A Station Called Paddington

The Great Western Railway’s excessively grand terminus in London.
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[@joshuaW5621]

It seems fitting that Paddington Bear would have his own statue at Paddington station.

[@23Daves]

I once made arrangements to meet a friend of mine at Paddington station "by the statue of Paddington bear". He didn't know the station well and got himself lost wandering in huge circles looking for what he said he imagined was "a large statue of Paddington bear standing on one foot and spurting water out of his mouth". The more I think about it, perhaps I could have chosen a more obvious, larger landmark, like perhaps the branch of WH Smiths.

[@pdrg]

The war memorial on platform 1 is always a safe option! Especially as the bear has moved a couple of times!

[@23Daves]

@@pdrg Good call - noted for future reference!

[@comicus01]

How about the statue of Brunel? That one struck me as fairlly visible.

[@MattMcIrvin]

I was just there and it did occur to me that I knew the statue was in there somewhere, but I had no idea where.

[@richardcrossley5581]

Not exactly "under the clock at Waterloo", which is something I have used from time to time.

[@lilmaestro358]

As Duck from Thomas says “ there’s only two ways of doing things, THE GREAT WESTERN WAY OR THE WRONG WAY” Paddington is a London landmark to never be forgotten

[@russellgxy2905]

Naturally he would! He used to work at Paddington!

[@lassepeterson2740]

Or the " unspoken way ( GWR ) " . I have heard that from BR employees .

[@christopherperkins3416]

As exemplified by Churchward's, then CME of the GWR, reply when asked by a director of the GWR why his locomotives cost 50% more than those designed by Webb, then CME of the LNWR. "Because one loco of mine can pull two of his backwards."

[@emjackson2289]

The GWR way, the wrong way AND the Max Power Way! Isn't that just the wrong way Dad? Yeah, but faster!

[@sddsddean]

Did you know, on Queen Victoria's first trip, I K Brunel acted as fireman whilst Daniel Gooch (chief locomotive engineer/designer for GWR) acted as driver.

[@HarryLovesRuth]

After arriving in London with nothing much to do until the next day, we decided to visit Paddington. Shocking lack of marmalade sandwiches for sale.

[@spottymaxy1628]

Unacceptable!!!!

[@DrJams]

Don't think it would be popular

[@mistywolf312]

I've always liked Paddington station, it runs a huge amount of trains in and out but is so much more light, airy and less stressful than all the other london terminus's.

[@eekee6034]

I like St. Pancras for its light and airy feel, but it gets very strange when you have to go down to the olympic platforms with ceilings blacker than the night sky. When going from the midlands to the south coast, I get off in the very nice bit, dawdle around the modern bit over lunch, and then I go down to the olympic platforms and just try to look forward to seeing Blackfriars and the green tones of Haywards Heath where I change. Apologies if "the olympic platforms" is an unknown term. I started using the line in 2011 when the platforms had just been built for the Olympics the next year.

[@grumpyoldman47]

@@eekee6034 They're the Thameslink platforms which you are referring to; trains to/from the Olympic Park at Stratford used platforms 11 - 13 on the east side of the station

[@eekee6034]

@@grumpyoldman47 Thanks, yeah, they must be the ones.

[@David-ci1vn]

"light and airy", not in the days when the platform entrances would be occupied by a line of Paxmann Valentas, standing next to them as they pulled away was an experience, visual, oral, and aural, polluting for sure but exquiite at the same time.

[@MartinBrenner]

I remember the comfortable ride from Paddington to Cardiff with a GWR Intercity 125 train and seeing an engine with the name "ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL". Thanks for telling the history of the line and Paddington!

[@highpath4776]

I recall the ?Class47? Locomotive of the same name. I may still have a jigsaw puzzle of it, which jago may have, if he wants it

[@millomweb]

Let's count to see if Isambard Kingdom Brunel is longer or shorter than Charles Rennie McIntosh ! One does wonder where they get these loco names from !

[@mirzaahmed6589]

@@millomweb Isambard Brunel was definitely shorter in real life.

[@RWL2012]

Class 43 HST / InterCity 125 power car 43003 Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Nowadays 43003 is with ScotRail.

[@andrewgwilliam4831]

40mph doesn't sound like too much these days, but at the time it was much faster than most people had ever travelled. I've only ever been on a galloping horse once, and that was mildly terrifying for someone with no proper riding experience!

[@johnjephcote7636]

Queen Victoia's funeral train from Gosport to Victoria had left late and really romped along. The Kaiser was very excited and was surprised that such a small LBSC loco could run so fast.

