Historic railway turntables unearthed in York

9:19am Friday 20th April 2012 in News

Aerial photograph of the historic turntables unearthed in York’s Engineers’ triangle Aerial photograph of the historic turntables unearthed in York’s Engineers’ triangle

A BURIED piece of York’s history has been uncovered, writes Elena Cresci.

Network Rail discovered the foundations of North Eastern Railway’s roundhouses while carrying out site inspections for a new operations centre and training base set to bring 500 new jobs to the city.

It is believed the roundhouses (steam engine sheds with turntables) discovered in the Engineers’ Triangle between York Station and Holgate Bridge, date from 1864 and were abandoned in the 1960s.

An archaeologist is now working with Network Rail to fully uncover and record the roundhouses before moving ahead with the construction of the rail operating centre.

The largest of 14 proposed sites across the UK, York’s new centre will eventually control all rail operations on the east coast.

Phil Verster, route managing director for the London North Eastern route, said: “This site is a great example of respecting our rail heritage whilst at the same time making exciting plans for our future.”

Rail bosses hope the operating centre will not only continue York’s proud rail heritage but also encourage further interest in the area. Mr Verster said: “Plans for operating and training facilities are being developed to help us to deliver a modern, efficient railway.

“They will allow us to maintain York’s position as a proud rail city by retaining jobs there as well as bringing future employment benefits which are vital for economic growth and prosperity.”

Full plans for the operations centre have been submitted to City of York Council, with a decision expected in June.

Network Rail will open this site of York’s rail history to the public between 11am and 5pm on Friday, April 27, and from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, April 28. Visitors should go to the site entrance on Cinder Lane and wear sturdy footwear suitable for rough, dirty terrain.

Comments(12)

pedalling paul says...
9:56am Fri 20 Apr 12

I wondere what future generations will make of the junk and buildings that we discard today, when it's dug up. The DIG museum in St. Saviourgate has a fascinating exhibit of a "layer cake" of historical rubbish going back to the stone age. The topmost layer includes a microwave oven. Fortunately no discarded bikes as yet....!

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Woody Mellor says...
10:13am Fri 20 Apr 12

I cant help but feel old when I read that archaeologists are investigating something that was around whilst I was!

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Grumpy Old Man says...
10:48am Fri 20 Apr 12

Yes, I remember seeing these in action (and the one at the side of Leeman Road) and feel incredibly ancient now.

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Ignatius Lumpopo says...
11:48am Fri 20 Apr 12

HAH! Thanks a bunch PRESS! I wrote about this in these very columns two weeks ago. Nice to know you pay attention!

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ReginaldBiscuit says...
12:25pm Fri 20 Apr 12

“This site is a great example of respecting our rail heritage whilst at the same time making exciting plans for our future” - My, there's much arsspeak around at the moment. High-ranking managerially structured apes such as Mr Verster are eloquent in making anything sound vigorously stimulating (Much like some of these 15k jobs that are described as a "fantastic opportunity", yes, for the employer who will use you for less than the annual poverty wage). You never hear funeral parlours advertising their services as fantastic opportunities or offering exciting plans for the future.

I can't work out whether utterances such as these are after effects of the arsspeak labour years where everything was overvalued and over exaggerated or that humans have now evolved to actually believe this wretched diatribe without question?

Oh well, be nice to preserve these roundhouses and do a Roman Bath alehouse thing on them. Build over the top as it were. Might even generate dollar for interested dollar-whores.

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redbluelion says...
1:29pm Fri 20 Apr 12

IM ONLY 47..THIS AS MADE ME FEEL REAL OLD..LIKE 5OO YEARS OLD IN FACT..for crying out load come on its not that long ago.how has this been forgotten about already..

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PKH says...
4:04pm Fri 20 Apr 12

I can't work out whether utterances such as these are after effects of the arsspeak labour years where everything was overvalued and over exaggerated or that humans have now evolved to actually believe this wretched diatribe without question?

Arsspeak was around in Thatcher's YUPPIE years.

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zaccwm says...
8:17pm Fri 20 Apr 12

What a pity they don't incorporate the historic features like these couple of examples we saw on a recent holiday in Canada https://www.facebook
.com/TheRoundhouse http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/John_Street
_Roundhouse — at Roundhouse Having seen the NRM destroy the Jubilee Memorial Garden for their new shop I am not convinced they are protecting our railway heritage as for the York Council planning department I could not comment

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binsysmith says...
9:19am Sat 21 Apr 12

i really hope that network rail can alter the design of their new ROC to incorporate these pieces of history,much like a tourist or enthusiast attraction.would criminal if they were concreted over in the name of progress.

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ouseswimmer says...
3:27pm Sat 21 Apr 12

Hardly discovered! They can clearly be seen on Google Earth!

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henleazeyorkie says...
5:12pm Sat 21 Apr 12

ReginaldBiscuit wrote:
“This site is a great example of respecting our rail heritage whilst at the same time making exciting plans for our future” - My, there's much arsspeak around at the moment. High-ranking managerially structured apes such as Mr Verster are eloquent in making anything sound vigorously stimulating (Much like some of these 15k jobs that are described as a "fantastic opportunity", yes, for the employer who will use you for less than the annual poverty wage). You never hear funeral parlours advertising their services as fantastic opportunities or offering exciting plans for the future.

I can't work out whether utterances such as these are after effects of the arsspeak labour years where everything was overvalued and over exaggerated or that humans have now evolved to actually believe this wretched diatribe without question?

Oh well, be nice to preserve these roundhouses and do a Roman Bath alehouse thing on them. Build over the top as it were. Might even generate dollar for interested dollar-whores.
Wow. Not sure who you are - but assume you're quite important with a good average at Scrabble.......

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Mr Anderson says...
8:57am Sun 22 Apr 12

This is an obvious cover up of a visitation by alien craft.

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