iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

My new book is out now with Transport Treasury Publishing A Journey Through The Welsh Marches Preview and buy it online direct from the publisher: ttpublishing.co.uk/product/a-jo...

Front cover of my new book: A Journey Through The Welsh Marches. It shows an image of ex GWR Manor Class No 7828 Odney Manor leaving Shrewsbury with the Welsh Marches Express

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Ahh that's better. The reliability of DBs lateness meant I didn't miss the connection 😁 Looks like a good seat to be in #seat61

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Heading back to UK via Prague after delivering an L200 evac pickup with WyreForest2Ukraine. Medics of 93rd Brigade arrived to collect it in Nissan Xtrail I delivered in Sept 2024, I was pleased to see it still going. Medic said "it has saved many lives" If you can help fund more please msg me

Myself handing over the matt black painted Mitsubishi L200 single cab pickup to the medics of the 93rd Brigade, standing next to it holding a signed flag. The Nissan Xtrail donated to them in 2024 stands alongside

Inside the rear of the Mitsubishi L200 evacuation vehicle. Used to evacuate injured soldiers from the front line areas as there is a serious shortage of off road ambulances. A single cab pickup is long enough to hold a stretcher, which is shown here on guide rails. The back is covered by a Truckman Top roof and contains a seat, electric sockets, lights and a fire extinguisher

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

On a nice train with good coffee, writing about trains.. But not in seat61. 😁

A first class table seat on a Czech Railways train, with laptop open showing a vintage loco photo being edited and a cup of real coffee beside it

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Tram jam! Though the police and the tram incident team were on the scene very quickly and after photos etc had the whole thing cleared in 15mins or so

A long line of trams stuck behind the one that hit a van

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Unexpected photo opportunity whilst cycling round Prague. Aka don't argue with trams...

A transit van tried to cut across in front of a tram and failed. Photo shows the crumpled front of the van where a Prague tram has hit the moronic drivers front door and wing

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

The latest edition (No 584) of Steam Railway Magazine includes my 8 page feature on GWR large prairie 4150, the last Barry loco at the SVR to be restored. (Update since publication - a successful steam test was carried out earlier this week) www.facebook.com/groups/43342...

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

The newest arrival at Bridgnorth Station SVR Class 07 D2996, owned by the SVR Class 14 Company (They have a Facebook page for more info.)

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Dealing with gambling addiction is Labour & overall government & NHS policy as well, or did you not bother to check? There's even a Govt report on the subject. Here's some helpful primers so you can understand the issue www.gov.uk/government/p... labourlist.org/2025/11/labo...

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

However many books I've written, always get a buzz of excitement when the #author copies arrive & see the real version for the first time The is Transport Treasury Publishings Railway Times periodical. Looking at events on British Railways year by year. Already working on the next edition, 1955

Front cover of the "Railway Times" 1955 showing on top of a pile of ten author copies of the book, with packaging in the background, freshly unwrapped

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Hinton Manor left The Engine House at Highley, Severn Valley Railway this week, and Dukedog No 9017 Earl of Berkeley arrived. Gordon got some fresh air while the moves were underway

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Unbelievable that Scotrail used this AI slop imagery in presentations & publicity. Not only making themselves look ridiculous, but not employing real artists & designers, esp in a state owned railway Using humans contributes to the economy. AI doesn't. www.scotsman.com/.../bumpy-in....

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

The new Steam Railway magazine is out today, with my feature on alternative income streams for heritage railways, featuring the Severn Valley Railway:

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Nice to see my image of the 701s at Long Marston on the front cover of the new RAIL Magazine. 🙂 Shame they are still in storage though 😕 www.railmagazine.com/news/rolling...

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Today's office. 1955 Hibberd Planet 🥰

A view through the cab window of a Hibberd narrow gauge diesel loco, with a view of the track ahead and two vintage standard gauge carriages

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

The new RAIL Magazine is out today, with my feature on Ridgmont Station and its volunteers, with the @Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership www.railmagazine.com

Image capture of two pages of RAIL Magazine, of a feature on Ridgmont Station, Bedfordshire and its volunteers, who run a shop, tearoom and community garden at the restored station building.

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

My new book on Class 20s is now out with Transport Treasury Publishing: Buy it now: ttpublishing.co.uk/.../spotligh...

Front cover of my new book, with a photo of a pair of Class 20 diesel locos, 20013 & 20087 climbing out of the Ironbridge Gorge at Coalbrookdale hauling a rake of empty MGR coal wagons from Ironbridge power station in July 1989

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

Don't forget BST ends tonight, time to adjust the clocks again

A person in orange hi vis adjusting the ornate station clock in the roof of Kings Cross Station, London

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

A week to go before the Autumn Diesel Bash at the SVR, 65 years of Class 37s. @geofftech.bsky.social @sarahwiththetrains.bsky.social svr.co.uk/event/65-yea...

