Venezia Santa Lucia Railway Station.

Recently I got the opportunity to visit Venice, Italy to visit my daughter who was studying there as part of her Warwick University degree. Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe which I thought was built on a series of islands surrounded by water. As it happens this is the case but it is also joined to the main line a thin bridge that carries the only road and rail connection over the water to Venice. As I have posted many times about railway stations before it's probably obvious that I do like to picture them, so on Wednesday 31st October 2018 which was by far and away the best weather we got during our 5 day stay I set off to find the station and picture it.

Venezia Santa Lucia Railway Station began construction in 1860 on the site of the Church of Santa Lucia, the station taking it's name from the church. It was connected to the mainland via the Venice Railroad bridge which predates the station having been built in 1846, although this bridge is much changed in the 1930's the bridge had road ways added to allow road traffic to cross to the north eastern part of Venice. Around the same time developments of the station building started and when these were completed 1952 the station had taken on it's current modern styling. It undertook refurbishment again between 2009 - 2012 to allow more retail space and a better customer experience. The station was built so as not to dominate the historic surroundings. It is home to 23 platforms.

There are a total of 10 pictures which can be seen below and on Clickasnap where they are full size, resolution and un-watermarked.

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The Tyne Tunnel, North and South.

The Tyne Tunnel is a road tunnel that carries the A19 road under the River Tyne approx. 7 miles west of Newcastle upon Tyne. It connects the south bank town of Jarrow with North Shields on the other side. Originally opened in 1967, the tunnel formed part of a 3 tunnel project to link the banks of the Tyne via pedestrian, cycle and road crossings. The original tunnel was refurbished in 2011 after the completion of a new 2 lane tunnel to the east of the original one, which carries southbound traffic now.

These were filmed on the same day 29th March 2018 using my dashcam. The main video clip is of the northbound tunnel with the southbound overlaid in the top left hand corner. I then added some background music.

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Port Glasgow to Uddingston, A Drive Along a Scottish Motorway.

Until recently I was a long distance lorry driver in the United Kingdom, also known as a tramper, this ended when I was made redundant and so I find myself between jobs, earning no income but with plenty of time to mess about doing things. In 1 of these moments of time on my hands I was going through some old dash cam footage and I have turned a few of these in to short time lapse video clips. The first of which is this run through Scotland from Post Glasgow to Uddingston.

Port Glasgow to Uddingston is a distance of approx. 27 miles (43kms) and the journey features a run along the A8, M8, and M74 all motorways or duel carriageways. In a wagon this is a journey of about 34 / 40 mins when the traffic is calm, luckily on the 14th August 2018 the roads were even if the weather was not very summer like. When I get on to the A8 approx. 43secs in to the video the road with large breaks in the trees shows the River Clyde until approx. 2min 52secs. Sadly because I could not angle the camera over any further you can not get the breath taking beauty of this wonderful Scottish coastline / riverside. Sadly other than a run along the new section of Motorway between J21 M8 to J3 M74 there isn't too much of note.

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Hebden Bridge Railway Station.

Living nearby Hebden Bridge Station is one I have used many times and on this occasion was just passing through, so pictured only the westbound side. The station retains many of its original style and is probably the best looking station in use within the Calderdale region.

Opened in October 1840, the station was the end of the line until New Years Eve 1840 when the line was completed to Summit Tunnel, Walsden. Trains through the tunnel to Manchester were in operation from March 1841 when services ran from Leeds to Manchester through the station. Services to Halifax and Bradford commenced in 1852. The current station buildings were completed in 1893, and the station car park was the site of the station goods yard until 1966. During renovation in 1997 signage was installed in the colours of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.

The station is manned and has toilets and ticket facilities, it also features a small café and has access to buses immediately outside the main entrance. There is disabled access to the Leeds bond platform but currently access to platform 1, trains towards Lancashire and Manchester is only accessible via steps. There are plans to reinstate the lifts between the platforms which have been out of use since the 1980's. The station has 3 Manchester bound trains per hour and 1 towards Preston from Platform 1. Platform 2 has 4 Leeds bound services per hour, 3 via Bradford Interchange and another through Dewsbury.

 The pictures were taken with a Nikon d3300 on the 5th August 2017, they can be seen below with a number also available to view on Clickasnap un-watermarked.

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All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green. The pictures of the images on display remain the copyright of the original creator.

Hollins Tunnel and Weir, Sowerby Bridge.

These are 2 short film clips I made recently and have uploaded to YouTube featuring clips to put together of the weir and tunnel at Sowerby Bridge known as Hollins.

Hollins Tunnel.

Hollins Tunnel or Hollins Mill Tunnel as it is also known is a canal tunnel that carries Hollins Mill Lane over it at Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire. Built over 200 years ago, the canal was opened in 1804 connecting the Calder & Hebble Navigation at Sowerby Bridge with the Bridgewater Canal at Manchester. The tunnel is the longest on the canal in Yorkshire and is quite an intimidating place in the dark. I filmed the clips at both ends and inside the tunnel on the 6th December 2018.

