Andy Chard

Published today! More details here: tinyurl.com/utt8u35w @Platform5Rail

Some of the varied traction at the @eastlancsrly diesel gala today. It's all happening again tomorrow and well worth a visit.

The article on the Renown Repulse Restoration Group is one of mine and it's good to see that there are still enough loco-hauled trains on the main line network to warrant a piece on those (although in an ideal world some would be Class 50 hauled!)

The 41 year old 150149 ambling away from Ashley today as the 1010 Manchester Piccadilly - Chester. I'm not sure what the story with this is as RTT said it was a 156 and 150s don't work on their own that often these days.

66758 heads south down the Mid Cheshire Line today with the well-loaded 6G92 0828 Hindlow - Small Heath.

I walked the "Delph Donkey" today and what a glorious day for it. The trackbed from Greenfield to Delph is less than 2 miles long and well worth doing.

Had a really nice afternoon exploring @WhitwellReepham Railway in Norfolk today, including a brake van ride with Hudswell Clarke D1171. That's another heritage railway ticked off!

I enjoyed travelling on the @BureValley Railway today, which runs for 9 miles on what used to be the standard gauge line from Wroxham to Aylsham.

My new book is out now. It has fully updated listings for the 106 different standard gauge heritage railways in Britain. You can get £3 off with promo code BHR and more details are here: tinyurl.com/8b8ntwrj

Over the next few days we'll showcase some samples from Michael Rhodes' new book on the railways of South Wales 1975-1995. Here's 37162 at Pontypridd in 1986 (caption included). Get £3 off it with promo code RSW when you order it from here: platform5.com/Catalogue/Plat…

Stuck for Christmas presents or fancy treating yourself? These are some of the many books we've published during 2024 (excluding the annual pocket books). Full details on all our books at: platform5.com/Catalogue/Plat…

A fantastic review of The Beaten Track (volume 4) in @railwaysillus thanks!

Today sees the official launch of the @AvantiWestCoast 807s, with the class working from Liverpool and to Blackpool for the first time. 807001 forms the 09.01 LIV-EUS,the first day of this new service, and will return with the 13.05 ex-EUS. More 807s will enter service next month

Like in my teenage years when Peaks passed here on hourly Liverpool to Newcastle & Scarborough services, 45118 races through Eccles on today's @LocoServicesGrp jaunt to Newcastle. #Class45 #Peak

Just received this batch of slides from the 1970s for future volumes of the Beaten Track which I'm enjoying sifting through and scanning today. @Platform5Rail

The Beaten Track - Volume 4 is out now! More details here: tinyurl.com/3dwz8c9a You can get £3 off with promotion code BT2M

As well as all the Type 5s at the @GBRailfreight gala on the @N_V_R this weekend, there's plenty of BR-era traction too. Here's 45041, 47727, 08632 & D9529 at Orton Mere, which are all in action again tomorrow.

I edited these two books from Bernard Mills and agree with Railway Magazine!

29 years ago live music was priced very reasonably. This cost me £12.50 for a stadium sized show in 1995 with The Chemical Brothers thrown in too. According to the Bank of England's inflation calculator, that equates to £25 in today's money, hence I no longer go to large gigs.

50007 & 50049 approaching Denton Junction this evening with @PathfinderTours #grampianhighlander @thefiftyfund It's a shame the photo doesn't convey the sound they made accelerating away from Guide Bridge!