The Southport proposal resulted in the chopping of a well used and popular electric extension of the Merseyrail system to Crossens. I knew locals in that town who couldn't believe that their service would be just ripped away.

The very popular South Wales resort of Porthcawl lost its railway because of low passenger receipts from that town. The truth being that all of the traffic supporting the railway was coming into the town.

One wonders if there is not enough ex-HST^▸ (High Speed Train) carriages about to make up a compliant rake. Maroon paint or vinyls and I doubt anyone would really notice. Of course it would need an air-braked locomotive so we can expect to see LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) or SR^‡(resolve) motive power rebadged in rouge.

Would be nice to see the North Downs gap infilled.

And Merseyrail extended to Skelmesdale...

The last time it closed there was a marked drop-off of use on the whole MER route which was reversed by its reopening. I hope they don't make the same mistake twice.

2: TBMs used on the Crossrail (Elizabeth Line) tunnels.

= Brandy

The cat: The granites kerbs and pavoirs feel British and there isn't an awful lot left of Holt Junction so I will plump for Tondu. So a Welsh cath.

9: Portland, Maine

No 4: New Orleans

My Google look would appear to be back to front, sorry. In days gone temporary single line working, sometimes with a temporary signalbox, was used to cover this problem.

I wonder if they can divert northbound services on the freight line network via Bedlington or it is more convenient to install a pair of points and implement single line working while effecting the needed repair.

Lot of headscarves and narrow gauge. I'm guessing Malaysia.

I am a qualified shunter on my heritage railway and I think, looking at the speed he was travelling, that he never saw the train that he hit. Maybe he was looking for the shunter (who wasn't there) to stop him short, and bring him on. Another possibility is that he was actually running around his train and got routed back on to it by mistake.

I can recommend the sung evensong. Beautiful acoustics under the dome.

Reminds me of the lines from the HHG2TG in which Ford Prefect says 'it is unpleasantly like being drunk', to which Arthur asks what is unpleasant about being drunk? 'Ask a glass of water' says Ford.