Photos, videos and docs of Jon Searles, with the keywords: "Britain"

Great Western Class 158 DMU in Cardiff Central Station, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales(UK), 2015

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Sun, 21 Apr 2024 21:28:19 +0000

I took this on New Year's Eve, after getting to Cardiff in the nick of time to meet my friends. I took several other cameraphone shots along the way, although nothing to speak of. I originally had hoped to get the number of this unit, but again I was using a cameraphone, so the exposure from the headlights was too much. This had been my first trip on Great Western after it reverted to its pre-1948 name, after having operated as "First Great Western" (in reference to First Bus) since privatization, and the creation of the train operating companies (TOC's) in 1996.

Welsh Assembly, Edited version, Cardiff, Wales (UK), 2015

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 12:11:00 +0000

Jon Searles has posted:

Created by the Government of Wales Act of 1998, the Welsh Assembly is another example of devolution to the constituent countries of the United Kingdom, in line with the Scottish Parliament (also created in 1998), and "Home Rule" in Northern Ireland, initiated in 2007. Perhaps surprisingly, this Assembly Senedd (Senate) building was constructed at Cardiff Bay, rather than in the city centre, in 2006. The old Pierhead building is also controlled by the Assembly, but is used as a museum to educate citizens and visitors about the Welsh government.

Norwegian Church, Edited version 2, Cardiff, Wales (UK), 2015

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 12:11:02 +0000

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The Norwegian Church, now used as a community centre with dance lessons and other services, was originally constructed in 1868 to serve Norwegian sailors. In contrast to most British churches, which were Anglican (Church of England), the Norwegian Church was originally Lutheran, which may explain why it was built. Roald Dahl was baptized in the church (probably) in 1916. In 1974, following a drastic decline in the size of the congregation, the church was deconsecrated, and in 1987 it was dismantled with an eye towards preservation and eventual reconstruction. Roald Dahl actually chaired the society responsible for the effort. It had actually been located on the site of what is now the Millenium Centre, so the present location was chosen in 1992, when the church was reconstructed as seen here.

Cardiff Bay, Picture 6, Edited version, Cardiff, Wales (UK), 2015

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 12:11:03 +0000

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This is a lock gate (chaisson?) to one of the dry docks(?) in Cardiff Bay. I took this as one of a series of shots I took of the Bay, mostly without any background research. Obviously, further information would be appreciated.

Lightship 2000, Picture 2, Edited version 2, Cardiff, Wales (UK), 2015

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 12:11:02 +0000

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The most notable ship preserved in Cardiff Bay, or at least the easiest to access until 2015, was this light ship, called variously Lightship 2000, Lightship 14, Goleulong 2000, and Helwig. Built in 1953, it was literally a "light ship," which served as a floating lighthouse to prevent other ships running aground. In spite of the development of radar before its construction, it remained in service until 1991, before being bought by an entity connected to the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation (I haven't been able to find a source specifically naming the buyer). For a time, it served as a chapel upon preservation in 1993, until it was closed to the public in 2013 and moved to Gloucester in 2015, with an eye to opening it as a museum following another restoration (which it has also served as over the years), but in Newnham-on-Severn, rather than Gloucester or Cardiff. At the moment, it is supposedly is being restored by Fred Larkham, although I have been unable to verify the owner. Their is an official website for the ship at:

www.lightship2000.co.uk

...but the site appears to be down at the moment (June 12th, 2016).

Pierhead Building, Edited Version, Cardiff, Wales (UK), 2015

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 12:11:01 +0000

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Originally constructed in 1897 for the Bute Dock Company, which almost immediately became the Cardiff Railway Company. It was transferred to the Port of Cardiff in 1947, as part of the Nationalisation of the railways to form British Rail. Following privatisation, it eventually was acquired by the City of Cardiff, and then by the Welsh Assembly. Today, it is used as a museum to educate citizens and visitors about the Welsh government. The clock tower, often called "Little Big Ben," had its mechanism replaced in 1973, with the original mechanism eventually being displayed in Cardiff's city centre in 2011, at the corner of Wood Street and St. Mary's Street.

Grangetown Station, Picture 2, Grangetown, Glamorgan, Wales (UK), 2014

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:07:42 +0000

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This is the entrance to the station, which is, as far as I know, up on that bridge to the right. The sculpture on the wall looks really 1970's, even Communist, although in this location that would be virtually impossible. In truth, a lot of similar artwork existed in America at the time. However, I know next to nothing about its actual origins.

