ronik24
Proud Earthling
Hi,
The new video for this part:
March 30 2024
More than three weeks vacation started this year with the Easter weekend, that's why a longer trip was planned. I don't really want to fly anymore where possible, but due to previously planned visits to relatives in London which were postponed I still had a flight available. You will learn the actual destination next time... :0)
I usually avoided London during plenty of visits the past decades, but I enjoyed the metropolis quite a lot this time.
Easter Saturday at noon we boarded an Austrian A320neo to Heathrow.
Ominous mood with Schneeberg in the spotlight after departing Vienna to the left. German border city of three rivers Passau to the right.
The approach took us north-west of London.
To the left: View at the Midland Mainline including train parallel to the M1 motorway and Mill Hill Broadway station, Brent Cross in the background.
To the right: Harrow & Wealdstone station:
en.wikipedia.org
To the left: View over the O2 Arena along the River Thames and overground Docklands Light Railway tracks towards London City airport.
To the right: It can only be Clapham Junction with that many trains at once.
To the left: Piccadilly Line station Hounslow Central, Twickenham Stadium in the background.
A Boeing 777 arrived shortly after us.
We took the Elizabeth Line terminating at Paddington due to maintenance works, then a taxi to Danubius Hotel Regents Park. From its Lodge Road entrance you can catch a glimpse of the Metropolitan Line, Marylebone station to the right.
Regent's Park is only a short walking distance away.
Shadow of the central mosque, donations were being collected in front of it during Ramadan.
Blue colours around Boating Lake - "the Holme" in the background is supposed to be the most expensive private residence in the country.
Metropolitan Line crossing Regent's Canal.
March 31 2024
Easter Sunday morning we walked to Baker Street station.
A New Routemaster aka Boris Bus turning onto Park Road, Marylebone platforms start to the left in the back.
We took the Jubilee Line to London Bridge. Due to the UK franchise jungle, you can capture a bus run by German DB on London Bridge in front of Tower Bridge. The Globe theatre can be found a few hundred metres upstream.
Shakespeare memorial inside Southwark Cathedral, once a resident of this part of the city.
View at Cannon Street Railway Bridge and the Southeastern terminal station of same name in front of St. Paul's Cathedral.
Below Cannon Street Bridge towards London Bridge and Tower Bridge.
Cannon Street station with City of London financial district backdrop. Uber Boat is running regular services on the river.
Tower Bridge with train: possible! Viewed from Southwark Bridge...
Covered platforms of Blackfriars station.
A Thameslink class 700 Desiro City about to reach Blackfriars momentarily.
To the left: One Blackfriars, also known as "the Boomerang" or "the Vase".
April 1 2024
To the right: after 6 a.m. at Grove End Road.
The probably most famous zebra crossing worldwide - not beleaguered by tourists this time of day.
Abbey Road Studios to the left.
We walked along Regent's Canal at noon. Many of the houseboats are permanent residences.
Bus 139 took us to Trafalgar Square. You can still enjoy old Routemasters for an afternoon tea bus tour.
In front of Canada House.
Two old and one new Routemaster can be found in the image to the left.
Back to the railway, even if it is hidden within Hungerford Bridge. We walked across Golden Jubilee Bridge (the "Jubiloo" can be found on the other shore ;-) ): panoramic view including London Eye. Southeastern Electrostar 375605 approached Charing Cross station.
View from below Westminster Bridge towards Charing Cross.
A New Routemaster took us from Westminster Bridge to Hyde Park near Paddington.
A GWR Intercity Express Train from Cheltenham Spa arrived at 3:57 p.m., another ready for departure. The Paddington Bear picture with train sadly was spoiled by too many people in the way.
We continued towards Little Venice. Paddington station seen from Bishop's Bridge - long distance trains to the right, Heathrow Express and the Elizabeth Line terminating further left.
Little Venice is the meeting point of Grand Union Canal and Regent's Canal. We ate at a nearby pub and walked mostly along Regent's Canal back to the hotel.
April 2 2024
The first working day morning, I visited Rossmore Road bridge across Marylebone station served by Chiltern Railways - see the trip report from one year earlier:
Nostalgic May 11: Watercress, Steam and Morning Take-off (50 p., 1 v.)
railroadforums.com
You have to hold your camera overhead to take pictures - the wall is slightly too high, even for me.
This last London diesel terminal even features several loco-hauled trains per day, consisting of a driving van trailer, six Mark 3 coaches and a class 68:
en.wikipedia.org
Plus: the sun came out unexpectedly!
The second rake arriving from Stourbridge Junction at 8:42 a.m.
I caught them again at the hotel entrance: first 68012 with empty stock, then 68011 thundered towards Birmingham Moor Street at 9:02 (see video for sound).
A few buses along the way while shopping... quite surreal that you can take Paris city transport in London...
Typical details along Park Road.
One more tube in front of the hotel.
In the afternoon, the relatives took us to the Warrington Hotel pub. To the right: we visited a club on Portman Square on April 3 2024.
April 4 2024
We are going to fly one more time, then we will stay on the ground for the rest of the trip: Waiting for take-off at Gatwick can be an opportunity for trainspotting on the Brighton mainline.
See you next time in ...? :0)
The new video for this part:
March 30 2024
More than three weeks vacation started this year with the Easter weekend, that's why a longer trip was planned. I don't really want to fly anymore where possible, but due to previously planned visits to relatives in London which were postponed I still had a flight available. You will learn the actual destination next time... :0)
I usually avoided London during plenty of visits the past decades, but I enjoyed the metropolis quite a lot this time.
