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Trivia; Largest terminal station which used to have through trains?

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AlbertBeale

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I’d consider that until the mid seventies down trains would count as using Kings Cross, because in that direction they called at a platform that would have been in the station, unlike York Rd for up trains.

Although York Road had that name, it was bang alongside the start of platform 1 of the main KX station, so effectively felt part of KX, even if accessed from the side. The Down platform, on the curve rising up round the back of the suburban platforms, was not really much more part of the main station than was York Road. The building I've worked in for years is in the block under which the Up line then ran as it curved round to join the route of the Met along the City Widened Lines. When I was first involved in the building steam had been replaced by diesel on that route, so I never experienced the sight, sound and smell of steam emanating from the cutting that's open to the air in the middle of the block.
 

Howardh

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Although York Road had that name, it was bang alongside the start of platform 1 of the main KX station, so effectively felt part of KX, even if accessed from the side. The Down platform, on the curve rising up round the back of the suburban platforms, was not really much more part of the main station than was York Road. The building I've worked in for years is in the block under which the Up line then ran as it curved round to join the route of the Met along the City Widened Lines. When I was first involved in the building steam had been replaced by diesel on that route, so I never experienced the sight, sound and smell of steam emanating from the cutting that's open to the air in the middle of the block.
I suppose it's a bit like 13 & 14 at Piccadilly, all other platforms are terminal. Years ago 13/14 were accessed either from the main station or from the street below, IIRC by stairs and lift. Closed now, as pax wouldn't be passing the shops...?!
 

Springs Branch

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I suppose it's a bit like 13 & 14 at Piccadilly, all other platforms are terminal. Years ago 13/14 were accessed either from the main station or from the street below, IIRC by stairs and lift. Closed now, as pax wouldn't be passing the shops...?!
Manchester Piccadilly is actually the opposite of what the OP is asking, in terms of "used to be through station, now a terminus".

IIRC, before Manchester London Rd was re-built, electrified at 25kV and renamed Piccadilly, it wasn't a through station at all.
No regular passenger trains ran from the Stockport direction via 13 & 14 (although the tracks were connected to the main lines heading south).

The stages of development of platforms 13 & 14 were:-
  • Until 1958: Relatively sleepy terminus for 1500V DC EMUs from the Altrincham line (Oxford Rd was the busier city centre destination), plus some infrequent westbound services such as Ditton Jn via Sale & Warrington Arpley.
  • 1960 - 1971: After reconstruction, resignalling & conversion of OHLE to 25kV AC, platforms 13/14 were used by suburban services from the south which were extended to terminate at Oxford Rd (Class 304 EMUs from Crewe & Alderley Edge, plus some Buxton line DMUs).
  • 1971 - 1988: Crewe & Alderley Edge all-stops EMUs extended through Manchester to/from Altrincham via Sale. Piccadilly - Lime St via Warrington Central DMUs terminated in Platform 13 once per hour. Some peak hour trains to Macclesfield & Buxton also ran to/from Oxford Rd, calling at 13/14.
  • 1988 onwards: Windsor Link was opened to Salford Crescent and limited through services began running between Bolton & Stockport (and beyond) via Windsor Link, Castlefield Jn and 13/14.
  • 1991 onwards: Altrincham line closed for conversion into Metrolink, more paths became available for through trains & usage on platforms 13/14 was cranked up another notch.
  • 1993 onwards: Manchester Airport station opened, giving extra useful opportunities for through journeys (and more longer-distance passengers) from points north & west of Manchester to the Styal line via 13/14.
 
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AM9

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Based on their current size and number of platforms, the three largest stations that once had through services are:
1) Waterloo - the link through to Waterloo East mentioned above
2) Liverpool St - the link from platform 8 or 9 through to the Met/Circle lines east of the sub-surface Underground station
3) Kings Cross, the York Road/Hotel Curve links through to the City Widened lines
 
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Springs Branch

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Many rail lines now terminate at station where there used to be through passenger trains ............ In these parts I suggest Buxton and possibly Colne which I think both used to have through trains although they aren't partricularly large, but Buxton would have good passenger numbers I would have thought?
If you're thinking of north-west England, Blackpool South used to be a through station and much larger than today.

Until 1964 when Blackpool Central closed, Blackpool South had four platforms (two for the Lytham line, two for the Marton route direct to Kirkham) and was not used as a terminus.

In the late 1960s, with Central closed, the 4-per-day Blackpool/London trains started/terminated at Blackpool South rather than North (maybe this was partly to serve prosperous customers living in Lytham & St. Annes where the London trains called).

The regular daytime trains between Manchester Victoria & Blackpool also ran to Blackpool South (although North had regular DMUs to Blackburn & Colne instead).

