Ant Dawson
@railwayhobbit.bsky.social
Historian, Archaeologist, and Museum Professional who is also an Organist, Unitarian, Rower, Geek, into Boardgames, Reenactment, Heavy Metal and with a soupcon of Long-Covid.
I picked up a new biography of Napoleon III in Waterstones in York yesterday. The cashier did a literal double-take between the portrait of the Emperor on the book cover, and my moustaches in their imperial majesty.
(the present Imperial Prince told me I looked like his ancestor. which is nice)
(the present Imperial Prince told me I looked like his ancestor. which is nice)
November 26, 2025 at 10:47 AM
I picked up a new biography of Napoleon III in Waterstones in York yesterday. The cashier did a literal double-take between the portrait of the Emperor on the book cover, and my moustaches in their imperial majesty.
(the present Imperial Prince told me I looked like his ancestor. which is nice)
(the present Imperial Prince told me I looked like his ancestor. which is nice)
Reposted by Ant Dawson
So apparently the correct response to shopping centre Santa ringing his bell is not to shout "bring out your dead!"
No sense of humour, some people...
No sense of humour, some people...
December 16, 2024 at 1:09 PM
So apparently the correct response to shopping centre Santa ringing his bell is not to shout "bring out your dead!"
No sense of humour, some people...
No sense of humour, some people...
Birthday times in York
November 25, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Birthday times in York
Reposted by Ant Dawson
Reposted by Ant Dawson
Brr!!!! Super chilly in Chapel. Going to have to get a Cloak and Canterbury Cap if this continues. My great predecessor Rev Mr Henry Enfield Dowson (minister for over 50 years) used to preach in a black frock coat, and silk top hat!
November 23, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Brr!!!! Super chilly in Chapel. Going to have to get a Cloak and Canterbury Cap if this continues. My great predecessor Rev Mr Henry Enfield Dowson (minister for over 50 years) used to preach in a black frock coat, and silk top hat!
Toy Service at Hyde Chapel, collecting for Wood Street Mission. We heard from the Gospel of Matthew, about King John a d his rubber ball and how we are like Lego: we can be anything we want to be, the best version of ourselves, held together with love.
November 23, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Toy Service at Hyde Chapel, collecting for Wood Street Mission. We heard from the Gospel of Matthew, about King John a d his rubber ball and how we are like Lego: we can be anything we want to be, the best version of ourselves, held together with love.
Reposted by Ant Dawson
'Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live...Selfishness always aims at creating around it an absolute uniformity of type. Unselfishness recognizes infinite variety of type as a delightful thing' (Oscar Wilde). 🌈
November 22, 2025 at 5:07 PM
'Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live...Selfishness always aims at creating around it an absolute uniformity of type. Unselfishness recognizes infinite variety of type as a delightful thing' (Oscar Wilde). 🌈
Reposted by Ant Dawson
The idea came from our old tabby Chi famous for doing a full wall of death around the living room when he had a serious case of the zoomies. 😸 I couldn’t manage him running up the walls, but I painted him racing flat-out. What do you think? Did I catch him?
#watercolour #catsky #tabbycats #painting
#watercolour #catsky #tabbycats #painting
November 21, 2025 at 5:20 PM
The idea came from our old tabby Chi famous for doing a full wall of death around the living room when he had a serious case of the zoomies. 😸 I couldn’t manage him running up the walls, but I painted him racing flat-out. What do you think? Did I catch him?
#watercolour #catsky #tabbycats #painting
#watercolour #catsky #tabbycats #painting
Reposted by Ant Dawson
Star Trek III destroyed one Enterprise, but gave us a generous helping of new ships (plus a spacedock) to compensate. The Bird of Prey and Excelsior went on to become fan favourites, but one is not so universally loved.
Join me for a small Oberth-class appreciation thread… [🧵]
Join me for a small Oberth-class appreciation thread… [🧵]
November 22, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Star Trek III destroyed one Enterprise, but gave us a generous helping of new ships (plus a spacedock) to compensate. The Bird of Prey and Excelsior went on to become fan favourites, but one is not so universally loved.
Join me for a small Oberth-class appreciation thread… [🧵]
Join me for a small Oberth-class appreciation thread… [🧵]
Eyes down looking: Railway History & Futures Conference in Paris. An excellent start with a paper by David Turner about development of early railways in England and a partner paper about development in Italy. Now coffee is over, onto how the railway came to Europe. Tres tres bon.
November 21, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Eyes down looking: Railway History & Futures Conference in Paris. An excellent start with a paper by David Turner about development of early railways in England and a partner paper about development in Italy. Now coffee is over, onto how the railway came to Europe. Tres tres bon.