Hollins Mill Weir.

The weir at Hollins mill can be heard but barely seen from the canal tunnel, they are very close. The weir used to power the nearby mills that have long since been demolished and now stands as a monument to history. It was badly damaged during the devastating floods that hit the Calder Valley on Boxing Day 2015 with a large section now missing although this can't really be seen in the clips. I took these clips on the 6th December.

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Water Bus along the Grand Canal in Venice to Rialto Bridge Stop.

I have recently uploaded to YouTube this video I took whilst on the public transport boat bus along he Grand Canal, Venice. The clip follows the canal from the stop at Casino S. Marcuola to Rialto. It just gave me a chance to film some of the magnificent Venetian architecture that sits on the canal side. The clip is 9 mins 29 secs long and I have added the music Blue Danube by Strauss over it. Please take a moment to view, share and subscribe to my channel.

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Cruise Ship and Venice.

Cruise Ship and Venice is a short video I took on the front at St Marks. I was there early one morning to see the sunrise but sadly cloud cover made that impossible, so instead I became aware the MSC Lirica was dur to dock in Venice shortly so hung around to film it's passage up the Venetian Lagoon towards the port. I must admit it was quite a site and I would have loved to have filmed Venice from the deck of the ship.

The Lirica entered service in 2003 and cost $250 million to build, and can carry up to 2600 passengers.  This was filmed on the 2nd November 2018 using a Nikon d3300 SLR camera. It can be viewed here and on YouTube.

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Whispers of Coal and Controversy, Walker Pit: Unearthing the Story of Miss Lister's Lost Mine

Imagine strolling through the verdant landscape of Shibden Park, the gentle incline of the path leading you upwards towards the panoramic vistas from Beacon Hill. As you walk, you might pass a curious, ornate structure – a seemingly out-of-place piece of architectural flourish amidst the natural beauty. This, my friends, is more than just an interesting relic; it's a silent testament to ambition, partnership, and a touch of Yorkshire grit. This is all that remains of a coal pit with a fascinating story, a pit quite literally paid for by the indomitable Anne Lister and named in honour of her beloved partner, Ann Walker.

Step back to 1835. Shibden Hall, the ancestral home of Anne Lister, needed fuel for its hearths and industry. To meet this demand, the resourceful "Gentleman Jack" commissioned John Mann to dig a pit, strategically located to serve both the Hall and the burgeoning community nearby. This wasn't just any excavation; it was a venture spearheaded by a woman of vision, a woman who dared to engage in the traditionally male-dominated world of industry.

The pit, affectionately (or perhaps with a hint of knowing respect) known as "Miss Lister's Mine," was a tangible symbol of Anne and Ann's life together, a shared enterprise rooted in practicality and perhaps even a touch of shared ambition. It speaks volumes about their partnership, a bond that defied societal norms and extended into the economic realities of their lives.

However, the story of Miss Lister's Mine wasn't without its drama. The competitive world of coal mining in the 19th century often led to friction, and our intrepid landowner found herself embroiled in a dispute with a neighbouring colliery owner, the formidable Christopher Rawson. We can only imagine the spirited exchanges and perhaps even the legal wrangling that ensued as these two strong personalities clashed over resources and territory beneath the Yorkshire soil.

Today, the bustling activity of the mine is long gone. The dark seams of coal have been exhausted, the clanging of tools silenced. Yet, the elegant ventilation shaft stands as a poignant reminder of this industrious past. Its ornate design, perhaps a reflection of Anne Lister's own refined tastes, hints at a level of care and even pride in this venture. It's a beautiful anomaly in the landscape, a whisper of a time when the ground beneath our feet was a source of energy and contention.

So, the next time you find yourself traversing that path from Shibden Park to Beacon Hill, take a moment to pause at this intriguing structure. Let your imagination conjure the scene: the busy workers, the carts laden with coal, the determined figure of Anne Lister overseeing her enterprise, and the quiet support of Ann Walker. This isn't just a walk through picturesque scenery; it's a journey through history, a tangible link to the remarkable lives and enduring legacy of the women who once shaped this very landscape. It's a reminder that even in the quietest corners of our world, fascinating stories lie waiting to be unearthed.

There are 2 set of pictures taken around the tower by me. Clicking any of the images should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

The first set shown below was taken on the 1st June 2014 using a Polaroid is2132 bridge camera. 

On this occasion i'd never heard of Walker pit and thought that the tower was part of the ventilation for the Beacon Hill railway tunnel that runs beneath the ground here.

I was passing by again in August 2018 and took the following pictures of the tower, it was largely covered by the hedges that run alongside the path at this time. The tower itself is on private land and I understand the landowner would rather have people keep away from it, which is understandable.

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Settle: More Than Just a Stop on the Iconic Carlisle Line

Settle Railway Station. The very name conjures images of windswept Yorkshire Dales, the rhythmic chug of a diesel engine, and the promise of adventure along one of Britain's most celebrated railway lines – the Settle to Carlisle. But this unassuming station, nestled approximately a mile west of the charming market town of Settle, holds a history far more intriguing than its present-day modest appearance might suggest.

