Golden Carousel

The Golden Carousel, during the day.

If you take a trip down the Queen's Walk on the South Bank, you will discover a Carousel that is always running, come rain or shine. It is the only fairground ride along this stretch of pedestrianised pavement and so looks a little out of place. 

You can almost certainly guarantee that whenever I am passing it, my girls will want to take a ride on it, regardless of the weather or time of day. And who am I to object?

Erin and Keilyn enjoying a ride on the Golden Carousel, on a sunny afternoon.

Many people assume, wrongly, that it is just like all the other Carousels that are seen around the country and the world, throughout the warmer months.

Dead Man's Hole

Dead Man's Hole.

Beneath the northern end of Tower Bridge is a small tiled alcove that many people walk by without even noticing. Those that do stop to look at this unassuming hollow have no idea about its macabre history, or why it is there.

During the construction of Tower Bridge, in 1886, the alcove was created and finished in white shiny tiles, in sharp contrast to the stone and cobbles that covered the rest of the bridge. 

'National Windrush Monument' by Basil Watson

The National Windrush Monument.

Anyone travelling through Waterloo station, since late June of this year, will almost definitely have seen the 3.5 metre (11.5 feet) tall bronze National Windrush Monument. 

The Monument depicts a family (father, mother, daughter) dressed in their 'Sunday Best', while standing atop seven suitcases, which contain all of their worldly belongings from their Caribbean home. 

The monument is dedicated to all those who emigrated from the Caribbean to Britain between the arrival of the ship HMT Empire Windrush on 22 June 1948 and the Immigration Act 1971.

RATs on the London Underground

A C69/77 stock train converted to be a Rail Adhesion Train (RAT) on the Metropolitan line.

Every now and again I see these Rail Adhesion Trains, usually in the Autumn/Winter months and usually at Watford Metropolitan line station, but I never understood what they did.

Coming back from London, last Sunday evening, a Rail Adhesion Train was in the sidings, so I took a photograph and decided to do so some research to find out what this train actually does.

Christmas Lights By Bus Tour

 

Crowning Glory.

Sunday November 27, 2022.

As a treat my mum booked tickets for herself, my grandson Theodore, Erin, Keilyn, Emma and myself.

After meeting up at Watford Metropolitan line station, we made our way to Finchley Road, where we changed to a Jubilee line train and continued on to Waterloo.

As we had arrived early we had time to grab a warm drink and a quick snack, form one of the many stalls along the Embankment.

A little something to warm us up.

Suitably fed and watered we made our way to our stop, on Belvedere Road, and waited in line for our bus. Being at the front of the queue enabled us to pick the best seats. Erin, Keilyn and Theodore sat at the front of the top deck, below the covered area while Emma, mum and myself sat in the open air, which allowed for a better view.

Our Carriage Awaits.

The weather, which had been unsettled and drizzly for most of the morning, was dry with a mild temperature, until we boarded the bus and the drizzle started again.