More from #TracksideTransformations. I used to work about halfway between Kingston and Surbiton stations. Looking at this portrait I can tell you exactly what it sounds and smells like at that exact moment, even the feel of the road traffic rumbling through my feet. Brilliant photography.

Nice livery you've got there. It'd be a shame if someone came along and plonked wonky Union Flags all over it. Oh. They have.

Let's look at stations built by the LNER (Grouping version 1923-47, not today's TOC!). (Of course this is partly a plug for new book #TracksideTransformation by @artdecomagpie.bsky.social and me which profiles survivors: pre-order yours for a nice saving on the cover price at: kck.st/3YjDPIO) 1/11

Four new station records added to the Mainline Station Heritage Artefacts Collection with thanks to a regular contributor and one updated. If you're inspired to join them, full details via the link. Updates include Claverdon's station name sign made of stones.

Eight new station records added to the Mainline Station Heritage Artefacts Collection with thanks to a regular contributor. If you're inspired to join them, full details via the link. Updates include the ticket office windows at Hatch End which retain their now-rare "Speak Here" grilles.

I don't think this picture needs any words! Well, OK. Just a couple .... #Wow #Splendid and ... what incredible work by UK Rail Leasing who have completed this work for us at @125.group. @todaysrailwaysuk.bsky.social @railfocus.bsky.social

Four new and one updated records added to the Mainline Station Heritage Artefacts Collection thanks to a regular contributor. If you're inspired to join them, full details via the link. Updates include Wendy Hardie's remarkable frieze in the underpass at Hackney Wick.

Let's look at stations built by the Great Western Railway (post-Grouping version 1923-47). (Of course this is partly a plug for new book #TracksideTransformation by @artdecomagpie.bsky.social and me which profiles survivors: pre-order yours for a saving on the cover price at: kck.st/3YjDPIO) 1/11

Nine new and four updated records added to the Mainline Station Heritage Artefacts Collection thanks to two different contributors. If you're inspired to join them, full details via the link. Updates include Lichfield Trent Valley's huge stone name sign / distance marker © Hazel NIcholson

Side entrance and bridge at Bishopstone station, East Sussex

Two station pages opened on the Station Heritage Artefacts Collection today, thanks to one of my regular correspondents. Including this coloured glass window at Kenilworth, salvaged from the previous station building (© Hazel Nicholson). Join in via https://stationheritageartefacts.org.uk

I really like this signal box and I really like @artdecomagpie.bsky.social’s capture of it here. (For more of This Sort of Thing do give Philip a follow, he is currently posting some lovely railway shots from the upcoming book )

In some ways this is Very Disappointing. First, for architectural reasons (obvs - have you seen it?), and second, because it was starting to look like White Rose would join that exclusive list of stations built but unopened like Lullingstone, Collywell Bay... www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/news/deadloc...

Eight new or updated records added to the Mainline Station Heritage Artefacts Collection thanks to two different contributors. If you're inspired to join them, full details are on the website. Updates include this fabulous British Railways-era(?) warning sign © Hazel NIcholson

Footbridge at Exeter St Davids station, showing original GWR tiling (1938), and murals by Bridget Hall (1992)

Let's look at stations built by the London, Midland & Scottish Railway (1923-47). (Of course this is partly a plug for new book #TracksideTransformation by @artdecomagpie.bsky.social and me which profiles survivors: pre-order your copy for a saving on the cover price at: kck.st/3YjDPIO) 1/11

I am absolutely here for decluttering, BSL screens, accessibility improvements, but why on earth are GTR inventing a whole new wayfinding schema when (a) Network Rail's Wayfinding manual already exists, and (b) GBR wants to re-sign stations too in the near future? www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/govia-tha...

Ten new or updated records added to the Mainline Station Heritage Artefacts Collection thanks to seven different contributors. If you're inspired to join them, full details are on the website. (NSE totem image by Lewis Collard / rail.lewiscollard.com)

Today's artefacts records added to stationheritageartefacts.org.uk are: - East Midlands Parkway - Eastleigh - Edinburgh Gateway - Edinburgh Park - Effingham Junction - Haymarket Submit artefacts you've found at stations: stationheritageartefacts.org.uk/join-in/

Let's talk about stations built by the Southern Railway (1923-47) but rather than happy survivors, some which have been lost or are under threat. (Of course this is partly a plug for new book #TracksideTransformation by @artdecomagpie.bsky.social and me which profiles survivors: kck.st/3YjDPIO) 1/9

Havant is really attractive station, yet little known for its architecture (lots of people change trains there, I bet most of them don't know what it looks like at the front). Sadly it lost its SR loos a few years back, but still scope to restore its booking hall windows I reckon. kck.st/3YjDPIO

I thought it might be interesting to share some of the background to #TracksideTransformation (pre-order your copy at a discount on cover price at kck.st/3YjDPIO). I grew up in Luton (LMS station, 1939) and Hastings (Southern station, 1931). I'm very fond of Grouping-era stations.

Thanks so much to @ianvisits.co.uk for covering @artdecomagpie.bsky.social’s and my new book Trackside Transformation on mainline station architecture of the Grouping era.

ICYMI - A new book about mainline railway station architecture from the Grouping era 1923-47 by @artdecomagpie.bsky.social (photography) and me (words). Pre-order for a discount: www.kickstarter.com/projects/art... More details about what's included: thebeautyoftransport.com/2026/01/04/i...

