Rushden Station Museum

Posted on August 26, 2024August 26, 2024 by Rod Ash

In 2024 it is still possible to find railway related postcards for sale, and railway museums and heritage centres still offer plenty of opportunities. One of the UK’s smaller and less known railway museums is at Rushden station in Northamptonshire. The main museum is housed in the station building and it is packed with transport related items. There is also a running line where a class 142 pacer unit offers regular rides on a short section of the track. The road bridge at the northern end of the station has long since been removed preventing any track relaying in that direction. As for postcards there were two available at the time of my visit in early August. One showing the station as at 1894 and the other showing the pacer unit. In addition a wooden cabin on the platform contained a selection of old postcards on a wide variety of subjects to sort through.

Well worth a visit if you haven’t been.

Burton Collectors’ fairs next 5th October 2024

Posted on January 26, 2023August 26, 2024 by Rod Ash

This popular fair managed by Rod and James Ltd. The next will be at Burton on Trent Town Hall on Saturday 5th October 2024.

The venue is a short walk from the station and is easy to find from the A38 with local parking. Postcard traders will be in attendance.

For further details contact Rod Ash – r.ash@tinyworld.co.uk or James Hudson – James@hudsontransportbooks.co.uk

Tony Harden RIP

Posted on April 25, 2020April 25, 2020 by Rod Ash

I was saddened by the news that Tony Harden has died of natural causes on Monday 20th April 2020.

Tony ran the Railway Postcard Collectors Circle for many years, and most recently a railway stations images website.

I can’t remember when I first met Tony but it would most likely be me attending his stall at a postcard fair, probably at least 20 years ago. Tony was based in Reading, so we rarely met other than at the Burton fair, which was the furthest north he travelled for fairs.

I remember Tony as a very serious person, but always with a smile not far below the surface. I am indebted to him for all the assistance he has provided to me over the years to develop my postcard collection and the knowledge around railway postcards.

My thoughts are also to Nicky and his family at this time.

Midland Railway Official Postcards Research

Posted on January 22, 2020January 22, 2020 by Rod Ash

New for the start of 2020 a comprehensive works on the official railway postcards of the Midland Railway has bee put on line by the Midland Railway Study Centre.

Their introductory press release is attached here;

MR Postcards Press release and the site can be accessed through this link: http://www.midlandrailwaystudycentre.org.uk/postcards

A popular map card used for correspondence purposes

A couple of the harder to find postcards:

Pudsey Railway Collectors Fair, Leeds. Saturday 26th October 2024

Posted on September 25, 2019August 26, 2024 by Rod Ash

The Pudsey Civic Centre is close to New Pudsey station. Let your better half loose in the massive Marks & Spencers and ASDA stores whilst you make your way around about 100 transport related stalls. If travelling by car the venue is easy to find and has a large free car park. There is also a restaurant. The fair opens at 10am.

East Anglia Transport Museum

Posted on July 30, 2018July 30, 2018 by Rod Ash

The East Anglia Transport Museum incorporates the East Suffolk Light Railway

Close to Great Yarmouth the site is packed with railway and other transport items.

The railway is run using Simplex diesels and a return trip lasts only a few minutes including a far end run around.

The two postcards available are shown above.

Well worth a visit.

ST PANCRAS

Posted on June 29, 2018June 29, 2018 by Rod Ash

There is a new postcard for 2018 available from a St Pancras Merchandise stall in the lower level arcade of the station.

Designed & Printed by www.rocket68.com

Paddington

Posted on February 18, 2018February 18, 2018 by Rod Ash

A brief update on Paddington Bear postcards at Paddington station. After years of trading from a barrow on the forecourt the retailing has moved to a permanent shop inside the station’s retail area. There are currently several postcards available but only one features the station:

Postcards sold from the barrow include the similar design with line drawn HST and a view of the barrow.

Watch out for a postcard featuring Paddington bear and a class 800…

Snowdon Mountain Railway

Posted on December 30, 2017December 30, 2017 by Rod Ash

The railway has a massive shop at the base of the railway as well as a smaller site within the summit facility. A number of postcards are available from the “Origins” series.

These are refs P259, P263, P508, P263, P373, P426, P417, P418, P434, P471, P472, P473, P474, P506 & P510

Peak Rail 2017

Posted on December 30, 2017December 30, 2017 by Rod Ash

It’s hard to believe that when I visited Matlock the temperature was in the region of 30 degrees C, given that I’m writing this with snow on the ground outside. How the UK’s weather changes over just a few months. whilst visiting this line is always a pleasure, however I do wonder if I’ll live long enough for a trip all the way through to Buxton.

One of the features of this line is the bookshop in the Station building at Matlock. They do also stock other items of interest to travellers and a few postcards are available.