exchange

The train enthusiast in me came out today as I followed the old route into the defunct Liverpool Exchange station. Exchange was closed in April 1977, and replaced by the underground station at nearby Moorfields. But, and the internet will prove it, there's a fascination with this previously important Liverpool landmark. At one time it was the starting point for all the city trains to Scotland, as well as catering for the local services to Southport, Ormskirk, and journeys to both Bolton and Manchester via Kirkby.

When I was very small, I remember very clearly getting a train from Waterloo to Exchange. Would you believe it was my 6th birthday, and as a treat my folks took me into town. Probably to see those water buckets!!! But it was a very grey and miserable day, weather-wise that is. Exchange seemed cavernous, but its' size lent weight to its' importance. Sadly, I wasn't to know of the disrepair of the place, being so close to closure. Only three platforms from the original eight remained in use, and most of the building had already made way to car-parking.

Exchange was mostly demolished, but tantalising clues remain that a great railway station was here, as my pics hope to show.

Below is a current map of the locality, and I've scruffily added what used to be the railway line approach to Exchange and the extent of the old structure.

Below is the start of the split between the old system and the current on at Glegg Street. The green bridge is part of the original approach to Exchange.

A little further down, the split is quite clearly seen at Stone Street.....

Then at Whitley Street, the embankment becomes completely separate from the line heading towards Moorfields Underground......

A touch further on at Little Howard Street......

Seen at the corner of Chadwick Street facing towards Exchange, the embankment has been completely demolished for about 400 yards, letting small business units and more car parking take its' place. The current railway line is seen nearby. Note just beyond that wall, deep below ground is the Kingsway Tunnel to Wallasey.......

At the northern end of Pall Mall, just before the junction with Leeds Street, a few of the existing pillars of the demolished elevated section are still with us......

Crossing Leeds Street on the southern part of Pall Mall, the embankment of the old line still exists for the last few hundred yards of transit to Exchange.....

On Leeds Street, facing south, is the continuation of the elevated section of old railway bed towards Exchange.....

At the uppermost end of blocked-off section, facing north towards Leeds Street. The current Merseyrail line can just be seen to the left (surrounded by grey fencing) coming up from the underground system.....

Facing the other way round towards Exchange. A few hundred yards further on a mighty railway station once stood. The whole area is now just a car park.......

The only surviving section of platform left from Exchange station. Its' survival was ensured as it was joined onto an electricity substation that's still in use......

Mercury Court Gardens at the back of Exchange Station Buildings. Once this was a busy thoroughfare with taxi-ranks, ticket offices, newsagents and a Heel Bar, not to mention lots and lots of waiting trains........

And the front of Exchange, restored to all its' previous glory.......

A commemoration plaque to John Pearson, the brains behind the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, of which Exchange was such a proud part.

So there you have it. History cannot only be informative, but quite boring too.

Well, I enjoyed it!