Buildings repurposed for railway use

[Western 52]

There are plenty of former railway buildings now in non railway use. Are there any examples of buildings now in railway use that were originally built for a purpose which was not related to the railway?

 

[Class800]

My answer would depend on the extent of redevelopment that is allowed to count - what counts as as the same building?

 

[yorksrob]

Barnsley courthouse station was repurposed from a courthouse to a railway station. I believe it's now been repurposed again as a pub.

Strood tunnel was re-purposed from a canal tunnel to a railway one.

 

[Western 52]

I'm thinking more about buildings which are generally similar to how they were prior to railway use, although of course alterations would have probably taken place. I'm not looking at situations where the current building is a near total rebuild of the original.

 

[Class800]

I'm thinking more about buildings which are generally similar to how they were prior to railway use, although of course alterations would have probably taken place. I'm not looking at situations where the current building is a near total rebuild of the original.

OK, I don't have good examples at the moment then

 

[TurboMan]

How about Barnham traincrew depot, which moved into the first floor above the Co-op on the high street?

 

[Western 52]

How about Barnham traincrew depot, which moved into the first floor above the Co-op on the high street?

That's a good example I think. I was wondering about some of the buildings railway companies use as offices, as there are probably some that were non railway previously.

 

[Class800]

Any examples of former cafes that were owned by a private business separate to railway that have become staff rooms for railway?

 

[Gloster]

There were quite a few station buildings that were built for other purposes, such as a domestic dwelling, before the railway came, but were later purchased by the railway for use as a station building. Staines West is one that comes to mind, but there were others. Other existing buildings sometimes got taken over for other railway use, such as goods offices.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Are there any examples of buildings now in railway use that were originally built for a purpose which was not related to the railway?

Do any TOC head office or admin buildings fall under this category? Presume some will not necessarily be located immediately adjacent to a present day (or former) railway line.

 

[RPM]

The station building at Mitcham is thought to have predated the railway, although it has not been in railway use since the line was converted into Tramlink.
There were also rumours that the building at Cheltenham (Lansdown) was converted from an existing house but I think in this case the rumours have been debunked.

Blaenau Ffestiniog is a more recent example. When the FR reopened the station in the early 1980s and the BR station was relocated to the current site an existing townhouse "Isault" was converted into a station building which had a Tourist Information office, shop/cafe and a booking office that sold both FR and BR tickets. It is no longer in railway use today.

 

[Mikey C]

Many major London stations have been expanded, but in most cases the existing buildings have been demolished and rebuilt, e.g. St Pancras, London Bridge, Crossrail or the expanded Bank Underground station.

 

[Ashley Hill]

One of the cottages outside of Par station has for a number of years been used for offices by the local traincrew management team. I understand it was previously a knocking shop (ask your parents).

 

[Class800]

One of the cottages outside of Par station has for a number of years been used for offices by the local traincrew management team. I understand it was previously a knocking shop (ask your parents).

I take it to mean a hardware store, dear boy.

 

[MikePJ]

CrossCountry have a staff facility in Cambridge which is in a shop unit on the ground floor of a block of flats.

 

[Annetts key]

That's a good example I think. I was wondering about some of the buildings railway companies use as offices, as there are probably some that were non railway previously.

BR, Railtrack and Network Rail all had/have various offices in buildings that were not always previously railway property.

There are also training facilities in buildings that were not previously railway property, (e.g. Westwood) or which were built on railway land, but constructed for commercial companies, then later taken over for use by the railway (e.g. Bristol Parkway).
Maybe more, have a look at the Network Rail web page here.

Sometimes office / industrial units were/are used for depots, for example.

 

[MikePJ]

Oh, here's a fun one: the railway line between Fratton and Portsmouth & Southsea used to be a ship canal. The road adjoining it is still called Canal Walk. I'm not sure if any of the walls on either side of it are original to the canal. (For anyone interested in the rest of the line of the canal - it ran from a basin in Arundel St where the Debenhams building is, to Fratton, along the south side of Fratton depot and then parallel to Goldsmith Avenue and Locksway Road to a sea lock that's still there and used by a sailing club as a harbour.)

