Improved To Make It Worse?
It was in 1967 (above) that Swindon got a nice shiny new bus station, seen above as the builders were scrubbing and generally "finishing off". It was small but surrounded by a bit of refreshing greenery ...
... so delightful that it was even photographed in colour!
It was conveniently situated right next to the Corporation Bus terminal on Fleming Way.
It made interchange between the town bus routes ...
... and "country" services ...
... obvious and straightforward. It was so very simple! But the signs were not good for the sweet efficient bus station. The growing town "needed" more office space, so ...
... you neei9d tombuild lots of new blocks including tphose owering over the beautiful little bus station and makng it a less attractive waiting space.
But then the Council stated "We don't want to give you that!".
A new bus station with lots more stands ...
... was announced and it would be all super smashing and lovely.
And, as it is much bigger than the old bus station, the Council could now move some town bus routes into the new facility ...
... and we can then "improve" Fleming Way. Until recently, Fleming Way improved looked like this. ...
... more spread out than in the good old Corporation only days.
O.K., the bus station is an itty bitty further away from Fleming Way and it is "round the back" but the stetting will give you lovely walkways, away from nasty traffic, so you can nip through easily.
Hmmm!
Paths will be under cover (well mostly) and will lead direct ...
... to a lovely new enterance.
As you will have guessed, this shiny new bus station has become tired, is in need of major repairs and is no longer the deep joy that it once was.
So about seven years ago, the Council had a jackpot idea. 
Mght the idea ave had something to do with selling the bus station site?
"Let's bring all the buses together in one interchange, or hub, or bus boulevard or bus station or any other more trendy name you lik then all will be lovely again."
Work started in 2022 and at a cost of £33 million, it will open at the end of the month.
"And it will be super smashing and lovely!"
We shall see tomorrow.
Tank Triumph!
fbb has begun the process of displaying his collection. You will see duplicates acquired either by mistake or as improved versions of earlier purchases. Some will be sold or, more likely, given away. Others will join the non-recycle big bin!
There are more to display and the organisation to refine. Things will probably start with Trix, Hornby Dublo and the original Triang on the top levels. Next will cone Triang Hornby, Bachmann, and the now disappeared Airfix/Mainline.
Dapol, Lima and Jouef will come next followed by the modern Hornby. That will leave Cavalex, Rapido and Accurascale. There will need to be a small space for Airfix and Peco kits.
The first Tank wagon from Clark Railworks will hold pride of place ...
... when it appears! It is very special and very different. It will have a small plinth - until the next very special, very different and very expensive model is on the market.
fbb will have to write a "catalogue" for the edification of the hundreds of visitors who won't be beating a path to fbb mansions too enjoy the "immersive tank wagon experience"!!!
Actually he will need the catalogue to remind him what each one is.
And how do you catalogue the Replica Railways tank wagon?
Next Swindon blog : Fri 22 Aug
An "immersive tank wagon experience" could be a bad idea - said wagons tend to be filled with nasty substances such as petrol or milk!
ReplyDeleteFrom that we assume that Andrew would like a black coffee!
DeleteRC169