iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

47583 "County of Hertfordshire" heading for the carriage sidings at Oxford after having arrived with a NSE service from Paddington. 16th June 1991.

Locomotive 47583 in Network South East livery, departing from Oxford station on 16th June 1991.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

I always think "embargoed" should be a post-industrial community, part way up a South Wales valley.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Do I manually put the clock forward on my devices, or will they just do it? If I do change them manually, will the devices know, or will they go forward by 2 hours? Even in this tech era, we rely on non-smart clocks to provide the ultimate calibration by doing precisely nothing.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Gas Street Basin, Birmingham. Photographed in 2018. I first came here in the 1970s, and it has transfixed me ever since.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Railway people often make the shot. There's more to railways than trains.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

A shiny 60099 at Aylesbury today.

DC Rail locomotive 60099 in Aylesbury South Sidings on 20th March 2026.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Class 117 set L720 departing Barking with a Gospel Oak service on this day in 1995. The class 116 cab was transplanted onto this unit following accident damage.

A British Rail class 117 unit leaving Barking on 18th March 1995.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

An experiment with AI colourisation: my father standing by the British United Airways Vickers-Armstrong VA-3 hovercraft at Rhyl in 1962. It ran a short-lived service between Rhyl and Wallasey, Merseyside. I know the depth of field is poor, before anyone points it out.

A colourised picture of a hovercraft on Rhyl beach in 1962.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Work medical in Islington today. Dreadful weather, but I found a few things to shoot in black & white.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Chester-based class 104 set CH607 (53439/53499) at Blaenau Ffestiniog in July 1989.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Trying to conquer submechanophobia at the SS Great Britain in 1988. It didn't work.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Mark & Eleni, The Fall, Clapham Grand 11/11/15. #FallFriday

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

West Coast Main Line miscellany over the last few days. If I can't drive trains, I will at very least photograph the buggers whilst I'm twiddling my thumbs.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

The railway chain of care thing is brilliant for anyone who needs oodles of time off after a "one under", and rightly so. It is simultaneously absolutely shite for people who want to get back to work ASAP. I need to get back in the saddle, but so many daft hoops to jump through!

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Cardiff looks rather good in the rain. Just as well, some might say.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Really nice moment from @mrjamesob.bsky.social on today's show re the GWR Greenford battery train trial, and the enthusiasts enjoying it. Could have been snarkily played for punch-down comedy, but it very much wasn't. Classy.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Not my finest photo, but with Gloucester Horton Road recently razed to the ground, this bustling view from the Rail Day on 17th September 1989 seemed apposite.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

So. Farewell Then, 85B / GL / Gloucester Horton Road. You are partly to blame for my career choices.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

Oh bugger off Tesco. It's 4 days into January!

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

A nice roadside display at the former Plymouth Road overbridge (11m 50ch) at Kingsbridge, Devon. 24/12/25.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

One for the hive mind. This ventilating window on a Devon cottage is similar to others I have seen on 1960s houses. I assume it is designed to serve a pantry or larder? Does anyone know any more about them (manufacturer, what they're called, etc.)?

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

Back in March 2006 I took this picture (lower) of the Rover 75 I owned at the time. The best part of 20 years later, my son found the exact same place in the Cotswolds and photographed his 75 there. Chip off the old block and all that sort of thing.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Dutch tanker "Thun Granite" and Cypriot general cargo vessel "Emma" at anchor off Hope Cove in Devon, 25/12/25. I wonder if they've anchored up especially for Christmas? Lovely if true.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Look at all the right-wing accounts trying to convince you that Christmas is somehow threatened or cancelled, and then ask yourself who the real snowflakes are.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

A class 108 DMU at Bridgnorth, with a colourfully dressed Sikh couple taking part in a photoshoot. Severn Valley Railway, 25th October 2025.

Class 108 preserved multiple unit at Bridgnorth, Severn Valley Railway.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Bewdley, Severn Valley Railway. 25/10/25.

A black & white photograph of a class 108 DMU at Bewdly station on the Severn Valley Railway. A slightly timeless view with railway staff interacting with each other on the platform.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

35 years ago today: a temporary MPD in Gloucester Mileage Yard to allow Horton Road depot to host Gloucester Rail Day on 1st July 1990.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

An evening Parcel Sector working at Gloucester, with 47490 "Bristol Bath Road" in charge. 29/06/89.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

47304, Gloucester New Yard, 4th April 1990.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Back in the early noughties, broken down freight trains were a concern for Chiltern management, so they funded or part-funded a "Thunderbird" rescue loco at Banbury. Parcel sector liveried 47635 was on that duty in the former down bay platform on 16/05/02.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

The uniquely liveried 47973 "Midland Counties Railway 150 1839 - 1989" on a charter train in the loop at Blaenau Ffestiniog on 16th July 1989.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

168106 off for a post-refurb test run. Aylesbury, 29/04/25.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

On this day in 1999. 56106 running light through Barnetby.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

On this day, 24 years ago: 43153 "The English Riviera" on a Virgin Crosscountry service at Sheffield. 19/04/01.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Memories of my days as a Ffestiniog Railway guard. I particularly liked the diesel push-pull set. 07/05/90.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Intercity days at Gloucester. 4th April 1994.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Regional Railways days at Blaenau Ffestiniog. 16th July 1994.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

NSE days at Kew Bridge. 9th July 1991.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Tugs at Aylesbury, 2001 and 2025.

60048 in EWS livery at Aylesbury on 11th December 2001.

60028 in Cappagh livery at Aylesbury on 9th April 2025.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Visitors at Princes Risborough today.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Imagine being able to do Bristol to Clevedon by steamer...

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

87030 and 81002 at Euston in 1987. #brblues

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

An early attempt at an arty shot. 60087 passing an NSE era Culham with a Didcot MGR working. 19/06/93.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Recently repainted into BR General grey, 08778 stands at Gloucester Horton Road on 28/04/90. These were the days when enthusiasts could walk into the depot, report to the TCS and take pictures, albeit with a spare driver to supervise.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

With the distinctive terraces of Totterdown in the background, 47826 stands in late afternoon sunlight at Bristol Temple Meads, wearing a strange blend of the original and later Intercity liveries. 25th March 1990.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

The driver of a slightly careworn 43086 does the Gloucester change ends thing on 18/02/95. Relatively late to see a behatted driver I think. 43086 went through the Newport crusher in 2022.

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R.P.Marks @rpmarks.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

37372 at Gloucester on 29/06/89. If I'm not very much mistaken, this is the one that is being rebuilt as a baby deltic.

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