Simon Blackburn
@simonrblackburn.bsky.social
Combinatorics, Algebra, Cryptography. Professor of Pure Mathematics at Royal Holloway University of London. Maths enthusiast. Cat enthusiast. Woking Rail Enthusiast.
Exciting train spot this afternoon: two class 37s, the best class all would agree, passing through Egham. 37508 on the back was a particular surprise.
November 11, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Exciting train spot this afternoon: two class 37s, the best class all would agree, passing through Egham. 37508 on the back was a particular surprise.
Mushrooms seen on Horsell common this morning. Autumn has arrived.
October 5, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Mushrooms seen on Horsell common this morning. Autumn has arrived.
Keith Martin and I welcoming combinatorialists Doug Stinson (from Waterloo, Canada) and Maura Paterson (from Birkbeck) to Royal Holloway for the day. It was great to see them!
October 2, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Keith Martin and I welcoming combinatorialists Doug Stinson (from Waterloo, Canada) and Maura Paterson (from Birkbeck) to Royal Holloway for the day. It was great to see them!
September 29, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Great spot at Egham today: 68028 heads past, from Loughborough Brush to Eastleigh. To the paint shop?
August 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Great spot at Egham today: 68028 heads past, from Loughborough Brush to Eastleigh. To the paint shop?
GBRf 66762/305 through Egham at lunchtime, returning the new Belmond Britannic Explorer luxury sleeping coaches to Eastleigh.
July 28, 2025 at 1:31 PM
GBRf 66762/305 through Egham at lunchtime, returning the new Belmond Britannic Explorer luxury sleeping coaches to Eastleigh.
66308 and 69003 this afternoon at Virginia Water. 450s from Weybridge gatecrash.
June 12, 2025 at 4:47 PM
66308 and 69003 this afternoon at Virginia Water. 450s from Weybridge gatecrash.
GBRf 69016 looking amazing in British Transport Police livery. On its way to Waterloo this morning for a naming ceremony. Supported by 73128 in NSE livery. Wonderful to see!
May 30, 2025 at 10:53 AM
GBRf 69016 looking amazing in British Transport Police livery. On its way to Waterloo this morning for a naming ceremony. Supported by 73128 in NSE livery. Wonderful to see!
69007 passing through Egham this afternoon. The joys of BR Blue!
May 15, 2025 at 3:54 PM
69007 passing through Egham this afternoon. The joys of BR Blue!
GBRf 69014 'EMD Longport', in its swanky new livery, at Woking Junction this afternoon. Only just named, on 27 March. Great to see!
April 15, 2025 at 4:23 PM
GBRf 69014 'EMD Longport', in its swanky new livery, at Woking Junction this afternoon. Only just named, on 27 March. Great to see!
T.P. makes good use of the beautiful weather on campus today.
March 20, 2025 at 12:21 PM
T.P. makes good use of the beautiful weather on campus today.
Happy pi day everyone!
March 14, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Happy pi day everyone!
Time to deploy an emergency kitten: enjoying the sun in her first spring.
February 28, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Time to deploy an emergency kitten: enjoying the sun in her first spring.
Two ceilings: Watts Chapel, Compton, 1898, and Founders Building, Royal Holloway, 1886.
February 22, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Two ceilings: Watts Chapel, Compton, 1898, and Founders Building, Royal Holloway, 1886.
GBRf 47739 hauling barrier coaches from Eastleigh to Leicester L.I.P. this lunchtime, under headcode 5Z66. Good to get out to see it, despite the cold weather.
November 21, 2024 at 1:05 PM
GBRf 47739 hauling barrier coaches from Eastleigh to Leicester L.I.P. this lunchtime, under headcode 5Z66. Good to get out to see it, despite the cold weather.
The new sculpture on Royal Holloway campus.
October 30, 2024 at 5:28 PM
The new sculpture on Royal Holloway campus.
A surprise at Bristol docks this morning. Peckett and Sons 0-6-0ST 'Henbury' in steam!
October 27, 2024 at 2:49 PM
A surprise at Bristol docks this morning. Peckett and Sons 0-6-0ST 'Henbury' in steam!
I think this is unwise.
October 27, 2024 at 12:03 PM
I think this is unwise.
A photo of my first MPV of autumn, at Woking this lunchtime, travelling clean end first. These vehicles spray the track during leaf-fall season. Less romantic than the locos used in some other areas, but evokes the time of year just as well.
October 14, 2024 at 2:59 PM
A photo of my first MPV of autumn, at Woking this lunchtime, travelling clean end first. These vehicles spray the track during leaf-fall season. Less romantic than the locos used in some other areas, but evokes the time of year just as well.