Unfortunately Laddie in @RailwayMuseum often bloats out into a horrific shape, terrifying children, as trapped gas (from a life of overfeeding by idiots) expands. To prevent canine cadaver explosion, NRM conservators are seen here on their biannual Laddie-gas-extraction duty.
(this might not be a real fact. just in case one of the excellent SMG Conservators or indeed very excellent Comms Team or indeed the very excellent best in class Legal Team are reading this).
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
#OnThisDay 21st November 1997, the very last train operated by British Rail ran: the 23.15 Dollands Moor to Wembley container freight service. Few saw it rumble through the night and into history, or indeed its neat ceremonial headboard “[British Rail] 1948-1997” that it was posed with before departure. Here’s Chris Wilson’s photo of it in @RailwayMagazine; via @RailUKForums.
But the British Rail double arrows symbol has been extraordinarily persistent since. It represents so much for so many - in very different ways (I’ve no doubt there’ll be endless replies to that tweet re the Politics of privatisation and Nationalisation; there always are)…
If one takes the “modern railway” to have begun in 1825 with the Stockton & Darlington, the web of lines were a private affair for 122 years until British Railways began in 1948 (this is complex; one could say they were under state control earlier, through the war and so on; but that’s not a debate I’ve time to have today). But that double arrows symbol has come to represent the railways for many not just by ownership, but as a system; an entity.
#OnThisDay 27 Sept 1825, the first steam-hauled passengers were officially carried on a public railway: the Stockton & Darlington. That single trip changed the world. So exactly 198 yrs later, I’m in Darlington: today, colleagues & I have some CHUFFING BIG news for you…
In 1825 that first public steam passenger train ran;
In 1875 a jubilee banquet was held to mark the occasion;
In 1925 the LNER held the Railway Centenary
In 1975 BR did #Rail150 with a cavalcade & tours;
It has been my dream since childhood to imagine what 2025 might hold (2/-)…
I am BEYOND excited to be able to share news of the project I’ve been working on: 2025 is set to be #Railway200! The year-long nationwide programme of activities, events & partnerships will celebrate rail’s remarkable past, importance today, and look forward to its future… (3/-)
Fun fact! In 1977, London became the first capital city to get a direct underground rail link to its airport. The Piccadilly line to @HeathrowAirport has some surprises if you look carefully; here are my faves from researching & filming tonight’s #SecretsOfTheLondonUnderground:
London Transport’s Heathrow Extension opened in two stages; to Hatton Cross in 1975 and Heathrow Central in 1977. Planes were, naturally, part of the ace launch tube roundel, on the 86 new trains’ HEATHROW destination blinds, and “Fly the tube” ads of 1978.
Heathrow Central (now called “Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3”) is contained entirely within a 3-level 120m x 26m concrete box. Moving walkways connect it to terminals (T1’s is now shut); the experimental multi-lingo Passenger Route Indicator helped tourists. Note new ceremonial plaque!
“I MUST tell you,” said a lady with breathless excitement, stopping us suddenly as we walked down Bermondsey Street last night, “I MUST tell you that you are wearing the same clothes as that building.” and skipped off
(What she didn’t tell me, and my bf only casually dropped into chat as we reached home, was that I was wearing my jumper back-to-front, so thanks, guys)
I have also just realised that this occurred, with some irony, almost outside @FashionTextile museum
Just unveiled: confirmed finalised designs for London's new tube trains. Known as "2024 stock", 94 trains will be built for @TfL's Piccadilly line by @SiemensMobility, many in Yorkshire. Due to enter service in 2025. Walk-thru cars, aircon, info screens, more energy efficient...
Bakerloo, Waterloo & City, Central lines will also get these if (and there is a very big if) funding is approved.
Big new tube train factory kicking off in Goole. #Goole.
GREAT news from @RailwayMuseum in York: the museum's Station Hall exhibition is to be refreshed. Overseen by @celkingston, over 2021/2 the royal trains will be shuffled, 200 new objects displayed, plus more on railway workers, inc stories of women and Windrush generation (1/4)
Objects to be displayed in NRM's refresh include the old @LondonWaterloo wooden WH Smith kiosk, the Royal Train class 47 loco "Prince William", and (possibly) a waiting room display inc these beautiful Grantham station tiles, currently in store at @sciencemuseum Wroughton (2/4)
Designers will be appointed soon, with vehicle moves & construction to happen in 2022 (Covid-dependent, obv). There's also major roof restoration happening, AND wonderfully, film & sounds from National Archive of Railway Oral History. Much of this funded by @friends_railway.(3/4)