Photographic Survey

[Peter Kazmierczak]

The idea behind this thread is to take photographs of UK railway infrastructure before it gets swept away. Can you encapsulate a location in some 5-10 pictures?

 

INDEX to illustrations of stations/depots/sidings in this UK PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY

 

Locations are arranged by Pre-Grouping Companies, with stations listed alphabetically under the relevant heading. The number (#) refers to the post number in this thread. If a link is provided to another site, this is shown as LINK.

 

Thank you for contributing.

 

* Cambrian

Borth #29

 

*Furness and London & North Western Joint

Whitehaven Bransty #42

 

* Great Central

Barrow Haven #39

Barton-on-Humber #55 & #56

Kirton in Lindsey #30

New Holland Town #41

Scunthorpe #18

 

* Great Eastern

Audley End #43

Bury St Edmunds #27

 

* Great Northern

Hubbert's Bridge #50

Spalding Town #61

 

* Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint

Metheringham (LINK) #52

 

* Great Western

Albrighton #17

Banbury General #40

Codsall #16

Exeter St Thomas #53

Kemble #63

Tilehurst #26

West Drayton #46

 

*Highland

Pitlochry #47

 

* Lancashire & Yorkshire

Hebden Bridge #6

 

* London, Brighton & South Coast

Bognor Regis #58

East Grinstead #59

Pevensey Bay #10

West Worthing #13

 

* London & North Western

Narborough #23

 

* London & South Western

Christchurch #4

Hampton Court #45

Lymington Town #31 & #32

Polsloe Bridge #44

Poole #65

Southampton Terminus (LINK) #57

Topsham #48

Whimple #69

 

* Midland

Bamford and Hathersage (LINK) #8

Grindleford (LINK) #8

Hope and Earles Sidings (LINK) #8

Oakham #14

 

* North Eastern

Morpeth (LINK) #7

 

* South Eastern & Chatham

Coulsdon Town (ex-Smitham) #72

Edited April 28, 2013 by Western Sunset

[Kenton]

Gets my vote as long as the standard of photography is unimportant. Even better if the photos concentrate on the infrastructure and not purely of the train now standing. So many of the old photographic records were all about the loco and did nothing to record the background.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

That's the idea Kenton. On reflection, 10-12 shots might be too many; maybe say no more than half a dozen to illustrate everyday aspects of the station such as the key buildings, view up and down the line etc.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

To start the ball rolling, this is Christchurch (Dorset) in February 2013:

[billyb_imp]

Peter

 

A great idea, I would certainly be happy to contribute and also likely to be educated sometime in the future from the survey.

 

Although you may have to think of some way of indexing them for future use as the library grows

[roundhouse]

Hebden Bridge 1st April 2013

[DaveF]

There are around 150 images of Morpeth station back in 1985/6 when I built a model of it.

 

If anyone is interested have a look at my Northumbrian Railway Archive and select the set "Morpeth station infrastructure".  I haven't put the direct link to the set in as you might not appreciate such a long slide show in this post!

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/collections/72157626192203459/

 

As an aside I've always thought that there is one book (or series) missing from published railway literature:

"Views of every station in Britain".

 

Similarly every signal box ... and so on.

 

I know when I am sorting out my images there are many times when a full online set of reference images would be useful.  I sometimes spend hours on the web looking for specific views!

 

David

[Banger Blue]

Sounds like a good idea especially with the forthcoming electrification of the GWML etc etc

[Engineer_London]

Occasional habit of mine to take pictures of stations in passing.

Pevensey Bay last Saturday, 23rd March, 2013.  Trains call at least twice a fortnight. 

 

Other detail images available on request.

[Rugd1022]

I've got literally hundreds of views of Leamington, Banbury, Oxford, Moreton-in-Marsh, Worcester, Didcot, Swindon, Reading, Newbury, Westbury, Exeter, Newton Abbot, Liskeard, Bodmin Road (ney Parkway), Lostwithiel, Par and St.Erth  and that's just for starters, the problem is choosing which half dozen or so images to post! I also made a point of photographing Rugby during the big WCML upgrade, capturing it's remaining LNWR features before they all went in the skip, and the cutting up of the GCR 'Birdcage bridge'.

 

Some of the above I've posted before on here and on previous incarnations of RMWeb, but if we're going to have a dedicated 'infrastructure' thread I guess there's no harm in repeating some of them, so long as they illustrate what's needed.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

I'll start an index for these on page 1 of this thread later today. I think the best arrangement is by pre-grouping ownership of the line on which the station/sidings/depot etc is situated as of c1920. Thus if someone includes Milton Keynes (pure BR), it'll be listed under the LNWR, whilst a L&Y station will appear as such, rather than LNW, as they merged just before Grouping.Hope that makes sense.....

