Show off your realistic AI railway images!

[Sun Chariot]

Genius @Rab Smith I love it! I have often thought piano-concourse music a little too tame for the scrum of railway commuting.
Keep back from the platform's edge - I mean the platform's edgy indie.

 

[Topological]

Preston's Ribbleton Lane really did have a barber's Herr Kutz. I don't think it ever offered a full shave like Haven.
That's clearly a new Haven but, cunningly, not in Newhaven. I'm sure the academic has a hand in it.

I did not ever get a hair cut on Ribbleton Lane, but I do admire the humour of the people. If I was going for something like that offered in Haven, I might want a more South American theme. I am wondering how long this street is. There certainly has not been a Turkish barbers yet. No pie shop yet either.

Transport for Wales do not send their 150/2 to Newhaven yet, but with Crewe losing competency, I am sure that they will start expanding the 150/2 empire somewhere else.

I did wonder about a finger of fudge (another thing they bang on about too much on Radio X), but then I realised it is a bit out of date for what is quite a conetmporary story.



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Genius @Rab Smith I love it! I have often thought piano-concourse music a little too tame for the scrum of railway commuting.
Keep back from the platform's edge - I mean the platform's edgy indie.

I echo the praise.

I wonder whether they started off as a boy band, complete with tall stools, but then realised that yet another 810 had failed doors.

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There was some concern expressed that the couple found a never ending street of arches. Whilst Manchester is famed for its boundary of arches from Ardwick all the way round through Oxford Road and the Ordsall chord. Same with this street

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[Sun Chariot]

Who's that walking behind Anika and Top Academic? Is it Doner?

 

[Topological]

Who's that walking behind Anika and Top Academic? Is it Doner?

What's that coming over the hill, is it a Doner? is it a Doner? (Apologies to The Automatic)

 

[Rab Smith]

When the new line between Nouakchott and Ouadane in Mauritania opened as a route to take iron ore to the Port, a Scotsman by the name of Hector McTavish had the idea to export a load of ex BR stock to run specials. He liked the place that much he stayed and opened his small business selling Haggis fritters and Irn Bru to the Nomads.

 

[Ashley Hill]

The kids are in bed and Dave is rest day tomorrow so its time to relax with a glass of wine.

Trying another take produced a 73!

 

[450.emu]

Wembley Central is so much nicer since they made the station less dingy and the benches at the end of the platform are a nice touch!



Young couple observe an Overground Velaro making its way to Tring as they enjoy a picnic

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When the new line between Nouakchott and Ouadane in Mauritania opened as a route to take iron ore to the Port, a Scotsman by the name of Hector McTavish had the idea to export a load of ex BR stock to run specials. He liked the place that much he stayed and opened his small business selling Haggis fritters and Irn Bru to the Nomads. View attachment 201012View attachment 201013

I'd love a tartan keyring! Do you have Isle of Skye in stock?

 

[Sun Chariot]

Wonderful images @Rab Smith @Ashley Hill and @450.emu

Breakfast not at Tiffanys - post 1,255's urban dwellers have swapped grime for brine. Looks like they haven't swapped their favourite morning snacks.

 

[Topological]

Wonderful images @Rab Smith @Ashley Hill and @450.emu

I would echo that. I like the idea of a Scottish oasis in the desert. With the recent Saharan sand falling in the rain, I wonder whether one day I will awake to find my car covered in Tunnocks Teacakes.

In @Ashley Hill image, I am concerned that the sheer presence of the 73 has shrunk Dave and Harriett's garden. I mean, it is great to get close with early traction, but that is taking it a bit far. That space will be ideal for holding the trampoline when the kids wear the bed out.

I am also a big fan of the new Wembley central. That bench will be an ideal place to reflect when England men lose their next penalty shoot-out. Not much use for Port Vale fans after their Charity Shield victory this summer, they switched that to Cardiff.

 

[Sun Chariot]

One week remaining for any realistic and/or believable AI railway image. Then it's April's theme!

How it works:
1st of month, that month's AI theme will get posted onto this thread. Theme-setters will change monthly - see bottom of this post.

Until 14th of month, create as many AI images as you want for that theme:
- You can interpret that theme any way - as long as the image looks realistic.
- You can use any AI software you want.
- You can post as many realistic images as you want for the theme, during these dates.

