recollections of a magical childhood
Bournemouth Central at the Turn of the Last Century
Nice photo...great coaches! Could that small boy on the left be me? Perhaps I wouldn't have stood like that! (Just kidding!)
This shot was taken about 10 minutes after the one used in the postcard above! I found it on Flickr and it states: Bournemouth Station 2pm c.1915 - note the separate Ladies rooms for 3rd, 2nd & 1st Class... a guard standing on the line and maybe a group of soldiers going off to war?
I am querying the photo caption above (postcard). Can that really be the London train? There is a platform to the right. Perhaps it means the train that is going to London rather than arriving from?
In trying to decide which platform the 'London train' has pulled up at, I initially thought that the position of the station clock might help only to realise there was a clock on both sides of the station. So then I thought the end canopy shape might be a reference point but on studying photos from various eras it seems to have been altered a number of times. Overall I suspect the train has arrived from Waterloo at the normal down platform and that there is a wall to the right of the passengers but it is not totally clear.
Perhaps this photo (left) will help as it shows the extent of the station canopy end panel dropping down lower at the western end of the station. Also, I can't see any lower long roof along the platform extension, beyond. Just thought this might help as some confirmation.
You nailed it. Definitely the train FROM London now that you have discovered the difference between the two canopy screens. Well done.
So, is that a platform (and a coach) to the right of the passengers? Do we have any track plans of Bournemouth Central from circa 1905 on our website anywhere (or elsewhere) to confirm that?
Coo! Now you're challenging me.......I didn't notice that coach at the edge of the postcard.
When doing TS 2019 I used to use a site called 'old-maps.co.uk' where you can select a location and choose a date for a local map. It's a bit clumsy but you can look back to earlier times.
How about this 1909 map of Bournemouth Central (right) which seems to show an extra platform and would confirm our suspicions?
You've only gone and done it - again! Excellent.
......also (top right), very helpfully, shows a urinal! Essential information for Edwardians no doubt!
The exterior of the "Southbound" side of Bournemouth Central. Very elegant.
Funnily enough, I can't find any information about them (except for a little on Wikipedia) although whilst looking I did find this small website which, on the gallery page, also has a picture of one - here.
Perhaps you will be able to discover more than I did?
I was trying to find out more about the steam railmotor in the photo of Bournemouth Central and I have found a couple more photos, one of which is, intriguingly at Boscombe station. Actually, I now realise it is the same one as the photo from the website mentioned above.
I have found a few classes of railcar, one of which may or may not be the one. It could be one of the ones designed by D (Dugald) Drummond. He did three as far as I can tell from this Wikipedia page; LSWR K11, LSWR H12 & LSWR H13. Rather mysteriously, the pages that each of the hyperlinks for those, on that page, are supposed to link to, no longer exist - da, da, daaa!
Over to you Sherlock!
Closer examination of the three photos tends to make me think that the vehicle in Bournemouth Central is different from the other two which I think are the same but in slightly different liveries. And, just one more bit of info' found which is on this webpage. If you do a <Ctrl/F> and enter "Bournemouth" it takes you to a paragraph that appears to be relevant. You can do the same for "Railcar" as well.
Also on another Wikipedia page....."These were followed by fifteen more railmotors for the L&SWR system. The first two were built in 1904, the engines at Nine Elms and the carriages at Eastleigh......these seated eight in first-class and thirty-two in third. Thirteen more were built in 1905–6 to slightly different design and with the boiler pressure increased from 150 psi to 175 psi. Engines and carriages were not detachable and these units were capable of towing an additional carriage. After the outbreak of World War I limited the work available for railmotors, the joint stock was taken out of service in 1914 and by 1916 only three units remained in service, to be withdrawn in 1919.
I attach some pictures (inserted below) of Dugald Drummond's railcars here (from my dusty, trusty old railway books). Maybe it's one of these in the Bournemouth Central photo. The captions read.............
He was a bit of a canny Scotsman who tried some weird experiments with his locomotive designs many of which were failures.
