I think I may have done this before, but finding myself again far too early for my train, I decided to walk the entire length of the platform. Why did they build them so long? Were trains once half a mile long? Maybe the brakes weren't too reliable?
I left the surging masses round the ticket gates and refreshment kiosks and strode out to the northern edge of the railway universe (I bet they were observing me on CCTV!). The lines branch either side of the ancient castle keep and looking around the cathedral church of St Nicholas is also be to seen, as is the High Level Bridge and of course the Tyne Bridge. Turning to look back down the platform I wondered how the scene would look without buildings associated with the railway - no station, no Station Hotel for a start off. That would have been a shame, as these buildings have real merit, not just functional sling it up and knock it down again a few years later - these were built to last. The grand sweep of the station, platforms and superb arched roof were fab. And a stones throw away was the Stephenson Building. Newcastle is not just a railway town, its THE railway town. All this history visible from platform 2.
I walked past the waiting travellers. None made eye contact, but how many wondered what the heck I was up to as I continued past them and on to the southern end of the platform. From here the metro bridges blue spines make it look like the Lambton Worm fancied a day out, traffic sails by on the Redheugh, the Arena waits in the undergrowth, the Tyne flows softly on.
And so back to the central section of the platform, which is the only bit that gets used as far as I can see. Not my longest walk, but you can't beat the atmosphere at a railway station, and all the longest journeys begin with a single step.
No comments:
Post a Comment