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railraider25.bsky.social
RailRaider25
@railraider25.bsky.social
190 followers 66 following 500 posts
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railraider25.bsky.social
In a nutshell for those who don't know, a Ballast Undercutter (or Ballast Cleaner) cuts away the old ballast beneath the track, scoops up the spoils, deposits them into adjacent wagons / to the lineside and packs fresh ballast beneath all at the same time. Neat, eh? 🙂
Donald (or Douglas) collecting ballast spoils from the Sodor Ballast Cleaning Machine. The first illustration from the 'Small Railway Engines' book.
November 22, 2025 at 10:39 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
A while back, I had a(nother) silly idea: an alternative take on 'Toby's Seaside Holiday' / 'Special Attraction'. If it had a bigger budget and a more structured storyline.

Route by @thereallegothemano.bsky.social

Models by whoever made them 😂
Toby the Tram Engine arrives at the Seaside Station with Henrietta, only to find that the occupied by another engine... LEFT HAND SIDE: Lots of engines (and passengers) crowding the platforms at the Seaside Station, with Toby the Tram engine just about visible in the background. RIGHT HAND SIDE: Lots of engines (and passengers) crowding the platforms at the Seaside Station, with Toby the Tram engine just about visible in the background. Toby the Tram Engine is sad because there isn't room for him in the display of engines =(
November 17, 2025 at 5:26 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
I was going to draw this character anyway, but @harpermantheold.bsky.social was kind enough to pay me to do so instead. Thanks, bud! 👍

This is "Yob", a Diesel Crane who lives at Crovan's Gate Works. You can read about her on the SiF ERS Guide for those who have signed up already.
Digital artwork of 'Yob' the Diesel-Hydraulic Crane.
November 14, 2025 at 9:29 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
Night time in the yard. Things still happen, even when the sun goes down 🌙🚂

Knapford Yard Route by me! 😊
Thomas the Tank Engine is collecting Mail. He looks cross because a Troublesome Truck is pulling faces at him. Richard the 'New' Engine has derailed at a set of trap-points. Spamcan the Big Diesel has brought the Breakdown Train to rescue him. Richard is annoyed because Spamcan is laughing at him. The Spiteful Brake Van converses with the Troublesome Trucks. Up to no good, no doubt... Rosie the USA Dock Tank and Dennis the Diesel see workmen arguing about something in the goods shed. What about? Who knows...
November 13, 2025 at 12:42 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
Adjusting to Daylight Savings is never easy -- "Spring Forward, Fall Back."

At least I prefer longer nights to longer days 🌝

Route by @thereallegothemano.bsky.social
Henry the Green Engine puffs grumpily past BoCo the Diesel at the Docks. It is early evening. Bear the Hymek Diesel and Gordon the Big Engine are waiting to collect passengers from the Dockside. It is nighttime, and both are very tired.
November 4, 2025 at 11:03 AM
railraider25.bsky.social
Donald's Dock.

(Yes, that was lame, even for me)

Route by @thereallegothemano.bsky.social
Donald the Scottish Engine arriving at the Docks with a goods train.
October 29, 2025 at 1:57 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
Douglas taking the "Midnight Goods".

(And yes, he *is* in RWS Blue. Because why not? 😛)

Route by Tevy.
Douglas the Scottish Engine pulling a train of fuel tankers at dusk.
October 28, 2025 at 5:28 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
Mavis by the sea ⚓⭐

Route by @thereallegothemano.bsky.social
Mavis the Quarry Diesel happily chats with Edward the Blue Engine at Brendam Docks. Devious Diesel and Donald shunt trucks in the background.
October 28, 2025 at 1:10 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
Turns out that it's not just steam engines Diesel 10 is mean to...

Route by @thereallegothemano.bsky.social
Diesel 10 at Brendam Docks, waving his claw menacingly at Derek, who looks scared.
October 27, 2025 at 1:09 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
Still one of my favourite characters from the Brenner Era ⭐

Route by @thereallegothemano.bsky.social
Paxton the Diesel Shunter passing by with a stone train.
October 23, 2025 at 6:47 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
"You dizzy diesel! I'm pulling 'Express Goods' not *the* Express!"
"Erm...oopsie."

Route by @thereallegothemano.bsky.social
Murdoch the Goods Engine looks crossly at Dodge the Diesel Shunter, who is shunting Express coaches in the yard. Evidently, Dodge has brought Murdoch the wrong train.
October 23, 2025 at 12:38 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
Morning and Evening at Ffarquhar.

Route by @dryitelad.bsky.social
Percy the Small Engine puffs past the Stonecutting Sheds at Ffarquhar. In the background, Mavis the Quarry Diesel is talking to Henrietta the Coach. Thomas the Tank Engine and Daisy the Diesel Railcar are resting by the water crane and fuel pump. Thomas looks tired. Daisy looks smug.
October 22, 2025 at 12:41 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
"Oliver?! What are *you* doing here??”