Mind you his personal rail transport (right) to provide him with a means to get to Nine Elms Works, which was where they built engines before it was all moved to Eastleigh, was certainly an expression of his self-importance! (I believe he lived at Woking at the time).
From the information you have discovered I reckon the railcar in Bournemouth Central must be the earlier K11 Class
I have also noticed that the H13, No.10 that you sent has a destination board marked "Bodmin" as does the one above it of mine (to the left of the shot taken at Boscombe) which is No.8 from the same series.
...and More Recently
I contacted the creator of the website mentioned above (in the caption to the railcar at Bournemouth Central). He was very complimentary about this website and told me that he has an original Terence Cuneo and also sent me an image of a Bulleid Pacific in the Bournemouth Central sheds.
I've found a gem!
I think this is something we've not seen before. It's a short, 10-minute film about the electrification of the line to Bournemouth.
Things of note:-
1 - good quality footage
2 - I think that the shot of the Bulleid-hauled train at 0m:19s in is actually being filmed from Berrylands!!!!!! If it is (and only you will be able to confirm it!) it's a shame the shot is so short.
3 - quite striking how sexist and stereotyping films were constructed in those days
4 - some good and some tantalisingly short glimpses of Bournemouth
5 - A Merchant Navy with a Stanier hooter? Sound effects man to my office immediately!"
Vintage railway film - Speedrail to the south - 1967.mp4"Speedrail to the South" momentarily featured the very spot where I used to catch the train to go to Secondary School every day. Damned if I remember the Weighing machine being there though but still, it was 60 years ago! The film certainly had me pre-guesing the narrator with all the camera locations.
I've found another gem!
Not as good as the one above, but not bad. A 9-minute film which becomes most interesting for us from about 5 minutes onwards.
Things of note:-
1 Poor quality footage but very interesting and evocative for all that
2 again, some tantalising shots of Bournemouth Central
3 as you have said before, the state of the engines as 1967 approached was dreadful - such a shame!
4 the last loco (35003) was, apparently, named Royal Mail. I can't say I have heard of that one.
S & D to Bournemouth(1).mp4The second film was a good reminder too though the locations were a bit out of sequence if I remember correctly.
Sometimes a single image can bring back just one thing from the past and a moment ago, I just had the memory of our surprise when an engine on-shed would unexpectedly eject a perfect smoke ring. Do you recall the like? It made me wonder if the fireman knew how to make such an event happen....threw in coal and quickly slammed the firedoors shut for example. We will never know!
My memory may be failing me but didn't there used to be such a crane (or maybe a smaller version) at the headstock siding at the west end of Bournemouth Central?
I did think there used to be a breakdown train and crane in one of the short shed platforms at Bournemouth Central.
I just can't find a decent photo of it which is surprising given the number of photographs that have been uploaded onto the web. (Later) Whilst eating lunch I just searched through ten railway books and not one blinking photo of that location! I give up (for now!).............
I had a look through my Railway books and this is the best I can come up with. You can just about see the old coach in the first picture and it could well be the Breakdown train in the second image (unfortunately with the crane in the shade) as it's the same way round but actually near Brookwood.
Quite an evocative shot of a driver (Jim Robinson, apparently) who is keen to get going for Waterloo with the Bournemouth Belle. The loco is Merchant Navy Class 35014 (as you can see!) named Nederland Line. The year? 1964.
Well done Trevor! I think you've cracked it there.
This is the breakdown train as I remember it.
This is difficult to explain. It's not quite possible to discern whether it's occurred due to points being changed while it was passing over them. It certainly looks like the breakdown coaches have been extracted to allow the creaking crane to be called into service. Also, there appear to be ropes attached to the front of the engine - possibly to pull it forward (?)............The best bit is seeing the 4 or 5 railworker onlookers standing about with their hands in their pockets! Unusually it seems, no one has been magnanimous enough to share out any rollups yet, but no doubt the next train to Waterloo was very late. As I've often said before, all railworkers used to look in their late 60s in those days...oops! Now I look the same I suppose.
Yes, I noticed those ropes/chains at the front of it too. You would have thought it would have been easier just to couple up another loco to it?
