City of YORK SCENES

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8. York Railway Station

In the foyer of the entrance to York Railway Station is a 19th century North Eastern Railway Distant signal which was one of the last to remain in use on a passenger line. Signals of this type were painted red until 1928 and was restored to its original condition with assistance from the NER Association and adds a little more colour to York Station and its great really heritage.

Main entrance and hotel of York Station. This great North Eastern Railway (NER) station was completed in 1877 and was the largest station in the world at the time. It is now known as the Royal York Hotel and Events Centre.

The magnificent ironwork curves of the York station roof and the rest of the great building thanks to the work of the NER architects Thomas Prosser and William Peachey.

Looking north at the south end of York Station.

Decorative detail of the ironwork of York Station.

Looking down the ironwork of the curved roofing towards the southern end of York Station.

National Express train (both left), Virgin Cross Country train (top right) and a steam excursion train from Crewe to Scarborough arriving/departing York station's platforms.

The odd freight train trundles through York Station.

The smart double-part bendybuses by the Station Hotel and the two main sightseeing bus tours courtesy of 'YORK PULLMAN CITY TOUR' and 'YORK CITY SIGHTSEEING TOUR'

George Leeman 1809-1882

On leaving the railway station and walking left towards Lendal Bridge and city you see on your right an impressive 'white' statue of George Leeman. He was a successful lawyer and politician, but he is best membered for the part he played in the investigations into illegal share dealings that led to the downfall of his political opponent, George Hudson, the 'Railway King'.  It was in 1849 he succeeded George Hudson as Chairman of the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway and promoted the mergers which created the North Eastern Railway Company in 1854. The North Eastern, with its headquarters in York, became one of the wealthiest railways in the country and he was chairman from 1874 to 1880.  He was an Alderman of the city for 28 years he was elected Lord Mayor on three occasions and a Member of Parliament for York between 1865 and 1880. In these roles he was a great advocate for preserving the antiquities of York and helped push through the restoration of much of the city walls. He was a promoter of the development of the 1860’s of iron ore mining in Rosedale to supply the Teesside steel works. He was also Chairman of the Railway Association of Great Britain and in 1875 in Darlington presided over the celebrations of the first fifty years of railways. It was therefore thought most appropriate by the appreciative citizens of York to erect the statue of him carved by the York sculptor G. W. Milburn and unequivocally paid for by public subscription.

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