Episodes

Erie to east of Rochester – US Rail Journeys Series 3 Episode 36 In ‘Erie to east of Rochester’ I travel a further 250 miles on my journey to New York on the Lakeshore Limited. Please click on a thumbnail to see the photographs that go with this podcast: Erie: By the time we reach Erie we are only 40 minutes late. The ‘Art Deco‘ station opens on 3rd December 1927. Today Logistics Plus own the site and their headquarters is in the building. There is also a micro brewery / brew pub, The Brewer...

Through the night from Chicago to Cleveland – US Rail Journeys Series 3 Episode 35 In ‘Through the night from Chicago to Cleveland’ I start my journey on the Lakeshore Limited. Please click on a thumbnail to see the photographs that go with this podcast: The Lakeshore Limited: In 1975 the Lake Shore Limited starts running. It is an overnight service between Chicago and Albany where it splits into sections for New York or Boston. In 2023 over 351,000 passengers use the service. It is nearly b...

Season 2023 – Talk 20- A history of Animal Welfare Legislation in the UK In ‘A history of Animal Welfare Legislation in the UK’ Richard Thomas tells us about the tortuous path culminating in the Hunting Act of 2004. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. A long time coming: The 1835 Act to abolish animal baiting also gives some protection to domestic and farm animals. The next successful Act, abolishing fox hunting, stag hunting and coursing is in 2004, ...

Chicago’s Architecture – US Rail Journeys Series 3 Episode 34 ‘Chicago’s Architecture’ takes me on a very interesting river trip through the city. Please click on a thumbnail to see the photographs that go with this podcast: On to the river: I cross the river on on Michigan Avenue using the DuSable Bridge. Starting in 1918 the bridge takes 10 years to complete although it opens for traffic in 1920. Like the other bridges that I will pass under during the afternoon the bridge opens. I join t...

Season 2023 – Talk 19- William Cobbett and Hunting In ‘William Cobbett and Hunting’ Richard Thomas tells us about ‘field sports’ during William Cobbett’s lifetime. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. William Cobbett: A countryman learning, as a child and young man, all the skills one needs to be a successful farmer. He farms in Botley, Hampshire, lives to the age of 72 and dies on his farm near Woking. In his life he does lots of other things. The be...

Millennium Park and the Lurie Garden – US Rail Journeys Series 3 Episode 33 ‘Millennium Park and the Lurie Garden’ takes me through the streets of Chicago to this wonderful garden in the centre of the city. Please click on a thumbnail to see the photographs that go with this podcast: Through the streets: I’m now in the heart of The Loop, the ‘downtown’ area in Chicago. In every direction I look are the skyscrapers which last night had their tops hidden in the clouds. I’m see the amazing Car...

Season 2023 – Talk 17- Deborah In ‘Deborah’ Jim Hastie tells us the story about the First World War Tank D51, Deborah. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. Jim tells us that Deborah is a very favourite lady of his. He says that this is her story in the Battle of Cambrai, the first major tank battle in November 1917. Deborah was a female tank. A part of D Battalion in the Royal Tank Corps. Male and Female tanks: 150 tanks are built, 75 male and 75 fem...

We arrive in Chicago – US Rail Journeys Series 3 Episode 32 ‘We arrive in Chicago’ completes our journey on the Texas Eagle. In 62 hours we have passed through cities and countryside, deserts and lush pasture, an amazing, ever changing, panorama. Please click on a thumbnail to see the photographs that go with this podcast: Leaving Pontiac: Our stop in Pontiac is brief, a few seconds maybe and worthy of a Formula 1 pit stop. Pontiac station hosts both the Lincoln Service, running between Chi...

Season 2023 – Talk 16 – When newspapers were pressed to be ‘right minded’ In ‘When newspapers were pressed to be ‘right minded” Andrew Cole tells us about the state’s efforts to control the press using taxes. A situation lasting for 140 years. We learn of the efforts to achieve today’s press freedom. The issue: Andrew tells us that we take today’s relatively free press in Britain today for granted. The authorities see the arrival of the printing press as a threat to those in authority. Their ...

Carlinville to Pontiac – US Rail Journeys Series 3 Episode 31 ‘Carlinville to Pontiac’ continues our journey through the lush farmland of Illinois and historic towns and cities. Please click on a thumbnail to see the photographs that go with this podcast: Carlinville: The town is the county seat of Macoupin County and has nearly as many historic sites as it does unique and interesting shops, restaurants and attractions. In the Historic District you’ll find the Macoupin County Jail, Million ...

Season 2023 – Talk 14- Napoleon III and Eugenie In ‘Napoleon III and Eugenie’ Jo Watson tells us about the man who was Emperor of France from 1852 until his defeat by the Prussians in 1870 and his wife Eugenie. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. Napoleon III: Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is born in Paris in the early hours of April the 20th, 1808. His father is Louis Bonaparte, the younger brother of the Emperor Napoleon. The union of his parent...

Walnut Ridge to Alton – US Rail Journeys Series 3 Episode 30 ‘Walnut Ridge to Alton’ continues our journey through the night and into the morning as we travel through Arkansas, Missouri and enter Illinois. Please click on a thumbnail to see the photographs that go with this podcast: Walnut Ridge: By the time we reach Walnut Ridge we are 2,215 miles into our journey. I am asleep as the time is around 1.40 am. It is an Italianate/Mediterranean style station dating from 1920. Today it serves a...

