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Academic railway history is analytical, comparative, placing railway issues in the context of economic, social and political history. For example one module of the York postgraduate diploma looked at railway employment in the nineteenth century. Not so much the role of individual drivers...

I did the University of York's Postgraduate Diploma in Railway Studies between 2016 and 2018. It was a brilliant course run by Dr David Turner, who is probably the UK's only specialist academic railway historian. Important to emphasise that it covers academic railway history, a niche area which...

I live in Sidcup so will probably use the service via the Crayford Spur and Bexleyheath line once or twice next week as it is relatively rare routing. I note that it's running at half hour intervals (including at peak times) but that the journey time from Sidcup to Charing Cross is 58 to 60...

My late uncle lived next to the Chingford to Liverpool Street line for around fifty years with a tiny back garden. It never seemed to worry him or his family although when I visited the house briefly shook for a few seconds when trains went past. Thousands live next to railways and the only...

I have an ancestor, Samuel Leatherland, who lived in Kilsby and worked there as a brick maker in the 1830s and 1840s. So he almost certainly made bricks for the tunnel. I have walked across the old bridleway between the villages of Kilsby and Crick which is on a hill crossing the tunnel...

I see occasional tissue beggars on Southeastern's Sidcup line. What puzzles me is that some people must be giving them money, otherwise why would they continue doing it ? I can't think of any good reason why people would donate, unless it's pity (or fear of reprisal if they don't?). The ones...

I was returning from a course in Petersfield last week (16.57 to Waterloo) when a noisy gang of teenagers got on at Godalming (I think). Some were in my carriage. Their demeanour suggested they had been taking drugs of some sort, one was violently banging a window. Someone hijacked the PA...

Hither Green was in the list of stations announced by D(a)FT last April for accessibility works, but it was a lengthy list. And it was one of number which had been deferred from previous years as you say. If the problem was only providing step free access, then there might be scope and room for...

The subway which runs under tracks and leads to the ramp at Hither Green has one entrance leading to Staplehurst Road plus another entrance / exit on the other side of the viaduct leading to the road Mayflower Cottages, in addition to the entrance at the end of platform 1. (Technically there are...

I use New Eltham frequently and this illustrates one of the problems of revenue enforcement and gating stations, namely that many stations have multiple entrances and exits. New Eltham has three : via the ticket hall (gated, although rarely all day), a side entrance to the up platform (ungated...

Much to my surprise there was an onboard ticket inspection on my Sidcup line train this afternoon (the 15.48 LCX to Dartford service). Perhaps Southeastern revenue protection bosses read this this thread ?

I don't share the view that the 376s look really tired. Whilst they will never be my favourite train, they have worn well in comparison to the Networkers, although admittedly they are a decade younger. One of the first of the Rock Hard Seat Brigade, the interiors seem much more robust than the...

I have used Southeastern's Sidcup line for twenty five years, the first twenty two as a peak hours commuter, the last three as a predominantly off peak traveller three or four times a week. My local stations Sidcup and New Eltham are gated, Sidcup gates seem to be manned for much of the day...

Myself and my partner were on a footbridge which crosses the Sidcup line halfway between stations one Sunday afternoon. A train approached and we both waved to the driver. Much to our surprise he cheerily waved back. We both thought it was a really nice gesture and it made our day.

Much of the South London line, especially in the Brixton area, is in a shocking state in terms of excessive plant and tree growth, both alongside the trackbed and along the viaducts. There is one particular tree (perhaps the one spotted by Alistair) which always grabs my attention. It is indeed...

Thanks for the advice, gone for the 9.43 which (as suggested) seems to be a Pendolino judging by RTT and seating plan. Should have guessed I suppose as it's the Glasgow one which makes a Pendolino more likely.

I am probably going to Birmingham with Virgin next Monday and want to avoid a Voyager. I know most services are diagrammed for Pendolinos but that there are occasional Voyagers (the 8.03 from Euston being one). Will probably be travelling on the 9.43 or 10.03. Does anyone have access to diagrams...

I subscribe and received the April edition last week. If you're a regular reader, think about taking out a subscription. When you buy in WH Smith the retailer gets a big chunk of the money and the publishers lose out.

Aren't they intended for cyclists ? I used to regularly travel Euston to Brum and usually went for a seat right at the end of coach A because of the extra legroom and because they had a reserved for cyclists sign (bikes being stored just beyond the non public door). The very early morning...

Jack Simmons' work is excellent and highly readable. Other books highly recommended are : PW Kingsford's "Victorian Railwaymen" which analyses recruitment / discipline / wages / working hours / paternalism etc between 1830 and 1870. David Turnock's "A Historical Geography of Railways in Great...