Erk's Northern Hemiwanderer, June 2014

[erkpod]

Makes me wonder if egates will properly detect your face if you grow a beard?

Smart Gate doesn't seem to have an issue. The only issue it has is with glasses. No glasses on passport equals no glasses through Smart Gate.

 

[erkpod]

Bank has a great gap action
Some of the gaps are massive.

I could hire myself out to TfL as a gap tester. If I can fit in the gap, fail.

 

[erkpod]

Ha, Erkpod, I can see the flat I stayed in. The round section at the top left of the red brick building behind the station was the dining area!

That is close to transport!

 

[OATEK]

That is close to transport!

One morning a Britannia 4-6-2 came steaming out of Euston on a charter - very spectacular! Used to get great pics of the Pendolinos from the bedroom window - locals thought I was a bit strange.

 

[erkpod]

One morning a Britannia 4-6-2 came steaming out of Euston on a charter - very spectacular! Used to get great pics of the Pendolinos from the bedroom window - locals thought I was a bit strange.

If only that place earnt VFF points!

 

[cove]

I will try to corrupt you erkpod if we get to meet in the northern hemisphere.

 

[erkpod]

Friday 13 June
Day 11
London, England

With a big weekend planned, I decided to have a quieter day today.

Getting up earlyish, I bid farewell to my American & Icelandic roomies. Breakfast followed (I just missed it yesterday morning!) & then I caught the 98 bus to Tottenham Court Rd Tube station.

I decided I was going to Embankment to catch a ferry but I was on a train that didn't stop there due to station upgrading.

In the meantime, I decided to hit Camden Town instead. I'd heard good things about live music there.

Changing to a Northern line train at Waterloo, I retraced my steps. I mused that it was strange that there are two Northern line routes through Central London & that the southern end of the line is well south.

Getting off at Camden Town, I checked out some of the markets & saw some of the canal. I want to read more about the canal trips before returning on Monday or Tuesday.

After spending a couple of hours in Camden Town but sick of the chuggers & the people manning the stalls hassling me, I decided to get a new Routemaster to Hampsted Heath.

A tiny amount of train spotting (can easily go back!) & I return to Willesden Green via West Hamstead.

Finding that none of the pubs I dropped into at WG had food, I ended up going on the 98 to Kilburn High Road again for some KFC before returning to the lodge to recharge.

My first new roomie has arrived - another American from the Bay Area.

 

[erkpod]

I will try to corrupt you erkpod if we get to meet in the northern hemisphere.

Sunday!!!!!

 

[erkpod]

Lots of people at breakfast!



The bar during non bar hours.



The pretend World Cup has disappeared. The last people I saw with it were the hot Brazilian girls last night. Maybe the staff will bring it out tonight again.





Erk is here *points to Tottenham Court Rd*

 

[erkpod]

This guy takes his pet street sweeper for a walk.



I don't have to queue - I have an Oyster card!



A train was waiting for me when I arrived on the platform - held awaiting a proceed signal indication.





A quick cross corridor change at Waterloo & I was off to Camden Town.

 

[erkpod]

If I was running the Underground, I'd scrap the Northern line name for the southern half of the line. I'd also give the lines via Bank & Charing Cross their own identities.

 

[erkpod]

The first thing my photographic eye caught after the Tube station was the canal.











Will have to devote some time to explore this further.

 

[boomy]

Good to be in England, especially during the World Cup. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

[erkpod]

Back at the Tube station, I found an ambulance & what I'd call a chase car or a rapid responder car

Not to be outdone, I saw my first static fire engine. Notice the safety messages on the locker doors - a great idea!

 

[erkpod]

Taking advantage of being in my favourite seat (which is getting harder to get!) enroute to Hampstead Heath.

 

[erkpod]

Hampstead Heath was closer than I thought & the bus soon terminated. Some passenger had a sookylala with the conductor (the new Routemasters have conductors for some reason) as the bus terminated.









Bus photos at Hampstead Heath.

 

[erkpod]

110m v 650m - no prizes for guessing which I picked.





The orange is growing on me...



!!!!!

 

[erkpod]

Train spotting at Hamstead Heath.





Train complete.

 

[erkpod]

Overground train spotting at Hamstead Heath.





The pantograph is the metal arm that collects the overhead current & sends it into the train. It is lowered when using the 3rd rail.







Caption me this....

 

[erkpod]

Jubilee line train at plain ol' Kilburn (not Kilburn Park or Kilburn High Road).



Jubilee line train at Willesden Green. I'm not sure if the signal box (my term) behind the train is still operational.



Possibly my last train at Willesden Green.



Metropolitan line train runs on the fast line past Willesden Green enroute to Wembley.



I could have waited around for the train to Not In Service but I was hungry.