15th until month-end, the theme ends; we have 2 weeks for any realistic AI railway images you want to post.
At start of the following month, a new theme is announced!

Please ensure your images for this thread look "convincing".
AI images which look too "fantasy" / unrealistic, put them in the Not Entirely Realistic thread.

Theme-setting
April theme set by @Ashley Hill in recognition of your 2026 images.
May theme set by @Rab Smith in recognition of your images during March.
June will be for one of you who contributed an image during March: @CaptainHaddock @High Dyke @McRhu @Sad Sprinter @450.emu Your April posts will determine which of you chooses June's theme.
July and onwards open to everyone. if you take part, you will have a chance to choose a subsequent month's theme.

 

[Topological]

Breakfast not at Tiffanys - post 1,255's urban dwellers have swapped grime for brine. Looks like they haven't swapped their favourite morning snacks.

Some changes are inevitable:

The 73 goes from BR Blue to Intercity.
The Shape Shifter gains a mast
The Seagull progresses from chips to seek sprouts
Kids will argue about who gets the Ray Parlour Shiny sticker
The pub turns into a cafe...

 

[Ashley Hill]

Heidi and Vivian enjoy a fry up in the signal box cafe before a girly day out. A shame Harriet couldn`t make it.

@Sun Chariot and @Topological ,enjoying the Sprouty Cow and Anika characters. Mr Beans expressions are classic!

 

[Sun Chariot]

I think "speed-matching" signalboxes and "speed-matching" nearside foliage, are excellent ideas.
I wish enterprising Victorians had invented that, instead of many short sections and a multitude of signalboxes.

I hope Dave, Harriet and Vivian weren't too liberal with the BBQ lighting fluid last Sunday, when the 1148 Penzance-Exeter passed them at Aller @Ashley Hill

 

[McRhu]

Which boxcar?

 

[Ashley Hill]

I think "speed-matching" signalboxes and "speed-matching" nearside foliage, are excellent ideas.
I wish enterprising Vuctorians had invented that, instead of many short sections and a multitude of signalboxes.

I hope Dave, Harriet and Vivian weren't too liberal with the BBQ lighting fluid last Sunday, when the 1148 Penzance-Exeter passed them at Aller @Ashley Hill

I think that 150 didn’t need any accelerant, it was doing very well by itself.

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Which boxcar?

View attachment 201032

Boxcar Willie?

 

[McRhu]

I think that 150 didn’t need any accelerant, it was doing very well by itself.

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Boxcar Willie?

Good guess but not quite. It’s the position if the boxcar in the train I’m looking for…

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Boxcar Willie?

I thought that was a medical condition caused by wearing boxer shorts a size too small

 

[Sun Chariot]

Good guess but not quite. It’s the position if the boxcar in the train I’m looking for…

Bangor up the rear?
Or perhaps it's the Third Boxcar, as Roger Miller sang to us in King of the Road

I thought that a medical condition caused by wearing boxer shorts a size too small

You're thinking of Willie Russell - the noise made as a result.

 

[McRhu]

Bangor up the rear?

Or perhaps it's the Third Boxcar, as Roger Miller sang to us in King of the Road

Third boxcar is right. You can have his cigar once he's finished with it.

 

[Rab Smith]

I'd love a tartan keyring! Do you have Isle of Skye in stock?

Hector is fresh out of Isle of Skye keyrings after the Postman collecting the order from Dunvegan had a very nasty accident, riding his bike off the pier.
Apparently, he refused a breath test as well.
Managed to dig out the old press release

 

[Topological]

Interestingly, The Isle of Skye Echo was adopting repetitive banner ads long before the internet was a thing. Mr McSporran was so drunk that the accusations had to be censored. It is definitely not good to be drunk in charge of a bicycle, especially not when you have keyrings to deliver.

While looking at @Sun Chariot story of change at the harbourside, I was reminded of the standard tale of the late-running Voyager potentially missing the branch connection in Cornwall. Although the family have made the connection to the arriving 150, they are clearly captivated by something off to the left.



Other intriguing features are the billboards proclaiming "Time for Change" and the seemingly Merseyrail bus shelter on platform 2.

An explanation for the voyager delay is that it has been practicing slip coaches and left these three carriages here.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Marvellous monologue, @Topological . Those posters are a work of art. My own memories of Cornwall, it was less about caterpillars transforming into butterflies. After a night out in Newquay, it was more a case of microscopic eggs changing to spiny zoea, then attaching themselves to a host and finally becoming full-blown Cornish crabs.

