Rachel Owens
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itsrach.bsky.social
Rachel Owens
@itsrach.bsky.social
Substation Engineer.
Amateur radio operator.
Not a professional programmer.
Previously done radio presenting.

All views are my own. 🏳️‍⚧️ (She/Her)
Website: http://rachelowens.co.uk
Blog: http://rachelowens.co.uk/blog
What was ever wrong with just “British Rail?” Why must we insist on prefixing it with “Great?” If re-nationalising a small part of the rail sector and slapping some red, white and blue paint was the holy grail to solve everything, “Great” is going to be doing some heavy lifting. #trains #rail
December 9, 2025 at 5:59 AM
To all those organisations who are “regretfully” turning their backs and closing the door on trans people,

Don’t worry, we won’t forget.
December 4, 2025 at 6:05 AM
The good thing about sleep is that you don’t have to put up with the bullshit of the world whilst you’re under.

Maybe I should do it more often than every night.
December 2, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I have a tendency to buy project enclosures before having an actual project to put inside said enclosure.

#electronics #ijustthinktheyreneat
November 10, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Some days will stick in your mind and haunt you for a long time after. Today is one of those days.
October 10, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Reposted by Rachel Owens
Whatever you think of RTD, he knows television and knows the warning flares need to be sent up. Television and journalism need to start questioning and pushing back. Pushing back hard.
Part of Russell T Davies' speech on being awarded Outstanding Contribution to Television at the Bafta Cymru awards. (via www.instagram.com/baftacymru)
October 7, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Up early to try and dodge the #M60 traffic.
October 6, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Seeing as Bluesky is going the same way as Twitter (i.e. Down the shitter), I just thought I’d remind you that you can follow me on a truly decentralised service.

https://mastodonapp.uk/@rowens
Rachel Owens 🏳️‍⚧️ (@rowens@mastodonapp.uk)
783 Posts, 176 Following, 96 Followers · Amateur radio operator/UK power grid engineer. Learnt VB.net many years ago (subsequently forgotten), now dabbling in web technologies. Not a professional programmer. Previously done radio presenting. Never became a broadcast engineer 😢. Aussi salut! Je apprendré à français. Je peux lire et écrire en français mais Je n’est peux parler français bien cette temp. All views are my own. 🏳️‍⚧️ (She/Her)
mastodonapp.uk
October 4, 2025 at 6:47 AM
I’ve woken up to the sad news that Jane Goodall has passed away. I had the pleasure of meeting her on a couple of occasions through some initiatives we took part in at secondary school. A truly inspirational woman with a genuine passion for her work.
October 2, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Once happened to me overnight on the M1. Scary thing to read and I was just waiting for the headlights to appear. Thankfully they did not.
September 23, 2025 at 5:01 AM
That would explain why nothing seems to have happened there. Whilst that project is on hold I’m surprised they’ve not reinstated the part time signals. I’ve seen the M65 Westbound stack up with traffic on the exit slip and the first lane. Admittedly I don’t think it gets as bad these days.
September 16, 2025 at 7:45 PM
So happy to be back in the North West. Much prefer the rolling hills compared to city life. Here’s a picture of London this morning at 01:00 because I couldn’t sleep.
September 16, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Ooo thanks for sharing this. It is a terrible mess and I’m bored now of driving through Accrington.
September 16, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Now I’m trying to do the mental calculations in my head to work out if it would be quicker to go through Rishton or take the M65 a junction and sit in the longest set of lights at the Dunkenhalgh. The exciting things I do at 5:50 in the morning 😂
September 16, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Conflicted this morning around my Hackspace membership. I’m considering cancelling it as I don’t use the space all that often sadly.
September 11, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Oooo, it’s an #Australian cake.
August 29, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Personally I'm really looking forward to the B6236 re-opening.

That's if it ever re-opens.
August 26, 2025 at 5:30 PM
My hot take is that Wikipedia *should* geo block UK access.
August 14, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to refurbish the antenna so hopefully there will be a weaker than usual signal to view. I plan on refurbishing the antenna to continue VHF satellite downlink observations.
August 11, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Just scheduling the final passes of #NOAA19 and #NOAA15 on my #satnogs ground station. After over 15 years and 20 years respectively in orbit their APT downlinks are being switched off over the next few days.
August 11, 2025 at 4:11 PM
My first #Träewelling entry. I don’t admittedly take trains all that often because they’re so damn expensive.
Feel free to follow my #rail journey shenanigans there.
https://traewelling.de/status/5615479
rowens's journey with Träwelling
278.0km from York Rail Station to London King's Cross Rail Station in line LNER.
traewelling.de
August 6, 2025 at 1:17 PM
YouTube ads are unhinged!
August 4, 2025 at 1:46 PM
I’m starting to acquire a few records, mainly Now compilations, but I have purchased a couple of 7” singles such as this which is one of my favourite tracks
August 3, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Just managed to trip out the home electrics by putting a #poptart in the toaster.

I can hear the Americans laughing from across the Atlantic.
July 29, 2025 at 12:58 PM
You heard it here first,
The Church of #eurovision
July 27, 2025 at 7:22 PM