February 2012 - a month of two halves
February 2012 started off here in the south as the coldest month of the winter so far. On Friday 3rd overnight temperatures, even in North London were around -6C. There was no let up in the cold weather as the month progressed, more snow on the following Thursday was followed on Friday by the coldest night of the winter so far, -15C at Holbeach. On Saturday morning in the fens freezing fog shrouded everything in ice.
By the following week the cold weather was replaced by dull, overcast but warmer conditions, not much good for picture taking. The cold and clear weather returned, briefly on Sunday 19th when I went out into the Home Counties to get the 4L48 Tesco train. Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st found me taking pictures of stations - London Bridge and the Gare du Nord in Paris.
The final weekend of the month was both sunny and remarkably warm for the end of February, I spent Saturday at Llanvihangel and Cwmbargoed.
Read MoreBy the following week the cold weather was replaced by dull, overcast but warmer conditions, not much good for picture taking. The cold and clear weather returned, briefly on Sunday 19th when I went out into the Home Counties to get the 4L48 Tesco train. Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st found me taking pictures of stations - London Bridge and the Gare du Nord in Paris.
The final weekend of the month was both sunny and remarkably warm for the end of February, I spent Saturday at Llanvihangel and Cwmbargoed.
February 3rd, London Bridge
This Victorian office block on Tooley Street is the General Offfice of the former South Eastern Railway, the name is emblazoned above the entrance. Unfortunately, along with the 1862 trainshed over platforms 9 to 16, it is due to be demolished as part of the programme to rebuild London Bridge for Thameslink. I think this is a huge mistake, London Bridge is certainly not an architectural masterpiece, far from it, but it does contain features which are direct links back to the station's history which deserve to remain part of the London Bridge story going forward.
