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| The beautiful stations of rail's golden age | The beautiful stations of rail's golden age |
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| After a long gap, railway stations are being built again. But once upon a time there were some very lovely stations indeed. | |
| In the week when Birmingham's main station reopened after a £750m makeover, the National Railway Museum in York is using its latest exhibition to celebrate the architectural styles from the past that helped create "destination stations" across the UK. | In the week when Birmingham's main station reopened after a £750m makeover, the National Railway Museum in York is using its latest exhibition to celebrate the architectural styles from the past that helped create "destination stations" across the UK. |
| Curved futuristic design on the outside - with a bright, airy feel on the inside - New Street station has been transformed by its 2015 revamp. | Curved futuristic design on the outside - with a bright, airy feel on the inside - New Street station has been transformed by its 2015 revamp. |
| But the idea of making railway stations desirable places to visit in themselves - rather than just a place to travel to and from - is not new. | But the idea of making railway stations desirable places to visit in themselves - rather than just a place to travel to and from - is not new. |
| Ellen Tait, curator of the NRM's new exhibition Destination Stations, says "the first trains ran in the early 1830s - but by the 1840s you had a plethora of monumental buildings which serviced this new technology". | Ellen Tait, curator of the NRM's new exhibition Destination Stations, says "the first trains ran in the early 1830s - but by the 1840s you had a plethora of monumental buildings which serviced this new technology". |
| "There was a bit of the Field of Dreams about it. The idea was 'if you build it, they will come'." | "There was a bit of the Field of Dreams about it. The idea was 'if you build it, they will come'." |
| Birmingham's first station was Curzon Street - nearly half a mile to the east of New Street. | Birmingham's first station was Curzon Street - nearly half a mile to the east of New Street. |
| The image above shows the grand Palladian entrance shortly after it opened - with high arches, grand gates and tall columns. The image below is from 2013. | The image above shows the grand Palladian entrance shortly after it opened - with high arches, grand gates and tall columns. The image below is from 2013. |
| Tait says both railway companies and planners wanted to create city gateways, so travellers would know "they had arrived". | Tait says both railway companies and planners wanted to create city gateways, so travellers would know "they had arrived". |
| But Curzon Street station was only in use for about 15 years - until New Street and Snow Hill stations took over. | But Curzon Street station was only in use for about 15 years - until New Street and Snow Hill stations took over. |
| In the late 1820s and early 1830s, at the dawn of the railway age, says Tait, stations did not really exist in a way that we would recognise today. The earliest had no buildings and any structures which did exist were made of wood. | In the late 1820s and early 1830s, at the dawn of the railway age, says Tait, stations did not really exist in a way that we would recognise today. The earliest had no buildings and any structures which did exist were made of wood. |
| There would be no platforms and - as this next image of Parkside station, near Newton-le-Willows on the Liverpool to Manchester line, shows - passengers would climb up into carriages from ground level. | There would be no platforms and - as this next image of Parkside station, near Newton-le-Willows on the Liverpool to Manchester line, shows - passengers would climb up into carriages from ground level. |
| Tait turns to a set of plans from 1835 from Network Rail's archive - possibly for London Bridge station. | Tait turns to a set of plans from 1835 from Network Rail's archive - possibly for London Bridge station. |
| This building was designed more like a business office than a station, she says. | This building was designed more like a business office than a station, she says. |
| But things changed quickly and - just as with Curzon Street in Birmingham - distinctive and substantial buildings were soon built. | But things changed quickly and - just as with Curzon Street in Birmingham - distinctive and substantial buildings were soon built. |
| The next image depicts the giant Euston Arch in London - built in the late 1830s. | The next image depicts the giant Euston Arch in London - built in the late 1830s. |
| It was through these statement-making structures that railway companies demonstrated their belief that "trains were here to stay and the whole enterprise could be trusted financially", says Tait. | It was through these statement-making structures that railway companies demonstrated their belief that "trains were here to stay and the whole enterprise could be trusted financially", says Tait. |
| But the Euston Arch had no practical purpose. It remained standing for more than 100 years, until the early 1960s. | But the Euston Arch had no practical purpose. It remained standing for more than 100 years, until the early 1960s. |
