Ah - the hours I spent on those platforms in the 1950s (there were six platforms then!) watching Gresley, Thompson and Peppercorn locos - not to mention all those slower trains to places like Tow Law, Penrith via Stainmore, Middleton-in-Teesdale - and the lovely little Richmond branch. Used to have to purchase a penny platform ticket which gave the freedom of the station for the day. Of course, the old footbridge from Albert Street was free and usually teeming with small boys - 25 000 volt cables put a stop to that. Somehow, progress can be very disappointing>

I wondered what the ecml signs mean out of the station