Grangetown Station, Grangetown, Glamorgan, Wales (UK), 2014

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:07:40 +0000

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This visit to Grangetown was completely unplanned. I was running an errand with one of my friends, and just spotted this BR-era "barbed wire" station sign. To avoid confusion, perhaps, most of these signs have survived, not only in situ, but also on maps, and the logo also still appears on tickets and in timetables. Grangetown is located south of Cardiff, and is often counted as part of the city, although the maps I've seen are confusing so I don't know if it technically is Cardiff.

First Great Western Intercity 125 in Cardiff Central Station, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales (UK), 2014

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:07:43 +0000

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This was my train, still worked by an Intercity 125 after all these years. These trainsets date to 1976, but in some respects they're still the most advanced diesel passenger trains in the world. At the moment, I'm also unaware of anything faster than them, although some DMU's and ICE-TD variants can match them.

Brains Brewery Silhouette, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales (UK), 2014

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:07:43 +0000

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I took this on my way to Cardiff Central Station. The old Great Western Mainline is on that viaduct you can see on the right, and you can see a steam-era water tower on the left. I've taken shots from this angle several times before. This wasn't actually a sunset, but a sunrise, as I had to get a train very early in the morning in order to get the Eurostar in London.

Swollen River Taff at Pontcanna Bridge, Picture 2, Cardiff, Wales (UK), 2013

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 14:10:14 +0000

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This is an alternate shot of Pontcanna Bridge.

Swollen River Taff at Pontcanna Bridge, Cardiff, Wales (UK), 2013

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 14:10:13 +0000

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The River Taff bisects Bute Park, so a series of bridges make it easier for joggers, hikers, and so on to cross it. This is Pontcanna Bridge.

Swollen River Taff near Pontcanna Bridge, Cardiff, Wales (UK), 2013

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 14:10:12 +0000

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Just by chance, the River Taff was swollen and nearly flooded when I visited this time. Here's a cameraphone shot of it looking much more dramatic than usual.

BS Social Care, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales (UK), 2013

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 10:03:20 +0000

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Is this living satire, or just really bad public relations? :-D

Goleulong 2000 Light Ship, Cardiff Bay, Glamorgan, Wales (UK), 2013

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 10:03:19 +0000

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This light ship, while it looks ready to go, is actually retired. It's a restaurant now, if I'm not mistaken, but it was closed when we visited it.

1888 Pump House, Bristol, England (UK), 2013

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 05:57:30 +0000

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This was one of the attractions that I liked the most, even if we couldn't go inside. It's a steam-powered pumphouse for the "sluice system" that Isambard Kingdom Brunel developed in 1832 to keep the Bristol Channel and other waterways free of silt. Supposedly, this pump house is occassionally opened to visitors, but not on the day we were there. One mistaken belief about it that gets passed around, though, is that Brunel designed it. That smokestack looks very much like something he would design, but in 1888 he had already been dead 29 years. Even this pumphouse was preceded by another one (now a pub) that only dated back to 1870, so Brunel must have had another means of powering his system. There's more information here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underfall_Yard#Underfall_sluices

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_engine_house,_Bristol_Harbour

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pump_House,_Bristol

The tall ship in the foreground is a replica of the "Matthew," which was supposedly the first British ship to reach North America in 1497. It was under repair here because the pump house is right in the middle of the Underfall shipyard.

www.matthewbristol.co.uk/home

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_%28ship%29

Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol, England (UK), 2013

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 05:57:32 +0000

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Getting back to genuine Brunel artifacts, here's the Clifton Suspension Bridge again. The weather on this particular day was rainy and gloomy, but I chose to attempt this cameraphone shot anyway.

1888 Pump House, Picture 2, Bristol, England (UK), 2013

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 05:57:31 +0000

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Here's another view of the smokestack.

Vintage Bike Tour, Bristol, England (UK), 2013

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 05:57:29 +0000

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I began 2013 with a visit to Wales, as I have for several years, but on this trip I once again had a side trip to Bristol. This was for a vintage bike tour of the city. I know next to nothing about this bike, but it ran very well for something that would be considered primitive today, with for example only one gear.

Porthmadog Station, Edited Version, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, Wales (UK), 2012

nobody@ipernity.com (Jon Searles) — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 14:38:08 +0000

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Here's the Porthmadog yard, with the station on the right.