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Post by D.C. Burtonshaw on Nov 22, 2022 21:21:59 GMT
Nice old photos again Gene, many thanks! Interesting about the steam trains history and glad it has survived. I note the lack of barriers or level crossing traffic lights. But with less traffic around then, and a small possibly slowish maybe safety wasn't so much of a concern.
I like the old pub sign on the pavement, that you don't see often now. In my town the old sign post for a now sadly demolished pub was kept and put in the roundabout near the site of where it was. The roundabout was named after the now gone pub in its honour.
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Post by Sam Tyler on Nov 22, 2022 21:44:36 GMT
There were a few locations like that in Trafford Park, Manchester, where the trains ran across and alongside roads. Great photo This one did more than run alongside, it ran right down the centre of a residential street: https://www.instagram.com/p/ClR1e86KhHo Certainly couldn't have that now, cyclists would be up in arms (or flat on their backs!) Sam.
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Nov 23, 2022 7:52:58 GMT
Another great pic, thanks Sam. There was another set up like this in Huddersfield where a line ran up Beaumont Street from the goods yard to the gas works. Bits of the track are still in place in the road surface at one point
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Post by Dirty Epic on Nov 23, 2022 9:13:41 GMT
There were a few locations like that in Trafford Park, Manchester, where the trains ran across and alongside roads. Great photo This one did more than run alongside, it ran right down the centre of a residential street: https://www.instagram.com/p/ClR1e86KhHo Certainly couldn't have that now, cyclists would be up in arms (or flat on their backs!)Sam. That might not be a bad thing/deterrent for them Sam. Another great pic Gene, I think these trains used to run like in a lot of dockland/industrial/mining areas up until fairly recently (40 odd years ago) too.
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The Saint
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Post by The Saint on Nov 23, 2022 10:14:08 GMT
Wonderful time capsule scenes Gene and Sam, thanks for sharing The Saint
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Villain
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Post by Villain on Nov 23, 2022 12:50:15 GMT
Weymouth had a very busy little branch line going down to the Quay into the '70s with diesel hauled (usually Class 33s) passenger trains vying with parked cars, when the train was due down the branch railway staff and the local rozzers had to walk in front of it and move any parked cars by manhandling them out of the way. In Worcester there was a short branch from Shrub Hill station to the old vinegar works which crossed a main road with no barriers in use, the road traffic was stopped by a very tall Great Western Railway semaphore signal, then the shunter would call the train over the road by hand signals. Fantastic thread chaps, keep 'em coming! Villain
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Nov 23, 2022 20:30:16 GMT
Yes, the Weymouth pier tramway, it closed in 1987, but a few railtours and special workings used it until 1999. Street running wasn't that common in Britain because of some 19th century law that railways normally had to be fenced off. A few dock areas had them, Liverpool was one, another was the Wisbech and Upwell tramway in Cambridgeshire.
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Post by Perfect Pseudonym on Nov 27, 2022 12:00:18 GMT
Excellent batch of pics once again.
I particularly like that one of the steam train crossing the road. Lovely clear pic.
The talk of railways in streets makes me think of the temporary railway that was used in the construction of the LCC Becontree housing estate, just a little south of me.
For years I always wondered why Valence Avenue in Dagenham has a large central grass area between the two carriageways. It was only in the last few years that I found out it was where the railway line ran originally, coming down from the main line at Chadwell Heath station.
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Post by Sam Tyler on Nov 28, 2022 11:52:27 GMT
Another scene from yesteryear that doesn't feel too distant but may be only around 35 - 36 years ago: https://www.instagram.com/p/ClgNh_qKSlU They were the days when you could drive into town, park outside the shop, nip in and get what you want and be back out in 10 - 15 minutes. Now with pedestrianised streets all car parking has been moved to the outskirts of town which means that walking to the shops, buying what you've 'nipped in' for and out again can easily take an hour. That's if the shops you want actually exist anymore. Yes it is my personal opinion but I feel the decline of the high street started in the late '80s due to pedestrianisation with the internet finishing the job rather than the internet being the sole reason. Sam.
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Post by Gene Hunt on Nov 28, 2022 18:32:47 GMT
It's interesting how a shot which is 35+ years ago still feels as though it were taken yesterday. It's only when you view the same scene today in person or on Google Street View that you can fully appreciate just how much has changed forever. Great photo Sam
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