Route by Tevy.

Trainz screenshot inspired by one of my stories, "The Wrong Way";

docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Oliver the Great Western Engine has arrived at Elsbridge Junction looking worried. Henry the Green Engine and Thomas the Tank Engine both look annoyed and confused. The passengers on the platforms appear to be thinking the same thing...
October 16, 2025 at 3:12 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
Not the first time that Thomas has been delayed by an Enthusiast's Special -- on his own Branch Line, too.

Route by @dryitelad.bsky.social
Oliver the Western Engine stands at the platform of Ffarquhar station with a single coach. He looks pleased with himself. Thomas the Tank Engine waits in the runaround loop with Annie and Clarabel. He does *not* look pleased at being delayed.
October 15, 2025 at 5:25 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
"I must confess, I find it unusual to see an engine that *doesn’t* need coal or water. Still, I suppose these new-fangled things have their uses...”

Route by @dryitelad.bsky.social
Duke and Rusty, two Narrow Gauge Engines, are working together at the Slate Quarry. A Slate Truck looks on mischievously.
October 15, 2025 at 3:00 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
"A Good Giggle."

Route by @westernshunter.bsky.social
Mavis the Quarry Diesel and Daisy the Diesel Railcar are resting in the goods shed, chatting away peacefully. One of the Troublesome Trucks is clearly eavesdropping on their gossip.
October 15, 2025 at 12:36 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
...something something, "my copy of Series 5 is off," etcetera and so forth...

Route by @dryitelad.bsky.social
The Narrow Gauge Engines (Duke, Rheneas and Sir Handel) are resting at Boulder Quarry Sheds beneath a beautiful evening sky.
October 12, 2025 at 8:15 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
Still trying to pick myself up, slowly but surely. Just messing about with "whatever" at the moment.

S4 Elsbridge Route by Tevy.
Rosie the USA Dock Tank is pulling a train of scrap iron. She passes Splatter and Diesel, the Diesel Shunters, struggling to pull a heavy train of iron girders and beams.
October 9, 2025 at 5:56 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
These past few weeks have been emotionally draining...😓

I decided to get my feelings down through these screenshots.

Coaling Plant Route by @thereallegothemano.bsky.social
Murdoch the Big Goods Engine stands in the yard looking with concern at the sky. It is dark, overcast and raining. Diesel stands in the Coal Yard, surrounded by trucks, looking fed up. It is dark, overcast and raining. Molly the Yellow Engine puffs slowly through the Coal Yard, looking anxiously at the sky. It is dark, overcast and raining. Gordon the Big Engine puffs crossly through the Junction with the Express, looking with contempt at the sky. It is (yet again) dark, overcast and raining.
October 8, 2025 at 11:08 AM
railraider25.bsky.social
It's not just Daisy or Percy who has to look after Henrietta for Toby. Up to you what Thomas thinks of it here 😉

Route by Tevy.
Thomas the Tank Engine pulling Toby's coach, Henrietta. Thomas looks annoyed, for some reason...
October 4, 2025 at 5:26 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
USELESS FACT:

This *was* going to be a new Trainz video, until I realised what a learning curve driving a loco in Realistic Mode actually is. Especially when not all the models respond in the same way...

So this is all you're getting. Sorry 😔

Route by @thereallegothemano.bsky.social
Rosie the USA Dock Tank, Derek the Diesel and Murdoch the Goods Engine all look with interest at a very long goods train in the Shunting Yard (There are are also Blue-and-Yellow boarders at the top and bottom of this image).
October 4, 2025 at 11:47 AM
railraider25.bsky.social
A "Daisy" and a "Bluebell".

Series 4 Elsbridge Route by Tevy.
Daisy the Diesel Railcar chatting with Stepney the 'Bluebell' Engine at Elsbridge Junction.
October 3, 2025 at 6:43 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
It's not just railway engines George is rude to...

Ffarquhar Route (another one!) by @westernshunter.bsky.social
George the Steamroller taunting Bertie the Bus. Bertie is clearly miffed.
October 3, 2025 at 2:27 PM
railraider25.bsky.social
"Mavis is now a welcome visitor at Ffarquhar Sheds..." ⭐

Ffarquhar Route by @dryitelad.bsky.social
Percy the Small Engine, Mavis the Quarry Diesel and Toby the Tram Engine all resting happily at Ffarquhar Sheds.
October 3, 2025 at 10:03 AM
railraider25.bsky.social
Alright, that made me grin. Well played! 😆
October 1, 2025 at 8:34 PM