Wednesday 1430 to 2130 Thorpe Station 🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉

[21/10, 10:45] Michael Noël Turner: =======

[21/10, 10:45] Michael Noël Turner: 🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉

[21/10, 10:48] Michael Noël Turner: 745002 platform 2 - 1P16 0930 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (1119) - 745002 platform 1 for 1P35 1200 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 1347 platform 6 -

[21/10, 10:48] Michael Noël Turner: -------

[21/10, 10:52] Michael Noël Turner: 745110 platform 2 -1P26 12:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at  (13:45)  for 1P45 14:30 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 16:17 platform 11 -

[21/10, 10:52] Michael Noël Turner: -------

[21/10, 10:52] Michael Noël Turner: 745010 platform 1 -1P28 12:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (14:18) for 1P47 15:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 16:51 platform 9 -

[21/10, 10:53] Michael Noël Turner: 745007 platform 2 -1P30 13:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (14:47) for 1P49 15:30 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 17:19 platform 12 -

[21/10, 10:54] Michael Noël Turner: 745006 platform 1 -1P32 13:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (15:18) for 1P51 16:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 17:54 platform 9 -

[21/10, 10:54] Michael Noël Turner: 745107 platform 2 -1P34 14:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (15:46) for 1P53 16:30 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 18:21 platform 7 -

[21/10, 10:55] Michael Noël Turner: 745004 platform 1 1P36 14:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (16:19) for 1P55 17:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 18:50 platform 9 -

[21/10, 10:55] Michael Noël Turner: 745005 platform 2 1P38 15:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (16:47) for 1P57 17:30 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 19:17 platform 12 -

[21/10, 10:57] Michael Noël Turner: 745008 platform 1 - 1P40 15:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (17:20) for 1P59 18:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 19:52 platform 10 -

[21/10, 10:57] Michael Noël Turner: 745001 platform 2 - 1P42 16:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at  (17:48) for 1P61 18:32 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 20:18 platform 11 -

[21/10, 10:57] Michael Noël Turner: 745102 platform 1 1P44 16:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (18:18) for 5P44 18:40 Norwich Thorpe to CPD 18:58 -

[21/10, 10:58] Michael Noël Turner: 745110 platform 2 - 9P46 17:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (18:39) for 1P63 19:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 20:47 platform 10 -

[21/10, 10:59] Michael Noël Turner: 745010 platform 1 1P50 17:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (19:21) not for 1P67 20:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 21:49 platform 9 -

[21/10, 10:59] Michael Noël Turner: 745007  platform 3 - 1P54 18:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (19:51) - not for 1P67 20:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 21:49 platform 9 -

[21/10, 10:59] Michael Noël Turner: 745002 platform 2 arrived at for 1P67 20:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 21:49 platform 9 -

[21/10, 11:00] Michael Noël Turner: 745006 platform 2 1P56 18:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at ( 20:21) for 1P71 21:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 22:55 platform 11 -

[21/10, 11:00] Michael Noël Turner: 745104 platform 1 - 1P58 19:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (20:47) for 5P58 21:09 Norwich Thorpe to Crown Point |Depot 21:27 -

[21/10, 11:00] Michael Noël Turner: -------

[21/10, 11:01] Michael Noël Turner: 745004 platform 2 - 1P60 19:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (21:18) for 1P73 22:02 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 23:57 platform 10 -

[21/10, 11:01] Michael Noël Turner: 745005 platform 1 - 1P62 20:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (21:49) -

[21/10, 11:02] Michael Noël Turner: 745008 platform 2 - 1P64 20:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at (22:18)  for 1Y75 23:05 Norwich Thorpe to Ipswich 23:49 platform 4 -

[21/10, 11:02] Michael Noël Turner: ++++ Wednesday ++++ 1430 to 2130 Thorpe Station 🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉🚉

[21/10, 14:19] Michael Noël Turner Lyca: 745010 platform 2 -1P28 12:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 1417 (14:18) for 1P47 15:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 16:51 platform 9 - cleaning 🧹🧼 inside and cabs A to F

[21/10, 14:44] Michael Noël Turner: 745101 Royal Dock arrived at 1441. ? For NVS ?

