Noel Dolphin
@noeldolphin.bsky.social
Electrify - everything today.... oh yes and public transportify it all. Was @noeldolphin on X.
Possibly my most boring message ever - but I am so glad I found Zotero for citations/references..... wish it was before I was already on chapter 3.
December 2, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Possibly my most boring message ever - but I am so glad I found Zotero for citations/references..... wish it was before I was already on chapter 3.
For all the insanity that, in a digital world, this is a copy of an official master record of our rail infrastructure - you have to say, someone did have nice handwriting.
December 2, 2025 at 3:03 PM
For all the insanity that, in a digital world, this is a copy of an official master record of our rail infrastructure - you have to say, someone did have nice handwriting.
A Birmingham Uni's rail research centre this afternoon, simulating the impact of different forms of traction power on rail freight for key routes around the country. Hopefully, we can ensure the future DfT train/infrastructure strategy also factors in freight
November 27, 2025 at 3:25 PM
A Birmingham Uni's rail research centre this afternoon, simulating the impact of different forms of traction power on rail freight for key routes around the country. Hopefully, we can ensure the future DfT train/infrastructure strategy also factors in freight
I'm continuing my tour of places the DfT, HM Treasury & SoS for Transport decided to leave behind, by cancelling Midland Mainline Electrification. Today I'm in Leicester, home of modern rail leisure travel (Thomas Cook). Leicester Mercury article:
www.pressreader.com/uk/leicester...
www.pressreader.com/uk/leicester...
November 27, 2025 at 10:52 AM
I'm continuing my tour of places the DfT, HM Treasury & SoS for Transport decided to leave behind, by cancelling Midland Mainline Electrification. Today I'm in Leicester, home of modern rail leisure travel (Thomas Cook). Leicester Mercury article:
www.pressreader.com/uk/leicester...
www.pressreader.com/uk/leicester...
Heading to the Railway Benefit Fund's Hearts of Gold Award in London town. Obligatory sunny photo of the Thames.
November 26, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Heading to the Railway Benefit Fund's Hearts of Gold Award in London town. Obligatory sunny photo of the Thames.
Visited Rail Industry Association on this glorious day for meeting with Dept Biz & trade & Laos Gov. Laos is building a new freight/passenger line between Laos & Vietnam. Double-stacked freight & still electrified, because if you're building a new freight line of course it would be electrified
November 21, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Visited Rail Industry Association on this glorious day for meeting with Dept Biz & trade & Laos Gov. Laos is building a new freight/passenger line between Laos & Vietnam. Double-stacked freight & still electrified, because if you're building a new freight line of course it would be electrified
If you combine Network Rail's Platform 4 plan to build 40k homes on rail land with the government's plans to allow more buildings near stations, it could potentially provide a real opportunity to build social housing if the government wanted to.
November 20, 2025 at 8:10 PM
If you combine Network Rail's Platform 4 plan to build 40k homes on rail land with the government's plans to allow more buildings near stations, it could potentially provide a real opportunity to build social housing if the government wanted to.
East-West Rail needs full electrification - increasing long-term leasing costs & calling that a saving, because it doesn't appear on public debt, is just an accountancy dodge. news.railbusinessdaily.com/east-west-ra...
November 20, 2025 at 10:21 AM
East-West Rail needs full electrification - increasing long-term leasing costs & calling that a saving, because it doesn't appear on public debt, is just an accountancy dodge. news.railbusinessdaily.com/east-west-ra...
I like the 1955 rail Modernisation Plan, but I am disappoined they rejected out of hand atomic-powered locomotives. www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.p...
November 19, 2025 at 7:56 PM
I like the 1955 rail Modernisation Plan, but I am disappoined they rejected out of hand atomic-powered locomotives. www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.p...
A guiding mind without a mouth.... a disturbing image. I have some ideas for GBR's new HQ in Derby.
November 19, 2025 at 7:48 PM
A guiding mind without a mouth.... a disturbing image. I have some ideas for GBR's new HQ in Derby.
6 weeks of training Network Rail maintenance staff for the new Beaulieu Park Station has just wrapped up. Using 3D printed models in the classroom and then outside to train on it for real. My main involvement was fawning over the model in the office.
