Philip Butler
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social
English photographer documenting Britain’s surviving interwar architecture.
Books: 226 Garages and Service Stations out on FUEL, Trackside Transformation on Kickstarter now.
Books: 226 Garages and Service Stations out on FUEL, Trackside Transformation on Kickstarter now.
Pinned
On Kickstarter from today:
Trackside Transformation - The Evolution of British Mainline Stations 1923-1947 by Daniel Wright @thebeautyoftransport.com with photography by myself, Philip Butler.
Trackside Transformation - The Evolution of British Mainline Stations 1923-1947 by Daniel Wright @thebeautyoftransport.com with photography by myself, Philip Butler.
Reposted by Philip Butler
I would like to echo Philip's comments. Thank you so much to everyone who has (to my great relief) shown it's not just us two that think the mainline stations of the Grouping era deserve their time in the spotlight. Your support means a lot to us and we hope you enjoy the book!
A huge thanks to everyone who backed our Kickstarter, which ended today. We hope you enjoy the book.
Horsham station, West Sussex (1938) / Southern Railway
Horsham station, West Sussex (1938) / Southern Railway
February 8, 2026 at 12:22 PM
I would like to echo Philip's comments. Thank you so much to everyone who has (to my great relief) shown it's not just us two that think the mainline stations of the Grouping era deserve their time in the spotlight. Your support means a lot to us and we hope you enjoy the book!
A huge thanks to everyone who backed our Kickstarter, which ended today. We hope you enjoy the book.
Horsham station, West Sussex (1938) / Southern Railway
Horsham station, West Sussex (1938) / Southern Railway
February 8, 2026 at 12:08 PM
A huge thanks to everyone who backed our Kickstarter, which ended today. We hope you enjoy the book.
Horsham station, West Sussex (1938) / Southern Railway
Horsham station, West Sussex (1938) / Southern Railway
Reposted by Philip Butler
The Cheshire Lines Committee opened three stations during the Grouping era. Only tiny Chassen station survives. This is @artdecomagpie.bsky.social's portrait of it - the only photo in this thread from the book. If you want to see the rest of his photos, you'll just have to buy the book I'm afraid.
February 3, 2026 at 9:40 AM
The Cheshire Lines Committee opened three stations during the Grouping era. Only tiny Chassen station survives. This is @artdecomagpie.bsky.social's portrait of it - the only photo in this thread from the book. If you want to see the rest of his photos, you'll just have to buy the book I'm afraid.
Thank you so much Peter! 🙏
February 1, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Thank you so much Peter! 🙏
Just one week left to back Trackside Transformation on Kickstarter.
If you’re interested in railway stations or interwar architecture, it won’t disappoint.
If you’re interested in railway stations or interwar architecture, it won’t disappoint.
February 1, 2026 at 9:22 AM
Just one week left to back Trackside Transformation on Kickstarter.
If you’re interested in railway stations or interwar architecture, it won’t disappoint.
If you’re interested in railway stations or interwar architecture, it won’t disappoint.
Very kind as always pal! 🙏
January 29, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Very kind as always pal! 🙏
Kingston upon Thames station (1935). Designed and built by The Southern Railway.
January 29, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Kingston upon Thames station (1935). Designed and built by The Southern Railway.
Reposted by Philip Butler
...the surviving jewel in the crown, Doncaster. Recently benefitting from a @railwayheritage.bsky.social / LNER (the current version) restoration including a landscaped forecourt instead of the previous dismal car park. This is @artdecomagpie.bsky.social's portrait, from the book.
January 29, 2026 at 11:16 AM
...the surviving jewel in the crown, Doncaster. Recently benefitting from a @railwayheritage.bsky.social / LNER (the current version) restoration including a landscaped forecourt instead of the previous dismal car park. This is @artdecomagpie.bsky.social's portrait, from the book.
Reposted by Philip Butler
Let's look at stations built by the LNER (Grouping version 1923-47, not today's TOC!). (Of course this is partly a plug for new book #TracksideTransformation by
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social
and me which profiles survivors: pre-order yours for a nice saving on the cover price at: kck.st/3YjDPIO) 1/11
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social
and me which profiles survivors: pre-order yours for a nice saving on the cover price at: kck.st/3YjDPIO) 1/11
January 29, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Let's look at stations built by the LNER (Grouping version 1923-47, not today's TOC!). (Of course this is partly a plug for new book #TracksideTransformation by
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social
and me which profiles survivors: pre-order yours for a nice saving on the cover price at: kck.st/3YjDPIO) 1/11
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social
and me which profiles survivors: pre-order yours for a nice saving on the cover price at: kck.st/3YjDPIO) 1/11
Reposted by Philip Butler
Let's look at stations built by the Great Western Railway (post-Grouping version 1923-47).
(Of course this is partly a plug for new book #TracksideTransformation by
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social and me which profiles survivors: pre-order yours for a saving on the cover price at: kck.st/3YjDPIO) 1/11
(Of course this is partly a plug for new book #TracksideTransformation by
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social and me which profiles survivors: pre-order yours for a saving on the cover price at: kck.st/3YjDPIO) 1/11
January 21, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Let's look at stations built by the Great Western Railway (post-Grouping version 1923-47).
