Just a couple or three inspirational pictures today.

First, Waddon Marsh in 1929.  Before the station was built and the industrial development around the area, and only one of the two power stations had been built.  Also pre-electrification.  Great details such as the ground frame in the open in the foreground, with two smart railway employees and their hut behind.  And what must be the little toilet hut behind.  There’s some fine fencing next to the road on the left, with an interesting ‘bump’ where a private siding seems to cross the main line and join the sidings.  In the background, the many factories and other works are expanding.

I’ve posted this second picture before, but I’ll add it for comparison.  Although the Waddon line remained quite rural, the Croydon end became heavily developed, with a second power station (now an IKEA superstore.)  This is in later BR days, perhaps the early 1960’s.

Both pictures are inspiring and have lots of modelling detail.

And in contrast, here’s Victoria in 1951.  A Merchant Navy class, probably in blue livery, heads the Golden Arrow.  A small boy looks on.  Another great picture of a bygone age.

And why not add these three pictures of St Lawrence station, the last stop before Ventnor West on the Isle of Wight.  A strange halt, tucked under the cliffs along the coast.  In it’s early days there was one siding, just the other side of the road bridge, for the odd sack of coal.  The bridge is still there, with its nasty sharp zig-zag in the road, as is the station building, now a private dwelling.  Like the first photograph, a simple but very satisfying scene.