AI-generated (not entirely realistic) railway images

[Sun Chariot]

FootEx! How it was in the 1970s and early 1980s.
I initially had a toilet-roll streaming out of the leading coach's toplight - but the lighting-effect was wrong on the roll, so I put it back in the loo.
I deliberately described this class 40: its nose-end was very distinctive. Do you know which Whistler it is?

TfW have converted them to battery operation (green fronts) and level boarding.

Transport for Watercress?
Is it affiliated with The Mid-Hants Railway Watercress Line?

 

[Topological]

There is some very curious track geometry at Rlpy Snooth.



It is the insistence on using old stock, as well as these people who do insist on tending to watercress, that means I am driving to Manchester tomorrow instead of taking TfW's 1W11.

(Only part true. It is induction week and this time last year I was 15 minutes late for my talk after multiple TfW trains decided spinning round at Crewe/Wilmslow was a good idea. I was booked to arrive at 08:15 for a 10:00 talk)

 

[Sun Chariot]

Aha @Topological ...

I specified a semaphore bracket gantry at a station's throat. I specifed viewpoint, head-on perspective and long telephoto focal-length; I left Gemini to build me the FootEx and the scene.

When that image first came back, I had a "deja vu" moment - I thought I recognised it; but I could not be certain. A dozen more image-branch attempts to correct that leading coach's darned proportions (albeit all in vain!), I then asked a separate Gemini chat to interrogate its own AI image and tell me if it's a real place. It is...

It's AI of the East Lancashire Railway's Bury Bolton Street signal gantry and a view towards Bury South signal box.

That explains how Gemini found similar reference-material - there must be lots of real images taken with similar angle and focal-length! The dolls, pegs and diamonds are spot-on, as is the track; but fair to say that this 40's line-speed never happens in real-life there

 

[Ashley Hill]

FootEx! How it was in the 1970s and early 1980s.
I initially had a toilet-roll streaming out of the leading coach's toplight - but the lighting-effect was wrong on the roll, so I put it back in the loo.
I deliberately described this class 40: its nose-end was very distinctive. Do you know which Whistler it is?



Transport for Watercress?
Is it affiliated with The Mid-Hants Railway Watercress Line?

Take away the football scarfs and that could be any class 40 hauled train circa 1984!

 

[HighlandStorm]

@Topological the salad is certainly fresh, but think the buffet counter could do with a bit more training in preparing the menu !

 

[Sun Chariot]

Take away the football scarfs and that could be any class 40 hauled train circa 1984!

So true! Sadly for 40 127, subject of my FootEx image, it didn't see 1984 - it was taken out of service on Valentine's Day 1982.

 

[Topological]

@Topological the salad is certainly fresh, but think the buffet counter could do with a bit more training in preparing the menu !

Experiments with the menu do not always go well

 

[Sun Chariot]

That clearly demonatrates why one should never count ones chickens. Or something like that.
A couple of those plants look like aloe vera. Eggs Benedict Aloe? Or Coq au Vera?

 

[HighlandStorm]

Some times when you’re not sure if your memory is playing tricks on you, it’s best to check your old photos.

 

[D6130]

Do my eyes deceive me, or is that an ex-Southern Railway GUV between the American coaches and the Caledonian Sleeper vehicles?

 

[Tester]

Do my eyes deceive me, or is that an ex-Southern Railway GUV between the American coaches and the Caledonian Sleeper vehicles?

Not American, Mr Trump

 

[D6130]

Not American, Mr Trump

OK. It's a lovely night train from the 52nd state!

 

[Sun Chariot]

The impossible dream. These Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 monsters didn't operate on Southern Pacific's trackage and, besides, they weren't cleared for the route across Tehachapi Pass, California. It's "virtually" guaranteed, though!

Big fall. Inspired by New England's spectacular display

Recalling the D&RGW/SP Tennessee Pass's tunnel (10,239ft elevation); the route was mothballed end of August 1997 but it continues to generate debate about its case for reopening (thus relieving Moffat Subdivision's capacity-constraint).
This Atlantic Coast Line EMD trio, F2-F7-F3, would never have travelled into mountain country; but the ACL's purple + silver scheme was so pretty!

