solar penguin

Alphabetical thing: Bushey

2010-06-17T14:22:00.002+01:00

Bushey station is out in Hertfordshire, in zone 8. It is served by misleadingly-named London Overground local trains from Euston to Watford, and London Midland semi-fast mainline trains to Tring. Other mainline trains pass through without stopping.

The Overground platforms curve away from the mainline at Bushey, as the local line heads off to meander through Watford town centre. A very long and gloomy foot subway links the two halves of the station, and there are two exits too.

What's immediately outside the station? The smaller exit (ironically near the much busier local platforms) leads to a quiet approach road, with steps up to a public footpath where you can look down at the station.

The main exit has a pleasant clock on the roof of the station building, but the surrounding road junctions, rail bridges and and flyovers are a lot less pleasant.

Is it near Bushey? No, that's a couple of miles away. The station is actually in a village called Oxhey. It even used to be called “Bushey & Oxhey” until it was renamed in the 1970s. (No, I don't know why they didn't rename it Oxhey, but we've already seen how station names have no connection to real geography!)

The signs outside the local church, park, and fishing bait shop all leave you in no doubt what this area really is.

Alphabetical thing: Burnt Oak

2010-06-12T15:47:00.000+01:00

Burnt Oak Underground station is on the Edgware branch of the Northern line, the stop before Edgware itself. There are two tracks with an island platform, and steps leading up to the ticket office.

What's immediately outside the station? Watling Avenue, as full of downmarket, cheap-'n'-cheerful shops as the streets round Buckhurst Hill were full of expensive, upmarket ones.

Is Watling Avenue part of Watling Street? No, but it is just round the corner from it. This obviously confused the original builders of the Underground station into thinking the area must be called Watling:

But in reality, Watling is as imaginary an area as Brondesbury.

Thankfully one street (well, a back lane actually) round there has a much more accurate and less confusing name:

Alphabetical thing: Buckhurst Hill

2010-06-12T14:46:00.000+01:00

Buckhust Hill Underground station is on the Central line, out in zone 5, near the London/Essex border. There are two platforms linked by a footbridge leading to a Victorian station building from when this was part of the Great Eastern Railway.

What's immediately outside the station? There's an Indian restaurant called Chutney in the station car park. (Curry and a station - two of my favourite things combined!)

A short walk away, round the back of the station, a foot subway runs beneath the tracks. This was once part of another entrance to the station, now disused.

Is it near any bucks? There certainly seems to be a lot of big bucks around here. In contrast to East London and Essex's usual chav image, this area seems to very nouveau riche, with Waitrose, independent boutiques, and small tea shoppes. Not an Icleand or a pound shop to be seen.

The Eleventh Hour vs. the Eighth 90 Minutes

2010-04-04T12:34:00.000+01:00

I watched the new Doctor Who episode “The Eleventh Hour” last night. Judging from other on-line reactions, I seem to be in a minority in that I didn’t enjoy it all that much.

Maybe it would’ve worked as a two-parter, but the trouble was, it was trying to do far too much in one hour: introduce Matt Smith’s new Doctor, introduce the new companion, introduce the new semi-regular supporting cast, introduce the new TARDIS interior, establish the rest of the new set-up for this season, and do a story about chasing an escaped alien villain that can take the form of an unconvincing CGI snake.

Now normally I have a soft spot for Dr Who stories whose only failing is that they accidentally try to squeeze in far too many potentially good ideas to do any of them justice. I’m more willing to forgive these types of stories than those with hardly any ideas but lots of padding, which tend to be more popular among mainstream DW fans. After all, I'm the only person who’s willing to say a good word about “Fear Her”!

So why didn’t I like this one?

Possibly because it was practically a remake of an earlier Dr Who story. Paul McGann’s only televised episode as the Eighth Doctor struggled to introduce the new Doctor, introduce the new companion, introduce the new potential semi-regular supporting cast, introduce the new TARDIS interior, establish the rest of the new set-up for his potential future series, and do a story about chasing an escaped alien villain that can take the form of an unconvincing CGI snake. Both stories even had scenes where the Doctor gets his new costume from a hospital locker. Coincidence? Unlikely!

Now, although I've got a soft spot for it, the Paul McGann episode is a bit of a mess. In fact it's one big mess. It tries to do too many things in just 90 minutes and never manages to do any of them properly. So why did Stephen Moffat think it would be a good idea to try squeezing it even further down to just one hour? It’s hard to forgive him for trying something that he should’ve known would never work.

If that wasn’t bad enough, “The Eleventh Hour” dumbs down the previous episode. Paul McGann’s new companion was a medical doctor; Matt Smith’s is a stripogram. Can’t have the viewers identifying with a moderately intelligent human character, can we? And while McGann’s big action sequence was a chase scene that fitted neatly into the plot, the sequence of Smith clinging to the flying TARDIS was just random and didn’t serve any purpose at all. And at least McGann didn’t spend 10 minutes of trying on different shoes for comedy effect before finally finding the ones that fit perfectly.

OTOH if I'd never heard of McGann’s brief stint in DW, then maybe I'd see “The Eleventh Hour” as just a well-meaning attempt to do an episode that just happened to pack in too much stuff.

So, maybe the real problem is with me. In many ways, I’m more of a Dr Who historian than a normal fan. Perhaps it’s even time for me to quit watching new DW episodes altogether. After all, I’m not exactly their target audience.

Alphabetical thing: Bruce Grove

2010-01-27T14:55:00.002Z

Bruce Grove railway station is on the Seven Sisters branch of the East Anglia route. There are two platforms with steps down to the ticket office and exits at street level.

What's immediately outside the station? The old station buildings, which for some reason are on the other side of the road from the actual station itself. Maybe the station was originally there, but was later moved to bring it closer to the railway...?

There's road called Bruce Grove, which seemed to have tractors driving along it when I visited. No, I don't know why.

The road is home to imaginatively named shops like Bruce Grove Fish Market, Bruce Grove Cosmetics, and Bruce Grove Supermarket & Meat Market...

...and the Tottenham Trades Hall. However, since it's boarded up, I assume trade wasn't so good. Maybe it would've been more successful if they called it Bruce Grove Trades Hall instead.

Did anyone called Bruce Grove ever live there? I don't think so, but according to a blue plaque on the boarded-up Trade Hall, someone called “Luke Howard, Namer of Clouds,” lived there. It turns out that “Namer of Clouds” is a description of his work as a meteorologist, and not a Native American tribal name!

Alphabetical thing: Brondesbury Park

2010-01-23T18:58:00.001Z

Brondesbury Park station, like neighbouring Brondesbury, is on the London Overground's North London Line. The two platforms are linked by a footbridge leading to the ticket office.

There's a really nice, traditional station clock set into the footbridge. It probably looked even better before the overhead wires went up. I'm not sure about the cycle racks on the platform. Are cyclists supposed to carry their bikes through the ticket office and down the stairs to leave them there? Not surprisingly, no-one seems to have bothered doing it.

What's outside the station? Vicwardian terraces, with the Imam Khoei Islamic Centre looking strangely at home amongst them.

Is it near a park? Yes, it's very near one.

But the park's not called Brondesbury Park, but Queen's Park. The same Queen's Park which also has its own station named after it elsewhere! Once again, there's nothing to indicate that anywhere called Brondesbury really exists outside the over-worked imaginations of Victorian railway planners.

