Nick Gallop

Wanted - searches of retail premises in Gloucestershire and Sussex have so far failed to find any leads. After the loss of @Nestle Clusters this could be another attack by the notorious Granola Gang, a bunch of nut jobs hell bent on ruining breakfast. @Quaker any update please?

@bushontheradio The Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline, the Digital Railway, Network North, HS2 section 2, Integrated Transport Plan, an actual Smart Motorway… and Shergar, being ridden by Lord Lucan

What will the crew of Artemis 2 find on the dark side of the moon?

Massive thanks @BTP for rapid response on 1H06 tonight, daughter was passenger on train and, like her Dad, greatly relieved. Hope the person of interest gets suitable attention

On 23rd March 2026, Japan launches the world's first freight-only Shinkansen, converting a former passenger bullet train into a high-speed cargo carrier by removing all seats to maximize storage space. A total game changer for freight transport.

@DerekBrowning2 @LBFlyawayhome He contined: "The situation in our big cities simply cannot be dealt with by spending more and more money on bigger and better roads and motorways and providing more parking spaces."

@DerekBrowning2 @LBFlyawayhome Yes they did - Buchanan's report at the time on Traffic in Towns, even Marples accepted: "in large towns & cities and the great conurbations there is no prospect whatever of catering for all the cars which might ultimately want to go into them. I cannot stress that enough...."

On this day 27th March 1963 Beeching announced that the railway network was to be cut by a quarter & named over 2,000 stations destined for closure Artist: WC Watson

How about that… ft.com/content/aaac94…

@railcamlive @LocoServicesGrp Is DVT really named after the Father Ted song for Europe? That would be hilarious. PS genuinely good to see a Badger on the main line and not worry about where it's set up home!

History as the badger returns... The AC Locomotive Group and @LocoServicesGrp announced a partnership back in 2021 to bring the prototype electric locomotive, #Class89 89001' Avocet' back into mainline use. After a number of light testing moves, today saw the first fully loaded test run, where the 'badger' can stretch its legs on the WCML between Crewe and Tebay. With #Class86 86101 'Sir William A Stanier FRS' in tow for security, Avocet departed Crewe with a rake of 6 matching MK3 coaches and DVT 82139 'My Lovely Horse'. ℹ️ 5Z31 Crewe Holding Sidings to Tebay 🗒️ Track it LIVE with RCData tinyurl.com/5emb389u 🎦 Crewe @CreweHC 📅 Wednesday 18th March 2026 Return schedule... ℹ️ 5Z32 Tebay to Crewe Holding Sidings 🗒️ RC Data tinyurl.com/y2r6au3k @RAIL @Modern_Railways @railexpress @rlyherald @railwaysillus @RailwayMagazine

@sparkyuk11 @networkrail Agreed - was genuinely worried that today’s run to York and back on Azumas were literally going to shake themselves off the line at various points. Can someone get the Flying Banana out on the route before something nasty happens?

Why is the ECML so bad between London and Peterborough @networkrail ? The ride quality is appalling these days.

@Captain_Deltic @HowardPeartree My personal favourite - I accidentally redecorated the interior of an IET with a mouthful of tea whilst reading it (career high point) scribd.com/doc/2461940/La…

@HowardPeartree I'm a great Ladybird book fan.

Something for @Captain_Deltic who may have comments on the details but who I think will appreciate the art from another age.

And now I’m stuck north of Peterborough for 2 hours as there’s a track fault - I wonder why?….

Anyone wanting to practice belly-dancing should simply stand in the aisle of an Azuma at the lower end of the ECML and let train and track do the rest. Sure beats trying to type or keep the tea in its cup.

Particularly P-poor ride quality today - can’t be doing track or Azuma bogies any good. Could someone invent an app that tracks your phone’s accelerometer whilst it’s sitting on a train, we could all then see where the worst parts of the network are

@Captain_Deltic @railnigel Like this

@railnigel It must be possible to put a sacrificial portal ahead of the bridge?

Wearying, isn’t it. There is no excuse at all for this.

Rail industry budget cuts increasingly apparent - this 377 back to Lewes appears to have had all its dampers removed. Either that or NR is trialling replacement of ballast with blancmange. Or I’ve reached the senility tipping point.

@BradRTorgersen Agree, for despite 2001's halo SFX it all goes nuts towards the end. 2010 has a better plot - and the line: "Whether we are based on carbon or silicon makes no fundamental difference...We should each be treated with respect" is why I always say please & thank you to chatGPT

I will say again (as I have in the past) that 2010 is the superior movie, to 2001. Which was very much an art film, and deserves recognition for its groundbreakingly realistic space effects. But the story (as told on screen) is a snoozer. The story of 2010 by contrast is much more engaging, and we have a much more interesting cast. Everyone in 2010 does a great job inhabiting their parts. And the dilemma over HAL is made especially poignant because Dr. Chandra regards HAL and SAL as children. Which they are.

@Rainmaker1973 Had one, and "improved it" by wiring the keyboard into a redundant electronic organ keyboard (having also improved the latter such that it never worked again) and mating it with a sound sampling / MIDI interface. Bingo, a Poundland Fairlight CMI

45 years ago Today, the Sinclair ZX81 computer was launched with 1kB RAM

@MbarkCherguia Member of Parliament

I’m currently having a blazing argument, please help me settle this once and for all. What is this???

@railnigel Depended on whether it included gruesome scenes and/or utterly patronising adultsplaining of a) human reproduction or b) surviving a nuclear war

Happy days!

@philatrail Needs a Great British Ramp

DfT Operator wants innovators to put their minds to improving accessibility for rail passengers, saying that “Traditional ramps between platforms and trains are heavy, slow to deploy, and take up valuable space”. Perhaps DfTO should procure level boarding trains?