Two Relics Of My Past
On my trip today, I passed these two immaculate Class 20s going about their business, whilst coupled together nose-to-nose.
Two Relics Of My Past
When I started seriously collecting engine numbers around the age of ten, these engines were just being delivered. |So they’re nearly sixty years old!
Note that they often run in pairs like this to have more power and make it easier for the driver!
A Misunderstanding With Heathrow Connect
I was talking to an e-friend last night in California, who shares my interests of trains and large projects. He is getting on a bit and asked me to find an easy route from Heathrow to Barking, from where he can get a mini-cab to his sister’s. He’s coming in to Heathrow and asked me, if I knew of a step-free route.
Last time he took the Piccadilly line to Kings Cross from where he took the lifts up to the Metropolitan line for Barking. He managed it with ease, but wondered if Heathrow Express or Connect would be easier.
As I wanted to go to see the new Crossrail flyover at Stockley and I thought that Heathrow Connect would be a good camera platform to get a photo, as the train turned towards Heathrow, I told my e-friend, that I’d find out.
I checked last night and a web site told me, that my Freedom Pass could be used after 09:30 this morning.
Before I boarded the train, I asked the First Great Western man on the gate and said I’d be alright after 09:30. As it was 11:00, I boarded the train.
But I had to get off at Hayes and Harlington, as the rules seem to have changed.
I was not pleased, to say the least.
There’ll be an unholy row, if when Crossrail opens in a few years time, Freedom Passes can’t be used to the airport.
Update – I spoke to my friend late last night and he’ll be using the Piccadilly line with the Oyster card, he uses when he’s in London. He was also pleased to know, that probably from the end of this year, he’ll be able to use a contactless card as a ticket.
Kings Cross Station Is Almost Finished
As this picture shows Kings Cross station and the news square in front is almost finished.
Kings Cross Station Is Almost Finished
Compare it with the picture shown in this post, which was taken a year ago.
Note how the two ventilation towers have been clad to make them much less hideous.
Do They Get Many Foreign Tourists In Chingford?
I took this picture on a Class 315 going from Liverpool Street to Chingford and Walthamstow.
Do They Get Many Foreign Tourists In Chingford?
Are they getting lots of foreign tourists or are they just hopeful?
I suspect the train may have occasionally worked the Stansted Express.
I Don’t Bake Potatoes Anymore
C usually cooked baked potatoes in their jackets about three times a week.
After she died I did for a time, but since I’ve moved to London, I’ve never cooked them.
I wonder if a subsidiary reason is that I hate food waste. And it seems in this part of London nice single potatoes are hard to buy.
I also tend to buy a microwaveable pack of new potatoes in Waitrose.
A Journalist Wasn’t Disappointed
I said in this article a few days ago, that I was disappointed to not be able to walk through the Thames Tunnel.
But this article on Wired, describes a walk by a journalist who wasn’t!
Katie Collins was a lucky lady!
The Anonymous Widower 