What's Not In Nottingham (2)

 Passengers : Parcels : Pool

We need to get our bearings! The RED line is the Midland Railway running from the east into Nottingham Midland station. The PINK line is London Road, leading from the historic centre of Nottingham to, guess where, London. The YELLOW area is Nottingham London Road Low Level station and its approaches and appurtenances., the ambit of the Great Norther Railway (GNR).

The rest will feature later.

The GNR arrived from the east - from Grantham - and, at first, had rights of access to the original and only Nottingham station,later with "Midland" added. But the relationship between the two companies was, at times, tortuous.

So in 1857 the GNR opened its own station, Nottingham London Road, later with 'Low Level' added. 

This was a grand affair with opulent station buildings ...

... and a large four bay covered train shed, subsequently extended with a three bay addition, The station handled passengers ...

... with parcels and light goods services sharing the platforms.

By the end of the 19th Century, The Great Central Railway was building its Victoria station in Nottingham, so the GNR jumped into bed with them and built a chord line into their station. This took most trains away from Low Level and into a better environment for connections and onward travel.

After lingering for a good many years, the original terminus closed to passengers in 1944.

But the (not so Great?) British Railways were ready to take over their splendid station and transform it into the parcels depot for Nottingham ...

... ultimately becoming wholly BRUTE-alised!

For a while in the early 1960s the station was a popular visit for rail tours.

... even hosting a visit from the preserved GNR Stirling Single ...

... attracting far bigger crowds than the station ever did when in normal passenger use!

Because of its rebirth as a parcels depot, the station buildings survived intact and were later occupied by a well known Health Club.

Whether by planning requirements or by commercial constraints, much of the station was rebuilt, refurbished and upgraded for its new purpose, and that included its splendid train shed.

Ineeed, the roof is unchanged in size and scope.

No doubt the ghosts of GNR passengers would recognise something of their former terminus, but fbb does wonder how many of those submitting themselves to today's masochism will realise that they lift, groan and sweat where once stood trains for Grantham!

Virgin customers now swim where once GNR locos deposited ash, steam and oil in the inter-platform track beds!

Only a hazy memory exists photographically of where eager travellers would enter for the departure of their eastbound trains.

Hey ho, such is progress.

Sadly, the other three stations did not fare so well. We shall return to them from Tuesday onwards. In the meantime a book review from Nottingham will adorn tomorrow's blog.

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N azarene  N onentity

Quirky Answer, coming up ...

The title might shock some readers, especially some Christian readers. But. because of the extras that has been heaped on Christmas to make it pretty and to provide fodder for nativity plays, we become bamboozled by a sort of folksy celebration of prettiness and clutter - so bamboozled that the historic Birthday of Yeshua Ben Yusuf (Jesus son of Joseph) is lost in the man-made hype.

The Nativity was NOT PRETTY.

The most likely location for the birth of the Christ Child ...

Quirky Answer - and his manger was in one of the caves used by Shepherds to winter their flocks.

These caves are near (even under) what is now known as "The Shepherds' Field".

About two years later a group (number unspecified) of Zoroastrian Magi rocked up having studied the stars and followed one that was a bit weird. [Note : God's miraculous involvement in the  ways of humanity can be scary and weird - but they always make a difference.]

They came, according to Matthew's Gospel, to the house where the family was living.

It is unlikely that they would wear posh costumes and silly hats for a lengthy journey by horse (yep, no camels get a mention, horses would be the choice of such VIPs!) ...

... but whatever clutter you add, the most important part of the visit was he gifts.

Gold for a King - Jesus in his heavenly role.

Incense for a Priest - Jesus as the our way to God

Myrrh for a Death - Jesus came to die on a cross

The Wise Man narrative was NOT PRETTY.

Apart from one incident when, aged about 12, Jesus got separate from his parents because he was having a theological discussion with the Temple Priests ...

... we know NOTHING of the Nazarene Nonentity until ...

... It was the right time for the Nonentity to assume his full identity - and begin just three years of carefully recorded activity.

Quirky Question : Who came7 to Jesus in secret and, three years later, helped him publicly in death?

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  Next Beautiful Bus blog : Mon 15th December 

What's Not In Nottingham (1)

 It All Began With A Picture

fbb did not have a clue! 

