The Limbo Connection's photos with the keyword: Sydney Gardens

Fujifilm Finepix S3 Pro with Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 lens.

Another in the Cult of Sydney series. I think I am the only member of this cult. Therefore I am de facto the Cult Leader. The power is quite intoxicating.

The cult of Sydney continues. Here, on a whim, I processed the earlier colour version into black and white. I always find this so much more satisfying than attempting to convert black and white into colour.

8.15 am on 16 August 2010.

8.15 am on 16 August 2010. Challenging, but not impossible, to get much improvement of a photograph which was never anything other than a JPEG. I have given it more exposure and reduced the contrast, as well as tackling lens distortion for which the Nikon 18-135mm was notorious. The last few occasions I was here the low parapet had been augmented by a higher chestnut paling fence while official discussions took place about a more permanent safety barrier. I don't know why this step is perceived as necessary; maybe there have been incursions, accidents, or worse. Maybe the train drivers are unnerved by photographers. I wouldn't blame them if they were, though none of them ever gesticulated or sounded their horn at me. However, I always stayed on the safe side of the wall. Others may have trespassed. It's easy enough to vault over. This section of the line was planned for electrification but the project was stopped part way through because of cost overruns. The new trains had therefore to be capable of generating their own electricity from Chippenham to Bristol. That rather defeats the objective of improved efficiency provided by using entirely overhead power. UK infrastructure projects seldom run smoothly and to budget. So now the 125 sets have been allocated elsewhere, I believe they can be seen between South Wales and Cornwall. Their replacements were built abroad. The British were pioneers of railways but less than 200 years later they cannot build their own trains. It is intolerable and a national disgrace.

An old photograph and not the easiest to manipulate, being only a JPEG original. Nevertheless it gives it new life to adjust highlights and shadows and convert it to black and white, a medium I used not to much appreciate. Again I am drawn to the 10" x 8" format and have cropped accordingly. Much to learn. Nikon D2Xs + Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8.

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro with a Tamron AF Zoom 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di II LD lens. Photographed in Sydney Gardens, Bath, in 2016. These trains no longer ply the London - Bristol route, having been replaced by modern sets.

Cleveland tunnel is 52.7 metres (173 ft) long and runs under Cleveland House, the former headquarters of the Kennet and Avon Canal Company. A trap-door in the tunnel roof was employed to exchange paperwork between clerks above and barges below. Cleveland House is a grade II* listed building.

Sydney Gardens: Brunel's railway, circa 1841.

The structure was moved to its present location in Sydney Gardens, Bath, in 1913-14 from the Crystal Palace at which it was part of the Empire Exhibition in 1911.

Three lost balls on the track.

The HST was introduced in 1976 by British Rail and is still the backbone of express services on several British main lines. The power cars have new engines, and the Mark 3 coaches have been refurbished, but despite that, this attractive design continues to be a great success and as iconic as the old Routemaster bus. The HST necessitated realignment of the track in some places on the western region, where it was first introduced. At Chippenham station there was a straightening scheme to allow the trains to go through at over 100 m.p.h. and the effect was to orphan one of the platforms and make the remaining platform do double duty for the trains which did stop. One HST service was timetabled to do the journey from Chippenham to London Paddington in 59 minutes. When the critics of the nationalised railway tell you how much better the services are under privatisation, tell them about Chippenham to London in under an hour. The packed perspective in this picture was achieved with a focal length of 102mm on a DX camera. The photograph was taken in Sydney Gardens, Bath. Nikon D90 and Nikkor 55-200 VR zoom lens.

Sydney Gardens, Bath. The rush hour. Nikon D2Xs + Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD lens.

Sydney Gardens, Bath. Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro + Tamron AF Zoom 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di II LD lens.

The long search for Lucille is over. Retaining timbers abutting the steps to the railway dividing Sydney Gardens in Bath.

Temple of Minerva in Sydney Gardens, Bath.