steam train – urban75 blog

The unexpected joy of finding two steam engines at Cardiff Central station

Mon 5th August, 2019 - by editor - Leave a Comment

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 …

photos / Places / railways

In photos: the magnificent curves and Victorian architecture of York railway station

Thu 30th November, 2017Thu 30th November, 2017 - by editor - 4 Comments.

Here’s a short photo-essay showing off some of the splendour of York railway station, a marvel of Victorian engineering and architecture.

London / news / photos / Places / railways

Steam and diesel locomotive delights at Old Oak Common Open Day, Sat 2nd Sept

Mon 4th September, 2017Sun 3rd September, 2017 - by editor - 2 Comments.

Last Saturday, London’s Old Oak Common rail depot opened its doors to the public, offering a close up look of a facility that has been servicing trains since 1906. A …

photos / Places / railways

Steam locos, memorabilia, a stuffed dog and much more at the wonderful Railway Museum in York

Wed 14th June, 2017 - by editor - Leave a Comment

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, …

Want to see real snow chaos? Check out the Snowdrift at Bleath Gill video

Places / railways

Want to see real snow chaos? Check out the chilly tale of the Snowdrift at Bleath Gill

Thu 24th January, 2013Thu 24th January, 2013 - by editor - 4 Comments.

The news reporters may scream “Snow Chaos!’ every time a few centimeters of the white stuff sprinkles down on Blighty, but it’s looking pretty tame compared to this astonishing archive footage of a …

Brixton / London / Places / railways

New steam locomotive Tornado shimmies through a sizzling Brixton

Tue 26th June, 2012 - by editor - 1 Comment

Summer’s finally arrived over the rain-drenched plains of sarf London, and today a mighty steam engine coud be heard powering its way across the rooftops.

photos / Places / railways

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 / Places / railways

Steam train puffs through Brixton – backwards!

Wed 21st December, 2011Wed 21st December, 2011 - by editor - Leave a Comment

I love seeing steam trains puffing through Brixton, but today’s train was a little different in that the locomotive was at the back of the train – and going backwards!

Brixton / photos / Places

Christmas comes early in Brixton as two steam locos pass in quick succession

Fri 11th November, 2011Sat 12th November, 2011 - by editor - 1 Comment

Two steam locos thundering through Brixton in an hour? Hell yes! I’d barely got over the excitement of seeing Tornado steam past at 10:29 this morning en route to Canterbury …

Brixton / photos / Places / railways

Tornado steam loco powers dramatically through Brixton

Fri 11th November, 2011Fri 11th November, 2011 - by editor - 3 Comments.

Emerging through the mist of a chilly autumnal morning can be seen 60163 Tornado, a LNER Peppercorn Class A1 steam locomotive, which entered service in 2008.

Brixton / photos / Places / railways

Brixton rattles to the sound of a Battle Of Britain class steam locomotive

Wed 26th October, 2011Wed 26th October, 2011 - by editor - 5 Comments.

Just seen (and heard) thundering through the heart of Brixton was the Battle of Britain Class steam locomotive number 34067 ‘Tangmere,’ running from Victoria to Hastings, on the south coast.

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.

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.

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.