This Train Terminates Here: London Railway Termini Up To 2020

by John Jones

The London terminus. The start or end of a journey. How many of us use these giants of the UK Railway network? Perhaps as a commuter, rushing to get to work, meeting that important client, getting that hot beverage of choice on the way. Or as a day tripper, eager to see the sights of London, or even dinner and a show? And of course, then arriving back at the terminus, getting a quick bite to eat and something to drink before finding that platform which has the train which will take you home.How many of us have done exactly that, taking the role of the London terminus station for granted? Its purpose, it seems, just to get us all from A to B in the most efficient way possible. But how many people bother to stand a while and look around at the magnificence of these buildings? How many of us take the time to appreciate the history around them? Have you just passed through a terminus, not seeing past the ticket barriers or information boards to find what else is around you? To be honest, I have. It is just so easy to have your head down, just looking for that exit, be it to the outside, or to the Underground station below. In this day of the mobile device, many are seen moving through the concourse, head down reading the latest tweet or Facebook entry. I have been guilty of this. But these places of hustle and bustle in some cases yield much history. Many are architectural masterpieces, while others are purely functional. Yet all are fascinating pieces of engineering and organization. Without them, modern London would possibly not be able to fully function.Within this book my aim is to bring you, the reader, the wonder of the fourteen current designated London termini, with brief histories, over 150 colour photographs, and walkthroughs of each one. Whether it be the cosmopolitan European feel of St Pancras International, or the pure commuter rush of Charing cross. Marvelling at Brunel’s grandeur masterpiece Paddington, or the intimate feel of Fenchurch Street. I hope to get us all to stop at least occasionally and appreciate the marvel of the London terminus. A place which many of us just think of as ‘the end of the line’.

Kindle Edition

Published September 6, 2020

About the author

Henry John Franklin Jones (known as John Jones) was an English academic, a Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, and Oxford University's 38th Professor of Poetry (1978-1983).

Jones wrote books on diverse literary topics including Greek tragedy, Wordsworth, Shakespeare, as well as a novel, The Same God (1972).

Reviews

[Alasdair MacCaluim · Rating 4 out of 5]

London certainly has a lot of railway termini. In Glasgow where I live, we have two – and only ever had four. In London by contrast, there are no less than 14! Everybody knows Fenchurch Street, Kings Cross, Liverpool Street and Marylebone from Monopoly and Paddington from Paddington Bear but there are so many more. In this book, the author looks at all of them from the smallest and least used (Moorgate) to the most used (Waterloo) looking at their histories, what they are like in the present day and also at quirky aspects such as artworks, war memorials, plaques and more. I am a lifelong rail fan and learnt a lot I didn’t know from this. For example, the area outside Kings Cross Station which was once known as the African Village, that Victoria was once two different stations who were very much rivals to each other and that parts of Waterloo Station were once known as Cyprus station and Khartoum station.

Alas, the book doesn’t feature the late, great Broad Street Station as its focus is termini which are still operational.

The book is self published and contains a few minor typos and the photos, while excellent, could maybe be presented better (though this is maybe not a problem in the Kindle issue). These are minor quibbles about an excellent book however, and I’d recommend it.

I’m now tempted to plan a trip between all the London termini in one day by mainline rail!