[@1224chrisng]

especially if you were sitting on open carts in 3rd class, imagine your luggage, had it not been strapped down, just flying out the back at 40mph

[@PianoKwanMan]

@@1224chrisng I'd be more concerned about the steam and smoke in the tunnels

[@SynchroScore]

One line that I've heard is that Napoleon of France traveled no faster than Jesus of Nazareth, so to travel at anything faster than a stagecoach would've been really startling.

[@lwilton]

Watching various European videos over the last couple years, I think the fastest road speed limit I've ever seen was 70 KPH, which is all of about 43 MPH. It seems that people aren't supposed to move any faster now than in 1850.

[@mcarp555]

I know Paddington well. This video seems to encapsulate almost the entire history of UK rail around one station. Lovely job, Jago.

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

“They probably have been counted, but I’m lazy”. 😂 Jago, you continue to crack me up. Another brilliant episode. Thank you.👏👏👍😀

[@eekee6034]

It's a common meaning of "countless" anyway. 😂

[@jamesgilbart2672]

It's great that Paddington station dodged the developers (vandals) and kept its glory. Other stations where office blocks/shopping centres were built over the top were turned into dark and depressing basements - look at Cannon Street, Charing Cross and Victoria.

[@andrewdarley8988]

As a youngster in the late 1950s and early 60s I lived near a station on the central line. So going to meet relatives or visitors arriving at one or other of the terminals we went by underground. I told my parents you could always tell when we came up into Paddington by the smell and was told not to be silly, smoke was smoke. When I got older I found the reason was that Western region used Welsh steam coal with its delightful tarry smell quite different from the harder more acrid smell at Euston and King's Cross. Just another unique characteristic of Paddington now lost.

[@MeFreeBee]

I hardly ever have occasion to use Paddington. The last time I did I'd forgotten about where the Hammersmith & City entrance was. My walk from Lancaster Gate to Paddington was about the same as my walk from Paddington to Paddington 🙁

[@chrisamies2141]

same, went by H&C from Hammersmith to Paddington yesterday - "where's the mainline station?"

[@w1swh1]

Yes, it is a little secret people who know London use. Lancaster Gate on the Central line looks miles away from Paddington on the tube map but in fact is just a short walk away.

[@michaelkinsey4649]

Isambard - an old Norman French given name meaning 'iron' and 'bright'; Marc Isambard Brunel (IK's father) was the son of a (well off) farmer, who perhaps appreciated the properties of good iron and a sharp edge! A second son, Marc might well have become a priest but instead became an engineer. (What's in a name?!) Religious persecution saw him emigrate to England. Kingdom - the family name of IK's mother, Sophia Kingdom, an Englishwoman. Brunel - Old French again from 'brun' meaning 'one with brown hair'.

[@trickygoose2]

Recent years have seen something of a comeback for boys' names that I would have thought a little old-fashioned when I was young. Names like Jack, Harry, Tom, Sam, Alfie and Hugo. I am holding out for a revival in the name Isambard.

[@eekee6034]

@@trickygoose2 That would be fun, although it's so out of place in my experience that I don't think it's ever been an English name, as such. Jack, Harry, Tom etc. were normal adults' names when I was little, and I naturally picked up on the strong classism which was then still present; fancy names were for fancy folk. Isambard struck me as exceptionally fancy even for fancy folk. But that form of classism was killed off by the 90s fashion of giving kids fancy names. It's a pity that phase didn't really overlap with the rise of steampunk. Despite all that, I'm sure I've heard of a kid called Isambard some time in this century. :) It's probably a reference to the engineer specifically.

[@ianthomson9363]

I was very nearly named Isambard as my Mum was a great admirer of Brunel. It might have been difficult at school, but in later life it would have been very cool.

[@eekee6034]

@@JP_TaVeryMuch I'm sure you're right. When I was younger, I was struck by how linguistically diverse England is, without considering Wales or Scotland. I don't know why I didn't think that would apply to names too.

[@ESmith-ik8vu]

Paddington was the scene of my first arrival in London, 1981.Though I haven't been there since, I'll cherish the memory of it till I'm out of time. The FX 4's outside, a cobbler in Praed Street, and the Wimpy bar on a corner. And the Stag bitter in pubs closing for the afternoon. Thank you so much.

[@TalesOfWar]

Lucky thing. Mine was Euston. A dreary terminus if there ever was one lol.