Alphabetical thing: Brondesbury

2010-01-23T18:28:00.000Z

Brondesbury station is on the London Overground's North London Line. The two platforms are linked by stairs down to the ticket office below.

What's immediately outside the station? Kilburn. The shops and restaurants of Kilburn High Street face you as you leave the station. Kilburn Underground station is less than a couple of minutes' walk away.

There's nothing to indicate that a place called Brondesbury even exits, apart from the station itself and a restaurant with a corny, punning name.

Are there any Brondes buried there? Well, there is a cemetery nearby, so there might be some people called Bronde in there.

The strange thing is, it's Paddington Cemetery, even though this isn't Paddington but Kilburn. Or Brondesbury. Or somewhere....

Alphabetical thing: Bromley South

2010-01-22T16:58:00.000Z

Bromley South railway station is on the main line from London Victoria to Kent. It is served by fast and slow trains, as well as by slow trains from Blackfriars. There are four platforms, arranged in two islands, connected by a footbridge.

What's outside the station? The shops and shopping malls of downtown Bromley. Also The Churchil Theatre and Library, whose sign always conjures up images of actors being "sshushed" by a stern-faced librarian as they perform.

Alphabetical thing: Bromley North

2010-01-22T15:46:00.000Z

Bromley North railway station is on the end of a short branch line from Grove Park. Trains are run by SouthEaster. There are two platforms, but only one is in regular use, since the line is served by just one shuttle train. Despite this, the station has a large concourse area, which would be more suited to somewhere much busier.

What's immediately outside the station? The station entrance is very pleasant. Across the road is The Railway tavern.

A short walk brings you to the start of Bromley's shopping district, with a mural commemorating Charles Darwin, and a blue plaque for H.G. Wells.

Alphabetical thing: Bromley-by-Bow

2010-01-22T14:35:00.002Z

Bromley-by-Bow Underground station is on the District and Hammersmith & City lines. It's one of those above-ground Underground stations, with two platforms, and an exit and ticket office on the footbridge linking them.

What's outside the station? Immediately outside is the Blackwall Tunnel Northern Approach road.

Further afield, the area curiously seems to follow the same pattern as Brimsdown. Westwards, is housing, including the former home of Mahatma Ghandi.

Meanwhile eastwards is mostly industrial and commercial premises, with the River Lea hidden behind them.

I wonder if those are the same two swans I saw on the Lea at Brimsdown, who must be getting very paranoid by the fact that I seem to be following them with a camera...

Is it near the London Borough of Bromley? No, that's why the "-by-Bow" was added to the the station name in the 1960s, to reduce confusion. Although, that still doesn't explain why they used hyphens instead of good old spaces!

Chasing Cushing

2010-01-21T21:19:00.004Z

You might remember I once mentioned in this blog that I had a dream that there were sequels to Peter Cushing's two Doctor Who movies. Well, another fan has also been interested in the possibility of a sequel, and has even made his own trailer showing what he thinks one would look like. It's brilliant work. I love it! It must've taken him ages to do.

Alphabetical thing: Brockley

2010-01-21T21:00:00.001Z

Brockley railway station is on the Southern route from London Bridge to Croydon. A footbridge links the two platforms, and another bridge carries the SouthEastern line from Nunhead to Lewisham directly over the station, although it doesn't stop there.

What's outside the station? What looks like a clockwork-powered house. However, this isn't really a cunning way to cut carbon footprints, but just a trompe-l'œil mural.

Alphabetical thing: Brixton (Underground)

2010-01-21T20:19:00.000Z

Brixton underground station is the southernmost terminus of the Victoria line. It's a typical tube station, with two platforms, in tunnels, with escalators to the surface.All Victoria line stations have their own logos, and for Brixton, it's a ton of bricks. I normally love corny puns, but that one is too painful even for me!

What's immediately outside the station? Busy Brixton road, with Morley's department store directly opposite.

Alphabetical thing: Brixton (National Rail)

2010-01-21T19:53:00.000Z

Brixton railway station is the first stop on the SouthEastern route out of Victoria. It has two platforms, each with its own exit. The only connection between the platforms is at street level.

An attempt has been made to brighten up one of the entrances with colourful murals, and the platforms with statues. The results are interesting, if not always totally successful.

What's immediately outside the station? The bustling streets of Brixton market, including Electric Avenue of Eddy Grant fame.

Is it near Brixton underground station? Yes, very near. Just round the corner from it, in fact, but still very much a separate structure, which is why it's getting a separate entry in this blog.

Alphabetical thing: Brimsdown

2010-01-21T19:06:00.004Z

Brimsdown station was one that I visited back in December. No, I'd never heard of it before either. It's on the East Anglia route run by National Express, although the actual express trains don't stop here. Still, at least the semi-fast trains do call here, which is more than can be said for nearby Angel Road.

The station has two platforms, each with its own exit by a level crossing. A public foot subway connects the platforms when the crossing is closed to let trains pass.

What's immediately outside the station? Very different things on either side of the railway. To the west is typical suburbia complete with houses, flats, a pub named after a 17th-century fishing guru, and a bus stand where the number 307 route terminates.

Meanwhile, eastwards is a collection of modern warehouses and industrial estates, with Mossop's Creek and the River Lea very well hidden behind them.

Alphabetical thing: Brentford

2009-12-18T04:59:00.000Z

Brentford railway station is on the South West Trains Hounslow loop line, in zone 4. There two platforms, each with its own exit to the street. A footbridge connects the platforms, but the bridge's wheelchair lift only works during rush hours. The rest of the time, passengers either have to use the stairs, or go the long way round via the streets.

What's outside the station? A wonderfully eclectic mix that only happens in the right type of suburbia. Old Victorian terraces give way to the imposing glass offices of companies like GlaxoSmithKline (a multinational so evil that it's abolished spaces between words!) and the River Brent carries the Capital Ring walk through green spaces them all.

Is it near Brent Cross? No, but they're both named after crossings over the River Brent.

Alphabetical thing: Brent Cross

2009-12-18T04:29:00.000Z

Brent Cross station is on the Northern line's Edgware branch. It's above ground, with an island platform on a viaduct. With a lot of trees around, it feels very pleasant, almost like a quiet country halt on a branch line, not a London Underground station in zone 3. (Although I suspect it wouldn't be quite so pleasant in bad weather like today!)

The ticket office is well-lit, spacious, airy and well-proportioned in a sort of neo-classical style. In terms of architecture and design, this is possibly my favourite station I've found so far on the alphabetical project, which is quite a surprise, because I normally prefer the stark modernist styles.

What's outside the station? There are two exits from the ticket office. The main one leads through an interesting, vaguely Egyptian-styled frontage to a drive/car-park.

The smaller, rear exit leads to stereotyped suburban streets, whose architecture isn't anywhere near as interesting as the station's!

Is it near Brent Cross Shopping Centre? As the crow flies, yes. As the pedestrian walks, no. There's a very busy and very complicated junction of major dual carriageways between them. A notice in the ticket office advises people to take the bus from the station to the shopping mall instead of walking.

