The Forgotten Glory of Broad Street Station

[@buzzukfiftythree]

I remember taking a walk over to the station during a lunch break back in the 1970s and could see, even then, that its days were numbered. It was clearly being neglected. Its limited route opportunities, I guess, sealed its fate. But it’s sad that it’s gone and we only really have Marylebone and Fenchurch Street left as smaller London termini.

[@uktrains5679]

Fascinating video thanks. I find former stations so interesting but it seems sad how Broad Street slowly began its demise until that final day in 1986.

[@c1p1moore]

Excellent I just found you 👏 Memories of my time in the City & its repurpose 👍 Great work & vlogs.

[@geoffhoppy]

Used it daily for six months circa 1973 or 74 on my commute from Rainham in Essex to Camden Road. Train to Fenchurch Street, a dash across the City on foot, and then the North London line from Broad Street to Camden Road. It left me with a soft spot for the station.

[@callmemrbroadstreet5602]

Very nice

[@shaunlynch-u6x]

I used to catch train to Richmond Park from Broad St as kid back in the 60's, i often wonder what happened to the penny in a slot steam engine that graced the entrance.

[@andyhooper2416]

Love the subject and images, but find it difficult to watch videos where the VO is completely out of sync with the images and captions.

[@herbieabroad]

Agreed. I found myself trying to follow 2 stories - what he was saying and what was on the screen. Not easy.

[@Anonymoususer_8823]

Such a shame that Broad Street station no longer exists anymore. It would have been so useful if it still exists today as part of the London Overground East London Line extension.

[@Terry.W]

Give my regards to Broad Street..

[@callmemrbroadstreet5602]

Remember me to Leicester Square!

[@richard-riku]

It is a testament to the lack of central planning of railways in london and how competing private operators in the 1800's built two major stations (liverpool st and broad st) right next to each other when one terminal station would have handled the traffic.

[@ashleyscottthomas6633]

I remember it well as a kid in London

[@kevinwilliams1602]

Between 1970 and 1973 I worked for the S&T on the NLR and I have fond memories of Broad Street, I still cannot come to term with its destruction

[@Phil-oj5nr]

I noticed a 3rd rail electrification in one image, but earlier it had two conductor rails. I used to train-spot at Liverpool Street when it was a dirty smoky place, but never went to Broad Street, so missed seeing what it was like late 50’s to early 60’s. PICTON, South Island, New Zealand.

[@Phil-oj5nr]

A terminal station is far less efficient than through stations. Not so bad in quieter rural areas, but the main London terminals often suffer from not enough platforms. Must be a timetabler’s nightmare! In Auckland, NZ, the city terminus with five platforms is being extended at a cost of approximately $5 Billion, but will allow the whole system to grow, and allow trains that now terminate to dwell for 1/2 minutes and offer more tph and journeys not possible with the present set up. Opening about March 2026.

[@fredphipps9452]

I hope some of its fine details were saved, the station was a beautiful edifice which lost relevance to the modern world

[@whyyoulidl]

Thx for posting; some poignant screen grabs there 😢

[@davidpanton3192]

I visited it only once, in its dying days. There was a strong sense that it had been dying for years...

[@djh29971]

The original planned redevelopment of Liverpool Street would have had around 24 platforms for one large station. The plan then changed to 18 platforms and the Broadgate Development we have now.

[@peterfox2538]

Reminds me of a story when I was a secondman at ripple Lane we had a job where we were passenger to Willesden jct to pick up a train back to tilbury. It was about 8 30 in the evening so me the guard and driver were waiting at broad St for the train when my driver a big big geordie said I've got to go to the loo well the doors in the cubicles were not the best with holes in the doors so while he was sitting there doing his business he caught someone peeping through the hole in the door at him he got up to chase him going straight through the loo door holding on to his trousers.

[@PaulSmith-pl7fo]

Interesting historical video. Your technique of overlapping commentary and text I find difficult to concentrate on one or the other.

[@northernblue1093]

Agreed, I had to ignore the on-screen text.

[@EM-yk1dw]

It would be useful now ❤

[@WS-1]

Once upon a long ago .

[@kevinwilliams1602]

Not that long for me, a mere 51 years ago, gone in the blinking of an eye

[@paulgodwin604]

Can I point out that the colour picture looking at the Goods Yard at 1.02 is my Copyright? I think it’s been often hacked off the Disused Stations website which does correctly attribute it.

[@julianaylor4351]

😢 Damaged by the Second World War, neglected by British Rail and destroyed by Thatcher's government. It's platforms like it's ticket hall should have been incorporated into Liverpool Street. There are now plans to redevelop Liverpool Street, which many do not like. The entire area in my opinion has been overdeveloped, but that's typical of modern London. There are nests of town blocks all over my neighbourhood over shadowing older buildings and creating windy and polluted areas, with no regard for pedestrians.

[@grahamfrear9270]

So sad

[@Andrewjg_89]

If London Broad Street station still exists today then it would have been used for London Overground East London Line extension to Highbury & Islington, New Cross, Crystal Palace, Clapham Junction and West Croydon. Or to be rebuilt as an extension of Liverpool Street station with extra platforms and more trains using Liverpool Street station.

[@JW1_1]

It would’ve been an excellent terminus for the overground and be very handy coming from the west end of the North London line

[@Andrewjg_89]

⁠Absolutely.

[@Listenerandlearner870]

Sold for a quick buck. More capacity is needed for north facing stations.