I wonder what caught the family's rapt attention. A crabmeat cafe?

 

[Topological]

Marvellous monologue, @Topological . Those posters are a work of art. My own memories of Cornwall, it was less about caterpillars transforming into butterflies. After a night out in Newquay, it was more a case of microscopic eggs changing to spiny zoea, then attaching themselves to a host and finally becoming full-blown Cornish crabs.

I wonder what caught the family's rapt attention. A crabmeat cafe?

The obvious answer was a topiary competition. If you had that on your Topological image creation bingo card then get your dabber out.

 

[Sun Chariot]

The obvious answer was a topiary competition. If you had that on your Topological image creation bingo card then get your dabber out.

This part of Cornwall must be a boom town, with all those Rats (showing ny age...).
That topiary-cutter seems a well-practised clipper; do they nornally work at The Haven? (post 1258)

 

[Topological]

This part of Cornwall must be a boom town, with all those Rats (showing ny age...).
That topiary-cutter seems a well-practised clipper; do they nornally work at The Haven? (post 1258)

Monday is half day closing - Doner came to check out the options for a wooly jumper disguise. Sadly, she was unable to purchase the jumper and will have to continue her wanderings. We are yet to understand if she crafted any of the Class 25s in the Topiary Contest



GWR have used special orange doors to celebrate the nearby carrot juicing festival. No one understands how they got a festival out of carrot-juicing, or why the other 150 did not also get the commemorative livery applied. Maybe it was because so many 150s were needed to cover for the 175 introduction. I suspect it was because a focus group identified the "juicing" diet trend and it then took a few years to get the festival going. Of course, they could have got ahead of the game with a pen-based alternative.

If anyone is concerned that these shops close for half a day and then clear out all their window displays, then please remember the presence of the Merseyrail shelter on the station platform. Then question your own presumption this is a theft-related Scouse stereotype. The locals are not prone to anti-outsider sentiments. This is Cornwall. In fact, the empty windows are because "Change is coming".

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Heidi and Vivian enjoy a fry up in the signal box cafe before a girly day out. A shame Harriet couldn`t make it.
View attachment 201026
@Sun Chariot and @Topological ,enjoying the Sprouty Cow and Anika characters. Mr Beans expressions are classic!

I like the fry up. I would be interested to know your thoughts on the Ashley Hill Hill Farms late night greengrocers that appeared in the Anika series. Were you aware of that store? Is it trading off your good name without contributing to the bill for all those additional Brussel Sprouts in the cafe.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Sorry hold on a sec, whats the April theme going to be?

 

[Topological]

Sorry hold on a sec, whats the April theme going to be?

Waiting for @Ashley Hill to set it. Though there is still a week of March left, so lets not wish time away too quickly.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Waiting for @Ashley Hill to set it. Though there is still a week of March left, so lets not wish time away too quickly.

OK, what's this months theme? People eating next to the railway?

 

[Topological]

OK, what's this months theme? People eating next to the railway?

Theme's run from 1st to 14th. This month was "What if?", February was "Holidays" and January was "Pubs".

I tend to make stories, but do not let them run on too long. This week is about Anika and Doner, two finalists in a Bavarian Crepe contest because Sunday was Bavarian Crepe day. Last week I was doing t-shirts based on old computer games. @Sun Chariot is creative and @Ashley Hill has made a whole story around Dave, Harriett, their children and their friends. @Ashley Hill also has creative genius with t-shirts.

The others seem to just produce excellent images. Though @Rab Smith seems to have constructed his own excellent story around Skye. One day I will learn what @McRhu is creating, but I am embarassed to say I did not get there yet.

There is also the parallel thread where there is less emphasis on realism. Some excellent surrealism over there.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Sorry hold on a sec, whats the April theme going to be?

Hello @Sad Sprinter - here's how it works.
Topological has given a perfect synopsis of 2026 so far.

Show off your realistic AI railway images!

Genius @Rab Smith I love it! 8-) I have often thought piano-concourse music a little too tame for the scrum of railway commuting. Keep back from the platform's edge - I mean the platform's edgy indie.

www.railforums.co.uk

Great newly-posted video @Iskra - a familiar face might soon appear at a Yorkshire AI lineside on this thread...