h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hiya,

know some stuff about the heathrow branch stations, though this is only stuff thats on the top of my head right now.

South Ealing: has 4 platforms of which only the inner 2 are really needed. Legacy of the district line when it used to run to northfields. Station looks rather strange as station front looks about 1930's ish (i think) and steps down to platform a more recent affair. Very close to northfields station.

Northfields: Has 4 platforms, the outer 2 often used when trains terminated or started from there due to the train depot just beyond it towards boston manor. Trains terminating here cause annoyance to heathrow travellers with luggage, but not so bad if you wanted to get off there anyway. The station building is Art Deco in style and a listed building. Just been refurbished complete with 1930's underground signs, though the ticket barriers make it decidedly non 1930's. Still waiting for indicator boards to say more than "Please keep luggage with you at all times" and "1. Eastbound train" with no mention of destination or time. Station is relatively large considering it is in the suburbs and only serves one line. Has large station concorse where a flower stall can be found on most days.

Boston Manor: Again the building is Art Deco, and is listed, but it is alot smaller in size than northfields, therefore the station is decidedly cramped inside the building, especially with the ticket barriers. This station is being refurbished too, with the addition of waiting rooms on the platform as though both platforms have roofs covering about a third of length, there are only about 2 benches for sitting on. Unfortunately it looks like the historical architecture of the building has been forgotten as the waiting rooms look like 2 plastic boxes with glass, with roofs sloping in opposite direction to the platform roofs.

Osterly: Was opened as an alternative to Osterly Park station which was slightly further along the line nearer boston manor. The reasons behind this i think were that osterly park station was not in a very good location in terms of who used the station. Cant remember when this happened, but can still see remains of osterly park platforms and signal box when on tube between ostely and boston manor.

Hounslow East: until a few years ago the Westbound side had no building or shelter at all and could get onto westbound platform directly from road. Now there is a building on each side, and the two sides are linked within the station so you enter on westbound side and walk in tunnel under track to eastbound side. Station raised above road level so train crosses road on bridge, so when running for train have to run up stairs which is tiring. Can access both platforms via lifts which is useful when with buggies or luggage etc. New buildings look quite nice, though out of place around the surrounding buildings, and the shelter on the eastbound side which is about third of length of platform doesn't match either, but never mind.

Thats all for now, really need to go to bed as have chemistry cw to contend with in the morning.

very much - I don't know a lot about that part of the line

I'll start adding that stuff now

minor correction, the old station at Osterly wasn't called Osterly Park it was just Osterly, so in effect the station was moved a bit further along lol. Got confused because the original station was a lot nearer the park so i must have got confused when my dad told me about it.<smiley

No probs - I've looked into it and the old one was officially called Osterley & Spring Grove, but was basically just Osterley, just like the current one.