Tales from the Tracks (2024)

28/08/2024

No return to Hogwarts Day! Announced earlier this month in a statement which has shocked many Potter Heads, the reasoning by Kings Cross not to celebrate its place in the fictional school timetable remains a mystery. The celebration has been an annual event, reaching a pinnacle last year with the main concourse hosting a huge stage, performance and games launch. All in addition to the hallowed departure board announcement. Whether its cancellation is due to safety concerns, disruption caused to passengers or J K Rowling’s fall from grace, in the minds of Potter fans the 1st of September will forever be associated with Kings Cross station.
Photo credit: Tales from the Tracks

26/08/2024

You missed it! Thank you to all those who joined one of our 2024 tours (special Honourable mention to those who braved Saturday’s wet and windy weather!) By the way, to the lady wearing the black jacket who joined us at short notice: I never received a booking email, I’ve checked, and your booking wasn’t received, so I’ve left Saturday’s tour on the website, as I’m sure you’d like the opportunity to pay)

Fancy joining a tour next year we’ve launched our 2025 programme. Bookings are now open so take a look at: www.talesfromthetracks.com

BTW tour tickets make a great gift! We love to create bespoke gift cards & vouchers ready for you to post to the lucky recipient. Drop us an email for more details: [email protected]

21/08/2024

Tales on Tour! This week finds me delving further into railway history at the academic research event hosted by The University of York. While I enjoy some serious railway geekdom, here’s a photo of the city’s iconic station.

20/08/2024

If you've been here you're sure to recognise this 3 in 1 clock but where is it?
I love it and always consider it a welcome to my favourite city.

17/08/2024

Last call for the August 24th 10.30 departure!
Let us guide you through the town, along the way discover how the arrival of the railway transformed Folkestone from a struggling fishing port to the destination of choice for the rich, famous and Royal.
Bookings for the final 2024 tour close this week.
For more information & to secure your tickets visit: www.talesfromthetracks.com

14/08/2024

Trawling through my photos I realised that I’ve not shared this one of the Azuma centenary livery stopped at Kings Cross last year. Whilst LNER were keen to champion their “heritage” the cynic in me notes that their promotional literature fails to mention that, just like the other “Big Four”, they ceased to exist on the 1st January 1948. Re-emerging as a brand in 2018 following the removal of the Intercity East Coast franchise from Virgin by the Department of Transport. So more like a total of 30 years, but nice graphics.

https://www.lner.co.uk/about-us/lner-100/
Photo credit: Tales from the Tracks

10/08/2024

Where will you at 10.30 am in two weeks time? Getting ready to discover more of the railway history of this place?
Join our last Folkestone tour and hear the human side of how a railway transformed a town (including a scandal or 2!)
Book your tickets at: www.talesfromthetracks.com

07/08/2024

Whilst reviewing photos for last weeks post I noticed these markings on the axle. Am I mistaken or is that a “war arrow”? A very brief Google brought this up “Under the Public Store Act of 1875 the symbol has been applied in any metal object supplied or issued by the War Office”. Whilst at times of war the railway network came under government direction, did parts made at that time have to incorporate the government insignia?

31/07/2024

The latest addition to Folkestone’s Harbour Arm (formerly known as the South Pier) are set to see redundant rolling stock put to a new use. Earlier in the year I posted about the repurposing of carriages as holiday homes, but how many others have become stationary eateries? These ones follow the example of the Harbour Arm’s very successful Shesells Seashells. The East Kent Railway will have their own establishment at Eythorne station. Over in Wiltshire the ex - Tetbury station has the exquisite Mary Jane Carriage as part of its Old Goods Shed café facilities. Do you know of more?

http://www.shed-arts.co.uk/
Folkestone Harbour Arm

09/07/2024

Yes, our last "Life between the Tracks" tour takes place this coming Saturday.
For more information & to book your tickets at: www.talesfromthetracks.com

06/07/2024

So what is the railway connection to Durbar Hall, and how did it end up at Hastings? In short, Brassey! As I gazed around the hall my eye was caught by an information panel which mentioned the surname, my mind was triggered but it was only later that the connection was put together for me. Railway contractor, Thomas Brassey’s (1805-1870) legacy is said to be 1 in every 20 miles of railway track laid WORLDWIDE in his lifetime. His son Thomas, the 1st Earl Brassey, purchased the Durbar Hall when the exhibition closed, having it installed into his Park Lane home to use as a Smoking Room. Thomas Brassey (Snr) lived his final years and is buried close to Hastings. It was his grandson, Thomas (2nd Earl Brassey) who gifted the Durbar Hall, together with his grandmother’s ethnographic collection to Hastings Museum & Art Gallery in 1919. The hall would not go on show until 1930 when extension works to the museum building, to house the hall, was completed.
Hastings Museum & Art Gallery opens Tuesdays- Sundays (inclusive) and is free to enter.

