Didcot

[Cudzoziemiec]

"Abandoned" bikes to removed from Didcot (and Oxford) stations.

POLICE are 'culling' the bike racks at Oxford and Didcot train stations after commuters 'abandoned' their bikes.

In a now-deleted tweet, Oxfordshire's British Transport Police warned cyclists that they have until February 22 to remove their bikes.

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19017537.police-will-remove-abandoned-bikes-oxford-didcot-stations

It strikes me that during lockdown, a lot of otherwise regular commuters won't even be there to see the signs.

[orraloon]

There are always hundreds of bikes outside Oxford station.  Do they ever move?  Dunno.

Didn't think the massive new bike shed in Didcot was actually open in use.  Wasn't last time I rode past.  The old rubbish racks at the E end of the station had a handful on them.

[rogerzilla]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-47316027

I can't believe we missed this peach on Rightmove.

Brilliant.

Now: own up - how on earth did you find that. It's from Feb 2019!

Via a local news story bemoaning Didcot's inclusion in this year's "ilivehere" top 50 Crap Towns.

The fact that it's a mobile home fits with my limited experience of other people who own them!

[Peat]

Deli for bike thieves?

It's their place of work. Thus, they have rights to shelter, warmth and some privacy.

[nikki]

Petition to Didcot Town Council to build a mountain bike park:

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/didcot-mountain-bike-park

[mattc]

Petition to Didcot Town Council to build a mountain bike park:

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/didcot-mountain-bike-park

Have you seen our mountain, nikki?

[nikki]

I seem to remember being on or near t'Clumps to watch the cooling towers come down.

I'm rather hoping when they say "in Didcot" they're imagining a trail in Didcot like those Red Bull urban downhills in South America, though.

[mattc]

... like those Red Bull urban downhills in South America, though.

yes, indeed, I think that is *exactly* what it will look like.

[if viewed from Perseverance]

[PaulF]

There’s one in the equally Alpine Swindon so it’s not such a crazy idea.

[rogerzilla]

The tourist information poster outside the station has this mouth-watering attraction:

20211016_115926 by rogerzilla, on Flickr

While I was taking the photo, the smell of dope was overwhelming.

[Cudzoziemiec]

The time in Didcot is just coming up to 1977.

[Jaded]

I saw the Oxfordshire Plain today, for the first time without the Didcot Power Station.

It was weird.

[rogerzilla]

There's still a plume from the gas-fired power station visible from 10-15 miles away.  That uses fan-assisted cooling towers, which are much smaller than the natural convection, hyperboloid type.  The latter are also half full of wooden slats to break up the water flow, which I suppose makes the material cost quite high.

[slope]

While I was taking the photo, the smell of dope was overwhelming.

Some of us began that new stink circa 1970 whilst wearing the winter fashion of the day, RAF surplus greatcoats, on the bench opposite your current WHSmith pic - which was probabaly the International Stores then? (original WHS was further down The Broadway)

[rogerzilla]

While I was taking the photo, the smell of dope was overwhelming.

Some of us began that new stink circa 1970 whilst wearing the winter fashion of the day, RAF surplus greatcoats, on the bench opposite your current WHSmith pic - which was probabaly the International Stores then? (original WHS was further down The Broadway)

And German army surplus shirts?  Or was that more a 1980s thing?  I always associate them with the smell of patchouli oil and joss sticks.

[robgul]

I saw the Oxfordshire Plain today, for the first time without the Didcot Power Station.

It was weird.

I rode from the Milton service area to Didcot Station* a few weeks ago - very strange not to see the old power station stuff

* actually en-route to Dorchester-on-Thames so not all bad.

[orraloon]

The tourist information poster outside the station has this mouth-watering attraction:

20211016_115926 by rogerzilla, on Flickr

While I was taking the photo, the smell of dope was overwhelming.

Parking (free) spaces on Broadway?  Aye right.  Pic taken at 6am in 1982?

[Mr Larrington]

A nerd writes: I think that’s a Mark IV Golf, so post-1997

[rogerzilla]

A nerd writes: I think that’s a Mark IV Golf, so post-1997

Photoshopped over an Austin 1100.  Ah, hang on - they needed to change the WHS sign from brown and orange, too.

[Cudzoziemiec]

And Sheffield stands weren't a thing till the 90s at least.

[rogerzilla]

https://www.ilivehere.co.uk/top-50-worst-places-to-live-in-england-2021

Didcot gets into the top 50 for something.

[Jaded]

My goodness, Didcot Power station looks different.

It was steaming, though, so presumably still generating.

[mattc]

Don't you people pay attention? <sigh>

Here's RZ's explanation:

There's still a plume from the gas-fired power station visible from 10-15 miles away.  That uses fan-assisted cooling towers, which are much smaller than the natural convection, hyperboloid type.  The latter are also half full of wooden slats to break up the water flow, which I suppose makes the material cost quite high.

[Jaded]

Attention?!

It's Didcot, isn't it...?

[Morat]

It seems that (part of) the Power Station will have a new life as an outpost for our new Network Overlord Mr Bezos (I for one.. etc etc).
https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/13/aws_planning_app_oxford/
Would folding palm trees work in Didcot?