railways – Page 3 – urban75: art, photos, walks

The magnificent Edwardian grandeur of Birmingham Moor Street station

Fri 25th May, 2012Fri 25th May, 2012 - by editor - Leave a Comment

Beautifully restored and putting the nearby New Street station to shame is the magnificent Birmingham Moor Street station, situated close to Brum’s famous Bullring shopping centre.

Brixton / Places / railways

Britannia 7000 loco steams through Brixton, south London

Fri 18th May, 2012 - by editor - 2 Comments.

Arriving a little earlier in Brixton than expected (so I missed its approach) was this chartered steam-hauled train, hauled by BR standard class 7 70000 Britannia.

Brixton / London / Places / railways

The 39 steps, Brixton railway station

Tue 8th May, 2012Tue 8th May, 2012 - by editor - Leave a Comment

The 39 steps sign seen on Brixton railway station. Well, it amused me for a moment 🙂

Wartime Waterloo station shown off in British Council short film

London / Places

Wartime Waterloo station shown off in fascinating British Council short film

Thu 3rd May, 2012 - by editor - Leave a Comment

British Council has put over 120 short heritage films online, with footage covering all aspects of British life. Dating back to 1939, the films were commissioned by the Council to …

photos / Places / railways

Kemble station and the old Cirencester branch platform – a feast of GWR style

Wed 2nd May, 2012Sun 3rd February, 2013 - by editor - 3 Comments.

Immaculately preserved despite not seeing a passenger train for nearly half a century, the old Cirencester branch platform at Kemble station is a treat if you have a bit of a thing …

Brixton / London / photos / Places / railways

Lightning strike takes out signals: posh Pullman train stuck at signals in Brixton

Thu 19th April, 2012Thu 19th April, 2012 - by editor - 2 Comments.

I love seeing these lovely old Pullman trains go by – especially when they’re being hauled by a huffin’ and puffin’ steam locomotive – but this diesel-hauled special has been …

photos / Places / railways

Heathfield station and Teignbridge Level Crossing, Devon: a rail survivor

Tue 17th April, 2012Thu 7th April, 2022 - by editor - 2 Comments.

I’d taken this photo of a rail level crossing back in the early 1990s when I was walking around south Devon with my girlfriend at the time (hello, Debbie Miller!). …

Epping to Ongar railway finally set to reopen in May

London / Places / railways

Epping to Ongar railway reopens: steam, archive photos, Blake Hall and Sham 69

Wed 11th April, 2012Wed 11th April, 2012 - by editor - 7 Comments.

Thanks to the hard work of a dedicated team of volunteers, the Epping to Ongar branch line railway in Essex is set to reopen to passengers next month. From Friday 25th …

Fake houses at Leinster Gardens Paddington

London / Places / railways

The fake houses at 23 and 24 Leinster Gardens, Bayswater, London W2

Fri 30th March, 2012Tue 12th November, 2019 - by editor - 8 Comments.

Leinster Gardens in Bayswater, London is a street with a twist, in so much that two of its houses don’t actually exist.

Brockwell Park Miniature Railway roars into action, south London

Brixton / Places / railways

Brockwell Park Miniature Railway roars into action in south London

Tue 27th March, 2012Mon 26th March, 2012 - by editor - 1 Comment

Now sporting a new mini Intercity 125 loco is the Brockwell Park Miniature Railway, which ferries passengers along a short stretch of track in Brockwell Park, south London.

Cocktails amongst the Gothic splendour of The Gilbert Scott bar, St Pancras

London / photos / Places / railways

Cocktails in the Gothic splendour of the Gilbert Scott bar, Midland Hotel, St Pancras

Thu 22nd March, 2012Thu 22nd March, 2012 - by editor - 1 Comment

Occupying the former entrance to the Midland Grand Hotel, a trip through the revolving door – one of the very first in the UK – takes you into the sumptuous interior of the Bar at …

London / photos / Places / railways

The new King’s Cross railway station concourse in photos

Tue 20th March, 2012Mon 17th June, 2013 - by editor - 4 Comments.

Designed by John McAslan and Partners, the stunning new roof at King’s Cross station forms part of a half billion project to create a “transport super-hub” in time for the Olympics.

Brixton / Places / railways

Brixton tube station back in the day – Travelcard hustlers, drinkers and shouty types

Thu 2nd February, 2012Tue 19th May, 2015 - by editor - 5 Comments.

It may look rather swishy now, but before being subjected to one of the longest running redevelopment schemes known to mankind, Brixton tube station used to be a really tatty …

Places / railways / Wales

Fifty year old train still in service as BR Class 121 rumbles along the Cardiff Bay line

Fri 30th December, 2011Fri 30th December, 2011 - by editor - 2 Comments.