[@rodjones117]

Oh God! Watney's Stag Bitter - thanks for the memories(NOT). Possibly the worst beer ever...

[@ESmith-ik8vu]

@@rodjones117 Better than bloody lager, though.

[@rodjones117]

@@ESmith-ik8vu Stag (keg) Bitter? Better than a Franconian Kellerbier, or a Czech Svetle Lezack? Not in a million years.

[@TheNemocharlie]

There once was a time when the average student of Fishery Science at Plymouth Poly could afford a Second Class sleeper from London to Plymouth and have money to spare for dinner or breakfast. But not both. I love this station with the same passion I felt for my first girl friend....

[@mikeyfff]

I can jut about remember the Taxi's coming down the ramp directly onto platform 8 & 9, it's why that platform is so wide

[@vicsams4431]

If you include the 'suburban' platforms of the Metropolitan, you might be confused in thinking that Paddington has 16 mainline platforms, but it used to have a little used Platform 0, not that it was ever known as such, simply a parcels platform. It had the unusual characteristic of having loco run round facilities rather than a conventional bufferstops, like the rest of the platforms. In December 1985, it was used by F&W Railtours Festive Fiddler hauled by 45 104. Passengers for the tour, waited and waited to see it's arrival on the departure board, but I don't think they could display Platform 0 ! So there was some last minute sprinting down Platform 1 and behind the old signalbox to the parcels platform. Sadly the track is no longer there, but a lucky few did use it.

[@baystated]

I had several Paddington Bear teddies as a kid and remember the book about him. Remember that he was named after the train station he was found in. It was probably the only think I knew about England as a child that didn't come through the warp of Disney.

[@johnjephcote7636]

The circulating area is known as 'The Lawn', possibly harking back to the grassy bank that once led down to the canal, The station itself, having been built in a shallow cutting.

[@colinchaves9285]

When I was a young boy I was taken on trips round London and enjoyed going through Paddington so I could just watch the stream engines as they pulled out of Paddington station, or get a glimpse of the shunt engine doing there routine work in and out of the station.what a pleasant memory.

[@joshweinstein5345]

As an American visitor to London, I've found Paddington is almost always my first and last stop, thanks to Heathrow Express and as such, I've come to love it (which is not hard, given its charms.) Thanks for this video, Jago, in which I got to learn even more about one of my fav London haunts. Surprised you did not mention Queen Victoria's waiting room, just yards from the famous paddington statue and still pretty much intact (as part of the GWR lounge, I think.)

[@dangerousandy]

Many fond memories of Paddington Station from the 80s and 90s. My (late) Dad used to take me there on the train for a Casey Jones Burger and a copy of the Railway Modeller magazine from WH Smiths as a treat. Those were the days.

[@Julius_Hardware]

Ooooh Casey Jones - they did a good cheeseburger and they had a black cherry milkshake special for a while, it was heaven.

[@dimensional_fusion]

A grand terminus indeed. But then again, it’s basically a massive Victorian greenhouse.

[@lassunsschaun6859]

Yeah, he could have talked about Estación de Atocha instead 😏, but would have needed to get there first.

[@ShadowDragon8685]

It looks like it's big enough to literally be three airplane hangars set side-by-side. It's incredible, and it's an incredible example of futureproofing in action. Considering that it was primarily built and designed in 1854, that's pretty damn incredible. I imagine that it was designed for the GWR's original broad gauge helped with that, though - saving two feet plus per track in the move to standard probably allowed another line in!

[@Pesmog]

I have always thought that due to the Hotel design, Paddington mainline station never got the Grand passenger entrance from the front in Praed street that it deserved. You just walk down the carriage ramp to one side instead. Tourists regularly walk past it and miss the entrance to the concourse. Even the new Eastbourne terrace entrance isn't exactly satisfactory being down a side street. There must be a story as to why it never had a Grand frontal entrance given how the Victorians loved such architectural statements

[@armadillito]

@@Pesmog it is the opposite way round to so many British stations. Grand on the rail side and unassuming on the town side.

[@MervynPartin]

I arrived at Paddington many times on holiday as a young kid, collected by my grandparents after travelling from home in Cardiff. I always enjoyed the journey (seats were comfortable in those British Railways days) but Paddington was so large and impressive that I still have very fond memories of it as it then was. Steam engines hissing, all the noise of the crowds and vehicles. Ah, such memories, but nostalgia ain't what it used to be!.

