Graeme Pickering
@pickgs.bsky.social
Railway Magazine Senior Correspondent. Ex-broadcast journalist and news editor. Husband. 'Dad' to a Greek cat. Aspiring novelist.
Following on from my post earlier this week about recurring clickbait crap on newspaper websites, I give you exhibit A, which seems to pop up every week. No-one can know it's "exact" until it's happened. It's forecasting not clairvoyance.
November 28, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Following on from my post earlier this week about recurring clickbait crap on newspaper websites, I give you exhibit A, which seems to pop up every week. No-one can know it's "exact" until it's happened. It's forecasting not clairvoyance.
Sensationalising Aldi Christmas opening, 2nd year in a row. This and 'exact time bad weather will hit', 'experts say do x', 'city restaurant does y' recurring daily in feeds will surely start to kill what's left of local audiences for Reach, Newsquest etc.
November 23, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Sensationalising Aldi Christmas opening, 2nd year in a row. This and 'exact time bad weather will hit', 'experts say do x', 'city restaurant does y' recurring daily in feeds will surely start to kill what's left of local audiences for Reach, Newsquest etc.
A few more views of Grange-over-Sands. The ornamental gardens (and a resident) and two pics from the promenade, of the bay and the latter with the signal box and mountains in the distance.
November 22, 2025 at 9:50 PM
A few more views of Grange-over-Sands. The ornamental gardens (and a resident) and two pics from the promenade, of the bay and the latter with the signal box and mountains in the distance.
A robin on the branch of a tree at Grange-over-Sands station last weekend. The fence between the trees and the platform and the vague outline of the bay and the the hills on the opposite side of it can be seen in the background.📸:©️ Graeme Pickering
November 22, 2025 at 9:19 PM
A robin on the branch of a tree at Grange-over-Sands station last weekend. The fence between the trees and the platform and the vague outline of the bay and the the hills on the opposite side of it can be seen in the background.📸:©️ Graeme Pickering
Kept an eye on me all night last night while her 'Mum' was away, lying on what are generally Mrs P's pillows!
November 22, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Kept an eye on me all night last night while her 'Mum' was away, lying on what are generally Mrs P's pillows!
Eight years since I went to cover the then Scottish Transport Minister Humza Yousaf and Transport Scotland and Hitachi representatives reviewing progress with the ScotRail Class 385 EMU order at Newton Aycliffe. We also got a test track trip aboard one. 📸: ©️ Graeme Pickering
November 20, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Eight years since I went to cover the then Scottish Transport Minister Humza Yousaf and Transport Scotland and Hitachi representatives reviewing progress with the ScotRail Class 385 EMU order at Newton Aycliffe. We also got a test track trip aboard one. 📸: ©️ Graeme Pickering
The fine Furness Railway station at Grange-over-Sands. 📸:©️Graeme Pickering
November 16, 2025 at 10:06 PM
The fine Furness Railway station at Grange-over-Sands. 📸:©️Graeme Pickering
Northern Class 195 No. 195124 in the sunshine this afternoon at Grange-over-Sands with 2T40 (12.40 ex-Barrow-In-Furness) to Lancaster. 📸:©️ Graeme Pickering
November 16, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Northern Class 195 No. 195124 in the sunshine this afternoon at Grange-over-Sands with 2T40 (12.40 ex-Barrow-In-Furness) to Lancaster. 📸:©️ Graeme Pickering
Taken on my visit to Northern's Heaton Traincare Centre for a feature which appears in the current issue of The Railway Magazine. Important not to get these mixed up! Final drive oil (purple containers), Class 156 and 158 hydraulic oil (black containers) and coolant (green containers).
November 11, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Taken on my visit to Northern's Heaton Traincare Centre for a feature which appears in the current issue of The Railway Magazine. Important not to get these mixed up! Final drive oil (purple containers), Class 156 and 158 hydraulic oil (black containers) and coolant (green containers).
Looking north yesterday from Langholm Bridge (the construction of which involved a young Thomas Telford) at the confluence of Ewes Water (straight ahead) and the River Esk (to the left). 📸: ©️ Graeme Pickering
November 9, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Looking north yesterday from Langholm Bridge (the construction of which involved a young Thomas Telford) at the confluence of Ewes Water (straight ahead) and the River Esk (to the left). 📸: ©️ Graeme Pickering
Having passed signal T256 (which has now turned to red to protect it) Class 158 No. 158853 slows for its booked stop at Dunston station this afternoon (also indicated by the sign) with the @northernassist 2A60 14.38 MetroCentre to Morpeth. 📸: ©️ Graeme Pickering
November 9, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Having passed signal T256 (which has now turned to red to protect it) Class 158 No. 158853 slows for its booked stop at Dunston station this afternoon (also indicated by the sign) with the @northernassist 2A60 14.38 MetroCentre to Morpeth. 📸: ©️ Graeme Pickering
Coldstream and the River Tweed yesterday. It was peaceful enough to see (and hear) fish jumping and herons flying around looking for lunch. 📸: ©️ Graeme Pickering
November 9, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Coldstream and the River Tweed yesterday. It was peaceful enough to see (and hear) fish jumping and herons flying around looking for lunch. 📸: ©️ Graeme Pickering
Spray and exhaust as 56113 leads the North East RHTT through Dunston on its return leg to Carlisle this afternoon. I was pushing it with the lens and conditions without a tripod so the further away shots like this worked best. Thanks for the toot, driver!📸: ©️ Graeme Pickering
November 9, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Spray and exhaust as 56113 leads the North East RHTT through Dunston on its return leg to Carlisle this afternoon. I was pushing it with the lens and conditions without a tripod so the further away shots like this worked best. Thanks for the toot, driver!📸: ©️ Graeme Pickering
Reflecting too on the animals who served...