Alphabetical thing: Bow Road

2009-12-16T19:58:00.002Z

Bow Road Underground station is on the District and Hammersmith & City lines. It's a very strange station, since the platforms have their western ends below ground, while the eastern ends come out into daylight. I can't think of any other stations like this anywhere else on the Underground.

What's outside the station? Bow Road itself, part of the busy A11, with Bow Church DLR station just a few minutes walk away.

Is it near Bow Street? No, that's in the West End, and this is the East End, on the edge of diamond geezer's territory. (But because of the way his blog's organised, it's almost impossible to link to individual posts, even though he has made quite a few about this station.)

Alphabetical thing: Bowes Park

2009-12-16T19:39:00.001Z

Bowes Park railway station is on the boundary between zones 3 and 4, on First Capital Connect's Hertford loop branch. It's ungated, and access to the platform island is by steps down from a public footbridge spanning the railway between two suburban side streets.

What's outside the station? Bounds Green tube station is just a short walk away. In fact, I cheated and did both stations together, rather than doing Bounds Green, heading east to Bow, and then coming all the way back again, and then all the way back to Bow once more. Sorry.

Is it near Bow? No, but it's coming between Bow Church and Bow Road in this list because I'm an old-fashioned alphabetical purist who believes alphabetical order should only be based on letters of the alphabet, and not spaces between words!

Alphabetical thing: Bow Church

2009-12-16T19:21:00.001Z

Bow Church station is on the Stratford branch of the Docklands Light Railway. Like most DLR stations, it's ungated and doesn't have a proper ticket office. Stairs and lifts lead directly between the two platforms and the road above.

What's outside the station? The parish church of St Mary, Bow, standing on a large traffic island in the middle of the road. There's a statue of Gladstone outside it, commemorating the fact that he gave in to pressure from the local match factories.

Is it near Bow bells? Well, it's near a very orange pub called The Bow Bells.

However, the original Bow bells belong to a different Bow church in the City of London.

Alphabetical thing: Bounds Green

2009-12-14T16:23:00.002Z

Bounds Green station is on the boundary between zones 3 and 4 on the Piccadilly line, but near the other end of the line from Boston Manor. It's a typical deep-level tube station, with platforms in tunnels served by escalators.

Apparently there's a plaque commemorating Belgian air-raid victims in one of the platforms, but I missed it!

What's outside the station? When I visited it, more roadworks. What with this and Borough, I wonder if October was “National Doing Roadworks Outside Tube Stations That Begin With ‘B’ Month”.

Is it near a green? There are a few trees and a tiny patch of grass on the opposite side of the road. I suppose that might be the green.

Alphabetical thing: Boston Manor

2009-12-14T15:55:00.002Z

Boston Manor underground station is in zone 4, on the Piccadilly line's Heathrow branch. Like most stations on this branch, it's actually above ground. There are two platforms, with stairs leading up to the ticket office.

What's outside the station? The A3002 road crossing the railway by a bridge. From the bridge, you can see the Underground's Northfields train depot.

Is it near a manor house? Yes, standing in its grounds which have been turned into a little park that would be quite pleasant if it weren't for the busy M4 motorway and GlaxoSmithKline office blocks looming over it.

Alphabetical thing: Borough

2009-12-14T15:26:00.002Z

Apologies for not updating this blog once again. I have still been visiting stations alphabetically, watching cult TV shows, and doing all the other things I post about. I've just not been posting about them.

Like I said before, I'm a very private person, and I really don't feel comfortable sharing what I've done. (There's a part of me which worries that what I do might be None of Your Business and so I'll be doing The Wrong Thing by telling you about them.)

But since I've started this blog, I suppose I'd better continue with it...

Borough Underground station is on the Bank branch of the Northern line. Despite being south of the Thames, it is in zone 1. It's a typical deep-level tube station, with platforms in tunnels. It's deep enough to be accessed by lifts and stairs, rather than escalators.

What's immediately outside the station? When I was there back in October, lots of road works.

Also, a rather nice old church. In fact it's the oldest church dedicated to St George (England's patron saint) in London.

Set into the paving slabs outside the station entrance are signs showing the walking routes to nearby sites. Unfortunately most of the letters have been worn away, leaving them rather unreadable.

Is it near Borough Market? No. Although that's the only thing Borough is known for, you want London Bridge station for that.

Alphabetical thing: Bond Street

2009-10-15T17:40:00.000+01:00

Bond Street underground station is in Zone 1, on the Central and Jubilee lines. It's a typical deep-level tube station.

What's immediately outside the station? A shopping mall. In fact, the main exit from the station takes you straight into the mall.

Is it near Bond Street? No, there's no such street. It's quite near New Bond Street, but there are several other, much nearer streets.

Alphabetical thing: Blackwall

2009-10-15T17:21:00.000+01:00

Blackwall station is on the Docklands Light Railway's branch to Beckton. There are two raised platforms with stairs and lifts going down to street level.

What's immediately outside the station? The fringes of Docklands. Like Blackheath, this is an area that tries to be very upmarket, but luckily doesn't always manage it.

There's a network of footpaths and cycle lanes that unlike Blackhorse Lane actually leads somewhere, towards the former dock, now a marina, and beyond that, the riverside, with views of the O2 Dome.

Is it near the Blackwall Tunnel? Yes, the northern end of the tunnel, anyway. But the footpaths all lead you away from it, making it surprisingly hard to find.

Alphabetical thing: Blackhorse Road

2009-10-15T16:30:00.000+01:00

Blackhorse Road station is near the northern end of the Underground's Victoria line, and also on the London Overground's Gospel Oak-Barking route. Like all Victoria line stations, this has tiled murals representing the station's name.

What's immediately outside the station? Again, the interesting kind of suburbia, with a good mix of different types of buildings. The station itself is a beautifully brutal piece of modernist architecture, with yet another mural of a black horse.

There's also a Deco-style business centre, several industrial estates, and the usual terraces and semis all within a few dozen metres of each other.

And hidden behind the industrial estate is a branch of the river Lee. Shut away behind locked gates (what is it with places called Blackhorse shutting away nice walking routes?) but still there to be seen.

Is it near Blackhorse Lane? No, this is in north-east London, while that's in the extreme south-east.

Alphabetical thing: Blackhorse Lane

2009-10-15T15:50:00.000+01:00

Blackhorse Lane tram stop is on the Tramlink branch to Beckenham and Elmers End. It follows the usual Tramlink pattern of two platforms with a flat crossing between them. Steps and a ramp lead up to street level.

What's immediately outside the station? A disused railway line that seems to have been converted into some sort of footpath or cycle track. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any obvious way down to it. Even the point where it meets the station ramp has a (admittedly very small) fence to discourage people from using it. The station's cycle racks are completely empty. What do you expect if you cut off access from the cycle lanes?

What's further outside the station? The interesting type of suburbia, with a nice mix of different types of buildings. A ramshackle old cottage, next to a modern MOT centre, across the road from some very red offices.

Alphabetical thing: Blackheath

2009-10-15T15:26:00.000+01:00

Blackheath railway station is on the Southeastern lines via Eltham and Woolwich. There are two platforms, with exits via the footbridge.

What's immediately outside the station? Blackheath village, which tries hard to be very upmarket but - thankfully - doesn't always succeed, with a branch of Greggs directly across the road from an organic deli. There's a very good home-brew pub, the Zero Degrees.

