OldRailwayAccidents
@rwldproject.bsky.social
Welcome to the 'Railway Work, Life & Death' project, collaboratively researching British & Irish railway staff accidents pre-1939. Posts by Mike Esbester.
#RailwayHistory #TransportHistory #MobilityHistory #Railway200
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
#RailwayHistory #TransportHistory #MobilityHistory #Railway200
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
Pinned
Welcome to the 'Railway Work, Life & Death' project Bluesky account!
Check our expanding database of British & Irish railway worker accidents, covering 1855-1939 - all free!
Currently over 117,000 cases, with more to come.
railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
Check our expanding database of British & Irish railway worker accidents, covering 1855-1939 - all free!
Currently over 117,000 cases, with more to come.
railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
Today, & through this week, my excellent 2nd-year @uophistory.bsky.social students are taking part in the Career Readiness Experience Day!
They'll gain valuable, low-stakes practice of assessment centre tasks - all another way we help prepare our students for life after our courses.
They'll gain valuable, low-stakes practice of assessment centre tasks - all another way we help prepare our students for life after our courses.
February 10, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Today, & through this week, my excellent 2nd-year @uophistory.bsky.social students are taking part in the Career Readiness Experience Day!
They'll gain valuable, low-stakes practice of assessment centre tasks - all another way we help prepare our students for life after our courses.
They'll gain valuable, low-stakes practice of assessment centre tasks - all another way we help prepare our students for life after our courses.
A busy week this week - getting even busier from today!
Off to the Watercress Line shortly, to set up the Portsmouth Area Railway Pasts exhibition!
Come & see it over half-term (14-22 February), in the viewing gallery at Ropley ...
... & there's more to come: watch this space!
Off to the Watercress Line shortly, to set up the Portsmouth Area Railway Pasts exhibition!
Come & see it over half-term (14-22 February), in the viewing gallery at Ropley ...
... & there's more to come: watch this space!
February 10, 2026 at 9:15 AM
A busy week this week - getting even busier from today!
Off to the Watercress Line shortly, to set up the Portsmouth Area Railway Pasts exhibition!
Come & see it over half-term (14-22 February), in the viewing gallery at Ropley ...
... & there's more to come: watch this space!
Off to the Watercress Line shortly, to set up the Portsmouth Area Railway Pasts exhibition!
Come & see it over half-term (14-22 February), in the viewing gallery at Ropley ...
... & there's more to come: watch this space!
Last chance to sign up for the Guild of One-Name Studies day seminar, 'From waterways to railways' - registration closes tomorrow!
Sat 21 Feb, Peterborough
Really interesting line up & some great speakers!
#GuildOccupations #FamilyHistory
Details & booking here:
one-name.org/seminar-even...
Sat 21 Feb, Peterborough
Really interesting line up & some great speakers!
#GuildOccupations #FamilyHistory
Details & booking here:
one-name.org/seminar-even...
Seminar events
Guild of One-Name Studies
one-name.org
February 7, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Last chance to sign up for the Guild of One-Name Studies day seminar, 'From waterways to railways' - registration closes tomorrow!
Sat 21 Feb, Peterborough
Really interesting line up & some great speakers!
#GuildOccupations #FamilyHistory
Details & booking here:
one-name.org/seminar-even...
Sat 21 Feb, Peterborough
Really interesting line up & some great speakers!
#GuildOccupations #FamilyHistory
Details & booking here:
one-name.org/seminar-even...
Looking forward to being part of the Guild of One-Names Studies day seminar, 'From waterways to railways'
Sat 21 Feb, Peterborough
Really interesting line up; still time to sign up (till 8 Feb)!
#GuildOccupations #FamilyHistory
Details & booking:
one-name.org/seminar-even...
Sat 21 Feb, Peterborough
Really interesting line up; still time to sign up (till 8 Feb)!
#GuildOccupations #FamilyHistory
Details & booking:
one-name.org/seminar-even...
Seminar events
Guild of One-Name Studies
one-name.org
February 4, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Looking forward to being part of the Guild of One-Names Studies day seminar, 'From waterways to railways'
Sat 21 Feb, Peterborough
Really interesting line up; still time to sign up (till 8 Feb)!
#GuildOccupations #FamilyHistory
Details & booking:
one-name.org/seminar-even...
Sat 21 Feb, Peterborough
Really interesting line up; still time to sign up (till 8 Feb)!
#GuildOccupations #FamilyHistory
Details & booking:
one-name.org/seminar-even...
Reposted by OldRailwayAccidents
Quite extraordinary how little discussion of risks universities are engaging in before they sign all their staff and students up for new AI tools, at extraordinary cost, Given universities' known deficits and repeated claims of financial exigency, this is surely problematic.