A nice picture of 34019. - Judging by its position and the trailing steam cloud, I'd say it's just coming off shed and probably getting ready to head for Waterloo. They certainly used to race up and down that ramp to the sheds like lunatics if you recall?
I do. In fact, there's a video of one doing just that somewhere on the website. If they didn't take a run at it they just slipped their wheels (also in a video somewhere!).
A couple of lovely, evocative pretty high res' photos of platform 3 at Bournemouth Central taken in 1956
Had we seen the A4 Sir Nigel Gresley at Bournemouth Shed in our day I think we would have needed new pairs of trousers afterwards.
(Drying out would've given a new meaning to the steam age)!
Nice shot of 73029 - although the yard's beginning to look a bit run down by 1965.
What is it with Firemen desperate to stand on top of their newly replenished tenders!"Have I got enough in 'ere to make Waterloo?"
Eastleigh's BB Pacific 34088 '213 Squadron' is about to alight from the turntable
The photographer states: "Years later, I look at the image and see so much I enjoy. Obviously the locos, crane and turntable, but also the grounded coach body and new SR concrete fencing on the right".
Agreed.
There are some great extra photos in your additions...just makes me think if there had been mobile phone type cameras in those days, how many train photos we would have taken!
I agree with you! Imagine those images of St Pancras, Paddington, Liverpool Street, Kings Cross and Euston on our weekend trainspotting jaunts - never mind our journey to Bournemouth and elsewhere!!! Instead, all we have are two small black & white prints from our Box camera (see page 7) and, of course, our memories
I also stumbled across the attached photo of an LMS class 2MT 2-6-2T No.41316 at Bournemouth MPD on the 24th of August 1966. There seemed to be a wide range of locos to be seen there. No wonder it was our favourite place to go trainspotting!
Mind you I also learnt that you could access the shed from the road bridge end - down some steps apparently. I'll see if I can find a map or something that shows them.......
The "old maps" website we used seems to have been taken down. That's a shame. The only view I can find is this with my note on it. Can you do better?
As you say, the Old Maps site, which I used to use a lot for TS20** has gone commercial so is not much help for finding stuff. I spent a good half hour trying to find a decent old map but couldn't glean enough detail.
The picture of the 2MT 2-6-2 (above) suggests a possible access to the Shed yard from the back which would be from Beechey Road. The road and bridge are still there and there is access from there to the now car park which looks like a sloping footpath. I suspect it was once a staircase.
Having looked at your great images from Google Street View I can now see that the path to the engine sheds was, indeed, drawn on the original track plan (above). Now marked in red.
Looks like we've solved it but why on Earth didn't we find it and pluck up the courage to use it back in 1960?!
Well done for matching the shed plans with the present-day Google Earth view of the path! I would imagine there used to be a gate at the path entrance with a sign stating "Private No Access" and it might have been where some shed staff gained access.
I don't think it occurred to us that there might be another way into the yard - probably because the yard perimeter was so entirely hemmed in by housing and also the main entrance gates from the station end were so enticing.
46155 THE LANCER alongside one of those new-fangled diesel things at Euston in 1960
Seriously though, maybe not the greatest photo but it does instantly remind me of the feelings being close to these big, large noisy machines gave me at the time.
Obviously, not what we wanted, as steam enthusiasts, but still impressive machines - the noise, the rumble of the hefty loco on the rails, the smell and the fumes!
If I recall correctly, Euston wasn't a favourite of ours because you couldn't get onto any platform to get near the engines. Now King's Cross..that was another matter and, indeed, I do remember enjoying throbbing diesels and wheel-slipping A4s at close quarters.
(Above) I stumbled across this photo (taken 12th February 1967) and I thought how different a scene it portrayed from our train spotting days just a few years earlier.
I do remember the green DMUs which were unusual for us to see.
King's Cross photo typically cluttered and grimy. The track layout is so random it looks like it was set out in a hurry! I would imagine it is largely due to the close proximity of the long tunnels cramping the site. If I remember correctly, the route indicator panels on the signal gantries were like miniature roller blinds - i.e. one is showing 12 in the photo.