[@robertweissman4850]

For those interested in seeing the (virtually entire) trunk route that used to be operated from Paddington to Birmingham (Snow Hill - the 1912 GWR station stupidly closed through the Beeching plan) , there is a short ( c +5 mins.) film that can be viewed on KZbin. It is called “Let’s go to Birmingham, “ British Film Institute, 1962. A warning - it’s in terrible colour, but is worth searching.

[@paulhaynes8045]

A lovely tribute to the only London terminus that's really managed to retain its grandure and character. Until last summer, I hadn't been there for 20 years or more, so didn't know what to expect, and was very pleasantly surprised. Like all stations, it has been 'improved', but in this case mostly for the better, and at the same time it hasn't been Disneyfied, like St Pancras. It still feels like the grand station it was - a timeless mixture of old and new. If only it wasn't as 'detached' from the centre of London like it is (mainly because it's not so easy to reach on the Underground) - but maybe that's part of the reason it's managed to keep its character so much more than the other termini?

[@PtolemyJones]

Wow, Paddington is really gorgeous.

[@srfurley]

Many years ago I did some of the work on laying the platform edge slabs in that transfer shed.

[@lawrencelewis2592]

I took the Heathrow Express on my way home to Toronto. On the airplane I watched the second Paddington Bear film. There are scenes filmed in the station and I thought, I was in that place only 4 hours ago.

[@RJSRdg]

Some of the scenes were filmed at Didcot Railway Centre, which also features in this video.

[@lawrencelewis2592]

@@RJSRdg I've been to Didcot a couple of times- I love that dual-gauge trackage.

[@EdVonPelt]

This has to be one of your best videos so far. The various tangents into the Great Western were very enjoyable and informative.

[@coastaku1954]

Paddington and the Great Western Railway has a very special place in my heart, even though I have never been to the UK. I've been playing Train Simulator for a very long time and it's predecessor, Rail Simulator/Railworks, before that, and the one route that I have used the most is The Great Western Mainline from London to Oxford, I've used it constantly however the route is only Electrified from Paddington to Haynes and Harlington so I was limited to just diesel trains, however I was still fine seeing how fast I can go from London to Reading. Then I got a Electrified version from the steam workshop and now I'm having the APT zoom down the line from London to Reading in about 17mins. I do fantasy runs where trains from London to Didcot Parkway are categorized by how many stops they do. If I was to ever go to London, which I really want to, I want to take a small trip out to Reading on the old Great Western Mainline, just so I can see all the stuff from my childhood but real

[@jerribee1]

If you do come to the UK and want to see lots of GWR stuff, you should go to Didcot Railway Centre.

[@coastaku1954]

@@jerribee1 That is true, that's where the new Hitachi Class 800 (Or 802, can't remember) trains switch from Electric to Diesel and vise versa. If I do go to Didcot, then I'll still be able to see Reading and all thats on the way

[@katbryce]

Electrification past Airport Junction is a fairly recent thing. Previously, only the Heathrow Express, Heathrow Connect (now part of TfL Rail), and the Hammersmith & City Line were electric.

[@coastaku1954]

@@katbryce Oh I knew that, I was just saying that I was stuck with a partial electrified version for a while

[@RJSRdg]

@@coastaku1954 Gerald was referring to the Great Western Society Museum (adjacent to Didcot Parkway station), which features prominently in this video.

[@benjones1917]

I loved the Paddington of the early 90s with rows of HSTs with their Paxman Valentas screaming and howling with huge jets of black smoke as they set off - was one hell of a sound ❤

[@harbl99]

Railway milk? How does one milk a railway? [enter Charles Yerkes, stage left]

[@robinforrest7680]

😂😂😂🤣 Reminds me of Michael Palin in the USA when an American told him « my ancestors were dirt farmers » Palin kept a straight face and replied « so there’s good money to be made from dirt then ? »

[@Hollandstation]

As a Dutch person that loves making videos about infrastructure, I really want to go to London now!

[@robertweissman4850]

Excellent, interesting & informative video on my favourite London terminus. It is a measure of Brunei’s unique genius that so much of his work is still in existence today, and continuing to be used. I think that Paddington Station displays a blend of wonderful engineering and obvious beauty at the same time; what a contrast with 1960s brutalist concrete “new Euston!” One thing to add, perhaps. Until the later 1960s, there was another trunk route out of Paddington that struck north-west at Old Oak Common. That was the route which was taken by expresses running from Paddington to Banbury, Leamington Spa General, Birmingham Snow Hill (the wonderful GWR 1912 station), Wolverhampton (Low Level), then on to Birkenhead (Woodside) or Aberystwyth. This route, running via the “Bicester cut-off,” was downgraded (1967) after passengers were encouraged to use the new Euston -Birmingham New Street electric service.

