The Beauty of Transport
@thebeautyoftransport.com
Examples, opinions, thoughts, retweets of transport art/architecture/design/branding/logos/liveries/moquettes etc from The Beauty of Transport’s @danielhwright.bsky.social Long form articles at:
www.thebeautyoftransport.com
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They weren't as well-used as GWR and LNER ones, for sure. The SR's appeared on a couple of posters and survives at Byfleet & New Haw station. The LMS one appeared on totems at a couple of its new/rebuilt stations; Hoylake (see www.hoylakejunction.com/friday-photo...) and I'm fairly sure Apsley too.
February 8, 2026 at 12:06 PM
They weren't as well-used as GWR and LNER ones, for sure. The SR's appeared on a couple of posters and survives at Byfleet & New Haw station. The LMS one appeared on totems at a couple of its new/rebuilt stations; Hoylake (see www.hoylakejunction.com/friday-photo...) and I'm fairly sure Apsley too.
Thank you very very much to whoever just became backer 200 of #TracksideTransformation.
For anyone else who is thinking of ordering a copy of their own (can recommend; @artdecomagpie.bsky.social’s photos are absolutely super) you have just 3 days left to get one for a saving on the cover price.
For anyone else who is thinking of ordering a copy of their own (can recommend; @artdecomagpie.bsky.social’s photos are absolutely super) you have just 3 days left to get one for a saving on the cover price.
February 4, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Thank you very very much to whoever just became backer 200 of #TracksideTransformation.
For anyone else who is thinking of ordering a copy of their own (can recommend; @artdecomagpie.bsky.social’s photos are absolutely super) you have just 3 days left to get one for a saving on the cover price.
For anyone else who is thinking of ordering a copy of their own (can recommend; @artdecomagpie.bsky.social’s photos are absolutely super) you have just 3 days left to get one for a saving on the cover price.
Stations of the ungrouped railways 1923-47 on the thread today. In the meantime can I just say how annoying it is, when it comes to the Big Four grouped companies, that the LNER has an oval monogram rather than a circular one which matches the other three.
February 3, 2026 at 10:56 AM
Stations of the ungrouped railways 1923-47 on the thread today. In the meantime can I just say how annoying it is, when it comes to the Big Four grouped companies, that the LNER has an oval monogram rather than a circular one which matches the other three.
Sadly, Imperial Airways' flying boat terminal at 108 Berth, Southampton Docks, does not. It had a very short life as a station but survived for many years in other uses. It was eventually demolished; this is the best image I have of it at the moment. www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW...
February 3, 2026 at 9:40 AM
Sadly, Imperial Airways' flying boat terminal at 108 Berth, Southampton Docks, does not. It had a very short life as a station but survived for many years in other uses. It was eventually demolished; this is the best image I have of it at the moment. www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW...
Finally, for complicated reasons largely to do with flying boats and boat trains, Imperial Airways (and later, BOAC) also got involved in the station-building business, working with the Southern. Imperial's Empire Terminal survives at London Victoria. There used to be a station in its basement!
February 3, 2026 at 9:40 AM
Finally, for complicated reasons largely to do with flying boats and boat trains, Imperial Airways (and later, BOAC) also got involved in the station-building business, working with the Southern. Imperial's Empire Terminal survives at London Victoria. There used to be a station in its basement!
Aylesbury station was served by two joint railways, and managed by a joint committee. The LNER ended up with the largest share of the committee, so took the lead on its rebuilding in 1926. But technically the station and its railway companies remained ungrouped. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ay...
February 3, 2026 at 9:40 AM
Aylesbury station was served by two joint railways, and managed by a joint committee. The LNER ended up with the largest share of the committee, so took the lead on its rebuilding in 1926. But technically the station and its railway companies remained ungrouped. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ay...
Some Underground stations were actually built by joint railways. The Great Central's share in the Metropolitan & Great Central Joint Railway passed to the LNER in 1923. The M&GCJR's Watford (1925) was served by the LNER, although it withdrew its trains in 1926. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wa...
February 3, 2026 at 9:40 AM
Some Underground stations were actually built by joint railways. The Great Central's share in the Metropolitan & Great Central Joint Railway passed to the LNER in 1923. The M&GCJR's Watford (1925) was served by the LNER, although it withdrew its trains in 1926. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wa...
