THE NEW & THE OLD

In the last post, I promised you a look at the buses of Welwyn Garden City. The new(ish) town was once firmly in the grip of London Country and here is one of its Leyland Nationals. 

Deregulation in 1986 saw two new operators, Sampson's and Welwyn Hatfield Line.

Both of the above were photographed at the grubby old bus station. 

The building of the Howard Shopping Centre meant a new bus station was built, where we see a Sovereign (successor to London Country North East) Alexander PS type saloon.

Here are some of the more modern operators serving Welwyn Garden City's bus station.

Right, that's it for WGC, so now we must cross the valley of the River Mimram, which the East Coast Main Line does very nicely. (Creative Commons License)

That means that our next stop is Welwyn North railway station. The horse doesn't look too bothered by the LNER express.

The station has not changed much since GNR days, as an up HST hurtles through..

Welwyn North station, actually in Digswell, is about a mile from Old Welwyn, but fortunately McMullen's have provided a pub next door to the railway, the Cowper Arms.

Correctly called Welwyn, what was once an important town is now a very pleasant place, though perhaps a bit too upmarket. Here's Church Street around 1920.

The Church on Church Street, dedicated to Saint Mary.

The Wellington Inn suffered a major fire and had to be rebuilt, though they've done a good job of it. The pub is a bit too foody for my liking.

If you're into real ale, then maybe the White Horse is the one for you.

We finish this part of the blog at a real proper boozer in the heart of Welwyn, The Tavern. The Mac's AK was superb when I last called in.

So, we've been to Welwyn, tomorrow we'll be well out!

THE SECOND GARDEN CITY.

 When I say, "The Second Garden City", I don't mean the second one we've visited so far, but the second one to be built.....it started in 1920, after nearby Letchworth. So we'll soon be arriving at Welwyn Garden City, but first we have to leave Hatfield for a little place to the north, Mill Green, where there's a museum.

Close at hand is the Green Man.

Two or three miles to the south east is the hamlet of Wildhill, where there's one of my favourite pubs, the Woodman. Not to be missed!

A bit further to the north and we arrive at Essendon, for some Mac's at the Candlestick. (Photographer unknown)

A walk further northwards takes us to Cole Green station, where a GNR train will take us towards Welwyn.

Yes, I am aware that Welwyn Garden City did not have a station in Great Northern days and that is why our first photo there shows an LNER A3 'Pacific' passing through on the up 'Flying Scotsman'.

On a wet June day in 2008, preserved A4 60019 heads north.

Now a Virgin liveried Class 91 goes through at speed, on the down line.

The East Coast Main Line does see some freight. Here 60 012 arrives with a Redland self-discharge train. It's heading into the up side yard, to run round its load in 1992.

In the next post, we'll look at the buses in Welwyn Garden City, before heading off to somewhere with pubs.

LET'S HIT THE WRESTLERS!

 In the last post, I left you outside Hatfield (Hertfordshire) station, so it's now time to take a look inside. It was built by the Great Northern Railway and one of that company's 2-4-0 locos, No. 684, is calling on an up service.

In LNER times, 4-4-0 No. 4323 sits on the turntable by the loco shed.

The 17th of October 2000 was a black day in the history of Hatfield, because it was then that a fatal derailment occured just to the south of the station. GNER 91 023 was the loco, undamaged, as were the front two coaches. They are being hauled through Hatfield station, during the clean up.

Some of the Mark IV carriages involved, though not seriously damaged, were craned out into the station car park for taking away by road.

The majority of services calling at Hatfield were formed of 313 units, such as 313 059, photographed in 2019, just before withdrawal.

The 313s have now been replaced by Class 717 EMUs. This one is arriving from the north.

Intercity services speed through without stopping.

Hatfield station booking hall has recently been rebuilt and looks smart, but it's still the same interior!

There'a a small bus station adjacent to the railway establishment. It used to be served by Reg's Coaches.

Uno provide a large proportion of the buses at Hatfield.

A short walk northwards brings us to a McMullen's establishment, the Red Lion. It's been upgraded since this photo was taken in 2000.

Within eyesight of the Red Lion, though across the railway, was London Country's garage, where LNB43 was found in 1983.

A few yards northwards again, following the railway, we come to a former Ind Coope pub, the Wrestlers. It seems to be a good idea to have a rest here.

The next post will see us in a new town.

ME, GOATS AND PIGS

 Now for the first part of a two day visit to Hatfield, Hertfordshire. It was famous for making De Haviland aircraft and there was a large airfield next to the factory. My father was a regular visitor on the open days.Two De Haviland products, a Tiger Moth and a Rapide are seen here.

The airfield is now built on, with housing and the University of Hertfordshire. Uno was the bus company invented to serve the students and one of their bendibuses is seen at the Galleria, built over the A1 tunnel

Arriva also serves the Galleria. There's a Wetherspoons in there, somewhere, but I haven't visited it yet. 

As we approach the old part of Hatfield, we find this Leyland Olympian of Sovereign, heading for Stevenage in 1989.

Next to the home of Lord and Lady Salisbury, Hatfield House. (Creative Commons License photo)

The extensive gardens of Hatfield House have been host to a number of attractions and events. There have even been visits by traction engines.

For a few years, there was even a miniature railway and I often used to drive the train.

Next door to the railway was a rare breeds farm, open to the public. 

This is Fore Street, in Old Hatfield, around 1925. 

Two pretty decent pubs in the Old Town. The Horse & Groom is one.

Almost opposite is the Eight Bells. Long may these pubs survive.

 

About 200 yards away, facing the railway station, there's the Great Northern.

The next post will take a look at Hatfield's trains and buses, some more pubs, then moving ever onwards.