Also, I'm sure we took a ride on a DMU from KIng's Cross through the tunnel to Finsbury Park once (probably returning on the underground) just to look through the driver's cab when going through the tunnel. Do you recall that?
I hadn't recalled it until you mentioned it. Thanks.
We would probably have had to buy tickets from one of these rather than the usual ticket office - all brass grills and polished wood!
I certainly do remember those ticket machines. Don't they look big, clumsy, things by today's standards.......nice prices though
Just a few pics I stumbled upon.
Never seen that one before. Form an orderly queue here!
Vaguely remember that
Nice one of the bus station and Square (Did you send me this?). Remember Fortes beside Bobby's? Bit dark and cramped.... Long spoons with Knickerbocker glories?
Marion worked there one Summer as a waitress.
Marion: Yes Jennifer and I worked as waitresses at Bobby's - probably in 1959/60. I remember being told off because we went with bare legs and not tights!
Whilst I was trying to find photos of Fortes (that you mentioned) I came across this page which has some interesting background on “The Square” (the image links no longer work as Flickr has changed format). It states that Fortes is in view but I can't see it myself.
Although you wouldn't know it from the photo, Fortes in that picture of The Square (mostly featuring Bobby's...which is now Debenhams and has lost its distinctive cage lift) is the first white building just in frame on the left. I recall it was quite dark and claustrophobic inside and was stepped down a little from the street.
On the left an old photo of the bottom of Richmond Hill whilst, above, a lovely photo of an uncommon Yellow Buses bus in the Square with the "same" (but updated) buildings in the background
Yes, I remember that particular model of Yellow bus ...a Leyland...always looked like they were built on the cheap. They were introduced quite late in the 60s I think.
I forgot to mention (and add to the caption) that the person who took the photograph stated it was taken on 23rd January 1962.
They were certainly being used up to 1968 and, maybe beyond.
"Bedford WTB with Burlingham body. New to Bournemouth Corporation (No 13) in June 1939. Bought by Poole & District Model Railway Club in 1970 (they also had FEL 218 which was modified to take a model railway layout!)"
I also remember us going with Nanna (I think) to the Tilly Whim Caves which were a touch dangerous as there were no safety barriers protecting a sheer drop of about 60 ft. Sandwiches and hide and seek maybe?
I remember the flight of steps inside a low tunnel leading down to them with the rock roof dripping water.
I also remember going there with my friend John when I was 17 or 18. We were looking down on the flat area from the path and there were some people walking around looking down to the sea below them. I thought it would be a great idea to lob a stone high up in the sky and try to land it near to one of the boys. To my amazement, it arced up and came down right on top of his head and bounced off. The look of surprise and incredulity was draw-dropping and John and I both hid for a few minutes before peeping back down, fully expecting to see a dead person laying on the rock surface as I was sure that I had killed him. To our surprise, he was just walking around rubbing his head. I do hope I didn't cause any permanent damage.
The Studland Ferry, John Lennon and Whales (yes, really!)
As I was talking of lost buses on the Sandbanks ferry, I found this about its history the other day which has some interest, though it's a little long-winded. I didn't realise the chains apparently only last about 18 months!
The website on the Sandbanks Ferry was fascinating and all the other links it contained. I should imagine being on board when it was swept out to see must have been a bit scary - I wasn't that confident when it was trundling across the mouth of the bay!
Nor me! Prices a tad higher there now
There's an article on this HERE
I didn't know about Aunt Mimi. It's a shame her bungalow has since been redeveloped but almost all the original houses have been now due to the value of the land. My first bus driving lessons were along Panorama Road and I later occasionally ran the route from Poole Bus Station...usually empty. Millionaires rarely caught the bus!
