From its earliest days Liverpool Street Station was a steamy smoky dirty place because the effects of the delightful overall roof tended to trap smoke and steam within the station. In fact it was not until the recent redevelopment of the station and the demise not only of steam traction but also intensive use of diesel traction, that the station became the light airy functional place that it is today.

The original station had some interesting features; especially the way the station was effectively bisected by what became Platforms 9 and 10. For apparently railway operating reasons, which included the release of engines from incoming services, the design was altered from the original to divide the concourse into two separate areas.

This was achieved by terminating the aforesaid platforms in what became a smoky cavern underneath the Great Eastern Hotel. Passengers who had to cross the station could do so by subway or footbridge.

Rebuilding to Liverpool Street's station of today is well advanced in the picture above. It shows an overhead wire maintenance train in Platform 1 on 15th May 1988, as the Broadgate Development was in progress. Note the incredible Victorian roof brackets, presumably dating from 1874! Click on the arches to get a closer look.