Euston Station Board Moves To Margate

A Final Destination: How Euston's Departures Board Found a New Life in Kent

Inside a massive concrete depot on a Kent industrial park near Margate, a gigantic screen operates around the clock. The display shows train routes originating in north London, with services destined for Manchester Piccadilly, Tring, and Glasgow Central. The 22-metre-wide board constantly shows real-time departure information for West Midlands Railway. The board also posts alerts about service interruptions affecting Avanti West Coast trains. This screen was, until not long ago, the primary departures indicator at Euston station. Now located 80 miles from where it first stood, it remains connected to the national railway system, dutifully performing its former function, much like a sentimental retiree who cannot quite leave their work behind.

A New Home in Kent

The board’s current location is an unusual facility that is one part storage area and another part exclusive museum. Jeremy Hosking, an exceptionally wealthy asset manager and admitted railway enthusiast, oversees the collection of locomotives, miniatures, and historical items found here. The surreal spectacle of a fully operational Euston display inside a quiet Kent warehouse is the main attraction of this unique collection. No passengers hurry for platforms here. No trains are waiting for a signal to leave. Yet, the board diligently updates, a ghost in the machine, documenting a transport network it no longer directly serves. Its presence here is a testament to a passion for railway history and the oddities of preservation.

 Image Credit - The Guardian

The Man Behind the Museum

Jeremy Hosking is a man of diverse and substantial investments. A prominent political donor to right-wing causes, his portfolio includes part-ownership of the Crystal Palace football club and a high-end Sussex hotel. In addition, Hosking owns the single private train in Britain, a possession that even the royal family does not have. His financial interests also include more than £100 million directed into fossil fuel ventures. Furthermore, he was the exclusive financial supporter of the Reclaim party, led by Laurence Fox, and recently supported a significant offer to acquire the Daily Telegraph. This varied portfolio supplies the considerable funds needed for his extensive railway pursuits, which he describes as a combination of a youthful fixation and a middle-aged dilemma.

A Case of Mistaken Identity

When Network Rail chose to replace the quarter-century-old Euston display in 2022, Hosking was a natural person to contact to give it a new home. Several museums had already turned down the offer. Hosking agreed, but his decision was rooted in a considerable error. He later revealed his belief that he was acquiring the authentic analog display from the 1960s. That version functioned with the "split-flap" feature, a clacking sound once common in transport hubs. Instead, a screen using LED technology from two decades ago arrived. Hosking conceded his disappointment, remarking that he received what he termed the advanced technology representative of 2003.

Hope for a Modern Relic

Despite the initial letdown of providing a home to an incorrect departures indicator, Hosking is optimistic about its future importance. He voiced his hope that in future decades, this specific display will earn public esteem once reserved for its mechanical forerunners. The narrative of its preservation and its continued function so distant from its original setting adds a unique chapter to its story. The board is no longer merely functional hardware. It has been transformed into an artifact, a symbol of a distinct period in rail travel, now kept for future generations to see in a completely different context.

The Euston Overcrowding Controversy

The display’s removal from Euston was an element of a broader, troubled scheme to control the station's infamous crowding issues. Network Rail’s substitution of the single, large board with numerous compact screens and one enormous advertising panel provoked fury among travellers. The new arrangement, meant to enhance passenger movement, appeared to aggravate the problem. It created confusion and did not solve the notorious "Euston scrum" for platforms. The public backlash was so fierce that it led the transport secretary at that time, Louise Haigh, to step in directly. She insisted that Network Rail undo the alterations and tackle the escalating safety issues at the chaotic hub.

A Minister’s Intervention

In October 2024, Louise Haigh acted decisively. She instructed Network Rail to immediately deactivate the giant advertising panels that had taken the place of the main departures information. Haigh assigned the company the task of creating a clear five-point strategy to enhance passenger conditions. This action followed a call from London TravelWatch, a passenger advocacy group, for an immediate safety evaluation, which warned that crowding was endangering people. The minister’s involvement underscored the gravity of the station's issues, acknowledging that Euston had been inadequate for the public it serves for too long. Deactivating the advertising panel was the initial step in a public campaign to reclaim the concourse for passengers.