February 1, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Quite extraordinary how little discussion of risks universities are engaging in before they sign all their staff and students up for new AI tools, at extraordinary cost, Given universities' known deficits and repeated claims of financial exigency, this is surely problematic.
Reposted by OldRailwayAccidents
January 31, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Looking forward to being part of the Guild of One-Name Studies day seminar, 'From waterways to railways'
Sat 21 Feb, Peterborough
Really interesting line up & some great speakers!
#GuildOccupations #FamilyHistory
More details & booking (open till 8 Feb) here:
one-name.org/seminar-even...
Sat 21 Feb, Peterborough
Really interesting line up & some great speakers!
#GuildOccupations #FamilyHistory
More details & booking (open till 8 Feb) here:
one-name.org/seminar-even...
Seminar events
Guild of One-Name Studies
one-name.org
January 29, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Looking forward to being part of the Guild of One-Name Studies day seminar, 'From waterways to railways'
Sat 21 Feb, Peterborough
Really interesting line up & some great speakers!
#GuildOccupations #FamilyHistory
More details & booking (open till 8 Feb) here:
one-name.org/seminar-even...
Sat 21 Feb, Peterborough
Really interesting line up & some great speakers!
#GuildOccupations #FamilyHistory
More details & booking (open till 8 Feb) here:
one-name.org/seminar-even...
Reposted by OldRailwayAccidents
January 29, 2026 at 7:57 AM
Reposted by OldRailwayAccidents
UK archives: Last chance to contribute to @uknatarcsector.bsky.social 2025 Accessions to Repositories Survey. To take part, please read the guidance on their website: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sec... and complete survey by Mon 2nd Feb
Taking part in the survey - Archives sector
The Accessions to Repositories 2025 survey is now open. Each year we contact archives across the UK to invite them to take part; if you are interested in contributing for the first time in this year’s...
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
January 29, 2026 at 9:00 AM
UK archives: Last chance to contribute to @uknatarcsector.bsky.social 2025 Accessions to Repositories Survey. To take part, please read the guidance on their website: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sec... and complete survey by Mon 2nd Feb
Happy Up Helly Aa, everyone - esp those in #Shetland or with Shetland roots!
A fun & fiery tradition - haven't seen it in the flesh, but did learn more about it on a family trip to Shetland in 2024, tracing the #FamilyHistory 😃👍
www.uphellyaa.com
A fun & fiery tradition - haven't seen it in the flesh, but did learn more about it on a family trip to Shetland in 2024, tracing the #FamilyHistory 😃👍
www.uphellyaa.com
UpHellyAa.com - Watch Up Helly Aa live!
Our live stream will return for Up Helly Aa in Lerwick on 27th January 2026, bringing you the fiery drama as it happens.
www.uphellyaa.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Happy Up Helly Aa, everyone - esp those in #Shetland or with Shetland roots!
A fun & fiery tradition - haven't seen it in the flesh, but did learn more about it on a family trip to Shetland in 2024, tracing the #FamilyHistory 😃👍
www.uphellyaa.com
A fun & fiery tradition - haven't seen it in the flesh, but did learn more about it on a family trip to Shetland in 2024, tracing the #FamilyHistory 😃👍
www.uphellyaa.com
ONE WEEK'S TIME!
Come & hear the ever great @karlbell.bsky.social - always fascinating material in his talks:
Tidal Terrors: Folklore & Supernatural Storytelling at Sea
3 Feb 2026, 5.30pm
University of Portsmouth
Free - tickets here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tidal-terr...
Come & hear the ever great @karlbell.bsky.social - always fascinating material in his talks:
Tidal Terrors: Folklore & Supernatural Storytelling at Sea
3 Feb 2026, 5.30pm
University of Portsmouth
Free - tickets here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tidal-terr...
Tidal Terrors: Folklore and Supernatural Storytelling at Sea
Public lecture: The real life lessons from supernatural stories of the sea.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM
ONE WEEK'S TIME!
Come & hear the ever great @karlbell.bsky.social - always fascinating material in his talks:
Tidal Terrors: Folklore & Supernatural Storytelling at Sea
3 Feb 2026, 5.30pm
University of Portsmouth
Free - tickets here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tidal-terr...
Come & hear the ever great @karlbell.bsky.social - always fascinating material in his talks:
Tidal Terrors: Folklore & Supernatural Storytelling at Sea
3 Feb 2026, 5.30pm
University of Portsmouth
Free - tickets here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tidal-terr...
Here we go!
Looking forward to the start of the new teaching term, with a new cohort of fab @uophistory.bsky.social students.
The ever-fun Working with the Past (2nd yr, practice-based module) & the NEW 2nd yr module, 'Age of Crisis' ... seems apt at the present!
Let's do history!
Looking forward to the start of the new teaching term, with a new cohort of fab @uophistory.bsky.social students.
