Monday Variety

Time was when all stations on the network had a station plan with index, codes and photos of key facilities. As is happening every where in public transport, the quality of these guides has been declining until they are now almost useless. Such is the current situation at Peckham Rye. Under the generic heading fof “maps” there are two options.

Unhappily, “Station Map” gives a reasonable diagram of platforms 1 and 2 and the booking hall …

…  whilst “Peckham Ryde Station Map” provides the upper level access only to platforms 3 and 4.

From this, we can glean that from street to platform is two floors up. It all begins with a gate line in the coner of the ground floor entrance.

Platforms 1 and 2 form an island between the tracks …

… which is quit narrow for a busy station.

But he most salient feature is the ascent. This station, it is claimed, the busiest station on the network with no lift access.

Platforms 3 and 4 stand beside the central tracks and offer a bit more room.

Platform 3 (above) abuts the main central part of the station building which is currently called a “Community Hall” but was once the main waiting room.

It is also accessed by a most magnificent staircase whuch has already been restored.

The room contains (has contained, depending on when you read this) an “art installation”.

No pictures, so far, but there is a textual description of Miss Sze’s “artwork”.

The atmospheric construction features cascading lines that emerge from the center of the vaulted room to create a mesmerizing model of a fragile world. A multitude of flickering videos illuminate the structure, swirling around the space, conveying the velocity and volatility of life in the age of the smartphone. The installation is free and open to the public.

Yep! Just right to enhance the commute – or drive the passengers to drink!

But the point of this extended twaddle is to prepare our loyal readership for the next phase of Peckham Rye station’s regeneration.

Over to Notwork Rail.

This is what is promised. New bigger gatelines, easier route up to the platforms and (not shown on the above architects “impression”), lifts everywhere. Here is he same view enhanced by night-time illumination.

Astute readers will, obviously, wonder how this will be shoe-horned into the existing building’s entrance area. (note present staircase and gateline).

And the answer is that it isn’t!

As we shall see tomorrow.

Hornby Says Ta Ta To TTA!

Above is a TTA tank wagon. Below is a real one.

Designed to carry between 40 and 45 tonnes of petroleum products, they rarely looked that clean!

Hornby’s TTA appeared from 1973 in various liveries, sometimes with ladders …

… but often without!

You could also buy a set of three.

Hattons will sell you a set of three for just under £30 which at £10 a wagon is something of a bargain these days. EBay will find you a singleton at about £7 plus postage.

Bachmann’s TTAs are much better but much more expensive.

Back in January, Hornby announced a brand new re-tooled TTA …

… which implied three ladders. fbb thinks this was a mistake because “decorated samples” shiyw the conventional double ladder at one end.

Will they be better than Bachmann? fbb will report when his on-order model arrives.

But the new model will set you back £31; which, actually, is not bad for a wagon in 2023. One retailer (who hasn’t actually got any to sell yet) described the new Hornby TTA as “fantastically detailed”.

Interestingly, the current Bachmann model …

… is on offer on-line at anything from £27 to £36!

Readers will remember some debate about the new bus station in Ryde. Were its roadways too narrow for buses to pass? In the early stages it was, frankly, unclear. But our senior Isle of Wight correspondent now illustrates the suspected truth. He says (with feelin, having driven buses) …

It IS too tight.

Even if the roadway is technically wide enough, it is very difficult to park a long vehicle accurately alongside a concave curved kerb. See one bus above sticking out a bit from the marked bay.

fbb predicts a spate of removed wing mirrors as an absolute minimum, PLUS the occasional (and expensive) body scrape – even body crunch.