November 9, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Reflecting too on the animals who served...
I'll freely admit that I'm cynical at the best of times, but did no-one in the DfT press office realise the irony of a comment from Lord Hendy like this, being what his previous role was?! And that's aside from calling a railway accessibility plan a 'roadmap'!🙄
November 5, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I'll freely admit that I'm cynical at the best of times, but did no-one in the DfT press office realise the irony of a comment from Lord Hendy like this, being what his previous role was?! And that's aside from calling a railway accessibility plan a 'roadmap'!🙄
Very proud to have been part of the team involved in this issue of The Railway Magazine. The month beforehand was intense. Aside from the usual writing, plenty of events/briefings to attend & pics to take. Among the other features I take a tour of Heaton depot marking 150 yrs of a shed at the site.
November 5, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Very proud to have been part of the team involved in this issue of The Railway Magazine. The month beforehand was intense. Aside from the usual writing, plenty of events/briefings to attend & pics to take. Among the other features I take a tour of Heaton depot marking 150 yrs of a shed at the site.
Dunston station on a damp and misty Monday morning (last week). Saved this one for Halloween.
October 31, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Dunston station on a damp and misty Monday morning (last week). Saved this one for Halloween.
'Value to taxpayers' seems to be trotted out incessantly, but there never seems to be such willingness to talk about negative impact to taxpayers of putting-off projects or how even rationalised schemes cost more later than starting when originally planned - and deliver less.
October 26, 2025 at 11:12 AM
'Value to taxpayers' seems to be trotted out incessantly, but there never seems to be such willingness to talk about negative impact to taxpayers of putting-off projects or how even rationalised schemes cost more later than starting when originally planned - and deliver less.
'Value to taxplayers' seems to be trotted out incessantly, but there never seems to be such willingness to talk about negative impact to taxpayers of putting-off projects or how even rationalised schemes costmore later than starting when originally planned - and deliver less.
October 26, 2025 at 11:11 AM
'Value to taxplayers' seems to be trotted out incessantly, but there never seems to be such willingness to talk about negative impact to taxpayers of putting-off projects or how even rationalised schemes costmore later than starting when originally planned - and deliver less.
Never had a Cube, but I still have an example of another one of Mr Rubik's creations. I got this when they were popular in the late 1980s. Did anyone else get one of these as a present? Do you still have your Rubik's Magic?
October 23, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Never had a Cube, but I still have an example of another one of Mr Rubik's creations. I got this when they were popular in the late 1980s. Did anyone else get one of these as a present? Do you still have your Rubik's Magic?
Four years ago. 21st October 2021, Lumo press launch. No. 803001 after arrival at Edinburgh, where 2) it was greeted by a piper. 3) preparing to head south again. 4) about to leave Newcastle heading south. 📸 © Graeme Pickering.
October 20, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Four years ago. 21st October 2021, Lumo press launch. No. 803001 after arrival at Edinburgh, where 2) it was greeted by a piper. 3) preparing to head south again. 4) about to leave Newcastle heading south. 📸 © Graeme Pickering.
Blyth Bebside, 4th of 6 stations completed on the Northumberland Line had its opening ceremony today. More on this and latest with two remaining stations in Nov's The Railway Magazine. Thanks to all who spoke to me. A sprint so apologies to any familiar faces I missed saying hello to.
October 20, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Blyth Bebside, 4th of 6 stations completed on the Northumberland Line had its opening ceremony today. More on this and latest with two remaining stations in Nov's The Railway Magazine. Thanks to all who spoke to me. A sprint so apologies to any familiar faces I missed saying hello to.
An action-packed Saturday evening for Ariel. In fairness, she did stay up and sat with me until I finished writing a feature at about 12.30 this morning.
October 18, 2025 at 7:12 PM
An action-packed Saturday evening for Ariel. In fairness, she did stay up and sat with me until I finished writing a feature at about 12.30 this morning.
Eight years to the day since I visited the since replaced Tyne & Wear Metro depot facilities at South Gosforth for my first ever rail-related magazine feature piece. Appropriately, I've another feature on a Tyneside depot appearing in November's The Railway Magazine.
October 12, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Eight years to the day since I visited the since replaced Tyne & Wear Metro depot facilities at South Gosforth for my first ever rail-related magazine feature piece. Appropriately, I've another feature on a Tyneside depot appearing in November's The Railway Magazine.
The 150th Stockton and Darlington Railway anniversary was exactly four months before I was born. If you or your family had an interest in the cavalcade and related events, there's a good chance these and other books produced before and after it would be part of their collection.
September 26, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The 150th Stockton and Darlington Railway anniversary was exactly four months before I was born. If you or your family had an interest in the cavalcade and related events, there's a good chance these and other books produced before and after it would be part of their collection.