November 19, 2025 at 1:25 PM
6 weeks of training Network Rail maintenance staff for the new Beaulieu Park Station has just wrapped up. Using 3D printed models in the classroom and then outside to train on it for real. My main involvement was fawning over the model in the office.
My morning thought - the Department for Transport is a shit show.
November 19, 2025 at 8:14 AM
My morning thought - the Department for Transport is a shit show.
Can you imagine having to include 5% in all rail procurement tender submissions - to pay off the losers' costs? This is what the Locomotive Makers Association used to require of its members (not recently, I would hasten to add). etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/24...
November 18, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Can you imagine having to include 5% in all rail procurement tender submissions - to pay off the losers' costs? This is what the Locomotive Makers Association used to require of its members (not recently, I would hasten to add). etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/24...
Working on a project looking at the maintenance train strategies around Europe. What strikes me is that almost every country is moving towards electric/battery maintenance vehicles. I think we will be stuck with diesel for a long time (1/2).
November 17, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Working on a project looking at the maintenance train strategies around Europe. What strikes me is that almost every country is moving towards electric/battery maintenance vehicles. I think we will be stuck with diesel for a long time (1/2).
It was sunny yesterday in Cardiff, so though I would walk around and enjoy the bus station.
November 14, 2025 at 5:00 PM
It was sunny yesterday in Cardiff, so though I would walk around and enjoy the bus station.
Might just leave these here as a table decoration, for the rest of the journey home.
November 13, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Might just leave these here as a table decoration, for the rest of the journey home.
A little excerpt from last week's @freewheeling.info podcast - full link here: www.freewheeling.info/the-freewhee...
November 13, 2025 at 11:31 AM
A little excerpt from last week's @freewheeling.info podcast - full link here: www.freewheeling.info/the-freewhee...
Micro-managing quiz question of the day: You're travelling to a UK worksite to install 3 bolts. Network Rail standards specify how many spares should be in your van, how many? 2nd: standards specify arrangements of bolt heads when it's visible to the public. What is this?
November 12, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Micro-managing quiz question of the day: You're travelling to a UK worksite to install 3 bolts. Network Rail standards specify how many spares should be in your van, how many? 2nd: standards specify arrangements of bolt heads when it's visible to the public. What is this?
I have found I can follow the V&V (Verification & Validation) process precisely, as well as, every standard... but make structures out of Darth Vader body parts. Wondering whether to submit the designs or stop staring at V&V spreadsheets.
November 10, 2025 at 8:35 PM
I have found I can follow the V&V (Verification & Validation) process precisely, as well as, every standard... but make structures out of Darth Vader body parts. Wondering whether to submit the designs or stop staring at V&V spreadsheets.
Feels most rolling stock awards now end in litigation.
www.railwaygazette.com/traction-and...
www.railwaygazette.com/traction-and...
November 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Feels most rolling stock awards now end in litigation.
www.railwaygazette.com/traction-and...
www.railwaygazette.com/traction-and...
OK, my last video of the week - promise. I've been at the GCRE test track this week, a quick explainer video on what we have been testing and why - also why GCRE is a great place to test it (1/2)
November 7, 2025 at 5:21 PM
OK, my last video of the week - promise. I've been at the GCRE test track this week, a quick explainer video on what we have been testing and why - also why GCRE is a great place to test it (1/2)
Why do I have a weather station at GCRE - the short answer is that it's sodding windy.
November 7, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Why do I have a weather station at GCRE - the short answer is that it's sodding windy.
At GCRE this week, doing some more testing, and after last week's workshop on composites in rail - looking at my own composites in rail and how they held up after storms that shut half the Welsh rail network.
November 6, 2025 at 1:36 PM
At GCRE this week, doing some more testing, and after last week's workshop on composites in rail - looking at my own composites in rail and how they held up after storms that shut half the Welsh rail network.
Without colour filter - but still with sound. Sped-up 10x
November 6, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Without colour filter - but still with sound. Sped-up 10x
WAKE-UP (needs sound) - taken yesterday at GCRE in Wales.
November 6, 2025 at 7:13 AM
WAKE-UP (needs sound) - taken yesterday at GCRE in Wales.