[@thomasburke2683]

Robert Weissman, The route from Paddington to Birmingham via High Wycombe, survived into the 1980s. It had one train each way, a morning service from Birmingham, returning from Paddington at 1812. In 1980 or thereabouts, it was a class 47 and early mk 2 coaches. Subsequently it was singled, merely a siding for freight in and out of Park Royal.

[@Wubbel99]

One of most famous trains from this station must be the "4:50 from Paddington".

[@andrewemery4272]

Word is that after arriving from Peru, Paddington Bear has now been flown to Rwanda..

[@frglee]

Yep, build properly for the future, and the future will thank you for it. In this case, in the form of of Jago Hazzard.

[@Jim_Buck]

Oh this is my station! I actually missed my commute a bit during lockdown, and resorted to train sims for a little fix! Cheers for this, great channel!

[@sheep21]

Paddington is the station I always think of when I think of London termini. It also feels the grandest and most open and spacious with very little of the additions other older victorian termini have had to endure to keep pace with passenger volumes (looking at you kings cross). All in all my favourite London station

[@barrykeen5643]

This brought back memories of my daily journey to school in the very early 60s going past Royal Oak station on the then Metropolitan line (now H&C line) and being mesmerized by the King and Castle locomotives smoking away in the yard, waiting to be called into Paddington to head the exotic sounding trains like the Cornish Riviera Express and the Bristolian as well as the lovely pannier tanks which took the empty stock out of Paddington. This started my lifelong fascination with railways - especially the GWR and later the long gone diesel hydraulic locomotives before they were replaced by the bland and ubiquitous class 47s. Paddington is still a lovely station but the sounds and especially the smell of the steam and diesels are sadly gone forever 😥

[@spark_6710]

I love Paddington bear 🐻 And the name " Paddington " gives me the comfort because of the Paddington bear ! It's almost Paddington station is the signature of London besides Tower bridge ,afternoon tea places !! I am Japanese living in L.A. ! A very interesting video !! 👍💜🥁🐉🎤💞

[@MrAJRiches]

Its Christmas Day morning, current sat with my 5months old son asleep on me (too afraid to move lest he wakes up) and I have your playlist on auto-play. He clearly finds your narration style very calming - or he finds trains an incredibly soothing topic. Either way, thank you for being a consistent way to help him sleep, and a merry Christmas to everyone.

[@JagoHazzard]

You’re very welcome! Merry Christmas!

[@huwshepheard3075]

Disappointed you didn’t mention the GWR Paddington Band, which plays on the concourse every Friday evening, March to December. It’s the descendent of the bad that played for the Station Master at Christmas 1853 9if I remember correctly).

[@Sue-np9fp]

Jago, what a brilliant video! I commuted into Paddington station for 7 years, from Kent. So this was a very Nostalgic return to an old haunt, for me! All your detail was fascinating- this is a truly beautiful station! Thank you, love sue xxx s

[@camerastooge]

I once (2013, I think) took the train from Paddington to Oxford on a whim. Never got to see Paddington Bear, though -- not that it matters, my phone died the second I tried to take a picture (the power outlet at my seat on the plane didn't work). But if I ever make it back, I'm taking my son to take his picture by the bear statue.

[@thomasburke2683]

Lucas Barker, Paddington to Oxford, a journey made by great men! Roger Bannister was working in st Mary's hospital, Paddington before taking the train from the station to Oxford in May 1954, where he ran the first sub four minute mile. He then settled in Oxford, where he died and is buried. Einstein is also said to have taken the train to Oxford, giving rise to the relativity question "does Oxford station stop at this train"?

[@Jimyjames73]

I like Bristol - it's a nice city!!! 🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@alanroderick7153]

As A child I was bribed into day trips "Up in Town" by a burnt banger (sausage) and red sauce in the station cafe when we arrived - very tasty indeed

[@Tealice1]

I have fond memories of my first, and thus far only, time I visited London. Coming to Paddington after landing in Heathrow was my first real experience of London and England.

[@brettpalfrey4665]

I have heard it said that HS2 should be called HS3, as Brunel built a high speed railway in the 1830s! Another great video, Jago, Top marks as always!

[@davidty2006]

that would mean HS 1 should be called HS 2....

