John Holt
@crantock.bsky.social
Bloke living in Birmingham until can escape North. Interests railways and modern history
Still on but unfollow on Twitter as they gravitate here. The only new addition on Twitter is @Frenchresponse.
What is worrying is some respected elder commentators on Twitter falling for conspiracy theories or retweeting AI clickbait nostalgia slop. I worry what old age will do for me.
What is worrying is some respected elder commentators on Twitter falling for conspiracy theories or retweeting AI clickbait nostalgia slop. I worry what old age will do for me.
February 8, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Still on but unfollow on Twitter as they gravitate here. The only new addition on Twitter is @Frenchresponse.
What is worrying is some respected elder commentators on Twitter falling for conspiracy theories or retweeting AI clickbait nostalgia slop. I worry what old age will do for me.
What is worrying is some respected elder commentators on Twitter falling for conspiracy theories or retweeting AI clickbait nostalgia slop. I worry what old age will do for me.
Meanwhile The National reports he has asked IPSO to ask you lot to lay off. Incredible bsky.app/profile/scot...
🚨 This evening, a notice was circulated from representatives of Peter Mandelson, via press regulator IPSO and the Press Association news wire, to all media across the UK
We believe it is strongly in the public interest to publish this memo. This is it in full 👇
We believe it is strongly in the public interest to publish this memo. This is it in full 👇
Peter Mandelson issues secret notice demanding press leave him alone – read in full
www.thenational.scot
February 6, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Meanwhile The National reports he has asked IPSO to ask you lot to lay off. Incredible bsky.app/profile/scot...
You clearly do not have spectacles to find. Finding the spectacles has the added challenge of imperfect eyesight.
February 3, 2026 at 2:17 AM
You clearly do not have spectacles to find. Finding the spectacles has the added challenge of imperfect eyesight.
I know Alex C’s French is excellent but for the rest of us….
February 2, 2026 at 5:49 PM
I know Alex C’s French is excellent but for the rest of us….
In my younger days I took photos of trains. Eskmeals viaduct was nice but was covered by British Transport Police, British Nuclear Police, MOD Plod and Cumbria constabulary. Yeah there were enough police around.
January 27, 2026 at 11:12 PM
In my younger days I took photos of trains. Eskmeals viaduct was nice but was covered by British Transport Police, British Nuclear Police, MOD Plod and Cumbria constabulary. Yeah there were enough police around.
This suggests the hit rate of a drone is getting very low. If you say 250k casualties thats 28 drones per casualty.
January 26, 2026 at 7:47 PM
This suggests the hit rate of a drone is getting very low. If you say 250k casualties thats 28 drones per casualty.
Throwing 4 acronyms in your lead post does not help the lay reader.
January 24, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Throwing 4 acronyms in your lead post does not help the lay reader.
Applogies, I was flagging the research in CW was light and the reason why. I think the politics taints at the end. Privatisation was probably right but ultimately failed. Consolidation in’23, nationalisation in’48 and 2020 onwards also right at the time. I very much appreciate your research.
January 16, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Applogies, I was flagging the research in CW was light and the reason why. I think the politics taints at the end. Privatisation was probably right but ultimately failed. Consolidation in’23, nationalisation in’48 and 2020 onwards also right at the time. I very much appreciate your research.
I think it needs to be seen through the lens that CW is a professional author. This was his “lockdown book” to keep the wheels of commerce going. You will recognise the sources as the books on his bookshelf, the internet and memory. It lacks Kew and brings political baggage at the end. Ok but…
January 16, 2026 at 10:22 AM
I think it needs to be seen through the lens that CW is a professional author. This was his “lockdown book” to keep the wheels of commerce going. You will recognise the sources as the books on his bookshelf, the internet and memory. It lacks Kew and brings political baggage at the end. Ok but…
No one (in their right mind) invades Greenland in January. Revisit in the summer.