One helpful chappie revealed that it was Weekday Cross junction in Nottingham.

tbb still did not have a clue!

So he started seeking anywhere in Nottingham that might fit the picture.

fbb could find nothing that resembled the picture in any way.

Other pictures appeared which showed that the lines were closed and the track removed.

fbb still didn't have a clue; but began to guess.

So fbb will begin his adventure by reviewing Nottingham's FIVE railway stations that might be designated city centre facilities. In order of opening ...

1848 : Nottingham (Midland)

The above somewhat fanciful engraving shows the first station, the River Trent (?) and, somewhat romantically, the excrescence upon which stands the so-called Nottingham Castle.

The station was rebuilt in 1904 ...

... significantly upgraded in 2114 ..

... and is the only one still open. 

1857 : Nottingham London Road Low Level

The station closed in 1944 but the main building still exists as part of a Virgin Health and Leisure Centre.

 1899 - Nottingham Arkwright Street

Closed in 1963. Re-opened in 1967; closed in 1969.   a story to tell there.

1899 - Nottingham London Road High Level

Closed in 1967. All signs of station and track have been obliterated.

1900 -!ottingham Victoria

Cosed in 1967. There is no evidence of the station building today.

Nottingham Station Street (Tram)

Not strictly a railway station, but a stop on the NET tram network for interchange with Nottingham Midland Station, Opened in 2004, closed in 2015.

Nottingham Station (Tram)

Opened in 2015, still open and fully integrated with the National Rail Station.

There are, of course, other tram stops in the city centre ...

... but those pictured are, effectively, part of the National Rail station and, as such, do deserve a mention.

Historic Snippet

A Very fuzzy picture to remind us that the Midland Pullman ran an infill service between St Pancras (below) and Nottingham (above) as part of its prestigious service to Manchester.

It was very high quality with silver service ...

... of meals cooked on board.

Those were the days.

The tale of that headline picture continues tomorrow. In the meantime, readers can ponder the map below.

It may help.

Or maybe not!

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 M entions of  M essiah

Yet again fbb forgot yesterday's Quirky Question, so here it is ...

Which prophet used his unfaithful wife as a "visual aid" in his writing?

Many people misunderstand what a "prophet" was in Bible times.

A Bible prophet was a man whose faith and commitment to God was very strong. As a student of a wide range of Godly writings, many of which have long since been lost; as a man of dedication to prayer and worship - the prophet would have a deep understanding of God's lordship and purposes.

They would use powerful "visual aids" in their work.

Ezekiel had some scary but challenging visions of God in Heaven ...

... which are well nigh impossible to create in a picture. Weird but very powerful.

Quirky Answer : Hosea lost his wife when she sold herself into prostitution ...

... but he bought her back - with money - he redeemed her.

Someone else paid a much greater price to buy back humanity from its prostitution to the power of sin.

The word Messiah is used for one who is appointed to offer himself in sacrificial service to others - a Saviour in fact.

Because of their insight and dedication to God, Prophets were "inspired" - ideas were "breathed in" - by God; some of these were, indeed, visions of the future. Here is what Isaiah wrote ...

... pretty stunning some 500 years before it happened.

Quirky Question : According to the Bible, where was the manger in which baby Jesus was laid?

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 Next Nottingham blog : Sun 14th December 

Have a Break ... Breaking News

 The Book Review Is Postponed 

The World Cup

A Scottish web site has revealed some excellent news for supporters of Scotland having reached the final stages of the World Cup next year. Pictured below is the vessel allocated, here shown on a recent hurriedly arranged test run!

Here us what the news item reported.

CALMAC TO RUN FERRIES TO AMERICA 

In an emergency bid to get Tartan Army fans to the World Cup, the Scottish Government has confirmed Caledonian MacBrayne will be running direct ferries from Oban to New York, Boston and Miami this summer.

The flagship vessel, MV Lord of The Isles, will take just 11 days to cross the Atlantic… weather permitting… and assuming it doesn’t break down off Barra.

Fans have been warned the ferry may be delayed due to high winds, low winds, medium winds, paperwork issues, seagulls or someone losing the keys.