| It was demolished, despite attempts by campaigners to save it. | It was demolished, despite attempts by campaigners to save it. |
| Euston's Great Hall suffered the same fate. | Euston's Great Hall suffered the same fate. |
| The whole station was replaced by a modern building which, says Tait, was more functional and practical. | The whole station was replaced by a modern building which, says Tait, was more functional and practical. |
| Tait describes how railway companies would create plans and put up money for new stations - but town planners could rule on what was built. | Tait describes how railway companies would create plans and put up money for new stations - but town planners could rule on what was built. |
| Even in the mid-19th Century there was pressure on space in city centres. | Even in the mid-19th Century there was pressure on space in city centres. |
| In Edinburgh, Waverley station was built low in the valley in between Princes Street and the Old Town - to minimise the impact on the look of Scotland's capital. | In Edinburgh, Waverley station was built low in the valley in between Princes Street and the Old Town - to minimise the impact on the look of Scotland's capital. |
| Waverley station is distinctive because of its low, unobtrusive roof - but in the mid-1800s other stations became well known for the giant glass and iron structures which curved high over their platforms and tracks. | Waverley station is distinctive because of its low, unobtrusive roof - but in the mid-1800s other stations became well known for the giant glass and iron structures which curved high over their platforms and tracks. |
| When it opened in 1854, Birmingham's New Street station - above - featured the largest glass and iron roof in the world. | When it opened in 1854, Birmingham's New Street station - above - featured the largest glass and iron roof in the world. |
| That record was broken less than 20 years later by St Pancras station in London. | That record was broken less than 20 years later by St Pancras station in London. |
| Ellen Tait says there was a lot of talk at the time about the height of station roofs being unnecessary - but for the train companies it was all positive. | Ellen Tait says there was a lot of talk at the time about the height of station roofs being unnecessary - but for the train companies it was all positive. |
| They were getting press coverage and "capturing hearts and minds". | They were getting press coverage and "capturing hearts and minds". |
| The next set of images feature plans from the Network Rail archive for the roof at St Pancras. | The next set of images feature plans from the Network Rail archive for the roof at St Pancras. |
| "To create a structure which didn't need support and columns within it was very complicated," says Tait. | "To create a structure which didn't need support and columns within it was very complicated," says Tait. |
| "They, in effect, created a false metal floor which held it all together. It was cutting edge at the time - an amazing achievement." | "They, in effect, created a false metal floor which held it all together. It was cutting edge at the time - an amazing achievement." |
| More design challenges faced architects creating Newcastle upon Tyne's main station. | More design challenges faced architects creating Newcastle upon Tyne's main station. |
| The building was created on a bend in the line - and so the roof had to be curved, with the rest of the building on a similar theme. | The building was created on a bend in the line - and so the roof had to be curved, with the rest of the building on a similar theme. |
| The look was repeated at York's main station - which is next to the National Railway Museum. | The look was repeated at York's main station - which is next to the National Railway Museum. |
| "You get these giant vaulted structures with rolled-iron construction - which had been used previously in glasshouses," says Ellen Tait. | "You get these giant vaulted structures with rolled-iron construction - which had been used previously in glasshouses," says Ellen Tait. |
| The elegant curves still get people excited, she continues. | The elegant curves still get people excited, she continues. |
| "This next poster for InterCity from the 1990s focuses on the architecture built 100 years before." | "This next poster for InterCity from the 1990s focuses on the architecture built 100 years before." |
| "The idea was that the railway station was a gateway to your city," says Tait. | "The idea was that the railway station was a gateway to your city," says Tait. |
| Styles varied across the country - in Bristol, Brunel added a Tudor-look to Temple Meads. | Styles varied across the country - in Bristol, Brunel added a Tudor-look to Temple Meads. |
| "It makes a statement, but still acknowledges the history and the architectural style of the area at the time." | "It makes a statement, but still acknowledges the history and the architectural style of the area at the time." |
| By the early part of the 20th Century, designs were changing. | By the early part of the 20th Century, designs were changing. |