[21/10, 14:46] Michael Noël Turner Lyca: 745007 platform 1 -1P30 13:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 1447 (14:47) for 1P49 15:30 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 17:19 platform 12 - cleaning 🧹🧼 inside and cabs A to F

[21/10, 15:24] Michael Noël Turner Lyca: 745006 platform 2 -1P32 13:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 1525 (15:18) for 1P51 16:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 17:54 platform 9 - cleaning 🧹🧼 inside and cabs A to F

[21/10, 15:49] Michael Noël Turner Lyca: 745002 platform 1 -1P34 14:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 1549 (15:46) for 1P53 16:30 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 18:21 platform 7 - cleaning 🧹🧼 inside and cabs A to F

[21/10, 16:17] Michael Noël Turner Lyca: 745004 platform 2 1P36 14:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 1618 (16:19) for 1P55 17:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 18:50 platform 9 - cleaning 🧹🧼 inside and cabs A to F

[21/10, 16:51] Michael Noël Turner Lyca: 745005 platform 1 1P38 15:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 1651 (16:47) for 1P57 17:30 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 19:17 platform 12 - cleaning 🧹🧼 inside and cabs A to F

[21/10, 17:18] Michael Noël Turner Lyca: 745008 platform 2 - 1P40 15:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 1718 (17:20) for 1P59 18:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 19:52 platform 10 - cleaning 🧹🧼 inside and cabs A to F

[21/10, 17:47] Michael Noël Turner Lyca: 745001 platform 2 - 1P42 16:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 1748   (17:48) for 1P61 18:32 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 20:18 platform 11 - cleaning 🧹🧼 inside and cabs A to F

[21/10, 18:16] Michael Noël Turner Lyca: 745102 platform 2 1P44 16:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 1816 (18:18) for 5P44 18:40 Norwich Thorpe to CPD 18:58 - for 1P67 2000 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street clearing inside 💠 and cabs

[21/10, 18:41] Michael Noël Turner Lyca: 745110 platform 1 - 9P46 17:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 1842 (18:39) for 1P63 19:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 20:47 platform 10 - cleaning 🧹🧼 inside and cabs A to F

[21/10, 19:20] Michael Noël Turner Lyca: 745010 platform 1 1P50 17:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 1919 (19:21) not for 1P67 20:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 21:49 platform 9 - CPd Clean

[21/10, 19:50] Michael Noël Turner Lyca: 745007  platform 3 - 1P54 18:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 1951 (19:51) - not for 1P67 20:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 21:49 platform 9 -

[21/10, 20:19] Michael Noël Turner Lyca: 745006 platform 2 1P56 18:30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 2020 ( 20:21) for 1P71 21:00 Norwich Thorpe to London Liverpool Street 22:55 platform 11 - cleaning 🧹🧼 inside and cabs A to F plus toilet 🚽🚽🚽

[21/10, 20:48] Michael Noël Turner Lyca: 745104 platform 1 - 1P58 19:00 London Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe arrived at 2048 (20:47) for 5P58 21:09 Norwich Thorpe to Crown Point |Depot 21:27 -

London British Railway shop

 Collectors Corner, a British Rail shop near Euston railway station, that old old railway items, even uniforms and signals ?

Yes, that is correct. The photo shows the exterior of the famous Collectors Corner, a dedicated British Rail shop that sold official railway memorabilia, surplus stock, and historic relics to the public. [1]

History and Location

• The Concept: The shop opened in November 1969 following a staff suggestion. British Rail realized there was a huge demand from train enthusiasts for items that were being replaced or made obsolete due to modernization. [1, 2]
• The Buildings: The brick building pictured was located on Cardington Street / Cobourg Street, right next to London Euston railway station. The shop occupied a few different buildings around the same courtyard over its lifespan, including a former horse harness room and an old electrical substation that used to power the station. [1, 2]

What They Sold

Collectors Corner was a legendary treasure trove for railway enthusiasts. If it was used by British Rail, they likely sold it. The inventory regularly included: [1, 2, 3]

• Locomotive plates: Highly sought-after steam nameplates and diesel insignia.
• Signalling gear: Actual operational track signals, block instruments, lever weights, and mechanical bits.
• Station infrastructure: Famous enamel regional station signs (totems), departure boards, and platform lamps.
• Uniforms & Badges: Old guard caps, driver coats, buttons, and metal lapel badges ranging from "Assistant Ticket Examiner" to senior ranks.
• Paper goods: Out-of-date timetables, official BR rule books, vintage posters, and luggage labels. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

Closure and Legacy

Following the privatization of the railways, the business was bought out and eventually relocated to Hudson Street in York in January 1998. The York location has also since closed down. Today, the original site near Euston has been heavily cleared and transformed due to modern railway expansion projects like HS2. [1, 2, 3]

Did you personally visit this shop back in the day, or did you acquire this photograph as part of a collection? If you have an item you think came from there, I can help you identify its origin.