A CalMac spokesperson said:

“We’re confident we’ll get most fans there in time for kick-off.”

Bookings open Monday. Cancellations expected by Tuesday.

On The Same Theme : GBR

fbb has been keeping an eye on this momentous launch of a controversial livery for the new shiny people-orientated nationalised British Railway network. What the media seems to have missed in its excitement (?) was the massive public launch at London Bridge Station in London. YouTube vloggers have been hard at work in their efforts to absorb the highlights of this massive display, similar to the launch of Network SouthEast at Waterloo all those years ago.

Only it wasn't.

The most obvious evidence (if you had the time to notice it!) was sticky backed plastic adorning the ticket barriers.

Would passengers have noticed? Or would they just register, with a tedious sigh, yet another advertising campaign to ignore?

There was a mat stuck to the floor ...

... and some screens had a fully liveried page amongst many that were as normal.

The highlight (?) was a model railway display by Hornby.

Faced with such a panoply of powerful publicity, the video director spent most of his screen time on pictures of the new livery Class 800 whizzing round the track.

It was very exciting! YAWN!

Another vlogger posted a better pictures.

The Hornby stand also had a huge banner ...

... and ... steps back in amazement ...

... a pseudo simulation which, as far as your aged and suspicious blogger could gather from the Tube of You, allowed the kiddies to control the train a it as it passed by. But not much.

Now for the shock news!

fbb doesn't think a real full-sized train exists in this livery. If one did exit the launch would have been at a London station where Class 800s actually operated. It wasn't and they don't at London Bridge!

fbb also suspects that ALL the pictures of "the new identity" were from the same keyboard as the simulation. There is no train in this lurid livery.

Unless anyone knows better.

Under New Management

No, the London Overground does not run to Hounslow - yet; but the proposed West London Orbital might do so.

The news items refer to the change of operator of the whole Overground network. The overall control continues to rest with Transport for London, the new operater will merely operate according to the diktat of Mr Khan and his chums. It is, just like Bee Line in Manchester, a franchise.

The public will not notice any difference, assuming that the new operator doesn't bodge it.

And the new operator will be ... tada ...

... our well loved friends at First.

fbb had to think hard to remember which company is currently operating the trains.

It's Arriva!

And There's More!

After withdrawing all its open top buses in Cornwall, then withdrawing everything in Cornwall, guess what? First has bought an open top bus business. What was the Bath Bus Company, later sold to RATP, will now (like RATP London) be with First Bus.

Also in the deal is the prestigious Air Decker A4 route between Bath and Bristol Airport.

Then there is the much bigger London topless contender with the Great British Railways style livery!

Why close a raft of open top bus services then buy a raft of open top bus services? Who can ever understand the corporate minds that control the UK bus industry.

There is an industry rumour that First paid £17 million for these business - which would have supported a lot of Cornwall bus routes for mamy years!

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 L oss and  L ament

Quirky Answer : It was poet, Lord Byron what writ it!

In 720 BC The Asyrians, under the command of their big cheese, Sennacherib, invaded and, effectively, destroyed the Northern half of the broken Kingdom of Israel. The invasion was utterly destructive of people and property.

The picture below shows the attack on Samaria, known as the Northern lot's fortress city.

The city was destroyed and thousands slaughtered.

The army continued south sweeping all before it with little hope of defence against its military might; using archers, chariots and siege engines.

The Northern Kingdom did not survive, leaving the much small area, called Judah, utterly vulnerable. On marched Sennacherib to threaten Jerusalem itself. Thus reports Lord Byron.

The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold,

And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold;

And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea,

When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee.

For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast,

And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed;

And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill,

And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!

But, oddly and inexplicably, with he siege of Jerusalem in full swing, Sennacherib went home taking his cohorts with him. The Bible says that God had something to do with his withdrawal.

All was sort of stable in the south until 597 BC when the Babylonians invaded and took thousands of the Jews into exile. Ten years later the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed.

You might well ask where God was during these utterly destructive times. Wasn't this His "Promised Land". Some Promise, Eh?

People ask exactly the same question today?

Why didn't God DO something?

Why doesn't God DO something?

Maybe He has?

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 Next Nottingham blog : Sat 13th December