London Transport Museum
The London Transport Museum⇒ is at the eastern corner of Covent Garden. Entry is a little expensive at £17 (in 2016) for a single adult but there are a variety of concessions, group tickets and under 18’s go free. The Acton Depot⇒ is much larger but only accessible as part of a tour or on an open day.
Vintage steam engines can be found at the Science Museum⇐ (free entry) and a classic/vintage vehicles race can be seen once a year at Crystal Palace Motorsport⇐.
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Horse drawn coaches developed into horse drawn trams (on rails).
Then trams powered by electricity from overhead power lines.
There were also motorised omnibuses.
Then underground powered by electricity. Although there were three oil fired steam locomotives used during construction of the underground.
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This locomotive was used on an overground line but passed through several small tunnels, hence its minimal height.
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Sprung upholstery. More comfortable than modern day but heavier.
Some of the underground trains remained like this into the 1960’s and even 1970’s. It is a testament to how well they were built.
The Routemaster bus⇐ also lasted well, the basic design being in use from 1956 to 2005.
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As luck would have it, I ran into one of these just outside the museum.
The Royal Mews
10 pics and the best is last. I thought a Royal Mews would have cats deep in thought but it turns out to be coaches. The one above is the “Glass Coach” and was used for royal marriages, including our own Queen Elizabeth II.
The Royal Mews can be found at the southern wall of Buckingham Palace (near Victoria Station) beside the Queens Gallery and you can photograph in both. Nearby are the State Rooms, where photography is not allowed. There are also some very royal gift shops,
And, there’s a green one,
And, Vorsprung durch Technik,
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This is a Donkey Barouche. Although it would probably look prettier with a donkey sitting in it. 🙂
I thought I might borrow this for Christmas. I’m sure they wouldn’t notice. It would make a great tankard full of amber foaming beer for quaffing.
And, here’s my ride. Cinderella would have been jealous.
I think the coachmen turn back into corgis at midnight. 🙂
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Oh poop, I got caught and put in jail. I’m being held for ransom. Help ! Send mince pies and brandy or it’s jingly bell sleigh duty for me.
Freed From Time 