Class 37 loco on a low loader arriving at Kidderminster Station

Screengrab from Facebook SVR Page advertising the Diesel Gala with a photo of 37901

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Unusual sight last weekend due to ECML closure, Azumas on the Tyne Valley line - seen here at Hexham and Haltwhistle

An LNER Azuma train passing under the Grade II listed Hexam signal box, built on a steel gantry spanning the tracks

An LNER Azuma train passing the Grade II listed Hexam signal box, a tall red and cream painted wooden structure on a brick base, with the train framed by a quaint cream and red footbridge

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

NCB No 49 gets an early watering at Bridgnorth MPD, SVR Autumn Gala

Ex National Coal Board steam Loco No 49 being filled with water at Bridgnorth Motive Power Depot as the sun is rising behind it. A man sits on top of the water tank and is about to remove the 'bag' (rubber pipe) used to fill the water tank, which is overflowing, water running down the sides of the loco. Steam and smoke mingle in the air in front of orange clouds

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

GB Railfreight 66721 at Healey Mills B junction with 4M36, 09.54 Drax Aes to Liverpool Biomass Tml, 16th Sepetember 2025

GB Railfreight class 66, number 66721 with a train of woodchip hoppers used for imported woodchip to fuel Drax power station, claimed to be green renewable energy when the woodchip is imported from Canada

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

BR Standard Class 5 73082 Camelot arriving at Kidderminster for the Severn Valley Railway Autumn Gala, this coming weekend

Steam loco 73082 Camelot being winched slowly off a low loader trailer onto the rails at Kidderminster yard

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Another delivered to Kharkiv, with Wyreforest2Ukraine Mitsubishi L200, did a basic conversion to front line evac ambulance, now with 68th Brigade, volunteer unit formed in 2022. Onto the next one! More 4WD single cab pickups urgently needed to evac injured troops from front lines. #ukraine #aid

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

"If you take the tyres off and put it on rails its a tram"...

A burnt out car with no tyres on, dumped on a railway track

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

Flying Scotsman takes the #severnvalleyrailway reopening train across the newly rebuilt bridge at Mor Brook, after the landslip here closed the line in January

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

A large green loco has arrived at Kidderminster, apparently it's quite well known...

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

So he now wants unelected bureaucrats?

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Chiltern route learning is happening as well, shame the bridge parapets at Winslow are too high though...

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

I assume this is Coventry VLR? Been designed by & oversight by lot of orgs & specialists. Reasons it costs less: No need to relocate utilities, it lays over them, 300mm depth, inc access panels for utility Co's access Uses off shelf track components Prefab sections much quicker to install

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

New Ebook now published! Winterrail. The story of a 3 month interrailling adventre through Europe Available now at Amazon and other Ebook retailers #travel #interrail www.amazon.co.uk/Winterrail-G... books2read.com/u/m2jxN6

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Another significant step forward with the Severn Valley Railway landslip repair at Mor Brook took place this week as the permanent way team removed the track over the affected area. With the track safely removed, reconstruction work by civil engineering contractor CML will commence imminently.

A drone photo of the Severn Valley Railway landslip, with the track removed over the affected area, showing the slip into the Mor Brook which runs under the railway at Bridge 25

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

71000 Duke of Gloucester arrives at Kidderminster, Severn Valley Railway yesterday for testing and running in

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Thanks to @richwoodruff.bsky.social for the image www.volunteeringukraine.com/en

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

What's better than one Manor? Two at once! Bradley & Erlestoke at the SVR Spring Gala 🥰

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

6880 Betton Grange heading over Victoria Bridge & into Arley, at the Severn Valley Railway Spring Gala

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

This weekend is the SVR Spring Gala. Last chance to see Bradley & Erlestoke Manors together for quite a while. They will be double heading on Monday Tickets still available: svr.co.uk/event/spring...

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

6880 Betton Grange arrives for the SVR Spring Gala Tickets still available: svr.co.uk/event/spring...

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Two Manors! Bradley out on test today at Kidderminster alongside Erlestoke. Great to see them running together 🥰

GWR steam locos 7802 Bradley Manor and 7812 Erlestoke Manor in steam at Kidderminster Station, standing alongside each other. Bradley has just been overhauled and is on test and running in.

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Fresh out of the paint shop at Bridgnorth, SVR Class 108 DMU Driving Motor Brake Second M51941 More info on the Class 108s at the SVR: www.svrwiki.com/Class_108_DMU

Class 108 DMU driving car with a fresh coat of deep bronze green paint and coachlining in yellow, including the traditional curving stripes on the front end, known as speed whiskers

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Land slippage on the Severn Valley Railway A serious embankment failure has occurred on the Severn Valley Railway, between the northern terminus at Bridgnorth & Hampton Loade station There is significant embankment failure & damage to approx 30 mtrs of the track & track bed.

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Bradley Manor is back at the SVR. Some fettling still to do, yesterday saw the tender from 2857 being attached. Tender is on loan from 2857 whilst loco is out of service & Bradley's tender is still under repair

GWR steam loco 7802 Bradley Manor sits in the doorway of the loco works at Bridgnorth with a "Not To Be Moved" sign on the front

GWR steam loco 7802 Bradley Manor sits in the doorway of the loco works at Bridgnorth whilst staff work underneath in the inspection pit to attach the tender from GWR loco 2857

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

If only the Railways got as much overfunding as the amount of overpackaging @waterstones.bsky.social have put on @garethdennis.bsky.social Book! Enough space in box for 4 copies!

Gareth Dennis's book How The Railways
Will Fix The Future in a cardboard box over 4 times bigger than it needs to be

Front cover of Gareth Dennis's book How The Railways
Will Fix The Future

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Jan 1933 saw the release of Harry Beck's iconic London Underground map. 500 were printed in 1932 as a trial. Feedback was positive & 700,000 were printed & distributed in Jan 1933. Original copies are now scarce, the 1933 edition regularly sells for over £1000 (later editions go for a lot less)

Photo of the original first edition of the Harry Beck 1933 Tube Map

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Random Railways @randomrailways.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

NR liveried powercars 43013 & 43062 in the Kidderminster TMD for exam this week

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