Ant Dawson
@railwayhobbit.bsky.social
Historian, Archaeologist, and Museum Professional who is also an Organist, Unitarian, Rower, Geek, into Boardgames, Reenactment, Heavy Metal and with a soupcon of Long-Covid.
Yeah had that happen. Our mic was broadcasting to the local Anglicans who were very confused.
November 12, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Yeah had that happen. Our mic was broadcasting to the local Anglicans who were very confused.
Not sure my comments are printable..not least in polite society
November 12, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Not sure my comments are printable..not least in polite society
Yeah. For me the PhD is the challenge and discipline. I've been told by many academics in working at their level and always welcome. Judg need to open doors to journals, conferences and feel less isolated and away from theory and practice of transport history.
November 12, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Yeah. For me the PhD is the challenge and discipline. I've been told by many academics in working at their level and always welcome. Judg need to open doors to journals, conferences and feel less isolated and away from theory and practice of transport history.
True. I feel I'm at that point where I need to decide what shape my career is going to have, or even if I have one rather than multiple side hussles. Chronic illness and trying to spread oneself too thin focusing on many things isn't good. yay. polymath.
November 12, 2025 at 10:34 AM
True. I feel I'm at that point where I need to decide what shape my career is going to have, or even if I have one rather than multiple side hussles. Chronic illness and trying to spread oneself too thin focusing on many things isn't good. yay. polymath.
I also find it fascinating how a Lecturer in Economics and Business History says an unpublished paper of mine on early railway management is foundational, and should be published, yet others have described it as a 'hatchet job' on the S&DR (which tried its best to avoid management). Hmmm.
November 12, 2025 at 9:14 AM
I also find it fascinating how a Lecturer in Economics and Business History says an unpublished paper of mine on early railway management is foundational, and should be published, yet others have described it as a 'hatchet job' on the S&DR (which tried its best to avoid management). Hmmm.
Blister
Ratbut
Fortress Maxipus
Hot Spit
Grimlick
Ratbut
Fortress Maxipus
Hot Spit
Grimlick
November 11, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Blister
Ratbut
Fortress Maxipus
Hot Spit
Grimlick
Ratbut
Fortress Maxipus
Hot Spit
Grimlick
1807 Swansea & Mumbles - an authorised but not earliest passenger service. probably earliest railway station.
1812 Kilmarnock & Troon - first public railway in Scotland. Early but not earliest pax service in Scotland.
1812 Kilmarnock & Troon - first public railway in Scotland. Early but not earliest pax service in Scotland.
November 10, 2025 at 5:45 PM
1807 Swansea & Mumbles - an authorised but not earliest passenger service. probably earliest railway station.
1812 Kilmarnock & Troon - first public railway in Scotland. Early but not earliest pax service in Scotland.
1812 Kilmarnock & Troon - first public railway in Scotland. Early but not earliest pax service in Scotland.
Gosh there's quite a lot to unpack here. 1804 Penydarren was built as a locomotive, not converted. Liverpool & Manchester was not entirely locomotive worked. But the 1834 Leeds & Selby was.
November 10, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Gosh there's quite a lot to unpack here. 1804 Penydarren was built as a locomotive, not converted. Liverpool & Manchester was not entirely locomotive worked. But the 1834 Leeds & Selby was.
1834 Leeds & Selby Railway: first mainline in Yorkshire; first mainline worked exclusively by Locomotives; earliest example of intermodal traffic with railway-owned steam boat service to Hull & York.
November 10, 2025 at 5:43 PM
1834 Leeds & Selby Railway: first mainline in Yorkshire; first mainline worked exclusively by Locomotives; earliest example of intermodal traffic with railway-owned steam boat service to Hull & York.
Tranent-Cockenzie was first *known* railway in Scotland. Final section closed in 1960s and was worked by locomotives.
Middleton Railway first commercial use of steam locomotives.
1830 L&MR was NOT powered entirely be locomotives: used stationary engines!
Middleton Railway first commercial use of steam locomotives.
1830 L&MR was NOT powered entirely be locomotives: used stationary engines!
November 10, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Tranent-Cockenzie was first *known* railway in Scotland. Final section closed in 1960s and was worked by locomotives.
Middleton Railway first commercial use of steam locomotives.
1830 L&MR was NOT powered entirely be locomotives: used stationary engines!
Middleton Railway first commercial use of steam locomotives.
1830 L&MR was NOT powered entirely be locomotives: used stationary engines!
cylinder engine as well. Penydarren loco was *built* as a locomotive, not converted from anything. Ended up as a stationary engine at a colliery near Ffoss y Fran. Scrapped probably 1850s.
November 10, 2025 at 5:41 PM
cylinder engine as well. Penydarren loco was *built* as a locomotive, not converted from anything. Ended up as a stationary engine at a colliery near Ffoss y Fran. Scrapped probably 1850s.
Puffing Devil was indeed a road locomotive. And certainly not the first; Major Nicholas Cugnot had built and demonstrated a very succesful example in Paris in 1769: in fact it was one of several schemes suggested to the French War Ministry. It was also the first high pressure steam engine. First two
November 10, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Puffing Devil was indeed a road locomotive. And certainly not the first; Major Nicholas Cugnot had built and demonstrated a very succesful example in Paris in 1769: in fact it was one of several schemes suggested to the French War Ministry. It was also the first high pressure steam engine. First two
hahahhhahahahaahahahahaahahahahaha
November 9, 2025 at 3:37 PM
hahahhhahahahaahahahahaahahahahaha
historical LGBT+ figures involved with science and innovation who will be featured for LGBT+ History Month 2026, alongside Barbara Burford, Elke Mackenzie, Jemma Redmond and Robert Boyle. I feel Beyer's story needs to be told in Gorton next year - even if Gorton may not want to hear it.
November 8, 2025 at 4:45 PM
historical LGBT+ figures involved with science and innovation who will be featured for LGBT+ History Month 2026, alongside Barbara Burford, Elke Mackenzie, Jemma Redmond and Robert Boyle. I feel Beyer's story needs to be told in Gorton next year - even if Gorton may not want to hear it.
That's. Well. That's a thing. Certainly a setting.
November 8, 2025 at 4:37 PM
That's. Well. That's a thing. Certainly a setting.
A suitably appropriate steed home
November 8, 2025 at 11:16 AM
A suitably appropriate steed home