The Cheshire Lines Committee opened three stations during the Grouping era. Only tiny Chassen station survives. This is @artdecomagpie.bsky.social's portrait of it - the only photo in this thread from the book. If you want to see the rest of his photos, you'll just have to buy the book I'm afraid.
February 3, 2026 at 9:40 AM
The Cheshire Lines Committee opened three stations during the Grouping era. Only tiny Chassen station survives. This is @artdecomagpie.bsky.social's portrait of it - the only photo in this thread from the book. If you want to see the rest of his photos, you'll just have to buy the book I'm afraid.
But the main category of ungrouped railways were the joint railways, run by partnerships of mainline companies and, post-Grouping, partnerships of the Big Four. On the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway, the loss of Holt (rebuilt 1926) was very sad. (Image via nnrailway.co.uk/portfolio-it...)
February 3, 2026 at 9:40 AM
But the main category of ungrouped railways were the joint railways, run by partnerships of mainline companies and, post-Grouping, partnerships of the Big Four. On the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway, the loss of Holt (rebuilt 1926) was very sad. (Image via nnrailway.co.uk/portfolio-it...)
Many light railways escaped grouping. The North Devon & Cornwall Junction Light Railway of 1925 was operated by the Southern but technically independent. Three stations survive inc Hatherleigh (now a house). Meeth Halt's unusually large building survives too. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Me...
February 3, 2026 at 9:40 AM
Many light railways escaped grouping. The North Devon & Cornwall Junction Light Railway of 1925 was operated by the Southern but technically independent. Three stations survive inc Hatherleigh (now a house). Meeth Halt's unusually large building survives too. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Me...
...Tilbury Riverside survives. Though operated by the LMS it was actually a Port of London Authority station and was built alongside a baggage hall for liners. Today it is being restored as a community space, and is occasionally use as an extra baggage hall for cruise ships.
February 3, 2026 at 9:40 AM
...Tilbury Riverside survives. Though operated by the LMS it was actually a Port of London Authority station and was built alongside a baggage hall for liners. Today it is being restored as a community space, and is occasionally use as an extra baggage hall for cruise ships.
I wonder if the grey line isn't some kind of guide/template line that has got onto the print file. It happened on the NYC Subway but the unintentional line became such a part of the design it was eventually mandated. (I fear Manchester Victoria's version is less iconic tho.) @leaworrall.bsky.social
February 2, 2026 at 5:55 PM
I wonder if the grey line isn't some kind of guide/template line that has got onto the print file. It happened on the NYC Subway but the unintentional line became such a part of the design it was eventually mandated. (I fear Manchester Victoria's version is less iconic tho.) @leaworrall.bsky.social
It has some nice Japanese-style screens too...
February 1, 2026 at 5:47 PM
It has some nice Japanese-style screens too...
I was very tempted to feature Liverpool South Parkway's Superlambanana, but the weighbridge just pipped it.
stationheritageartefacts.org.uk/artefacts-re...
stationheritageartefacts.org.uk/artefacts-re...
February 1, 2026 at 5:28 PM
I was very tempted to feature Liverpool South Parkway's Superlambanana, but the weighbridge just pipped it.
stationheritageartefacts.org.uk/artefacts-re...
stationheritageartefacts.org.uk/artefacts-re...
Agree! I think white might look better here too (Leicester)?
January 29, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Agree! I think white might look better here too (Leicester)?
...the surviving jewel in the crown, Doncaster. Recently benefitting from a @railwayheritage.bsky.social / LNER (the current version) restoration including a landscaped forecourt instead of the previous dismal car park. This is @artdecomagpie.bsky.social's portrait, from the book.
January 29, 2026 at 11:16 AM
...the surviving jewel in the crown, Doncaster. Recently benefitting from a @railwayheritage.bsky.social / LNER (the current version) restoration including a landscaped forecourt instead of the previous dismal car park. This is @artdecomagpie.bsky.social's portrait, from the book.
The best survivors are the group at the eastern end of the Elizabeth line, Maryland (though its neighbouring stations have all lost their LNER-built Streamline Moderne platform buildings except for Stratford), and West Monkseaton/Longbenton which survive on the Tyne & Wear Metro. And of course...
