2024 has started the way 2023 ended. Wetly! Although to be fair the downpours have mostly been confined to this evening. As I type this I can hear the rain bouncing off the cobbles at the back of the cottage. Thankfully, I paid attention to the forecast and got out for a long walk around the area and into Halifax earlier this afternoon. Everywhere was so quiet it was reminiscent of the Covid lockdowns. Most shops and businesses had taken the day off, only a handful of pubs and a few fast food outlets were open. Trains were running and from what I could see were very busy but I’ve no idea where people were going to.
Dawn had popped over to see her parents in Huddersfield so I had the cottage to myself this evening. Having completed all my self-set New Year targets and not fancying an evening stuck in front of the TV I decided to dig out my slide scanner and make some headway with clearing the final backlog of old slides I’ve never got around to scanning. The project’s got stalled of late but I had an email from a chap who seen some of my pictures from my old days in London, working as a Housing Officer in Tower Hamlets. He was fascinated to discover pictures I’d taken of the demolition and rebuilding of the old Lefevre estate in Bow, and asked if I had any more. I had, they were in another album stuck in the queue, so this evening I’ve scanned a few dozen. It’s rather ironic, as I discovered that the first batch were taken almost 30 years ago, in September 1994! You can find them in this gallery on my Zenfolio website, but here’s a couple of samples.
Demolishing the disused multi-storey car park at the back of the Lefevre Estate. Part of this had been built on the site of the old North London Railway station of Old Ford. You can find pictures of it in this page of the ‘Disused stations’ website. The page also contains photos of what the area looks like now. Contractors have arrived to start demolishing ‘H block’ on the Lefevere estate, probably in September 1994. None of the blocks on the estate had names. Only letters.
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Yesterday the Government was busy on social media, spreading a message so asinine that satirists across the country were immediately put out of work. Converted to electricity, the levels of derision this poster generated could have powered the UK for a day at least. Here’s how the message appeared on Twitter (bugger off Musk, I refuse to call it X).
Network North – London?
The ridicule was savage and widespread. It soon got picked up by the national media such as the Independent, who highlighted it here.
I’ve blogged many times in the past about this whole scam (there is no money to redirect from HS2, it wasn’t due to be borrowed for years yet) but unashamedly, the Tories keep doubling down on the lie. This particular stunt appears to be a pathetic attempt to prop up the flailing campaign for London Mayor of Tory no-hoper Susan Hall, hence this awful tweet featuring Transport Minister Mark Harper, exposing the fact that ‘levelling up’ the North-South divide actually means levelling up London’s roads.
Rather then fill in any holes Harper continued to dig them for himself with these follow up tweets.
Needless to say they went down like a cup of cold sick. Many commentators pointing out the gaslighting here. ‘Network North’ now covers the whole of the UK, apparently! None of this money exists and there’s a huge elephant in the room that Harper is deliberately ignoring. It was a footnote on page 24 of the risible ‘Network North’ fantasy list.
What business cases? Fantasy projects don’t have them and never will.
Clearly, the Tories have given up any pretense of being honest or credible. They really are just taking the piss out of people. No-one with half a brain falls for this stuff. You have to wonder what they were thinking when they produced this stuff. I feel sorry for the decent people working for the Department of Transport who’re having their reputations besmirched by association with this crap.
The derision at this idiotic attempt at currying favour with London motorists whilst alienating the rest of the UK is still spreading. I can’t wait to see what stupid stunt they come up with next! It’s worth remembering that Harper and Co recently announced they were giving Transport for London just £250m of the £500m funding TfL had requested. Now suddenly there’s another £235m available for London. Anyone smell a rat?
Meanwhile, if you’re a Tory voter who lives anywhere outside London and the South-East, all I can say is – what on earth are you thinking? They’re taking the piss out of you too…
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Apologies for the lack of blogging recently but the end of last week was rather convivial, with some unexpected consequences. Dawn and I had planned to stay at her parents over in Huddersfield on Friday night as we were spending Saturday enjoying a festive meal with some of the past and present Honley Male Voice choir members as a guest of Tony, and old friend of John and Norah (my in-laws). A lovely meal was rounded off by the choir members carol-singing outside Tony’s neighbours. All was well until be got back to find Norah had fallen outside the house and badly gashed her right hand as well as scraping her arm. Sadly, 83 year old don’t bounce very well, so there was nothing for it but a trip to Huddersfield A&E department to get the would cleaned and possibly stitched. A&E is hardly the place you want to spend a Saturday evening but thankfully (although they were short-staffed) we were there early enough to miss the pubs chucking out rush. The lack of information was frustrating, but everyone sang the praises of the staff who looked after Norah. By the time we left there was no way Dawn and I were heading home, so a 2nd night at the in-laws was arranged in order for us to be there on Sunday morning if we were needed. Norah had been a real trooper on the Saturday but was obviously suffering more by Sunday as she had a restless night. I’ve told Norah that I’m buying her a ‘onesie’ lined with bubble-wrap for Xmas and it’s to be worn at all times when she’s out with us - from now on!
