Have been thinking about the scenic potential, and the background to the layout - and wonder how this would look:

A once large and grand urban terminus station, that used to receive everything from top-link expresses to the humblest branch-line stopping train. The station served both as a terminus for main line trains, and for an urban branch line that served surburban commuter stations as well as a number of sidings for various industries. With no other connections to the network, all freight traffic had to be reversed at the station to allow it to access the branch.

Post-war, the express services were slowly moved away from the station, until only local services and the freight traffic remained. By the time of the Beeching cuts, the station seemed ripe for the cull, but the level of freight traffic, and the lack of alternative route prevented total closure. Nothing could stop the closure of the express platforms, leaving only the local platforms to serve the branch and the few remaining passenger services from elsewhere. The end of steam, green diesels and the corporate-blue era came and went without affecting the now dilapidated and run-down remains.

As the urban re-generation of the 80's started, traffic levels began picking up thanks to new offices and shops being built on ex-industrial land nearby. This led to the reinstatement of another platform to allow for more services during peak hours.

As the new generation sprinters started appearing, traffic through the station consisted of frequent passenger services into the mainline platforms, a regular passenger service from the branch, occasional freight workings reversing through the station onto the branch, and daily parcels and post workings for the sorting office attached to the station.

What we can see are the local platforms, with branch line curving away from the nearest pair, and the mainline leaving from the further. Beyond are the remnants of the main-line platforms, with scrub growing in the remains of the trackbed. All that remains of the original station are the walls of the original trainshed, and it's rusty support columns. In it's place is a non-descript modern building housing the ticket office and staff rooms, the waiting rooms resembling bus-shelters in their glass and steel starkness. In the distance the industrial heart of the city is disappearing with cranes standing proud over growing tower-blocks. In front of the station are the car-parks and the loading bay of the sorting office.