Carrots on the Train North
Yesterday, I went to see Ipswich play at Burnley and took the 7:30 Virgin train from Euston, changing at Preston.
I was surprised to see a large police presence on the station at Preston and as I had arrived there on time at the early time for football fans of 9:38, it seemed rather odd, unless Preston were playing one of the usual suspects in a lunchtime derby.
On asking one of the many police on the station, I was told it was members or should that be carrots of the English Defence League going to a protest in Blackburn.
There was no trouble on the train and they all got off at Blackburn and the carriage was rather empty as we crossed to Burnley.
I don’t like those who hate others and I’m rather glad that the EDL protest passed without any serious trouble. But that protest was rather put in proportion by the murder of a Catholic policeman by probable Republican terrorists in Northern Ireland.
Abbey Road Station
The picture shows Abbey Road station on the yet-to-be-opened Docklands Light Railway extension between Canning Town and Stratford International.
Abbey Road DLR Station
It will be a vital link in getting spectators to the Olympics, as it will connect directly to Eurostar, the London City Airport and Woolwich Arsenal.
I did like these bollards to protect passengers as they exit the station.
Some Bollards!
The line is supposed to open this year.
Through the Olympic Park on the Greenway
From the Top of the Morning, I had two choices. I could either walk to Hackney Wick station on the North London line, or try to find the Greenway that continued through the Olympic Park to Pudding Mill Lane on the Docklands Light Railway.
I chose the latter more in hope than expectation, as I felt that building or security considerations on the Olympic Park might mean the Greenway would be closed.
About a hundred metres south of the pub, I found this welcoming sign.
Entry to the Greenway
So I’d made the right choice.
Incidentally, the Greenway is built on top of the eastern end of the Northern Outfall Sewer, which was built in the mid-1800’s by Joseph Bazalgette, to take London’s sewage to the works at Beckton.
The Greenway gives good views of the Olympic stadium of which this is typical.
The London Olympic Stadium
Obviously, landscaping and a few other things need to be done, but it is now virtually complete.
You can also see the ArcelorMittal Orbit and the Aquatics Centre.
ArcelorMittal Orbit and the Aquatics Centre
The Orbit structure has aroused controversy, but seeing it close to, I found it rather fascinating. You can also see all of the bits lined up like groups of acrobats ready to climb into position in the tower.
I’m Ready to Ascend!
I suspect that like the Eiffel Tower has for Paris, it might end up as an icon of East London after the Games.
The one think you can’t say about it, is that it is boring! The only things that should be boring are some machine tools and tunnelling machines.
One thing that has been got right is the information for visitors, as this picture shows.
Olympic Park Panorama and Information
Do you think that the far-sighted Joseph Bazalgette had realised that his enormous sewer would one day be used as a grandstand for a construction project, of which I’m sure he would have proud? Obviously not, but with so many things he did, he got them absolutely right. And right for possibly a thousand years!
No walk is complete without a cup of something and at the south end of the portion of the Greenway that crosses the Olympic Park, there is this cafe and viewing point called ViewTube.
The ViewTube, Olympic Park, London
I had a good cappucino and a rest before walking on to Pudding Mill Lane and the DLR, where I took this final picture.
The Olympic Park from Pudding Mill Lane, DLR Station
All in all, this walk took about two hours including refreshments. On a good day, it should easily be possible to do it in the same time from the Angel at Islington to the ViewTube cafe.
But I suspect it’ll get busy!
Walking to Victoria Park
Yesterday, I started to walk to Victoria Park to see the site where my son’s ashes were scattered on the anniversary of his death last week.
It is a pleasant walk along the Regent’s Canal. A first surprise was this cafe.
Cafe on the Regent's Canal
Yesterday, the canal was busy with walkers and cyclists of all ages and type. So the cafe shouldn’t be too short of punters.
Good luck to them! I think they’ll be the first of many hostelries on the canal. After all, the canal will be one of the main walking and cycling routes to the Olympics at Stratford.
I also passed the new bridge that takes the East London Line over the canal, just south of Hoxton station.
The East London Line Crossing the Regents Canal
I use the line probably once a week these days and when they finish off Dalston Junction station, I will use it even more. If the line has a problem, it is that it is too successful and has started to get a bit crowded even in the middle of the day. But any good transport project, whether it is a railway, road or a bus route, should attract new customers and it would appear that the East London line has done this.
The Regent’s Canal forms part of the Jubilee Greenway as this sign shows.
Jubilee Greenway Sign on the Regent's Canal
The Greenway runs all the way from Buckingham Palace to the Olympics and then in a circle around London. With due respect to the Queen’s fitness, I can’t see her walking all the way at her age. But it would make a wonderful celebration of her Jubilee to traverse the canal part of the route in a proper Royal Canal Boat.
The canal was busy with traffic, despite the fact that all boats need to transfer through the various locks. I took this picture as I walked through industrial Bethnall Green.