Dee and I returned home that afternoon and I started to pick up the threads of work but my heart wasn’t in it and I made a trip to my local pub and ended up having one to many beers with the boys. Not my most sensible decision…
So, today’s been a busy day where the only time I’ve moved out of the office is to go to the loo or the kitchen! Mind you, the weather’s defaulted back to ‘miserable’, so I’ve hardly missed anything. Most of the morning it felt like living in the twilight zone! Still, I’ve managed to get a fair bit done including sorting out a many old photos that were held in queue for editing. Today’s picture is one of them. It was taken 19 years ago, on the 24th November 2004 when we were busy building High Speed 1 and the new domestic stations at St Pancras as in those days we had a Government with a sense of ambition and purpose.
This is what was known then as the Thameslink box. Now it’s the site of St Pancras International’s Thameslink station. The brick tunnel in the middle is the original Thameslink tunnel under St Pancras. This view is looking South towards the Euston Rd with part of the framework for the new St Pancras station West side buildings just visible above the box.
If you want to see many more pictures of High Speed 1 being built, follow this link.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
For the second say in a row I’m heading to London, only this time for a social event. I’m on Grand Central’s 08:11 again only this time I’ve working wifi as we have a different set to yesterday.
Deja vu!
I feel for the poor GC staff as the empty stock was 48 minutes late into Bradford Interchange due to late running Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU) engineering work. The crew had just 20 minutes to set up before the set left again. As a consequence they’ve not had time to put out seat reservation labels, which the Train Manager has been apologising profusely.
We’re currently sat waiting time at Wakefield Kirkgate as we’re running early (this section is very slackly timed). It’s been an interesting trip so far as I’ve been able to observe some of the progress on the TRU around Mirfield and Ravensthorpe where a lot of groundworks are underway. It’s obviously time for me to head out that way with the camera. Passing the derelict old marshalling yard at Healy Mills I noticed that a lot of track that’s lain rusting and disused for decades is being lifted. There’s lots of track panels stacked, awaiting removal whilst another fan of sidings has been denuded of the silver birch forest that’s covered it for years – as you can see in this picture link.
Compared to yesterday’s trip, this train in far less crowded. I’ve a table bay to myself although that may change when we reach Doncaster, so I’m looking forward to a relaxing trip.
09:23.
Would you believe it? Another day, another track-circuit failure. We’d just passed the old colliery wasteland and derelict sidings of Knottingly when our train slowed to a walking pace. The TM came on to the tannoy to explain why we were being delayed Ah well, at least it’s not a TC failure in a tunnel, so there’s something to see out of the window this time!
09:45.
Double bugger! It’s not just the track-curcuits that are flaky. Now the wifi’s playing up too so i’m back to typing on the phone.
10:12.
Having departed Doncaster 110 minutes late we’re now flying down the ECML at 124mph and made up a minute already by the time we passed Newark. There’s plenty of time for me to window-gaze now as the wifi’s still flaky so the work I was planning to do will have to wait.
12:25.
Arrived!. There will now be an intermission…
22:00
Mind the gap! I’ve had a very convivial afternoon/evening but an interesting trip back. I caught an evening LNER service from Kings Cross to Leeds whilst being totally unaware of the chaos at nearby Euston. Apparently, there was a fatality in the Milton Keynes area which closed the line on one of the busiest days of the year. I only found out when the Train Manager of my service apologised for the overcrowding and explained reciprocal ticket acceptance. Many people were on my Leeds in an effort to then get across the Peenines to Manchester/Liverpool or beyond. I have to say, the crew of the LNER service were fantastic with customer service in the face of such a problem.
Now I’m on the 22::00 from Leeds to Liverpool which is rammed with diverted travellers. At least I’m only going as far as Huddersfield…
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
I’m on my way to London to attend the annual Railway Christmas carols but as is often the case on the railways at the moment, it’s not a smooth journey.
