Been in Shropshire over the weekend - they embrace their famous son Charles Darwin everywhere….except perhaps here. Is this an anti-plaque? Love the capital letters!

A relic of our mining heritage and Leeds Engineering rusting away beside a field in Rodington, Shropshire

York Platform 5 this morning

Part of the early development of the Mulberry Harbour took place in Garlieston and Rigg Bays in Galloway - this structure is the last surviving part of the ramp onto the prototype pontoons constructed to prepare for Operation Overlord.

Attempting to survive Storm Floris in Kirkudbright by wandering round art galleries and eating cream cakes - it’s a bit blowy but I’ve not got my big coat on yet! Especially liking the paintings of Charles Oppenheimer who designed posters for BR.

Last week I visited Maghull Station on my way to Ormskirk - there’s a reason why it won the World Cup of Stations in 2024 and I strongly recommend a visit. The rain certainly didn’t dampen the upbeat feel of this station.

Nice #Beatles themed safety poster on the Merseyrail network

A visit to Leeds City Museums Discovery Centre and Store, only open for selected tours - not everyday you see a genuine Dodo beak - centre, top photo!

Not usually a fan of the artwork in big brand hotels but this from the Mercure Grange Park Hull caught my eye - a drawing of one of the Humber Forts. I like it.

Looking a bit out of place in Doncaster

The blast furnaces of Port Talbot across the River Avan and in local street art.

There aren’t many historic features left at Gloucester Station but here’s one former BR sign that’s survived 29 years of privatisation! Spotted yesterday on way home from the Rhondda Tunnel.

I went to Poppleton Railway Nursery near York this morning to stock up on bedding plants. Do visit and support this unique charity and piece of railway heritage which has its own two-foot narrow gauge railway and a model railway of itself. It moved to Poppleton in 1941.

The marker where the River Ouse becomes the River Ure north of York near Aldwark

It’s 22.5.2025 so it’s #225day. Classiest livery of all.

The rather poignant memorial in Goole Cemetery to those who died in a Zeppelin Raid in August 1915. Good interpretation board showing the route of the Zeppelin.

Victorian tiled railway maps restored at London’s Victoria Station www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/vic... Two nearly 130-year-old railway maps at Victoria station have been restored by Govia Thameslink Railway, with funding from Network Rail and a grant from the Railway Heritage Trust.

In London Victoria this morning and came across the British Pullman looking very splendid - not going on it myself I am sorry to say.

Nice to see new Abbey Line CRP posters at Watford Junction on my way to Bricket Wood - lovely illustrations.

Our 40th anniversary exhibition is on the move again. A huge thank you to the Vale of Rhiedol Railway, Aberystwyth for displaying it for us over the next two weeks. Do visit if you can and see the excellent work they do. Our unveiling this morning…..

Always a pleasure to change trains at Shrewsbury and especially so to see my favourite current livery.

Completion of renovation works to 36 Holgate Rd, York. I think this an improvement but something at the back of my mind is a bit sad at the loss of another small business in the heart of the city. If this just becomes another Air BnB, is that progress? #York

Good to see Gary Oldman IRL this evening

Good catch up with @timhedleyj.bsky.social and the @railwayheritage.bsky.social crew at Temple Meads today for the launch of their exhibition celebrating 40 years of the Railway Heritage Trust. It’s in the station subway and well worth a look if f you’re passing - much to admire!

Cilgerran Church - the graveyard contains a sixth century Ogam Stone and the grave of Sir William Edmond Logan, founder of the Geological Survey of Canada

Nice to find a GWR pagoda platform shelter at the Teifi Valley Railway Henllan.

Lovely day in West Wales including a boat trip off New Quay - we saw dolphins - and New Castle Emlyn - where the last dragon in Wales was killed.

In London Victoria for an @railwayheritage.bsky.social site visit and good to see the recognition by Network Rail of Platform 8’s importance - where the Unknown Warrior arrived in London from France. There was nothing here the last time I visited.

Excellent start to the Stockton & Darlington 200 Festival at Kynren Bishop Auckland - if the next eight months are as good as yesterday evening it will be a great success. Loved the drone show. Good to see many friends of @railwayheritage.bsky.social there.

Great to catch the farewell flight of the Puma over the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct this morning.

Richmond station, scrubbing up pretty well!

Very much enjoyed helping Lord Hendy unveil the new front canopy of Richmond Station this morning with the leader of the Council. A brilliant restoration.

Great day at Stow followed by a visit down to Tweedbank with the Chair of the Borders Railway CRP and back up to Waverley - ten years of hugely successful growth on the Borders Railway.

Had a ride on the Scarborough Spa Cliff Railway today which was the first funicular to open in Great Britain in 1875. It celebrates its 150th birthday this year and the price of a single ticket is pleasingly £1.50.

Enjoying my first visit to Battersea Power Station - great re-use of industrial heritage

Nice to see another old BR poster revealed at York Station this morning.

Caught the penultimate day of the L S Lowry / Norman Cornish exhibition at the Bowes Museum - these are some of the excellent Cornish paintings. As a miner, railways often featured in his paintings.

You don't get railway heritage bigger or more important than the Grade A listed Forth Rail Bridge so it was a great experience to go out to the Jubilee Tower of the bridge this afternoon with Network Rail Scotland and Balfour Beatty - awe-inspiring and slightly scary.

A visit to Dumbarton Central today to discuss an Access for All scheme and options of where lifts could go. We had a look at the original grand entrance to the station - atmospheric and just a little bit spooky. It would be lovely to restore this but I fear it is unaffordable.

My first visit to St Helens - and well worth it.

I was pleased to be at The Middleton Railway to celebrate the ‘Whistle Up’ at the start of @railway200.bsky.social . Using locomotives at Middleton had been going on for 13 yrs! when the S&DR started. Local Councillor Paul Wray did the honours with the whistle.

The Middleton Railway also has the honour of looking after one of the locos that participated in the 1975 celebration of the founding of the S&DR at Shildon - a steam engine built in Germany but operated in Denmark for its working life.

Boxing Day walk in Knaresborough - good view of 1851 viaduct from the castle

Lovely visit to the Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway in Kent to discuss the re-building of the FB from Garforth. Not the only thing from Leeds that can be found there.

Returned from Llandrindod Wells via the T4 bus to Newtown - good chance to see the station there and its new lifts - not yet open but looking good with a nod to the other footbridge’s lattice design.

A door at Lancaster Station - so good to see heritage assets well maintained and appreciated. Looking after stations makes the whole travelling experience so much better for passengers.

Old Red Star Parcels advert revealed at York Station Platform 9

At a time of year when the Salvation Army does such good work, I was pleased to see this panel about William Booth while changing trains in Brighouse earlier in the week

York looking good this morning before the storm tomorrow.

Really enjoyed helping to compère the National Railway Heritage Awards yesterday. So many excellent entries and worthy winners. And our RHT non-exec Director Ptolemy Dean OBE was guest of honour.