[@lewis72]

I visited Paddington last year for the first time in a number of decades. It really didn't seem the same without the welcoming, low-end frequency thrum of a fleet of 125s sitting there belching out clouds of sooty diesel exhaust. I really miss those.

[@jerribee1]

Your lungs won't though.

[@sheep21]

I must admit it feels odd standing for your train and looking up and not seeing a never dispersing blue black cloud of diesel fumes floating about. I actually quite miss the smell..

[@roderickmain9697]

Having be brought up in Oxfordshire, Paddington was THE terminus I first got to know. School trip by rail to the tower of London. Going off for interviews at various Universities all but one requiring crossing London. Its a class act station. Would also recommend a visit to the GWR works at Swindon which is now a museum to that railway..

[@henrybest4057]

Didcot, not Swindon, is where the museum is.

[@roderickmain9697]

@@henrybest4057 You've not been to Swindon works then?

[@eliotreader8220]

back in 2013 Me and my Dad went on an enjoyable steam rail tour from Paddington to my Birthplace Plymouth Devon for my 17th birthday present. we had our breakfast while we was looking at Princess a England class engine from the Ffestiniog railway who was on display to mark 150 years of the narrow gauge railway. that evening we was very lucky to catch the last under ground train when we arrived back other wise we would had a long walk back to the hotel. my Mum took photos of the statues of Paddington bear and I.K. Brunel after we had left the station that morning

[@sodorflubbs5000]

I left from Paddington station once. I made my way to him, stroked his nose, told him I loved him and wished him good day. I left felling very happy.

[@matthewhodder3029]

Paddington was the departure point for all my. Childhood summer holidays. The 08:30 to Penzance. We only went as far as Taunton, but to a little but from the East End it was an epic journey

[@kimjong-un464]

Isambard was a genius.. I live in the historic Railway Village of the Swindon Works of the Great Western Railway Yard.. Great Video. Loved every bit of it.

[@CalvinsWorldNews]

About 10 years ago a friend and I did a pubcrawl with a pint at each mainline train terminus. I'd never actually been to Paddington before but there were two heritage trains in that day which we took some photos of as we had a look around. It might have been the beers but there really did seem to be something a bit extra special about it as a place.

[@ravenmusic6392]

11:24 Electrification was there for only a small part of the route however. The majority of the Great Western Mainline wouldn’t be electrified until the IET’s arrived and temple meads is still diesel Love the vids btw

[@barrieshepherd7694]

Yeah - abject fail on the Electrification Project team - they should have started construction at Bristol and Swansea heading towards London. It's always the same once the bit out of London, to a suitable commuter resting place, is complete Government closes the electrification down. HS2 is a classic example should have started at Leeds and Manchester, to give early relief to the congestion in those areas, and worked it way down to the complex, expensive south 😄

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

I loved my visits to Paddington as a boy in the 1970's. The "Western" Locomotives really turned my crank!

[@NomadSoloTravel]

Those trains are amazing!! I never been to London before and I would really love to visit London someday!! Cheers from San Francisco!!

[@EuskaltelEuskadi]

Fly into Heathrow and you'll be able to take the train straight into Paddington. But don't just see London; you can go all over the country by train. From Paddington alone you can take the sleeper to Penzance in Cornwall, or go to Exeter, Bristol, Bath, south Wales, Oxford... the list goes on :) If you like steam trains, pay a visit to the railway museum in Didcot.

[@pantherplatform]

Long time listener, first time caller. This is my new favorite channel.

[@ajs41]

I like the fact you can walk through from Paddington station into the Hilton Paddington hotel. They probably don't like the idea of every Tom, Dick and Harry doing it, but I do it anyway. 😊

[@kaitlyn__L]

I did that once as a teenager and was immediately asked if I had a parent or something staying there, then was promptly told off by reception staff and told to leave!

[@2nd3rd1st]

Lucky you're an Andrew then.

[@rosebrown8659]

Until a few weeks ago I worked at a coffee shop in Paddington. Absolutely manic to watch a video on a place I spent so much time at!

[@pjgathergood6987]

Planning one of my history-and-wherever-I-see photo walks for a few days time, arriving at Paddington Station. Along with going through my books, maps, etc., yesterday checked to see if ol' JH has done a video on Paddington station yet. Lo-and-behold the next day one appears. It's like you read my mind! :) Wait, that maybe isn't such a good thing after all ....... !

