George Thomas
@downrelief.bsky.social
Steam enthusiast and all round rail advocate. Steam train driver on the West Somerset and Cholsey & Wallingford. Almshouse trustee and Round Tabler. Worked in radio for 20 years, now a full-time railwayman.
Great restoration job on the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway's Esso tanker by our friends at Grundon Recycling - thank you!
January 8, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Great restoration job on the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway's Esso tanker by our friends at Grundon Recycling - thank you!
71000 'Duke of Gloucester' storming through Twyford with a returning special from Bath. Love that chime whistle! π
December 4, 2025 at 9:25 PM
71000 'Duke of Gloucester' storming through Twyford with a returning special from Bath. Love that chime whistle! π
Bit of Black 5 magic through Twyford this afternoon. 44871 heads for Southall from @eastlancsrailway.bsky.social with her support coach ahead of railtour duties this weekend.
November 13, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Bit of Black 5 magic through Twyford this afternoon. 44871 heads for Southall from @eastlancsrailway.bsky.social with her support coach ahead of railtour duties this weekend.
π₯ Last chance to grab your advance discounted tickets for the Twyford Round Table Bonfire & Fireworks night! π₯
Twyfordβs biggest night of the year is almost here β Bonfire & Fireworks Night, Saturday 25th October! π
π Get your tickets here: www.tickettailor.com/events/twyfo...
Twyfordβs biggest night of the year is almost here β Bonfire & Fireworks Night, Saturday 25th October! π
π Get your tickets here: www.tickettailor.com/events/twyfo...
October 22, 2025 at 10:28 AM
π₯ Last chance to grab your advance discounted tickets for the Twyford Round Table Bonfire & Fireworks night! π₯
Twyfordβs biggest night of the year is almost here β Bonfire & Fireworks Night, Saturday 25th October! π
π Get your tickets here: www.tickettailor.com/events/twyfo...
Twyfordβs biggest night of the year is almost here β Bonfire & Fireworks Night, Saturday 25th October! π
π Get your tickets here: www.tickettailor.com/events/twyfo...
Hmmmm not sure about the headboard, but I really enjoyed 1219 pottering around Minehead Station shunting wagons over the gala weekend.
October 22, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Hmmmm not sure about the headboard, but I really enjoyed 1219 pottering around Minehead Station shunting wagons over the gala weekend.
The trains were great (obviously), but the best thing about the weekend was catching up with great mates and sharing amazing experiences. Wonderful railway, lovely people!
October 22, 2025 at 10:25 AM
The trains were great (obviously), but the best thing about the weekend was catching up with great mates and sharing amazing experiences. Wonderful railway, lovely people!
Just recovering from an excellent weekend WSR Autumn Gala. It was amazing to get a driving turn on 813, the loco I passed my firing test on 19 years ago at the Cholsey & Wallingford. She has aged better than me and is in fine form after a recent overhaul.
October 22, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Just recovering from an excellent weekend WSR Autumn Gala. It was amazing to get a driving turn on 813, the loco I passed my firing test on 19 years ago at the Cholsey & Wallingford. She has aged better than me and is in fine form after a recent overhaul.
Unlikely to see the real 'Cookham Manor' in steam anytime soon, so this 5 inch gauge version will have to do for now. Very enjoyable visit to RSME at Prospect Park on Sunday afternoon.
October 5, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Unlikely to see the real 'Cookham Manor' in steam anytime soon, so this 5 inch gauge version will have to do for now. Very enjoyable visit to RSME at Prospect Park on Sunday afternoon.
Another magical day on a 'Manor'!
October 1, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Another magical day on a 'Manor'!
I'm a very lucky man. We attended a wonderful wedding at Crystal Palace on Saturday, which of course included a trip on the pedalos!
September 30, 2025 at 10:17 AM
I'm a very lucky man. We attended a wonderful wedding at Crystal Palace on Saturday, which of course included a trip on the pedalos!
Footage of a wonderful day driving 9351 on the West Somerset last week. Perfect conditions to bring my friend Matt along for the ride, who made this recording. #bestofficeintheworld
September 29, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Footage of a wonderful day driving 9351 on the West Somerset last week. Perfect conditions to bring my friend Matt along for the ride, who made this recording. #bestofficeintheworld
Last day of BunkFest! So far the timetable has worked well for connections and robustness. Sunday was the hardest to write, as there is only an hourly GWR service. I've prioritised connections from London/Reading in the morning and visaversa from 4pm. Overall 2 more round trips this year.
August 31, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Last day of BunkFest! So far the timetable has worked well for connections and robustness. Sunday was the hardest to write, as there is only an hourly GWR service. I've prioritised connections from London/Reading in the morning and visaversa from 4pm. Overall 2 more round trips this year.
Doing my annual bar shift for BunkFest today at Wallingford Station from 3pm until late. Pop by for a chat, real ale, live music and perhaps a train ride!
August 29, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Doing my annual bar shift for BunkFest today at Wallingford Station from 3pm until late. Pop by for a chat, real ale, live music and perhaps a train ride!
Reposted by George Thomas
The Tory refusal to be honest about the scale of their Brexit disaster and associated trade-offs has utterly discredited the party, perhaps permanently, radicalised the right and raised the spectre of a Faragist Trumpian tyranny. The country risks being trapped in a doom loop.
