When you need an ‘official’ publicity photo for your new book about trains, where else to take it but on a train.

Congratulations to @CinquePorts2010 for winning the 2026 Les & Sue Barleycorn Cup today, beating Deal Town Rangers 4-1. A harder fought game than the scoreline suggests, but the better team won.

This is the start of something very big and very exciting.

‘Tis the season to be jolly - Wet!! Santa by train driving today at the @EastKentRailway

I’ve been around the project for 27 years and fronted it for the last 7 so this is one hell of a day for me personally.

Back to work yesterday after a full weekend of volunteering for #RAIL200 events and a nice way to round the day off was to be given this beauty to drive at the end of the shift.

I’ll be on the Isle of Sheppey this Sunday as part of the Community Rail Partnership’s Rail 200 history event giving a short talk about my book ‘The Railways of the Isle of Sheppey’ and signing copies. Full details here: kentcrp.org/heritageday/

I’m having a complete change of traction today at the Richmond Light Railway.

40 years ago today I started my railway career as a British Rail YTS trainee at Maidstone West, never made it to the county town today but did get to Gravesend…..

Well done to all at @Se_Railway for putting on a fantastic event at Ashford Depot today. The displays were great, the staff were first class and even the weather was on message.

In deepest Kent I was working in n a test patch to establish how much it will cost to strip the paint of a coach, to budget the whole project. This little bit cost £6.

Finally got to drive this……

Text (38000 words), photos (204) all delivered to the publishers so that they can begin the process of turning it into my next, and fifth, book. What’s it about? Here’s a spoiler……

I bought it on cassette - probably a branch of Our Price???

Headed through Guildford today and found this interloper visiting the station. Always great to see a class 153 in the wild…

SCEFL Div 1 play off. Soul Tower Hamlets v Forest Hill Park/SE Dons. A dull 90 minutes, bar a penalty save by STH. Went to a shoot out which Soul TH won 5-4. Congratulations to STH on the achievement and I guess some ‘Soul’ searching to do at the SE Dons for how it all went wrong

Now this doesn’t happen very often. 465 001, 002 & 003 all parked in number order at Orpington quite by chance. I’d just brought 003 in from Victoria. #Networkers

Had a great evening last night giving a talk to @GRES_Gravesend about the plans for @4SUB4732 always good to be able to talk trains to people who want to listen and engage. Thanks everyone.

The Catford el Classico One of the finest derby games at this level of football. @LewishamBoroCFC take on @FHPFC at the Alex Yea Ladywell Arena in the SCEFL Cup QF. Another fun fact - this is the only non league ground where they regularly give out free fruit.