I’m travelling on Grand Central’s 08:11 from Halifax to Kings Cross. This is a well-loaded train – as are all GC services nowadays. They’ve bounced back from the pandemic and then some! I’m on one of their Class 180s, which is showing its age. The front car saloon’s certainly comfortable and warm, but the wifi is kaput which is a bit of a bugger.
London bound…
What’s also kaput is a track circuit in the Elland tunnel just outside Halifax. This brought us to a stand before we could be signalled through the affected track section so now we’re running late. How late yet I don’t know. Fortunately this train gets me into London well in advance of the carol service. To the credit of GC staff the young lady in 1st Class has been excellent in briefing passengers about what’s happened.
08:38.
We’ve just arrived at Brighouse where dozens of passengers are waiting. This train is going to get cosy!
10:10.
Having bimbled our way through the West Riding of Yorkshire to reach Doncaster where we took on so many passengers we’re bursting at the seams we’re now racing non-stop to London. The Class 180s may be in need of TLC (especially below the solebar) but when they get chance to stretch their legs they’re still good 125mph trains.
En-route we’re passing field after field that’s full of water, a testament to just how much rain we’ve had recently. The leaden skies we’re travelling under look to promise more.
11:55.
Having stretched its legs my 180 made up half the delay to arrive in Kings Cross just 7 minutes down. Noy bad for a hybrid set made up from two different 180s! Kings Cross was open access central when I arrived, with all three OA operators dominating one side of the station.
The station’s feeling very festive at the moment, but then so is St Pancras.
Now it’s time for me to hotfoot it over to Eversholt St. See you soon…
17:00.
What a lovely afternoon. The carol service was well attended by people from different branches and ranks of the railway family with lessons read by several well-known people. Afterwards we adjourned to the adjacent hall for mince-pies, nibbles, sherry or soft drinks. Sadly, St Mary’s church is under threat of closure so many people attending signed the petition to save it.
After the service a select few of us (as is traditional) retreated to a local hostelry to catch up with each other and swap gossip/news about the industry. Of course, names and discussions are covered by Chatham House rules! Much as I’d have loved to have stayed I’ve too much to do so right now I’m on LNER’s 16:03 back to Leeds which is formed of a Class 91 and Mk4 set.
21:45.
Back home! The journey North was uneventful. LNER performed impeccably – albeit a couple of minutes late – and my Northern connection whilst packed was also fine. There was one light-hearted moment. On the way from Leeds I had two conservatively dressed young Asian girls sat opposite who were chatting ninety to the dozen. So much so they were oblivious to the fact the train had reversed at Bradford (their stop) and it was only when the Conductor announced that our final stop was Halifax that they snapped out of their reverie with some very entertaining expletives – much to the amusement of passengers nearby! I asked them ‘didn’t you notice the train change direction at Bradford’? With a laugh they admitted they were so absorbed talking they hadn’t noticed a thing! I directed them to the Bradford bound platform with a smile! I’ve missed a stop in the past so I’m in no position to criticize…
Strolling home I did stop in our local pub for a ‘swifty’ and time to catch up with local friends, which felt a world away from where I’d just come from. Sometimes, as an ex-Londoner I very much feel caught between two worlds. Those two worlds will collide again tomorrow as I’m back in London again in the morning, this time for a different gathering, so expect a rolling(ish) blog on the morrow.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
It may be Sunday night but there’s no rest for the wicked. I have a morning appointment to visit an HS2 construction site near Aylesbury tomorrow so I’m travelling South this evening in preparation. This late trip means I’ve been able to enjoy a leisurely day at home with Dawn, which has been lovely, especially as the pair of us were out late last night at a friend’s 60th birthday party. Kath had booked a meal for us all at the Astronomer in the Piece Hall in Halifax where we enjoyed a fantastic array of tapas dishes. It’s the first time we’ve eaten there in this incarnation, but it’s unlikely to be the last. Afterwards we adjourned to the Railway pub (an old favorite) for a last drink before heading home. The Railway has a disco night on Saturday, only this weekend with a Halloween theme. The music’s unashamedly 70s-80s but it always draws a good crowd. It was an ideal place to hide from the rail as it bucketed it down last night!
Thankfully, today’s been dry and sunny so I’ve had time to catch up with some gardening as well as other household chores, whilst still managing a few hours work.
Right now I’m on my way to Leeds on Northern’s 18:52 service from Halifax to Leeds. It’s a quiet, 2-car train as this is a neither here nor there time to be travelling.
20:00.
