The interwebnet is a truly amazing "thing" - it knows so much about you. Somehow the computers have worked out that the fbb's used to live on the Isle of Wight and, therefore, from time to time, unsolicited pictures arrive to rekindle some fond memories.
Here, for example, is a train on its way from Newport to Ventnor West.
It has just exited from St Lawrence tunnel and is approaching the diminutive station ...
... a building which remains to this day.
Equally the terminus station building is still there also in private hands.
The Line closed in 1952. fbb did, however, walk through the St Lawrence tunnel before it was closed off on "elf'n'safety" grounds ...
... and to create a mushroom farm, itself no longer trading!
"Urban Explorers" visited in 2017 - details on line.
Also on a railway theme is this picture.
It shows a train (probably one of the first trains) at Bembridge Station. The gabled building is distinctive.
In this case the building did not survive ...
... being replaced with trendy seaside dwellings.
But the only other stop on this short branch from Brading ...
... at St Helens, is still extant although somewhat changed from its active railway life.
Nevertheless it is still very recognisable.
The line closed in 1953.
The fbbs lived for nearly thirty years in the Seaview area and it was from Nettlestone that Creeths ran the first ever motor bus on the Island. In the very early days two vehicles are shown here parked at Nettlestone Green.
The house in the background is called "Green Corner" (it was at the corner of the green!) and was owned by the Creeth family.
It is still very much there. The front room at the far side, with its own front door ...
... was designated as a waiting room for intending bus passengers.
How many present-day bus company owners would contemplate having a waiting room in their family home?
After the last of three daughters died, the fbbs tried to buy the house with the aim of living therein (obviously) but using the "waiting room" as a small community lounge. The owner chose not to sell at that time and the fbbs have since moved away.
All three of their sons attended Nettlestone School approached by a drive beside Green Corner.
And whilst in reminiscent mood, how about this shot of Seaview Pier ...+
... one of very few chain piers in the UK, built like a suspension bridge.
It was destroyed by storms in 1950 and 1951 and the remains were demolished in 1952. The Pier Hotel struggle on for a few years renamed the Halland Hotel ...
... then was demolished leaving a tatty empty site for many years. Modern flats now fill the gap!
But what your memory-rich (?) blogger has never before seen documented is that the bus from Sea View to Ryde ran (presumaby at busy times) from the pier rather than the village centre.
Can anyone "out there" shed any more light on this intriguing photo? And busy times then were a lot busier than they are in the village today!
Oh dear, fbb has become so immersed in personal nostalgia that he has almost forgotten to expound on what is "Really Huge".
It started quite small!
Next "really huge" blog : Sunday 17th March
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