Railways & buildings. Historian, geographer, presenter @UKTV #TheArchitectureTheRailwaysBuilt & #SecretsOfTheLondonUnderground. šŸ³ļøā€šŸŒˆ. Own views, obvs

London, UK
Joined February 2011
I have been asked an interesting question. Why does London’s Moorgate tube station have a mix of ā€œtraditionalā€ bar-and-Circle roundels... and weird diamonds? Well... (1/6)
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DERBY RAILWAY TECHNICAL CENTRE. Help pls! Who wrote an architecture review of these 1960s buildings, once home to British Rail innovationa like first working Maglev, APT, LEV Railbus).I have Colin Marsden's book, but ISTR another. Was it @Modern_Railways? flic.kr/p/2m78Y17
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IT WAS MODERN RAILWAYS. Thank you Mr Dunn of London for writing in with the correct answer. 10 points to you! But minus 100 points for already possessing said book, yet having a book "filing" system spread over multiple houses & rooms, so still can't find the SODDING thing. Tit.
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This bullshit project from Herts County Council isn’t about connectivity: it’s about cost cutting. This crap needs to be challenged. ā€œTrackless tramsā€ are not trams: they’re BUSES. Bouncing bendy buses stuck halfway in traffic; and take away tracks & you take away fixed links.
…this is a bus.
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For the avoidance of doubt, I’m not knocking buses. Buses are great and I think we need a LOT more of them. But claiming they’re something else (especially under the guise of a supposed upgrade) is not light rapid transit, it’s bustitution.
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The #worldcupofstations 2026 winner is… Irlam! I had the privilege of handing the award to the staff who run the cafe & bistro in the restored 1873 building, and the volunteers of the Friends of Irlam Station who give tours & help with the heritage hub. Def worth the 03:30am alarm call. Between duties yesterday I made this video: Tricky to fit all in to two minutes but here’s a rapid edit of Dave, Joan, Susan and @alexhornbyrail too - representing @northernassist which runs and maintains the station platforms and most of the train services (@TPExpressTrains serve it too). So whilst this is largely a privately-run site past the platforms with a charitable community trust behind it, it’s an example of public, private and volunteers working well for everyone’s benefit. Irlam won this year’s annual contest as a result of being one of 150 UK rail stations nominated by the public, then winning an open public vote. Accessible too, I note: new lifts opened by @andyburnham in the last year for the benefit of over 300k pax pa. If your favourite station didn’t make it this year, then look out for the chance to nominate it in 2027. Then get behind it, and just like the volunteers & staff at Irlam did - get campaigning and get the votes in. It’s not a totally serious award - it’s all a bit of fun, and everyone’s had a lovely time. Good fun to work with @RailDeliveryGrp @GMB @BBCRadioManc @channel5_tv news through the day too! I really hope GBR lets the gang continue this increasingly-delightful competition next year, too.
