1. Victoria, Paddington and the journey home

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2017 > 73. Trip to London-28 & 29.12.17 > 1. Victoria, Paddington and the journey home

I started the day with a visit to Victoria station to see NR's landscape photographic exhibition that was up on the mezzanine floor above the concourse. I then went to Paddington for a few hours before meeting my wife and son for lunch and then home.

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Images 1-22 of 22 displayed.

General view, London Waterloo station
The London and South Western Railway opened Waterloo station in July 1848. It has been re-built, attacked by the Luftwaffe and renamed International when it was linked directly to Europe by Eurostar. Through all that, it remains the Uk's (and Europe's) busiest and largest station. Here is a general view from the mezzanine floor that illustrates the scale of the place. Numerous trains wait to leave for all sorts of locations throughout the south and southeast.
Keywords: London Waterloo station

Former Eurostar platforms under development, London Waterloo station
The former Eurostar platforms 20-24 closed in November 2007 when services were transferred, with great fanfare, to St. Pancras 'International'. Since that date, the story of their fate turned into a complete farce. Despite chronic overcrowding in Waterloo, they remained unused and completely empty! Finally, in July of this year, work started to reintegrate them back into the working infrastructure of the station. This work is seen underway in this image and is due to be completed sometime in late 2018....we will see?
Keywords: Former Eurostar platforms under development London Waterloo station

$L&SWR stone carvings, London Waterloo station Some of the ornate and beautiful stonework on the upper levels of Waterloo station. It has been sliced in half by the creation of the mezzanine level from where the picture was taken. This extra level was competed in July 2012 at a cost of £25 million. It is referred to as the 'retail balcony' even though the number of units is a fraction of what was envisaged! Notice the information poster in the middle of the picture giving customers information about yet another strike. Keywords: L&SWR stone carvings London Waterloo station$

Central clock, London Waterloo station
'Meet me under the clock at Waterloo' as the saying goes'! Here is that rendezvous point, Waterloo's huge four faced clock that hangs high above the main concourse.
Keywords: Central clock London Waterloo station

455869, SW 11.33 London Waterloo-Guildford (2G27, RT), London Waterloo station
Some parts of Waterloo station remain a little gloomy, one such area is the city end of platforms two and three. Here, 455869 waits to leave with the 11.33 to Guildford.
Keywords: 455869 11.33 London Waterloo-Guildford 2G27 London Waterloo station

Roof, London Waterloo station
Apart from to look up at the clock, I wonder how many people raise their heads to look at Waterloo's roof? It's an impressive structure that lets in a huge amount of natural light on to the concourse, unlike many modern stations. Also note, the mezzanine level that was completed at huge expense in 2012.
Keywords: Roof London Waterloo station

158886, SW 11.50 London Waterloo-Salisbury (1L31, 1E) & 450119, SW 11.30 London Waterloo-Portsmouth Harbour (1P31, RT), London Waterloo station
Some of Waterloo's hundreds of CCTV cameras will be picking me up no doubt! Here they would see me acting suspiciously and photographing 158886 waiting to leave the station with the 1L31 service to Salisbury. Next to that, is 450119 just getting the right-away as the 11.30 to Portsmouth Harbour.
Keywords: 158886 11.50 London Waterloo-Salisbury 1L31 450119 11.30 London Waterloo-Portsmouth Harbour 1P31 London Waterloo station

43136, GW 12.00 London Paddington-Penzance (1G82, 29L), London Paddington station
43136 stands under Paddington's superb overall roof about to work the 12.00 to Penzance. This train is not at platform one or two where the Penance trains usually depart from as engineering works had closed these ones. 43136 was a late delivery to the Western Region in 1981 as part of set 253033 to augment the West of England services, something it is still doing nearly forty years later!
Keywords: 43136 12.00 London Paddington-Penzance 1G82 London Paddington station

165109, GW 12.21 London Paddington-Oxford (1D25, 37L), London Paddington station
165109 stands at platform nine of Paddington. It is about to work the 1D25 12.21 to Oxford. Whether it was engineering works, or something else, but this train, and many others, arrived late at their destinations, in this particular case, 37 minutes late.
Keywords: 165109 12.21 London Paddington-Oxford 1D25 London Paddington station

Electrification work being undertaken, London Paddington station
Engineering work to install the catenary is underway on Paddington's platforms one and two. Whilst I am not a fan of electrification, for a number of reasons, the method if installation under the grade 1 listed Paddington train shed has been undertaken carefully to mitigate any visual impact.
Keywords: Electrification work being undertaken London Paddington station

