Autumn's on its way #autumn

Evolution of passenger coaches on the Ffestiniog Railway - 4 wheel 'bug boxes" from the 1860s, iron framed bogie coaches with sumptious 1st class seating for some from the 1870s, replica/rebuild WW1 army surplus toastrack Some fool chose 1860s boneshaker rather than 1st class #traintravel #history

Saying hello to an old friend - double Fairlie "Merddin Emrys" on the Ffestiniog Railway. Originally built in 1879, the year of Rorke's Drift, much rebuilt but still going strong, resplendent in 1960s green livery. #railways #history

My first love as an albeit amateur historian was the medieval era with its big characters, dramas and the legacy they left us in the chronicles and the ruined castles & abbeys. Last week's trip to Scotland was an inspiration for me #medievalhistory #castles

#books. Today marks 80 years since The Three Railway Engines by the Rev Awdry was published. Beautifully illustrated with many characters based on real locomotive types, some real locations & real incidents

A stroll round the gardens Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal

#fountainsabbey part 4 - what a site. Monument to medieval monasticism & the vanity of a narcissistic tyrant

#fountainsabbey part 3 - stonework details

#fountainsabbey part 2 - the cellarium underneath the lay brothers dormitory & a norman archway

#fountainsabbey part 1. Some pics from yesterday. Such a magnificient site

For the scale modellers out there. Do you just build the kits, or do you dioramas too? Here's 1 I started never finished. The kit is an Emhar British mk 5 made as a male version. Seem to recall it being a bit of a dog to put together

Bit of a change from the usual military models. 4mm scale Ffestiniog Railway tourist car. Inspired by happy memories of a trip on the Ffestiniog with Louie who loved sitting up & looking out. He hated car journeys but loved the slower paced rides on heritage railways. #scalemodelling #happymemories

God dammit grumbled George that god damned limey son of a bitch Monty gets a B17 & crew & I don't even have a driver for my Dodge! Italieri Dodge command car #scalemodelling

As he trundled down Hell's Highway towards Arnhem Lieutenant Ambrose Ponsonby-Smythe made sure to get on the radio net to organise plenty of tea stops... #Tamiya 1:35 Sherman

Scale modelling. Trying my hand at figure painting with some US tank crew figures. Faces are damn hard work even at 1:35 scale. Practice, practice & practice required! #scalemodelling

Trip to Lincoln today. Always impressed by the magnificient cathedral. Truly one our greatest medieval buildings. So much detail to pick out #history #medieval

Went for a stroll today by the Huddersfield Narrow Canal near Marsden. Liked the contrast between the curve of the bridge arch & straight lines of the lock #canals #history

An early morning this week at Sandal Castle

Waiting for the off - nice little branch line scene. Tank engine, 3 coaches. Where are we off to?

An LMS Black 5 - 1 of the best steam locos to run in the UK - pull anything, go anywhere. Immaculately turned out today

Waiting its turn in the overhaul queue - an LMS Jinty typical of the many shunting engines that hustled & bustled in goods yards up & down the country

2 different generations of goods engines - Lancashire & Yorkshire Rly Ironclad from the 1880s & Stanier 8f from the 1930s

Steam powered crane. Nice bit of kit

Back in the day even the cranes used to maintain railway tracks were steam powered. 1 of the survivors giving a demonstration today on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

It's #spring the time of renewal, new hope & optimism

Written by grandfather, then a young man in his 20s & published in 1928 Seems a bit dark & heavy for a young man

Tamiya 1/35 Comet. Nice kit. Added some stowage & some handily placed bottles of wine. Making progress. #scalemodelling Next build? Either M5 light tank or Ffestiniog Railway tourist coach

The remains of the keep at Middleham Castle. For a brief time King Edward IV was held prisoner here by Warwick. I wonder what other intrigues were gatched here? #castles

Middleham Castle once home to Richard Neville Earl of Warwick - thevKingmaker, & Richard Duke of Gloucester - future Richard III A corner tower converted to a gatehouse in the 15th century #history

#Factoid starting in 1879 the Ffestiniog Railway has built new steam locos in 3 centuries - 19th, 20th & 21st

Back to the 1870s - your motive power for your commute into London

The magnificient Louie - distinguished old gentleman, faithful friend & giver of unconditional love.

Fish pie anyone?

#Tamiya 1/35 Comet. Therapeutic building session today. The Comet looked to be a nicely proportioned tank & in model form looks pretty purposeful #scalemodelling

1st steam fix of the year. Trip to Haworth to ride behind a Black 5 - Stanier's masterpiece

Should have said haul empty wagons to the top. Doh!!! #technology

Early morning at Hartshead looking across to Emley Moor #photography

The magnificent Ribblehead viaduct on the Midland Railway's Settle & Carlisle route. An icon of 19th century railway architecture. Typical S&C weather too. I've taken better pictures of the viaduct but this perhaps best captures the atmosphere of the S&C route #railways #photography

Bit of a cold start today

Early snowfall (by recent standards) overnight in good old Yorkshire. Looking a little like Narnia #snow #photography

Currently making steak pie whilst head banging to Deep Purple In Rock. And why not?

A modelling trip to the dark side. Panzer mk 4. Seem to remember fitting the brackets for the skirts was a bit of a pain #modelling

Look I know this platform is called Bluesky but how about some Yorkshire grey sky? #photography

Some more autumn pics from this morning's walk. Not so much New England in the Fall as old Yorkshire in November #autumn #photography #yorkshire

A Yorkshire morning walk. It's not all dark satanic mills or flat caps & clogs #Yorkshire #photography

A camera shy/ bored Louie enjoying an autumn morning walk #autumn #photography #dogs

Autumn colours at Meltham Catch #autumn

Louie reminding me just who the boss is today

Just been looking at an Ordnance Survey map Barnsley, Doncaster & Sheffield from pre 1914 Interesting to see company names against railway lines Great Central Great Northern Hull & Barnsley Lancashire & Yorkshire Midland & a lot more lines than now

An interesting document from 1946b- a message from King George VI to UK school children