Every Picture Tells A Story (2)

 Paddington Pedestrian Procedure

fbb did write that the best way from Paddington to the Central line was a short signposted walk to Lancaster Gate station. Even a medium knowledge of London would cause an interchange passenger to spurn the Circle/District line and a change at Notting Hill Gate for the short walk.

But, yet again, your error beset blogger was wrong! The walk is short but is NOT signposted - but, should energy levels be low, you could catch a bus. Until very recently, the best option was as follows.

Leave the circulating area at the buffer stop end of the platforms and make you way to the Lawn. This area is about the best low maintenance greensward imaginable.

Not a single solitary blade of grass needs excision by a mower - by far the best lawn you could have!

This part of Paddington is said to derive its name from having been the stationmaster's garden in the period of the temporary station at the Bishop's Road Bridge between 1837 and 1850. The area was lost when Brunel built the present terminus between the great train shed and the back of the Great Western Royal Hotel. Brunel excavated it out and laid tracks up to the back of the hotel. A simple ridge-and-furrow Paxton roof was built above and iron galleries led from the back of the hotel to the departure and arrival platforms.

Anyway ...

Nip up the escalators ...

... and in through the back door of the Hilton Hotel.

Then out through the front door of the Hilton Hotel ...

... waving cheerfully and confidently at the poshly dressed personage with the proper topper as you pass by. Nip smartly across the road to the Metropolitan Railway station ...

... which, as its name suggests, is where you could catch a Circle or a District line train but NOT a Metropolitan line train.

Turn right and amble past the stop for bus 46 ...

... which would take you all the way to Lancaster Gate ...

... a distance of one whole stop! Like the bus, you turn left along Westbourne Terrace ...

... walking to the end thereof whilst enjoying the lavish arboriculture en route. Fork slightly right at the next junction; walk past the terminus of the aforementioned 46 ...

... left at the main road and, Robert is your father's brother!

Clever and up to date people will know that the Eastbourne Terrace exit from Paddington is now exit-able which may be a less embarrassing trajectory than facing the supercilious sneer of Hilton's over-dressed minions.

But the walk route is short, it is quick and it is easy - once you know!

Encouragement for Coaching?

Or maybe wishful thinking?

The article in the Advert magazine Bus and Coack Weeklu doesn't say how much.

But it will be "a lot"!

East Yorkshire is full of optimism for 2021. The company has just published is holidays and toures brochure.

Bext pf luck with that, folks!

Preservation News

Good news is that one of the to car ex underground trains, that have struggled to provide a two-train service over that last year or so, is to be preserved.

It is a long time since the Island Line could run four car trains as shown above. Effectively they have just two serviceable two car units meaning 100% availability is necessary.

Fat Chance.

Regularly the line is reduced to an hourly service of just one working train. Roll on the 484s.

Our Scottish column!

The re-fettled Glasgow Queen Street station is pretty much in full operation. It looks good from the outside and equally good inside.

Heaps better than its immediate predecessor.

One twitterer was impressed with the way a few bots of the old have been incorporated into the new. "They have kept the Victorian columns," he enthused. Probably a good idea - the roof would fall down if they weren't there.

But instead of encasing them in concrete or some inflammable (?) cladding, the columns have been retained as was and painted to match the new color scheme.

There is a line of them where newer building abuts the old arched overall roof.

Roger Ford's Kettle?

Modern Railways columns Mr Ford has been known to refer to steam engines as "kettles".

Switzerland has no indigenous sources of coal. But it has lots of mountains, lots of rushing water and thus lots of hydro-electricity.

So Swiss Railways had a cunning plan. When supplies of coal were lacking, particularly after the 2nd World War, they decided to create their own kettle.

Put a pantograph on the roof of the cab, use the electric to heat the water and you get about 20 minutes of shunting time until you need to get back under the wires.

Farewell To An Old Friend?

First West Of England says farewell to its last bendibus as it trundles away for scrap. One has even been donated to the Isle of Wight Bus Museum (WHY?).

It makes fbb feel VERY old.

Eurostar As Well

The cross channel operator is really struggling. No Government subsidies are provided and passengers are a rarity.

They've got a point.

fbb's new lap top arrived yesterday.

He expects to get it working by some date in the new year.

2025. Aaaaaargh! More tomorrow.

 Next Lovely Logo blog : Saturday 28th November