Review of 2017 : October

Compared to the Summer months October was maybe a little bit quieter, but not by much. It started with a trip to Hemel Hempstead to explore more of the Grand Union Canal. There was also a return to Duffield, this time exploring the village itself (instead of just taking a train elsewhere) and the castle.

Later in the month i returned to London for my third and final Hidden London tour, this time of the TFL headquarters 55 Broadway - a stunning building. There was also time for some rail adventures in London of course. Finally at the end of the month i went up to Langley Mill to do some canal walking including the final stub of the Cromford Canal which eluded me. I've now walked all of that canal which is still extant and publicly accessible.

Song of the month was "nowhere" by Wallflower.

View from the roof garden of 55 Broadway

Remains of Duffield Castle

Canal bridge near Hemel Hempstead

Langley Mill railway station

Christmas morning

It was Christmas morning and thus time for my traditional stroll around the local environs. Usually a busy industrial estate and a traffic filled main road but on this morning silent and almost lifeless.

Review of 2017 : September

September was another busy month, well they are all busy months now. It started with a return to the Peak Rail up in Rowsley South to attend the Heritage Shunter Trust's gala. Later in the month came trips to Bermuda Park near Nuneaton (including a canal walk) and Smethwick Rolfe Street for part of the Heritage Open Weekend.

Mid-month i went to Stone to walk the Trent & Mersey Canal. Later in the month came my second Hidden London tour of the year, this time to the now-disused Jubilee Line platforms at Charing Cross (and some other London rail adventures too). Finally at the end of the month was a return to the Cromford Canal to walk the remaining bits between Whatstandwell and Ambergate i had yet to do. That meant i had walked all of the extant Cromford except for the little stub at Langley Mill (see next month).

Song of the month was "lofticries" by Purity Ring.

HST Gala at Rowsley South

Coventry Canal near Bermuda Park

Trent & Mersey Canal at Stone

Charing Cross tube station

Derwent Valley line seen from a bridge near Ambergate

Leamington in the fog

I headed up to Leamington Spa today and took some photos for a few hours at the station. There wasn't anything that out of the ordinary on view today but it was interesting to take some photos in what was quite thick fog early on. The trains emerging from the fog like metal monster snakes. You can see my photographs here.

Review of 2017 : August

August continued the trend for new locations and new discoveries. It started with my first of 3 Hidden London tours this year with a visit to the former Highgate station in North London. While i was in London i travelled around on rail a lot of course and also ventured out to Sevenoaks in Kent.

Oxford is somewhere i have been to before of course but i took my Mum there for her birthday and i took a number of photos in the fine city and the railway station. I also returned to the EVR for its diesel locomotive weekend.

Then later in the month over to Oakham in Rutland, including its castle. Finally up to Staffordshire to visit the lovely Foxfield Railway for the first time. Song of the month was "resigned" by Lycia.

Highgate

Sevenoaks

Oakham castle

Foxfield Railway