The scene in 1983:-
3201621_c62e2272.jpg

© Nigel Thompson at www.geograph.org.uk/p/3201621. Licenced for re-use (cc-by-sa/2.0)
 

Howardh

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Manchester Piccadilly is actually the opposite of what the OP is asking, in terms of "used to be through station, now a terminus".
I wasn't suggesting that, merely pointing out that the Old King's Cross then could be compared to Piccadilly today, with platforms "outside" the main station carrying through trains. The old King's Cross (York Rd) however looks like the volume of traffic would be miniscule compared to 13/14!
 

rogercov

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Outside of London - Uckfield? Largeish town with I suppose high pax numbers (0.5m) due to commuting? Anyone know for sure that the map shows a disused railway and it would have carried pax onwards once?
It certainly did. There was a Tunbridge Wells to Brighton service via Uckfield and Lewes in the 1950s.
 

30907

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Outside of London - Uckfield? Largeish town with I suppose high pax numbers (0.5m) due to commuting? Anyone know for sure that the map shows a disused railway and it would have carried pax onwards once?
Uckfield-Lewes closed early 70s IIRC. The old station had 2 platforms, but the new station (being pedantic even by Forum standards) has always been a terminus.
Beg pardon, three, as there was a branch platform. Now 1.
 

Dr_Paul

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Although York Road had that name, it was bang alongside the start of platform 1 of the main KX station, so effectively felt part of KX, even if accessed from the side. The Down platform, on the curve rising up round the back of the suburban platforms, was not really much more part of the main station than was York Road. The building I've worked in for years is in the block under which the Up line then ran as it curved round to join the route of the Met along the City Widened Lines. When I was first involved in the building steam had been replaced by diesel on that route, so I never experienced the sight, sound and smell of steam emanating from the cutting that's open to the air in the middle of the block.

It was none other than Albert who informed me that the vent that goes down to the up curve tunnel is in a yard off Pentonville Road which is now open to the public as part of the rehabilitation of the King's Cross area, and that one can look down into the now trackless tunnel. When I first knew the area 30 or more years back, this yard and the others connecting to it were all closed off. Back in steam days, it would have been a surprise for anyone new working in the yard when a blast of steam and smoke suddenly erupted from below.
 

Dr_Paul

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Based on their current size and number of platforms, the three largest stations that once had through services are:
1) Waterloo - the link through to Waterloo East mentioned above
2) Liverpool St - the link from platform 8 or 9 through to the Met/Circle lines east of the sub-surface Underground station
3) Kings Cross, the York Road/Hotel Curve links through to the City Widened lines

There's an article on the Waterloo to Waterloo East connection here. The line ran across the concourse, which dipped down on each side of the line; it must have been fun when the short-lived services mentioned in the article used it.
 

Western Lord

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Based on their current size and number of platforms, the three largest stations that once had through services are:
1) Waterloo - the link through to Waterloo East mentioned above
2) Liverpool St - the link from platform 8 or 9 through to the Met/Circle lines east of the sub-surface Underground station
3) Kings Cross, the York Road/Hotel Curve links through to the City Widened lines
I don't think that any of those qualify under the "spirit of the question" rule! All of those station were built as termini, what we are looking for here is a station which is now a terminus, but which used to be a through station at which no trains (or hardly any) terminated.
 

Howardh

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I don't think that any of those qualify under the "spirit of the question" rule! All of those station were built as termini, what we are looking for here is a station which is now a terminus, but which used to be a through station at which no trains (or hardly any) terminated.
I started the thread, and I've found some of those answers above very illuminating - I never knew there was a mini-King's Cross attached to it and that through trains ever ran! So, basically, I'm glad I asked!!
Although I kinda expected some London stations to provide the answer so I would still like to know the largest - either platform numbers or pax use - outside London. There realistically might not be a specific answer as it's hard to quantify.
Anyhow, it's an idea for "Least Used Terminal Stations", Geoff!!
 

ac6000cw

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Beaten by Blackpool South, but Barnstaple Junction (now just a single terminal platform 'Barnstaple') was once a through station with three platforms at the junction of four lines (from two different railway companies, SR & GWR).
 

racyrich

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Epping. Only 2 platforms but 4m entry/exits.

Braintree now only 1 platform and a more modest 750t.
 

Train Maniac

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Fascinating, many thanks. What actual services were run over it?

I believe its was built by the LSWR as a means of accessing the main City of London via Cannon Street. Due to arguments with the SECR over running powers no trains ran and the LSWR built the Waterloo and City instead, rendering the connection pretty much useless.
 

Tobbes

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I believe its was built by the LSWR as a means of accessing the main City of London via Cannon Street. Due to arguments with the SECR over running powers no trains ran and the LSWR built the Waterloo and City instead, rendering the connection pretty much useless.
Many thanks, very interesting.
 

30907

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I believe its was built by the LSWR as a means of accessing the main City of London via Cannon Street. Due to arguments with the SECR over running powers no trains ran and the LSWR built the Waterloo and City instead, rendering the connection pretty much useless.
Though there was a 30 year gap between the withdrawal of regular trains in 1867 and the building of the Drain.
 
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