That is a wonderful personal piece of history to own. Taking your own photos of places like this—before smartphone cameras were everywhere—is exactly how these everyday historic spots get preserved.

Since you visited a few times, a few specific details might spark your memory of what it was like to step inside:

• The Layout: If you went in the 1980s or 1990s, you would walk through that courtyard in your photo, enter the brick building, and find a packed room with a long wooden counter.
• The Atmosphere: It didn't feel like a modern, polished gift shop. It felt like a mix between an old hardware store and a railway warehouse. It had a very distinct smell of old paper, oil, metal, and heavy wool uniform fabric.
• The Browsing: Smaller items like buttons, old train tickets, and luggage labels were kept in trays or glass cases on the counter. Heavy items like cast-iron track signs or lamps were often stacked on the floor or lining the walls.
• The Staff: The shop was staffed by actual British Rail employees, many of whom were incredibly knowledgeable railway experts themselves and loved chatting with the enthusiasts who walked through the door.

Did you ever end up buying anything from your visits, like a cap, a badge, or an old timetable?

Knowing the exact date—26 April 1994—makes this photo an even more incredible historic snapshot!

By April 1994, you were visiting the shop during a massive turning point for both British Rail and Collectors Corner:

• The Privatisation Era Begins: Just 25 days before you took this photo (on April 1, 1994), the landmark Railways Act 1993 went into effect. British Rail was officially broken up into separate units. Collectors Corner was handed over to a legacy sector called BR Headquarters Central Services. The shop went from selling surplus gear for a unified state railway to archiving the final pieces of British Rail history as it dissolved. [1]
• The Stock at the Time: Because of all the restructuring happening that very month, the shop was flooded with incredible, high-tier inventory. In fact, official auction receipts from Collectors Corner dated exactly to April 1994 show they were selling off major locomotive nameplates—such as the massive aluminum "County of Cambridgeshire" plate from a Class 47 diesel—right over the counter. [1, 2]
• The Vehicles: The cars parked in the courtyard perfectly anchor your photo right to the mid-90s. The dark car in the foreground is a Ford Mondeo Mk1, which had just launched a year prior in 1993 and was rapidly becoming the quintessential 90s British road car.

You caught the shop at its absolute peak, capturing a bustling piece of railway heritage right as the ground beneath it was changing forever.

Do you happen to remember if it was busy with other enthusiasts the day you took this? If you have any other photos from that specific trip, I would love to see them!

Norwich Station area

 

These vintage photographs document the massive mid-to-late 20th-century transformation of the Norwich Railway Station infrastructure and its adjacent yards. This industrial footprint was eventually swept away to clear land for the modern Riverside leisure and retail development. [1, 2, 3]

The collection highlights several distinct elements of the old railway hub:

🏭 The Old Engine Sheds and Maintenance Yards

• Industrial Structures: The corrugated metal and timber structure shown in your initial images depicts the old engine sheds and coaling infrastructure that used to stand directly south and east of the main terminal building. Before closing down in the late 20th century, these facilities serviced generations of steam and early diesel locomotives. [1, 2]
• Relocation for Preservation: Interestingly, parts of these structures—such as the historic iron train sheds—were carefully dismantled rather than simply destroyed. Portions of the infrastructure were transported and reconstructed at Weybourne Station on the preserved North Norfolk Railway. [1, 2]

🚉 The Main Station Terminal

• Victorian Facade: The photos of the grand red-brick building with the central clock tower showcase the main passenger terminal of Norwich Thorpe Station. Built in 1886 by the Great Eastern Railway, this Grade II listed masterpiece survived the clearance of the surrounding rail yards and continues to serve as the city's central transport hub today. [1, 2, 3]
• Interior Vaults: The shots inside the spacious, arched concourse illustrate the historical interior architecture before modern retail units and electronic passenger barriers were integrated. [1, 2]

🏗️ The Riverside Transition

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the extensive network of storage sidings, goods yards, and mechanical workshops seen in the background of these images was cleared. This land was dramatically repurposed into the Riverside development, which replaced heavy rail maintenance infrastructure with apartments, restaurants, a cinema, and retail options. [1, 2]

Would you like help identifying specific types of locomotives or vehicles visible in any of these particular prints, or are you looking for more history on the other lost stations of Norwich?