Hunslet railway station

Hunslet
General information
LocationHunslet, City of Leeds
England
Coordinates53°46′44″N 1°32′11″W / 53.77889°N 1.53639°W / 53.77889; -1.53639
Grid referenceSE306315
Platforms4
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyMidland Railway
Post-groupingLondon, Midland & Scottish Railway
Key dates
1 April 1850Opened
14 September 1873Re-located
13 June 1960Closed

Hunslet railway station is a disused station in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. The station was opened by the Midland Railway on 1 April 1850 to serve the suburb of Hunslet.[1]

Originally built with two platforms, an increase in goods traffic between Normanton and Leeds prompted the Midland Railway to double line capacity between the two locations. As part of this development Hunslet station was relocated approximately 0.25 miles (0.40 km) north (closer to Leeds) of its original location with the station buildings at street level on Hilledge Road.[2] The new station opened on 14 September 1873 with four platforms.[1]

After the relocation the station remained open until it was closed on 13 June 1960.[1] After closure the station was demolished leaving no trace of its existence.

Pullman fire

In the early hours of 29 October 1882, the overnight sleeper train from St Pancras to Glasgow and Edinburgh was stopped in Hunslet station after fire broke out in one of the Pullman carriages in the train. Four people were known to be in the carriage and three were evacuated safely however the body of the fourth was found in his compartment of the carriage, the body was identified as Dr John Arthur from Aberdeen.[3] At the inquest held in Leeds the following week it was concluded that the fire had accidentally started due to another passenger's reading lamp setting fire to the furnishings of the carriage and that Dr Arthur died from suffocation while in a narcotic stupor.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c Quick, Michael (2009) [2001]. Railway passenger stations in Great Britain: a chronology (4th ed.). Oxford: Railway & Canal Historical Society. ISBN 978-0-901461-57-5. OCLC 612226077.
  2. ^ "Midland Railway improvements in Leeds". The Railway News. Vol. XIX, no. 487. 26 April 1873. p. 608.
  3. ^ "A Pullman car on fire". Lancaster Gazette. No. 5, 289. 4 November 1882. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "The Pullman Car Accident". Aberdeen Journal. Vol. CXXXIV, no. 7, 035. 11 November 1882. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  Historical railways  
Woodlesford
Line open; station open
  Midland Railway   Leeds Wellington Street
Line open; station open