Edited April 1, 2013 by Western Sunset

[Ceptic]

A great topic Peter  .

 

Any encouragement for me to 'Get out more' with camera, is more than welcomed. (Getting a bit 'Stuck in the mud', these days).

 

Here's one for near the alphabet's end......West Worthing. (ex-L.B.& S.C.R.) in 2008.

 

The main entrance, The Down-side building, on the Tarring Road.  A shadow of it's former self, and of the amenities once afforded.

There have been rumours of it's impending demolition, but, as far as I know,...it's still standing. 

 

Up platform, looking eastwards, towards Worthing Central.

 

Both up  and down platforms once boasted substantial canopies, as did the main building's entrance / steps.(see first pic.) This was the first to go, after being clobbered by a 'Southdown' Leyland PD3 'Queen Mary', on route 103, in Nov.'69.

 

This marks the limit of S.R.'s main-line electrification in 1933. The under cover shed facility, centre right, accommodated twelve-car units on each of it's three roads. This shed was, once, ear marked as being suitable for a 'Southern Electric' Museum / H.Q.... Subsequent attacks by local? vandals and certain requirements by the H&SE quickly put paid to this project. The shed, now, is no more.

The heads-shunt / reversal siding, seen between the up and down lines,was / is(?) used by the Brighton - West Worthing 'Flyer'*......(*read..All stations / halts 'Slow')

 

A few shots of the station's surrounds.

 

This patch was, once, occupied by the West Worthing box, known previously as 'Tarring Crossing'. When swung-gated, these wide, four x four, cross-membered panel gates were wheel operated by the man in the box, as were a  myriad of crossings between Portslade and Bedhampton... Even now, a little perturbing to a driver, looking ahead, to see road traffic crossing his path.

 

Looking obliquely towards South Street, the level crossing, and the immediate, right / left-angled junction with the Tarring Road,..Named as the worst level-crossing in the UK.... Even when I was a kid, the gates seemed to be closed to road traffic, more often than they were open .....Me ?,... I was well pleased.

 

This shot sums up my appreciation(?) of what's going on behind the scenes. A vandal proof(?) footbridge, known as 'Jacob's Ladder', between West Worthing and Worthing Central.

 

Apologies for being somewhat downbeat ...I'm sure that there are many other instances in the U.K. where appreciation of public services is met with, on one hand, a thanks, on the other, hostility....

 

Regards

[Andy Y]

OK, Oakham in 12 shots (home of the Airfix/Dapol MR signal box) - without any of the station frontage as it was too cluttered with cars.

 

[ess1uk]

Great idea and superb pictures so far.

[Andy Y]

Codsall on the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury line in 12 pics including a classic GW footbridge.

 

[Andy Y]

Next stop along is Albrighton; slightly less well presented.

 

[eastwestdivide]

I don't want to pour cold water on this, as it's a fine idea to get a comprehensive resource, but is it worth giving some thought to whether a forum thread is the best place for it? Other alternatives might be some gallery pages on the forum here, or some kind of database-driven website?

 

Meanwhile, for people looking for pictures of stations, there's a useful resource if you fill in your station from 

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/default.aspx

and click through to "stations made easy", where NR have photographed the passenger facilities of (apparently) every station, right down to benches and phone boxes,

e.g. Ulceby's phone box here: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/SME/html/NRE_ULC/images/photos/800/o3294-0000003.jpg

[DaveF]

I don't want to pour cold water on this, as it's a fine idea to get a comprehensive resource, but is it worth giving some thought to whether a forum thread is the best place for it? Other alternatives might be some gallery pages on the forum here, or some kind of database-driven website?

 

Meanwhile, for people looking for pictures of stations, there's a useful resource if you fill in your station from 

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/default.aspx

and click through to "stations made easy", where NR have photographed the passenger facilities of (apparently) every station, right down to benches and phone boxes,

e.g. Ulceby's phone box here: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/SME/html/NRE_ULC/images/photos/800/o3294-0000003.jpg

Your link to a photo works, but I can't find any links to photos when I go to your link and then to stations made easy.

 

David

 

Edit, found it eventually, but it's not obvious - I began to wonder if photography had reached the north east!

