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| Postcards of the Past |
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| London Railway Stations |
| If you would like to contribute to this page, please contact us ! Postcards, memories, facts and figures - in fact anything relevant will be put on this page. |
| Paddington |
| There is an excellent collection of photographs of the station provided by the GWR Steam Museum - follow this link. |
| A 1913 postcard of a very busy Paddington, Platforms 1 and 2. |
Paddington has been the London terminus of the Great Western Railway and its
successors since 1838. Much of the current mainline station, designed by Brunel,
dates back to 1854. Paddington was the original western terminus of the
Metropolitan Railway, the world's first underground railway, which opened in 1863
at the Bishop's Road side of the station. The station of course today connects
directly with the London Underground.
The station was originally a temporary terminus for the Great Western Railway when
its London to Taplow service started in 1838. This original station then became a
goods yard when the main station opened in 1854. This yard has lain derelict for
many years but is now (2008) I believe, being developed with flats and shops.
successors since 1838. Much of the current mainline station, designed by Brunel,
dates back to 1854. Paddington was the original western terminus of the
Metropolitan Railway, the world's first underground railway, which opened in 1863
at the Bishop's Road side of the station. The station of course today connects
directly with the London Underground.
The station was originally a temporary terminus for the Great Western Railway when
its London to Taplow service started in 1838. This original station then became a
goods yard when the main station opened in 1854. This yard has lain derelict for
many years but is now (2008) I believe, being developed with flats and shops.
| Not quite so busy - Platform 1 in an undated postcard, probably a few years earlier than that above. |
| The Great Western Hotel was built on Praed Street, in front of the station, and opened on 8 June 1854. The hotel, which was remodelled between 1936 and 1938, replaces the traditional station facade. |
| In September 1961 the decomposing body of a male child was found in a case at Paddington Station. Paper stuffed into his mouth was the cause of death. His identity has never been established. |
| My first visit to London was by train from Stratford-upon-Avon - via Leamington Spa - to Paddington in 1945. |
| Memorials. There are two memorials in the station. One is a statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel who, amongst other achievements, designed Paddington. The second is a memorial to those employees of the Great Western Railway who perished in the First World War. This bronze may be found on Platform 1. |
The station has featured in many books, including Agatha
Christie's "4.50 from Paddington" (subtitled "What Mrs
McGillicuddy Saw") and of course Michael Bond's
"Paddington Bear" was named after the station where he
arrived as a stowaway from Peru.
Christie's "4.50 from Paddington" (subtitled "What Mrs
McGillicuddy Saw") and of course Michael Bond's
"Paddington Bear" was named after the station where he
arrived as a stowaway from Peru.
| The G.W.R. had a literary society, apparently with its own rooms at Paddington Station in 1859 and 1865. |
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