DESIGNS for a train station from the 1850s have been unearthed revealing what could have been the UK’s own Grand Central Station.
A map of the station from 172 years ago shows that it would have been a huge hub just like New York’s station of the same name.
To mark 200 years of modern railway, Perceval Parsons’ plans have been released and put on sale.
And they reveal a very different looking rail hub than what we know today.
The Grand Central Station would have connected up lots of mainline stations in the capital.
It would have been built next to Great Scotland Yard, close to where Embankment tube station is now and backed onto the River Thames.
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Outside would have been lots of decoration with a front that would be 800 feet in length.
For passengers there would be multiple entrances into the main concourse which would be around 300 feet long.
There would have been eight arrival platforms and eight for departure.
In comparison, Grand Central Terminal in New York is 275 feet long, 120 feet wide, and 125 feet high.
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Parsons wrote on the plans: “The great desideratum of a connecting link to unite the termini of the various metropolitan railways, and at the same time afford them access to the heart of London, has long been admitted.
“And a line that would effect this, and at the same time give a like accommodation to the principal suburbs, would be of still greater importance”.
The proposal was supported by Robert Stephenson, chief engineer of the London and Birmingham Railway, but the reason why it didn’t go ahead was due to the Crimean War.
The war meant many expensive projects were scrapped across the UK.
Charing Cross Station opened in 1864, eight years after the end of the Crimean War.
One train line that was running in the 1800s was what was dubbed one of the spookiest train lines in history.
The London Necropolis Railway would transport up to 2,000 bodies a year from the city, to be buried in the countryside due to overcrowding.
Starting at Waterloo Station, the Necropolis Railway would transport coffins from London to Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey.
Here’s how to find the UK’s most beautiful rail journey that takes 10 minutes and costs just £10.
Plus, here’s one of the world’s most beautiful train routes is in the UK – and it’s getting a £15million upgrade.
Here’s more on the London Transport Museum…
From rare road and rail vehicles to vintage posters, visitors can see over 320,000 items relating to the English capital’s transport history at the London Transport Museum Depot in Acton.
There’s lots to explore at the Museum Depot like decommissioned tube carriages – including some from the 1930s.
There are also signs, ceramic tiles, original posters and ticket machines from over the years.
There are limited open days each year where there are expert talks and demonstrations.
Some topics ask the questions; why are buses red? to why design of the Piccadilly Line train is the way it is.
The depot also has a working miniature railway based on real underground trains from the carriages to signals – this only runs on weekends during the open days.
For more information and details on opening days, head to the London Transport Museum Depot website.