Sailing Through Industrial Bethnall Green
The picture wasn’t chosen deliberately, but it does show how the canal is a long green oasis cutting a bold path across London. Is that spring blossom on the trees?
But it wasn’t just expensive boats. I took this picture just after Acton’s Lock.
Kids on the Regent's Canal
The inflatable boat contained a group of kids and an instructor and they were having a great time, especially as they worked the locks. What better way is there to learn the history of East London, than to experience it from the canal?
There are various works going on to make Jubilee Greenway, one of the ways to get to the Olympics. I particularly liked this well designed entrance ramp and steps to the towpath.
A Well-Designed Ramp and Steps
There is never an excuse for not using the best designs for even the most mundane things.
Note in this picture, you can see the slabs and bricks that cover the high-voltage electricity main, that takes the power to the City from East London. The boat moored at the end of the ramp is a workboat being used by the engineers upgrading this vital power line.
The Regent’s Canal follows Victoria Park for some distance and the park too, is being upgraded. This picture shows the bridge connecting the Park to Bethnall Green.
Entrance to Victoria Park
My kids used to go to the Gatehouse School nearby and used to walk over this bridge into the Park. At the moment due to the works the park isn’t totally accessible.
Works in Victoria Park
It will all be done for next year, when the park will be used as an Olympic viewing venue with big screens, a new cafe and lots of grass to sit on. Perhaps one of the best ways to go to the Olympics, will be to take a picnic to Victoria Park and then walk to the Olympics Park.
In some ways it is one of my favourite parks, and I can remember wheeling our granddaughter through the park with C many times in her pram. As it was also one of late son’s favourite spots it was entirely fitting that his ashes were scattered there.
I shall certainly use it as a venue to watch the Olympics, especially, as it is only about a hundred minutes walk from my house. Or if I feel lazy, it’s just one bus ride away from my local stop.
This sign gives the history of the park.
Victoria Park Sign
I’m certain that Queen Victoria would be very happy about the state of the park she supported and allowed to be named in her honour.
Drivers Must Not Be Disturbed
This sign is on the platform at London Bridge station.
Sign at London Bridge
I think it is the least that passengers can expect, that the driver of their train is totally of sound mind.
I have to ask though if it is OK to disturb the driver if he is asleep?
Lost South of the Thames
Whenever I go south of the Thames, I get lost. Why this should be I do not know, but its happened to me so many times. It could be that I’m allergic to it, as I was born on the right side of the river. I summed it up in this post, entitled an Expedition to the Deep South.
Yesterday, all I wanted to do was get to Orpington, so I took the Northern line to London Bridge and tried to find a train. I knew they are fairly frequent, but the boards were incomprehensible, the Information Desk was closed and it was a question of taking pot-luck. There was a rumour, that there might be a train on Platform 5, so I went there and waited.
A Train to Which Minster?
A train was going to Orpington first stop, but I had a feeling there was an earlier one on another platform. In the end I waited and caught it.
But which Minster was this train going to? The one I know is on the Isle of Sheppey. So I didn’t want to fall asleep and end up there!
What is needed is some simple means to determine which is the platform for the next train to Station X. Perhaps a terminal with times and platforms, but then that would enable people to be at the right gate for their train, instead of waiting in a scrum until it was announced.
I’ve got to go to Gatwick tomorrow, as I’m off to Greece for a few days. I’m almost tempted to get a train to Croydon on the Overground and then get one to Gatwick from there. But the East London Line goes to the other Croydon.
I wish my flight was from Heathrow, Stansted or City, as that would be so much simpler
Should Buses Be Named?
The number 30 bus, I got on today was dedicated to Dave Gardner. This picture shows the plaque inside. His name is also on the back.
Plaque on a Bus Dedicated to Dave Gardner
He was obviously a great guy to have around and the named bus is a great tribute.
I think we should do it more often. It has to be remembered that many acts of heroism on the railways have been commemorated by the naming of locomotives. They are described here.
In State in First Class
There’s just me in First Class on this late Virgin train.
But do I care? Of course not, as I can really spread out.
Incidentally, Standard Class up to Liverpool and First Class back, cost just under £46 in total.
So I can’t complain.
The Indiscrete Celebrity
The First Class Lounge at Lime Street was empty, when someone I thought familiar entered.
Immediately, they sat down, their phone rang and they proceeded to give their e-mail address to someone at the other end of the call.
It was then obvious, who they were.
Perhaps, they thought I was engrossed in my computer and it didn’t matter. But I heard the e-mail address and it might be something they’d have preferred to keep secret.
I have found the person on the web and I now know that I heard it correctly. So my hearing isn’t as bad as I have been thinking!
In this case it didn’t really matter, as the serious thinker doesn’t hide their identity on the web. But how many Z-List Celebrities have complained about harrassment because they’ve inadvertently given their e-mail address or mobile phone number to all and sundry?
The Anonymous Widower 