Leeds station was just as quiet as my Northern train tonight – although the fact it was chucking it doen with rain (again) may have had something to do with it. We’ve certainly had our fair share of the wet stuff over the past week. I was only passing through so didn’t even bother getting the camera out. Instead, I headed for the warmth of the LNER ‘set’Azuma’ set sat in the platform which was ready to form the 19:45 to Kings Cross.
This is another relatively quiet train, although my coach has been graced by a bunch of students who’ve obviously been out for a few beers and are now scoffing their vegan fast food aboard. Frankly, It smells just as greasy and unappetising as the ‘real’ stuff!
21:00.
We’re well on our way to our next stop at Peterborough right now – not that you’d know as it’s pitch black outside. Now the clocks have gone back daylight’s disappearing all too fast. I love the quality of winter light but I do miss those long summer days.
As there’s nothing to see I’ve been keeping busy working on the train. Trying to organise far too many picture folders into one coherent database for filing and to ensure everything productive has appeared on my Zenfolio website our gone out to clients. This is also a useful exercise for ignoring the depressing news that’s coming out of Israel, Palestine – and now Dagestan. Thanks to Homo Sapiens this planet is becoming ever more fcuked up. We seem to be beset by storms, political, social, economic and environmental – fuelled by populist politicians who haven’t got a clue what to do about anything other than cling to power, posture – and lie.
21:20.
We’re now South of Peterborough after being held in the station to let fast services to London overtake us. The trains still quiet although the station (being an important interchange) was full of people swapping between trains. This is like the old days for me. Back in the late 80s early 90s I’d often spend a weekend with an old friend from the Southport diaspora here in Peterborough. On Friday I’d travel up from London after work and return on trains like this. Well, not ‘exactly’ like this – the Class 91s were new in those days, so often it’d be a packed HST that would take me back to Kings Cross. Happy days in many ways.
22:25.
Arrived! I’m now indulging in a spot of night photography at Kings Cross, waiting for my steed in to return to Leeds as the 22:35. Not bad – a 30m turnaround. The weather’s been wet in London earlier but it’s dried out enough to deprive me of the puddles and reflections I’d have liked to have had. Oh, well. Blur shots it is then…
23:30.
And blur shots shots it is! Here’s my train returning to Leeds…
I find London stations fascinating places at night, but that maybe because I’ve spent over 40 years haunting them and seen some incredible changes – especially at the likes of Kings Cross. I first spent night-time here back in the 1970s when the area had a terrible reputation for drugs and prostitution. In that respect it was no different to any other gateway to capital cities but as a teenager it had a frisson of danger which made it quite exotic. It’s been cleaned up massively since those days. Back then you could go ‘off grid’ as soon as you left your house. Now, when I wander through the place I can spot the homeless and overnight travelers who gravitate to stations because they’re warm, safe and have power sockets, seats – and wifi! The modern world isn’t all bad – even if we as a developed country still have the stigma of homelessness – but that’s the Tories for you.
Ironic too when I think about it. There were always people exploiting the young homeless in London in those days, but word got around about who to trust or not. Now we know that some of the most untrustworthy people were media personalities. Funny old world…
Right now I’m updating this blog and posting pictures from the ‘Cross wifi. I was going to venture up the road to some old haunts but a signal failure at Finsbury Park has added too much of a wild card. Instead I’ll stay local.
00:30.
The last update. I’m now at Euston before calling it a day. It’s a nightmare of a sation nowadays as it’s far too small for the traffic it handles. The new ‘information’ screens don’t help. Commercial and political pressure has meant the vast majority of space has been given over to advertising.
Train information to the left, fcuk off advertising screens everywhere else. As if this will prevent the infamous Euston platform rush.
Folk who’ve missed their trains or who have nowhere else to go are bedding down here too. I noticed one lovely act of human kindness. A young African woman laden down with suitcases is holed up in a corner. One of the station security guards ( who’re hardly paid a kings ransom) stopped to chat, then slipped her a fiver so she could get a coffee in the morning. I sometimes forget that humans can can actually display humanity – and charity.
Right. Enough from me. See you tomorrow.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Today I’m travelling from Halifax to Swindon where I’ll be spending the night in a hotel ready for a commission tomorrow. In railway terms it’s known as a positional move.
Right now I’m on an LNER ‘Azuma’ from Leeds to London, having travelled to Yorkshire’s most bustling city on a busy 3-car Northern service via Bradford.
800102 working the 10:45 from Leeds to Kings Cross.
11:20.