| The architects tasked with extending Glasgow Central Station looked to the USA for inspiration. | The architects tasked with extending Glasgow Central Station looked to the USA for inspiration. |
| They were trying to find better ways of managing thousands of people in a confined space - and so they built on a curved theme, with fewer right-angled corners, so people would flow through. | They were trying to find better ways of managing thousands of people in a confined space - and so they built on a curved theme, with fewer right-angled corners, so people would flow through. |
| Cardiff's main station was rebuilt by the Great Western Railway in the early 1930s. | Cardiff's main station was rebuilt by the Great Western Railway in the early 1930s. |
| "It's very much of its time," says Tait, "with an art-deco simplicity to it". | "It's very much of its time," says Tait, "with an art-deco simplicity to it". |
| "But it still has that monument feeling, with Great Western Railway carved in the stonework. It's classical in feel, if not in architecture." | "But it still has that monument feeling, with Great Western Railway carved in the stonework. It's classical in feel, if not in architecture." |
| By the late 1950s there was a new nationalised railway infrastructure - a modernisation plan was introduced. | By the late 1950s there was a new nationalised railway infrastructure - a modernisation plan was introduced. |
| Ellen Tait says practical considerations - "like how do we get 10,000 passengers through here each day?" - often trumped architectural sensitivities. | Ellen Tait says practical considerations - "like how do we get 10,000 passengers through here each day?" - often trumped architectural sensitivities. |
| "So you get things like the apron at King's Cross in London - big, black and blocky, and plonked on the front. It was all about needing more space - and quickly." | "So you get things like the apron at King's Cross in London - big, black and blocky, and plonked on the front. It was all about needing more space - and quickly." |
| The apron hid the Victorian arches on the front of the building - which have now been restored. | The apron hid the Victorian arches on the front of the building - which have now been restored. |
| The early 1960s saw Manchester's main station revamped and renamed. Manchester London Road became Manchester Piccadilly. | The early 1960s saw Manchester's main station revamped and renamed. Manchester London Road became Manchester Piccadilly. |
| The designers looked to the future - "it was part station, part shopping centre", says Tait. | The designers looked to the future - "it was part station, part shopping centre", says Tait. |
| But while the front part of the station looked modern, the structure behind housing the trains and platforms remained unchanged. | But while the front part of the station looked modern, the structure behind housing the trains and platforms remained unchanged. |
| At the end of the 20th Century, Grimshaw Architects looked back to the early years of the railways for inspiration - as they designed the first home for the Eurostar at Waterloo in London. | At the end of the 20th Century, Grimshaw Architects looked back to the early years of the railways for inspiration - as they designed the first home for the Eurostar at Waterloo in London. |
| The long, snaking, glass-roofed structure was modern, says Ellen Tait. But it cast a nod to the Victorian train sheds from 100 years before. | The long, snaking, glass-roofed structure was modern, says Ellen Tait. But it cast a nod to the Victorian train sheds from 100 years before. |
| And ironically, Eurostar's second home is St Pancras - home of the giant curved roof. | And ironically, Eurostar's second home is St Pancras - home of the giant curved roof. |
| The move breathed new life into the station which had fallen out of favour, and in effect says Tait, "rescued a beautiful piece of architecture". | The move breathed new life into the station which had fallen out of favour, and in effect says Tait, "rescued a beautiful piece of architecture". |
| The final image is an impressive photo of the recently refurbished Newcastle Central station - by Ryder Architecture - where giant arches have been filled with glass. | The final image is an impressive photo of the recently refurbished Newcastle Central station - by Ryder Architecture - where giant arches have been filled with glass. |
| And for Ellen Tait it helps demonstrate how, for her at least, rail travel is not necessarily about the trains and the engineering - but instead it's about the travelling, and the "sense you have arrived somewhere". | And for Ellen Tait it helps demonstrate how, for her at least, rail travel is not necessarily about the trains and the engineering - but instead it's about the travelling, and the "sense you have arrived somewhere". |
| Destination Stations runs at the National Railway Museum in York from 25 September 2015 until 24 January 2016. | Destination Stations runs at the National Railway Museum in York from 25 September 2015 until 24 January 2016. |
| All images subject to copyright. | All images subject to copyright. |
| You might also like: | You might also like: |
| The architect who inspired our love of columns | The architect who inspired our love of columns |