[@KevinTheCaravanner]

I’ve been a rail enthusiast all my life (now just shy of 60) and live in the sticks so seldom get the chance to venture to the big smoke. Over the years I have been able to wrangle my way to all the mainline termini apart from Paddington. I must get there before it closes.

[@AnthonyFurnival]

Awesome video! I love the fact you gave 1340 Trojan some screen time - she’s one of my favourite locos - I rather like the Didcot Railway centre!

[@greatportlandstreetmodelra6513]

I call Paddington my second home. Not just the station but the whole area. Paddington nearly consists out of 90% listed buildings, namely most of gloucester terrace, suusex gardens and the remaining streets around the station. Ever since my first trip to London. i thought this would be a nice place to live some day. Its quiet, but not too quiet, has Hide park right next to it ans is overall a nice perish.

[@kaitlyn__L]

As a teenager I had always admired the road leading to the taxi rank and the massive space which evidently had not needed to be significantly reworked. Interesting to note that was done for toffs’ convenience, and Brunel’s stubborn future-proofing. I love the platform shops built into the arches with their little windows, like you showed a closeup of near the end. Especially such coffee shops feel super cozy, though I also enjoyed visiting the Cornwall Pasty Company in the same run of shops.

[@lrjtherailwayguy]

As once did a great western tank engine said: "There are 2 ways of doing things, The great western way or The wrong way"

[@kk-fl4pb]

I was lucky to take the Night Riviera GWR sleeper train from Paddington to Penzance in 2019. There's a GWR lounge with showers, and part of it is Queen Victoria's old personal waiting room!

[@devon896]

Paddington is one of the most beautiful stations in London, it's a cathedral in it's own right.

[@stephenpegum9776]

As someone who was born in Bristol & then lived in S Wales for some 16 years, I guess I could describe Paddington as my favourite London terminus, although now having lived in London for nearly 45 years, I've probably travelled into & out of King's Cross more often. And the war memorial statue at 11:51 is very familiar to me. A near-identical replica was installed at the then BFPO's Inglis Barracks in Mill Hill, N London. I worked there for over 4 years in the early 2000's. It's now been relocated to RAF Northolt.

[@williammallender8391]

my favourite London station - thank you

[@JRS06]

I see the entrance for the station for one second and my brain is asking "Where is the billboard of Hugh Grant dressed as a dog?", because Paddington and Duck + Oliver are the two ways I remind myself about the Great Western Railway.

[@amcalabrese1]

I used to live not far from Paddington in Notting Hill and spent quite a bit of time there. My church in London was originally built to take care of Irish who moved to London to work on the Great Western. I never heard about the office block proposal but that is what destroyed Penn Station in New York.

[@mattevans4377]

Brunel added enough extra space to last for 100+ years. Imagine if our politicians and most businesses thought that long term....

[@TalesOfWar]

If only the engineers and architects had the same kind of sway over projects and politicians they did back then. Some of the extra space was kind of accidental too given the the system was designed to broad gauge then converted to the smaller standard gauge.

[@OofusTwillip]

In Toronto, Canada, the Prince Edward (AKA Bloor) Viaduct was completed in 1918, and included a lower deck to accommodate a future railway. The Yonge line of Toronto's first subway system opened in 1952. The Bloor-Danforth subway line, which ultimately used the bridge, opened in 1966, 48 years after the bridge.

[@eekee6034]

I think even back then, engineers didn't often have that kind of sway. There just wasn't enough money. Today, we do occasionally see really good designs where there's enough money (or the promise of it), just as they were occasionally seen back then. I grew up with the impression that things were better in the past backed up by evidence all around me, but now nationalization has been consigned to the dustbin of history, I see we can in fact sometimes have nice things.

[@TalesOfWar]

@@eekee6034 Things get done and done properly if there's political will. That's the only way you can get anything past the finish line these days. Sadly trains are boring to most MP's so they don't care, it doesn't win them easy votes because it means they have to actually do something for them. They'd much rather waffle on about some intangible idea of something far down the line and not have to worry about actually making good on it.

[@eekee6034]

@@TalesOfWar You have no idea how run-down Britain felt when every other government in office believed in nationalization. Just-about everything was dreary and it was slowly getting worse. Cars looked all right, but broke down a lot. The Terry Gilliam film Brazil gives an idea of the ambience if not the details.

[@christtrockministeries5542]

I am sure if Mr Brunel, had-not sadly passed away young, we would have-had a coastal rail from Penzance to Landsend an from Landsend to St Ives. He was very good at building railways in places where, it is difficult. 28 past 1 pm gmt.

