Dawn on the way to the station

I'm still doing some early mornings, usually catching the 7:30 train into work and sometimes the dawn is worth a picture!

I seem to have missed out on pictures during the cold spell!

View from the office

I'm currently working in Edinburgh and the office has long views over to the hills and Arthur's Seat. Here's a picture the scaffolding causes a certain amount of vibration - or there are workers on it even in high winds!

Wind turbines

Wind turbines Cramlington
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

These wind turbines weren't here last time I was up in Northumberland, not commissioned yet but they're to supply the Merck Sharp and Dohme plant in Cramlington with most of its power. One other picture of the turbines on my flickr pages - next to this one (click on the photo)

Dark morning

December morning
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

Taken yesterday, on my last early morning walk down to the station for some time - at least I guess so. I may well though head down there when it is just getting light and the mornings, like this one, are cold and clear.

November on the way to work

November on way to work
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

A week's holiday beckons - mostly pottering around at home, but I shall miss the early morning and watching dawn over the hiills as I walk down to the station.

Cloudy Dawn

Cloudy Dawn
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

Another from the walk to the station. I don't think I've ever walked along the parapet overlooking Arighi Bianchi at the back of the council offices before.

on the way to the station

on way to the station
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

Another photo of Sparrow Park in the early morning. I had my eyes on the mill in the background and the sky and didn't notice the interesting details in the foreground!

Going, going

Macclesfield Borough Council is having a end of all things sale

Only 24 hours to go! (try to ignore the handsome photographer, he is not for sale!)

Station in the snow

Station in the snow
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

It looks as if I shouldn't have taken this picture in view of this story in the local press this week. Maybe they'll take away my rail pass?

Early morning looking over Sparrow Park

Early morning looking over Sparrow Park
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

..begins to feel warmer in the mornings. You can just see Arighi-Bianchi in the photo. The crane is converting the old Clewes building into a hotel. Both those are visible from the West coast main line.

Newcastle again

At work
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

A few hours on the train today with a trip to Newcastle doing computer support things. Added to it with a half pint in a local pub with Mad Priest, a local blogger who it was good to meet - yes he does exist and has - to me - an alarming resemblance to Stanley Baxter (no that Stanley Baxter, the other S B!).
This is a picture of the wonderful historic inside of our Newcastle offices. I linked to other (not taken by me) pictures on our last trip.

Crane and trees

Crane and trees
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

I've been very taken by the crane at work on the old Clewes building. I liked this combination of the old and the new, of the natural and the man-made.

108 steps

108 steps
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

On the way to work this morning. No one wanted to use the hand rail but those steps are a lot gentler than they look!

directions

early morning
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

Approaching Oxford Road Station (well it would be if there were a train there)

And this poem from a gravestone in Ely Cathedral in memory of 2 deaths on a railway in 1845. I don't think I've seen the actual stone but I was certainly given the postcard with a certain twinkle in David Isitt's eye.

The line to Heaven by Christ was made,
With heavenly truth the Rails are laid,
From Earth to Heaven the Line extends,
To Life Eternal where it ends.
Repentance is the Station then,
Where Passengers are taken in ;
No Fee for them is there to pay,
For Jesus is himself the way.
God's Word is the first Engineer,
It points the way to Heaven so clear,
Through tunnels dark and dreary here.
It does the way to Glory steer.
God's Love the fire, his Truth the Steam,
Which drives the Engine and the Train;
All you who would to Glory ride,
Must come to Christ, in him abide.
In First, and Second, and Third Class,
Repentance, Faith, and Holiness,
You must the way to Glory gain,
Or you with Christ will not remain.
Come then poor Sinners, now's the time,
At any Station on the Line,
If you'll repent, and turn from sin,
The Train will stop and take you in.

And as a result of searching for that poem, I found this page of railway related music.
(Yes I know I've lost a day, I do hope to catch up!)

Changing a landmark

ex-Clowes
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

The old Clowes factory is now unoccupied - they've moved to Stockport and the builders are in, transforming and changing this prominent landmark from the train. I believe it is going to be a hotel

Looking up

Brunswick hill
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

..sometimes looking back is good - Brunswick Hill this morning

autumn dawn

autumn dawn
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

View from the bridge on the way to the station this morning, with just the faintest sliver of the old moon visible

Glories of Newcastle

A trip to Newcastle - back on Monday now - to do some IT support. The head offices are in the wonderfully antique Milburn house, built in the 19th century by a shipping magnate along the lines of a ship with the top floor as 'A' and working its way up the alphabet towards the hold.
Some pictures here and particularly here - doesn't have a picture of the wonderful tiling though - I need to have a camera with me next time...

May

May
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

And another picture of may blossom - this time on the way to work. Intended to take this picture for a few days but always been too rushed - this morning I got around to it.

Stepping back a bit

03032008
Originally uploaded by rajmarshall

On the way down to the station and getting a bit brighter. I thought it was quiet so that I'd get a picture of the whole hill with noone visible but someone just rounded the corner as the picture was being taken!