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
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.
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.
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
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...
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.
January 4, 2026 at 8:27 AM
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
Thank goodness, I can finally say it. I have written a book! With architectural photographer @artdecomagpie.bsky.social!
See thread below for a link to pre-register with our Kickstarter so that we can actually pay the printers. More details when we launch officially on 4th January.
See thread below for a link to pre-register with our Kickstarter so that we can actually pay the printers. More details when we launch officially on 4th January.
Happy New Year!
Here’s a photo of Surbiton Station taken from my new book with @thebeautyoftransport.com ‘Trackside Transformation - The Evolution of British Mainline Stations 1923 - 1947’.
We’re running a Kickstarter to fund publication, which will launch this Sunday, January 4th.
Here’s a photo of Surbiton Station taken from my new book with @thebeautyoftransport.com ‘Trackside Transformation - The Evolution of British Mainline Stations 1923 - 1947’.
We’re running a Kickstarter to fund publication, which will launch this Sunday, January 4th.
January 1, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Thank goodness, I can finally say it. I have written a book! With architectural photographer @artdecomagpie.bsky.social!
See thread below for a link to pre-register with our Kickstarter so that we can actually pay the printers. More details when we launch officially on 4th January.
See thread below for a link to pre-register with our Kickstarter so that we can actually pay the printers. More details when we launch officially on 4th January.
Happy New Year!
Here’s a photo of Surbiton Station taken from my new book with @thebeautyoftransport.com ‘Trackside Transformation - The Evolution of British Mainline Stations 1923 - 1947’.
We’re running a Kickstarter to fund publication, which will launch this Sunday, January 4th.
Here’s a photo of Surbiton Station taken from my new book with @thebeautyoftransport.com ‘Trackside Transformation - The Evolution of British Mainline Stations 1923 - 1947’.
We’re running a Kickstarter to fund publication, which will launch this Sunday, January 4th.
January 1, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Happy New Year!
Here’s a photo of Surbiton Station taken from my new book with @thebeautyoftransport.com ‘Trackside Transformation - The Evolution of British Mainline Stations 1923 - 1947’.
We’re running a Kickstarter to fund publication, which will launch this Sunday, January 4th.
Here’s a photo of Surbiton Station taken from my new book with @thebeautyoftransport.com ‘Trackside Transformation - The Evolution of British Mainline Stations 1923 - 1947’.
We’re running a Kickstarter to fund publication, which will launch this Sunday, January 4th.
Reposted by Philip Butler
Two new transport books for my wishlist from @artdecomagpie.bsky.social and Christopher Herwig. www.wallpaper.com/transportati...
On the road again with two new monographs focusing on the art and architecture of transit
Fuel Publishing has released Trucks and Tuks and 226 Garages and Service Stations, two monographs charting intriguingly different aspects of automotive culture
www.wallpaper.com
September 13, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Two new transport books for my wishlist from @artdecomagpie.bsky.social and Christopher Herwig. www.wallpaper.com/transportati...
Reposted by Philip Butler
💥 C20 Society's definitive new book 'Cooling Towers: A celebration of sculptural beauty, industrial history and architectural legacy' (by @batsfordbooks.bsky.social) is published today!
🛒 Order your copy now: lnkd.in/ecKRAPMR
🛒 Order your copy now: lnkd.in/ecKRAPMR
September 11, 2025 at 3:02 PM
💥 C20 Society's definitive new book 'Cooling Towers: A celebration of sculptural beauty, industrial history and architectural legacy' (by @batsfordbooks.bsky.social) is published today!
🛒 Order your copy now: lnkd.in/ecKRAPMR
🛒 Order your copy now: lnkd.in/ecKRAPMR
226 Garages review in Wallpaper* today, alongside FUEL’s other new book Trucks and Tuks by Christopher Herwig.
“A wonderful survey of an overlooked typology”
www.wallpaper.com/transportati...
“A wonderful survey of an overlooked typology”
www.wallpaper.com/transportati...
On the road again with two new monographs focusing on the art and architecture of transit
Fuel Publishing has released Trucks and Tuks and 226 Garages and Service Stations, two monographs charting intriguingly different aspects of automotive culture
www.wallpaper.com
September 11, 2025 at 1:08 PM
226 Garages review in Wallpaper* today, alongside FUEL’s other new book Trucks and Tuks by Christopher Herwig.
“A wonderful survey of an overlooked typology”
www.wallpaper.com/transportati...
“A wonderful survey of an overlooked typology”
www.wallpaper.com/transportati...
Great to catch up with Daniel from @thebeautyoftransport.com for a little chat about 226 Garages, photography, and why I do what I do.
Architectural photographer Philip Butler's new book "226 Garages and Service Stations" is out imminently, and Britain's garages have never looked so good. #TheBeautyOfTransport talks to Philip about the book, car-related roadside architecture, and his approach to architectural photography.
The Other Stations (226 Garages and Service Stations, by Philip Butler)
Railway stations, bus stations and... filling stations? The first two have made frequent appearances on the pages of this website, the third far less often. Filling stations, and their close cousins garages and car showrooms, only occasionally attract significant architectural attention. Although it can happen from time to time (there's a list of filling stations that have featured here at the end of this article) most of them were built quickly and without particular thought to their appearance; certainly in more recent decades.
thebeautyoftransport.com
August 25, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Great to catch up with Daniel from @thebeautyoftransport.com for a little chat about 226 Garages, photography, and why I do what I do.