A Street Under Argyle Street

[Schiehallion]

Further to the discussions about an abandoned street under Argyle Street, I have heard rumours that some of the old Alston Street (which ran from Argyle Street to Gordon [then called Melville] Street between Hope Street and Union Street) is still present under parts of Central Station. Could this possibly be the street that is being discussed.
For detail of its position etc, go to http://www.scran.ac.uk and do a search for "glasgow map". There is an 1857 OS map of Glasgow clearly showing this street (when the terminus of the line was south of the river at Bridge Street). There is also an 1895 OS map showing the new Central station.

It's a myth. There's nothing under the Central but dunnies, arches and passageways snaking from Union Street to Hope Street.

[bigross]

Have you been under the station? I would like to do this sometime. What exactly is down there?

[Flyingscot]

I think it's because the line & station is directly under the open street and close to the surface.
As it's an island platform the exit has to go down and under the track before going to one side & heading up.




I hope that doesn't spoil scotia's research

Yep, I have a book which comfirmes that a 'lack of space' and it's location near street level is the reason.

[Schiehallion]

Have you been under the station? I would like to do this sometime. What exactly is down there?

From the big gates in Union St (near to Gregg's) it's a rabbit warren of corridors and roadways which come out in Hope St where Red Star Parcels used to be (near Oddbins). Basically there's a lot of arches and rooms which have been customised. In more modern times the Central station staff have had their mess room down there, in the days when all transactions were in cash and a lot of the staff were paid in cash there was a secure cash centre. More recently there were training rooms. All the rubbish collected from the trains is disposed of in a big shredder down there.

The other connection, apart from Union St to Hope St is that you can go up to the back of the gent's toilet and go through a corridor which leads you into what was the ladies toilets over near to Superdrug and the other shops on the west side of the station. Which means you nave crossed the concourse.

Another 'hidden' part of the station is in that big arch with Central Station written on it at the top of 12 & 13. There's a flight of stairs inside that!

This famous picture of the station being built in 1878 shows that there's no way Alston St would've survived.

[glasgowken]

I think it's because the line & station is directly under the open street and close to the surface.
As it's an island platform the exit has to go down and under the track before going to one side & heading up.




I hope that doesn't spoil scotia's research

Yep, I have a book which comfirmes that a 'lack of space' and it's location near street level is the reason.

It's amazing how close the Argyle Line is to street level.

On the 'Glasgow Underground' DVD, there's a snippet of late 1970's footage showing Argyle St dug up, and the 'cut & cover' tunnel girders being replaced over the Argyle Line.
(2 still captures from the DVD, outside Lewis's. The original film is a bit blurry, so don't blame me )

[james73]

Excellent pictures. I'd assume that the girders were replaced as the tunnel
where the station now is would've needed widened to add in the island platform.


James H

[glasgowken]

Yes, a lot of the original girders also needed replacing along it's length as they had rotted. The replacement (in the 2nd pic) looks like reinforced concrete.

Hope they last a bit longer

It's actually quite hair raising to see how thin the road is under that digger

[Tamandee]

I’ve heard there is inspection hatches under Debenhams (Lewis) Building for flood control. used to smell quite damp in the basement(job interview years ago was told when its high tide water does come up that far). Does anyone know how many basements are in that building. I’m guessing 1( that’s in use) plus a further sub.
Does anyone know someone who work/works in top shop hmv virgin Lewis to shed some light.

My Dad told me about the sub basement under the basement in Lewis's. He said there was a pump working there 24 hours a day, every day, to keep the Clyde at bay. He also talked about a street under the Arcade/Argyle Street. He is unfortunately no longer with us so I can't quiz him on it now.

[Schiehallion]

Coming in on the bus this morning I noticed two arches are exposed under the road where they're working on the west side of Hope Street. Must be basements going under the road from the red sandstone building that has just been modernised.

[HollowHorn]

Sometimes when the escalators are shut for repairs, they open the other entrance / exit.
Entrance:


First flight:


Second flight, leading to third:


Pretty damp down there:

[MotoMad]

Noticed the other way down to platforms at argyle street today, not wrong about the damp, its wet as hell down there

[e2wufos1]

glasgow cross station was an island platform
the entrance was facing the old crazy house
you went down a wide straight staircase to the platform part of which
was under the open triangle which is now covered by the steel grates
the ornamental pillar was probably a roof support on the platform
i think central low level has them too
i may have a photo of gc station will try to find it
also i seem to remember an air shaft next to the station
coming up in the courtyard of the tron theatre anyone confirm this?

I wonder if they'd ever consider opening glasgow cross station again or is it concidered too close to Argyle Street Station?

[james73]

I think Argyle Street was considered a better idea. Argyle St station didn't exist
before 1979.



James H

[deevlash]

I used to work for tesco on argyle street and theres an interesting thing underneath that building. If you go down the stairs at the rear (staff only) then theres a door on the 1st landing on your right. If you enter this theres a tunnel leading forward then a dead end to the right and a 20 foot long tunnel to the left. If you follw the tunnel to the left theres a small room with a roughly 10'x10' hole which goes down about 40' and has water sitting at the bottom with some pumping gear. I think its an overflow for the sewage system in glasgow. Also that building has a perfectly preserved canteen on the 1st floor from the days when it was a john menzies/woolworths.

[bigdavevw]

i work in the arches cafe bar. ive heard some interesting stories about whats under there.
"aparently" there is a hatch in the arches which takes yuou to the old streets of grahamston.
There is a secretish corridor that runs behind the kitchen that not many people in there know about.
There is another not so well know arch accessable from the office which leads to an arch filled with water troughs that catch the drips from central station bridge.
There is meant to be a small hatch that takes you right underground then along a small narrow winding corridor which takes you to a door, the door takes you on to the low level tracks.

Under the nightclub is MASSIVE, its like a maze, some of the stories will be nonsense but i belive that there is stuff under there most people dont know about.

i shall be asking if i can have a look at these places.

dave