Top Deck Cat

Thank you - enjoyed watching it.

YouTube video by BBC Archive 1986: Life on a Coaster Ship | Forty Minutes | BBC Archive

A passage to wisbech the story about a coaster plying the trade around England and the near continent

A great watch

youtu.be/oPtvw91fQ88?...

Trackside Transformation A book documenting the architectural evolution of British Mainline Railway Stations (1923-1947)

Just 5 days left to pre-order your copy of #TracksideTransformation by @artdecomagpie.bsky.social and me, for a saving on the cover price. It collects together surviving mainline stations from the Grouping era 1923-47.

But today, let's look at stations on Ungrouped railways.

kck.st/3YjDPIO

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A good dit. Pollyanna had the good sense to take over the CO’s cabin, though I’m not sure eating the charts was the best career move.

I loved it when I went a few years ago. The room full of train ferry models was fantastic. The inter-rail display triggered some good memories too.

Tamper photo just outside East Croydon.

Lovely ship. Enjoyed my trips on her a few years ago.

Detail of the area around Trafalgar Square and Whitehall from a vintage style map of London, UK

Detail of Britain and Ireland, northern France and the Low Countries from an antique style map of Europe

A display of framed retro style maps of London Boroughs, including Tower Hamlets, Newham, Greenwich and Bexley

Detail of southern Portugal and the Algarve region from a vintage style map of the railway network in Spain and Portugal

Been a bit quiet on the ol' shop website lately. If you're looking for an original, quality map print designed by an independent artist either for yourself or a fellow cartophile, it might be worth a look.
➡️ shop.thisismikehall.com

Probably a cousin of mine!

Invisible Masterpieces – the Big Four’s Stations 1923-47 (and a book all about them) Have you ever had a project you’ve started on without any idea of the scale of work you’ve just committed to? Well, if you want to know one of the reasons that I haven’t been writ…

I'm excited to announce I've collaborated with photographer Philip Butler (@artdecomagpie.bsky.social) on a book of mainline stations from the Big Four era 1923-47. A treat for lovers of railway Modernism (and Neo-classicism). Full details in article. thebeautyoftransport.com/2026/01/04/i...

Me (a cute cuddly black and white cat) sitting on the ledge at the front of the upper deck of a bus. Behind me is the windscreen, through which we can see it's night-time in a city street. The traffic includes a red double-decker bus no. 388 to Stratford City.

I'm certainly real! Here's my #proofofcat (taken in my natural environment).

B/W photo from the Brian Hardy Collection & with permission. Shows a London Underground standard stock train approaching Ealing Broadway on the Central London line (now Central line). On a murky day the picture shows two semaphore signals L13 and L12 that are of the US Westinghouse 3-Aspect type and that were used on this section of the line from c.1920 until replacement in 1948. The line shows the CLR's original centre conductor rail prior to conversion to LT standard 4 rail system and the train has been modified to work on the 3-rail system prior to conversion to 4.

Ealing Broadway & a view of a Central London/line train with the American style Westinghouse 3-aspects signals this section had from c.1920 until 1948. The unit is Underground Standard Stock modified to run on 3rd centre rail prior to conversion to 4 rail. @semaphoria.co.uk @jeremyzorek.bsky.social

Happy birthday #onthisday Greenwich station!
Almost as beautiful as me.

You’d have to have a heart of, er, stone not to like this.

*This* one is excellent. Gets rid of those awful top notes at the end, and uses one of our greatest national melodies.

Quite right. At least you've found something to unite the Holst and Darke factions!

You sound like Jack Dee!

“…so I’ve asked the teams to tell us about any new stations they might have seen recently. Joe, you can start.”

#ISIHAC

New Railway Atlas charts Oxford–Cambridge rebuild and Foynes Revival in 16th edition The railway network across Britain and Ireland is constantly evolving, so it's no surprise then that the Railway Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland is now in its 16th edition.

The railway network across Britain and Ireland is constantly evolving, so it's no surprise then that the Railway Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland is now in its 16th edition.

www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/new...

Me standing on a capstan in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Behind me is the stern of HMS Victory in her dry dock. In the background is Victory Jetty, part of HM Naval Base Portsmouth. We can see the forward and central superstructures of a Type 23 frigate, the predominantly white funnel badge confirming her to be HMS Portland. It is mostly cloudy but the sun is coming through, low in the sky, behind the two ships.

To Royal Navy and Royal Marines sailors past and present, whether you are at sea, at the wall or ashore tonight: thank you for your service to the nation. It's appreciated. Fair winds and following seas.
#TrafalgarDay #Trafalgar

Me on the planked upper deck of an old but well-cared-for wooden warship. In front of me is a brass plaque reading "Here Nelson fell, 21st Oct 1805". Behind me are two cannons, the gunwhale and the inside of the structure that is protecting this part of the ship from the weather.

To the immortal memory.
#Nelson #Trafalgar #TrafalgarDay

I knew ‘Moin’ but hadn’t come across ‘Servus’. I feel the need for a visit to Bayern to practise using it!

On nights like last night Train Drivers really flex their route knowledge muscles!
Driving at 100+mph with zero visibility is easy… knowing exactly where you are while you do it, that’s the tricky bit 😂

Ooh, I wasn't too far from you.
One of my favourite pieces but I think it's the first time I've heard it live in a hall. Loved some of the subtleties in the brass that don't really come through on my recordings. Found the epilogue very moving.

Detail of a vintage style railway map of Great Britain showing southern England and Wales

Detail of a vintage style railway map of Great Britain showing Scotland and northern England

Framed vintage style map of the railway network in Great Britain

Yes yes I know. You've spent ages searching for an original, detailed map of Britain's #railway system that is both up-to-date and has the appearance of a vintage poster, as well as designed by an independent artist and printed on nice quality paper. Well look no further! 🚂
➡️ bit.ly/RwyGB22

Wishing the very best of luck to all those collecting their results this #ALevelResultsDay.

If you get the grades you wanted, congratulations!

If you don't, here's a long load of general waffle about what I did after mine, if only to show you the direction life can take...

🧵

My animal-spotting adviser, based nearby, thinks you have. The cuddly bunnies right alongside the tracks are easier to spot, as long as as they have actually come out to play.

Lovely places. Making me want to go back! Do you know the music of Peter Maxwell Davies? He lived on Hoy and some of my favourites among his pieces were inspired by Hoy and particular people. "An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise" is fun.

Nice haul! Good to see the Greater Anglia red tote bag making a comeback. I have one from when they first started - a couple of small holes now but still going strong.

Quasiunitarisationism?

We should all try to make ‘unitarisationism’ a word. And then ‘antiunitarisationism’ can come up too.