Is it near the heath? Yes, just a short walk uphill and there it is. Looking more green than black.

Alphabetical thing: Blackfriars

2009-10-15T14:22:00.000+01:00

Blackfriars railway station in central London is on First Capital Connect's Thameslink route. It's also on on the Southeastern route via Peckham Rye, but the platforms for those trains have recently been demolished as part of rebuilding work, and the route merged with the Thameslink. In fact, most of the station has been demolished, giving it a nice open air-feel in good weather.

What's immediately outside the station? The currently closed Blackfriars Undergound station (again, because of those building works). A long walk to Mansion House or Temple stations for the Tube. There's also a new temporary exit to the riverside walk.

What will be immediately outside the station when the works are complete? The South Bank, since Blackfriars will be the first station to stretch across the full width of the Thames, with exits on both banks.

Alphabetical thing: Birkbeck

2009-10-15T14:07:00.001+01:00

Birkbeck railway station and tram stop are located side by side on a viaduct. However, the only way to change between them is down at street level. They both consist of a single platform on bidirectional single-track lines.

Both routes run to Beckenham Junction, but at least 5 trams go there each hour, compared to just two trains per hour.

What's immediately outside the station? An old cemetery. A pub named after local cricketing hero W. G. Grace.

Alphabetical thing: Bickley

2009-10-15T13:50:00.000+01:00

Bickley railway station is way out in the suburbs, on the Southeastern routes to Orpington and Swanley. There are four platforms arranged in two islands. The exit is by the wood-panelled ticket office on the footbridge

Confusingly, the stopping trains to/from London Blackfriars use the tracks on the northernmost island, along with fast trains to/from London Victoria that don't stop here, while the Victoria stopping trains use the tacks on the southernmost island. Except when there are delays caused by signal failures, etc., because then the Blackfriars trains are unexpectedly switched to the southern pair of tracks so they don't hold up the fast trains, and everyone going to Blackfriars has to run like mad across the bridge to the other island to catch their train.

The idea of keeping one pair of tracks dedicated for slow trains and the other for fast trains hasn't occurred to the railway controllers. I guess their minds must be too highly trained..

There appears to be some rebuilding work going on there, but it's hard to be sure what. Cones are positioned on the platforms, while the people in orange stand around doing as little as possible. Apparently it takes six of them to operate one paintbrush!

What's immediately outside the station? A dry cleaners that thinks it's in Belmont, the spiritual twin of the mini-cab office that doesn't know whether or not it's in Belmont.

What's further outside the station? A footpath running along the top of the railway cutting towards Bickley village. Yes, it's all very suburban but in a pleasant way, and once again with a real village feel to it.

Alphabetical thing: Bexleyheath

2009-10-15T12:57:00.002+01:00

Bexleyheath railway station is on the Southeastern lines. It has two platforms, linked by a footbridge. Like many other Southeastern stations, each platform has its own exit. Only one of the exits has barriers.

There are also some wonderful Victorian lavatories in the station. Big and spacious, with those old-fashioned tiles and heavy wooden doors. The metal cisterns have been replaced by plastic ones, but apart from that, it all feels fairly authentic. (I didn't take any pictures, since photographing in public toilets is a good way to get beaten up, or arrested, or both.)

What's outside the station? An access road with a builders' and gardeners' merchants' yard on the other side.

Is it near Bexleyheath town centre? No, but it's just a short bus ride away from the centre with its distinctive clock tower.

Alphabetical thing: Bexley

2009-10-15T12:37:00.003+01:00

Bexley railway station was very hard to reach when I made my trip there last week. The train was held up at Hither Green and Lee for the best part of an hour, due to a failed train in front of us. Or possibly a freight train in front of us. It's hard to be sure because the driver's announcement was very mumbled and indistinct. (I know everyone complains about all the automated announcements on trains nowadays, but at least you can make out what Automatic Auntie is actually saying! The human announcers should try to copy her.)

Anyway, the station is on the Southeastern line via Sidcup. There are two platforms, linked by a foot subway. There's only one exit, through the white, wooden ticket office.

What's outside the station? Old Bexley village, which really does retain a good village feel. The River Cray flows nearby, with various similar villages named after it.

Is it near Bexleyheath station? Not very. It's a good bus journey away if your lucky. Two bus journeys if you're not. I wasn't, but at least it gave me a chance to see Bexleyheath clock Tower (see next post).

Lights, Camera , ACTON!

2009-10-08T12:25:00.001+01:00

Over the past of couple years, I've been trying to get a multi-player, interactive video version of the Mornington Crescent game going on YouTube, mostly just as an excuse to practice my limited video editing skills on a few simple, short movies .

For those of you not familiar with the game, or the BBC radio series I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue which popularised it, it's a word-association game based around London's landmarks and Underground stations. Here are some example games (sadly all nothing to do with my project) which should give you some idea of the rules — and/or lack of rules depending on the version being played!

If that doesn't work, click here.

As you can see, there is a healthy interest in Mornington Crescent in YouTube and elsewhere on the web. Fans get together to play it in many online forums, including this one run by the BBC itself! With all these online fans and the rise of video sharing websites, I thought it would be a good idea to try an online, video version of these games. Instead of just posting your move to a thread on a forum, you would post a short video showing it.

If that doesn't work, click here.

Unfortunately, most of these people interested playing M.C. online just aren't interested in making and editing videos, and vice versa. In the two years since I've started it, there have only been a tiny handful of posts from other people. All the rest have been from me using multiple accounts to keep the game going by playing against myself. While this is sort of in keeping with M.C.'s hoax nature, it's also very frustrating.

Worse, one of the few genuine moves from someone else was accidentally posted as a response to the wrong video, splitting the game into two strands. Here's the second strand. I've tried to keep it going too.

If that doesn't work, click here.

So, if anyone else is actually reading this and wants to try joining in either of these two games, feel free.

X doesn't always mark the spot.

2009-09-30T13:42:00.001+01:00

Apparently there's no middle ground. They say The X-Factor is one of those shows that you either love or hate. I'm not convinced.

Personally, I think the live final rounds are amongst the best, most addictive entertainment television has to offer. It's simple, straightforward, no-frills, old-fashioned showbiz spectacle, combined with intense, sentimental story-telling and plenty of unexpected twists along the way as the voting public knocks out your favourite contestants yet again!

However, the early audition rounds are amongst the worst television can offer. The showbiz spectacle is weakened by having the good singers interspersed with talentless no-hopers. This is supposedly to make it more entertaining, in exactly the same way that having a delicious, gourmet meal interspersed with mouthfuls of mud and sawdust makes it more satisfying!

Worse, the audition episodes are all edited to a standard formula that means there's no surprise or unpredictability. In an interview the first act always boasts a lot about how amazing and talented he/she/they/it are, but then turns out to be a talentless no-hoper who gets a unanimous “No” vote from the judges. This is followed by a montage sequence of other no-hopers all getting “No” votes. “With all these Noes, can plucky [insert name here] turn things around?” There's an interview with the plucky little contestant who's always wanted to be a singer, and now, as the result of a terrible, tragic sob story in their life, has decided to follow their dream. They turn out to be a good singer, getting the “Yes” vote. “And now the Yesses are coming thick and fast.” There's another montage sequence showing good singers getting “Yes” votes. Then the whole thing repeats over and over again until the end of the episode, making sure to finish on a plucky little singer getting that “Yes.”

