simonbpLinux, Railway, Beer dork; Astrophysics PhD; occasional interplanetary explorer
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simonbpInteresting trains what I rode in 2025:
Trams of Houston, March. Houston's light rail network is tiny, and goes through a city that is downright hostile to pedestrians, but still provides a core of what could eventually become a useful network.
#transit #houston
simonbpTrains of Finland thread!
Train #1 was the HSL P line from Helsinki airport to Helsinki Central. It's just a Stadler Kiss, but the first broad gauge Kiss I've ever been on, and my first time on Finnish (Russian) broad gauge.
#trains #finland
simonbpThread for this year's "Simon Rides Some Trains in England & Wales" trip
Train #1: Of course, the TFL Elizabeth Line, formerly Crossrail, the most logical line out of Heathrow in nearly all cases.
simonbpJust some random photos looking back on 2024.
#1 Descending on the narrow gauge Alishan Forest Railway in Taiwan in June. Greenest place I've ever been.
simonbpTRAINS THAT I RODE IN 2022 MEGA THREAD
Starting with the locals, Denver RTD Light Rail (Siemens SD-100/160) and Commuter Rail (Hyundai Rotem Silverliner V)
Pictures from the day in August when I rode the entire RTD rail network in one day
simonbpInteresting trains what I rode in 2025:
Trams of Houston, March. Houston's light rail network is tiny, and goes through a city that is downright hostile to pedestrians, but still provides a core of what could eventually become a useful network.
#transit #houston
simonbpTrains of Finland thread!
Train #1 was the HSL P line from Helsinki airport to Helsinki Central. It's just a Stadler Kiss, but the first broad gauge Kiss I've ever been on, and my first time on Finnish (Russian) broad gauge.
#trains #finland
simonbpI collect NASA Special Publications, and just got SP-4402 "Origins of NASA Names", from 1976. It's a goldmine.
For example why did the rocket that launched the first US satellite (Explorer 1) have a UE on it? Because it was booster 29 in the Jupiter C production line and ABMA (what became NASA Marshall) used a goofy little cipher to confuse Soviet spies (and everyone else).
simonbpThread for this year's "Simon Rides Some Trains in England & Wales" trip
Train #1: Of course, the TFL Elizabeth Line, formerly Crossrail, the most logical line out of Heathrow in nearly all cases.
simonbpJust some random photos looking back on 2024.
#1 Descending on the narrow gauge Alishan Forest Railway in Taiwan in June. Greenest place I've ever been.
simonbpAdding it all up, I went 4,724 km (2,935 miles) on trains, 4,420 km of that on #Amtrak. Slightly less than 5% of that was on electrified tracks. 98% was on standard (Stevenson) gauge tracks, 1.7% on broad gauge (5'6" BART), and 3 km on meter gauge (the cable car). #AmtrakWestern2023 #trains #transit
simonbpAnd if you found #AmtrakWestern2023 fun, stay tuned for #AllTheShinkansens2023 late in August. It's going to be electrifying. 🚅
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simonbpWe ended up getting into Denver at just past 3:00 AM, and I promptly went home and crashed. That was a heck of a trip, but I'm glad I did it. #AmtrakWestern2023, signing off
simonbpAdding it all up, I went 4,724 km (2,935 miles) on trains, 4,420 km of that on #Amtrak. Slightly less than 5% of that was on electrified tracks. 98% was on standard (Stevenson) gauge tracks, 1.7% on broad gauge (5'6" BART), and 3 km on meter gauge (the cable car). #AmtrakWestern2023 #trains #transit
simonbpPassed the westbound version of our train at the Colorado border. They were on time, we are still 5ish hours late, and will cross the Rockies entirely at night. Oh well, I'm just glad to be almost home. #AmtrakWestern2023
simonbpWe ended up getting into Denver at just past 3:00 AM, and I promptly went home and crashed. That was a heck of a trip, but I'm glad I did it. #AmtrakWestern2023, signing off
simonbpFinally seeing the Rockies! #AmtrakWestern2023
simonbpPassed the westbound version of our train at the Colorado border. They were on time, we are still 5ish hours late, and will cross the Rockies entirely at night. Oh well, I'm just glad to be almost home. #AmtrakWestern2023
simonbpThe "Ratio" sculpture art in Green River, last stop in Utah. This area is literally the "Desolation Valley Wilderness Study Area". #AmtrakWestern2023
simonbpFinally seeing the Rockies! #AmtrakWestern2023