The ever-fun Working with the Past (2nd yr, practice-based module) & the NEW 2nd yr module, 'Age of Crisis' ... seems apt at the present!
Let's do history!
January 26, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Here we go!
Looking forward to the start of the new teaching term, with a new cohort of fab @uophistory.bsky.social students.
The ever-fun Working with the Past (2nd yr, practice-based module) & the NEW 2nd yr module, 'Age of Crisis' ... seems apt at the present!
Let's do history!
Looking forward to the start of the new teaching term, with a new cohort of fab @uophistory.bsky.social students.
The ever-fun Working with the Past (2nd yr, practice-based module) & the NEW 2nd yr module, 'Age of Crisis' ... seems apt at the present!
Let's do history!
#ICYMI we've been doing some work on Stoke-on-Trent & surrounds!
#Staffordshire #LocalHistory #RailwayHistory
Part of New Vic Borderlines 'Tracks through Time' project, we've researched some railway staff life stories - read them here:
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/stoke-on-tre...
#Staffordshire #LocalHistory #RailwayHistory
Part of New Vic Borderlines 'Tracks through Time' project, we've researched some railway staff life stories - read them here:
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/stoke-on-tre...
Stoke-on-Trent's railway staff - Railway Work, Life & Death
A mini-project for Railway 200, working with New Vic Borderlines to bring Stoke-on-Trent's past railway workers into the present!
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
January 25, 2026 at 11:00 AM
#ICYMI we've been doing some work on Stoke-on-Trent & surrounds!
#Staffordshire #LocalHistory #RailwayHistory
Part of New Vic Borderlines 'Tracks through Time' project, we've researched some railway staff life stories - read them here:
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/stoke-on-tre...
#Staffordshire #LocalHistory #RailwayHistory
Part of New Vic Borderlines 'Tracks through Time' project, we've researched some railway staff life stories - read them here:
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/stoke-on-tre...
Very interesting read on a Sunday morning:
How romanticised images of London fog shaped the way we see polluted air share.google/MruiwtrS1EAE...
How romanticised images of London fog shaped the way we see polluted air share.google/MruiwtrS1EAE...
How romanticised images of London fog shaped the way we see polluted air
London’s fog literally fogged photographs with the yellowish hue of the capital’s notorious ‘pea-soupers’.
share.google
January 25, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Very interesting read on a Sunday morning:
How romanticised images of London fog shaped the way we see polluted air share.google/MruiwtrS1EAE...
How romanticised images of London fog shaped the way we see polluted air share.google/MruiwtrS1EAE...
Reposted by OldRailwayAccidents
#ICYMI our current blog looks at the Abbots Ripton disaster of 1876.
Guest author @johnpullin.bsky.social examines some of the causes & lessons from the crash.
There's also a #FamilyHistory connection to the intriguing Dionysius Lardner!
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/abbots-ripto...
Guest author @johnpullin.bsky.social examines some of the causes & lessons from the crash.
There's also a #FamilyHistory connection to the intriguing Dionysius Lardner!
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/abbots-ripto...
Abbots Ripton - an anniversary and a connection - Railway Work, Life & Death
Guest author John Pullin looks at a connection between the Abbots Ripton disaster of 1876 and the early days of railway entrepreneurs.
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
January 24, 2026 at 11:00 AM
#ICYMI our current blog looks at the Abbots Ripton disaster of 1876.
Guest author @johnpullin.bsky.social examines some of the causes & lessons from the crash.
There's also a #FamilyHistory connection to the intriguing Dionysius Lardner!
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/abbots-ripto...
Guest author @johnpullin.bsky.social examines some of the causes & lessons from the crash.
There's also a #FamilyHistory connection to the intriguing Dionysius Lardner!
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/abbots-ripto...
#ICYMI our current blog looks at the Abbots Ripton disaster of 1876.
Guest author @johnpullin.bsky.social examines some of the causes & lessons from the crash.
There's also a #FamilyHistory connection to the intriguing Dionysius Lardner!
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/abbots-ripto...
Guest author @johnpullin.bsky.social examines some of the causes & lessons from the crash.
There's also a #FamilyHistory connection to the intriguing Dionysius Lardner!
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/abbots-ripto...
Abbots Ripton - an anniversary and a connection - Railway Work, Life & Death
Guest author John Pullin looks at a connection between the Abbots Ripton disaster of 1876 and the early days of railway entrepreneurs.
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk
January 24, 2026 at 11:00 AM
#ICYMI our current blog looks at the Abbots Ripton disaster of 1876.
Guest author @johnpullin.bsky.social examines some of the causes & lessons from the crash.
There's also a #FamilyHistory connection to the intriguing Dionysius Lardner!
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/abbots-ripto...
Guest author @johnpullin.bsky.social examines some of the causes & lessons from the crash.