We’re currently at Doncaster, waiting for the road South. This train’s fairly quiet so I’ve bagged a table bay to myself in coach C as most people never venture towards the back of the train. There may be a storm on the way and tomorrow’s job (outdoors) may get ‘interesting’ but here in Yorkshire we’ve high cloud and hazy sunshine. I’m hoping to be able to garner some library shots on my way but as I’m loaded down with a suitcase with all my PPE I’m not going to be venturing far from stations en-route.
Right now there’s time to settle down and do some work – as well as catch up with the latest copy of RAIL magazine which includes my article on HS2 and the bridge over the route near Aylesbury.
12:20.
With the train having called at Peterborough (and stood to time as we were four minutes early) my coach has filled out a bit with a mixture of American tourists, students and what look like day-trippers, all heading for the capital. The weather’s continuing to improve the further I head South. We’ve clear blue skies and cottonwool clouds with long periods of sunshine. Long may that continue! Right now we’re speeding across the Cambridgeshire flatlands ahead of time yet again.
There’s an interesting contrast in this coach. The party of middle-aged and younger Americans are sat chatting. I can’t see them as they’re sat behind me, but I can hear them. In the table bay opposite are three women students. There’s not a word being spoken. One’s sat there with headphones on, staring at her smartphone. Of the pair opposite her one’s on her phone whilst the other has it on the table in front of her as she gazes out of the window.
13:35.
My visit to the capital was brief. I didn’t hang around at Kings Cross because it’s a regular haunt so I immediately headed for the Underground
I decided to cut time short when I arrived at Paddington and saw how devoid of trains it was and how many services were shown as delayed. That was a shame as I rarely visit nowadays but there’s little to shoot in an empty station! In contrast trip across London on the underground was quick and easy. I only had a couple of minutes to wait at Kings Cross St Pancras before a Metropolitan line train arrived to whisk me away.
Comfortable but uncrowded conditions on the Met…
Right now i’m on the 13:31 hrading for Cheltenham Spa as it was the first available train I can use to get as far as Reading
17:25.
I’ve made it to Swindon via a few stopovers on the way, including one at Didcot where I came across evidence of another terminally stupid and short-sighted Tory transport decision. The line from Didcot to Oxford was being electrified when then Transport Minister Crhis (failing) Grayling cancelled the project. Contractors literally walked away from the sceme when it was half-completed, wasting £ms of pounds. Sound familiar? Yep, it’s the usual dither and delay we’ve come to expect from this rotton government. Here’s the legacy. Electric services from Paddington terminate here with a diesel shuttle to Oxford. Madness.
Right, it’s time for me to go to work and meet the good folks from the Permenant Way Institute who are here for their two day practical course which I’ll be shadowing.
22:00.
This blog’s no longer rolling! It’s time for me to call it a day and prepare for tomorrow as I’ve a busy day ahead. Breakfast kicks off at 06:30 before we head over to the training centre to don our PPE and for the students to get experience of what it’s like actually building and installing overhead electrification trackside. There’s a great bunch of participants from all areas of the rail industry so I’m really looking forward to the challenge of getting the pictures needed – despite the weather.
In the meantime, I’ll leave you with on last picture from the day. This is how electrified Thames valley services look nowadays with the diesels displaced and sent to Bristol and beyond. Here’s a Paddington – Didcot service calling at Twyford earlier this afternoon.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
I’m writing this because no-one (apart from his close circle of friends) will know of John Russell-Brown – or JRB as we called him. I have to admit I’m no longer one of them as I haven’t seen JRB for many years, but all will become clear later.
Sadly, JRB died of cancer on the 3rd October, in London. Apparently, he’d been ill for several years but decided to refuse any more treatment.
I first met Jon when I was applying to live in the housing co-op in East London which became my home for a decade back in the 1980-90s. JRB was a friend of friends and when I got a flatshare there in 1986 we were allocated a flat just a few doors down the same balcony from JRB. The whole balcony became thick as thieves as we had a lot in common – beer (real beer) being one of them, although thinking back to those times my poison was real cider. Oh, there was food too. Jon lived on his own and could be quite a private person. He never married and in all the years I knew him he never had a partner. That was never a problem. Many of us didn’t – we just all gelled. It was very heady days. Then, Jon was a dispatch rider, often travelling daft distances on his motorcycle to deliver stuff. These were the days before the internet – or Amazon when you could make a living doing such things.
Jon could be quite imposing in his leathers. He was tall, well-built (but not fat) bearded with close cropped hair. He was also a gentle giant. He had a stammer, which I think he was quite conscious of but none of us ever mentioned, why would we? He was just a lovely bloke – and very knowledgeable about beer – and politics. We became good friends and part of a small group I nicknamed ‘The Corbin drinking crew’ – Corbin House being the name of block on Bromley High St we lived in.
