Exchange Station Entrance Steps - Bradford, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 47.596 W 001° 44.960
30U E 582383 N 5961245
These entrance steps are all that remains of a large railway station that had 10 platforms.
Waymark Code: WMJBT7
Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/26/2013
Views: 1
The station opened in 1850 for Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway company and at that time was known as Drake Street Station. A rival company, The Great Northern Railway had their own station, Adolphus Road but was not used much because it was too far out of town. So in 1867 they built a junction to allow them to connect to Drake Street Station.
Passenger numbers then increased and in 1880 the station was rebuilt and extended to have 10 platforms and two arched glazed roofs. The dimensions were a length of 450 feet , a width of 100 feet for each arch and a height of 80 feet, track to apex.
There were two sets of steps forming the entrance to the station, one set on Drake Street and one on Hall Ings (A6181).
Each company had five platforms which were operated independently from each other. There were two separate booking offices, an unusual arrangement which continued until January 1940.
Passenger numbers dropped dramatically after WW2 and by 1973 the station, with its 10 platforms was deemed too large for the volume of transport using it. In 1973 the Bradford Exchange was closed and replaced by a smaller four platform station fifty yards south on part of the site of the Bridge Street goods depot which was demolished at the same time.
The old Exchange station was demolished in 1976 and the site was used as a car park. The steps that formed the entrance to the station were preserved and the area at the top of the steps turned into a small square with seating.
The entrance on Hall Ings still has some letters from the station name are still visible, a reminder of what used to be there.
The remainder of the site of the old station now has Bradford Crown Court on it with a public square in front called Exchange Square.
Type: Remnant
Fee: No
Hours:
24 hours a day.
Related URL: [Web Link]
|
Visit Instructions:
Original photographs showing additional views of the Ruin/Remnant or even just its current condition are encouraged. Please describe your visit, especially if no additional photos are available. Did you like the Ruin or Remnant? What prompted you to see the Ruin or Remnant?
Recent Visits/Logs:
| There are no logs for this waymark yet. |
|
|
|