The MrT Podcast Studio

The Sunset Limited (5) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 16 A disagreement: The Sunset Limited (5) starts with a disagreement. A lady has been verbally abusing some passengers. They’ve complained and the conductor has arrived to ask the lady to be quiet and return to her seat. She resents this and is extremely, and unpleasantly, rude to the conductor. When she refuses to return to he...

The Sunset Limited (4) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 15 Leaving Houston: The Sunset Limited (4) starts as we leave Houston, where the station is located below motorways. The city has the sixth largest population in the US with over 2.3 million residents. The station opened in October 1959 when it replaced Houston Grand Central Station. Passenger numbers rose to 20,460 in 2019. Through...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 08 – Ataturk – the greatest Nation Builder of modern times Alan Freeland tells us the amazing story of the life of  Ataturk – the greatest Nation Builder of modern times . To call Ataturk a complex person is a great understatement! Alan takes us through the ups and downs of Ataturk’s life. Everything changed under Ataturk. The name Ataturk me...

The Sunset Limited (3) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 14 Lake Charles, Louisiana: The Sunset Limited (3) starts as we approach the City of Lake Charles. The city is home to just under 72,000 (2010 census). It is the fifth largest city in Louisiana. The major activities include petroleum refining, gaming, tourism and education. It is one of the three most humid places in the US. We cross...

Episode 8 – The Repair Cafe Conference Welcome to the Repair Cafe Conference podcast which is made as part of the Surrey’s Greener Future initiative. The University for the Creative Arts in Farnham hosted the Repair Cafe Conference on 12th March 2020. You can see the large number of delegates in the photographs. The Repair Cafe concept started in the Netherlands, however there are now...

The Sunset Limited (2) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 13 Morgan City: The Sunset Limited (2) begins as we cross the Atchafalaya River at Morgan City. The river is a tributary of the Mississippi. There are two road bridges and one rail bridge crossing the river here. The population peaked in the 1970s and has declined by about 35% since then. Many of the houses in this area are in need o...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 06 – Sleepwalking into World War 1 Lorna Thomas tells us the fascinating story about the nations Sleepwalking into World War 1 . She starts by telling us about the protagonists. A time of great Empires, Empires with ambitions to expand. At the same time, some Empires were weakening with states seeking  independence. Because of these factors it was a time of st...

The Sunset Limited (1) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 12 At the station: The Sunset Limited (1) begins when I arrive at the station in New Orleans, its quite early in the morning and I need breakfast. I’m able to get something to eat and drink in the Magnolia Room. The Magnolia Room is the Amtrak equivalent of an airport lounge. The Union Station retains the style of the 1950s, it...

A day in New Orleans – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 11 To the hotel: A day in New Orleans begins with our late arrival at the station, a taxi ride to our hotel and a good night’s sleep at the French Market Inn. Get more details  here. Morning: I woke refreshed, dressed and went to reception to meet my friends. We decided to go across the road to Cafe Beignet on Decatur Street. You...

The City of New Orleans (3) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 10 The bus journey continues: The City of New Orleans (3) begins as we reach Arkansas on our bus. The train has no stops in Arkansas so I wonder whether this is an extra state! We soon pass Osceola. The town is on the Mississippi which forms the border between Arkansas and Tennessee. Memphis: The bus is making reasonable progres...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 06 – Prohibition Joanne Watson tells us about Prohibition . She starts by covering the journey that the US followed to the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment. We then hear about what happened after. Moral conscience: There was a flowering of moral conscience after the abolition of slavery. American adults drank an average of 1.7 bottles of 80% proof spirits a...

The City of New Orleans part 2 – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 9 Carbondale: The City of New Orleans part 2 begins as we realise that the train will go no further. It is 6.30 am and we are in Carbondale. We are given the options of returning the way we came or going on by bus. Some of the passengers are not happy! Our train failure is news! A local TV station comes to report on the situa...

