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Once again, this site is obliged to Rob Masterman for giving us permission to reproduce this wonderful set of photographs of Cardiff Queen Street railway station in the 1960s. The …
Cardiff Queen Street railway station in the 1960s – a series of fascinating photos by Rob Masterman Read More
Seen in August 2005, this is the abandoned station building of Marazion, which was once the penultimate stop on the Great Western main line to Penzance. Opened by the West …
In photos: abandoned Marazion station in Cornwall – archive photos from 2003-2005 Read More
Although the lockdown is slowly easing in Wales, Cardiff remains strangely quiet with many of its once-bustling streets remaining empty. Here’s some photos from an (essential) trip earlier this week.
Cardiff in lockdown – stations, street photos and night scenes, July 2020 Read More
It’s Britain’s busiest railway station, handling an astonishing 94 million passenger entries and exits every year, but yesterday the station was almost deserted during the evening rush hour, with more …
In photos: The eerie emptiness of Waterloo station in rush hour lockdown, Thurs 4th June, 2020 Read More
Virtual countryside walks are the only ones possible during the ongoing pandemic, so here’s a collection of 25 photos from a 2005 walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam Castle and back, …
Castle, sheep, signalbox and beer – a photo walk from Robertsbridge to Bodiam fifteen years ago, April 2005 Read More
As Storm Ciara battered the UK, my Sunday morning trip from Norwich to London was beset by cancellations and hefty delays as uprooted trees blocked multiple locations along the route.
In photos: an unexpected stop at Thetford railway station, as storm-felled trees blocked the line Read More
Although recent works have seen station platforms reinstated and a new booking hall constructed, Cardiff Queen Street remains a shadow of its former self. The overall roof and Taff Vale …
In photos: Cardiff Queen Street railway station in the 1960s Read More
Growing up in Cardiff – Britain’s wettest city – I’m very familiar with being endlessly pelted with rain, drizzle and thunderous downpours, and yesterday my home town delivered in full …
Photos of the rain-drenched streets of Cardiff – city centre and Llanishen at night, Jan 2020 Read More
With the year nearly over, here’s a listing of the fifteen most popular posts on this blog in 2019, with the mystery of sneakers dangling on the power lines of …
Shoes on power lines, fake houses, trains, photos, gentrification and architecture – the most popular posts in 2019 Read More
Following on from Rob Masterman’s excellent archive photos of Cefn Onn, here’s another selection showing the now-closed station in December 2004 – exactly fifteen years ago.
Cefn Onn Halt fifteen years ago, photos of a closed station, December 2004 Read More
I’ve always been fascinated by Cefn Onn Halt, a tiny former station located at the southern end of the mile-long Caerphilly tunnel. Accessible only by foot – and some considerable …
Cefn Onn Halt, Cardiff – nine historic photos by Rob Masterman Read More
I was briefly in my home town of Cardiff yesterday – here’s some of the scenes I grabbed on my camera…
Cardiff photos: Christmas lights, street scenes, Rhiwbina station and scarf sellers, Nov 2019 Read More
After jumping on the wrong train, we found ourselves with an hour to kill at the Sardinian town of Macomer in the province of Nuoro – and it turned out …
Macomer, Sardinia: steam loco, narrow gauge railway and abandoned warehouses – in photos Read More
This was rather unexpected: travelling to Cardiff Central to get a train back to London last week, I came across the sight of two gleaming steam engines ready to pull …
The unexpected joy of finding two steam engines at Cardiff Central station Read More
Serving the coastal town of Alghero in northwestern Sardinia, this small terminus station offers daily trains to Sassari in the east.
In photos: Alghero railway station terminus, Sardinia, Italy Read More
Here’s some photos from a recent visit to the slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog in north Wales, with our day trip taking in a journey on the Ffestiniog Railway to Tan-y-Bwlch and back.
In photos: Blaenau Ffestiniog and a narrow gauge steam journey to Tan-y-Bwlch in Snowdonia, Aug 2018 Read More
Back in June 2003, I got the opportunity to visit the then semi-derelict Midland Grand hotel at St Pancras station in central London and take some photos. The former hotel had …
London St Pancras station – archive photos of the semi-derelict Midland Grand hotel from June 2003 Read More
The masterpiece of Scottish architect James Robb Scott, (1882-1965), Surbiton Station is a stunning example of At Deco architecture, created when the original 1867 railway station was rebuilt seventy years later.
In photos: the modernist swagger of Surbiton station – an Art Deco masterpiece in London Read More
Here’s another short selection of photos taken around Cardiff yesterday. It rained for the entire duration of my trip. Here’s some pictures taken on my travels:
Empty chairs, rain-soaked tables and the last of the Christmas lights, Cardiff in photos, 2nd Jan 2018 Read More
Here’s a short photo-essay showing off some of the splendour of York railway station, a marvel of Victorian engineering and architecture.
In photos: the magnificent curves and Victorian architecture of York railway station Read More
Last week I got to travel on a brand spanking new Great Western Railway Class 800 express train, running betwixt London Paddington and Cardiff. As a fan of the venerable …
In photos: A trip on the new GWR Intercity Express trains – and my verdict Read More
Here’s my second short collection of photos of the small border town of Chepstow in south east Wales, taken as I headed to and from the nearby Green Gathering festival.
Pubs, a chalky penis and pavement history: a look around the streets of Chepstow, south Wales Read More
An historic cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Canterbury is a truly beautiful place to visit, and it’s easily reached from London which is just 54 miles away.
The beautiful architecture of Canterbury, Kent, England – in photos Read More
It’s been some time since I took a trip along the Bluebell Railway, and this time I got the opportunity to ride the long awaited extension from their new East …
In photos: a trip along the Bluebell steam railway from East Grinstead to Sheffield Park, Sussex, England Read More
Last month I finally got to visit the fabulous Railway Museum in York, a veritable cornucopia of railway history, stuffed full of historic locomotives, carriages, rolling stock and railway memorabilia. Incredibly, …
Steam locos, memorabilia, a stuffed dog and much more at the wonderful Railway Museum in York Read More
Located on the border of Germany and the Netherlands, I spent 20 minutes on a frozen Bad Bentheim railway station last week and grabbed a few photos as we waited for …
Crossing a chilly border: Bad Bentheim station in winter, Germany Read More
Since I’ve been fortunate to rejoin The Monochrome Set, I’ve had the opportunity to travel around the UK a lot more and, of course, I’ve been taking my camera with …
In photos: Glasgow street scenes, pubs, station and architecture Read More
We wrote about the terrible state of the former Bute Road Station, in Cardiff Bay, exactly five years ago, and it’s sad to see that station continues to decline. Such is …
Cardiff’s Bute Road railway station listed as one of the UK’s top 10 most endangered buildings Read More
En route to the lovely Green Gathering festival earlier this month, there was time to take a short walk around Chepstow in Monmouthshire, Wales, a small town (pop: 12,300) adjoining the border …
Tintern Massive, flabby fish and a big gun: A quick look around Chepstow, South Wales: in photos Read More
Currently on display inside the swishy environs of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) offices in London is an exhibition showing off the proposed designs for the forthcoming Elizabeth Line …
Photos: Crossrail station designs on the Elizabeth Line, and a look around RIBA in London Read More