A Shinkansen passes Mishima Station with Mount Fuji in the background (sadly covered in clouds). Thankfully I got a better capture of the mountain later in the day, but not with a train as well.

First time on the footplate for over two months! Just a shame it's was cold as a stone. Still, I was rather taken with this impressive 2-6-2 in the park at Mishima

The first job of GBR is to get a grip of these astronomical costs for minor infrastructure improvements. The cost of fairly basic new stations also seems to be on the rise.

Shinkasen speeds through Mishima at dusk. The high speed service in Japan is hugely impressive and even serves intermediate stops.

Sex on Rails! I've been wanting to ride the Shinkasen almost forever. Hugely impressed so far.

Just arrived with Tokyo with @XiamenAirlines. Pleasantly surprised by their service in economy and they were about half the price of other options from Bangkok. Looking forward to sampling the legendary Japan Railways over the next few days!

More footage from my journey in a Thai 'Sprinter' last week. I managed to get some shots from the rear cab as we headed north towards Pattaya and Bangkok.

Moving standard gauge locos, especially diesels, by road is not a job for the faint hearted. You can't be anything but hugely impressed with the professionals that do this job day in day out. The way they build ramps to raise/lower locos on and off the trailers is great to watch if you get the chance.

The problem is that, by definition, this isn't a World Cup! It is of course a nice idea to celebrate Britain's great stations (and there are loads of them). Call it a petty enthusiast's pedantic gripe, but the incorrect name annoys me far more than it should, every single year 😤

Can't believe they're selling @thatchers_cider on an island in the Gulf of Thailand, 6,000 miles from Somerset! There's no excuse for my WSR mates not to visit now.

I, of course, had to give moving between carriages on the run a try. But not at full whack, which is 75mph!

A few detail shots of the Thai ‘Sprinter’, known here as the ASR class. The cab controls are familiar, but on the right-hand side. The air-conditioning is excellent, perhaps at the expense of gangways. Moving between carriages at 70mph is quite a hairy experience!

Thai ‘Sprinter’ departing Pattaya for Bangkok 🇹🇭 This British-derived Class 158, built in Derby, heads for the capital on one of the Eastern Line’s weekend specials. Remarkably, the station is immaculately kept despite seeing just nine services in each direction a week. The other enthusiast taking photos was, naturally, from the UK too! 🇬🇧

Really sad to hear that Jonny Jones-Pratt, Chairman of WSR Plc, has passed away. He was only in his early 40s and leaves a young family. Tragic. I didn't always agree with him on WSR matters, but his enthusiasm was infectious and his love for the railway undoubted. The last time I saw him was in the pub in Watchet at the Autumn Gala a year ago. He'd just driven 'Nunney Castle' - I think a bucket-list moment for him. Some of his family were there, and he was absolutely buzzing. ❤️

A Derby-built ‘Sprinter’, over 6,000 miles from its birthplace, in Thailand! My birthday treat today was a ride on one to the seaside. Built for SRT (State Railway of Thailand), these trains are known here as the ASR class. Some very British design features made me feel right at home! 🇬🇧🚆

I'm not a supporter of Kemi or the Conservatives, but fair play for making this stand and delivering it well.

I've only just had time to look at the 'Rolling Stock and Infrastructure Strategy' released last week. It seems broadly positive, with a level boarding commitment and a desire to stop buying fleets in isolation, potentially without using ROSCOs. It doesn't seem to go far enough on electrification, though. No targets, just aspirations. It does make the TPE battery-electric order of a few weeks ago look rather perplexing, though! gov.uk/government/publicatio…

Wonderful to see ‘Spud I’ back out on the main line. Much of the overhaul was undertaken at Minehead, led by the late Colin Henderson, or ‘King Colin’ as he was affectionately known. A wonderful man, much missed on the WSR. I’m sure he is looking down approvingly from the shed in the sky. The work was extensive, including new, slimmer outside cylinders, which should increase route availability. The past decade has been quite tumultuous for the volunteers and supporters of 6024, but it’s great to see her back where she belongs.