A Return to Information

After months of public pressure and a formal review, Network Rail revealed a major change in December 2024. The massive panel that had been showing advertisements would be repurposed to show train details again. This decision directly responded to passenger comments, which overwhelmingly requested the return of a large, central display for travel news. Heidi Alexander, who took over from Haigh as Transport Secretary, lauded the action as progress in the strategy to improve the situation at Euston. The restoration of the big screen for departures signified a win for travellers and a tacit acknowledgment that the prior design was a failure.

A Station’s Turbulent History

Euston is known as London's first inter-city railway station, which began service in 1837 as the final stop for the London and Birmingham Railway. The original structure, however, was completely torn down in the 1960s. This redevelopment was done to make way for the West Coast Main Line's electrification. The former station, with its magnificent Great Hall and famous Euston Arch, was eliminated. The current building, an example of the international modern style that was inaugurated in 1968, rose in its place. This reconstruction is still a source of debate and criticism, seen by many as a great loss of architectural heritage.

The Lost Euston Arch

The magnificent Euston Arch was the original entryway to Euston station. Completed in 1837 and designed by Philip Hardwick, the impressive Doric propylaeum stood as a symbol of the railway age's beginning. However, the Arch was controversially torn down in the early 1960s as a component of the station's total reconstruction. British Railways contended that enlarging the station for electric trains was unfeasible without taking down the structure. Despite a spirited campaign from conservation bodies like the Victorian Society and the Royal Fine Art Commission, the demolition was approved by the government and started in November 1961.

An Act of Vandalism

The demolition of the Euston Arch is now widely seen as one of Britain's most significant acts of cultural destruction. The effort to preserve it did not succeed, and its absence helped spur the modern conservation movement. For many years, the location of its stones was unknown. Then, in 1994, architectural historian Dan Cruickshank found that many had been carelessly deposited in the Prescott Channel of the River Lea. A large number of these stones have since been retrieved, and there are long-standing plans to rebuild the Arch, possibly as a feature of the new High Speed 2 station project, re-establishing a connection to the station's pioneering origins.

The Forgotten Great Hall

While the struggle to preserve the Euston Arch drew the public’s gaze, the Great Hall's fate was largely overlooked. This splendid area, created by Philip Charles Hardwick, was unveiled in 1849. It had a huge coffered ceiling, a majestic double staircase, and eight statues that symbolized the cities on the railway's route. Regarded as a high point of Victorian railway design, it was also demolished during the 1960s reconstruction. Ironically, just a few years before its planned demolition, the hall had been completely renovated. Its loss, together with the Arch, signified a total obliteration of the station's historical character.

The Clatter of the Past

The split-flap display, the kind of board Jeremy Hosking believed he was getting, is a classic work of electromechanical design. Created in the 1950s by the Italian firm Solari di Udine, these boards became signature elements in transportation centres across the globe. Every character unit has a collection of printed flaps that are rotated into position to display letters and numbers. The unique clattering noise they made became associated with travel, serving as a soundtrack of excitement for countless travellers. Their mechanical design, however, also meant they were difficult to service and slow to refresh compared to contemporary options.

 Image Credit - The Guardian

The Logic of the LED

The board currently in Margate is a creation of the early 21st century. It employs Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology, which provides considerable benefits over the legacy split-flap units. LED displays are entirely electronic, enabling immediate refreshes and the presentation of intricate graphics and moving images. They lack moving parts, which makes them much more dependable and simple to service. Their brightness and sharpness are better, particularly in different light situations. While they may not have the nostalgic appeal and sound of their mechanical forerunners, their effectiveness and adaptability made them the sensible and essential choice for a bustling modern station like Euston.

