Left: Glasgow Central Station, looking along a platform.
Glasgow Central Station, Gordon Street, Scotland, was built as the main and terminal station on the Caledonian Railway, and opened in 1879. When extra platforms were added, the architect was James Miller (1860-1947) of the Caledonian Railway's engineering department, working with his friend, the engineer-in-chief and architect Donald Alexander Matheson (1860-1935). The firm responsible for the steelwork at that time was the Motherwell Bridge and Engineering Co. ("Glasgow, Gordon Street, Central Station").
Two more views along platforms.
Looking across at the platform canopy and windows of the Hielanman's Umbrella.
According to Network Rail, when the station was expanded between 1899 and 1905, the original roof was kept, "but the new section had arched ironwork rather than the traditional horizontal ironwork." The arched supports can be seen clearly here, springing from the pillars on either side of the middle canopy. The extension involved not only these dramatic canopies, "but ornamentation ... stained glass panels, wood panelling, ornate ironwork and decorative stonework" ("The History of Glasgow Railway Station"). The canopies are certainly impressive, as are the series of windows along the Hielanman's Umbrella.
Ironwork and canopies seen from different angles.
The Canmore entry for the station concludes, "This station is apparently the largest in Britain outside London. It remains in regular use by passenger traffic, both as the northern terminus of the West Coast Main Line (to London, Euston) and for Glasgow suburban services. It has been completely electrified (25kv ac overhead) since 1974."
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Photographs by Colin Price. Text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee. You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite it in a print one. [Click on the images to enlarge them.]
Bibliography
"Donald Alexander Matheson." Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Web. 11 January 2021.
"Glasgow, Gordon Street, Central Station." Canmore. Web. 11 January 2021.
"The History of Glasgow Railway Station." Network Rail. Web. 11 January 2021.
Matheson, Donald Alexander. Glasgow Central Station Extension. Minutes of the Proceedings of the institution of Civil Engineers. 175 (1909), Paper no. 3737 (requires subscription or entry through your institution). Web. 11 January 2021.
Meighan, Michael. Glasgow Central Station through Time. Stroud, Glos.: Amberley, 2013 (Ebook).
"James Miller." Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Web. 11 January 2021.
Created 10 January 2021