![Country: GREAT BRITAINOperator: -Item: Aqua [AQUA]Class or Maker: -Wheel Arrangement or Type: -Number: -Place details: Floating Bridge to SHELL BAY for SwanageAdditional notes: Month/Year correct, Floating Bridge to Swanage & StudlandOriginal source material: Agfa 35mm slidePhotographer: Philip TattCopyright: A P & E TattLibrary locator reference: TATT025130937 Transport Photograph Database1963AUG15TATT217cs](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Wz4iaATA7GogMGCHb_QP70bS_edJ2M7RaWDp5fzcentbbcybsj9aHJTdJEijvJhKJVfliVx7wIIcZz30apvRexXay_C6KQq2db01fTqbmNA=w1280)
A 1974 brochure showing how cheap the ferry was then
I would imagine there was room for considerable dispute in regard to Item 3!
A lovely Ford Zodiac MkIII with a Tudor Webasto sunroof waiting to board the ferry to Sandbanks
Photo information: This photograph was taken at Sandbanks during the morning of Sunday 20 April 1969. The Hants & Dorset 7 route ran between Swanage and Bournemouth via Studland, Shell Bay, Sandbanks and Canford Cliffs - antecedent to the present Purbeck Breezer 50. The vehicle seen here had entered service with Hants & Dorset in July 1950 as a Bristol L6G with a luxury coach body by Portsmouth Aviation. In due course it was converted for use as a bus; the chassis was lengthened to 30 feet in November 1961 and a Bristol AVW engine fitted; it was then given a new Eastern Coach Works 39 seat bus body in April 1962 that was suitable for driver-only operation. The rear overhang of the body was cut away to facilitate operation via Sandbanks ferry. Designated as a Bristol LL6B in its revised form, KEL 407 was reaching the end of its service with Hants & Dorset when this photograph was taken; it was withdrawn later in 1969.
Here's a website about the Beatles and their connection with Bournemouth. Also more on Page 4
I printed the staff some T-shirts to sell with a picture of the ferry and "Bramble Bay Ferry" on them to sell back in the mid-90s...some surplus ones are still worn by Helen's children at school for art classes!
That link to the "lifts" is interesting (now removed as the link is now broken) but as I said when we covered the topic before, I'm sure I remember them as being yellow and brown (with stained skylight windows) pretty much the colour of the Yellow Buses.
Yes, me too. I think that was when they were the original bodies made of wooden construction.
The caption said Boscombe beach 1908.When they put it on the pier, it must have been the most excitingthing ever to happen at the Boscombe end!
(left) Have since found this and caption reads..........
"A whale was washed up on Boscombe beach in 1897. The Coastguard, acting as an agent for Her Majesty's Receiver of Wrecks, auctioned it off to a local man for £27 who wanted to display its bones. The whale skeleton was eventually displayed on the Boscombe pier, on a specially constructed support, as an attraction for visitors and tourists."
More information found along with this image (left)
"ON TUESDAY JANUARY 5th 1897, a passing merchant ship struck a blue whale off the coast of Bournemouth. During the next two days, the tides washed it ashore, just East of Boscombe Pier. It was 70ft long and weighed over 40 tonnes.
The Coastguard organised an auction to dispose of the whale, which had drawn large, curious crowds to the beach. Dr Spencer Simpson secured the creature, with a cheque for £27.00, made payable to Queen Victoria. He intended to display the skeleton along with relevant lectures.
A delay on the doctor's part to remove the whale, caused the Chief Sanitary Inspector to arrange for its removal on health grounds, which met with some resistance. Most of the blubber was dumped in the sea off Brownsea Island, the rest auctioned at the King's Arms in Poole.
The skeleton was mounted on a frame and remained on Boscombe Pier until 1904, much to the delight of local children, who climbed up and slid down its bleached bones."
Some Old Photographs of Bournemouth
Two shots, taken from pretty much the same location and around the same time. It's before the promenade was built (circa 1914). The one on the right is from a glass lantern slide of around 1907
Since finding some of these very old photos I've discovered a new website with some 3 pages of amazing old, high-quality images - The Day Collection
Here's a couple of examples from that site..........
(Right) I vaguely remember there used to be a tree walk in the gardens at Boscombe, do you???
I have no recollection of this at all – not a good start for me!
Bournemouth 1911.mp4Here's a video from the BFI website filmed in 1911 with some astonishing footage!
