September 2025 - The MrT Podcast Studio

UKRJ S2 Ep09 Leeds and Ribblehead

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:36 — 16.1MB)

Leeds and Ribblehead – UK Rail Journeys Series 2 – Episode 09

In ‘Leeds and Ribblehead‘ I spend time in Leeds and take a trip to Ribblehead to watch the Railway Touring Company‘s Cumbrian Mountain Express cross the viaduct.

Please click on a thumbnail to see the photographs that go with the podcast:

Friday evening in Leeds:

It is a beautiful spring evening and I set off from my hotel to find two historic railway buildings. I stop to look at City Square. Relatively quiet this evening unlike when I was a student in Leeds. Then it was full of traffic.

As I walk down Wellington Street I find the Great Northern Railway Station Hotel building. This dates from 1869. Today it is a shadow of its former self, converted into flats with a fish and chip shop on the ground floor.

Tower Square:

The bars in this modern square are busy with lots of people taking the opportunity to sit outside.

I’ve come to see the Central Station Wagon Hoist which remains although the rest of the station is long gone. Sadly I’m a couple of days too early as it is opening as a museum the next week.

Monk Bridge Viaduct:

The stub end of this 1846 viaduct has been converted into a lovely urban park. It will be magnificent once everything matures.

Ribblehead:

Saturday trains on the Settle Carlisle lines are only every few hours. I arrive early and spend some time looking at the visitor centre and having a light lunch in the cafe.

The scenery is lovely and enhanced by the Cumbrian Mountain Express crossing the viaduct. A really worthwhile visit!

Listen to the podcast to hear all about my evening in Leeds and my trip out to Ribblehead.

This podcast is also available through Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Podchaser, Spotify, YouTube and others.

Music:

AKM Music licenses Steam Railway and Joseph McDade licenses Backplate for use in this podcast.

TH2024 10 The Olympics

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:51 — 58.5MB)

Season 2024 – Talk 10 – The Olympics – Champions, Curiosities and Controversies

In ‘The Olympics – Champions, Curiosities and Controversies’ Jo Watson takes us through a humorous history of the summer games.

Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk.

Jo’s background:

Her career was with BBC Sport as a producer and an editor. She’s worked on seven summer Olympics and has written a book about the history of the games. It is really more about the people and the events rather than statistics.

Ancient times:

The obvious starting point is Olympia around 180 miles from Athens.

The first recorded games are in 776 BC as part of a festival dedicated to Zeus. The inaugural champion is a local cook who wins the only event, a sprint of around 200 yards. Gradually the games expand and other cities take part.

The first champions receive an olive or a laurel crown, and perhaps an amphora of high quality olive oil.

Victorian re-birth:

The idea of reviving the Olympic Games has its origins in Much Wenlock. William Penny Brooks, a local doctor and social activist, and his Olympian society organise a number of events in 1850.

He then organises the more orthodox National Olympian games at Crystal Palace. W G Grace takes time off from a cricket match to compete and win the hurdles.

Next steps:

Onto the scene comes Baron Pierre de Coubertin, a French aristocrat, who takes the games forward.

In 1894 he brings together representatives to form the International Olympic Committee. Two years later, the first modern games are held in Athens. Sadly, Brooks has died, so doesn’t see his dream come to fruition.

Listen to Jo tell us the story of some of the stars, gamesmanship and unbelievable events from the games.

About this podcast:

This is an edited recording of a talk given to the Farnham u3a World History: Ancient, Medieval and Modern Group.

This podcast is also available through Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Podchaser, Spotify, YouTube and others.

AKM Music licenses Media Magazine for use with this talk.

UKRJ S2 Ep 08 On to Leeds

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:12 — 19.4MB)

On to Leeds – UK Rail Journeys Series 2 – Episode 08

In ‘On to Leeds‘ I continue my journey to Leeds. Today only part of my journey is on the true route of the Thames Clyde Express as a nine-mile section of the traditional route no longer exists.

Once a hive of industry with mile after mile of collieries, coke ovens, marshalling yards and sidings, coal mining subsidence causes speed restrictions in the 1960s. In 1968 trains move to other routes and in 1985 part of the line closes.

Today one section, from Oakenshaw South Junction near Wakefield to Redfearn’s Glassworks, a part of the Ardagh Group, at Monk Bretton remains. A weekly sand train goes to the glassworks and sometimes Northern Rail use the section for training.

Please click on a thumbnail to see the photographs that go with the podcast:

Small local stations:

Since the 1980s a number of stations have reopened on this route. We pass through Bolton on Dearne, Goldthorpe, Thurnscoe and Moorthorpe on our way to Fitzwilliam. Here the Friends of Fitzwilliam station provide local art work including a mural about the area.

Next comes Sandal and Agbrigg railway station serving the southern Wakefield suburbs. Originally dating from 1866 it is on the route of the Leeds branch of the East Coast Main Line.

The station closes in November 1957, remains closed for the next 30 years, and reopens on 30 November 1987.

Normanton:

Although I don’t pass through Normanton I have to tell you about the station. Over the years the once semi-rural station hosts Queen Victoria, US President Ulysses S. Grant, the Emperor of Brazil and Prime Ministers Gladstone and Disraeli.

Why? They all stop for lunch at the Midland Railway’s Normanton station because, in the days before dining cars, express trains stop here for lunch. The menu offers a six-course meal for 2/6 (half a crown = 12.5 pence); a world away from the Travellers Fare of my youth.

Journey’s End:

The journey continues across the 99 arch viaduct into Wakefield Westgate station. We then travel on to Leeds and the end of today’s journey.

Listen to the podcast to hear about my journey and the magnificent lunches in Normanton.

This podcast is also available through Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Podchaser, Spotify, YouTube and others.

Music:

AKM Music licenses Steam Railway and Funny Corporate for use in this podcast.