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King's Cross is a major London railway station for northbound trains to York, England, Scotland, and other northern stations. The station code is KGX.
Outdoor entertainers at King's Cross, 2024
King's Cross 2024
Inside, people wait for the board to reveal the platform for their journey.
King's Cross 15 Aug 2013
Panorama King's Cross
I often stop for a pasty.
Platform 9, King's Cross
Below street level, several underground train lines link King's Cross and nearby St. Pancras to the London Underground or Tube.
My journeys began on the Northern Line on which my grandad worked when it extended to his home neighbourhood of East Finchley.
Northern Line train at King's Cross 18 April 2017
Tube Image from 2016
The fictional story of Harry Potter claims platform 9 3/4. It's a favourite photo stop and shop for visitors from all over the world.
King's Cross Railway Station (also written without the apostrophe) is in the London Borough of Camden. The station was completed in 1852. The name comes from a monument to King George IV. King's Cross is also the name of the nearby neighbourhood and close to St Pancras International Railway Station where you can board the Eurostar to Europe.
The building was modernised in the early 2000s.
In 2024, there were 11 platforms for overground trains.
Combined with St Pancras, there are more underground lines here than anywhere else in London. Here's a list from 2024:
Circle
Hammersmith & City
Metropolitan
Northern
Piccadilly
Victoria
Images and text by Geoffrey W. Sutton at suttong.com
If you like historic steam trains, I recommend a ride on the East Lancashire Railway located in Bury, which is part of Greater Manchester and easily reached by the tram.
It's a short walk from the tram stop to the railway station. I bought tickets for an afternoon ride then went across the street to the Transport Museum,which I recommend.
As you can guess, it was Halloween the day I visited.
Manchester is a large industrial city in Northwest England. The city is part of an urban county known as Greater Manchester within the historic county of Lancashire.
In the 2011 census, the Greater Manchester Population was 2,682, 528.
I arrived at Victoria Station from Liverpool and stayed downtown. After stowing my luggage, I took the bus to theImperial War Museum-North.It's worth a visit if you are interested in the history of Britain at war since 1900.
Outside the museum, you see the river and bridge at the top of this page. I walked over to the Lowry Centre and couldn't resist the bargains.
Photo: The Chariot Race c 1882 by Alexander von Wagner
Photo: Writing desk c 1865
One fascinating place is the John Rylands Research Institute and Library known as The Rylands. The founder was Enriqueta Rylands. Enriqueta was born in Cuba in 1843. After the death of her parents, she went to England and was a companion to Martha Rylands who died in 1875. She then married John Ryland who made his millions in cotton manufacturing. Following John Rylands' death, Enriqueta build the Library, which opened in 1900. In 1972, it became part of the University of Manchester.
On another day, I took a trip up to Bury. There's a lot to see in Bury--including a ride on the historic East Lancashire Railway.
I visited the Middleton Railway on 31 October 2021 and took a ride on a steam train. This post includes photos from the Railway and a YouTube video. If you love trains, the Middleton Railway is worth a visit.
I arrived just before the train was scheduled to leave so I jumped on the guards van.
At the end of the short journey, we got off for a short break before the return.
The engine was decoupled, reversed, and coupled to the van where I was standing for the return trip.
Here's a photo of the platform when we arrived at Middleton station.
I traded cameras with a passenger to get this photo.
You walk through the shed between the train and the entrance where there are a few engines.
This is the building you are looking for when you arrive. I walked from the nearest bus stop.
Despite the heavy rain, I enjoyed the ride.
Here's a short edited video to give you a better feel for the experience.
From my YouTube Channel SuttonTravels https://youtu.be/D13IJPtojyQ
About the Middleton Railway
This railway is the oldest railway in continuous use in the world. It began in 1758 as a waggonway. Horses pulled wagon loads of coal to Leeds, which fueled their industries.
In 1812, the railway began using steam locomotives, which used a large rack wheel connected to cogs.
Their success led to the manufacture of steam locomotives in Leeds.
The Bury Transport Museum is packed with historic vehicles as advertised. The collection is housed in the building pictured above--the restored Castlecroft Goods Warehouse dated 1848. I recommend a visit if you are in the area. The museum is across the street from the East Lancashire Railway--the Bury Bolton Street Station.
Storyboard provide information on the history of British Transport in this area.