Reading town centre, (part 1 of 2) - it's another lift tour...!

First stop, the train station. I could have sworn that there were some Express Lifts here at one time. Found a hydraulic lift in the main building. Had to walk half a mile to find the long stay car park to find the others - these were unusual as they have a rather large window in one of the doors. Note the annoucement at 2:30 says "lift out of service", but then works anyway!!
Loud motor room on the top floor (if you can hear it on the video).

Next, you can see the end of my ride in the "Titan range" lift. I have already done a video on this lift (so has Benobve) so not doing this one again. Over the other side is an Original Express Lift. I've done this one before, but it's such a classic I had to revisit it. Check out the very loud relays and motor from the motor room. The motor room happens to be half way down the shaft on the Mezzanine level (you'll see it on the video).
I nearly pressed the bell twice, as it's right next to the 2nd floor button, and labelling is not that clear! (7:52)

Next, into the shopping centre. These were some of the first ever scenic lifts built. Originally, these were the same as the above Express Lift, with no glass. Imagine seeing 8:53, but just a solid wall up to the roof with different coloured lights shining on it. The lifts were still there, but on the other side. This is how it was in the early 80s (I must have been about 6-7 years old, but still remember it (I'm not THAT old yet!!)

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• lift
• elevator
• lifts
• elevators
• winda
• reading
• town
• centre
• car
• park
• Express
• hydraulic
• otis
• schindler
• multi
• storey
• multistorey
• aufzug

[benobve]

Great video

You don't need a ticket to walk along the bridge from the main station to the carpark. the bridge is divided into two walk ways, one side you can walk between the car park and station without a ticket and the other side you need a ticket because that is where the steps are to the platforms. one of the lifts to the platforms is on the wrong side of the bridge, so this makes the ticket barriers useless as people could just go down the lift without a ticket.

[mrmattandmrchay]

Oh I see. I walked to the other end of the bridge (station end) but saw ticket barriers, so I walked back to the car park. I didn't have that much time, and also, as I had been in that area for a while (waiting for all the people to go away) I was beginning to look suspicious, so was eager to get out of there (I didn't want a "Bentalls Centre" experience like you did!)

Matt

[Meanmanmartin2007]

Thanks ever so much for uploading this. Was the "out of service" lift in that car park thats linked to the station via a bridge.

Also, do you know why the buttons in this set of lifts only went to the odd numbered floors and not the even ones? How do passengers get to the even floor numbers?

[mrmattandmrchay]

I think it's the way the car park levels are, in relation to the lift levels.

In other words, when you drive into the car park at level 1, the lifts are on YOUR SIDE of the car park. If you go up the ramp to level 2, there are no lifts on this side, until you go up to level 3, etc.

Yes, this is the long stay car park. The bridge can be seen from google earth.

I actually filmed walking across the bridge but you need train ticket to continue. I edited it out as it wasn't that interesting!

[Meanmanmartin2007]

Thanks for explaining how it works. I think I've been in another car park like that before.

I didn't realise you needed a ticket to walk along that bridge.

Aren't there some other lifts at Reading Station that go between the platforms and the foot bridge and subway etc? I see them whenever I pass through there.

[mrmattandmrchay]

In the station, the only place that 'I found' you could go is down the first lift. There were ticket barriers to access the platform.

From the long stay car park-the same, walk along bridge and there is another row of ticket barriers. i don't know is the answer!

I'm 100% sure there were Express Lifts here at one time. They had a 7-seg displays and went from G to 7. I don't know where they could have been, unless they were the lifts at 2:20, and have been modernised?

[blindinglights02]

I built the car park. That job was a laugh.

[MrUNIXman]

Great Video

[Balarick]

@mrmattandmrchay in New Haven CT USA i found a pair of elevators. one serves S,2,4,6. the other one covers S,1,3,5. you can ride either then walk up or down as needed to find your car.

some British lifts look nicer than in the USA. Your fixtures/buttons are brighter as well.

[leethomas84]

Glad to see the Broad St Express Lift is working again!