[@ronalddevine9587]

I always enjoy your videos. Can't wait to return to London from Connecticut. Been to Britain several times but never to Paddington Station.

[@isashax]

Another fab video! I discovered this station when Manic Street Preachers recorded The Everlasting video there. It is a beautiful place!

[@GeorgeChoy]

Didn't know the milk story, great stuff thanks.

[@Mathemagical55]

Tyburn executions were on the site of what is now Marble Arch which was just inside the south-eastern corner of the medieval parish of Paddington, almost a mile away from the railway station.

[@ZGryphon]

Well, that's just not fair. I had almost recovered emotionally from "Her Majesty was not amused" when you dropped "you might say they were fuming." :)

[@PapercutzUksocial]

I love Paddington Station Great Story Thanks Jago

[@thebritishempire8754]

Locomotion. One of my favorite musehams. I love the prototype Deltic.

[@Bunter.948]

Well, Mr H, without a scintilla of doubt (whatever one of those might be) you have pulled it off yet again. A really superb and fascinating video for our education, delectation, and delight (wasn't that the BBC's initial remit?). Do please keep it up. And thanks, Simon T

[@chrisrichmond403]

Paddington, Oh the amount of times i worked into and out of that station in my 9 year railway career for as it was then FGW .

[@bobsrailrelics]

Always been my London destination station and it always feels quite special arriving. Thank you for this one.

[@christinebeynon9967]

On the subject of broad gauge v standard gauge. It was a lot less hand digging for standard gauge especially on a double track...

[@martyonline1957]

There used to be my favourite piece of graffiti just outside the station on the left hand side going out of the station "FAR WAY IS CLOSE AT HAND IN IMAGES OF ELSEWHERE" now that's deep and profound......

[@MrGreatplum]

Living as I do in Reigate in Surrey, I rarely have cause to use Paddington - if I take a train west, I take the old SECR line to Reading before getting on Isambard’s billiard table to wherever I’m going. But Paddington is a fine terminus and has been looked after well - an excellent video

[@stevenjlovelace]

GWR: My milk shake brings all the boys to the yard.

[@johnledingham852]

Passengers didn't like those diesel fumes, in fact they were fuming. What a great reflection on the reaction to change, Jago. We could add...that's the way it goes, those diesel fumes were on the nose. Electric came along, much cleaner was the newer, and I suggest Jago, complaints now must be fewer!

[@stuarthall6631]

This may be apocryphal (no doubt someone shall let me know if it is!) but I understand that the concourse at Paddington was originally turfed and known as "The Lawn".

[@DavidWood2]

The area that is now the retail area and food court is, indeed, "The Lawn" - www.bdp.com/en/projects/p-z/paddington-lawn/

[@lionelsimpkins8679]

My father and grandfather worked for GWR and always called it the lawn. There used to be a model of. Castle Class locomotive there. If you put in a coin the wheels turned.

[@markstramtrainbuscapades1729]

I think part of Paddington's romance is that it's London's gateway to the charms of the West Country, with all the images of happy holiday nostalgia that this brings!

[@johnlustig4322]

Love this channel, it's never stationery

[@rodjones117]

Unless there's a hidden pun here, which I'm not getting, I think you mean "stationary"... (e is for envelope)

[@henrybest4057]

@@rodjones117 I always remember it by 'you buy stationery from a stationers.'. There was one local shop which had, in big letters, a sign above the frontage that said "stationary". They did have the sign changed after a few years. The shop never moved, so the sign was partially correct.😀

[@ReubenAshwell]

Paddington station is fantastic. :)

[@KravKernow]

Paddington does have some neat little features. If you look at the roof supports you'll see they have star shaped cutouts. They're designed to take scaffolding poles so that the windows can be cleaned and maintained without having to erect scaffolding from the ground up. Also, the drainpipes run down the middle of the columns so they don't look too cluttered. There's no sewers though; just a soakaway. Apparently the ground reeks of several decades worth of horse wee. As to gauges; down here in Cornwall we have a lot of examples of the old broad gauge viaducts, next to the newer standard gauge ones. The earlier broad gauge ones were constructed to a cheaper design. Stone pillars but wooden 'fan' supports for the rails themselves. Brunel knew they'd have to be replaced; but that was a financial decision to get them up as quickly and cheaply as possible. But where the pillars survive; you can really see how much wider they were.

[@Leonard_Smith]

Superb and concise.

[@clickrick]

"You might say they were fuming." We wouldn't dare, but thankfully you're not us :)