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Dunno about Southport, there's a nice little train on the pier at Southend though. With the added fun bonus of watching the pre-train trying to cross the channel without using a tunnel

GrayMac, remind me never to ask you to take me to Southend, if you think it is on the Channel coast.

Some pictures to help you find it and to see the train: http://www.sarfend.co.uk/southendpier.html

And even a webcam so you can see it live: https://www.southend.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?categoryID=200135&documentID=1013

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@92220 I'm reasonably sure where Southend is. Seeing as I spent time in summer holliers (as a little graymac in short trousers many years ago) with an auntie who lived at Westcliffe-on-Sea, which I imagine even today is still sandwiched between Leigh on Sea and Southend.
While not on the English Channel it IS on the Thames estuary, so you only need to go across to Margate and turn right for the Channel. And in those days you could take a steamship from the end of Southend Pier for a day trip to Calais, which indeed I have done.
So there!

@Wongie

@Graymac, Southport is nowhere near Southport, it's actually closer than you think..

Is that as in "Dublin is nowhere near Dublin" ? Existentialism has at last arrived in BVE land. Now, I am under the impression that you are referring to the Lancashire seaside resort of Southport, a refined resort opposite side of the Ribble estuary to the Lancashire seaside resort of Blackpool, a vulgar resort. (Sorry, Blackpool, but you are! I can only be honest having spent several exquisitely dirty weekends there). This Southport is geographically close to me in the sense that the Irish Sea is all that separates it from the town of Drogheda, Co Meath. A short swim of around 135 miles. If there is another Southport which you had in mind then, clearly, I must be mistaken. Pray do tell, WHICH Southport is nowhere near Southport????

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I thought that's what you might have meant. But why not look at those links to Southend pier pics? I suggested Southend Pier railway because it really would be quite easy. They used to hand strings of lights between the lamp-posts on the walkway, so with a bit of artistic licence it would be an easy-ish project.
Southport's one of the few place I never went. If I said I spent quite a time driving trucks and coaches, you would realise I've been around a bit. No further comments on that, I plead 4th amendment!!!!

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graymac wrote:Southport's one of the few place I never went.

You've missed out then because there is an excellent chip shop along the road that goes from Lord Street to the pier.

THAT's what we desperately need in the "Knowledge Base"!!

A GOOD CHIPS guide

It should become our administrator's most urgent project IMHO

[quote="graymac"]And in those days you could take a steamship from the end of Southend Pier for a day trip to Calais, which indeed I have done.

And all for the princely sum of 37 shillings and sixpence, day return and no passport.

You daren't go on day trips to Calais without a passport any more. They might test you with the Citizenship test on re-entry and everybody fails that.

92220 wrote:You daren't go on day trips to Calais without a passport any more. They might test you with the Citizenship test on re-entry and everybody fails that.

Not with the state the Borders Agency appears to be in.

Cue patriotic song:

Land of Dope and Tory

graymac wrote:Cue patriotic song:

Land of Dope and Tory

That almost made me wet me pants.

(puts on Frank Carson Ulster accent) It's the way I tell 'em

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Jaysus, it's right yer Teresa May woman's lost control. They're letting ANYONE in now!