London Rail

Category: Historical

  • Railways and Canal Tunnels

    When one thinks of railways and ‘canal tunnels’ one thing would come to mind and its the Canal Tunnels that belong to Thameslink! They are indeed named after the Regent’s Canal beneath which they pass. Its misleading however because they are not strictly a tunnel like that nearby at Islington where the same canal passes…

  • The Bridgewater canal breach #3

    A few days ago much of northern England was shivering in temperatures of minus 6 or more. That didn’t stop the preserved railways running services, even though some began their operations late because of the need to unfreeze equipment or water supplies. The countryside was resplendent in glorious white scenery however and that was also…

  • The Bridgewater canal breach #2

    Many things have been happening in the aftermath of the Bridgewater canal breach which occurred in the early hours of New Years Day 2025 where the navigation crosses the River Bolin valley. The location is just a short distance from the National Trust’s Dunham Massey house. This past couple of days there’s been a Boater’s…

  • The Bridgewater canal breach

    In my archives I have a book commemorating the reconstruction of the Bridgewater canal following a massive breach that occurred in 1971 – and the surprise is the same thing has happened again at pretty much the same location – except this time its much worse than previous. Its not the first canal breach I…

  • The mystery rail sponsor…

    I’m thrilled to share that this blog has gained a sponsor! I reached out to a well-known figure – its someone whose name many could well recognize! Alas his understanding of railway issues was once problematic and even though the reasoning was brilliantly delivered, there were numerous issues with the methodology employed. It pandered to…

  • Paddington tube station design error is finally righted after a century!

    Paddington tube station has something that NO other tube station has! What is it? It could be any number of things, such as being the only deep level accessible tube station on the Bakerloo line (even though its not even step free from train to street – and by the way it isn’t the only…

  • Southgate station – an appraisal

    The fact Cockfosters station – an appraisal was popular prompted me to dig out this further look at one of the Piccadilly line’s iconic tube stations. Although we regularly visited Southgate in the 1960s, at no time was the Piccadilly line ever used this far. However the station certainly is remembered because this was where…

  • Cockfosters station – an appraisal

    Despite being the butt of many a joke, ‘Cock Fosters’ as it once was, is a real place and noted for being the northern terminus of the Piccadilly Line. The location itself prior to the opening of the tube was not even a major settlement of any sort, just a small school and a vicarage.…

  • Barnstaple to Ilfracombe #3

    The former railway from Barnstaple to Ilfracombe opened on 20th July 1874 – 150 years ago. It never reached its 100th anniversary, closing on 5th October 1970. By the time the anniversary year came about four years later, the line had been disused for that time and not long after, despite deliberations on whether to…

  • Barnstaple to Ilfracombe #2

    This is the second part of the online guide to the Ilfracombe railway and features the stretch from Braunton to Willingcott. That is near near the summit of the line just south of Mortehoe. Although around half of the route through Barnstaple, Braunton and Ilfracombe now constitutes the Tarka Trail, much of the following section…

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