The original station of Belgrave and Birstall in 1976, looking south, with the track still in place. The track was soon to be taken up by British Rail and later the much vandalised station buildings were demolished by the new Great Central Railway.
Leicester North was built as a terminus station beyond the end of the platform shown here, and the track was relayed.

By 1981 the buildings at Belgrave and Birstall were showing severe effects of vandalism, and later had to be completely demolished for safety reasons.

Another view of Belgrave and Birstall station in 1981.

Road bridges towards Leicester

Thurcaston Road bridge during demolition, looking north, Sept 1979.

The bridge over Beaumont Leys Lane, looking north, immediately prior to demolition in Sept. 1981. The embankment has been partially removed on both sides, ready for work to begin.

Blackbird Road bridge with demolition well under way, 1979.

North Viaduct

The north viaduct with one span completely gone from the bridge over the river Soar, in the snow in 1979.

The bridge over the river Soar, looking north, with cut girders in the left foreground, 1979.

The site of the double span bridge across the River Soar, looking south west from Saint Margaret’s Way, with the centre support still in position in the middle of the river. The scene looked similar to this for about 20 years.

Oxy-acetylene cutting under way on the bridge over Slater Street, in the middle of the north viaduct. Looking west, 1982.

Looking south through Northgate Street bridge and over the cleared site of Leicester Central station using a telephoto lens, 1980. The lens has made the Pex building, alongside the Braunstone Gate viaduct, look much closer.

Northgate Street bridge, looking south towards Leicester Central Station,1980.

Northgate Street bridge after demolition has started, 1981

Northgate Street bridge with demolition nearly complete, 1981

During the demolition of the part of the north viaduct between Northgate Street and the canal in 1982 the preserved Great Central Railway was given the opportunity of rescuing anything of use before it was crushed. Volunteer workers are selecting some of the special bricks which would be especially useful in repairing bridges.

The bridge over the Grand Union Canal in 1982, looking west with the brick bridge carrying Northgate Street across in the background.

A few weeks later, immediately after the demolition of the length of viaduct shown above, the bridge over the canal was demolished. Looking east, 1982.

Around Leicester Central Station

The start of demolition of the bridge over Soar Lane, at the north end of Leicester Central Station, looking west, 1983. The Great Central Hotel, on the right, had become the Van Damme Bar, but was now closed and boarded up and was later demolished too.

The final girder of the bridge across Soar Lane is brought down, looking east, 1983.

Looking south from the Leicester Central Station site with Welles Street in the foreground, 1980. To the left of centre is the abutment of the bridge over the river and to the left of it is the well known Pex building with the tower crane.

West Bridge

Panoramic view of West bridge, just prior to demolition of all the bridges, looking away from the city centre, 1978. West Bridge Street is on the left, Saint Augustine Street in the centre, and the river/canal on the right .A red contractor’s van is on the bridge over the river/canal. Leicester Central station is a couple of hundred yards to the right.
For more photographs of this area see the West Bridge section.

The final part of West Bridge Street bridge being removed, looking towards the city centre, 1978. The bridges and viaduct here were the first to be demolished so that improvements could be made to this busy road junction on the edge of the city centre.

Goods Shed

The goods shed during demolition in 1996.

Upperton Road Viaduct

Upperton Road viaduct over the Great Central just south of the goods yard in 2007 jut before demolition, looking east. By then it was in a poor state, with a leaning brick parapet and rusting ironwork, and had to have additional supports intalled underneath (see below).

Supports underneath a rusting section of Upperton Road viaduct, looking south.

In March 2007 the remaining track under Upperton Road viaduct was being cleared in preparation for the temporary diversionary road which was built for use while the viaduct was demolished. Compare with the photographs further down this page.

Looking south from the viaduct showing the track bed being cleared for the temporary road. In the distance the rails of the chord leading up to the ex-Midland Railway Leicester to Burton line can be made out.

Looking north from the viaduct, in March 2007. On the right are the remaining rails of the sidings and tracks that entered the goods yard while on the left is the Great Central Way footpath and cycle way on the track bed of the main line.

By August 2007 the wide bridge over the Old River Soar which lead into the goods yard had been demolished to make way for a Bailey bridge at a different angle. This carried the diverted traffic while the viaduct was demolished nd Upperton Road replaced. A girder of the old bridge lies in the foreground, on the left, and beyond it a temporary footbridge has already been installed.

For comparison, here is the same view as the previous photograph but in December 1973 when the coal yard and scrap yards were being shunted by 0-6-0 shunter number 3400.

This view in September 2007 shows the main Bailey bridge for the diverted road in place and just required finishing touches.

Looking from the west side of the viaduct in August 2007. Factories in the foreground had been demolished to make way for the temporary diversionary road and there was now a clear view of the viaduct that had not been possible for many years.

On 21st October 2007 demolition of the viaduct was under way and one steel span on the left had already been removed.

A little later cutting had progressed to the next steel span and demolition of the brick abutment on the left had started.

By 27th October 2007 all of the steel work of the viaduct had been removed and demolition of the brickwork at the western end of the viaduct was progressing rapidly.

The powerful demolition equipment can remove big chunks of the brickwork so the demolition is very quick. In the left foreground are two of the lighting towers with generators since demolition was authorised to continue through each night for the week.

By November 2007 the temporary road was open and the remains of the viaduct were slowly being removed. The pedestrian crossing is where the Great Central Way crosses the road.

The car has just crossed the Bailey bridge across the Old River Soar. This temporary bridge was being used while the remaining length of the viaduct over the river was demolished and replaced by a new permanent bridge.