Antony Badsey-Ellis

A chimney made of concrete but textured to look like the bark, located in the Gas Yard at Cliveden House (National Trust). It was part of the gas works, which made town gas from coal to provide lighting at the house. It was in use until 1907.

This looks like the remains of a tree, but a closer inspection shows that it’s concrete. It’s the chimney for the finer gas works at #Cliveden House, where the owner didn’t want a traditional chimney. Apparently there are only a couple of these left.

I’m rather flattered by the new review of my latest book by London Reconnections!

Engineering Works on London Underground - The PWI London Section hybrid meeting

I’m really looking forward to presenting at the London chapter meeting of the PWI this evening. I’ll be talking about upgrades to the Underground over the last couple of decades, with lots of photos and plans. www.thepwi.org/event/engine... #londonunderground

A bit of history at Hackbridge station. This pair of signs dates back to the short-lived Overground Network (ON) which existed between 2003 and 2006. It was the forerunner to the London Overground network - right down to its use of orange!
#LondonOverground #railwayhistory #londonrail

Stunning view last night from Greenwich Park. Canary Wharf looks like a sci-fi city appearing out of the mist above the more human-scale streets of Greenwich. #canarywharf #Greenwich #Docklands #London

The south side of the Treffry Viaduct, illuminated by sunlight, with trees around the piers.

A view along the path crossing the viaduct. The stone blocks forming the surface still shoe where the rails of the tramway were positioned. The water channel ran directly beneath the blocks. Stone parapets are at each side.

The Treffry viaduct opened in 1842 to carry a mineral tramway and a water channel (running in a conduit beneath the tramway) across the Luxulyan valley in Cornwall. It’s still the only such viaduct in the UK. The position of the rails can be seen from the stone blocks that form what is now a path.

Building the London Tubes By Antony Badsey-Ellis This new book deals with the construction of and major improvements to London Underground s deep level tube railways the

After a small delay, it’s finally available for purchase. Free delivery direct from the publisher. www.capitaltransport.com/building-the...

Looking through some old holiday photos from 2008, I came across this unusual French railway viaduct near St-Chamas, near Marseille, comprising a series of overlapping brick and stone arches. I’ve never seen one like it since. It’s still in use today.

The first copy of my new book has arrived! It should be available next month.

The cycle lane on Sussex Gardens, London, now with the correct blue cycle lane sign.

Job done.

An Olympic Games 2012 sign is still in place in the ticket hall at King’s Cross station. Impressive that it’s lasted almost 13 years!

The terrace on top can be a nice quiet place to go and read on a nice day.

A double-page spread entitled “How do the regulars travel?” from a book published by London Transport. It includes cartoons showing passengers using a fishing rod to catch a bus, lassos to catch a trolleybus and a tram, and a group of people with arms outstretched trying to catch an underground train that is heading towards them.

I found these lovely illustrations in a book published by London Transport in 1950 that presents a survey of their passengers from an advertising perspective. I love the pictures of passengers literally catching buses and trams! #LondonTransport #advertising

A curved enamel sign reading “Temple Station” located on the corner of the building.

Temple Station has some lovely heritage features before you even go inside. There’s the sign on the corner of the building, plus the c.1933 enamel map by the entrance (Down St has gone; Brompton Rd still open; Cockfosters extension). #tubemap #londonunderground

If you’re registered on Underground Info, there’s a full list of sponsored Station names at www.underground-info.org.uk/index/sponso... .

Charing Cross Station has the big colour display screens for its departure boards. I love the fact that the clock in the corner includes the old Network SouthEast stripes! #charingcross #networksoutheast

The vent shaft at St Paul’s station has a rather unusual clock on the side. #secretsofthelondonunderground #clock

Looking down on the bale of hay suspended from the Golden Jubilee footbridge currently. It’s there to warm river traffic that the adjacent span of the Charing Cross railway bridge has reduced headroom whilst being refurbished. An old tradition enforced by a Thames bylaw!

Eight goslings and their parents running along a path in St James’s Park, London.

Two Canada goslings in St James’s Park.

A Canada gosling in St James’s Park, pecking at the camera.

As I crouched down to photograph some ducklings in St James’s Park this morning, I was mobbed by goslings hoping that I’d take their pictures too. Or that my phone was food. Yep, probably that.

A section of the Regent’s Canal looking west towards the Kentish Town Road Bridge. There is a moorhen on the towpath, and a lock gate is visible under the bridge.

A concrete slab on the canal towpath, with the inscription “Caution High Voltage. CEGB cables under these slabs”.

The towpath of the Regent’s Canal around north London was dug up in the late 1970s to accommodate high voltage (400kV) power cables. The towpath surface was replaced by concrete slabs, and there are regular slabs marking the presence of the cables. #ukcanals #regentscanal

Canada Water was renamed Buxton Water for 26 April 2015, in connection with the London Marathon. Westminster became Webminster on 12 January 2017, for Amazon Web Services.

I think that the bollard needs a blue cycle lane sign (like that further back), rather than a “no cycling” sign. Sussex Gardens, London.

Very short sections at the top and bottom are in the open air, but the majority of the route runs through a brick-lined tunnel. Two parallel tracks all the way. #funicular #tunnels #hastings

A view down the funicular from the top station, showing the tunnel and one of the carriages on the left.

Looking up the funicular into the tunnel section.

The entrance to the lower station.

The West Hill Lift at Hastings is one of the few tunnel funicular railways in the world. Lovely views from the top, and an interesting and unusual ride to get there!

Apologies to anyone who signed up with www.underground-info.org.uk in the last three weeks. A problem with our mail server meant that some of the verification emails weren’t being sent out. All fixed now, and everyone should have received their emails.

The Castlefield district of Manchester has an incredible confluence of transport infrastructure. Three different viaducts here, one disused, one carrying trams, and one for rail, and made of brick and iron. A canal footbridge. And even a bit of road. #industrialheritage #manchester #ukcanals

These flower-like traffic wands are being installed on Sussex Gardens near Paddington. They make a change from the black cylinders - I just hope that they are sufficiently robust. #cyclelanes #londonstreets

I always love seeing the beautiful map inside Manchester Victoria Station. Together with the wood panelling and mosaic signs there, it’s a lovely bit of history.

A view of Barton swing aqueduct from above, looking along the aqueduct trough.

A side-on view of Barton swing aqueduct crossing the Manchester Ship Canal, with the control tower on the left on the island.

I’ve just run past the Barton swing aqueduct. It lets the Bridgewater canal cross the Manchester Ship Canal, rotating 800 tonnes of water as it does so. It’s the only one of its kind in the world, it’s still in use, and another amazing example of Victorian engineering! #ukcanals

It would be perfect if cow.roast.lock was the #what3words for this location. But sadly, it’s not.