The LNER Encyclopedia

Had a look around the new works at Kings Cross yesterday, including the new platform 0 (under the East Side Offices) and the new booking hall - near where the old Red Star office used to be. All the West Side offices are empty and in the process of being renovated with the bomb damage of May 1941 being put right after all this time. A bit sad to see that Culross Buildings have gone, but some of the flats next to the German Gym in Cheney Court have been retained. I was also amazed to see that platforms 7 and 8 have been shortened in length in order to increase the concourse area. For those of you far away, this may give an idea of what's happening, including 'up the Goods Yard':

http://www.argentgroup.plc.uk/index.cfm ... ngs_cross/

If you have any time to spare when waiting for a train, there are large scale models and maps on display in the German Gym (opposite entrance to St Pancras 'domestic station') but it has limited opening hours

G'Day Gents
Interesting Hitchin, especially the shortening of the platforms, but with the train sets of today, the chance of seeing a 15 coaches leaving KX would be very rare, I'm surprised they did'nt shorten more!!
Platform 0, I wonder what they will call it? All I ever recall on Platform 1 was mass'es of Brutes everywhere, mailbags, red PO vans coming into the taxi road full pelt, and platform 1, near the concourse, being only six feet wide because of all the stuff lying around.
Re- the west side office's, do you think they've been waiting for the insurence company to cough up????
Anyone got any pictures of KX today with all this building work happening, it's history in the making????
manna

Thanks for updating us, Hitchin.

The days are long gone when I found a space at the end of Platform 10 to witness an N2 struggle to start a full train on the incline at the Widened Lines platform.

As for platform shortening, I recall too the evening newspaper train loading on 10. Vans could be added that would take it beyond the platform - not something that could be tolerated at busier times.

I must correct the above: the newspaper train was indeed on 10 (as it was then), but the vans that overran the platform length were in 11, itself a shorter platform, of course, in the suburban station.