Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[kinboshi]

Does it look better through Black and white tinted spectacles?

Click to see full-size image.

Genius.

[Tal]

Sick tekkers

[Tal]

Click to see full-size image.

That whole entrance is different now:

Click to see full-size image.

It's set back from the main road with new shops and offices either side. There's a neat little side entrance on the left of the picture that saves me about 100yards on my walk to and from work (makes all the difference when you're trying to catch the train home!).

[stumpythefish]

Are there any others, Tikay?

My fav is  The next train to darlington is cancelled because the driver cant reach the pedals

[redarmi]

Of all the stations in Birmingham I think Moor Streetl still retains some charm.  New Street on the other hand is possibly the worst station in England or was when i was last there and Snow Hill pales into insignificance against it.  I do, however, think that as much as you can appreciate stations architecture, facilities etc it is more about what they represent to you and the journeys you are on and for that reason, for me, Darlington station will always be the best.  Even now when I approach it on a train from York area i get goosebumps because from the age of 13 when we moved to Barrow-in-Furness from Middlesbrough every other Saturday during the football season my father and I would get on a train at 630am and make the long trip back to Boro for home games at Ayresome Park.  Once I couild see Darlington station i knew I was back in the north east and almost there.  Amazingly, nearly 25 years later my dad still makes the same trip every other Saturday.

[Tal]

Are there any others, Tikay?

My fav is  The next train to darlington is cancelled because the driver cant reach the pedals

The announcements by people who work there are a different kettle of fish entirely. I once heard "We apologise for the late running of the next service. This is due to...er...a delay"

[simonnatur]

Of all the stations in Birmingham I think Moor Streetl still retains some charm.  New Street on the other hand is possibly the worst station in England or was when i was last there and Snow Hill pales into insignificance against it.  I do, however, think that as much as you can appreciate stations architecture, facilities etc it is more about what they represent to you and the journeys you are on and for that reason, for me, Darlington station will always be the best.  Even now when I approach it on a train from York area i get goosebumps because from the age of 13 when we moved to Barrow-in-Furness from Middlesbrough every other Saturday during the football season my father and I would get on a train at 630am and make the long trip back to Boro for home games at Ayresome Park.  Once I couild see Darlington station i knew I was back in the north east and almost there.  Amazingly, nearly 25 years later my dad still makes the same trip every other Saturday.

New Street is in process of redevelopment and will be roughly half completed by Spring this year. http://www.newstreetnewstart.co.uk/
It's safe to say whatever the end result looks like will be a great improvement.

[Tal]

New Street should be pretty immense.

As it is I don't see much difference between it and Euston. New Street has a direct connection to the Bull Ring as well now, all under roof.

[tikay]

Of all the stations in Birmingham I think Moor Streetl still retains some charm.  New Street on the other hand is possibly the worst station in England or was when i was last there and Snow Hill pales into insignificance against it.  I do, however, think that as much as you can appreciate stations architecture, facilities etc it is more about what they represent to you and the journeys you are on and for that reason, for me, Darlington station will always be the best.  Even now when I approach it on a train from York area i get goosebumps because from the age of 13 when we moved to Barrow-in-Furness from Middlesbrough every other Saturday during the football season my father and I would get on a train at 630am and make the long trip back to Boro for home games at Ayresome Park.  Once I couild see Darlington station i knew I was back in the north east and almost there.  Amazingly, nearly 25 years later my dad still makes the same trip every other Saturday.

Oh my word, sing my song.

I will reply to that tomorrow.

Folks can barely contain their excitement.

[Tal]

 

[david3103]

Darlington retains it's charm because it's too small to be turned into a shopping mall/food court, yet big enough to have the flow of trains that makes it feel like a railway station.

Edinburgh Waverley has been ruined by the commercialisation, as has St Pancras I believe?

[Karabiner]

Darlington retains it's charm because it's too small to be turned into a shopping mall/food court, yet big enough to have the flow of trains that makes it feel like a railway station.

Edinburgh Waverley has been ruined by the commercialisation, as has St Pancras I believe?

I think they did a wonderful job with St Pancras even if it did take almost ten years.

Why do you say ruined?

[tikay]

Darlington retains it's charm because it's too small to be turned into a shopping mall/food court, yet big enough to have the flow of trains that makes it feel like a railway station.

Edinburgh Waverley has been ruined by the commercialisation, as has St Pancras I believe?

I think they did a wonderful job with St Pancras even if it did take almost ten years.

Why do you say ruined?

It has a shopping centre in it!

I go to Meadowhall, Fosse Park, or Bentalls in Kingston when I want to shop. I go to St Pancras to perve the locomotives, rolling stock, Permanent Way, signalling, & the wonderful catenary.

To be fair, the exterior of the building (the extension excepted) is truly magnificent, might just be my favourite building in the UK.

But shops? In a Railway Station?

That is just so wrong.

[Karabiner]

Darlington retains it's charm because it's too small to be turned into a shopping mall/food court, yet big enough to have the flow of trains that makes it feel like a railway station.

Edinburgh Waverley has been ruined by the commercialisation, as has St Pancras I believe?

I think they did a wonderful job with St Pancras even if it did take almost ten years.

Why do you say ruined?

It has a shopping centre in it!

I go to Meadowhall, Fosse Park, or Bentalls in Kingston when I want to shop. I go to St Pancras to perve the locomotives, rolling stock, Permanent Way, signalling, & the wonderful catenary.

To be fair, the exterior of the building (the extension excepted) is truly magnificent, might just be my favourite building in the UK.

But shops? In a Railway Station?

That is just so wrong.

I admit that it is now more like an airport but surely that is appropriate because of the Eurostar.

You can also get lovely coffee and real croissants there now, surely that must appeal to you.

[tikay]

Bugger. You got me on the coffee.

ALL Railway Stations & Termini should, of course, have a good coffee shop, & a newspaper & book shop. That's it, nothing else.