Station At Sunderland : It Isn't A Wonderland (2)

But It Was, Once!

The above is a map of the Leamside Line, still considered ripe for re-opening. To the left, and north from Durham is today's East Coast main line, and far right creeping off the map "to Middlesbrough" is the line that actually follows the east coast and today carries an hourly local service. Trains and metro run from Gateshead and, across the Tyne, Newcastle curving round via Boldon to Sunderland and extended westwards to South Hylton (Metro only). Trains via Shotton Bridge and Hetton have long chuffed their last.

But in 1879, when Sunderland Central opened it was a busy place; and deserved a grand station.

And grand it was, standing proud on the High Street. It was rather splendid inside as well ...

... and remained so until 1965.

The trains ran in a cutting, well below street level, so that made it easy to provide an overall roof for the whole station.

There were two island platforms which required some pretty nifty operational management when things got busy! The above view is looking south with ramps up to a subsidiary exit, less ornate but useful nevertheless.

This was on Athenaeum Street.

In 1943, a certain Mr Hitler sent some of his lads over to drop bombs on Sunderland as part of an attempt to cripple the ship building industry. One such took out a large chunk of that overall roof.

Was it rebuilt?

Of course not. With post war economic hardship and the start of the decline of rail travel, the busted section was replaced by rather mundane canopies.

Later, the whole arched roof was removed and "modern" canopies were provided for the full length of the platforms.

As the same time, the southern entrance, which was integral to the arched design ...

... was rebuilt in a trendy 1950s "modern" style.

O, the cruelty of architectural fashions!

But worse was yet to come in the interests of the god of modern 60s living!

Barry's Scenic Railway (That's No 2 of 3)

It would be fair to say, fbb thinks, that the areas of the coast at Barry would not normally gain the soubriquet of "Scenic".

Historically, the beach and the fun fair are pleasant enough ...

... in a tired sort of way these days. There are signs of regeneration ...

... and even some up-market visitors popping in now and them!

But "scenic" is probably not the first word to spring to mind once the beach is left behind!

But there was a "Scenic Railway" - and there it is, backing on to the non-scenic station for trains to Cardiff.

Well - it could certainly be called "scenic" in an applique plaster sort of way!

There is more to this massive fairground ride than at first meets the eye. All will reveal itself in tomorrow's post.

It's almost as exciting as a big international football match final!

 Next SB blog (Sunderland and Barry) : Wednesday 14th July