Tag Archives: St. Pancras

photography

London St Pancras Station on 3 May 2016.

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On this day two years ago (3 May 2016), I spent the morning photographing London’s St. Pancras Station.

The old terminal of the Midland Railway is my favorite London Station, and among the most influential railway stations in Britain.

I’ve featured this station in a number of books, including Depots, Stations & Terminals published by Voyageur Press in 2015, and my new Railway Guide to Europe, now available from Kalmbach Publishing.

https://www.amazon.com/Railway-Depots-Stations-Terminals-Solomon/dp/0760348901

Click here to order Brian Solomon’s Railway Guide to Europe.

These photos were exposed digitally using my FujiFilm X-T1. Although I exposed the images in RAW and JPG, all of these images represent the colour and contrast of the in-camera JPG with Fujifilm colour profile.

London St Pancras on 3 May 2016. Exposed with a FujiFilm X-T1 fitted with 18-135mm Fujinon zoom lens.
London St. Pancras. Exposed digitally using a FujiFilm X-T1 with Zeiss 12mm Touit.
London St. Pancras. Exposed digitally using a FujiFilm X-T1 with Zeiss 12mm Touit.
London St. Pancras. Exposed digitally using a FujiFilm X-T1 with Zeiss 12mm Touit.
London St. Pancras. Exposed digitally using a FujiFilm X-T1 with Zeiss 12mm Touit.
London St. Pancras. Exposed digitally using a FujiFilm X-T1 with Zeiss 12mm Touit.

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photography

Tracking the Light presents: London Terminals—May 2016; a Dozen new Photos.

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London boasts some of the most historic and most famous big city railway terminals.

Earlier this month I visited several of these stations during the course of my travels.

Soon Euston may be dramatically redeveloped. Yet, owing to its 1960s design, this terminal may be among the least photographed in modern times. FujiFilm X-T1 photo, May 2016.
Soon Euston may be dramatically redeveloped. Yet, owing to its 1960s design, this terminal may be among the least photographed in modern times. FujiFilm X-T1 photo, May 2016.
Euston Station, London.
Euston Station, London.
Departure boards at London Euston in May 2016. FujiFilm X-T1 photo, May 2016.
Departure boards at London Euston in May 2016. FujiFilm X-T1 photo, May 2016.

Hassard Stacpoole brought me on a tour of London’s 1960-era Euston Station to show me sites of anticipated changes to this busy terminus as result of its planned redevelopment.

My favorite London station is St. Pancras. Which is yours?

The most elegant and ornate London terminus is St. Pancras. The head house originally served as the Midland Grand Hotel as well as booking offices. Today the grand old building is again a hotel, while the station serves Eurostar trains to Paris, Lille and Brussels as well as domestic services using the old Midland route. FujiFilm X-T1 photo with Zeiss 12mm lens, May 2016.
The most elegant and ornate London terminus is St. Pancras. The head house originally served as the Midland Grand Hotel as well as booking offices. Today the grand old building is again a hotel, while the station serves Eurostar trains to Paris, Lille and Brussels as well as domestic services using the old Midland route. FujiFilm X-T1 photo with Zeiss 12mm lens, May 2016.
St. Pancras train shed was restored during redevelopment in 2007. FujiFilm X-T1 photo with 12mm Zeiss lens, May 2016.
St. Pancras train shed was restored during redevelopment in 2007. FujiFilm X-T1 photo with 12mm Zeiss lens, May 2016.
Kings Cross, London, May 2016. Lumix LX7 photo.
Kings Cross, London, May 2016. Lumix LX7 photo.
Kings Cross, London, May 2016. Lumix LX7 photo.
Kings Cross, London, May 2016. Lumix LX7 photo.
Grand Central train at Kings Cross, London, May 2016. Lumix LX7 photo.
Grand Central train at Kings Cross, London, May 2016. Lumix LX7 photo.
Statue of Isambard K. Brunel at Paddington Station, London. Lumix LX7 photo.
Statue of Isambard K. Brunel at Paddington Station, London. Lumix LX7 photo.
Paddington Station, London. Lumix LX7 photo.
Paddington Station, London. Lumix LX7 photo.
London Victoria on a quite Sunday morning. Lumix LX7 photo.
London Victoria on a quiet Sunday morning. Lumix LX7 photo.
I feature several of London’s stations in my recent book Railway Depots, Stations and Terminals published last year by Voyageur Press.

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photography

Eurostar to St. Pancras.

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We boarded at Lille Europe and flew a cross northern France on the ground. Breakfast was served to us by the staff. There was a minor delay at Calais and then we plunged into the darkness of the Channel Tunnel.

The Eurostar approaches! Lille Europe station is a modern facility with all the charm of an airport.
The Eurostar approaches! Lille Europe station is a modern facility with all the charm of an airport.
Breakfast (with tea!) was served on board soon after departing Lille.
Breakfast (with tea!) was served on board soon after departing Lille.
In 1980, my brother was the first to photograph his meal (served on a World Airways DC-10). I'm following his example and not that of the millions of copycats.
In 1980, my brother was the first to photograph his meal (served on a World Airways DC-10). I’m following his example and not that of the millions of copycats.
We sat at Calais for a while. At least there was some entertainment such as this 'LeShuttle'.
We sat at Calais for a while. At least there was some entertainment such as this ‘LeShuttle’.

Twenty Five minutes later we emerged again and were soon sailing across southern England toward London. My dad’s phone calculated our speed at 181 mph.

Soon the buildings began to look familiar. I recognized the M25 bridge.

English countryside blurring by at more than 180mph.
English countryside blurring by at more than 180mph.
Approaching London; there's the M25 bridge.
Approaching London; there’s the M25 bridge.

And before we knew it we’d arrived at St. Pancras, London’s most elegant 19th century railway terminal. Last time I’d taken the Eurostar I’d come into Waterloo, and that wasn’t yesterday!

This is a selection of Lumix LX7 photos from the recent trip.

St. Pancras International.
St. Pancras International.

Would you like to read more about St. Pancras? I’ve written about this station in my new book Railway Depots, Stations and Terminals published by Voyageur Press.

The famous ballon-style train-shed at St. Pancras was the first of its kind in the world.
The famous balloon-style train-shed at St. Pancras was the first of its kind in the world.
Morning sun filters through the skylights.
Morning sun filters through the skylights.
Panoramic composite of our Eurostar set under the famous shed.
Panoramic composite of our Eurostar set under the famous shed.
There's an hour time difference between Lille and London.
There’s an hour time difference between Lille and London.
In 2007, St Pancras was re-opened following a compressive upgrading of facilities. Do you remember the dark dingy hole of the mid-1990s?
In 2007, St Pancras was re-opened following a compressive upgrading of facilities. Do you remember the dark dingy hole of the mid-1990s?

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