The top photo is a nice reminder of how Tay Bridge Station looked before it became the design it is today. The one on top being a basic shoe box design - functional rather than eye-catching.
This is exactly how I remember the area when I lived in Dundee.
At the time the picture was taken (21st December 1983) the larger building next to it, the goods station, was being demolished, although obviously all the work was being done at the rear.
If you view the large version, you can see the rail station's Christmas tree.
The close-up image of the Dundee West Goods Station sign was taken on 22nd December 1983, and as you can see it was the depot of National Carriers.
Another relic from the past that's in the bottom shot is the guy wearing a Kestrel Marine jacket!
Photos by Neale Elder.
Shame what replaces the Goods Station is not nearly such a nice design! The 'shoe box' is being replaced soon?
ReplyDeleteSue
I feel a rant coming on...
ReplyDeleteSorry, but the current railway station at Dundee is an embarrassment, compared to those in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and even Aberdeen. It reminds me more of a small town or even village station, which reflects poorly given that it's the first place many visitors to Dundee will experience.
Tiny concourse. No decent selection of shops, meaning if your train is delayed, you haven't got much to do while you wait - if you want to buy a paper, you have to go back through the barriers to nip up to Smiths, which is more of a kiosk than a shop. No clearly identified toilets "land side" for people who don't have tickets. No proper waiting area for people waiting on relatives arriving by train, etc. I could go on.
But, worst of all, the bus station is miles away - for anyone not from Dundee who wants to find their way around, I can't imagine how difficult it would be. At least the taxi drivers may be happy though :-)
Let's hope it's replaced soon.
Errr ... the taxi driver was certainly not happy at the station, he never even got out to put my suitcase in the boot he just popped it fae inside the car.
ReplyDeleteThat's why he got no tip
They should have kept the goods station and tranformed that building into the main station. Dundee could have had a grand Milan-like welcome for visitors!
ReplyDeleteRetro. Nice idea about using the goods depot but the flaw is the main line to the north is at a much lower level and even if you could have had an array of buildings at ground level,you would still have to come down by stairs or lifts to the platform level.No such problem existed at the old Dundee West station or indeed Dundee East as they were terminal stations with everything on the level.There is no way, even if it was possible, that the powers that be would ever raise the level of the track to ground level as that would cause havoc on the grandiose plans for the area south of the Caird Hall so, buried it will stay.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I thought EVERYBODY in Dundee had a Kestrel jacket.
Millions of people use escalators to reach the London Underground don't they?
ReplyDeleteAre you sure this was 1983? Not earlier?
ReplyDeleteRetro, the steps at Edinburgh Waverley are a much tougher obstacle but they were closed only last month for escalator installation. I expect Dundee is a much lower priority.
ReplyDeleteA lot of the recent development at Waverley was funded on the promise of revenue from more shops. Not sure if there are any plans for that at Dundee, which has nothing like the same footfall. Still, at least no-one else has the Discovery moored outside, or (maybe) the V&A.
RedStar, there's a sign on the fence in the top picture. If you zoom in, it says
ReplyDelete"From M(onday?)
"2?.11.83".
- the date the depot was closed?
Political comment alert. Sadly, successive governments have made it plain that they will never electrify the lines north of Edinburgh-too expensive,difficult to do with bridges etc., blah blah blah.The likely scenario is that anybody north of Glasgow/Edinburgh wishing to take a train to England will no longer be able to do so without changing at these two stations.The East coast line passing through Dundee would become no more than a feeder route with probably inferior rolling stock and we would lose the ability to get on at Dundee and be able to go straight to the likes of London or indeed Penzance without changing.Have you been on the local stopping train to Edinburgh and compared it to the 125s? Hardly a great start to a long journey.
ReplyDeleteSorry, behind the times. You used to be able to get to Penzance without changing but now you change at Plymouth.
ReplyDeleteRedStar and jim7474 - yes, the pictures were taken in December 1983. I have another close-up view of the signs on the gate. One says, 'Gate closed from Monday 28.11.83', while beside it is 'Access to BR goods dept. is now via Yeaman Shore and Mineral Yard. Entry adjacent Mitchells Car Hire'.
ReplyDeleteThe big blue British Railways sign was already a relic, and would fetch a bob or two at a railwayana auction now. As for National Carriers - it was created in 1968 by Barbara Castle as the road-based division of the National Freight Corporation, which was sold off under Thatcher in 1982. So it too was already history.
During the winter blizzards I saw a guy in Fintry wearing a Kestrel jacket - actually looked quite new - wonder if he has uncovered a secret stash somewhere
ReplyDeleteEVERY one in Fintry had a Kestrel jekkit' including meh Gran.
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