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It's the #WorldCupOfStations final! FIVE railway stations, ONE vote. Irlam - Manchester Cardross - Argyll & Bute Brookwood - Surrey Yatton - Somerset Berney Arms - Norfolk If you have a mo, pls do vote; there are some ace stories behind these finalists. Link in comments belowšŸ‘‡
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VOTE HERE (until midnight Sunday 18th Oct) raildeliverygroup.com/our-se…
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Britain’s annual #WorldCupOfStations is back! It’s time to vote for a winner: 20 railway stations have been nominated by the public for the connections they create and the difference they make to communities. Read the stories & vote here: raildeliverygroup.com/worldc… (Open til 18 Oct)
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Tim Dunn retweeted
It’s time to vote in #WorldCupOfStations! I’ve helped to shortlist 20 railway stations from nominees across England, Scotland & Wales. Superb stories, from massive @StPancrasInt to tiny Berney Arms @greateranglia, do read & vote here raildeliverygroup.com/worldc…
The World Cup of Stations is back! 20 stations have been nominated by you for the connections they create and the difference they make to people and local communities. Discover the stories behind the 20 stations and vote for your favourite from 12 October raildeliverygroup.com/worldc…. Hurry, voting ends 18 October! #WorldCupofStations
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It’s time to vote in #WorldCupOfStations! I’ve helped to shortlist 20 railway stations from nominees across England, Scotland & Wales. Superb stories, from massive @StPancrasInt to tiny Berney Arms @greateranglia, do read & vote here raildeliverygroup.com/worldc…
The World Cup of Stations is back! 20 stations have been nominated by you for the connections they create and the difference they make to people and local communities. Discover the stories behind the 20 stations and vote for your favourite from 12 October raildeliverygroup.com/worldc…. Hurry, voting ends 18 October! #WorldCupofStations
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The World Cup of Stations is back! 20 stations have been nominated by you for the connections they create and the difference they make to people and local communities. Discover the stories behind the 20 stations and vote for your favourite from 12 October raildeliverygroup.com/worldc…. Hurry, voting ends 18 October! #WorldCupofStations
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Access news update from @RailwayMuseum! A temporary shortcut pedestrian entrance is being opened (later this month) off Hudson Boulevard to enable easier access to museum, from York station & City Centre. Hurrah! It’ll cut off part of the longer current walk (experienced by those coming by train, bus or foot… including me) since the massive Central Hall construction project broke ground. That worksite means a diversion has been needed. The new temp entrance means visitors can access the site sooner: either start in Station Hall, or continue through to the Great Hall and the current main entrance. All entrances will be signposted. As now, visitors can use all public entrances, but now have more choice. Visitors arriving by vehicle or cycling can continue to use the current routes and entrances near the car park. Tickets at either entrance still give access to both halves of the site. Visitor flows are expected to change as more people will arrive at Station Hall and outdoor area / miniature railway first: I know that the team is taking steps to anticipate that change. The NRM's rebuild project is extremely complex: juggling thousands of priceless objects (many being shunted around) and maintaining ageing buildings, whilst hundreds of thousands of people visit each year. Plus all this is within a wider city development and planning strategies – alongside the massive York Central redevelopment. I think it's fair to say that everyone is looking forward to the new, permanent, entrance in the new Central Hall being opened! It'll be right opposite the station, and give level access to the museum buildings for the first time since the NRM opened. When the temporary new entrance is open, info will be updated on the NRM website (see reply below). The NRM team really does welcome direct feedback on access and visitor experience - please do use the website contact form or talk to staff on site. [Disclosure: I am on the NRM's Advisory Board]
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Today! Steam & electric train rides Ā£1 on one of London’s oldest miniature railways: the Ickenham Miniature Railway. 12-5pm, bonkers 5 inch gauge circuit with tunnels, station, workshops & refreshments. Oh-how-very-conveniently beside Coach & Horses pub too ⦵Met/Picc, 5 min walk
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This rather neat Lego London Underground S7 has been proposed on Lego Ideas (and is significantly better than the old Citybrix one). If Lego likes it - and sells it as a set - @TfL i’m sure would be v keen to license it as official tube merch ideas.lego.com/product-ideas…
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The @PS_Waverley, the World’s last sea-going paddle steamer, is back on Thames & London trips this Friday for 2 wks (seen here under @TowerBridge, last yr). To stand, pint in hand in its engineroom, is mindblowing. You’ll love it. Book a ticket if you can.
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RAILWAY PEOPLE! Nominate your top station for this year’s #WorldCupOfStations contest THIS WEEK. It’s gotta be in it to win it… 🄳
The World Cup of Stations is back for 2026, celebrating the stations creating connections that matter!​ ​ Nominate a station by 20 September for a chance to see it shortlisted for the final 20 this October; raildeliverygroup.com/our-se… ​ #WorldCupOfStations
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Off to Saint Etienne’s farewell gig tour tonight. They’ve been my soundtrack to living in London for quarter of a century; eventually finding, growing older, becoming the very people doing & feeling the things that they sang about. @bobpetesarah it’s been emotional. Thank you.
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