Thankfully all that's over for now. This year's auditions (including the “boot camp” round) are now finished, and we can look forward to the proper contest starting soon. And I'm afraid I'm going to be posting my thoughts on each week's episode here. Those of you who only follow this blog for the transport-related stuff, might want to skip these posts because there's nothing for you here.

Alphabetical thing: Bethnal Green (Underground)

2009-09-30T13:00:00.000+01:00

Bethnal Green Underground station is the first stop after Liverpool Street on the Central line.

What's outside the station? A busy road junction. A Blue Plaque to Daniel Mendoza. Lots of other entrances to Bethnal Green station, one of which has a plaque commemorating the people who died there during an air raid.

Alphabetical thing: Bethnal Green (National Rail)

2009-09-30T12:18:00.000+01:00

Bethnal Green National Rail station is the first stop on the East Anglia line out of Liverpool Street. There are two platforms linked by a foot subway from the ticket office.

What's outside the station? Three Colt Lane, with a healthy mix of many different buildings, including a Black Cab depot in the arches underneath the railway viaduct.

Is it anywhere near Bethnal Green Underground station? It's right at the other end of the neighbourhood. You can walk it (I did) but it's not an easy interchange.

Alphabetical thing: Berrylands

2009-09-30T11:55:00.000+01:00

Berrylands National Rail station is the stop before Surbiton on the South West Trains main line. It's usually only served by the stopping trains to/from Hampton Court, while other trains whoosh through.

There are two platforms, each with its own exit to the street, but the only connection between them is a public footpath and cycle track outside the station itself.

What's outside the station? On one side, the usual terrace of shops leading to identikit suburban housing. On the other, a much more interesting mix of former industrial wastelands.

Alphabetical thing: Bermondsey

2009-09-30T11:34:00.000+01:00

Bermondsey tube station is on the Jubilee line extension. There are two platforms at the bottom of a wide bank of escalators.

What's outside the station? Jamaica Road, with an interesting mix of old and new buildings.

Aren't there supposed to be trees with lights on near there? Yes, but I was there in the daytime and didn't see them.

Alphabetical thing: Belvedere

2009-09-30T10:55:00.000+01:00

Belvedere station follows the typical Southeastern pattern of two platforms, each with its own exit, linked by a footbridge. It's on the line from Woolwich to Dartford, but is only served by the stopping trains.

What's immediately outside the station? In one direction, the sinisterly Stepford-esque sounding "Belvedere Family Resource Centre". In the other, a pair of rusting gasometers, and my mother's home where I popped in for lunch before continuing to Bermondsey.

Is it near a belvedere like the one in Escher's famous picture? No, but viewed from some angles, all the not-quite-connecting stairs and ramps of the double-footbridge do seem to remind me of Escher's other works.

Alphabetical thing: Belsize Park

2009-09-30T10:09:00.001+01:00

Belsize Park Underground station is on the Edgware branch of the Northern Line. It's a deep-level tube station. Very deep. Access to the platforms is by lift, rather than the usual escalators.

What's outside the station? As you'd expect, terraces of shops. But these are slightly more upmarket than usual. Restaurants instead of greasy spoons. Organic greengrocers instead of convenience stores.

Sadly the very good home-made falafel stall that was there when I did the Blue Plaque walk in April seems to have gone.

Is it near a park? No. Sadly all the parkland was built over in the 19th century, long before the tube arrived there. But the streets there still have names like Belsize Park and Belsize Park Gardens, the latter having these Blue Plaques which I photographed back in April.

Building Bridges at Gipsy Hill - part 3

2009-09-30T08:54:00.001+01:00

It's been over a month since I last reported the rebuilding work a Gipsy Hill station. (Here and here.) Not much has been happening since. The new footbridge is still in place, but still doesn't have any walls or ceiling. The men in orange jackets are still doing fiddly little work on it, but don't seem to be in any hurry to add the big stuff.

Alphabetical thing: Belmont

2009-09-24T17:31:00.000+01:00

Belmont station, in Zone 6, is served by Southern trains on National Rail's route from Sutton to Epsom Downs. It's on a single-track line, so there's only one platform.

What's immediately outside the station? The car park, with a minicab office that's strangely unsure of its name.

Is it near Sutton? Near enough to be connected by at least three different bus routes, offering a much more frequent service than the one train per hour.

Alphabetical thing: Bellingham

2009-09-24T17:10:00.000+01:00

Bellingham National Rail station is in zone 3 and served by SouthEastern trains. (Although, just to get you really confused, the trains are currently using Thameslink stock and running on the Thameslink route!) There are two platforms, but, unusually for the SouthEastern stations I've seen so far, only one exit, on the footbridge.

What's immediately outside the station? In one direction, Catford bus garage.

In the other, endless, soulless suburban streets, of the sort you would expect to find in the furthest outer suburbs, not in inner London this close to Catford.

Aren't you being a bit harsh on the place? Maybe. Fortunately, a shop called “the local Discount Booze” is there to help the inhabitants of Bellingham cope with this depressing enviroment.

Alphabetical thing: Belgrave Walk

2009-09-24T16:45:00.001+01:00

Belgrave Walk tram stop is on Croydon Tramlink's Wimbledon branch. Unusually for a tram stop, it has an island platform.

What's immediately outside the stop? Belgrave Walk itself, a one-sided cul-de-sac of the ugliest modernist housing I've ever seen. I'm normally a fan of brutal, modernist architecture, but even I can't think of anything good to say about this.

On the other side of the stop is a narrow alley leading to Morden Road.

Is it near Belgrave Square? No, neither geographically nor conceptually.

Alphabetical thing: Beddington Lane

2009-09-24T15:51:00.001+01:00

Beddington Lane tram stop is on the Wimbledon branch of the Croydon Tramlink. It follows the typical Tramlink pattern of two platforms with crossing between them on the level.

What's immediately outside the station? The southernmost corner of Mitcham Common.

Is it near the lane? Yes, if a busy road full of trucks going to and from the many industrial estates that line it is your idea of a “lane”.

Is it near Belgrave Walk? It's only a few stops away on the tram, one of the easiest pairs of consecutive stations in my alphabetical thing. Unfortunately, when I did it, I forgot and went to Bellingham instead, then had to rush back to do Belgrave Walk afterwards!

Alphabetical thing: Becontree

2009-09-24T15:29:00.000+01:00

Becontree Underground station is on Upminster branch of the District line, in Zone 5. There are two platforms linked by a footbridge leading to the ticket office.

What's immediately outside the station? Two small parades of shops, mostly generic convenience stores, greasy spoons, and beauty parlours, but with an old-fashioned family butchers.

Beyond that are just streets and streets of standard suburban terraces and semis stretching into the distance.

Is it near a tree? Yes, there's a small park with trees and a lake.

Sorry I've been neglecting this blog AGAIN...

2009-09-24T11:45:00.003+01:00

... and I've also been neglecting my Alphabetical project in real life too.

But I've been doing lots of other things instead. However most of those involved friends and family, so I don't want to post publicly about them.

Anyway, here are some photos I took last month of the sunset over Whitstable beach. Very dramatic... Hope you enjoy them.

