Was going to wait until I had his stories done but today seems like a good day to show off a loco with a purple hue. Here's Ivo! 💜💜
I like red Ivo Hugh, but wanted to brave something new. Lining needs tidying and yet to finish his faces, but otherwise he's ready to be useful.
Last Sunday I proposed to Holly at last, and I'm thrilled she said yes!💍It's no secret I'm the luckiest person around to be marrying such a wonderful other half, and I couldn't be happier.
Thank you to London's
@The_Globe
for permitting my most stressful performance on stage!🥳
A chilly New Year start chasing T3 and Friends around Swanage today with
@owenthemadman
A Victorian express loco has no right looking so good on a goods train. 😤
Today has been so much fun seeing the Talyllyn Railway come to life with people who grew up with Awdry's loveable characters.
Huge congrats in order to Luke, Tim and the rest of the team making it happen. Was an honour to share a few words on the livestream and play trains.
Sadly I won't be at the Talyllyn this weekend. 😪
I shall be making the long journey across the water to the Skarloey Railway. The gang's all ready to go.
Oh no, the "Skittle Railway" engines aren't all in RWS red. 😤😤
Ah well, at least it's not a valid cause to get frustrated at the concept of people having different opinions.
Love you, internet.
10 years ago, on my birthday, we popped by Bluebell Railway to get something from the gift shop.
Stepney HAPPENED to be on one of its rare outings when we got there and it really felt like it was meant to be.
I think this is the last time I saw 55 in steam, all the more special
Dolgoch is at the end of her 10 year boiler certificate and is going out of service? Pfft, big deal.
Said no one ever (respect your elders).
I'm not crying, you are.
#TalyllynRailway
S4 Rusty: Likes springtime and travelling past valleys filled with flowers.
S5 Rusty: Lives in a cold, bleak winter and fears the rocks have become sentient.
It's here! It's here! Thank you to the fantastic cast for bringing such a wide range of characters to life, and to everyone who helped with the many models.
There's a LOT that I've not shared here before. 🤭
Starting tonight I'll be releasing some videos from my time chasing trains in Australia! AT LAST, something different to Europe!
First one features 3801 and the NSW Rail Museum. Next week's is out now on my Patreon, as well as 1 of 3 exclusive videos.
Cheers for all the birthday wishes. 🎂 Spent some of it working on a Terrier model so could be worse. Obligatory Ringo style photo.
Video showing how it was made coming later this week. Should also be at Bluebell's Terrier weekend with it, so see you all there and at Talyllyn.
This made me laugh. Thomas fans have to work with what they've got after all!
@BlueBells5529
Thomas and the Evil Diesel is very good. Do check out their channel. Not mocking their work at all.
Thank you to everyone who tuned in to
#awdryextravaganza
Live on the Talyllyn Railway YouTube channel. For anyone who missed the fun, it's still available to watch!
Some new discoveries and hundreds of
#AwdryDioramaChallenge
entries to pop it all off.
This opening shot is far more impressive than I remember. Surely one of the longest in the series? The lights and reflections, the quiet yard, the subtle whisps of steam and eye movements, wagons and coaches scattered about, it's all lovely. Long shot, but straight to the point.
Rubbish shot, rubbish weather, lovely tra- engine.
@SwanRailway
U class proudly heads through what once was the original Poole station, on its way to assist with mainline railtours today.
Hello all. Sadly, my grandad suddenly passed away yesterday and I may take a break for a while. I did promise the new episode to be released tomorrow and I'm sticking to that, but afterwards if you have anything you need I'll get back to you in time. Thx.
Caught up with an old friend yesterday.
We talked about the coal crisis, birthdays and how rude it was I hadn't popped round sooner.
Kept getting weird looks from people, I don't know why. 🤷
Better look at the thumbnail from last night's video. Taken at Avon Valley Railway, the resemblance to the illustration from Percy the Small Engine was uncanny!
5 incredible years with 1 incredible girl. I still don't know what I did to become so lucky.
Out celebrating today/tomorrow so if I'm slow at replying, this be why.
Just been told that Bluebell has been withdrawn from service, although the decision still up in the air. Well now I'm sad! She's been my favourite running engine on the line and will be sorely missed as a working flagship! 😢 Very popular with visitors. Ought to have a rest. 😔
Happy 145 years to Stepney, which entered service on this day in 1875. 🥳 Inspiring preservation pioneers, authors and children since 1960. Picture COULD be mine, but is probably not.
Related/unrelated video coming tonight 9pm!!
Some Flying Scotsman to freshen up your timeline.
Taken last week at Southampton. Sometimes having to change trains on a journey you were making anyway has its advantages.
I've only just discovered that Gunvor and Peter Edwards have both passed away (2014 and 2017 respectively). I am now very sad. Wow, their illustrations were something else. They were great at capturing a realistic, working world and have the scenes narrated through expressions.
Thanks to everyone who came and said hi today at Bluebell Railway. We sure did bring some Terriers to the table whilst the real things decided to play up.
🎂Happy Birthday Stepney 🎂
147 years ago Brighton Works outshopped a very loved little tank engine.
It may be winter solstice ❄️ but I've got a new Stepney story that I hope will brighten your day. Uploading tonight!
Today we bid farewell to the rough and tumble Captain Baxter. Last day on its current boiler ticket. Despite not getting out all that much, this is certainly an engine that has collected a few scrapes! Pics 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2018.
Still processing it all, but last week I was back at Talyllyn Railway with some new trains to play with and some very old ones for No.4's 100th.
Big thanks to THE
@Expl_Cookie
and THE
@NotANorwegian
and all new faces I met for making it a most enjoyable time.
📸-Corris Railway
Over the past few weeks I've slowly repainted the new Bachmann Skarloey coaches into their RWS guise (decals/faces yet to buy). As I'm indecisive one end is blue, one end blue/cream. Not my best painting but a much needed therapeutic escape. So glad to at last have a set! 😀
Good morning from Bluebell Railway!
WE HAVE TERRIERS!
Come and stop by the Steam Works at Sheffield Park where they've been foolish enough to leave me a table. 😏
Infinity Engines.
Thanks to
@TheJamTram07
for letting me the "there are two more engines". A few years ago, I never thought I'd be able to film something with motorised small engines.
#season4isafterseason3
Happy birthday to Rev. W. Awdry! ⛪️ Finally managed to visit Rodborough Parish Church and his final house. It was warming to be able to read more about the window dedicated to Wilbert and Margaret.
Hadn't noticed the little boiler in the corner before.
Another day, another birthday Terrier. Popped by to see Poplar at her namesake near where she worked many years ago. Times have changed. The modern Canary Wharf looms in the background, but Poplar is steaming on for at least another 10 years. 🎂
On a holiday from
@KandESRailway
I do feel a skill people need to learn is to be slightly more de-sensitised to PROPS. OMG PROPS. It's lovely to cling onto them and fight to death to defend a physical representation of your childhood, but also remember they're just bits of metal, plastic and resin put together-
Oh hello there! Unexpected find today at Shillingstone station (lovely voluntary run place, worth visiting).
This is one of 2 Yugoslavian Railways USA tanks they own. I had no idea there were any European versions!