There's also a #FamilyHistory connection to the intriguing Dionysius Lardner!
www.railwayaccidents.port.ac.uk/abbots-ripto...
Reposted by OldRailwayAccidents
"Slavery was real"
Tiny sign at the base of a brick wall that, until yesterday, held panels about the people enslaved by George Washington.
Presidents House, Philadelphia.
Tiny sign at the base of a brick wall that, until yesterday, held panels about the people enslaved by George Washington.
Presidents House, Philadelphia.
January 23, 2026 at 3:22 PM
"Slavery was real"
Tiny sign at the base of a brick wall that, until yesterday, held panels about the people enslaved by George Washington.
Presidents House, Philadelphia.
Tiny sign at the base of a brick wall that, until yesterday, held panels about the people enslaved by George Washington.
Presidents House, Philadelphia.
Reposted by OldRailwayAccidents
The city of Philadelphia has sued the Department of the Interior and the acting director of the National Park Service for removing exhibits about the history of slavery from the President’s House in the city’s historic district. 🗃️
Philadelphia sues after slavery exhibits were taken down from President's House site
The city of Philadelphia sued the Department of the Interior and the acting director of the National Park Service on Thursday over reports that slavery exhibits were being dismantled in the city’s his...
www.yahoo.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:38 PM
The city of Philadelphia has sued the Department of the Interior and the acting director of the National Park Service for removing exhibits about the history of slavery from the President’s House in the city’s historic district. 🗃️
Reposted by OldRailwayAccidents
If this thread hasn’t already found its way onto your timeline, do take the time to have a read.
A few days ago, I stood in the graveyard of an 1100 year old church, getting damper and damper in the drizzling rain.
A woman walked into the graveyard, waved, said hello, and, as we had previously arranged, handed me a paper bag full of human bones.
The life of a churchwarden is a strange one...
A woman walked into the graveyard, waved, said hello, and, as we had previously arranged, handed me a paper bag full of human bones.
The life of a churchwarden is a strange one...
January 23, 2026 at 4:47 PM
If this thread hasn’t already found its way onto your timeline, do take the time to have a read.
A year ago, as part of #Railway200, we went on an #AccidentalJourney, to #Aberystwyth, #Wales.
We traced our route via entries in the Railway Work, Life & Death project database, of past railway staff & their accidents.
Read the thread here:
We traced our route via entries in the Railway Work, Life & Death project database, of past railway staff & their accidents.
Read the thread here:
OldRailwayAccidents (@rwldproject.bsky.social)
JOIN US on an #AccidentalJourney! We're travelling to #Aberystwyth, for the Transport for Wales #Railway200 launch! On our journey, we'll live-post some of the historic railway worker accidents found…
bsky.app
January 23, 2026 at 11:45 AM
A year ago, as part of #Railway200, we went on an #AccidentalJourney, to #Aberystwyth, #Wales.
We traced our route via entries in the Railway Work, Life & Death project database, of past railway staff & their accidents.
Read the thread here:
We traced our route via entries in the Railway Work, Life & Death project database, of past railway staff & their accidents.
Read the thread here:
January 23, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by OldRailwayAccidents
January 23, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Came to us via @humberlevels.bsky.social - a great spot, and looking forward to watching this!
Well done to all involved!👏👍
👇
Well done to all involved!👏👍
👇
Amazing work about the Dunston Staiths and those who worked on them. @rwldproject.bsky.social @coaltrimmers.bsky.social
🛠️ Most people today encounter Dunston Staiths as a quiet heritage site. In the 1970s, it was a dangerous place of work.
A new film by Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen and Peter Roberts brings that history back into view → sidegallery.co.uk/blog/coal-staiths-of-the-river-tyne
Commissioned by Tyne Derwent Way
A new film by Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen and Peter Roberts brings that history back into view → sidegallery.co.uk/blog/coal-staiths-of-the-river-tyne
Commissioned by Tyne Derwent Way
January 23, 2026 at 8:55 AM
Came to us via @humberlevels.bsky.social - a great spot, and looking forward to watching this!
Well done to all involved!👏👍
👇
Well done to all involved!👏👍
👇
Fab looking conference from @mrcwarwick.bsky.social - Blood is the price of coal.
Call for papers open until Sunday - have a look!
18 June for the event itself - hoping to be a part of it!
warwick.ac.uk/services/lib...
Call for papers open until Sunday - have a look!
18 June for the event itself - hoping to be a part of it!
warwick.ac.uk/services/lib...
Call for papers
warwick.ac.uk
January 22, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Fab looking conference from @mrcwarwick.bsky.social - Blood is the price of coal.
Call for papers open until Sunday - have a look!
18 June for the event itself - hoping to be a part of it!
warwick.ac.uk/services/lib...
Call for papers open until Sunday - have a look!
18 June for the event itself - hoping to be a part of it!
warwick.ac.uk/services/lib...