January 29, 2026 at 11:16 AM
The best survivors are the group at the eastern end of the Elizabeth line, Maryland (though its neighbouring stations have all lost their LNER-built Streamline Moderne platform buildings except for Stratford), and West Monkseaton/Longbenton which survive on the Tyne & Wear Metro. And of course...
Sadly there have been some notable losses of LNER stations including Welwyn Garden City (pic via www.ourwelwyngardencity.org.uk/content/topi...) and Hunstanton (pic via www.peterboroughsme.co.uk/2021/01/26/h...). Also most of the charming rebuilt stations between York and Northallerton.
January 29, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Sadly there have been some notable losses of LNER stations including Welwyn Garden City (pic via www.ourwelwyngardencity.org.uk/content/topi...) and Hunstanton (pic via www.peterboroughsme.co.uk/2021/01/26/h...). Also most of the charming rebuilt stations between York and Northallerton.
Ten LNER station rebuilds were undertaken for London Underground as part of the New Works programme. Sometimes LNER-appointed architects did the design (e.g. Loughton) and sometimes it was LU's architects (e.g. East Finchley, image by James Cracknell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons).
January 29, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Ten LNER station rebuilds were undertaken for London Underground as part of the New Works programme. Sometimes LNER-appointed architects did the design (e.g. Loughton) and sometimes it was LU's architects (e.g. East Finchley, image by James Cracknell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons).
And here's Balgreen Halt in Edinburgh, which despite being a halt has a proper (if small) station building, nevertheless much larger than the typical provision at halts across the Big Four's estates. Demolished c. late 1960s. (Image via www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/SPW...)
January 29, 2026 at 11:16 AM
And here's Balgreen Halt in Edinburgh, which despite being a halt has a proper (if small) station building, nevertheless much larger than the typical provision at halts across the Big Four's estates. Demolished c. late 1960s. (Image via www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/SPW...)
Of the LNER's stations, just 27 survive in whole or in part - that's a 54% survival rate, the lowest of any of the Big Four. It is true that some of the works were small, like this additional small Modernist building at Metheringham (via www.geograph.org.uk/photo/110430) lost as late as c.2006-11.
January 29, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Of the LNER's stations, just 27 survive in whole or in part - that's a 54% survival rate, the lowest of any of the Big Four. It is true that some of the works were small, like this additional small Modernist building at Metheringham (via www.geograph.org.uk/photo/110430) lost as late as c.2006-11.
You'll often read that the LNER was strapped for cash (true) and so it didn't build many stations (less true). When researching the book, we found 50 stations the LNER either built new / rebuilt / added new station buildings. That's only one less than the GWR (Grouping-era version).
January 29, 2026 at 11:16 AM
You'll often read that the LNER was strapped for cash (true) and so it didn't build many stations (less true). When researching the book, we found 50 stations the LNER either built new / rebuilt / added new station buildings. That's only one less than the GWR (Grouping-era version).
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
@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
January 29, 2026 at 11:16 AM
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
@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
This is Leamington Spa, and the only picture in this thread from the book, as is obvious from the fact that it's the best image. If you want to see
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social's lovely photos of the other stations, I'm afraid you'll just have to buy the book.
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social's lovely photos of the other stations, I'm afraid you'll just have to buy the book.
January 21, 2026 at 10:58 AM
This is Leamington Spa, and the only picture in this thread from the book, as is obvious from the fact that it's the best image. If you want to see
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social's lovely photos of the other stations, I'm afraid you'll just have to buy the book.
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social's lovely photos of the other stations, I'm afraid you'll just have to buy the book.
But then occasionally, particularly towards the end of the 1930s, Culverhouse started turning out Modernist and Art Deco station buildings, e.g. at Paddington (1934), Leamington Spa (1939), and a sort of hybrid Neo-classical/Modernist extension at Exeter St Davids (1940).
January 21, 2026 at 10:58 AM
But then occasionally, particularly towards the end of the 1930s, Culverhouse started turning out Modernist and Art Deco station buildings, e.g. at Paddington (1934), Leamington Spa (1939), and a sort of hybrid Neo-classical/Modernist extension at Exeter St Davids (1940).