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The Sunset Limited (8) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 19 Ontario, CA, next stop: The Sunset Limited (8) starts with us running some hours late through southern California. Our next stop is Ontario. We are well into the outskirts of Los Angeles. On our approach we pass large marshalling yards with complicated track … Continue reading "The Sunset Limited (8)" The post The Sunset Lim...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 11 – Pax Britannica Pax Britannica describes the role of the Royal Navy in the century between 1815 and 1914, where Britain acted as ‘global policeman’ The talk is given by Elizabeth Anson. She has a great personal knowledge of the Royal Navy because she is the daughter of … Continue reading "Pax Britannica" The post Pax Britannica appeared f...

The Sunset Limited (7) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 18 Nearing the border town of El Paso: The Sunset Limited (7) starts in the far west of Texas as we approach El Paso. El Paso is a ‘border town’ with Mexico. We pass oil refineries, sidings and rail cars waiting to be filled … Continue reading "The Sunset Limited (7)" The post The Sunset Limited (7) appeared first o...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 10 – The Amritsar Massacre and its aftermath John Hambly tells us about the Amritsar Massacre and its aftermath. Often referred to as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre because that was the area of Amritsar where it took place in. John starts by setting the scene and telling us about … Continue reading "The Amritsar Massacre" The post The Amritsar Massacre ap...

The Sunset Limited (6) – US Rail Journeys Series 2 Episode 17 Near the Southern Border of the United States: The Sunset Limited (6) continues our journey across Texas. We are near the southern border of the US and will later start to see the agriculture made possible by the Rio Grande. The land certainly … Continue reading "The Sunset Limited (6)" The post The Sunset Limited (6) appear...

Season 2019 / 2020 – Talk 09 – British Art  between the Wars Peter Duffy tells us about the key contributors to British Art between the Wars. Peter starts by introducing is to Britain before the First World War. He tells us about art at that time, Artists: We are introduced to the leading artistic … Continue reading "British Art between the Wars" The post British Art between...

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, … Continue reading "The Sunset Limited (5)" The post The Sunset Lim...

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 … Continue reading "The Sunset Limited (4)" The post The Sunset Lim...

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 … Continue reading "Ataturk – the greatest Nation Buil...

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 … Continue reading "The Sunset Limited (3)" The post The Sunset L...

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 … Continue reading "The Repair Cafe Conference" The post...

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 … Continue reading "The Sunset Limited (2)" The post The Sunset Limited (2) appea...

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 … Continue reading "Sleepwalking into World War 1" The po...

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 … Continue reading "The Sunset Limited (1)" The post The Sunset Limited (1) appeared first on...

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 … Continue reading "A day in New Orleans" The post A day in New Orleans appeared first on The...

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 … Continue reading "The City of New Orleans (3)" The post The City of New Orleans (3) appeared first on The MrT P...

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 … Continue reading "All about Prohibition" The po...

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 … Continue reading "The City of New Orleans part 2" The post The City of New Orleans part 2 appeared first on The MrT Podca...

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 … Continue reading "Message in a Bottle (4)" The post Message in a B...

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: … Continue reading "Into the Outback (part B)" The p...

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 … Continue reading "Greener wit...

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. … Continue reading "The City of New Orleans part 1" The post The City of New Orleans part 1 appear...

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 … Continue reading "Burke and Wills – Talk 5a" The...

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 … Continue reading "War on the Line 2019 (part 2)" The post War on the Line 2019 (part 2) appeared first...

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 … Continue reading "The Southwest Chief part 6" The post The Southwest Chief par...