Painting of Francis Doyle's Royal Insurance building in 1903. (corner Dale Street/North John St). Monolithic neo-baroque (the pomp of imperial Edwardian Britain). Significantly it was probably the 1st building in Britain to use a steel frame - a breakthrough tech that enabled monolithic skyscrapers.

An early analysis of the impacts of American architectural styles on Liverpool's business district buildings in the early 20th century. Part of an introduction to a forthcoming article that will illustrate and detail the buildings involved in this summary. Early days, glad of comments etc.

Re previous posts - draft of the proposed Liverpool & Manchester Railway panorama - c. 1835. About three miles worth of the 30 odd mile journey with some infographics. Around half way at the Sankey viaduct. Feasibility and scale (ultimately 5 metres worth) are still the main issues.

Haha! I'm guessing the Daintry's were super posh so would probably have travelled in their own carriage as in this painting by Isaac Shaw.

Sketch of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway's bridge 41; Withington's Bridge (Henry Booth listing) c. 1835

In a couple of years, Naysmith Gaskell and Company's massive Bridgewater foundry will dominate the scene.

A preliminary pencil sketch of the Liverpool and Manchester Raiilway bridge over the Bridgewater canal, Patricroft in c. 1835. A first class train with mail carriage behind heads towards Liverpool. The drawing is part of a 5 metre panorama of the entire line currently underway.

Trying to sort bridges for the panorama project. Telford suggests an unlisted bridge at Thomas Lane Broadgreen. Usual problem of different naming conventions and do they line up (using Thomas lane to Childwall Lane as test)?? Does OS show a level crossing? A very esoteric discussion board, I know

1. Re; recent reconstruction of Wapping Railway station. Next door in Crosbie St. an appalling run of court houses (see also earlier illustration of Vauxhall). Together, a very small part of Liverpool's Victorian 'lethal city'. Completely unimaginable cruelty, deliberately inflicted.

The 4.30 from Liverpool (the Liverpool & Manchester Railway). The Rocket and first class carriages, passing Broad Green and Thingwall Hall; with the sun setting on the old - now divided - agrarian landscape.

Thanks @vrsimility.bsky.social for comment and excellent blog on the subject. Re the 1830 warehouse - revision certainly, but discussion board attached.

Explanatory key for the Wapping Goods Station reconstruction - see previous post.

Wapping goods station off park Lane, 1835. Queens dock and the vibrant, diverse 'sailortown' behind. The station is in a cutting to access the tunnel - top left- from to Edge Hill 1 mile plus away. No locomotives in the town; trains ran by gravity to the dock - cable (steam engine driven) back.

Manchester Liverpool Road station - version 4; numerous corrections and addition of roof over passenger departures (almost imperceptible) thanks Ant D and Vrs.

Delighted to have made the front cover of the Liverpool History Society Journal 2026. Showing my reconstruction.of 1868 Lime Street (part of an illustrated journal article.). Thanks to all at LHS.

Is this another field bridge after W2? Telford identifies it as such with legend 'road at Ropers Farm'

Yes, to that. I wonder if this pic is a poss?

Re earlier post. Revision of legend correcting my regular mis-spelling of stationary, thanks for not mentioning it

Finally, in the Liverpool Road Manchester project. Two info graphics summarising the story of the Liverpool and Manchester railway terminus. Am I the last person to realise Hunts Bank station (Victoria station) was briefly a terminus of the L&MR (1844/5) prior to the GJR taking it over. So....

Re; last post. Studies of three key Stephenson locomotives in that early 5 year period ( ala Bury/Shaw), establishing classes and standards for many decades to come. A remarkable journey over such a short time.

Continuing the study of L&MR locomotives, a one-pager info sheet focusing on the first 5 years, dominated somewhat by Stephenson. (post Fanny Kemble).

Always an interesting stage in the discovery process. Roughing out the landscape around Wapping station; Liverpool dock terminus of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway; c. 1830. So few sources here, so many questions.

First draft of an illustration showing two of 8 construction shafts or 'eyes' along the Wapping tunnel in Liverpool - during its construction in 1827/8. A plan shows the location of all 8 shafts (see R H G Thomas p39).

Intriguing. Theres a mini series in all this...On the move and short of time, but wondering what the sequence of events was?

L&MR Panorama study, Back in Liverpool for research oin the Wapping tunnel and a reconstruction of Wapping station itself. Initially trying to establish the position of shafts or eyes used to build the tunnel. Bear with me as always @vrsimility.bsky.social and @lmrailway.bsky.social A start....

The next section of the L&MR bridge study - block 2b- V2. Including the mystery bridge at Whiston, subject of previous post.

Still baffled by the Whiston 1 bridge issue. Discussion board attached and grateful for any comments, opinions, musings, insults etc. as always. Find it hard to believe there was no station (or halt??) at Whiston (until 1990??). Originally wondered if this was ex 'Bottom of Whiston Incline' .

@lmrailway.bsky.social Hi Paul. re Whiston bridges -1830. The bridge list shows Whistons 1 and 2; both stone. The OS map for 1840odd seems to show a level crossing, two wooden bridges and bridge 2. A later bridge roughly takes the place of the western most wooden bridge; struggling to see bridge 1.

Hi Dr John, thanks very much for the comments. I have actually completed one recon of BM (1860s). Quite something to sit in the HD stadium and realise its heritage.

Liverpool Road Station Version 3. Multiple amendments (stonework, building details, street furniture, horses etc). Still tbc for Version 4 - a) coal-drop detail, b) departures roof, c) arrivals exit. Thanks very much all for comments etc.