Alphabetical thing: Beckton Park

2009-08-28T11:13:00.004+01:00

Beckton Park DLR station is on the branch to Beckton. It has two platforms, linked by a footbridge, with an exit on the eastbound platform. The station is an unusual circular shape, as a result of being built under a traffic roundabout.

What's immediately outside the station? Beckton District Park.

So it is near the park, then? Well, it's near one end of the park anyway. This is a very, very long, park, and the northern end is some distance away. The Capital Ring walk goes the whole length of the park on its way to Gallions Reach and North Woolwich.

Alphabetical thing: Beckton

2009-08-28T10:41:00.002+01:00

Beckton station is on the DLR, at the very end of, erm, the Beckton branch. There are two platforms, although one is only used in the peak hours.

What's immediately outside the station? An almost empty bus station with a statue of some horses. A building called the East Beckton District Centre, but which is actually a large branch of ASDA supermarket. A pleasant footpath leading to Beckton Park.

Is it near Beckton town centre? Beckton doesn't seem to have a centre. It's too nebulous and spread out. However, the station is near the "Beckton Alps", a former dry ski slope, now closed and overgrown.

Alphabetical thing: Beckenham Road

2009-08-28T09:28:00.004+01:00

Beckenham Road tram stop, on the Tramlink branch to Beckenham Junction, only has one platform on a bidirectional stretch of single track, although there's a passing loop just beyond the stop.

The Southern line to Beckenham Junction passes alongside, but doesn't stop here.

What's immediately outside the stop? Beckenham Road itself. Clock House station is just a short walk away.

Is it near Beckenham town centre? You could walk it, but it's quicker to take the tram.

Alphabetical thing: Beckenham Junction

2009-08-28T08:44:00.004+01:00

Beckenham Junction is on National Rail's Southern and SouthEastern routes. It has four platforms, although only three are in frequent use. Although Platform 4 is used the least, it does take the once-a-day departure to Charing Cross via Ladywell.

What's immediately outside the station? As seems to be usual for SouthEastern stations, there are two exits. One leading to Waitrose carpark, and the other to the station's own carpark. On the far side of the station carpark is the Beckenham Junction Tramlink stop. Not the most convenient train/tram interchange, but still better than West Croydon!

Is it near Beckenham town centre? Yes, just a short walk to the high street where I had a very nice, leisurely pub lunch while waiting for the Charing Cross train.

Alphabetical thing: Beckenham Hill

2009-08-28T07:17:00.004+01:00

Beckenham Hill is another of National Rail's SouthEastern stations, and follows the same pattern as Abbey Wood and Barnehurst, with two platforms each with their own exit, linked by a footbridge.

What's immediately outside the station? The ticket clerk, who's sneaked out for a quick fag in the carpark. There's also a rather striking, vaguely Deco-style apartment block and a link to the Green Chain Walk in Beckenham Place Park.

Is it near Beckenham town centre? No, for that you'll need Beckenham Junction.

Alphabetical thing: Bayswater

2009-08-17T15:53:00.003+01:00

Bayswater underground station, in Zone 1, is on the Circle line and the "Wimbleware" branch of the District line. There are two platforms, linked by a footbridge leading to the ticket office.

What's immediately outside the station? Lots of confused tourists all milling around by the station entrance trying to decide where they want to go. Lots of hotels and souvenir shops catering for the confused tourists.

A bit further is Whiteley's shopping centre, a rather upmarket mall.

Even further is a street called Leinster Gardens, where there's a dummy house-front hiding a bridge over a railway cutting.

Alphabetical thing: Battersea Park

2009-08-17T15:08:00.007+01:00

Battersea Park railway station has five platforms, only four of which are in regular use. A gloomy, narrow foot subway links them and connects them with a large, once elegant but now faded ticket hall. The station is on National Rail's Southern lines out of Victoria.

What's immediately outside the station? A railway bridge with the arms of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway.

Is it near the verdant grasslands of Battersea Park? Yes, the park gate is just a block away from the station.

Alphabetical thing: Barons Court

2009-08-17T14:18:00.004+01:00

Barons Court Underground station is on the Piccadilly and District lines. It has four platforms on two islands, with stairs leading up to a wonderful old-fashioned, green-tiled ticket office in an even-more-wonderful, old-fashioned Art Nouveau building.

What's immediately outside the station? No bus stops at all. The nearest ones are two or three blocks away. So much for integrated transport policies! But there is a large, rather pleasant cemetery.

Is it near the court of a Baron? No. One theory is that it's named after the Baronscourt estate in Ireland, which would also explain why it doesn't have an apostrophe.

(However when I wrote asking about this, years ago, the official Underground response was that it doesn't have an apostrophe because it was named after more than one Baron. But that makes no sense at all.)

Alphabetical thing: Barnes Bridge

2009-08-17T13:52:00.004+01:00

Barnes Bridge station is in Zone 3, ans served by National Rail's South West Trains. There are two platforms, each with its own stairs to ground level. The only access between the platforms is by the street.

What's immediately outside the station? Barnes village. Don't laugh, but I've always thought the road by the river, with it's elegant old terraces looks more like a seaside promenade. I keep expecting the elegance to drop, with shops selling candy floss, Kiss Me Quick hats and saucy postcards!

Is it near Barnes Bridge? Yes. It's a combined rail and footbridge across the Thames. Stairs from one of the platforms lead directly to the footbridge. Unfortunately when I was there, it was covered in scaffolding, preventing any chance of a good photo.

Alphabetical thing: Barnes

2009-08-17T12:04:00.009+01:00

Barnes station, in zone 3, is served by National Rail's South West Trains. There are four platforms linked by a footbridge, although only two are in regular use. Rather strangely, since it's in the middle of nowhere, there are lots of exits from the station: from the side platforms and from the footbridge.

What's immediately outside the station? The Grade II listed former ticket office, now in private ownership.

The current ticket office is on the centre island platforms. This made sense when the centre tracks were used by stopping trains. That's no longer the case, so passengers wanting trains to London, and who don't like using those annoying ticket machines, have to go over the bridge to the ticket office, buy the ticket, and return back over the bridge to the side platform to catch their train.

The other thing immediately outside the station is the greenery of Barnes common with a network of public footpaths leading through it.

Is it near Barnes itself? No, Barnes Bridge is much nearer the village. It's not too far from the wildfowl and wetlands centre, although it's still a fair walk.

Alphabetical thing: Barnehurst

2009-08-17T10:45:00.005+01:00

Barnehurst railway station, out in Zone 6, is on National Rail's Southeastern line. There are two platforms, connected by a footbridge, with exits at each end of the bridge.

What's immediately outside the station? Approach roads and the station carpark. A bit further are some parades of mock-Tudor shops.

Is it near a barn? There's a nearby pub called The Red Barn, but I don't know if it was ever a real barn.

Dreaming of the Doctor

2009-08-15T13:16:00.019+01:00

I sometimes enjoy stimulating my dreams by having a spoken-word audiobook CD playing on continuous repeat when I go to sleep. As it repeats, the plot and dialogue seep into my sleeping subconscious and make their way into some very vivid dreams.

(You can really only do this if you're single, of course. If you sleep with a partner, it's probably not such a good idea!)

