Susan Major
@suemajor.bsky.social
Railway historian, living in York UK. https://susanmajorhistory.wordpress.com. Working class railway excursions mid-19c Britain, inc women's leisure mobility. Women railway workers WWII. FellowRHS. Local history for www.clementshallhistorygroup.org.uk
York's own Fitzcarraldo!
October 20, 2025 at 12:28 PM
York's own Fitzcarraldo!
This week on #BBC4 they're reshowing #RailwaysTheMakingOfANation, from 2016. I took part in the episode about leisure, due on Wednesday. I was filmed in a signal box at Ramsbottom, on the East Lancashire Railway, talking about early excursion trains. #Railways200
September 30, 2025 at 11:16 AM
This week on #BBC4 they're reshowing #RailwaysTheMakingOfANation, from 2016. I took part in the episode about leisure, due on Wednesday. I was filmed in a signal box at Ramsbottom, on the East Lancashire Railway, talking about early excursion trains. #Railways200
I've written a blogpost for the British Association for Local History (BALH), about our scoria bricks research, www.balh.org.uk/blog-scoria-...
September 9, 2025 at 8:14 AM
I've written a blogpost for the British Association for Local History (BALH), about our scoria bricks research, www.balh.org.uk/blog-scoria-...
In our local pub, the Slip in Clementhorpe in York. They must have been reading my researches about 19c Saint Monday railway excursions 'Observing ‘Saint Monday’: Variations in the potential for leisure mobility for workers in the north of England in the mid-nineteenth century'. shorturl.at/NrYP7
July 14, 2025 at 1:18 PM
In our local pub, the Slip in Clementhorpe in York. They must have been reading my researches about 19c Saint Monday railway excursions 'Observing ‘Saint Monday’: Variations in the potential for leisure mobility for workers in the north of England in the mid-nineteenth century'. shorturl.at/NrYP7
Just spent a couple of hours at York Station, filming with Hairy Biker Si King, for a new Channel 4 documentary about railways, for #Railway200.
July 10, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Just spent a couple of hours at York Station, filming with Hairy Biker Si King, for a new Channel 4 documentary about railways, for #Railway200.
I enjoyed talking to the @yorkfestofideas.bsky.social audience yesterday, about the railways brought thousands of working class tourists in 1844 to the city for the first time. It was the start of mass tourism to the city, a similar phenomenon in leisure mobility to budget flights in the 1990s.
June 8, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I enjoyed talking to the @yorkfestofideas.bsky.social audience yesterday, about the railways brought thousands of working class tourists in 1844 to the city for the first time. It was the start of mass tourism to the city, a similar phenomenon in leisure mobility to budget flights in the 1990s.
I've been a subscriber to #Which? for over 50 years, but their obsession with cars is really annoying. I wish they would recognise other kinds of #mobility. This is their latest issue. #activetravel
January 17, 2025 at 12:33 PM
I've been a subscriber to #Which? for over 50 years, but their obsession with cars is really annoying. I wish they would recognise other kinds of #mobility. This is their latest issue. #activetravel
Quite a bit of water around #York today #CliffordsTower
January 2, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Quite a bit of water around #York today #CliffordsTower
A bit misty on #YorkWalls this afternoon.
December 26, 2024 at 1:19 PM
A bit misty on #YorkWalls this afternoon.
Last night's finale to Hilary Mantel's #TheMirrorAndTheLight was absolutely stunning, and Mark Rylance has been spellbinding throughout.
Worth watching director Peter Kosminsky in This Cultural Life: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0024zk3 via @bbciplayer
Worth watching director Peter Kosminsky in This Cultural Life: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0024zk3 via @bbciplayer
December 16, 2024 at 8:42 AM
Last night's finale to Hilary Mantel's #TheMirrorAndTheLight was absolutely stunning, and Mark Rylance has been spellbinding throughout.
Worth watching director Peter Kosminsky in This Cultural Life: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0024zk3 via @bbciplayer
Worth watching director Peter Kosminsky in This Cultural Life: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0024zk3 via @bbciplayer
I planned a route avoiding too many hills!
December 6, 2024 at 8:56 AM
I planned a route avoiding too many hills!
You may think I'm obsessed with scoria bricks (secret I am) but I've spotted a new design locally. These paving bricks were made from 19c Tesside ironworks slag. This is the gutter in Vine St #York.
November 30, 2024 at 2:27 PM
You may think I'm obsessed with scoria bricks (secret I am) but I've spotted a new design locally. These paving bricks were made from 19c Tesside ironworks slag. This is the gutter in Vine St #York.
My book about early railway excursions has been translated and published in Japan this year.
November 22, 2024 at 4:49 PM
My book about early railway excursions has been translated and published in Japan this year.
I was in my early 20s here, on the beach, Withernsea?, ca 1970.
November 20, 2024 at 6:45 PM
I was in my early 20s here, on the beach, Withernsea?, ca 1970.
Scoria bricks were invented in Darlington in NE England in the 1870s, to turn iron works blast furnace slag into smooth blue/grey paving bricks. These took different shapes, in York UK they are still in our old back alleys as attractive double hexagon bricks, but can be square or rectangular.
November 17, 2024 at 4:18 PM
Scoria bricks were invented in Darlington in NE England in the 1870s, to turn iron works blast furnace slag into smooth blue/grey paving bricks. These took different shapes, in York UK they are still in our old back alleys as attractive double hexagon bricks, but can be square or rectangular.
I have quite a few followers from North America and from other parts of Europe, so I'd like to use this opportunity to ask a question relating to one of my research interests, scoria bricks.
November 17, 2024 at 4:18 PM
I have quite a few followers from North America and from other parts of Europe, so I'd like to use this opportunity to ask a question relating to one of my research interests, scoria bricks.
And at this large junction near York station, large crowds build up on narrow pavements, waiting for the lights to change.
November 14, 2024 at 10:13 AM
And at this large junction near York station, large crowds build up on narrow pavements, waiting for the lights to change.
Parking is also a hazard for pedestrians
November 14, 2024 at 10:13 AM
Parking is also a hazard for pedestrians
At times pedestrians can be quite a low priority in our local neighbourhood in York. How can we hope to encourage #ActiveTravel when our pavements are so cluttered with signs for motorists, a particular hazard for wheelchair users and pushchairs.
November 14, 2024 at 10:13 AM
At times pedestrians can be quite a low priority in our local neighbourhood in York. How can we hope to encourage #ActiveTravel when our pavements are so cluttered with signs for motorists, a particular hazard for wheelchair users and pushchairs.
This is a wonderful example of an #ActiveTravel project in York. Built over 20 years ago, it links two communities over the Ouse: Fulford and South Bank. We need to think about more projects to encourage walking and cycling.
November 13, 2024 at 4:05 PM
This is a wonderful example of an #ActiveTravel project in York. Built over 20 years ago, it links two communities over the Ouse: Fulford and South Bank. We need to think about more projects to encourage walking and cycling.
Lastly I've been investigating the history of scoria paving bricks, used extensively in our old back alleys in York. These were produced from Teesside iron works slag, and usually feature a double hexagon design.
November 10, 2024 at 10:46 PM
Lastly I've been investigating the history of scoria paving bricks, used extensively in our old back alleys in York. These were produced from Teesside iron works slag, and usually feature a double hexagon design.
I've also been busy with local history research and writing, focusing on neighbourhoods in my area of York, south of the River Ouse.
November 10, 2024 at 10:46 PM
I've also been busy with local history research and writing, focusing on neighbourhoods in my area of York, south of the River Ouse.