Who knew hobbits liked bouldering? Alas some of the reaches were a bit far! Such a lot of fun, however. The wall is in the engine house of a cotton mill. Cathedral of thing! Was incredibly impressive in it's day: 5,000 ihp triple expansion engine. More climbing please!
November 20, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Who knew hobbits liked bouldering? Alas some of the reaches were a bit far! Such a lot of fun, however. The wall is in the engine house of a cotton mill. Cathedral of thing! Was incredibly impressive in it's day: 5,000 ihp triple expansion engine. More climbing please!
Reposted by Ant Dawson
In response to all the tedious dickheads who post "When's International Men's Day?????" on social media on International Women's Day, it's today, needledicks!
November 19, 2025 at 10:41 AM
In response to all the tedious dickheads who post "When's International Men's Day?????" on social media on International Women's Day, it's today, needledicks!
Probably the most important vehicle on display in the NRM Station Hall. Certainly more so than the Royal Carriages and much more influential economically, socially, technologically.
November 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Probably the most important vehicle on display in the NRM Station Hall. Certainly more so than the Royal Carriages and much more influential economically, socially, technologically.
Reposted by Ant Dawson
Happy International Day of LGBTQIA+ People In STEM! 🧪⚒️
November 18, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Happy International Day of LGBTQIA+ People In STEM! 🧪⚒️
According to the lady with multiple Selfridge's shopping bags occupying both priority seats for less abled passengers on a crammed train to York I "don't look disabled." She can't move her bags (despite luggage rack) from the seat next to her so I can sit. Also "Is my disabled rail card real?" Hmph
November 18, 2025 at 9:57 AM
According to the lady with multiple Selfridge's shopping bags occupying both priority seats for less abled passengers on a crammed train to York I "don't look disabled." She can't move her bags (despite luggage rack) from the seat next to her so I can sit. Also "Is my disabled rail card real?" Hmph
Reposted by Ant Dawson
Rock Hudson was born on this day 100 years ago.
He was the epitome of the handsome, seemingly hetero, Hollywood star.
AIDS outed him and killed him.
He died in 1985, aged 59.
His death shocked the world. For many, he was the first person they knew of to die as a result of HIV.
He was the epitome of the handsome, seemingly hetero, Hollywood star.
AIDS outed him and killed him.
He died in 1985, aged 59.
His death shocked the world. For many, he was the first person they knew of to die as a result of HIV.
November 17, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Rock Hudson was born on this day 100 years ago.
He was the epitome of the handsome, seemingly hetero, Hollywood star.
AIDS outed him and killed him.
He died in 1985, aged 59.
His death shocked the world. For many, he was the first person they knew of to die as a result of HIV.
He was the epitome of the handsome, seemingly hetero, Hollywood star.
AIDS outed him and killed him.
He died in 1985, aged 59.
His death shocked the world. For many, he was the first person they knew of to die as a result of HIV.
Reposted by Ant Dawson
Amazing, no notes, I do not desire to learn anything else about this story, for it would only detract from the perfection on this headline.
November 16, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Amazing, no notes, I do not desire to learn anything else about this story, for it would only detract from the perfection on this headline.
Burning tyres again.
November 15, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Burning tyres again.
Really good Museum Meeting in Leeds, but it never ceases to amaze me how not once in this year of grace 2025 that the trains from Manchester/Leeds haven't been utterly fucked up in some way.
That said, however, Murray200 is shaping up to be a fantastic event. Watch this space early railway fans!
That said, however, Murray200 is shaping up to be a fantastic event. Watch this space early railway fans!
November 15, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Really good Museum Meeting in Leeds, but it never ceases to amaze me how not once in this year of grace 2025 that the trains from Manchester/Leeds haven't been utterly fucked up in some way.
That said, however, Murray200 is shaping up to be a fantastic event. Watch this space early railway fans!
That said, however, Murray200 is shaping up to be a fantastic event. Watch this space early railway fans!
Reposted by Ant Dawson
There aren’t many architectural history jokes.
November 15, 2025 at 8:23 AM
There aren’t many architectural history jokes.
Reposted by Ant Dawson
Good statement from the US conference of Catholic Bishops
November 14, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Good statement from the US conference of Catholic Bishops
He never stops talking! Speaking about Charles Beyer at Schools Out launch of LGBT+ History Month 2026.
Feel free to photoshop in cats, instruments, etc.
Feel free to photoshop in cats, instruments, etc.
November 14, 2025 at 9:42 AM
He never stops talking! Speaking about Charles Beyer at Schools Out launch of LGBT+ History Month 2026.
Feel free to photoshop in cats, instruments, etc.
Feel free to photoshop in cats, instruments, etc.