Bank Holiday Monday. A good day to get out of Weston, but no idea where to go. Even thought about going nowhere and conserving funds. Got up, had coffee and read mail. Noted that the Summer National Railway Timetable was out. Thought about a run out to Bristol to collect it, perhaps extended to Reading or Banbury. Up and out of the house in time for the eerily quiet 0829 which is normally a jammed 221, but today was a sparsely peopled 220.
No sign of the timetable at Bristol. No problem, would hop on the 0910 to Reading and check there. Weather changed from filthy to utterly disgusting. No timetable at Reading either, but I was assured they had it at Paddington.
Decision time - checked price of a One-Day Travelcard, which was pretty reasonable. Weighed up against the odds of finding a timetable at Banbury or Oxford - which were slight. Headed for Paddington again!
On arrival, the weather had unbelievably worsened. To add to my miseries, no timetables at WH Smiths. The weekend Circle Line possession was still in force, so hopped a Hammersmith & City and headed for Farringdon. I had only vague plans now. Maybe exploit the Travelcard on some of the lines out of London Bridge? Lucked out with a Thameslink via London Bridge (getting the curve south of Blackfriars as a bonus!). Rain really chucking down now. Out to Plumstead via Lewisham, and back via Greenwich. Stumbled here, thought about getting to Victoria or Bromley South - but no clear idea. Back to Lewisham - missed the Victoria service by minutes. Couldn't bear half an hour in soggy Lewisham.
So, new plan - onto the DLR - first ride of the Lewisham Extension. Lots of curved concrete tunnel, a shame the old V-shaped Island Gardens station is gone, it was always a pleasant oasis for lunchbreaks! Change at Canary Wharf for Stratford, then a gruesome 315 to Liverpool Street. Still no timetable!
Back on the H&C to Kings Cross St. Pancras. Strange security alert which no-one seemed to be bothered about! At last, WH Smiths have stacks of timetables. Quickly purchased one, and headed out to the St. Pancras Interim Station.
I was unprepared for the sight of the shell of Barlow's trainshed surrounded by building site - I was equally stunned by the brutal concrete and steel Interim Station. Wandered in, and up to the platforms. All pretty bleak. Left when security took too much of an interest in me. Didn't fancy explaining myself to the large, angry and bored looking goon! Back to Kings Cross Thameslink, then to Cowcross Street for a coffee - and a chance to fill in the card to get a free timetable update in September! The sun decided to come out now.
Headed back to Paddington a little earlier than I'd planned. Despite the change in the weather, I was tired and a bit bemused by my own random wanderings. I had lots of ill-formed plans and not enough time or energy to fulfil them - a truly London feeling. Decided I needed more time another day. Headed back via a brief stop at Reading. Once again, didn't get a seat on the 180 - but Anthony Head (of Buffy The Vampire Slayer/Little Britain fame) did - in first class of course - much to the delight of a procession of female fans who found repeated excuses to wander by. For information ladies, he got off at Bath Spa.
Lost::MikeGTN
I've had a home on the web for more years than I care to remember, and a few kind souls persuade me it's worth persisting with keeping it updated. This current incarnation of the site is centred around the blog posts which began back in 1999 as 'the daylog' and continued through my travels and tribulations during the following years.
I don't get out and about nearly as much these days, but I do try to record significant events and trips for posterity. You may also have arrived here by following the trail to my former music blog Songs Heard On Fast Trains. That content is preserved here too.
