Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 11/09/2026Delighted to report that John Craven is as avuncular in real life as his is on telly. Came over to the Brunel swing bridge to film us a video for free yesterday, top man. 1264
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 25/06/2026Bought some of those reflective mats you put behind radiators plus some suction pads, and made some removable external heat blinds. My South facing House is 12 degrees cooler than outside. Might book a slot on Dragons Den. 040
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 04/05/2026This one doesn’t, but I previously had a larger model - pictured - which had space for a loo. I traded it for this one because you can put it up with one person, the larger model needs two and the current Mrs Hickman is less of an enthusiast than me! 110
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 04/05/2026To North Cornwall for the bank holiday in the connoisseur's choice of temporary accommodation, my 1970s folding caravan. A midcentury modernist classic in brown and orange velour. 370
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 01/05/2026The Avon Valley Railway has just launched our “Fit for the Future” Appeal. With coal, loco hire, and utilities, it costs us over a grand a day to operate. We can manage costs if we overhaul the buffet to generate more spend & restore our own loco. More about the appeal here: www.avrht.org/appeal 033
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 01/05/2026First passenger train up the Portishead line! WECA / Metrowest have hired a Pacer for the day to tour their proposed Network. Seen here between Ashton Gate Platform and Clifton Bridge. 36612
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 26/04/2026Very much enjoyed this gaff rigged cutter heading up the Avon gorge earlier 070
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 06/04/2026Been repainting my wheels. The Mini looks smarter with fresh socks. 020
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 05/04/2026"The conversation, like many others I had with people on trains, derived an easy candour from the shared journey, the comfort of the dining car, and the certain knowledge that neither of us would see each other again" Paul Theroux 020
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 21/03/2026Joined a group deconstructing and rebuilding drystone walls today at the foot of the Mendips today. Lovely stuff. 090
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 04/03/2026SCENES on the Avon Valley Railway, as the clock turns back 60 years and Dr Beeching is incarnate. This Sunday from 10! 120
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 03/03/2026This Sunday I will mainly be playing Dr Beeching at the Avon Valley Railway’s event marking 60 years since the Doctor swung his ace on many lines, including what’s now the preserved AVR. Come along and laugh at my embarrassment. www.avonvalleyrailway.org/news/the-peo... 011
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 27/02/2026Been having a terrific time at work securing planning consents for the conversion of Norman Foster’s seminal Spectrum building in Swindon into a drone factory. It doubled as a Bond villain HQ for A View to a Kill, and the angled beams are modelled on Roger Moore’s eyebrows. 040
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 25/02/2026First drive on a public road in 21 years. Two icons of engineering! 181
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 04/02/2026Lovely stuff. I had a very enjoyable mooch around the Old Town a few years ago; it was full of character if bereft of people. Decent local transport museum too! 010
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 29/01/2026More AI model railway nonsense, where recent storms have left the 1:76 scale farmers on my foldup layout in despair 021
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 24/01/2026Very much enjoying the application of ChatGPT to my model railway 2371
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 20/01/2026Lower Park Row, Bristol. Chevy Chase must be playing the Bristol Beacon this evening. 020
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 11/01/2026The exterior is still a bit scruffy and multi-toned (“patina”) but you can now eat your dinner out of the engine bay 120
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 11/01/2026Got my Mini working for the first time since 2005. Passed my driving test in this car back in 1995. 2100
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 25/12/2025It’s a pleasingly white Christmas here in France, an hour South of Lyon. 060
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 24/12/2025Went looking for one a couple of years ago but there was no sign. Last services early 90s, last maintenance train 2010. All still there, but no chance of reopening when the roads are so good. Upper part of the line to Dunières is a velorail now. 020
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 24/12/2025I am at my father in law’s in France and am very excited by this notification 150
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 20/12/2025This weekend sees the withdrawal of South Western Railway’s venerable class 455 units after 44 years of service. Unremarkable trains which I have a soft spot for, having used one as our wedding transport back in 2013. 071
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 13/12/2025Excellent morning at the Bristol industrial Archaeology Society’s Xmas social with unusual party game called “guess the objects from Geoff Wallis's garage”. That’s a line-belt stretcher & a Bulgarian scyther’s corn gathering tool, of course. Meetings in Keynsham every month! www.b-i-a-s.org.uk 261
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 30/11/2025Had an excellent day out in Swanage with volunteer colleagues from the Avon Valley Railway today. Held a meeting on board a steam train with the chair of the Swanage Railway Trust, to learn about their recent restructuring. Top stuff. 050
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 28/11/2025Went for a night walk with my daughter in Ashton Court earlier this week and stumbled into a testing of the lights for the forthcoming illuminate festival. Utterly magical - all the more so ‘cos we were the only ones there. 050
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 16/11/2025Had a wander round Cheltenham today and very much enjoyed this bench plaque in Berkeley Place 031
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 15/10/2025Lovely stuff Phil. Only pic no 1 can still be recreated, but the Barlow screen is part masked by the modern extension. 000
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 22/09/2025Waterloo, couldn't escape if I wanted to. Mainly because I have a station visitor's pass, and Network Rail wouldn't be pleased if I walked off with it. I had an ace day adjudicating at the National Railway Heritage Awards. Winners to be revealed at the awards ceremony soon! 0131
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 02/09/2025My marvellous ex-colleagues at Historic England gave me this lovely linoprint as a leaving gift by the talented victoriawillmott.com showing some the fantastic buildings that I worked on over 20 years, Kings Cross, Wolfeton, the National Theatre….and my folding caravan. Thank you! 2231
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 16/08/2025To Imberbus 2025, for the finals of the British polite queuing championships 080
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 11/08/2025Back in Bristol after a trip to the Outer Hebrides. 2000 miles driven, absolutely worth it. Bloody windy though. 050
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 05/08/2025Here is a flight for Glasgow taking off from Barra airport’s runway, which is also a beach 170
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 04/08/2025South Uist. Still windy but the ability to open the car door has been regained. 050
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 04/08/2025Jesus it’s windy here on South Uist. Difficult to open the front door just now 010
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 03/08/2025Today is a good day to be heading for the Western Isles 121
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 31/07/2025Paid a visit to Rannoch, one of the UK’s most remote railway stations, and bumped into @timhedleyj.bsky.social! Went for a swim on Rannoch Moor afterwards. 132
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 23/07/2025Last day with Historic England after 18 years! Few pints at the @kingsheadbs1.bsky.social 050
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 21/07/2025The clientele are much less elegant these days 110
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 21/07/2025On my way to work, and what do you know, the Spanish buccaneers have blockaded Wetherspoons. 020
Simon Hickman @simonhickman.bsky.social · 19/07/2025You can borrow a sailing boat at the Bristol harbour festival and drift round for an hour for just a fiver, it’s class. 1388