Might be of some interest to people here, the photos look absolutely gorgeous. I've got my copy!

If you just want to go straight for a pre-order on the book (there's a discount on the cover price if you order now) then head for: www.kickstarter.com/projects/art...

I'm excited to announce I've collaborated with photographer Philip Butler (@artdecomagpie.bsky.social) on a book of mainline stations from the Big Four era 1923-47. A treat for lovers of railway Modernism (and Neo-classicism). Full details in article. thebeautyoftransport.com/2026/01/04/i...

I had a lovely time a few days ago talking to @markonthemaps.bsky.social about transport design, aesthetics and its impact on culture. You can hear us on Mark’s podcast (back catalogue highly recommended): www.vectisradio.com/podcasts/cat...

I don’t, and I have wanted to see a copy for a veeeery long time. Can anyone help out @doublearrow64.bsky.social ?

Thank goodness, I can finally say it. I have written a book! With architectural photographer @artdecomagpie.bsky.social! See thread below for a link to pre-register with our Kickstarter so that we can actually pay the printers. More details when we launch officially on 4th January.

Been working on the StationHeritageArtefacts.org.uk website. Sadly this absolutely splendid pair of newel posts with their maker's marks in very good condition, don't qualify as the footbridge they are attached to is some way from Bognor Regis station. But I liked them so much I thought I'd share.

There is a great blog by @thebeautyoftransport.com which looks in detail at transport design, including this post on Hackney Wick

Absolutely all this from @doublearrow64.bsky.social. Two thoughts. (1) What research showed RA2 needed 'improving' in this way, and can DfT prove the changes have achieved the desired effect? (2) NR made a huge deal launching RA2. It is interesting that RA3 has been sneaked out without publicity.

ICMYI - We're all (well, most of us) despairing over the recently revealed GBR branding, but how did we get here, and what is its future? The latest #TheBeautyOfTransport tries to unpick the story. *Now with added 'what has happed to Rail Alphabet 2'?* thebeautyoftransport.com/2025/12/22/u...

A good point well made - I had missed it amongst the other livery nonsense. Whatever the typeface of the GBR logotype is, it's not Rail Alphabet 2. What a wasted opportunity. (Image source: www.gov.uk/guidance/gre...)

#TheBeautyOfTransport is looking at the newly unveiled GBR branding - not just what it is, but how we ended up with it, and how far it will actually spread. It's a long article this time, so plenty to keep you going over the holidays. Season's Greetings!

Good news (or bad, depending on your mileage) there is a new TheBeautyOfTransport.com article coming out later today (maybe good?), it's very long (possibly good, something to read over the festive break?) and it's about how GBR arrived at its recently unveiled branding (oh no).

New on the Stations Heritage Artefacts website is @tarkaman.bsky.social's (thank you!) image of the plaque on the 10,000th ECML electrification mast, at Grantham (stationheritageartefacts.org.uk/artefacts-re...). Contribute your own favourite artefacts: stationheritageartefacts.org.uk/join-in/

Think we can safely say the Design Council isn’t a fan.

Well done to those campaigners. Retention and refurb should be the order of the day for this rare transport building. Think of all the embedded carbon, for a start.

Oh gawd, I suppose I'm obliged to have a take on the Great British Railways livery/branding unveiled today [image from the BBC news website]. Well then, here's a thread. First off, my hot take is that as usual I don't really have one. 1/9

I slightly wonder if this wouldn’t be happening if it were a Victorian tram shelter. Saving Victorian architecture is now seen as ‘worthy’ but mid-20th C buildings don’t have the same value in some people’s eyes… 1/2 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Yes, I have made another website, and this one is dedicated to heritage artefacts at mainline railway stations. You'll find it at... stationheritageartefacts.org.uk

Announcing ‘A Mainline Station Heritage Artefacts Collection’ I have been thinking *a lot* about heritage artefacts at mainline railway stations over the last few years. They are so important in telling the story of the railway station at which they are located (and quite often the history of the…

The new scalable British #NationalRail maps are live from today. Very clever idea in many ways, you zoom in or out for more or less detail. Have a play #rail, @transitmap.net and #map fans! railmap.nationalrail.co.uk#/mapview

Just out of interest, what is the story behind the station signs at Enfield Chase? Are they unique?. Usual thing: the sooner RA2 signage is rolled out (properly!) across as much of the station estate as possible, the better.

The @railwayheritage.bsky.social supported restoration of Richmond is as good as I could have hoped. For so long, Richmond has been Surbiton’s neglected sibling amongst J R Scott’s large London stations. Not any more. Works by SWR and NR to a plan by Benedict O’Looney Architects. Fabulous.

So… will I see it later when I’m at one of the London terminals? Hope so. Glad to hear it has the @doublearrow64.bsky.social seal of approval.

Network Rail’s (and, one assumes, GBR’s) new standard station clock has been unveiled. Provided it’s installed in addition to heritage clocks at stations rather than accidentally replacing them, I’m all in. Very smart. www.creativeboom.com/news/design-...

Inspired by a recent @railwayheritage.bsky.social Advisory Panel meeting, I have visited the superbly restored LB&SCR tiled maps at London Victoria, supported by an RHT grant with work by Southeastern and Benedict O’Looney Architects. [1/4]