Image credit: Wikipedia

05/07/2024

Have you booked yet? The last 2024 guided walk of Ashford's railway village takes place next Saturday. Don't miss this opportunity to discover the history that's hidden in plain sight.
Book your place at www.talesfromthetracks.com

03/07/2024

When you’re interested in railway history there seems to be a connection wherever you go – even at a friend's wedding! Last Saturday I had the privilege of attending the wedding of Peter & Tilly at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery. It took place in their sumptuous and simply fabulous Durbar Hall. Hand-carved in teak and cedar by two Punjabi craftsmen, it was created for the 1886 Indian & Colonial Exhibition held in South Kensington. The exhibition aided to "stimulate commerce and strengthen the bonds of union now existing in every portion of Her Majesty's Empire". Although most of the 5.5 million visitors would have travelled there by train, that’s not the railway connection I discovered. Do you know what this atmospheric demonstration of skill and design has to do with railways?
Please add your comments, all will be revealed in my next post (due to be released this Saturday)

27/06/2024

Last call for this weekend's Seaside Special - Folkestone.
A tour through the railway history of a seaside town, from fishing to fashion parade!
Book your tickets at: www.talesfromthetracks.com

25/06/2024

Ask anyone interested in railways to name a "Railway Village" and I'd bet money that the first place that springs to their mind is Swindon. Home to the GWR's workshops, the company's worker's village remains almost completely intact (thanks to its conservation area status) but for years its light has been hidden by a general air of neglect. But not anymore! Learn about the area's history and its ongoing transformation on one of this summer's guided walks.
Walks are free - book your place by contacting: [email protected]

22/06/2024

Next week will you be at Folkestone Central station ready to delve into the town's railway history?
Find out exactly when, where and how at www.talesfromthetrack.com

17/06/2024

This is a bit of a random post, but look what I discovered in a Hastings junk shop; it was only 50p!
I love a bit of railway-associated ephemera and this has such a “snapshot in time” feel to it that I couldn’t resist. I’m pretty sure it’s a museum, I’m sure my friends at Ashford International Model Railway Education Centre will be able to identify the gage, if not the type of models on show. Maybe Brighton Toy and Model Museum can help.
The hunt for information will be international as on the reverse is the photographer's details “Lane Studio, Gettysburg, Pa”. A quick Google brought up the Adams County Historical Society at Gettysburg, who've uploaded their collection of Lane Studio photos to Flickr, mainly portraits and nothing similar to this. (BTW if they’d like it I’ll gladly post it to them).
Intrigued? I am, I'll keep you posted.

14/06/2024

Did you miss it last year?
We've had requests so we're doing it again!

Visit www.talesfromthetracks.com or scan the QR code to book your tickets

11/06/2024

Calling all 1st Class Eurostar passengers! Please let us in on the secret

Did you get to choose from this selection this morning? Or are the offerings of 2000 a bit passe for 2024, maybe our tastes now are more avocado on sourdough and overnight oats than scrambled egg Mornay or Fromage Frais with fruit?

07/06/2024

1.35 am on 7th June 1884 - The silence of early morning rural Kent shattered as the progress of 38 loaded wagons, complete with 2 locomotives and tenders was abruptly halted by the train standing at Sevenoaks station. The first train was scheduled to pause at Sevenoaks, to take on water, before continuing up the line. The second was to run straight through on its way to London, maintaining a speed of nearly 25 miles per hour throughout that section of track. Neither crew had the opportunity to take evasive action or save themselves from the inevitable collision, resulting in two fatalities and two men receiving serious injuries. The subsequent enquiry concluded that the crash had been avoidable, considering that although the South Eastern Railway’s system had inherent errors, ultimately the blame lay at the hands of the Hildenborough and Sevenoaks No. 2 signalmen. I have been unable to ascertain what the consequences were for those men, hopefully, nothing like that of the principal character of Charles Dickens tale “The Signal-man”. Although his portrayal of working conditions for the men tasked with ensuring the safe passage of trains at that time may cast some light on their experiences.