Anyway, some of this dream stimulation has involved Doctor Who audios. Here are a couple of recent examples. The first is from three nights ago; the next is from last night. I'm not sure what (if anything) they reveal about my subconscious. And I'm not sure I want to know either. But I do suspect they'll be pretty boring to anyone who's not interested in Doctor Who or dreams. So if you're not, go and look at photos of railway stations on one of my other blog posts instead.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I dreamt I was watching a documentary about the attempts to make big-budget, big-screen films based on Doctor Who episodes in the 1960s. In real life, there were only two such films, both starring Peter Cushing as a version of Dr Who that had almost nothing in common with the Doctor on television.

In my dream world, there were at least two more such films, including a big-screen remake of "The Smugglers" with the character of the Doctor dropped altogether. In this new version, the Doctor's companions Ben and Polly were swept to the 17th century by a freak time warp, rather than travelling in the TARDIS. However, despite this change' the parts weren't recast; original TV cast members Michael Craze and Anneke Wills reprised their roles as the time travellers.

Another change was that the film was a musical, with romantic duets and song-and-dance numbers between Ben and Polly. Yes, really! I clearly remember a clip of Ben dancing in a pale blue, 17th century silk frock coat.

The strange thing was, on the night I dreamt this, I wasn't listening to "The Smugglers" or even any story featuring Ben and Polly, but to a totally different Doctor Who story, "Fury from the Deep". So why didn't I dream of that? I can't explain it.

In fact, the only connection with "Fury" was from a scene where two men argue angrily about the best way to find and remove a blockage in a gas pipeline, which in my dream became a behind-the-scenes clip of the composer and conductor arguing over whether a certain piece of music should be in F sharp!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The other dream is easier to trace to its roots. I was listening to "The Daleks' Master Plan", so it's not surprising there were also Daleks in my dream. And that story features a character called Sara, so it's sort-of understandable that I dreamt about another Sarah: Sarah Jane Smith, former Doctor Who companion who recently got her own spin-off series.

The dream also featured the new Doctor, as played by Matt Smith. He'd been captured by Daleks who wanted to learn his Time Lord secrets. But before his capture, he'd manage to hint to Sarah Jane about some ancient Time Lord talismans which would help her to rescue him.

Sarah Jane and her young friends (BTW not the real gang from The Sarah Jane Adventures, but a generic dream version with no recognisable characters) followed the clues in the Doctor's hint, and tracked the talismans to the cellars under the Houses of Parliament. A previous incarnation of the Doctor had hidden them there when the building was first built. As they searched amongst the vaulted pillars and old Gothic stonework, the Daleks were also there, searching for the talismans themselves.

Sarah Jane found the first talisman, which for no real reason looked a bit like a Hindu icon. She was still trying to work out how to use it, when a Dalek emerged from the shadows and prepared to exterminate one of her friends. As Sarah Jane span round to see what was happening, her hand accidentally rubbed against a star shaped patch on her jacket, and the young man was transformed into a dog, confusing the Dalek.

She could activate the power of the talisman by rubbing any object that had recently been touched by its shadow. When she did so, someone near her would temporarily be transformed into an animal. She also worked out that the Doctor had keyed it to only work with her DNA to prevent anyone else accidentally discovering and activating it.

She quickly started rubbing the floor tiles under the talisman's shadow, turning her friends into dogs allowing them to escape from the by-now very confused Daleks.

The other talismans would have had other powers, but I woke up before she found them.

Zaphod was here

2009-08-15T13:14:00.004+01:00

You often see one or two lost gloves lying in the street. But three matching gloves lost together...? How did that happen? Not two, or even four, but just three! Is it possible that a certain former Galactic President was passing this way...?

Alphabetical thing: Barkingside

2009-08-10T18:05:00.005+01:00

Barkingside Underground station in Zone 4 is on the Central line, but it doesn't feel like an Underground station at all. Not only is it above ground, but it was originally built by the Great Eastern Railway and still has that old-fashioned, country branch-line look to it. There are two platforms connected by a footbridge, with the entrance on one of the platforms.

What's immediately outside the station? A quiet approach road that also doubles as the station carpark.

Is it beside Barking? No, it's the other side of Ilford, quite a bus ride away from Barking.

Alphabetical thing: Barking

2009-08-10T17:41:00.006+01:00

Barking is on the Underground's District and Hammersmith & City lines, and National Rail's C2C route and the London Overground line to Gospel Oak.

Amazingly, these lines are all nicely integrated into a big but simple station, with the tracks and platforms laid out side by side, and the entrance on the footbridge connecting them.

What's immediately outside the station? Lots of shops, including the Vicarage Field shopping mall directly opposite. And a little bit further down the road, this market that looked a lot more lively than the one at All Saints.

Is it near a dogs' home? No.

Alphabetical thing: Barbican

2009-08-10T16:50:00.004+01:00

Barbican station is in zone one. It has only two platforms in use, shared by the Underground's Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines. The other platforms used to be used by National Rail's Thameslink service, but only in the rush hours.

What's immediately outside the station? The stark concrete modernism of the Barbican centre.

Is it near the Barbican concert hall? Yes, but if you miss the stairs leading from the station entrance to the footbridge, you'll probably wander around for ages trying to find your way there.

Alphabetical thing: Banstead

2009-08-10T16:38:00.003+01:00

Banstead station is in zone 6, on National Rail's Southern route to Epsom Downs. The station just has one platform, on a single track line. A staircase leads up to the ticket office and the exit.

What's immediately outside the station? Not much. It's in the middle of nowhere. There's a nicely signposted link to the London LOOP walk.

Is it anywhere near Banstead village? No. It isn't anywhere near anywhere at all!

Alphabetical thing: Bank

2009-08-10T15:52:00.006+01:00

Bank station in zone one is, like our previous two stations, several different stations joined into one. In this case, it's three or four different stations - and that's not including Monument, which I'll do separately!

Naturally there's the usual maze of passages, stairs, escalators, and even a travelator connecting everything. Right now, they're made even more complicated by while repair and rebuilding work takes place.

Here are the Underground's Northern line platforms. Notice the City of London's griffins flanking the station sign.

The signage in the Docklands Light Railway platforms is much simpler.

Things get a bit twisted at the Central line, which has curving platforms at the top of a spiral staircase.

And the travelator leads down to the Waterloo and City line.

What's immediately outside the station? Lots of impressive old buildings like the Royal Exchange and the Mansion House.

There's also that other building, you know... What was it called...?

Is it near a bank? That was it! Thanks.

Alphabetical thing: Balham

2009-08-10T15:09:00.006+01:00

Balham, like Baker Street, is two stations in one. Above ground, we have the National Rail station served by the Southern lines, while the Underground station stands four-square on the Northern line.

What's immediately outside the station? The busy High Street, focal point of the town's activity.

Note the quaint old stores whose frontage is covered with hand painted inscriptions, every one a rare example of native Balham art...

(sigh) Sorry. It's hard to stop myself just quoting the Peter Sellers sketch all the way through. Especially when the local coffee shop is trying hard to look like the El-Morocco Tea Rooms!

What's really outside the station is a very good second-hand bookshop. One of the old-fashioned kind, where behind each set of shelves is a whole new room full of even more bookshelves.