Still to be seen ferrying folks along the short stretch of track from Cardiff Queen Street station down to Cardiff Bay is this 1960 vintage, Class 121 diesel multiple unit, …

Places / railways

Mist and smoke – the Mid Hants railway, winter 1986

Wed 19th October, 2011Tue 25th October, 2011 - by editor - Leave a Comment

Railway scenes don’t get much more atmospheric than this wintry view of a deserted Ropley station, on the preserved Mid Hants Watercress railway line.

photos / Places / railways

A trip on the Bluebell steam railway, Sussex

Thu 6th October, 2011Thu 6th October, 2011 - by editor - Leave a Comment

A couple of weeks ago, we took a trip on the Bluebell Railway in Sussex, and enjoyed the view from the window as we puffed past the autumnal English countryside. Naturally, I …

photos / Places / railways

Cirencester Town disused railway station – Victorian Gothic stuck in a car park

Mon 26th September, 2011Tue 27th September, 2011 - by editor - 14 Comments.

Now stranded in the middle of a car park in the centre of town is the remains of Cirencester Town railway station, a rather fine two-storey building designed by Isambard Kingdon …

cardiff / photos / Places / railways / Wales

Cardiff Bay railway station in old Tiger Bay quietly rots away…

Wed 14th September, 2011Fri 16th September, 2016 - by editor - 13 Comments.

Located in what was once the bustling area of Tiger Bay in Cardiff docks, Cardiff Bay railway station (Bae Caerdydd) is the southern terminus of the short Butetown Branch Line, …

New York / photos / Places / railways

Old trains galore at the New York Transit Museum, Brooklyn

Tue 5th July, 2011Tue 5th July, 2011 - by editor - 3 Comments.

The New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn is a great place to visit if you’re in New York and have a bit of an interest in old trains, mechanical things, old …

New York / Places / railways

A walk along the High Line, Manhattan NYC

Tue 21st June, 2011 - by editor - Leave a Comment

The High Line offers a fabulous walk through the heart of lower Manhattan, with the park being built on the tracks of a long abandoned elevated railroad route.

Brixton / London / photos / Places / railways

Brixton’s lost railways – East Brixton station to Battersea, 3rd October 1969

Thu 9th June, 2011Fri 31st January, 2014 - by editor - 5 Comments.

Purchased for the princely sum of £1.25 on eBay, this old British rail ticket is for a journey which can no longer be made, as East Brixton station has long …

Brixton / photos / Places / railways

Fifty years of Brixton railway station

Tue 7th June, 2011Tue 7th June, 2011 - by editor - 2 Comments.

Pictured above is Brixton Railway Station, photographed on 11th December 1960. The tracks to the left run to Loughborough Junction, while the tracks nearest the camera are on the London Victoria to Orpington line.

London / Places / railways

London Bridge rail redevelopment charges across Borough Market

Sun 17th April, 2011 - by editor - Leave a Comment

Blasting its way over Borough Market and thrusting its metal loins over Borough High Street is Network Rail’s rail improvement works. Tasked with improving the old Victorian track layout around …

Brixton / railways

BR 70000 Britannia loco thunders through Brixton

Thu 7th April, 2011Thu 7th April, 2011 - by editor - 5 Comments.

Gleaming in the glorious Brixton sunshine is this excursion train headed up by a BR standard class 7 70000 Britannia locomotive.

London / photos / Places / railways

Pics of the day: graffiti train, Farringdon, London

Sun 3rd April, 2011 - by editor - Leave a Comment

Seen earlier today at Farringdon station, central London, was this heavily graffiti’d train carriage on a northbound train. Only the last carriage had been painted. Scroll down for more.

railways / Wales

Wrexham & Shropshire railway campaign update

Wed 9th March, 2011Wed 9th March, 2011 - by editor - Leave a Comment

We raved about the fantastic service and lovely staff when we took a trip on the line and vexed like an angry rapper when we heard the news what it …

Brixton / photos / Places / railways

Brixton station in the steam era (1950s footage)

Thu 24th February, 2011Wed 23rd February, 2011 - by editor - 1 Comment

Filmed in the 1950s, this fascinating amateur-shot footage (below) shows a tantalisingly short glimpse of steam trains thundering through a Brixton station still controlled by mechanical signals.

London / photos / Places / railways

Photo of the day: trolleys, St Pancras station

Fri 4th February, 2011Fri 4th February, 2011 - by editor - Leave a Comment

Photo taken on a Ricoh GX100 digital compact, with a slow hand-held exposure (0.4s). I leant the camera against a bannister to keep things sharp. I took a few photos of the scene (that’s …

photos / Places / railways

The châteauesque glory of Box Hill railway station

Mon 31st January, 2011Sun 30th January, 2011 - by editor - 2 Comments.

I’m a big fan of Victorian railway architecture, and although a lot of fine vernacular buildings have been senselessly destroyed since the 1960s, it’s always heart-warming to find some inspiring examples still standing.

railways / wales

Wrexham & Shropshire railway company closes

Wed 26th January, 2011Sat 29th January, 2011 - by editor - 3 Comments.

This is really sad news. The Wrexham & Shropshire railway company – the best railway company I’ve travelled with for years – has just announced that it is closing for …