This month marks the 149th anniversary of the opening of St Pancras Station, and it also marks the start of a year of celebrations to mark its 150th birthday.
The fact the station is still here 150 years later is itself a minor miracle considering how close it came to being demolished. British Rail even at one point declined funding to fix the leaky roof lest it reduce their chances of a total demolition.
Of course it’s now one of the jewels in the British railway’s crown, but one fact that few are aware of, is that it is not owned by Network Rail anymore.
St Pancras station is managed by Network Rail, but on behalf of its actual owners, HS1, which is partly why the toilets in St Pancras are free, but the toilets across the road in King’s Cross have to be paid for.
Anyway, to mark the 150th anniversary of the station, they are calling upon anyone with interesting photos of the station throughout its history to send them in for an exhibition.
Pictures that showcase the history of the station will be featured on the St Pancras website throughout 2018.
If you have any photos that you’d like to submit, please send them to 150birthday@highspeed1.co.uk along with a description of the photo (location of photo, approximate date, the story behind the photo).
Full T&Cs can be viewed here.
Owners of photos that are used will be invited for Afternoon Tea in May 2018.
Thanks to John Betjemen who led the fight to save the station and now has a statue on the concourse.
Anyone who wants to see the dire state St Pancras was in need only watch the opening credits of Ronnie Barker “Porridge ” series which featured the station in the 1980s .
As for paying for toilets well a tour around London Mainline stations will find that Paddington, Euston, Kings Cross, Liverpool Street , Blackfriars and Waterloo one has to pay , whilst St Pancras, Fenchurch Street, Cannon Street and Victoria are free . Although Victoria free toilets were a form of compensation for Southern Rail disputes disruption !
As for St Pancras International the station may now seem posh and grand but the public toilets are often grubby and not working….. Although their are some nicer ones in the hotel !
Odd, as I’ve never noticed the toilets at St Pancras being out of order on my fairly regular visits to the station. Maybe you’ve been unusually unlucky.
Well said. Agree totally
With melvyn.