Category Archives: Transport

Aug 23 2026
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Daily Post, Transport

On guard

Saturday 22nd August 2026, 11.50am (day 5,476)

Didcot railway centre, 22/8/26

A first visit to Didcot, one of those towns that simply would not exist without railways, and specifically, the decision of Mr. Brunel (there he is again) that this was the best route for the Great Western line through to Bristol in the 1840s. This was, and still is, a major junction. Anyone who has a penchant for steam trains could do worse than spend time in the Didcot Railway Centre, which is full of them, whether standing in engine sheds or operating up and down the huge yard that nestles within the boundaries of the still-working main lines. Well worth a visit.

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Aug 12 2026
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Daily Post, Transport

Awaiting departure

Tuesday 11th August 2026, 9.10am (day 5,465)

King's Cross platform 8, 11/8/26

Time to go home, and from London, journeys home invariably start at King’s Cross. Platform 5 for us today, though still with half an hour to go from this point in time before the 9:40 departure to Bradford Forster Square, changing at Leeds.

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Aug 06 2026
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Daily Post, Transport, Urban scene

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Wednesday 5th August 2026, 1.30pm (day 5,459)

Clifton Suspension Bridge, 5/8/26

Up until Tuesday afternoon Bristol was the largest city in the UK that I had never previously visited, but it can now pass on that honour to Coventry. A first full day here revealed many things of interest but to illustrate them I pick what is almost certainly the city’s most depicted feature. Why not, though? I am partial to a good bridge and in the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the place certainly has one of those: this is an extremely handsome and impressive construction, even now. The road deck is nearly 250 feet above the water below — how does one even start going about such an enterprise? OK, build the towers first, but then what? But that is why I am not or never will be Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who designed it — though did not live to see it completed.

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Jul 16 2026
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Daily Post, Transport

Victoria, mostly empty

Wednesday 15th July 2026, 8.15pm (day 5,438)

Empty Victoria, 15/7/26

Manchester Victoria was significantly less populated at 8.15pm this evening than it would normally be on a Wednesday. In the end though, the reason was obvious. But I did make it home in time for the second half.

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Jun 21 2026
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Daily Post, Transport, Sport

The start of the half-marathon

Saturday 20th June 2026, 9.00pm (day 5,413)

Runners and Hurtigruten, 20/6/26

The third ‘midnight sun’ reference in a row, as these people have just set out on Tromsø’s Midnight Sun Half-Marathon. It’s popular, as you can infer from the visible number: apparently there were participants from one hundred different countries this evening. In the background, one of the boats that plies the Hurtigruten ferry route all the way up and down Norway. Somewhere further in the background, Clare, who reappeared at the finish line about three hours later. (Yr. humble blogger does not run, and has not done since his knee became too fragile in about 2008. In all honesty he feels better for just documenting such events these days.)

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Jun 16 2026
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Daily Post, Transport

The signals await

Tuesday 16th June 2026, 6.45pm (day 5,409)

Temporary lights, 16/6/26

19 days in a row is not an unusual amount of time to spend at home as such… but, no football, no hiking, no reason to get out at all. It’s time to go though! Set up the lights! Let’s leave!

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May 23 2026
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Daily Post, Landscape, Transport

West Coast Main Line

Friday 22nd May 2026, 10.45am (day 5,384)

Train from Tebay, 22/5/26

My day was spent driving to Scotland. This took at least an hour longer than it usually does thanks to an excess of traffic around Edinburgh, of which, of course, I was a component part. Being whisked north by train instead does appeal but there are advantages and disadvantages to both modes of transport. (Anyway, the train pictured is travelling south.) As seen from Tebay services on the M6, a frequently-used stopping point on this particular journey — though not for rail passengers.

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May 22 2026
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Daily Post, Transport

It went that-away

Thursday 21st May 2026, 9.15am (day 5,383)

Car removal, 21/5/26

Particularly as I am posting rather late, I guess the owner of the red Range Rover has, by now, worked out what happened to his vehicle. I have no idea as to whether they deserved it or not. But it happened, and was duly documented (one presumes not only by me).

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May 03 2026
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Daily Post, Transport

Tyne High Level Bridge

Saturday 2nd May 2026, 1.05pm (day 5,364)

Tyne High Level bridge, 2/5/26

Opened in 1849, the High Level Bridge over the River Tyne in Newcastle was the world’s first ever combined road-rail bridge, and is still used as such, just about: up above, suburban trains still trundle regularly but the roadway below is now for buses and taxis only, and only allows north-to-south (Newcastle to Gateshead) travel. But we can still walk it both ways, and doing so was a fairly interesting way of passing 20 minutes of time.

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Apr 21 2026
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Daily Post, Landscape, Transport

Heading up-valley

Monday 20th April 2026, 5.10pm (day 5,352)

Train in valley, 20/4/26

Off trundles the 17:10 to Wigan Wallgate — more-or-less on time today (in fact the trains have behaved remarkably well so far this year, at least by Northern’s standards). It’s a bit of a shame about the platform appearing in the corner but, believe me, this one was cropped as carefully as it could be without losing essential elements.

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