David Turner
@railwayhistorian.bsky.social
800 followers 210 following 220 posts
A transport historian and lecturer at Aston University and Honorary Fellow at the University of York, School for Business and Society. Views my own. He/Him [email protected]
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Reposted by David Turner
railwayhistorian.bsky.social
Kilsby Tunnel, 1839.

Then, it was the longest rail tunnel, but after had cultural impact. Even in the 1880s, when longer tunnels had been built, it was still being compared to the pyramids. This highlights that infrastructure isn't just functional, people attach varied emotions and meaning to it.
A black and white drawing of an ornate tunnel portal. There is a hill over the top and some railway workers stand on the track. We see through the tunnel to the light at the end.
Reposted by David Turner
barristersecret.bsky.social
This is a lie.

There are many criticisms you might sensibly and truthfully make of the Sentencing Council and the Sentencing Guidelines. I’ve been making them for years.

But this is an outright lie. Pure fabrication. A fraud on the public.
Reposted by David Turner
ianwalker.bsky.social
"The single most important behaviour, design or regulation for creating streets conducive to walking and cycling, was physical separation between the modes"

We've got a new study out, learning from a broad mixture of street users, planners and designers

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Highlights
    For marginalised street users mode separation is the key to human-scale movement.
    Streets conducive to walking and cycling have functional, safe and accessible design.
    Professionals must approach street design, regulation and user behaviour holistically.
    Combinations of influencing factors persuade people to either use or avoid a street.
    There are no easy fixes to the public realm that will work for all non-drivers.
railwayhistorian.bsky.social
This is very disturbing. I can't say whether she will ever influence government, but even she doesn't, these disgusting statements increasingly normalise such ideas and open up to further discussion.
stephenkb.bsky.social
Not a serious person. Zero mention of what this would mean for the over a million British citizens whose own access to welfare in the EU is protected by the withdrawal agreement.
EU citizens living in UK shouldn’t be allowed welfare benefits, says Tory rising star
Katie Lam — who is earning plaudits on the Conservative right — calls for Brexit withdrawal agreement to be reopened.
www.politico.eu
railwayhistorian.bsky.social
Kilsby Tunnel, 1839.

Then, it was the longest rail tunnel, but after had cultural impact. Even in the 1880s, when longer tunnels had been built, it was still being compared to the pyramids. This highlights that infrastructure isn't just functional, people attach varied emotions and meaning to it.
A black and white drawing of an ornate tunnel portal. There is a hill over the top and some railway workers stand on the track. We see through the tunnel to the light at the end.
railwayhistorian.bsky.social
I know some wonderful people who work at the Uni of Portsmouth, but I will always think this, in Walthamstow, is funny: "welcome to your local university".

The issue: the absence of sea views and boats.
railwayhistorian.bsky.social
Dear academic publishers, when I ask to download a pdf, I do NOT, want a bloody pdf reader or viewer.

Me going to the viewer just annoyingly delays the end result; me having a pdf on my hard drive.

Cut it out.
Reposted by David Turner
kevindtennent.bsky.social
Always nice to have the physical copy in your hands.
Two hardback copies of the book Foundations of Managing British Olympics: Institutions through Time by Alex G. Gillett & Kevin D. Tennent. Emerald.
Reposted by David Turner
railwayhistorian.bsky.social
Our final free @railway200.bsky.social at @astonuniversity.bsky.social event takes place on 18 Nov at 1730 at Conference Aston.

A panel of industry experts will discuss the challenges the railway industry faces, but the opportunities that lay ahead.

Do join us

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/railway-20...
Railway 200 at Aston -Britain’s Railway Today: Challenges and Opportunities
This is the final event of our "Railway 200 at Aston University" series.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
railwayhistorian.bsky.social
Our final free @railway200.bsky.social at @astonuniversity.bsky.social event takes place on 18 Nov at 1730 at Conference Aston.

A panel of industry experts will discuss the challenges the railway industry faces, but the opportunities that lay ahead.

