple Meads is currently full of scaffolding, so in a sense it is being maintained at this moment, although on my last few visits I have not seen anyone up the scaffolding working on it.

 

[D6975]

Great Malvern is very well maintained.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Many smaller Scottish stations are lovely, particularly those on the West Highland Line.

 

[Ibex]

How long has it been since the roof at Crewe was last maintained?