Not Everybody Is In Favour Of The New South London Line
This article on the BBC, shows that at the moment not everybody is in favour of the new South London Line as some of the inner suburban services will be dropped. But politicians will jump on any bandwagon however rickety to try to get one over on their rivals.
However, I think this will blow over, as partly the changes are caused by the rebuilding of London Bridge station.
I have used the inner South London line a few times to get to Victoria, by taking a bus to London Bridge station and then meandering through Peckham. The pictures of Battersea Power Station were taken on such a trip.
I’m just off to catch the first train from Highbury and Islington to Clapham Junction. It’ll take me longer to get round than this video.
What A Difference A Good Win Makes
I went to see Ipswich Town for the first time in a home match for some time.
The trains were actually trains and not buses and the match was worth seeing as Ipswich beat Millwall by three goals to nil.
Let’s hope this sequence of wins continues. I’m off to Leeds on next Saturday.
How To Rip Off Amazon?
With all the fuss about the tax Amazon doesn’t pay I like this advert.
How To Rip Off Amazon?
It’s boldly displayed in Angel station.
Rekindle is defined in a dictionary as to arouse or cause to be aroused again.
Rehearsals At Queens Road Peckham
I took these pictures as a London Overground train did a touch-and-go at Queens Road Peckham station.
On Sunday, they’ll be doing it for real!
But what a lovely day despite it being so cold!
What Goes On Near Here?
This tiling is at Oval station on the Underground.
What Goes On Near Here?
We need more art on the Underground and generally in public!
The Northern Line Extension Exhibition
Today, I went to a Transport for London exhibition about the new Northern Line Extension to Battersea.
It was at the Oval cricket ground and is there for the rest of today and tomorrow morning.
It was well laid-out and informative. If you have any interest in how the new stations will affect you, I would recommend you go.
As it’s in an excutive box, you get a superb view of a cricket ground in winter.
St. George Wharf Tower
St. George Wharf Tower is a residential tower near Vauxhall. Here are a few pictures.
It dominates the landscape as The Shard does. But in my view, it not quite the same blot on the landscape as that tower.
I took the pictures from a London Bridge to Victoria train. These will stop on Saturday with the extension of the Overground.
Something Concrete About Cycle Safety
I was waiting for a bus, when I heard a voice repeating.
This lorry is turning left.
It turned out it was a recorded message on this cement lorry.
Something Concrete About Cycle Safety
I think it could be a good idea. Except for deaf cyclists.
Farewell To Central London’s Biggest Eyesore
Years ago, I wrote a silly but quite funny love letter to C. At least she told me it was funny. In it I mentioned Battersea Power Station and how it was used as a last line of defence, with platforms on the chimneys. That must have been about 1966 or so, and in those days the power station was still generating electricity as it did until 1983.
It has not been a lucky building since!
London’s Biggest Eyesore
Like many power stations of the era, it was built for a short life and a productive one. I remember going over Cliff Quay power station in Ipswich, and being told that these buildings were built in brick without the soundest of foundations. Often though, like Battersea and Cliff Quay, they were designed by good architects and often featured decorative features inside. Strangely, the one building of this type, we have left, Bankside power station, doesn’t have an elaborate interior, although now it is the superb Tate Modern. Although according to Wikipedia, that could have gone to Battersea.
Scott’s other London power station is at Battersea and is widely considered a more iconic design, with its four towers. Battersea Power Station was proposed for the Tate Modern but, due to financial constraints and less dilapidation, the smaller Bankside building was chosen.
Scott was Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the designer of the red telephone box and the architect of Liverpool Cathedral. So perhaps it s fitting that one of his more utilitarian buildings is a home for modern art and design.
Does anybody know if there are any good examples of reusing power stations buildings around the world?
I can find two; one called The Power Plant in Toronto, Canada and another called The Power Station of Art in Shanghai.
But Battersea Power Station has not been served well by fate. It is almost falling down these days and I do wonder if it can be rebuilt economically. It seems to have disastrous affects on its developers.
But at least with George Osborne’s announcement of funding for the Northern Line Extension in the Autumn Statement, its days as an eyesore may well be numbered. But don’t uncross your fingers!
A Hat-Pin On The Overground
It’s strange what you see if you keep your eyes open.
I was travelling between Highbury & Islington and Dalston Junction stations, when I noticed a little round knob sticking out of the arm of the seat.
I pulled at it and it was a rather nice old-fashioned hat-pin.
All I can think is that it fell to the floor and someone found it. For safety they then stuck it into padding of the arm.
I handed it in at my destination and they seemed just as puzzled as I was.
But at least, it didn’t seem that it had done any damage.
The Anonymous Widower 