A Collection of Giants

In the Margate depot, the Euston departures display is suspended above a remarkable gathering of railway history. The One:One Collection, which Jeremy Hosking curates, showcases a variety of engines, both steam and electric. Among the notable exhibits are well-known locomotives like 'Bittern' and 'Royal Scot'. The collection contains an authentic train from the 1990s designed for the Channel Tunnel, featuring internal passport facilities that went unused. A further point of interest is a stunning art deco "Beavertail" observation car, which was ordered to celebrate the crowning of King George VI in 1937. This varied assembly of rolling stock establishes the site as a major archive of Britain's railway legacy.

More Than Just Locomotives

The collection is not limited to engines and carriages. It also includes a horse-drawn mail carriage from the 1830s that served the Broadstairs route, a vehicle from the earliest era of public transport. The museum intends to offer a wide-ranging view of the development of railways and associated forms of transport. To house these big and weighty items, the warehouse, which was acquired in 2017, had major engineering modifications. Seven railway lines and specialized loading areas were put in to facilitate the cautious unloading and arrangement of the historical vehicles. The outcome is a specially constructed facility created to safeguard and display these significant artifacts for the future.

The Hornby Connection

The enormous Margate depot has a suitable past, having once served as a place for storage and production for Hornby, the well-known maker of model trains. The company continues to run a modest tourist site at its old production facility next door, turning the location into a small focal point for railway fans of every scale. When Hosking's Locomotive Storage Ltd bought the structure, it was considered a natural continuation of the property's history. The new museum, The One:One Collection, will thus be situated next to the world of miniature replicas, forming a distinctive attraction that honours railway history in both full-size and model forms.

A Rare Public Glimpse

While Jeremy Hosking has made a substantial investment to ensure complete accessibility, no immediate intentions exist for opening The One:One Collection to the general public. The site operates mainly as an exclusive museum and storage area. However, the warehouse will unlock its doors for a special weekend celebration for the bicentennial of the contemporary railway. Attendees will get a scarce chance to view the collection up close. They can also witness the peculiar spectacle of the Euston display, recreating the experience of walking before it and maybe complaining about a non-existent delay at Crewe.

Powering the Past

The decision to permit the Euston display to operate without interruption was explained by Frank Martin, who used to be the CEO of Hornby and currently manages the Locomotive Services Group for Hosking. He clarified that powering electronic devices down and then up again is what puts the most strain on their internal parts. To ensure its maximum operational lifespan, the best approach is to keep it powered on. This method guarantees its durability. This continuous operation signifies its preservation, he noted, a much preferred outcome to it being dismantled and permanently gone.

Hosking's Railway Empire

Jeremy Hosking's devotion to railways goes well beyond his personal collection in Margate. He established the Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust and is the proprietor of Locomotive Services Limited (LSL). Operating from Crewe, LSL runs heritage rail services on the mainline, offering passenger trips pulled by classic steam and diesel engines from Hosking's holdings. The firm has emerged as a significant force in the UK heritage railway sector. Hosking also holds a 30% stake in the Dartmouth Steam Railway, reinforcing his impact and financial commitment to the upkeep and running of historical British railways.

Margate's Modern Renaissance

The placement of Hosking's museum in Margate puts it in a town recognized for its contemporary cultural boom. Once a somewhat neglected seaside town, Margate has experienced a major revival recently, primarily fueled by the arts. The inauguration of the Turner Contemporary art gallery on the waterfront positioned the town as a notable cultural hub. This has drawn in artists, galleries, and new enterprises, fostering a dynamic and inventive environment. The One:One Collection, housed on a commercial park, offers a compelling juxtaposition to the town's coastal art scene, contributing another distinctive and unforeseen attraction to Margate's varied portfolio.

The Future of Euston

While its former board finds peace in retirement, Euston station confronts a volatile and unclear future. The station is designated to be the London end-point for the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail line. The project, however, has been beset by postponements, cost inflations, and policy shifts, with the link to Euston being consistently scaled down and delayed. The redevelopment of the station, a crucial step for integrating HS2, continues to be a difficult and multifaceted undertaking. Regardless of its ultimate design, the Euston of tomorrow will be a profoundly changed place from the one whose train departures were once displayed on the board that now glows in Kent.