Beautiful Bournemouth 1950s.mp4I'd forgotten about the towable ice cream vans and the guy with the cool box selling ice creams on the beach
Bournemouth Scenes.mp4Plenty more in this one too - from 1961
Bournemouth Dorset 1960s Pt 1 & 2 videos combined.mp4And yet more!!!
Great videos! - the Edwardians certainly knew how to bathe in the sea.....bit too much leg showing though, I thought. And in the 1961 film, I had to laugh when I saw the family in the Vauxhall Victor park right outside the pier entrance and run off to spend the day on the beach! I suppose the other three car owners in Bournemouth had gone off to Weymouth for the day and the policeman was too busy seeing holidaymakers across the road to bother with parking infringements.
Yes, I thought that when I watched it!
Note East Beach Café on the left, knotted handkerchief hat (and metal elasticated shirt sleeve raisers!) and plenty of other hat-wearing men.
I remember my Dad wearing a "ribbed" jumper like the one in the left foreground.
I'm not sure where we are going with the "Nostalgia" documents. I really don't want to do a "personal" history and it is the old times when we used to meet up, either at Bournemouth or train-spotting in London or going to each others' houses that most interest me. I'd like to plug away at those times really as there must be stuff that you can remember that I may have forgotten and vice versa (like me recalling the Strawberry flavoured smell that you got when travelling on the Chingford train to Liverpool Street and you recalling the green remote control cars which I had forgotten).
I still think there's stuff there we can dig up and I'd like to try. But it takes us both to want to I suppose.
Bathroom cupboard catches....these are not quite right ...need to be a tad more Art Deco... couldn't find the toilet roll holder. (Well it was a bit cheap, wasn't it?)
I think they’re spot-on! What a find – well done.
(Right) Do you think this is the one (imagine it green!)?
Goodness me, that beauty must have come from a pleasant bathroom! Makes me want to dash off for a Poo right now! It's the right style, indeed, but I imagined it as in slightly sharper relief, and didn't it have a sort of machined finish under the paint? Details..details, but boy, you're really getting down to the basics now! What about that shaving mirror which seemed to always hang precariously on the small window fastening arm? Oh and the bath taps. Weren't they the sort of 'dolls house' type that weren't fixed on the top edge of the bath but protruded through the end either side of the overflow fitting?
The "step" design is right but I recall it being more rectangular and I think it had a "crackle" finish? I used to have one of those shaving mirrors on a scissor bracket at one of my previous homes. Don't remember the bath taps at all!
Nanna and Pop's Belling bed warmer! (Light bulb inside as a heat source...what a good idea!)
Yeah, we mentioned this one in earlier (see Page 6) but didn’t have a photo (I’ve found a bigger one on Google! – but not quite in the Hammerite metallic grey that I recall)
Music
I think the make I was trying to remember was Watkins. They did guitars and amps and the echo machine called a Copicat. Here's a link!
By the way, 159 Guineas equates to £167 (or £2,366 in today's values!)
No, we definitely didn’t –not cool!! I still have all the chord books. I’ll scan some more to remind you!
Yes, me too.
I was going to attach a photo of my original guitar tuner (orange mouth organ type thing with three tubes facing one way and 3 the other). I'll try to find it and send a photo!! (See Right)
The other tape recorder (see page7 for the Ferguson one) (I didn't know it but BSR stood for Birmingham Sound Recorders...Coo! So high tech’ in those days!). We eventually had to replace this one because it developed a humm. I think the replacement came from a second-hand shop, maybe in Bournemouth, in an off-white case with the same BSR deck. That also eventually went wrong and I spent quite a bit of pocket money having it repaired but it never recovered properly.
When I was searching for pictures of the Ferguson tape recorder I had I stumbled upon a bloke who was selling one on Gumtree (£20) so I bought it just to look at! I may get it working one day so I can listen to all my old reel to reel tapes.
Miscellanea
Can't find Nanna and Pop's door handles...i.e. the one that spookily self-turned that evening but I can picture the design exactly with the light green paintwork
Yeah, I can remember the style (flat handles? - subsequently found photo that included them - see page10) but, wow, what a weird moment that was. What the hell could it have been?
