Recent content by HotAirBalloon

Has anyone come across a tool / site / app that shows the cheapest destinations from a given origin station? A bit like where you can put 'everywhere' in Skyscanner. I was mainly thinking walk up fares since there are so many factors influencing the advance fare pricing but it would also be...

Really interesting thread. When did the culture change start that such working patterns may not help facilitate the safe running of a railway? Emergencies excepted of course.

At 3:52 in this piece of 1980s stock footage there's a quite loud horn noise. I was assuming it was a "this train is ready to depart' warning but (at least in this clip) the train doesn't leave for a little bit of time later. Warning that it may be quite loud if you're using headphones!

An interesting question for me is what was the purpose of all these varying shapes? If it was simply to cancel the ticket to prevent reuse then why the hassle? Would anyone ever be clued up on all these clips/stamps to detect an irregularity?

I do almost exclusively use trains on an advance ticket basis so perhaps I'm more attentive to departure times than a turn up and go passenger. I vaguely remember traveling with my parents when advance tickets were large 'airline style' and the departure board would display a reference similar...

Thanks all that's really interesting. I'm in my late twenties so 24 hour timings and frequent station announcements are the norm for me! A few people have said that it wasn't common for the time of departure to be announced. Is this because services were less frequent? Or is it perhaps a late...

When trains times are now announced (or even discussed in person) It's the norm to speak in 24 hour clock i.e. 'eighteen oh five' departure for an train leaving at 18:05. Is this something that started with the introduction of automated announcements or does it go back much further than this? :D

Was doing some reminiscing last night. I vivdily remember travelling for the first time on a 158 back in the early 90s and thinking how quiet and sleek and modern they were. Still travel regularly on 158s and think they are an excellent train. On the opposite side taking a trip with...