#Railnatter

Latest Episodes:

#RailNatter Episode 83: How do you fit bigger trains on the British railway network? Oct 13, 2021

Show notes

I'm in a work whirlwind this week, so how better to unwind than to **checks notes** relive past trauma and tell you all about how whole-route gauge clearance projects work?

Through the lens of a reasonably recent project, this week's #RailNatter will be a sample of my day job through the lens of the Yorkshire Terminals Gauging project, looking at how it resulted in a clear path for the largest* container trains between Doncaster and Leeds.

Join LIVE at 7pm on Wednesday! *actually, W12 doesn't quite cover everything, but more on that in the episode!

Enjoyed this? Please do consider supporting #RailNatter at https://patreon.com/garethdennis or throw loose change at me via https://paypal.me/garethdennis. Join in the discussion at https://garethdennis.co.uk/discord.

#RailNatter Episode 82: Skills gap? What skills gap? 2 Oct 06, 2021

Show notes

It's Rail Week again, which means we are being joined by another illustrious Young Rail Professional to talk about the skills gap... And we are pleased to have the national chair of the YRP himself on this week's show!

George Chilcott will be talking to us about the continued threats to our industry's skills base, and we'll see if anything has changed since Harriet Glen joined us a year ago.

As ever, it is an open session so do ask us anything by joining LIVE on Wednesday at 7pm!

#RailNatter Episode 81: The very long and very beautiful history of technical drawing Sep 29, 2021

Show notes

This week's #RailNatter is going to be a real treat... Chris Valkoinen from the National Railway Museum is joining us to talk about his new book: "Railways: A History In Drawings" - he'll also be guiding us through the history of technical drawing with the aid of some stunning images...

An episode not to be missed - join LIVE on Weds at 7pm!

If you want to buy your own copy of the book, follow this link and use the discount code shared in the video to get 25% off: https://thamesandhudson.com/railways-...

#RailNatter Episode 80: A meander through the new edition of the #OLEBook Sep 22, 2021

Show notes

Garry Keenor is back to talk about electrification! The new digital edition of the #OLEBook (Overhead Line Electrification for Railways, 6th Edition) is out, and the physical copies are close behind...

For this week's #RailNatter, Garry will take us through the book, talking about how it came about, what it covers, what's in the new edition and how to get hold of it... The digital copy is still free, folks!

Catch us LIVE at 7pm on Wednesday to ask all your electrification questions!

Download the digital edition of the #OLEBook: https://ocs4rail.com/

Garry's #OLEBook kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...

#RailNatter Episode 79: Why is there no HS1-HS2 link, and how should it look if there was? Sep 15, 2021

Show notes

This week's #RailNatter is looking at the link between High Speed 1 and Britain's future High Speed 2 - or rather, why there isn't going to be one (yet).

We'll look at past plans for the link, including one that involved a major new underground station at King's Cross. We'll also explore why, without a through station in central London, a link isn't actually a great idea. We'll even look at what a future link might sensibly look like!

Join us at 7pm on Wednesday - as it's an HS2 episode you'll want to join LIVE to ask your questions!

#RailNatter Episode 78: A page-turn through the (first) Beeching report Sep 08, 2021

Show notes

It's all very well moaning about Beeching, but have you ever ACTUALLY read the infamous report? Well, after this week's #RailNatter, you'll be able to say you have!

Is it pure evil etched in paper? Did it spell doom for Britain's railways? Did it actually represent the only time anyone in power actually decided to answer the question "what are Britain's railways for"?

It's a classic #RailNatter page-turn, so do join LIVE to shout things at me!

#RailNatter Episode 77: Can I natter for an hour in the Railway Museum North Shed? Sep 01, 2021

Show notes

I’m back in the National Railway Museum North Shed at long last!

Tonight’s #RailNatter brings you all a challenge: can I talk unscripted for an entire hour in the North Shed? Will I survive microphone malfunctions, battery overheating and a general lack of oxygen to bring you a non-stop hour of treats?

See what you need to do to visit the museum (you still need to book ahead): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQYmi…

#RailNatter Episode 76: High Speed 2 – building Britain’s longest railway tunnel Aug 25, 2021

Show notes

It’s another on-location #RailNatter! Join me and a motley crew as we explore one of Europe’s largest construction sites – High Speed 2’s Chalfont Lane staging point for the construction of not one, not two, not three but FOUR record-breaking things: the UK’s first and second longest railway tunnels, the UK’s longest railway viaduct, and Europe’s largest chalk habitat regeneration project.

This episode will look in detail at the HS2 Chiltern Tunnels, getting up close and personal with a tunnel boring machine and touring the factory that manufactures the tunnel lining segments. We’ll also go for a bit of a walk to explore the far reaches of the site…

Watch an excellent and decidedly more concise video from the day, with me popping up here and there, by @Geoff Marshall.

See the official HS2 Ltd TBM tour with the brilliant Adrien (as heard in this podcast too)

Watch the YouTube release of this podcast (for the visuals!)

#RailNatter Episode 75: Bessie’s Ballast – raising money for Samaritans (in style) Aug 18, 2021

Show notes

This week’s #RailNatter is an utter delight, with Bessie Matthews joining us to talk about her role on the railway and her incredible (and wonderfully artistic) efforts to raise money for Samaritans by making the most of a big bag (and later a much littler bag) of ballast…

Join in LIVE(ish) at 7pm on Wednesday!

Find out more about Samaritans here: https://www.samaritans.org/

#RailNatter Episode 74: A page-turn through the UK’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan (Part 2) Aug 11, 2021

Show notes

PART TWO The UK government has FINALLY released their Transport Decarbonisation Plan, and in this week’s #RailNatter we’ll be looking at whether it’s worth the paper it hasn’t been printed on… I have so many questions that need answering, frankly.

It’s a classic page-turn, and you can see what whent on in the live chat on YouTube.

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