August 28, 2025 at 2:44 PM
The Tory refusal to be honest about the scale of their Brexit disaster and associated trade-offs has utterly discredited the party, perhaps permanently, radicalised the right and raised the spectre of a Faragist Trumpian tyranny. The country risks being trapped in a doom loop.
Reposted by George Thomas
Very succinct WSJ summary of the staggering migration shock that successive Tory governments inflicted on Britain as they tried to mitigate and hide the economic consequences of the Brexit disaster
August 28, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Very succinct WSJ summary of the staggering migration shock that successive Tory governments inflicted on Britain as they tried to mitigate and hide the economic consequences of the Brexit disaster
We're running 35 round trips this weekend to get you to and from Wallingford BunkFest. Unlimited travel all weekend on our 'Singing Trains' is just Β£18. Easy connections with GWR mainline services at Cholsey #letthetraintakethestrain
August 27, 2025 at 10:49 PM
We're running 35 round trips this weekend to get you to and from Wallingford BunkFest. Unlimited travel all weekend on our 'Singing Trains' is just Β£18. Easy connections with GWR mainline services at Cholsey #letthetraintakethestrain
Only one week to go until Wallingford Bunkfest! We're running more trains than ever 29th-31st August. Avoid the parking hassle and let the train take the strain!
β Beer π» and music πΆ on most trains
β 3 day rover just Β£18
β Connections with GWR at Cholsey
β Beer π» and music πΆ on most trains
β 3 day rover just Β£18
β Connections with GWR at Cholsey
August 22, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Only one week to go until Wallingford Bunkfest! We're running more trains than ever 29th-31st August. Avoid the parking hassle and let the train take the strain!
β Beer π» and music πΆ on most trains
β 3 day rover just Β£18
β Connections with GWR at Cholsey
β Beer π» and music πΆ on most trains
β 3 day rover just Β£18
β Connections with GWR at Cholsey
230001 leaving Reading at the start of her record breaking run last night. She ran just over 200 miles on battery power breaking the previous World record by over 60 miles! Great work by the dedicated team of GWR engineers that are developing the fast charge technology.
August 20, 2025 at 8:20 PM
230001 leaving Reading at the start of her record breaking run last night. She ran just over 200 miles on battery power breaking the previous World record by over 60 miles! Great work by the dedicated team of GWR engineers that are developing the fast charge technology.
Reading Festival all ready to go. The view from my office window this afternoon.
August 20, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Reading Festival all ready to go. The view from my office window this afternoon.
Hard to believe it has been 10 years since my first solo WSR firing turn and a very memorable one it was too. 4160 on a fully loaded 8 coaches to Minehead for the Red Arrows. Enough time in the layover for fish and chips and a wonderful view of the airshow. Can't wait for my next turn on Thursday!
August 17, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Hard to believe it has been 10 years since my first solo WSR firing turn and a very memorable one it was too. 4160 on a fully loaded 8 coaches to Minehead for the Red Arrows. Enough time in the layover for fish and chips and a wonderful view of the airshow. Can't wait for my next turn on Thursday!
Great to visit Didcot Railway Centre again this week. Particularly pleased to see the beautifully turned out 1450 and 4079, which was running on the demonstration line. Looking forward to returning when 1466 steams later this month!
August 15, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Great to visit Didcot Railway Centre again this week. Particularly pleased to see the beautifully turned out 1450 and 4079, which was running on the demonstration line. Looking forward to returning when 1466 steams later this month!
Quick trip on @chinnorrailway.bsky.social this afternoon to get reacquainted with an S160. Can't say they are my favourite locos, but the whistle is epic! The new independent line is a hugely impressive achievement - great to see the signalling at Princes Risborough all commissioned too.
August 7, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Quick trip on @chinnorrailway.bsky.social this afternoon to get reacquainted with an S160. Can't say they are my favourite locos, but the whistle is epic! The new independent line is a hugely impressive achievement - great to see the signalling at Princes Risborough all commissioned too.
I got to fire this famous old girl earlier this week. It was very hot, but a privilege to operate such famous historical machines on the WSR.
July 13, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I got to fire this famous old girl earlier this week. It was very hot, but a privilege to operate such famous historical machines on the WSR.
We still have a few spaces available for our Hog Roast and Real Ale train this Saturday 5th July leaving at 6.30pm. Advanced booking is essential for this wonderful evening with great beer from Amwell Springs Brew Co. and food from Pig & a Half www.cholsey-wallingford-railway.com/events/hog-r...
Hog Roast and Real Ale
www.cholsey-wallingford-railway.com
July 3, 2025 at 7:05 AM
We still have a few spaces available for our Hog Roast and Real Ale train this Saturday 5th July leaving at 6.30pm. Advanced booking is essential for this wonderful evening with great beer from Amwell Springs Brew Co. and food from Pig & a Half www.cholsey-wallingford-railway.com/events/hog-r...
I've taken lots of railway pictures, but this is perhaps my favourite. Partly because they are my kids, but also because I remember being that child at the front of a DMU captivated by the view ahead! It is of course on the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway approaching 'Bunk Bridge' at Cholsey.
June 23, 2025 at 9:59 AM
I've taken lots of railway pictures, but this is perhaps my favourite. Partly because they are my kids, but also because I remember being that child at the front of a DMU captivated by the view ahead! It is of course on the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway approaching 'Bunk Bridge' at Cholsey.