High Jetter Posted September 20, 2022 Share Posted September 20, 2022 28 minutes ago, lesapandre said: It's the vaults to St. Pancras Station on Midland Road - a tour-de-force example of Victorian engineering - the railway terminus was set 6m above street level supported on cast-iron piers and the underneath was warehousing accessed from platform level and out through these arches. The refurbished station now uses the vaults for access to the platforms - hence they are blocked-off. The train-shed and railway is 1868 - the Gothic brick arches as seen are slightly later - 1873 designed by George Gilbert Scott and added as a skin to the station at the same time as the big hotel out front. If you have not been it is all worth a visit. But give the restaurant a swerve. lesapandre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoss Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 10 hours ago, lesapandre said: It's the vaults to St. Pancras Station on Midland Road - a tour-de-force example of Victorian engineering If you have not been it is all worth a visit. Although you would be about 20 years too late. The modern building is an impressive piece of engineering but it is a bit clinical and soulless and large parts are inaccessible unless you have a ticket to France or Belgium. And even then you are herded straight from the Undercroft in to your coach. If you were to wander off taking photos you'd be shot. Okay slight exaggeration, not actually shot but you would be descended on by men with guns even if they didn't actually use them. In BR days you could wander round at your leisure. It was dirty and a bit run down but the dirt was from decades of old steam and diesel engines. The train shed had a permanent fog from the HSTs that were left idling all the time they were there. I realise that's not very 21st century but it wasn't the 21st century. It also had the best ticket office on British Rail which is now an expensive cocktail bar. And amongst the many businesses under those arches was a place that made exhausts for classic cars, or any other cars if you had the pattern. I once picked up a three branch tubular manifold from them for my Wolseley 18/85 S. They made it in front of me and I took it back to west London, where I had parked, on the bus. Dyslexic Viking and lesapandre 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew353w Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 12 hours ago, lesapandre said: It's the vaults to St. Pancras Station on Midland Road - a tour-de-force example of Victorian engineering - the railway terminus was set 6m above street level supported on cast-iron piers and the underneath was warehousing accessed from platform level and out through these arches. The refurbished station now uses the vaults for access to the platforms - hence they are blocked-off. The train-shed and railway is 1868 - the Gothic brick arches as seen are slightly later - 1873 designed by George Gilbert Scott and added as a skin to the station at the same time as the big hotel out front. If you have not been it is all worth a visit. This is deeply embarrassing, as I used to work at St. Pancras for the then B.R., so I really ought to have known where the initial picture was taken! lesapandre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew353w Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 47 minutes ago, Yoss said: In BR days you could wander round at your leisure. It was dirty and a bit run down but the dirt was from decades of old steam and diesel engines. The train shed had a permanent fog from the HSTs that were left idling all the time they were there. I realise that's not very 21st century but it wasn't the 21st century. It also had the best ticket office on British Rail which is now an expensive cocktail bar. So true, so true! I used to work in that very office and during rare quiet moments we would go exploring around the station. I truly miss my days working for B.R.! lesapandre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 22 hours ago, Yoss said: Although you would be about 20 years too late. The modern building is an impressive piece of engineering but it is a bit clinical and soulless and large parts are inaccessible unless you have a ticket to France or Belgium. And even then you are herded straight from the Undercroft in to your coach. If you were to wander off taking photos you'd be shot. Okay slight exaggeration, not actually shot but you would be descended on by men with guns even if they didn't actually use them. In BR days you could wander round at your leisure. It was dirty and a bit run down but the dirt was from decades of old steam and diesel engines. The train shed had a permanent fog from the HSTs that were left idling all the time they were there. I realise that's not very 21st century but it wasn't the 21st century. It also had the best ticket office on British Rail which is now an expensive cocktail bar. And amongst the many businesses under those arches was a place that made exhausts for classic cars, or any other cars if you had the pattern. I once picked up a three branch tubular manifold from them for my Wolseley 18/85 S. They made it in front of me and I took it back to west London, where I had parked, on the bus. Yes you are right - the whole area has been 'scrubbed' beyond recognition really and has certainly lost some character. In terms of access to the vaults - about 40% are accessible but they now constitute the inevitable shopping mall before you get to the Eurostar gateline. You can get out to platform level at the S. end of the station - but the rest is restricted as its within the passport zone. Restaurants at the station - it's all the usual suspects - I always bring food when I travel to avoid overpriced rubbish. Andrew353w 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remspoor Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 6 hours ago, lesapandre said: Yes you are right - the whole area has been 'scrubbed' beyond recognition really and has certainly lost some character. Was it also known as a red light area? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remspoor Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 lesapandre, sheffcortinacentre, Shite Ron and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 1 hour ago, Remspoor said: Was it also known as a red light area? Not that particular bit that I recall - the red light cruising used to take place on the other side around the side streets by King's Cross Station where there was more opportunity to stop. Midland Road here is right next to the British Library - also worth a visit. Andrew353w and Remspoor 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Jetter Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 Bugger. Could have told me 30 years ago! lesapandre and Remspoor 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal Guru Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 5 hours ago, Remspoor said: I think the Viva has just reversed into the Escort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 Zaragoza Spain - 1950's RayMK, busmansholiday, Yoss and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 More Za 1950's. busmansholiday, Remspoor, Dyslexic Viking and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remspoor Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 georgeinabz, martc, lesapandre and 2 others 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martc Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 High Jetter, lesapandre, JeeExEll and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remspoor Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 Oxford Street. lesapandre, Andrew353w and Shite Ron 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard_FM Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 2 hours ago, Remspoor said: Oxford Street. Did the Met mechanics mix cross-ply & radial tyres on the same axle? NorfolkNWeigh, Remspoor, LightBulbFun and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Jetter Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 4 hours ago, Remspoor said: Oxford Street. Awks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal Guru Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 1 hour ago, High Jetter said: Awks! Bet he said “ no way, these things don’t go fast enough!” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard_FM Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 lesapandre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remspoor Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 Paris 1968 lesapandre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard_FM Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 lesapandre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remspoor Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 7 hours ago, Richard_FM said: I much prefer the look of the non airbag wheel. lesapandre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remspoor Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 Bolstraat, Utrecht RayMK, Dyslexic Viking, D.E and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.E Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 lesapandre, RayMK, Remspoor and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard_FM Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 Rusty_Rocket and lesapandre 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remspoor Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 21 hours ago, D.E said: Wide mouth frog. You don't see many of them around these days, D.E and Richard_FM 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remspoor Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 Shell Oil car park 1970. It now looks like this. Shite Ron and RayMK 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheffcortinacentre Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 Can count the imports on one hand, ooo how times change. Remspoor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busmansholiday Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 12 minutes ago, sheffcortinacentre said: Can count the imports on one hand, ooo how times change. You're from Barnsley then with six fingers.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayMK Posted September 26, 2022 Share Posted September 26, 2022 23 minutes ago, busmansholiday said: You're from Barnsley then with six fingers.... I can see 1x Renault, 3xVW (two of them being Beetles) and one Simca. What is your sixth? There's something which looks a bit Bond Equipe to me, but could be an Opel. My eyes hurt 😀. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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