January 11, 2026 at 2:41 PM
No one (in their right mind) invades Greenland in January. Revisit in the summer.
But the core was supposed to have 24 trains per hour each way. It has 16-18. The Northern line has 33. Thameslink fails as a Tube replacement. This is worse if you go from StP to LB as trains are grouped with successives to LB then to Elephant. There are 4 scheduled 10 min gaps per hr before delays.
January 9, 2026 at 12:26 PM
But the core was supposed to have 24 trains per hour each way. It has 16-18. The Northern line has 33. Thameslink fails as a Tube replacement. This is worse if you go from StP to LB as trains are grouped with successives to LB then to Elephant. There are 4 scheduled 10 min gaps per hr before delays.
It can fall all it likes in Birmingham. There is that much water on the ground it won’t stick
January 8, 2026 at 6:11 PM
It can fall all it likes in Birmingham. There is that much water on the ground it won’t stick
I think 1944 would be a good year for beating 7. Probably also 1944 and 1943. Sure many of them were occupied but still.
January 4, 2026 at 12:22 PM
I think 1944 would be a good year for beating 7. Probably also 1944 and 1943. Sure many of them were occupied but still.
Is the Rachel Reeves caricature not in a long line of making women they don’t like “ugly”. Is that still acceptable?
December 29, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Is the Rachel Reeves caricature not in a long line of making women they don’t like “ugly”. Is that still acceptable?
A “logistics” drone capable of flying 1,000 km. Yeah sure. It’s technically non-lethal and capable of field adaption, sorry “repair”.
December 17, 2025 at 8:27 PM
A “logistics” drone capable of flying 1,000 km. Yeah sure. It’s technically non-lethal and capable of field adaption, sorry “repair”.
For the ones outside the steps at Euston (knife crime) quite simply if legit, Network Rail would allow on site. Years ago there was one outside Barbican whose objectives might as well have been supporting the wider family.
December 15, 2025 at 1:01 PM
For the ones outside the steps at Euston (knife crime) quite simply if legit, Network Rail would allow on site. Years ago there was one outside Barbican whose objectives might as well have been supporting the wider family.
Quite. And with no fares increase and no likelihood of increased government support there is less to invest.
November 23, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Quite. And with no fares increase and no likelihood of increased government support there is less to invest.
So drug dealers guard dogs are not allowed. Police officers looking after working dogs? Persons training guide dogs?
November 12, 2025 at 5:55 PM
So drug dealers guard dogs are not allowed. Police officers looking after working dogs? Persons training guide dogs?
One of the few MAIB reports where the crew and training emerge with great credit
November 11, 2025 at 9:53 PM
One of the few MAIB reports where the crew and training emerge with great credit
Come to Birmingham where paved expanse stretches from the former gardens by City Hall to the former garden of remembrance on Broad Street (always conveniently occupied by a funfair from before 11 Nov to January). The only greenery within the inner ring road is the Churchyard. Oh - German market now.
November 11, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Come to Birmingham where paved expanse stretches from the former gardens by City Hall to the former garden of remembrance on Broad Street (always conveniently occupied by a funfair from before 11 Nov to January). The only greenery within the inner ring road is the Churchyard. Oh - German market now.
True but Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth is single track and always has been. I doubt 2 trains an hour is possible. Bus and coach improvements would give better value for money.
November 2, 2025 at 5:33 PM
True but Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth is single track and always has been. I doubt 2 trains an hour is possible. Bus and coach improvements would give better value for money.
Presumably the DUP had one you could break into 2 parts
October 23, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Presumably the DUP had one you could break into 2 parts
Critically that and Irish Free State give a narrow 1922-24 window.
October 23, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Critically that and Irish Free State give a narrow 1922-24 window.
Match 15 Doctors to 7 Darings en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Dar... then make up the numbers with Daring Class destroyers
HMS Daring - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
October 20, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Match 15 Doctors to 7 Darings en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Dar... then make up the numbers with Daring Class destroyers