Chris Valkoinen

IT'S THE BIG DAY! 5 years since I started, it's finally out there. If you see my book out in the wild, please send me a photo. uk.bookshop.org/a/7657/9780500…

Writing this quiz was the most fun I've had on a project for a long time. Go check it out 👀

Something big is coming back... @BobGwynne @GarethDennis

It's around 20 years since the volunteers catalogued the Derby works loco drawing collection at the NRM. It was yesterday that we noticed the typo in this entry for a tanks and bunker drawing for tanks with a 404 gallon capacity. That's right, it's a 404 error.

Now just imagine if this team still existed, given they'd already given the world its most modern signalling and train control systems among much else...

@Jopu900 @RailwayMuseum @geofftech @britishmuseum Yes-ish, it's a long story.

@CValkoinen @RailwayMuseum @geofftech @britishmuseum Is your surname Finnish by any chance? I know this has nothing to do with the post, just curious

What was the world's first railway themed board game? Is it any fun? Find out in my first foray onto the @RailwayMuseum YouTube channel. With special guests @geofftech and Irving Finkel curator at the @britishmuseum youtu.be/8MUBJA-BoKo?si…

An exhausting but entertaining evening @RailwayMuseum with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway School of Signalling. I don't think I'm cut out for this!

Today! NEW HALL at @LocomotionSHD Shildon is open! This @RailwayMuseum outpost site is now the largest undercover collection of historic rail vehicles (100+) anywhere in Europe. In New Hall freight vehicles are the focus with apt locos: showing importance of coal, industry & freight transport - and how the North East’s industry and innovation influenced the world.

A look into New Hall @LocomotionSHD A proud day for staff and volunteers alike, open to the public from tomorrow.

Only one week to go! We can't wait to welcome visitors to New Hall, our brand-new collection building, from Friday 24 May! 😁 For more details or to book your FREE museum admissions ticket for opening weekend, use the link below! 👇 🔗 locomotion.org.uk/whats-on/new-h…

The aurora appeared above York tonight. This was 15 minutes ago. Never thought I'd see it for real.

If you or someone you know would like to get hands on with our drawing collections, or you're looking for an entry-level permanent full-time role in archives, my old job has just been advertised:

An amazing experience @LocomotionSHD today to spend a couple of hours with Professor Alan Wickens of BR Research Derby, and arguably the architect of high speed rail travel in the UK. A real privilege for he is nearly 95 but as sharp as ever and climbed into the cab @BobGwynne

The North British Locomotive Company was formed #OnThisDay in 1903, when 3 Glasgow locomotive manufacturers (Dübs, Sharp Stewart & Neilson Reid) amalgamated. The company exported thousands of locomotives across the globe. Here are some items from our NBL archive.

The #CongruenceEngine project opened its first exhibit with our partners @TWAMmuseums Discovery Museum this October (showing until February 2024). If you can't get to Newcastle, learn more about the exhibit and watch our four new project films 👇 ceblog.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/congruence-eng…

NEW BLOG POST: Transcribing John Graham’s Stockton & Darlington Railway Report Books. Archive volunteer Robert Demaine uncovers the story of John Graham, a key Stockton & Darlington Railway employee, in our latest blog post. The transcripts of Graham’s report books, written between 1831 and 1845, provide a unique insight into the day–to-day operations of the first public railway to use steam traction. Click the link below for the full story. blog.railwaymuseum.org.uk/begs-leave-to-… The transcripts are also available to view on the Science Museum Groups Collections Online.

A discussion has begun in my comments, but I put the original letter to my boss here for further dissemination. Did parts of the Euston Arch find their way to Tywyn? @MrTimDunn @LordPeterHendy @TalyllynRailway and many others would love to know. A site visit was inconclusive.

What a busy week it's been! Huge thanks to @CValkoinen for hosting our 1st ARM L7 study day @RailwayMuseum - amazing #locomotives and fabulous #archive collections! Such exciting times for the North and Midlands of England cohort as we start our journey of discovery @WAESonline

@GarethDennis No worries, like many I have drifted away a little.

@CValkoinen I completely forgot that you were on Twitter, daaaang!!!

Tune into tonight's #railnatter from @GarethDennis if you would like to see me nerding out with Gareth about one our newly accessioned collections of drawings for the Selby diversion - Britain's first purpose built high-speed railway. youtu.be/yxSXaa2O6Lg?si…