 

[Llanigraham]

How many of the signalling schools are in non-railway built buildings? Certainly the Leeds one I went to was in an office block in the City Centre.

 

[alxndr]

There are also training facilities in buildings that were not previously railway property, (e.g. Westwood) or which were built on railway land, but constructed for commercial companies, then later taken over for use by the railway (e.g. Bristol Parkway).
Maybe more, have a look at the Network Rail web page here.

Sometimes office / industrial units were/are used for depots, for example.

In this vein, until recently parts of HMS Sultan and HMS Collingwood were used by Network Rail for apprentice training, and obviously these buildings were originally constructed for the Navy. Presumably they have since gone back to being used by the Navy now that apprentices are no longer trained there.

 

[DelW]

I'm not sure if the OP intended to include heritage lines, but if so, I believe the Talyllyn has acquired some previously residential buildings in Tywyn, to expand their station facilities and provide volunteer accommodation. I expect there are others on here more knowledgeable than I am, who may be able to provide more details.

 

[Western 52]

I'm not sure if the OP intended to include heritage lines, but if so, I believe the Talyllyn has acquired some previously residential buildings in Tywyn, to expand their station facilities and provide volunteer accommodation. I expect there are others on here more knowledgeable than I am, who may be able to provide more details.

Yes definitely interested in any heritage railway examples. Maybe quite a few?

 

[Trestrol]

Levisham station house(NYMR) was there before the railway. Which is why its orientation is wierd to the platform. In fact one corner pokes into the platform.

 

[fgwrich]

SWT has previously converted a bog standard office block in Basing View to house their class 444 and 450 simulators. I believe they've now moved into the "Campus" on the opposite side of the SWML now.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Regional Railways had its Cardiff offices and messrooms in St Davids House across from the old bus station opposite Central Station.
Wessex Trains control office was in an office block in Princeshay in Exeter city centre.

InterCity/GWT staff were housed in Branwells Mill opposite Penzance station.

 

[Western Sunset]

If I recall, the ex-GW branch terminus at Staines (West) used the house previously on the site as the station building, with the platform being constructed in part of the former garden.

Sorry- just realised someone has already mentioned this above. Memo to self; read the thread first...

 

[Steddenm]

Newcastle I think had a traincrew depot for TPE in an office space above a pub opposite the main entrance near Greggs.

 

[Llanigraham]

I'm not sure if the OP intended to include heritage lines, but if so, I believe the Talyllyn has acquired some previously residential buildings in Tywyn, to expand their station facilities and provide volunteer accommodation. I expect there are others on here more knowledgeable than I am, who may be able to provide more details.

Correcct, they have purchased the house next to Wharf Station for office and accomodation, and have also purchased land (The Orchard) to the side of the Engine Sheds and Works to provide additioal works buildings

 

[Ashley Hill]

Newcastle I think had a traincrew depot for TPE in an office space above a pub opposite the main entrance near Greggs.

Handy for both during and after work

 

[johnnychips]

Barnsley courthouse station was repurposed from a courthouse to a railway station. I believe it's now been repurposed again as a pub.

Absolutely fascinating @yorksrob . I had been in the pub a few times, and just assumed it had been…erm.. a courthouse. It has recently been done up, but I don’t know what it’s like. From Wikipedia:

The Midland Railway built a new passenger station on the Regent Street site and this opened for business on 23 August 1873. On 20 January 1872 the Midland completed purchased of the Old Court House, which fronted onto Regent Street, to incorporate the building into their new construction as a ticket office and waiting room, the new station being named "Court House" as a result. The station had an overall glass roof over its two through platforms and with its magnificent frontage was considered to be the most 'glamorous' station in the area. There was also a short 'bay' platform (No.3) at the Penistone end of the station. It was known to generations of 'Barnsleyites' as "Top Station"

 

[Kneedown]

Central Trains moved it's messroom at Norwich to a three storey terraced house on Thorpe Road just across from the station. Still used to this day I believe.