01/06/2024

30 years ago today the first freight train ran through the Channel Tunnel. Loaded with Mini’s and Rover cars being exported to Italy, it served as a double promotion of British engineering.

28/05/2024

Where is the Channel Tunnel’s UK terminal?
Well, the original model, created to show investors and the public what it would look like is now housed at the Elham Valley Line Trust’s Railway Museum at Peene. The museum shares an association with the Channel Tunnel, the land lease on which it stands was awarded by Eurotunnel in 1990 to the trustees for the construction of a museum and craft centre. The craft centre is housed within George’s Barn, a 300-year-old barn relocated from land now occupied by the Tunnel terminal. Entirely volunteer run the museum features a lovely reconstruction of a period station together with a whole range of railway items.

Open on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from 10-4 pm (until November)
Adults £4.00, Children £3.00 and miniature train rides just £1.00!
Top tip: Don’t miss the second-hand railway bookshop!

- this post is not sponsored or affiliated with any organisation.

Image credit: Ann Austin taken at Elham Valley Line Trust Countryside Centre, Peene, Folkestone, Kent CT18 8AZ.

27/05/2024

Anniversary of Euston’s Great Hall opening, having stood for 124 years its demolition still evokes comment today –
“one of the most remarkable pieces of transport architecture London has ever had, and which, in the 1960’s, we decided would be a good idea to reduce to rubble for sh*ts and giggles.” – Londonist, January, 2024.

Credit: Photo by Etienne Frossard

25/05/2024

“Did you miss today’s walk?
Book now to ensure your place on our final 2024 "Life between the Tracks" guided walk through railway history on Saturday 13th July.
Find out more & book your tickets at: www.talesfromthetracks.com

24/05/2024

Tomorrow's weather is set to be perfect for a wander through railway history so book your tickets now and join me in the sunshine

www.talesfromthetracks.com

22/05/2024

Hopefully, Folkestone's most eco-friendly transport will return to operation in the near future.

21/05/2024

Today’s Channel Tunnel owes at least a nod of gratitude to a late Kent MP.
Sir Edward Watkins, the renowned railway entrepreneur, served as MP of the area between 1874 and 1895. Envisaging a smooth route between Paris and Manchester for both passengers and goods, he pushed through plans for a railway tunnel below the English Channel to be part of the South Eastern Railway’s holdings. When national security concerns prompted political will to wane, Watkins simply formed another company, The Submarine Continental Railway Company, to drum up funds and continued progress shaft 1 from Abbot’s Cliff and shaft 2 from Shakespeare Cliff. The first descent into shaft 2 was commemorated by the presentation of this decorative box to Mrs Watkins. Ultimately it would take High Court action to enforce tunnelling cessation.

Image credit: Ann Austin taken at Elham Valley Line Trust Countryside Centre, Peene, Folkestone, Kent CT18 8AZ.

16/05/2024

Have you booked your tickets yet?
This is the last call for those wanting to delve into railway history this Saturday.

Find out more & to book tickets visit: www.talesfromthetracks.com

14/05/2024

Do you remember this little fellow?
No, me neither but copyrighted in 1988, Marcus the mole was Eurotunnel’s mascot. Created as a promotional aid aimed at engaging children the range and number of items created is simply staggering – how about a Marcus skateboard, computer game (on cassette), roller boots or produced, especially for the opening, the CD!

The choice of a mole as a character is not wholly surprising, after all, tunnelling machines are often referred to as moles but why this rather than a train? Marcus was used on both Le Shuttle and Eurotunnel publicity. I haven’t discovered when Marcus went into retirement but thanks to YouTube we can all still enjoy the CD tracks: https://youtu.be/W4g6j1aFfcE?si=smmUXh9owDUHHpBb

Image credit: Ann Austin taken at Elham Valley Line Trust Countryside Centre, Peene, Folkestone, Kent CT18 8AZ.

10/05/2024

Saturday 25th May is our first 2024 “ Life between the Tracks” –
The full tour of the railway village. 1.5 hours of railway history through the life stories of those who called it home.

For more details and to book your tickets visit: www.talesfromthetracks.com

Monday	09:00 - 16:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 16:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 16:00
Thursday	11:00 - 16:00
Friday	11:00 - 16:00

Tales from the Tracks