Do join us

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/railway-20...
Railway 200 at Aston -Britain’s Railway Today: Challenges and Opportunities
This is the final event of our "Railway 200 at Aston University" series.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
Reposted by David Turner
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
'University of Sussex leader Sasha Roseneil said she felt opposition to higher education was often grounded in an explicit rejection of the expansion of access that has taken place in recent decades.' 1/2
Universities victims of ‘relentless negativity campaign’
Sussex v-c says media attacks motivated by view that fewer people should obtain a degree
www.timeshighereducation.com
Reposted by David Turner
gsoh31.bsky.social
New from me: a *free* short version of my Political Quarterly piece on universities... The issue is settled now: the massified and accessible Higher Education system we have spent tens of billions building since the 1970s is coming to an end. (1/2)
politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/where-n...
Where now for Britain’s Universities?
UK higher education now faces a very bleak future, retreating in the face of little public sympathy and limited political interest.
politicalquarterly.org.uk
Reposted by David Turner
signaloftheday.bsky.social
One of the (many!) highlights of this weekend’s #Railway200 events was Locomotion No.1 arriving at Darlington station, supervised by an appropriately-attired @davidhorne.bsky.social, and with signal T900 guarding the way ahead. Thanks to @railwayhistorian.bsky.social for the picture!
#SignalOfTheDay
railwayhistorian.bsky.social
My last two photos from last night's wonderful #Railway200 event in Darlington.

As always, I'm so very very glad to be reunited with my good friend @mrtimdunn.bsky.social

It was so very special to be able to stand, for an second, in the Experiment replica.
Two men, one with a beard and another in a hat, stand in front of Locomotion No.1. Behind it is an LNER Azuma train. A man ina hat (me) stands in an open sided carriage. It is Yellow and has the word "Experiment" on the side.
railwayhistorian.bsky.social
And of course, this shot features some of the wonderful volunteers that made this happen! Regrettably, I don't know their names.
railwayhistorian.bsky.social
A favourite shot of mine from last night's #Railway200 event at Darlington, ft @davidhorne.bsky.social.
On the left is Locomotive No.1, wagons and carriage. It is shone on with a spotlight. On the right on the platform is a man in a top hat and a smart outfit.
Reposted by David Turner
railwayhistorian.bsky.social
Locomotion No.1 has arrived in #Darlington.

What a fantastic event for #Railway200.
Reposted by David Turner
gawuffy.co.uk
Privileged to join guests at Darlington station in the small hours of this morning, to welcome a replica of Stephenson's Locomotion No. 1 as it joined the Darlington-liveried @lner.co.uk Azuma train before recreating its journey to Stockton just as the original had 200 years previously to the day 🙌
An old steam locomotive formed of a boiler with two large driving wheels on each side, a long tall chimney at the front and an array of pipes and connecting rods. A modern electric train which is white in colour with a red and orange design applied centrally down its length, containing the word 'DARLINGTON', viewed from the front. The old steam locomotive described in the previous photo sits alongside. Viewed from behind, a group of railway engineers stand next to the old steam locomotive described in the first image for a photo. A large group of people under a cavernous, arched station roof, all looking into the distance as a steam train travels through. The station roof is lit in red lighting.
railwayhistorian.bsky.social
And many thanks to my friends at @lner.co.uk for inviting me.
railwayhistorian.bsky.social
Locomotion No.1 has arrived in #Darlington.

What a fantastic event for #Railway200.
railwayhistorian.bsky.social
Locomotion No.1 has arrived in #Darlington.

What a fantastic event for #Railway200.
Reposted by David Turner
katherineschof8.bsky.social
University job losses to date due to severe financial pressures are ALREADY likely above 20,000, BEFORE this new tax on the only income stream keeping us afloat — see new study by @beccaeharrison.bsky.social & @davidharvie.bsky.social

Study: zenodo.org/records/1563...

theboar.org/2025/08/new-...
railwayhistorian.bsky.social
So we wait at Darlington for the arrival. #Railway200
An LNER Azuma train in a platform. A male voice choir sings on a platform. They are all wearing waistcoats.
railwayhistorian.bsky.social
Some light reading during my trip. In my view this is the best history of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.

#Railway200
A book. On the front is an early locomotive with three wheels. The book is "The Origins of Railway Enterprise: The Stockton and Darlington Railway, 1821-1863". It is by Maurice W. Kirkby.
Reposted by David Turner
anterotesis.bsky.social
Important new #OpenAccess article on how slavery in Britain was ended, and who ended it.

Taken Not Given: The End of Slavery in Britain
by Simon Newman

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

#History #EnslavedHistory 🗃️
Taken Not Given: The End of Slavery in Britain | Law and History Review | Cambridge Core
Taken Not Given: The End of Slavery in Britain
www.cambridge.org