I was also looking for those Indian Brass pots that we used to make station announcements in (oh, er and fart into!). I expect someone in the family has still got those!
I think Marion & John have them.
Don’t know – I can’t remember that bit of apparatus!
I don't know if you ever visited or have even heard of Dobwalls when it had all its American railroad circuits in a park in Cornwall. We took our kids there once on holiday about 15 years ago and it was terrific - a really good day out with many different gauge steam railway circuits over quite a large area. There are still references to it on the web.
Anyway, it closed down rather unexpectedly a few years back and a Parley local, Mr Plowman, who owns a fledgling Garden Centre half way between here and the airport, bought some of the locomotives. I think he found he was a bit out of his depth (and it was beyond his wallet) with such expensive lumps of engineering to maintain. However, it seems he has set out a miniature railway circuit in a field behind the garden centre (less than half a mile from here) and is starting a local attraction of his own.
Goodness knows where the West Parley Model Engineering Club came from but suddenly here it is. I must go and look it over sometime...before the Winter gets a hold!
I wondered where it had come from because I kept finding pictures of the model railway in Parley when I was searching on Google – now I know! I have been trying to find a picture of those kites they used to sell on Bournemouth promenade (the ones with the rotating wings) but can't find one anywhere. I suppose none survived more than one or two seasons at most.
Later - this place has now closed - see THIS
I still have been unable to find an illustration of the twin-rotor armed kite I was thinking of. I can still picture it flying above the beach and am sure it was quite popular in the '50s/'60s so here's a crude drawing instead.................
..........I also have a vague recollection of this version but can't find an image anywhere either.
Incidentally, I note that all the light decorations on the prom (butterflies, birds, flowers, etc.) have been stripped from the lampposts to just leave the main light now. That's a shame and I wonder why? Cost, vandalism, wanting to become more modern? They've also changed the lamp unit but I think the post and base is original?
Yes, it so happens we were down there a week ago and noticed the same. Some of the character has gone we thought. Also, half the larger rectangular end of Boscombe pier has been removed so that it's just a sort of fishing platform now. The surf reef never worked...if you see any aerial photos of it you'll realise that it was pathetically small for a multimillion-pound project!
Trainspotting & Bus-spotting!
I know we used to meet in London at the weekends to go train-spotting and we went from terminal to terminal; King's Cross, Paddington, Liverpool Street, Euston and Waterloo. I think we did try a few of the others occasionally (e.g. Victoria, Charing Cross, etc.) but stuck to the main ones. I can't remember much more than the fact we went. Can you?
Yes, I do remember touring the London Stations...most especially King's Cross where there was one platform end where all the train-spotters gathered. There used to be about ten spotters at the end of the platform waiting for something exciting to come out of the tunnels. Diesels, Deltics, Class 31's and Diesel Multiple units were much in evidence in those days. I distinctly recall watching an A4 leaving from that platform, wheel spinning as they did and heading off into the smoke-filled tunnel just outside. I believe that was where people used to put pennies on the rails to get them crushed into larger sizes. Some A4's had corridor tenders, didn't they? We spent most of the day going round on the Circle Line as I recall!!
I know we used to, occasionally, buy Red Rover tickets either to travel between stations or did we also get them to travel on buses to do a bit of bus-spotting?
I was trying to recall the different types of the above but Googling it has me confused. Differing colours, bus-only, etc.? Can you remember?
Certainly with school mates, probably in the years 1960 - 62, I remember we used to buy a Twin Rover ticket (the price of 4/6 comes to mind or maybe 4/3...a Red Rover for buses only would have been considered a too long-winded method of travel to us and we'd travel randomly around London with no particular destination in mind. Duffel bags replete with egg sandwiches, Coca Cola and perhaps a Nestle crunch bar were essentials! Undoing the Duffel bag drawstring released an overwhelming (and embarrassing) stench of boiled egg which ensured the sandwiches could be eaten without disturbance.