Inspired by snow-clearing methods used the other side of the Atlantic. This scene re-imagines Canadian Pacific's operation at a passing loop.

 

[Topological]

All the seasons in one post.

 

[Sun Chariot]

All the seasons in one post.

And ne'er a Shed nor Voyager amongst them. Win!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Sep 2026 ==

Hillbilly HS2. Word got out, there's a few crates o' beer inside that ol' caboose. Of course, it's only got kegs of kerosene.

 

[Class15]

Love this one!

(Image shows an AI image of Freightliner’s 90 018 “The Greatest Gathering” side-by-side with Srbija Voz’s 441-316.)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Sep 2026 ==

Hillbilly HS2. Word got out, there's a few crates o' beer inside that ol' caboose. Of course, it's only got kegs of kerosene.

Brilliant!

 

[High Dyke]

With the aspiration of new Caledonian Sleeper services, then Betty takes a trip to Berlin.

 

[D6130]

With the aspiration of new Caledonian Sleeper services, then Betty takes a trip to Berlin.View attachment 212194

Great image....but isn't Berlin Hauptbahnhof electrified?

 

[Sun Chariot]

Love this one!

(Image shows an AI image of Freightliner’s 90 018 “The Greatest Gathering” side-by-side with Srbija Voz’s 441-316.)

My eyes still hurt from the track-geometry.. That's a big jump

 

[Topological]

My eyes still hurt from the track-geometry.. That's a big jump

As is the enlargement the 70 has to go through when on diversion



The new carriages with forward facing beds are modelled on the Mk3 rather than the Mk5.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I think i'll stick to some 1970s nostalgia - at Box Middle Hill Tunnel.

We three Kings. Oh and a Castle, too. Plus a virtual glimpse of "King John" in its 1948 Express Passenger experimental livery, as carried in real-life by King class 6001, 6009, 6025 and 6026.

 

[Topological]

Rats, Box, and massive release of steam. Evocative indeed @Sun Chariot . Meanwhile the Caledonian Sleeper is doing well

 

[High Dyke]

Meanwhile, a Teddy Bear goes continental.

 

[Sun Chariot]

By the time I travelled Scotland's West Highlands, the NBL class 29s were long gone* - but longjohns lasted longer...

Here, D6100 and D6107 throttle-up for this pair of cold-camping photographers.
Both locomotives wear accurate livery variations; yes - D6100 really did have that combination of logo sizes and positions!

* Although @D6130 is still in fine form.


Super @High Dyke - the Teddy Bear's on growth hormones too.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Excellent creation. AI seems to be learning. Perhaps we should be worried!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Excellent creation. AI seems to be learning. Perhaps we should be worried!

I had to write a longer description, than I did for my English Literature O-level...

 

[D6130]

By the time I travelled Scotland's West Highlands, the NBL class 29s were long gone* - but longjohns lasted longer...

Here, D6100 and D6107 throttle-up for this pair of cold-camping photographers.
Both locomotives wear accurate livery variations; yes - D6100 really did have that combination of logo sizes and positions!

* Although @D6130 is still in fine form.


Super @High Dyke - the Teddy Bear's on growth hormones too.

Wonderful! D6100 did indeed carry that livery after acquiring a replacement spare door from one of her Inverurie-rebuilt sisters. However, close inspection of the rolling stock reveals that there is no brake vehicle in the formation. Naughty, naughty!

 

[Ashley Hill]

However, close inspection of the rolling stock reveals that there is no brake vehicle in the formation.

Perhaps it had a hot box en-route and the guard transferred the scotches and first aid box!

 

[D6130]

Perhaps it had a hot box en-route and the guard transferred the scotches and first aid box!

Hmm....perhaps one of the SKs had been retrofitted with a handbrake in the end vestibule. Then again perhaps the train had started its journey behind an Ivatt 'Flying Pig' 2-6-0.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I knew I wouldn't get a brakeless rake past ex-BR folk! I can count on two hands, the number of times Gemini has given me a BSK / BCK of its own accord.
For this one, I specified 6 Mk1s with the Brake Second in middle of the consist. I reckon Gemini was pooped-out from all that NBL action...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Sep 2026 ==

@Ashley Hill @D6130 I've tweaked my input and Gemini liked my specified BG. Amended image now in post 1704.