2. Paddington-09.10.21

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2021 > 64. Trip to London-08-10.10.21 > 2. Paddington-09.10.21
Whilst my wife, son and his girlfriend spent a fortune at Westfield (Shepherd's Bush) I took a long walk from there to Paddington as it was such a smashing afternoon. Despite it yet to actually open I was keen to see the recently revealed Crossrail station and the associated new entrances on to platform one.
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Images 1-11 of 11 displayed.

London Paddington, Bishop's bridge I have never taken photographs from the famous Bishop's bridge that crosses the throat of Paddington station before. Unless you are extremely tall or have some steps you will need a camera with a flip-out screen that can be held at arm's length over the parapet as I did in this case. This view shows two GWR IETs waiting to leave for the West Country from platforms two and five. The new Bishop's bridge opened in June 2006 following its replacement of the famous cast-iron Paddington bridge that is now in storage and in the care of English Heritage at Fort Cumberland, near Portsmouth. The row around the demolition of the old bridge back in 2003 made a mockery of the planning rules with a palpable lack of communication between all parties concerned. Keywords: London Paddington Bishop's bridge.
Eastbourne Terrace entrance, London Paddington station The Crosrail Elizabeth Line has yet to open being now several years behind schedule. However, sections are completed but yet to be operational such is the case here at Paddington's Eastbourne Grove. The impressive entrance to the Crossrail station is seen complete with its glass roof that permits natural light to flood down to the concourse. When it eventually opens it will be part of a new and vital link that crosses London eventually linking up with a planned north to south Crossrail line...perhaps! Keywords: Eastbourne Terrace entrance London Paddington station
Crossrail entrance, London Paddington station I wonder how long it will be until the escalators at the new Crossrail Paddington station will be carrying passengers to and from the concourse and then the platforms below? According to Crossrail's slick website, this should be during the spring of 2022, see..... https://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/articles/crossrail-project-update Keywords: Crossrail entrance London Paddington station
Eastbourne Terrace entrance, platform 1, London Paddington station One of the two new entrances that have been punched through the wall of Paddington station adjacent to platform one. This one connects directly with a covered walkway to the entrance to the yet-to-open Crossrail entrance. The entrance is directly below the superb and ornate three-face clock that is a significant feature of platform one. Also in this view is the ever-popular statue of Paddington station's eponymous bear having yet another photograph taken by an admirer. Keywords: Eastbourne Terrace entrance platform 1 London Paddington station
802001, GW 13.50 London Paddington-Great Malvern (1W21, RT) & 800303, GW 08.15 Penzance-London Paddington (1A80, 3L), London Paddington station I took a photograph very similar to this back in 2005 on our return to London following a smashing weekend in Devon. Back then, sixteen years ago, the platform ends were filled with HSTs and a lone Class 332, just a few years old then. When I eventually get round to uploading this image it will be hyperlinked here by way of comparison...don't hold your breath though! In this 2021 scene, 802001 is nearest the camera that will soon work the 13.50 to Great Malvern whilst 800303's passengers are making their way along the platform having arrived on the 1A80 08.15 ex Penzance. Keywords: 802001 13.50 London Paddington-Great Malvern 1W21 800303 08.15 Penzance-London Paddington 1A80 London Paddington station GWR Great Western Railway IET
802005, GW 13.02 Oxford-London Paddington (1P22, RT), London Paddington station Thankfully some of Paddington's platforms remain 'open' permitting access without having to go through the ignominious process of asking permission to get on the platforms! The extreme country end of platform one is a great spot to witness the comings and goings from the station through the throat. Whilst, not a particularly pleasant location nobody seems to bother you whilst standing there. 802005 is seen arriving with the 1P22 13.02 from Oxford. Keywords: 802005 13.02 Oxford-London Paddington 1P22 London Paddington station
802017, GW 11.59 Cheltenham Spa-London Paddington (1L74, RT), London Paddington station The 11.59 from Cheltenham arrives at Paddington bang on time being worked by 802017. It is about to stop at platform two and is viewed from an excellent vantage point on platform one. It is interesting how one's sense of direction plays tricks. It could rightly be assumed that trains leaving from this end of Paddington are heading in a roughly south-westerly direction but a study of a map reveals that in this spot that they are actually heading northwest coming within half a kilometre of the WCML at Kensal Green before the lines head more of a due westerly! Keywords: 802017 11.59 Cheltenham Spa-London Paddington 1L74 London Paddington station IET Great Western Railway GWR
387140 & 387135, 13.42 Heathrow T5-London Paddington (1Y56, RT), London Paddington station Two of Heathrow Express' dedicated Electrostars arrive at Paddington worked by 387140 and 387135. These units have been in operation on this route for less than a year but with all now in service the Class 332 stock that they have replaced have been sent to the scrap man most being broken up in South Wales at Newport docks. This does seem rather a waste of what were relatively modern electric units that I am sure some other part of the country could have made good use of. Keywords: 387140 & 387135, 13.42 Heathrow T5-London Paddington (1Y56, RT), London Paddington station
802004, 802017, 802107, 800030, 387140, 800028 & 800036, various workings, London Paddington station The new lineup at London Paddington! I have photographed many times at Paddington through many eras. The latest one reveals no fewer than six GWR IETs on the blocks at with a lone Heathrow Express Class Electrostar. From the nearest to the camera they are 802204, 802217, 802107, 800030, 387140, 800028 and 800036. Keywords: 802004 802017 802107 800030 387140 800028 800036 various workings London Paddington station GWR Great Western Railway IET
802028, GW 10.56 Swansea-London Paddington (1L18, RT) & 800312, GW 14.36 London Paddington-Plymouth (1C85, 2E), London Paddington station Standing side by side on the blocks at Paddington station two GWR IETs are seen. To the left, 802028 has recently arrived working the 10.56 from Swansea whist to the right 800312 will work the 1C85 14.36 to Plymouth. Keywords: 802028 10.56 Swansea-London Paddington 1L18 800312 14.36 London Paddington-Plymouth 1C85 London Paddington station
802028, GW 10.56 Swansea-London Paddington (1L18, RT) & IKB, London Paddington station With the rather small and unassuming statue of Brunel sitting comfortably under his grand train shed at Paddington the world goes on around him. The great station at the eastern end of God's Wonderfull Railway was one of his finest structures and testament to its design is that is now one hundred and sixty years old and still serving passengers as it was designed to! Behind him, GWR's 1L18, the 10.56 from Swansea, has recently arrived. I wonder what IKB would have thought of the latest trains to run in and out of his station and especially about their recent withdrawal from service due to cracks on the yaw damper mounts? Keywords: 802028 10.56 Swansea-London Paddington 1L18 IKB, London Paddington station GWR IET Brunel

Images 1-11 of 11 displayed.