For those who simply see it as a convenient gateway to the Dales, it's worth knowing that Settle Station is actually the second to bear that name. The original "Settle" station, which opened its doors way back in 1849, is the very stop we now know as Giggleswick. Imagine the confusion for early travellers! It wasn't until May 1st, 1876, that our current Settle station came into being, initially grandly christened "Settle New Station." The original then became "Settle Old" before finally settling on the name Giggleswick in November 1877 – the same moment "New" was quietly dropped from Settle's title. A little bit of railway renaming trivia to impress your fellow passengers!

While the hustle and bustle of a major city station is absent here, Settle retains a certain charm. Staffed part-time, it offers a glimpse into a more traditional era of rail travel. And speaking of tradition, the connection between the platforms has its own fascinating tale. For years, passengers and porters alike relied on a simple barrow crossing at the northern end. But in 1993, progress arrived in an unexpected form. A bridge, made redundant by the electrification of the line at Drem Railway Station in East Lothian, was carefully dismantled and reassembled here in Settle. It's a testament to resourceful engineering, and as the author rightly notes, it blends in so seamlessly, you'd be forgiven for thinking it had stood there since the station's inception. Interestingly, the old barrow crossing still sees occasional use by station staff and wheelchair users, a tangible link to the station's past.

The historical significance of Settle Station hasn't gone unnoticed. In March 1984, it proudly gained Grade II listed status, recognizing its architectural and historical importance. Adding another layer to this historical tapestry is the beautifully restored signal box. Although it ceased operation in 1984, the dedicated efforts of the Friends of the Settle - Carlisle line have brought it back to its former glory, a silent sentinel overlooking the tracks.

These glimpses into Settle Station's past were captured on a sunny August day in 2016, through the lens of a Nikon D3300 SLR camera. These images likely tell their own story, freezing moments in time at a station that has witnessed generations of travellers embarking on their Dales adventures.

So, the next time you find yourself waiting on the platform at Settle, take a moment to appreciate the layers of history beneath your feet. It's more than just a stop; it's a living testament to the enduring legacy of the Settle to Carlisle Railway and a charming piece of Yorkshire's railway heritage.

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Cross Stone (St Pauls) Church, Todmorden.

The Calder Valley, a ribbon of green winding through the heart of West Yorkshire, holds its secrets close. Amongst its picturesque towns and alongside the tranquil flow of the Rochdale Canal, I'd often glimpsed a solitary silhouette perched high above Todmorden. This was Cross Stone Church, also known as St Paul's, a place that had long piqued my curiosity. Little did I know, the story held within its weathered stones was far more captivating than its distant view suggested.

Finally, on a crisp April day in 2017, armed with my trusty Nikon D3300, I made the climb. What I found wasn't a bustling place of worship, but a silent sentinel, a defunct church with a history etched into its very fabric. Built in 1832, St Paul's wasn't the first sacred space to grace this commanding spot. For centuries before, since at least 1450, earlier churches had stood watch over the valley, their stories now layered beneath the current structure like geological strata.

The year 1978 marked a poignant turning point. Declared unsafe, the church was abandoned, the ominous whisper of it "sliding down the hill" sealing its fate as a place of active worship. This sense of precariousness only added to the air of mystery that clung to the site.

But the history of Cross Stone Church extends beyond its structural woes. Imagine a time when Todmorden was a town divided, straddling the ancient border between Yorkshire and Lancashire. Perched on its hilltop, St Paul's served the spiritual needs of the Yorkshire community, while St Mary's catered to their Lancashire neighbours. The boundary changes of 1888 unified the town under the White Rose of Yorkshire, yet the legacy of this division lingers in the stories of these two churches.

As I wandered the grounds, the silence was broken only by the rustling of leaves and the distant murmur of the valley below. It was then that I noticed the curious details that hinted at the church's long and varied past. And then there were the lower walls, where a certain "spooky setting" did indeed prevail, the weathered stone hinting at tales untold.

Perhaps the most intriguing discovery was tucked away on the east wall: a set of ancient stocks, now embraced by the untamed beauty of a wild garden. These silent restraints spoke of a time when public punishment was a visible part of community life, a stark reminder of the social structures of centuries past. To see them now, softened by moss and surrounded by wildflowers, was a powerful juxtaposition of harsh history and gentle nature.

My long-awaited visit to Cross Stone Church wasn't the vibrant exploration of a living parish I had perhaps naively envisioned. Instead, it was a journey into the quiet dignity of a forgotten place, a poignant encounter with history etched in stone and whispered on the wind. It served as a powerful reminder that even in abandonment, places hold their stories, waiting for a curious eye and an open heart to listen. The view from the hilltop, overlooking Todmorden and the valley beyond, was breath taking, but the true beauty lay in the silent testament of Cross Stone Church, a steadfast landmark bearing witness to centuries of change.

Clicking any of the images below should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

Thanks for looking, please take a moment to share and follow me on social media, and check out my portfolios on Photo4Me and Clickasnap via the links below.

All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.