Is Balham really the Gateway to the South? Yes, according to the Balham Partnership website.

Alphabetical thing: Baker Street

2009-08-10T14:46:00.004+01:00

Baker Street Underground station in zone one is on the Bakerloo, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Jubilee and Metropolitan lines. There are ten platforms linked by a warren of corridors, staircases, footbridges and escalators.

It's easiest to think of it as two different stations. The deep-level Bakerloo and Jubilee line platforms have a strong Sherlock Holmes theme, with images of the great detective everywhere and illustrations of his stories.

However, the older subsurface lines still try to be like a "real" railway, with no room for those kinds of silly gimmicks.

What's immediately outside the station? A statue of Sherlock Holmes, with tourists posing next to it. A couple of busy main roads. Madame Tussauds waxworks.

Is it near a baker? Yes. Not on Baker Street itself, but just round the corner is a little deli selling bread baked fresh on the premises.

Building bridges at Gipsy Hill - Part 2

2009-08-10T11:43:00.003+01:00

These pictures were taken on Sunday, and show the new staircases in place.

Building bridges at Gipsy Hill

2009-08-08T15:29:00.014+01:00

I have been busy with my alphabetical stations project, even though I haven't posted anything lately. Don't worry, I will get round to posting it soon.

Meanwhile, here's some more station-related stuff, with news of the footbridge replacement works at Gipsy Hill. This is something that's been neglected by London's more TfL-centric transport blogs. For example, the normally-reliable London Reconnections seems to think the station is called Gypsy Hill and has at least 14 platforms!

So, what has been happening at Gipsy Hill..?

In June, the old wooden footbridge connecting the ticket office to the station's two platforms was demolished. Wikimedia Commons has a good picture of the station with that old bridge in place.

Here are some photos taken in late June, showing the station building shortly after the bridge was taken down. You can see where the bridge's roof would have been by the line at the bottom of the graffiti.

Access between the platforms is by a temporary footbridge, and the only way in and out of the station is by the side gate.

That was the situation at the end of June. Since then a lot more scaffolding has appeared where where the footbridge should be. Last week, two modular staircases were delivered to the site.

Today and tomorrow, the line is closed, and a large yellow crane has started lifting the various bits of the new footbridge into place.

I'll go back tomorrow and give you another update.

Alphabetical thing: Avenue Road

2009-07-27T18:34:00.007+01:00

Avenue Road is a tram stop on the Beckenham branch of Tramlink. As usual, there are two platforms with a flat crossing between them.

What's immediately outside the station? National Rail's Southern route to Beckenham Junction runs beside the station. A footbridge carries pedestrians over it (and over the tram lines too).

Is it near an avenue or a road? Yes, Avenue Road is a proper tree-lined avenue, and must once have been a fairly important local road before it was cut in half by the coming of the railway.

Alphabetical thing: Arsenal

2009-07-27T18:03:00.006+01:00

Arsenal tube station is in Zone 2, on the Underground's Piccadilly Line, just a few stops south of our previous station. It has two platforms in tunnels. The foot tunnel linking them to the surface has a strange fence running along it, like the one in the footbridge at Albany Park. But I'm not sure what this one's for. Something to do with crowd control at Arsenal football matches?

What's immediately outside the station? The Gillespie Park nature reserve runs behind the station, on the site of former main line railway sidings. (In fact, there's a good view of the East Coast Mainline from the reserve, which should keep train-spotters happy.)

Is it near Arsenal stadium? It used to be near the old stadium, but apparently Holloway Road station is nearer Arsenal's current Emirates Stadium. (By the way, does anyone know why Arsenal are sponsored by a Saudi Arabian arline? I thought sponsorship and advertising took a lot of care to target exactly the right demographics. So did focus groups reveal that Arsenal fans were more likely to fly to Saudi Arabia than anywhere else?)

Alphabetical thing: Arnos Grove

2009-07-27T17:40:00.004+01:00

Arnos Grove station is on the Underground's Piccadilly Line in Zone 4. It has four platforms arranged in two islands. However, there are only three tracks through the station. Platforms 2 and 3 are on opposite sides of the same track. A footbridge leads from the platforms to the distinctive circular ticket office.

What's immediately outside the station? Other Arnos-y things, such as Arnos Road and the Arnos Arms.
Is it near a grove? There isn't a proper grove there any more, but the surviving part of it has been turned into a park.

Alphabetical thing: Arena

2009-07-27T17:31:00.006+01:00

Arena Tramlink stop follows the usual Tramlink layout of two platforms with flat crossing between them.

What's immediately outside the station? The junction of Tramlink's Beckenham and Elmers End branches.

Is it near an arena? Yes, that's the other thing immediately outside the station. A small, rather glum-looking sports stadium, used by local amateur sports clubs.

Alphabetical thing: Archway

2009-07-27T17:17:00.005+01:00

Archway tube station is on the Northern Line, on the boundary between Zones 2 & 3. It has two platforms, in tunnels. There's some nice Art Deco detailing by the stairs, slightly spoiled by the modern banisters cutting across.

What's immediately outside the station? A busy road junction, including Highgate Hill with a statue of Dick Whittington's cat trapped inside a cage.
Is it near an archway? The name is supposed to refer to a viaduct running over one of the roads. But the trees on either side are now so overgrown that it doesn't resemble an arch very much any more.

Alphabetical thing: Angel Road

2009-07-27T16:18:00.009+01:00

Angel Road station is in Zone 4, on National Rail's National Express East Anglia lines. It's only open in the rush hours. Even then the main line trains from London Liverpool Street go through without without stopping, leaving it to be served by the shuttle service from Stratford.

There are two platforms, linked by a footbridge. The exit is by following a long path leading from the northbound platform.

What's immediately outside the station? Dual carriageways and flyovers criss-crossing the empty marshlands near the river Lea. There's a large pile of rusting skips in a field near the station entrance.

Also nearby is a large "oca Cola" factory. This area is so neglected that not even a company as image conscious as Coke can be bothered to mend their broken signs here!

The Borough of Enfield sign on the flyover by the station entrance was in better condition, although no-one knows exactly what that heraldic beast from the borough's coat of arms is supposed to represent. The Enfield beast is described as having "the head of a fox, the chest of a greyhound, the body of a lion, the hindquarters and tail of a wolf, and forelegs like an eagle's talons."

Is it near Angel Road? As the crow flies, yes. The road passes over the southern end of the platforms. However, pedestrians are no longer allowed on that bit of the road, so now the exit is down a long, narrow footpath to the next flyover, Conduit Lane, where you have a long walk back towards the bus stops and carpark for the Angel Road superstores.

I was pleased to see an Ikea among the superstores there. I'd started the day by doing Ampere Way beside an Ikea, so to finish that day's exploring beside another one added a sense of symmetry to things.

Alphabetical thing: Angel

2009-07-27T16:00:00.005+01:00

Angel station is on the Undergound's Northern line. It is in Zone 1. And it's our first proper tube station, with platforms in tunnels connected by more tunnels and escalators.

What's immediately outside the station? Flower stalls; expensive, upmarket furniture and antique shops; a former church that's been turned into a Starbucks; and crowds of people and traffic that made photographing all of this impossible.

Is it near any angels? There's a Wetherspoon's pub calling itself The Angel, but I don't think it's the original.