Eliot Andersen
@eliotandersen.bsky.social
Cumbrian Labourite (remotely) in Westminster. Politics. Railways. Writes stuff. Honorary Mexican.
The Lakes Express running under the Nordmann fir.
November 27, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The Lakes Express running under the Nordmann fir.
You may be right.
November 26, 2025 at 4:56 PM
You may be right.
Black Friday *week*.
November 20, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Black Friday *week*.
Feliz Dia de los Muertos.
November 1, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Feliz Dia de los Muertos.
“You are in the house of Elrond. And it is ten o’clock in the morning, on October the 24th if you want to know.”
October 24, 2025 at 9:00 AM
“You are in the house of Elrond. And it is ten o’clock in the morning, on October the 24th if you want to know.”
No, me neither.
October 14, 2025 at 6:37 AM
No, me neither.
Only they’re allowed to declare who does and doesn’t hate Britain.
October 1, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Only they’re allowed to declare who does and doesn’t hate Britain.
On the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825, two main line steam charters pass by within seven minutes of each other at Carlisle today.
7029 Clun Castle arrives with The Shap Mountaineer, while 34067 Tangmere departs with The Lune Rivers Trust.
7029 Clun Castle arrives with The Shap Mountaineer, while 34067 Tangmere departs with The Lune Rivers Trust.
September 27, 2025 at 2:28 PM
On the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825, two main line steam charters pass by within seven minutes of each other at Carlisle today.
7029 Clun Castle arrives with The Shap Mountaineer, while 34067 Tangmere departs with The Lune Rivers Trust.
7029 Clun Castle arrives with The Shap Mountaineer, while 34067 Tangmere departs with The Lune Rivers Trust.
Had it for real in January thanks to Storm Éowyn.
September 7, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Had it for real in January thanks to Storm Éowyn.
"We won't use the same steam locomotive (5972) as in the films.
5972 is in our Watford studio tour, but we won't find an identical loco to use for the TV series.
Instead, we'll get one from a slightly different class (6989).
We'll make it look exactly like 5972.
But we'll number it 5977."
...Why?!
5972 is in our Watford studio tour, but we won't find an identical loco to use for the TV series.
Instead, we'll get one from a slightly different class (6989).
We'll make it look exactly like 5972.
But we'll number it 5977."
...Why?!
September 1, 2025 at 11:35 AM
"We won't use the same steam locomotive (5972) as in the films.
5972 is in our Watford studio tour, but we won't find an identical loco to use for the TV series.
Instead, we'll get one from a slightly different class (6989).
We'll make it look exactly like 5972.
But we'll number it 5977."
...Why?!
5972 is in our Watford studio tour, but we won't find an identical loco to use for the TV series.
Instead, we'll get one from a slightly different class (6989).
We'll make it look exactly like 5972.
But we'll number it 5977."
...Why?!
As someone who has been… let’s just say “a lot” in 27 years… the current leadership thinking appears to be along the lines of the lawyer in Jurassic Park. Fewer guests paying more money equals fewer staff.
August 28, 2025 at 7:10 PM
As someone who has been… let’s just say “a lot” in 27 years… the current leadership thinking appears to be along the lines of the lawyer in Jurassic Park. Fewer guests paying more money equals fewer staff.
SR Battle of Britain class 4-6-2 34067 Tangmere at the head of The Waverley charter from York to Carlisle arrives at its destination. 57010 is tucked in behind the tender, doing most of the work due to the "red" fire risk level. Carlisle was 24C and has seen little serious rain for weeks.
August 17, 2025 at 3:33 PM
SR Battle of Britain class 4-6-2 34067 Tangmere at the head of The Waverley charter from York to Carlisle arrives at its destination. 57010 is tucked in behind the tender, doing most of the work due to the "red" fire risk level. Carlisle was 24C and has seen little serious rain for weeks.
Already been and gone.
August 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Already been and gone.
I don’t know why everyone’s laughing. To me, President Harold Bishop will always go down as one of the greats.
August 8, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I don’t know why everyone’s laughing. To me, President Harold Bishop will always go down as one of the greats.
Meanwhile, I spent a lot of my life on College Green literally carrying handbags.
July 29, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Meanwhile, I spent a lot of my life on College Green literally carrying handbags.
I've guarded through worse.
(Admittedly, the train I was guarding was the emergency fire train)
(Admittedly, the train I was guarding was the emergency fire train)
July 10, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I've guarded through worse.
(Admittedly, the train I was guarding was the emergency fire train)
(Admittedly, the train I was guarding was the emergency fire train)
Widdecombe appointed to PC in February 1997.
July 9, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Widdecombe appointed to PC in February 1997.
Can confirm that last week the phone signal at Waterloo in the evening peak on a Monday (with fewer rail passengers) was considerably better than on Tuesday and Wednesday.
And it's very much a new problem. In my 8 years as a regular Waterloo commuter, there was never previously a signal blackhole.
And it's very much a new problem. In my 8 years as a regular Waterloo commuter, there was never previously a signal blackhole.
June 12, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Can confirm that last week the phone signal at Waterloo in the evening peak on a Monday (with fewer rail passengers) was considerably better than on Tuesday and Wednesday.
And it's very much a new problem. In my 8 years as a regular Waterloo commuter, there was never previously a signal blackhole.
And it's very much a new problem. In my 8 years as a regular Waterloo commuter, there was never previously a signal blackhole.
“I was there, Gandalf. I was there 3000 years ago.”
June 10, 2025 at 8:23 AM
“I was there, Gandalf. I was there 3000 years ago.”