Jon was also very well read. We used to have parties in his small flat which was filled with books and beer memorabilia. I remember he used to make his own houmous which contained so many cloves of garlic you wouldn’t have seen a vampire for miles!
Sadly, when Lynn and I moved to Crouch End in North London I lost touch with Jon – apart from when I attended the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) where I knew I’d catch up with Jon as he was a volunteer on the Foreign beer stand. Sadly, moving to Yorkshire (and Covid) prevented me being there for some time.
But I’ve never forgotten Jon, or those fabulous and special days living in Corbin House. God, we used to have fun. Travelling around London to different pubs, attending the Canterbury beer festival and many others – and simply having a great time.
I’ve hundreds of pictures from those days but right now this is the only one I can find that I’ve scanned. I’ll do better soon. Here’s JRB flying kites with the rest of us on (I think) Blackheath in May 1995. I know I have better pictures. I’ll find one soon.
Jon may have gone – before his time too – but he’ll always live on in my memory, and that of all those of us who knew him. Sleep well, gentle giant. See you on the other side…
The pair of us are currently bouncing along from Bradford to Leeds on a Northern Class 195 in order to head down to London for tonight’s National Rail Awards, an event I’ve only missed once since (gulp!) 2003. Jeez. Were’s the last 20 years gone?
Tonight will be rather special as the awards host and Editor of RAIL magazine, Nigel Harris, leaves Bauer after 28 years tomorrow so it’s very much the end of an era. Nigel’s an old friend. The pair of us first met as volunteers on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite railway back in the mid 1970s. Then, in 2001 I started working for RAIL as a freelance photographer which brought me to the attention of the wider railway industry. The rest (as they say) is history…
12:45.
We’ve swapped our Northern 195 for some ‘classic’ traction to Kings Cross in the shape of 91111 ‘For the Fallen’
16th September update.
Sorry, I was overtaken by events that evening (literally) so never finished this blog. Despite the awards opening at 17:45 and going on until the early hours of the morning there’s never enough time. There’s so many people to see and say hello to, never mind get into conversation with – and Dawn and I have been privileged enough to have the run of the place and access to the VIP area which is the bar above the Great Hall.
Seeing so many old faces was lovely and (as usual) there was lost of stimulating and informative conversations. The Rail awards really are the railway ‘Oscars’ so pretty much everybody in the rail industry who can be there is. Only this time there was a twist due to Nigel retiring after so many years. Nigel’s co-presenter this year was the always entertaining TV journalist Steph McGovern, a person who has a host of stories and not afraid to call a spade a spade – or someone a tw*t! You should hear her anecdotes about meeting Donald Trump!
Here’s a few pictures from the night.
The VIP balcony. Folk in the rail industry may be able to spot a few familiar faces.The view from our table as Steph McGovern gets into her story-telling stride…Sir Peter Hendy was one of the people who bid farewell to Nigel (seen on the right).
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
‘Tis a short blog from me tonight. I’ve had a long day staring at screens editing pictures from the past few days. That’s taken up most of my time, although I must admit to enjoying having a day based at home where I’ve not got one eye on a railway timetable, checking that all my connections are running to time! With that pressure off me, I could very much suit myself when I did what. Well, apart from when the weather governed some choices such as taking my daily constitutional. For once, it hasn’t rained all day. Exactly the opposite, we actually had decent temperatures and sunshine this afternoon until the rain decided to reappear this evening when it came back with a vengeance. Talk about raining stair rods! I was starting to worry that the garden would be battered to pieces. Thankfully, the cloudburst passed before we got to that stage but we’ve certainly had a sizeable chunk of August’s rainfall arrive in the past couple of days – with more to come.
Still, tomorrow’s another day, so let’s see what it brings. Other than more rain, obviously! Whilst I’ve been typing this the last batch of pictures (for now) has uploaded to my Zenfolio website. Shots have been added to many different galleries, including railway stations, railway people, Chiltern Railways, the GWR franchise, Northern, TPE as well as East-West rail and of course – HS2. You can find the full list of updated galleries by clicking on the recent link.
For now I’ll leave you with the picture of the day, which was taken at Paddington station the other evening. The station roof looks magnificent when it’s lit up at night, as this view shows.
The time’s 22:45 and ‘Thames turbo’ 165122 rests at the buffer stops on platform 4, its days duties done until tomorrow.
I’ve a small favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