Electrification work being undertaken, London Paddington station
In a familiar location at the end of of Paddington's famous platform one, 'the road to the west' as Network Rail contractors work to install the catenary supports. I observed the team for while, and, whilst not wishing to appear critical, they were not working efficiently. There were a number of workers who were simply observing the work and not actually doing anything apart from being on their mobile 'phones. Also, despite the line being completely closed and under occupation, there were three lookouts, is that absolutely necessary but perhaps I'm missing something?
Keywords: Electrification work being undertaken London Paddington station

800016, unidentified working & 43030, GW 12.27 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads (1C14, 10L), London Paddington station
Old and new stand side-by-side at London paddington station. 800016 sits with an unidentified ECS working at platform eleven whilst veteran 43030 'Christian Lewis Trust' makes ready to leave with the 12.27 1C14 to Bristol Temple Meads. Notice the scrap rail in the foreground following on from engineering works. I wonder how long it has been there and equally how long before it will be collected; Network Rail are not great at clearing up after themselves.
Keywords: 800016 43030 12.27 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads 1C14 London Paddington station

387172, GW 11.34 Reading-London Paddington (2P44, 1E) & S-Stock, Hammersmith & City line Barking working, London Paddington station
The race is on to get into Paddington! The new class 387 electric, 387172 slows with the 11.34 from Reading to the left whilst, the S-stock Hammersmith and City line service is probably going faster and will arrive first as its stopping time is less. Also, the TFL underground station is further west than the spot where the 387 will terminate.
Keywords: 387172 11.34 Reading-London Paddington 2P44 S-Stock, Hammersmith & City line Barking working London Paddington station

43091, GW 12.30 London Paddington-Swansea (1B35, 3L), London Paddington station
As it will have done thousands of times, 43091 waits to head west from London Paddington. Soon, this iconic image will be gone forever, perhaps with the exception of a charter, as the HSTs are withdrawn from service. 43091 was waiting to leave with the 12.30 to Swansea.
Keywords: 43091 12.30 London Paddington-Swansea 1B35 London Paddington station

800020 & 800016, unidentified ECS working, London Paddington station
800020 'Bob Woodward/Elizabeth Ralph' and 800016 arrive slowly into Paddington with an unidentified ECS working. This image clearly shows the size and scale of Paddington's throat even though it has been made much less complicated in recent years.
Keywords: 800020 800016 ECS working London Paddington station

43088, GW 13.00 London Paddington-Plymouth (1C83, 5L), London Paddington station
Passengers make their way along the platform at London Paddington to board the 13.00 1C53 to Plymouth. Power car 43088 is attached to the rear of the train. 43088 was an Eastern Region power car delivered during 1979 as part of set 254017.
Keywords: 43088 13.00 London Paddington-Plymouth 1C83 London Paddington station

800010 & 800023, GW 09.29 Swansea-London Paddington (1L48, 4L), London Paddington station
The 09.29 Swansea to Paddington has just arrived in the capital formed by 800010 'Michael Bond/Paddington Bear' and 800023. This was my first view and image of a class 800 in actual revenue earning service.
Keywords: 800010 800023 09.29 Swansea-London Paddington 1L48 London Paddington station

221101, VT 16.10 London Euston-Bangor (1D90, 4L), London Euston station
At the very western side of Euston station is the unattractive platform 18. It's a desolate area of wide open concrete with poor lighting. Here, 221101 'Louis Blériot' waits to leave the confines working the 16.10 to Bangor.
Keywords: 221101 16.10 London Euston-Bangor 1D90 London Euston station

390009, VT 15.30 London Euston-Glasgow Central (1S78, 11L), London Euston station
390009 'Treaty of Union' pokes its nose out of the gloom at Euston station into the fresh air as it waits to leave with the 15.30 to Glasgow Central. This Pendolino is showing off its new flying silk livery. This livery is going to be applied to all the class 390s over the coming months changing their as launched looks for ever!
Keywords: 390009 15.30 London Euston-Glasgow Central 1S78 London Euston station

350369, LN 15.49 London Euston-Birmingham New Street (1W19, 2L), London Euston station
350369 sits at platform seven of Euston station having just arrived from the north. Soon, it will return as the 15.49 to Birmingham New Street. This is the train that my wife, son and I would take home to Northampton.
Keywords: 350369 15.49 London Euston-Birmingham New Street 1W19 London Euston station

Tickets, London Euston-Northampton
Our return tickets from Northampton to Euston, I cannot help feeling this was a little pricey but it was a busy time so I presume prices rise in-line with demand?
Keywords: Tickets London Euston-Northampton

Images 1-22 of 22 displayed.