David Turner

@railwayhistorian

A transport historian and lecturer at Aston University and Honorary Fellow at the University of York, School for Business and Society. Views my own. He/Him davidturnerrailway@gmail.com

363 Folgt949 Follower327 Posts

Bluesky

Ist das dein Profil?Übernimm es — dann gehört dir railwayhistorian.dirty.social.Profil übernehmen

David Turner@railwayhistorian· 9d

What I haven't seen mentioned in connection to this story about one of the busiest commuter services, is that the LNR train is significantly cheaper than the Avanti ones. hence why it is busy. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

A screenshot of the Avanti app with trains between London and Crewe. The 1743 Avanti service is £120, the 1803 service is £109, whilst the LNR service is £46.90.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· 10d

Of course, this sort of thing isn't new... From Southwark and Bermondsey Recorder, 26 December 1919.

A newspaper article - "Ray Lee of 96, King's-road, Kingston-on-Thames was similarly summoned by the L. and S.W. Railway. Defendant, when stopped, said she had travelled from Vauxhall to Waterloo, later admitted having come from Kingston.— Mr. Bingley said this was one of the clearest cases of fraud he had ever heard, and fined defendant 40s. and ordered her to pay 3 guineas costs."

David Turner@railwayhistorian· 11d

Okay, what on earth is this? I'm thinking it's some kind of moth.

A brown flying animal, probes red flowers, it has orange on its wings.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· 12d

Thank you #Toronto, and #Canada, it has been an absolute pleasure. Here I stand in front Canadian National locomotive no 6213 at @torailwaymuseum.bsky.social. It was built in 1942 at the Montreal Locomotive Works and was in service until 1959.

A man in shorts and wearing a hat stands in front of the front end of a steam locomotive. It is very tall and black.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· 13d

After many years of waiting, and one failed attempt 9 years ago, I am finally visiting @torailwaymuseum.bsky.social

David Turner@railwayhistorian· 17d

My favourite shop in Canada.

A man in front of a shop called "David's Tea". He holds a cup of tea

David Turner@railwayhistorian· 18d

Well hello Union Station, good to see you again. Glad to be back in #Toronto.

We see the CS tower in the background. In the foreground is the Union Station, which has pillars running along the front.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· 21d

When your Best-Kept Station competition goes wrong... From 1939.

In one case of a station not far from York the fame of the garden has spread, and it is not a little ironical that large numbers of persons have arrived in their own cars to view the garden.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Jul 9

Not sure why this came to mind, but "The Railway Travellers' Handy-Book", which many people call a guide uninitiated rail travellers was: 1) panned on release 2) had one print run 3) was written by a jobbing author -Edward Shelton- who wrote listicle books 4) largely ignored until the late-20th c.

The cover of a book. There is a the title in the middle, an unclear picture in the top left, another picture of a tunnel in the top right, and travelling gear at the bottom.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Jul 7

How odd. Here it is

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Jun 2

Here's a good example of why the British Newspaper Archives' OCR is shocking, compared to what they could be doing. Image 1: the text from the Hull Times Image 2: the BNA's OCR Image 3: the result of the OCR from the MS snippet tool. You'd think the BNA's OCR is old, but no. It's from January 2026

STATIONMASTERS' DISTINCTION : BROTHERS WIN COMPANY'S PRIZES. Messrs Walter and J.H Fowler (stationmasters at Appleby and Ulceby respectively) have been awarded the two special prizes offered by the L N E R Company for the best kept stations on the Great Central section. Appleby has won the “special” three years in succession, and Ulceby twice. The stationmasters are brothers, and both commenced their railway careers as boys at Ulceby. Mr J. H. Fowler, after spending many years in the Company’s employ at Sheffield, returned to Ulceby about- three years ago to take up is duties ss stationmaster, and his brother, Walter Fowler (who has thirty years service to his credit) has filled a similar position at Appleby for the past 18 years. These “best kept station” competitions (which were inaugurated in 1923), have been the cause of much friendly rivalry between the staffs of competing stations, and platforms, which a short time ago could not beast a single bloom, are now a mass of foliage and flowers.
These exclusive “Times” photographs show :- No. 1; A general view of Appleby Station. No. 2 (left) : Mr Walter Fowler (stationmaster), with his little son and daughter, Right: Mr V. Phillipson (signalman), who has worked hard for Appleby station's success. No. 3: Ulceby Station. No. 4, Mr J. H. Fowler, the stationmaster, and Mr T. H. Havercroft (porter), who with his brother (Mr H. Havercroft) has helped the stationmaster to catch the judge's eye.