Edited April 4, 2013 by DaveF

[ZiderHead]

Peter

 

A great idea, I would certainly be happy to contribute and also likely to be educated sometime in the future from the survey.

 

Although you may have to think of some way of indexing them for future use as the library grows

 

great idea, but only useful if the bold quote above is noted. date, location and a decent description are essential if its going to be a useful resource.

 

maybe consider setting up something on Flikr or Photobucket to host them?

[eastwestdivide]

Your link to a photo works, but I can't find any links to photos when I go to your link and then to stations made easy.

 

David

 

Edit, found it eventually, but it's not obvious - I began to wonder if photography had reached the north east!

More detailed guide to Stations Made Easy:

 

Go to http://www.nationalr...ns/default.aspx

enter station name (or 3-letter code)

click Search

top right pale box "Stations made easy" - click Show [XXX] route

click the station plan to get a large one

hover the mouse over the various feature for photos, which are themselves clickable

 

even if some of the photos are a bit out of date: this bloke's had his hair cut since the photo was taken, and the station (Rotherham C) has been completely rebuilt

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/SME/html/NRE_RMC/images/photos/800/o2886-0000043.jpg

Edited April 4, 2013 by eastwestdivide

[cary hill]

Narborough Station, South Leicestershire, photographed yesterday enroute for the "Weekly Shop".

 

Closed 4th March 1968, but swiftly re-opened on 5th January 1970 due to local outrage, and it now has the 4th largest passenger use numbers in Leicestershire (but only approx. 1,000 per day!).

 

The Level Crossing and now disused Signal Box looking towards the village centre.

 

 

A view from the footbridge of the former Goods Shed and Yard looking towards Nuneaton and Birmingham. Now occupied by Travis & Perkins, builders merchants, who have erected a modern "copy" of the Shed at right angles the original, which just can be glimpsed beyond the Signal Box. Where the new houses start beyond the Goods Yard was the site of the Empire Stone Company, which had it's own siding complex, and there was also a junction for the 2 mile long Enderby Quarries Branch beyond that.

 

 

A view of the former site of the Coal Merchants' Yard, now apparently a garage of sorts.

 

 

Minimalist but functional modern station accommodation on Platform 2 and the car park looking towards Leicester.

 

 

General view of both Platforms looking towards Leicester again.

 

 

A couple of views of the main station buildings showing the very plain and austere architectural style, which was also used for some other stations on this part of the line.

 

 

 

Three views from the small station forecourt showing the boarded up Stationmaster's House, the small Booking Hall and the Footbridge which has relatively ornate decoration.

 

 

 

 

A view of the "grotty" building to the rear of the station forecourt and a glimpse of the overgrown mess which may have been the Stationmaster's garden in happier times.

 

Edited April 5, 2013 by cary hill

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Hello All,

I've put an index to the pictures and links already contributed on page 1 of this thread.

[EddieB]

Might be worth adding a short introduction as to what the thread is about and what the index entries refer to? Starting at the first post, it wasn't clear what was going on until I read further down.

Edited April 5, 2013 by EddieB

[The Stationmaster]

Be warned - it may be later than you think for some of these structures so get your pics whenever you get the chance.  I took these, my most recent pics of this building at Tilehurst on 04 March, i.e. hardly 4 weeks ago.  Today I saw from the platform side that there is absolutely no trace at all of the fact that it ever existed - swept away as what looks to be no more than part of the works access for GWML electrification and some ohle foundations.  Just as well I've already got the rest of the station duly secured in pixels and in the past on film  (it will appear in this thread when I have a chance to do the necessary with my most recent pics).

 

But let this fine example of a GWR minor building - in an unusual style for its location - sound a warning to us all.

 

 

 

Edit typo

Edited April 6, 2013 by The Stationmaster

[EddieB]

So nothing from the Great Eastern yet?  Remedial action required.  Here are some pictures of Bury St Edmunds taken during the glorious summer weather of last August (well, it was a little warmer than it is now), with a few black and white shots from 1976 (now, that was a summer) for comparison.

 

The station architecture is distinctive, being one of the Sancton Wood designs for major stations serving important towns in East Anglia.

 

 

 

 

Proximity to the Port of Felixstowe generates much through freight.

 

 

 

 

"Bury St Edmunds Yard" signal box appears something of a misnomer nowadays, but note the addition of a trailing crossover.

 

 

 

The yard itself has been lifted and is now wasteland and only the warehouse remains.  In 1976 the yard still handled freight and could boast a resident shunter.  The tall semaphore starter has been replaced by a three-aspect colour-light signal.