Message in a Bottle (4) Welcome to Message in a Bottle (4), the a store for the material in the third Flotsam and Jetsam e-Newsletter from Farnham U3A. It doesn’t matter if you deleted the e-Newsletter – the important bits are here! Listen to a Personal View of Lockdown: Your editors ‘phoned Ann Vickers to find out how she is  coping with the lockdown. She’s been keeping busy as you’ll...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 05b – Into the Outback (part B) with Captain Charles Sturt and John McDouall Stuart Into the Outback (part B) is Michael A’Bear’s talk about the explorers Captain Charles Sturt and John McDouall Stuart. He tells us about their discoveries and the cost to their health. Captain Charles Sturt: Charles Sturt comes from the generation before Burke and W...

Episode 7 – Greener with the Surrey Library Service Welcome to the Greener with the Surrey Library Service podcast. This is part of the Surrey’s Greener Future initiative. I met with Annalise and Jen at Woking Library before the onset of the Coronavirus Lockdown. This lockdown has closed Library buildings, however the  Libraries at Home service continues.  The service offers e-books, e...

The City of New Orleans part 1 – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 8 The first part – Departure from Union Station, Chicago The City of New Orleans part 1 starts as I board the train in Chicago Union Station. We leave on time. After a short distance the train stops. We then reverse. The train stops again. We learn that a set of points have failed. After some manoeuvres we get going aga...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 05a – The Burke and Wills Expedition Michael A’Bear’s talk is about the Burke and Wills Expedition into the Outback of Australia in 1860 to 1861. He tells us of initial success, suspect deeds and disaster! The plan: The Royal Society of Victoria organised the expedition. It started from Melbourne. The objective – to cross Australia from South...

Episode 30 – War on the Line 2019 (part 2) Welcome to War on the Line 2019 (part 2), where I talk to a number of characters from the local community. The 2019 event commemorates 75 years since D Day. Bomb Disposal: The Danger Unexploded Bomb sign was often seen in the early 1940s. A UXB requires a specialist to defuse it. These people are incredibly brave. Each time they pit their wits and e...

The Southwest Chief part 6 – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 7 The first part – From Mendota into Union Station, Chicago The Southwest Chief part 6 starts as I interview two fellow travellers in the Observation car. The observation car is a very sociable area on an Amtrak long distance train. As we progress towards Chicago the weather brightens. The total journey on the Southwest Chi...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 04 – Victorian Philanthropy and its Legacy Judith Edge’s talk is about Victorian Philanthropy and its Legacy. She introduces us to four different people and one couple. Joseph Rowntree: A Quaker and businessman from York. He made his fortune from chocolate and created three Charitable trusts in 1904: The Joseph Rowntree Village Trust to set up and manage...

The Southwest Chief part 5 – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 6 From La Plata, Missouri to Princeton, Illinois The Southwest Chief part 5 starts as we  pass wet and muddy farms and cross flooded level crossings. As we approach La Plata in Missouri the train is still running late. This morning, sadly, there is no sun – just rain and flooding. The total journey is advertised as taking 4...

Episode 6 – RHS Bridgewater Welcome to the RHS Bridgewater podcast made as part of the Surrey’s Greener Future initiative. Please note : it was a windy day so there is some wind noise in parts of the podcast. Francis Egerton, them 1st Earl of Ellesmere, built Worsley New Hall between 1839 and 1846. His fortune was generated from coal mining in the area. The hall fell into disrepair and...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 03 b – David Lloyd George Michael A’Bear tells us about the life of David Lloyd George. There was no hyphen until he became a Lord! We learn that David George was born in Hulme near Manchester. His father was a teacher. When his father died the family was taken in by David’s uncle. They moved to his home. His uncle, Richard Lloyd, was a bootmaker,...

The Southwest Chief part 4 – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 5 From Raton to nearing La Plata The Southwest Chief part 4 starts as we approach Raton. The train is running late as we reach Raton. It is dusk and we are seeing the last of the sun. The total journey is advertised as taking 40+ hours – click  here for more details.  There are frequent delays to long distance passenger tra...

Episode 29 – War on the Line 2019 (part 1) Welcome to War on the Line 2019 (part 1), where I talk to a number of characters from the local community. The 2019 event commemorates 75 years since D Day. The cycling Cobbler: I talk to a shoe repairer who uses his bicycle to visit different parts of the area so that he can provide a service. I find that he has a pair if shoes for a soldier. He do...