The text of the first image, replicated pretty well from the OCR.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· May 15

Today, the further evolution of Darlington Station will be celebrated when a new eastern concourse, two new platforms and a fully accessible and enclosed footbridge linking them to the current station building will be officially opened. Here is the station just after it's 1880s rebuild

A station with a high roof arch. Staff are on the platform, with carriages in a siding.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Apr 27

The next @ihr.bsky.social Transport & Mobility History seminar takes place this Thurs, online, at 1730. Kayle R. Avery dicusses "From Technical Marvel to Social Blueprint: Miniature Railroads and Politics of Space". More details and booking is here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

People ride on a miniature railway, with a miniature steam engine at the front. The text says "Miniature Railway at the Charleston Exhibition".

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Apr 17

One of my favourite heritage railways is the Epping and Ongar Railway, which runs from North Weald to Ongar. The extension from Loughton to Ongar opened on 24 April 1865, as shown in this press notice from the London Evening Standard of 22 April 1865.

A press notice that says: "OPENING of the RAILWAY to EPPING and ONGAR,

The extension of the Woodford Branch from Loughton to Epping and Ongar will be opened for traffic on MONDAY, between London and will also be made on that date. Additions to and Alterations of some of the existing Trains between London and Loughton will be made on that date. For particulars and further information, see time bills to be obtained at the Stations and at the Superintendent's Office, Bishopsgate Terminus, London. By order, J. B, OWEN, Secretary. April 17, 1865."

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Apr 10

I like this idea from 1930. Attendants on London & North Eastern Railway's trains between London and Leeds handed out headphones to passengers on payment of a shilling. They could then plug in these in either the restaurant car or compartments to listen to the wireless.

A carriage interior; in the aisle is a smartly dressed attendant handing out boxes. Five passengers are seated, all with headphones on.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Apr 7

It feels wrong to be getting rid of this, but after nearly 30 years of following me around and serving practically no purpose, we will now part ways. But trust me, my personal statement was amazing.

A red folder with the words "National Record of Achievement

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Mar 19

It is always a pleasure to be returning to York! I do miss it when I'm away too long.

A massive station arched roof. We look along a platform from it's end. On the left two trains wait to leave, on the right one does. People walk down the platform.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Mar 16

A favourite poster. A part of a broader initiative to enhance the customer experience, and thus retain and win traffic, between 1926 and 1928 the LNER put considerable effort into improving punctuality. This poster promoted this, seeking to build trust in the the co's services.

Poster, London and North Eastern Railway, Liverpool Street Suburban Trains, Punctuality by Austin Cooper, 1927. Coloured lithograph depicting an hourglass with text comparing train punctuality between 1913 and 1927 on services to London's Liverpool Street station. Text in the top glass reads "1913 Trains not more than 2 minutes late 86%" and in the one below "1927, trains not more than 2 minutes late 87%". Text in read across the bottom of the poster reads, "Although there are 23% more trains running now than in 1913".

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Mar 9

It was fantastic to welcome @astonuniversity.bsky.social alumnus, @alexhornbyrail.bsky.social, Commercial and Customer Director at Northern, back to talk to our Transport Management students today. He described his career and outlined what is happening at Northern to enhance passenger experience.