Season 2023 – Talk 13- The History Divide In ‘The History Divide’ Margaret Denyer, Alan Freeland, Andrew Cole, David Simpson and Richard Thomas give their views on the question ‘Whilst the Treaty of Versailles of 1919 ended the Allies war with Germany, did it lead to the outbreak of World War II in 1939?’ The Paris Peace Conference: David Simpson opens by telling us about the Peace Conference and the key players. Just four men, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, U. S. President Thomas...

Texarkana to Little Rock – US Rail Journeys Series 3 Episode 29 ‘Texarkana to Little Rock’ continues our journey through the evening and into the night as we leave Texas and travel into Arkansas. Please click on a thumbnail to see the photographs that go with this podcast: Texarkana: We reach Texarkana after 28 hours travelling through Texas. Texarkana Union Station dates from 1928. It is on the state border between Texas and Arkansas – quite literally! The border bisects the station struct...

Season 2023 – Talk 12- The Earth Transformed In ‘The Earth Transformed’ Alan Freeland reviews Peter Frankopan’s book which changes our view of history by looking at the effect of climate on events. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. The Silk Roads: Alan tells us how the book ‘The Silk Roads‘ changes his retirement plans. This is a book by Peter Frankopan that he rates very highly. This book is an important account of the forces that have shaped the g...

Mineola to Marshall – US Rail Journeys Series 3 Episode 28 ‘Mineola to Marshall’ continues our journey through the afternoon and in to the evening. Please click on a thumbnail to see the photographs that go with this podcast: Mineola: As the episode opens we are travelling through the countryside as we approach Mineola. We stop short of the station, across a level crossing, waiting for permission to enter the station. I have a good view of the main street and the bandstand which is proudly ...

Season 2023 – Talk 11 04- Going to the Pictures In ‘Going to the Pictures’ Tim Davies tells us about the history of the projected image in the ‘silent era’. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. The Magic Lantern: The talk starts in the age of the Magic Lantern. These project pictures such as paintings, prints and photographs. The slides are usually transparent glass plates. First appearing in the 17th century they are often used for entertainment by tr...

Fort Worth to Mineola- US Rail Journeys Series 3 Episode 27 ‘Fort Worth to Mineola’ covers the 120 miles between these two cities. The journey has a schedule of 3 hours. Please click on a thumbnail to see the photographs that go with this podcast: Fort Worth: We arrive in Fort Worth early. The station dates from 2002 and is an intermodal transit centre in downtown Fort Worth serving TEXRail, Trinity Railway Express, Amtrak , and Greyhound intercity buses. The station is also the main transfe...

Season 2023 – Talk 11 03- Sarah Bernhardt In ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ Jo Watson tells us about the life of the legendary French actress. Please note: this talk was given in June 2023, the centenary year of Sarah Bernhardt’s death. Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk. Early years: Sarah Bernhardt is born as Henriette-Rosine Bernard in Paris on 22 October 1844. Her mother is a courtesan with a wealthy or upper-class clientele. For a long time there is no recor...

Temple to Fort Worth – US Rail Journeys Series 3 Episode 26 ‘Temple to Fort Worth’ is composed of my thoughts on the 130 mile journey between these two cities. The journey has schedule of 2 1/2 hours but we reach Fort Worth early. Please click on a thumbnail to see the photographs that go with this podcast: Temple: Temple station dates from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. East of the station, on another railway line through Temple, is a former Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad depot....

Season 2023 – Talk 11.02 – Max Miller In ‘Max Miller’ Adrian Martin tells us the life story of the music hall comedian billed as the ‘Cheeky Chappie’. You’ll appreciate from that billing that his humour is not always politically correct. Indeed it could be described as ‘nudge, nudge, wink, wink… you know what I mean’ humour. There are a couple of examples in this talk. Early Life? He is born born as Thomas Henry Sargent in November 1894 in Kemptown, a part of Brighton. His father is a laboure...

San Marcos to Temple – US Rail Journeys Series 3 Episode 25 ‘San Marcos to Temple’ covers around 105 miles of our journey. We reach Temple, the fourth station on this part of the journey, after nearly 3 hours. To see the photographs that accompany this podcast please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery: San Marcos: We soon reach San Marcos station. It is an intermodal transit centre. The primary destination for passengers is towards Dallas–Fort Worth. 19.4% of passengers commute locally...

Season 2023 – Talk 11.01 – Dame Margaret Rutherford In ‘Dame Margaret Rutherford’ Wendy Senior tells the story of the life of this famous British actress. Early Life? There is tragedy in her early life involving both of her parents. Her father is the journalist and poet William Rutherford Benn who marries Florence Nicholson on 16 December 1882 in Wandsworth, South London. He suffers a nervous breakdown shortly after the marriage, and is admitted to Bethnal House Lunatic Asylum. They release ...

Marfa to New Braunfels – US Rail Journeys Series 3 Episode 24 ‘Marfa to New Braunfels’ covers our 400 mile journey during the late afternoon and overnight. We travel from the very wet desert west of Marfa to New Braunfels on the way to our stop at San Marcos. To see the photographs that accompany this podcast please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery: The desert: As we travel east the weather starts to clear. It is still raining and the clouds are grey but the desert is no longer under...