Matthew Woodward
banner
ontherails.bsky.social
Matthew Woodward
@ontherails.bsky.social
Rail adventurer and travel writer. Latest book ‘Bang Sue Junction’ (Lanna Hall). Always carrying an espresso maker. Jelly Baby addict. FRGS.
I see The Saturday Telegraph have made ‘Compartment No.6’ its film of the week. It’s on the iPlayer #BBC4 - it might be a good Trans-Siberian substitute in current times..? shorturl.at/x0RuT
Compartment No. 6
Finnish Laura’s long train journey to the frozen north is shared with coarse young Ljoha, and finding common ground seems impossible. Award-winning 'odd couple' drama set in 1990s Russia.
shorturl.at
February 16, 2025 at 5:09 PM
BBC4 are screening first ever episode of ‘Going Straight’ this evening - successor to ‘Porridge’. The train scene with Fletch and Mr MacKay is an interesting observation on the British Rail buffet car. Lots of cans of Courage Light ale and McEwans Lager youtu.be/nqBMN0ALERM?si…
Going Straight - S1 E1 Going Home
YouTube video by Comedylegends
https://youtu.be/nqBMN0ALERM?si…
January 28, 2025 at 8:23 PM
A year end thanks and best wishes to all my amazing friends here on socials. Let’s make 2025 even more railtastic. Great to follow your adventures and swap stories and ideas.
December 31, 2024 at 3:51 PM
“I'll tell you this, the next drink I have's gonna be a lager. Ice cold. There's a little bar in Bangkok with a marble top counter and high stools. They serve the best beer in all the far east”. #IceColdInAlex #Rhiengold
December 27, 2024 at 10:35 AM
My Christmas 1975 fantasy that never quite happened - I did get Airfix Flight Deck that year though. I bought my own Mk 2 Chopper eventually, but not until 30 years later.. (image from FB)
December 25, 2024 at 6:10 AM
A couple more pavement death traps on the Chang Khlan Road today as I make my way - carefully - to an early evening beer rendezvous. The failing chipboard one is thin and covering an open drain - if you weight more than 60kg you are probably doomed.. #ChiangMai
December 23, 2024 at 10:43 AM
If you have not seen this episode of ‘That’s Life’ I would recommend investing 7 minutes of your time celebrating an amazing and quiet hero. youtu.be/OqqbM1B-mPY?si…#SirNicholasWintonon
Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton (That's Life - 1988)
YouTube video by Tops of the top
https://youtu.be/OqqbM1B-mPY?si…
December 22, 2024 at 2:55 PM
Road accident statistics in #Thailand are appalling. I avoid crossing roads in the dark. But the pavements in #ChiangMai - can be lethal places too.. Locals don’t step on drain covers unless they are feeling lucky.
December 22, 2024 at 9:57 AM
I have an emerging towel art issue here at HQ. Not sure if I’m going to run out of space in my room before the hotel run out of hand towels. Should I say something?
December 20, 2024 at 6:15 AM
Reposted by Matthew Woodward
December 14, 2024 at 9:51 AM
Bravo Justin!
The weather has been so grey and gloomy that I decided to get my baubles out for the 19:31 to Brussels. Well, it is Friday night after all.
December 14, 2024 at 12:15 PM
Checked into my longtime HQ in Chiang Mai. Housekeeping have kindly broken out my personal bedding just in case I forget my name in the middle of the night. Always feel at home here. Thank you @ShangriLaHotels
December 13, 2024 at 4:23 PM
Blog: Off the Rails in Hua Hin - the cult of train talks, model railways and my enduring love of cold beer. #HuaHin shorturl.at/rmGqi
December 11, 2024 at 8:00 AM
Hua Hin would not exist without the railway. Nice to be able to celebrate this over a railway themed beer. #HuaHin #brewery #Thailand
December 9, 2024 at 10:44 AM
‘Please make my mixed fruit smoothie the colour of this hat’. Pantone reference- mango. #beachlife #Thailand #HuaHin
December 8, 2024 at 4:27 AM
Fancy a rail chat tomorrow? Please come and join me at the Centara Grand in #HuaHin - the original Thai railway resort hotel. Lots to talk about and help inspire your next rail adventure. Kick off with drinks at 17.00. Hope to see you! #RailTourism #Thailand @ExploreCentara
December 5, 2024 at 10:16 AM
Up early (for me) this morning. Train chat on the breakfast show with Leigh Higgins on Surf Radio here in #HuaHin
December 4, 2024 at 2:11 AM
Thanks to the team @InterConHotels #HuaHin for letting me play with their recently installed train set today. Thanks also to @ZengoMay for the tip off. Railway tourism on a different scale, literally.
December 3, 2024 at 7:24 AM
I’m not a trainspotter, but I’ve ticked off locomotive 305 from my list of Thai steam trains. It’s a Baldwin from #Pennsylvania - a state I have always wanted to visit. I think it’s a Deer Hunter thing.
December 2, 2024 at 8:39 AM
I’ve been at the (old) Hua Hin railway station today. Quite sad to see it bare and devoid of life. This time last year it was my favourite Thai station with the shiniest (now missing) bell. #HuaHin
December 2, 2024 at 8:29 AM
Reposted by Matthew Woodward
Vietnam OK's $67bn bullet train for 5-hour trip north to south 🚄🇻🇳 asia.nikkei.com/Business/Tra...
Vietnam OK's $67bn bullet train for 5-hour trip north to south
ASEAN factory hub studies Japan, China for national rail dream 18 years in the making
asia.nikkei.com
December 2, 2024 at 2:40 AM
I got spotted before I made it back to the bar tonight. Tickets still available if you are in Hua Hin on Friday. Love to see you here at the Centara Grand. It’s going to be a great train chat! @ExploreCentara #HuaHin
December 1, 2024 at 1:43 PM
I’m the writer in residence at the Centara Grand Beach Resort in Hua Hin for the next couple of weeks - the original railway resort hotel in Thailand. Great writing set up here to inspire creativity. #HuaHin #IAmWriting @ExploreCentara
November 30, 2024 at 4:09 AM
Perhaps the only railway bell you can ring in Thailand without getting in trouble is in the Hua Lamphong museum. A small place, but a treasure trove going back to the days of the Royal Railway of Siam #Bangkok
November 28, 2024 at 5:48 AM
For those that asked - I’ve been a lucky guest at the Mekong Riverview Hotel in Luang Prabang for the past week. My room was amazing. Spent hours on the balcony each day watching the world pass by on the river.
November 27, 2024 at 11:24 AM