Easter Saturday at noon we boarded an Austrian A320neo to Heathrow.
Ominous mood with Schneeberg in the spotlight after departing Vienna to the left. German border city of three rivers Passau to the right.
The approach took us north-west of London.
To the left: View at the Midland Mainline including train parallel to the M1 motorway and Mill Hill Broadway station, Brent Cross in the background.
To the right: Harrow & Wealdstone station:
Harrow & Wealdstone station - Wikipedia
To the left: View over the O2 Arena along the River Thames and overground Docklands Light Railway tracks towards London City airport.
To the right: It can only be Clapham Junction with that many trains at once.
To the left: Piccadilly Line station Hounslow Central, Twickenham Stadium in the background.
A Boeing 777 arrived shortly after us.
We took the Elizabeth Line terminating at Paddington due to maintenance works, then a taxi to Danubius Hotel Regents Park. From its Lodge Road entrance you can catch a glimpse of the Metropolitan Line, Marylebone station to the right.
Regent's Park is only a short walking distance away.
Shadow of the central mosque, donations were being collected in front of it during Ramadan.
Blue colours around Boating Lake - "the Holme" in the background is supposed to be the most expensive private residence in the country.
Metropolitan Line crossing Regent's Canal.
March 31 2024
Easter Sunday morning we walked to Baker Street station.
A New Routemaster aka Boris Bus turning onto Park Road, Marylebone platforms start to the left in the back.
We took the Jubilee Line to London Bridge. Due to the UK franchise jungle, you can capture a bus run by German DB on London Bridge in front of Tower Bridge. The Globe theatre can be found a few hundred metres upstream.
Shakespeare memorial inside Southwark Cathedral, once a resident of this part of the city.
View at Cannon Street Railway Bridge and the Southeastern terminal station of same name in front of St. Paul's Cathedral.
Below Cannon Street Bridge towards London Bridge and Tower Bridge.
Cannon Street station with City of London financial district backdrop. Uber Boat is running regular services on the river.
Tower Bridge with train: possible! Viewed from Southwark Bridge...
Covered platforms of Blackfriars station.
A Thameslink class 700 Desiro City about to reach Blackfriars momentarily.
To the left: One Blackfriars, also known as "the Boomerang" or "the Vase".
April 1 2024
To the right: after 6 a.m. at Grove End Road.
The probably most famous zebra crossing worldwide - not beleaguered by tourists this time of day.
Abbey Road Studios to the left.
We walked along Regent's Canal at noon. Many of the houseboats are permanent residences.
Bus 139 took us to Trafalgar Square. You can still enjoy old Routemasters for an afternoon tea bus tour.
In front of Canada House.
Two old and one new Routemaster can be found in the image to the left.
Back to the railway, even if it is hidden within Hungerford Bridge. We walked across Golden Jubilee Bridge (the "Jubiloo" can be found on the other shore ;-) ): panoramic view including London Eye. Southeastern Electrostar 375605 approached Charing Cross station.
View from below Westminster Bridge towards Charing Cross.
A New Routemaster took us from Westminster Bridge to Hyde Park near Paddington.
A GWR Intercity Express Train from Cheltenham Spa arrived at 3:57 p.m., another ready for departure. The Paddington Bear picture with train sadly was spoiled by too many people in the way.
We continued towards Little Venice. Paddington station seen from Bishop's Bridge - long distance trains to the right, Heathrow Express and the Elizabeth Line terminating further left.
Little Venice is the meeting point of Grand Union Canal and Regent's Canal. We ate at a nearby pub and walked mostly along Regent's Canal back to the hotel.
April 2 2024
The first working day morning, I visited Rossmore Road bridge across Marylebone station served by Chiltern Railways - see the trip report from one year earlier:
Nostalgic May 11: Watercress, Steam and Morning Take-off (50 p., 1 v.)
Nostalgic May 11: Watercress, Steam and Morning Take-off (50 p., 1 v.)
Hi, To the previous part of the series: Nostalgic May 10: Severn Railway Diesel Gala II (50 p.) https://railroadforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/nostalgic-may-10-severn-railway-diesel-gala-ii-50-p.22820 The new video: May 19 2023 I walked over to modern Kidderminster station...
You have to hold your camera overhead to take pictures - the wall is slightly too high, even for me.
This last London diesel terminal even features several loco-hauled trains per day, consisting of a driving van trailer, six Mark 3 coaches and a class 68:
British Rail Class 68 - Wikipedia
Plus: the sun came out unexpectedly!
The second rake arriving from Stourbridge Junction at 8:42 a.m.
I caught them again at the hotel entrance: first 68012 with empty stock, then 68011 thundered towards Birmingham Moor Street at 9:02 (see video for sound).
A few buses along the way while shopping... quite surreal that you can take Paris city transport in London...
Typical details along Park Road.
One more tube in front of the hotel.
In the afternoon, the relatives took us to the Warrington Hotel pub. To the right: we visited a club on Portman Square on April 3 2024.
April 4 2024
We are going to fly one more time, then we will stay on the ground for the rest of the trip: Waiting for take-off at Gatwick can be an opportunity for trainspotting on the Brighton mainline.
See you next time in ...? :0)