A man stands in front of a screen. He is lecturing. He is behind a podium

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Mar 2

It was truly wonderful to welcome @mrtimdunn.bsky.social to @astonuniversity.bsky.social. He talked to our Transport Management students about the use of heritage and history in current transport marketing and image.

A man lectures in a room. He is in front of a screen and behind a lecturn. There is a railway station on the screen.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Feb 26

I thought about using assimilated Picard, on the principal that even if they have something good to say (the Patrick Stewart/Picard part), use of AI would corrupt it when integrated. ...but then I realised that may be too niche.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Feb 25

Today I attended the Rail in the Midlands run by @modernrailways.keypublishing.com. A very interesting event and I'm always happy to return to Derby Conference Centre The LMS opened it in July 1937 as its School of Transport. Shown is its lecture theatre and library just before the opening ceremony

Two newspaper images side by side.

A lecture theatre and stage. On the left of the image are long windows through which light shines.

The other image is a corner of a library. There are bookshelves. In front of them is a table and a chair.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Feb 25

Thanks Teams. I didn't know that once I reconnected to the internet, I could "Keep the conversation going". What a pointless message. Is there an IT designer somewhere that genuinely thought "perhaps they don't know that to keep communicating they need the internet?"

A sign from teams "No internet. Reconnect to keep the conversation going".

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Feb 25

Travelling from this special place today. Off to Derby!

A station, St Pancras in London. A great arched structure, in which a train is lined up ready to depart. Light comes through.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Feb 24

I did a bit of a dig on the BNA and found that 119,914 GWR passenger trains ran in the 4 weeks from 2 Oct 1926 (South Glou. Gazette - 11 Dec 1926). That's an average of 4,282 per day The no. running on 7 May was 471 (Halifax Evening Courier - 08 May 1926). This is likely only passenger trains.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Feb 23

Something I found in the archive a few years back; a Midland railway map of St Pancras station and Somers Town Goods Depot from 1892 (I cleaned it up a bit). The goods depot was where the British Library now stands. Can you spot the hydraulic lift that lowered the beer-laden wagons into the vaults?

A line map of a station. At the bottom are railway lines going into the station. At the top, the lines go up to a goods depot.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Feb 16

This poster, that I recently saw up, was painted in 1933 by Austin Cooper for the London & North Eastern Railway. If you are wondering what "eupeptic" means, it is "Relating to or having good digestion" - How very considerate of the LNER.

We see a cartoon waiter in blue. He is holding a tray with two drinks; one is a yellow cocktail, another is a bigger drink that is red. He is looking at the drinks. In his other hand he holds a box of cigars which says on it "Flor de LNER - Extra Fina".

Across him towards the bottom is the word "Discretion". Then underneath it says "In mixing cocktails and serving crusted port - regard for our passengers' eupeptic welfare - these are the qualities that distinguish the LNER waiter."

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Jan 18

So far I have found five such initiatives since the advent of the Walkman. However, from the late-50s until the 1970s transistor radios were considered as much of a scourge as mobile noise today. The Western Region of BR even produced this in the early 1960s.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Jan 18

We found a contact sheet, with negatives, of some of my late Grandfather's photos. These are, I suspect, from the 1980s or early 1990s. Can anyone identify where this is? #ukrailway #ukrailscene #britishrailways #passengertrain #heritagerailways

A red narrow guage steam engine on a line in what looks like Wales. The steam engine has a brass dome and is very short.

A red narrow guage steam engine on a line in what looks like Wales. The steam engine is pulling the train backwards over a bridge next to the sea.

A red narrow guage steam engine on a line in what looks like Wales. The steam engine is facing forwards and is in a station. There is a building on the left. It is very steamy.

David Turner@railwayhistorian· Jan 7

There's a little research - and only a little - on this regarding transport environments. It suggests that long term a way to combat inconsiderate behaviour is not telling people off, but encouraging them to be considerate of others. That has been TfL's approach historically.