(Of course this is partly a plug for new book #TracksideTransformation by
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social and me which profiles survivors: pre-order yours for a saving on the cover price at: kck.st/3YjDPIO) 1/11
(Of course this is partly a plug for new book #TracksideTransformation by
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social and me which profiles survivors: pre-order yours for a saving on the cover price at: kck.st/3YjDPIO) 1/11
Reposted by Philip Butler
This is Leamington Spa, and the only picture in this thread from the book, as is obvious from the fact that it's the best image. If you want to see
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social's lovely photos of the other stations, I'm afraid you'll just have to buy the book.
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social's lovely photos of the other stations, I'm afraid you'll just have to buy the book.
January 21, 2026 at 10:58 AM
This is Leamington Spa, and the only picture in this thread from the book, as is obvious from the fact that it's the best image. If you want to see
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social's lovely photos of the other stations, I'm afraid you'll just have to buy the book.
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social's lovely photos of the other stations, I'm afraid you'll just have to buy the book.
Woking station, Surrey (1937) / Southern Railway
January 19, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Woking station, Surrey (1937) / Southern Railway
Side entrance and bridge at Bishopstone station, East Sussex
January 18, 2026 at 1:42 PM
Side entrance and bridge at Bishopstone station, East Sussex
Is it going to built out of shipping containers, or just designed to look like it is?! Nice high entrance for anyone over 9ft tall though. Handy.
January 15, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Is it going to built out of shipping containers, or just designed to look like it is?! Nice high entrance for anyone over 9ft tall though. Handy.
Signal box, Portsmouth Harbour station (1946) / Southern Railway
January 15, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Signal box, Portsmouth Harbour station (1946) / Southern Railway
Curved concrete canopies on a chilly winter morning - Tolworth station.
January 14, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Curved concrete canopies on a chilly winter morning - Tolworth station.
Footbridge at Exeter St Davids station, showing original GWR tiling (1938), and murals by Bridget Hall (1992)
January 14, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Footbridge at Exeter St Davids station, showing original GWR tiling (1938), and murals by Bridget Hall (1992)
Reposted by Philip Butler
Let's look at stations built by the London, Midland & Scottish Railway (1923-47).
(Of course this is partly a plug for new book #TracksideTransformation by
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social
and me which profiles survivors: pre-order your copy for a saving on the cover price at: kck.st/3YjDPIO) 1/11
(Of course this is partly a plug for new book #TracksideTransformation by
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social
and me which profiles survivors: pre-order your copy for a saving on the cover price at: kck.st/3YjDPIO) 1/11
January 14, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Let's look at stations built by the London, Midland & Scottish Railway (1923-47).
(Of course this is partly a plug for new book #TracksideTransformation by
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social
and me which profiles survivors: pre-order your copy for a saving on the cover price at: kck.st/3YjDPIO) 1/11
(Of course this is partly a plug for new book #TracksideTransformation by
@artdecomagpie.bsky.social
and me which profiles survivors: pre-order your copy for a saving on the cover price at: kck.st/3YjDPIO) 1/11
A huge thanks to everyone who has backed our Kickstarter so far. We hit the base target yesterday, which is really gratifying. 🙏🙂 It runs until February 8th, so plenty of time to get involved if 20s and 30s railway stations are your thing.
Photo: Havant station, Hampshire (1938) / Southern Railway.
Photo: Havant station, Hampshire (1938) / Southern Railway.
January 7, 2026 at 2:14 PM
A huge thanks to everyone who has backed our Kickstarter so far. We hit the base target yesterday, which is really gratifying. 🙏🙂 It runs until February 8th, so plenty of time to get involved if 20s and 30s railway stations are your thing.
Photo: Havant station, Hampshire (1938) / Southern Railway.
Photo: Havant station, Hampshire (1938) / Southern Railway.
Reposted by Philip Butler
I thought it might be interesting to share some of the background to #TracksideTransformation (pre-order your copy at a discount on cover price at kck.st/3YjDPIO). I grew up in Luton (LMS station, 1939) and Hastings (Southern station, 1931). I'm very fond of Grouping-era stations.
January 7, 2026 at 10:31 AM
I thought it might be interesting to share some of the background to #TracksideTransformation (pre-order your copy at a discount on cover price at kck.st/3YjDPIO). I grew up in Luton (LMS station, 1939) and Hastings (Southern station, 1931). I'm very fond of Grouping-era stations.
Reposted by Philip Butler
Thanks so much to @ianvisits.co.uk for covering @artdecomagpie.bsky.social’s and my new book Trackside Transformation on mainline station architecture of the Grouping era.
January 6, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Thanks so much to @ianvisits.co.uk for covering @artdecomagpie.bsky.social’s and my new book Trackside Transformation on mainline station architecture of the Grouping era.
Reposted by Philip Butler
I'm excited to announce I've collaborated with photographer Philip Butler (@artdecomagpie.bsky.social) on a book of mainline stations from the Big Four era 1923-47. A treat for lovers of railway Modernism (and Neo-classicism). Full details in article. thebeautyoftransport.com/2026/01/04/i...
Invisible Masterpieces – the Big Four’s Stations 1923-47 (and a book all about them)
Have you ever had a project you’ve started on without any idea of the scale of work you’ve just committed to? Well, if you want to know one of the reasons that I haven’t been writ…
thebeautyoftransport.com
January 4, 2026 at 11:15 AM
I'm excited to announce I've collaborated with photographer Philip Butler (@artdecomagpie.bsky.social) on a book of mainline stations from the Big Four era 1923-47. A treat for lovers of railway Modernism (and Neo-classicism). Full details in article. thebeautyoftransport.com/2026/01/04/i...