Good luck to you Andy! Luckily for me, things at my desk are rosy this morning and it's good to be back (helps when you really enjoy your job) - Here's to an equally positive experience for you too! π
A week and a half off means a mix of back-to-work apprehension (as to what I'm coming back to) and excitement (as to what I'm coming back to). 10 days seems to be a long time in the industry at the mo. Here's to positive vibes, on-time trains and not too many emails! π
Did you even travel over the Royal Border Bridge on the ECML if you didn't take a picture of Berwick from it? Of course you did. (Beautiful evening for it too!)
As y'all know, the venerable 225 sets have made a welcome return up the ECML to Newcastle via York, and for the last week or so, they've been powered by this beauty. With a livery by yours truly. An iconic machine with a bit of a colourful NRM twist. Proud of this one. β€οΈ
After a fab trip to Edinburgh, it's time to head home... albeit later than planned to let our LNER customers get on their way first. Working for the company I always feel remiss taking a seat when it's busy - everyone deserves a smooth travel day after yesterday too! Anyway, thank you Edinburgh! π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώπ
A crisp,sunny Edinburgh morning calls for the full Scottish...
Wandering the back streets of Central Edinburgh always leads to a few architectural gems...
What is that 'font' you see on council blocks, laundrettes and municipal buildings around the UK? It's probably not Stymie Bold Italic, but might be Festive.
precastreinforced.co.uk/2024/04/22/t...
The Great Heck memorial garden with a GNER train passing behind
Today we remember the 10 people who died in the Selby rail crash at Great Heck, 25 years ago on 28 February 2001.
Six passengers and four railwaymen lost their lives in this tragedy and 80 people were seriously injured.
Today railway colleagues will be gathering in Newcastle and Selby to remember
Yesterday was a day of trains, beer and good mates. Sundays don't get any better. Thanks for the charitable ride Northern!
What annoys me about the McLaren F1 identity scheme is that their internal designer has not properly matched their CYMK, RAL and Pantone so they all look the same. There's a lot of different papayas. If I can do it with many trains and many uniforms, they can do it in F1... #F1nerd #designnerd
Doubles Luge on my telly. A sport with a proper origin story*...
M1: What we doing this afternoon?
M2: Well, I thought you could lie on me and we could bomb down this steep icy causeway together.
M1: But if Iβm lying on you what are YOU lying on?
M2: This tea tray.
*may not be 100% accurate.
Noisy day in the York office today, this one just wouldn't stop singing... anyone would think she was an @lner.co.uk TV star or something! ππ
The very same uni at which I did my graphic design degree, graduating in 2005... fantastic memories of a fabulous town. 3 years of living in beautiful Cornwall is good for the soul... and the creative spirit! β€οΈ
Possibly the most colourful train on the UK rail network. And I'm here for it. Excellent work @crosscountryuk.bsky.social π³οΈβπβ€οΈπ
After a long day of design and brand based work in Edinburgh with my good friend and colleague @gawuffy.co.uk, it's time to follow the example set by this Scotrail train we noted as we left the office... π»π»π»
When you gather a team of skilled people, full of creative talent and interiors knowledge, add in a splash of rail expertise and mix with a brand that is proud and passionate about the experience it delivers, you end up with really good railway things. To all those involved at LNER, nicely done πππ
I'm so proud to be able to share the interiors of our Class 897 trains, and the culmination of a two-year project I was privileged to lead on the interior design of - working with LNER colleagues, stakeholders and industry specialists to set a new standard for inter-city train interior design π
I knew the VTEC Mk3 interior I lead the design on was still alive and cruising the rails of Mexico, but I didn't realise they'd created Spanish translations of the signage I designed too - I love it when bits of my design work turn up in unexpected places!
That Midland Mainline one is a stunner, one of Ray Stenning's finest. At the time it was a really fresh and innovative take on a HST livery, and a colourful introduction to the newly privatised railway. Looked properly gorgeous with the matching Mk3s too.
Flying visit to the Cross this morning with @lner.co.uk... I say flying, it was definitely train-ing but... damn, those Azumas are a-zoomy! (Although doesn't that livery just look stunning on that Mk4 DVT... what a beaut!)
Never have I shouted so much at the television. Mainly about Stephen's 1970s Power Rangers jump suit. Oh, and murderous traitors and all that. But mainly... just jumpsuit perfection. #thetraitors
Reaching the end of my first week back in the rail industry... that's right, I'm now 'Brand Designer' in-house at LNER.
Going forward I'll be helping to bring big brand projects to life across the LNER network - exciting times! πβ€οΈπ
(Obvs I can't show you any work, but here's a train pic anyway! π)
Start 2026 as you mean to go on... π»π
2025 was a year to celebrate 200 years of the Britain's railway, and 50 years of the National Railway Museum - and I'm forever grateful I had the opportunity to create iconic designs for both.
2026 will be a year of new beginnings, specifically for yours truly. Stay tuned.
Happy new year, all! ππ»π
This Christmas, I'm mostly learning the intricacies of three aspect railway signalling - ably taught by my three year old nephew and his Duplo train set.
I have much to learn, apparently, as there has been several SPADs, coupled with a major signalling failure. New timetable is going well though!
Today in York. Dodging the city's worst flood water. Supping on the city's finest beer water.
A Class 91 locomotive wearing a bright livery design of multicoloured ribbons and photographs of trains in the National Railway Museum collection, on a turntable in the main exhibition hall of the National Railway Museum in York.
A view looking head on between other displayed locomotives towards a Class 91 locomotive in the main exhibition hall of the National Railway Museum in York.
A Class 91 locomotive wearing a bright livery design of multicoloured ribbons and photographs of trains in the National Railway Museum collection, on a turntable in the main exhibition hall of the National Railway Museum in York.
A close up view of the front of a Class 91 locomotive carrying a cast steel headboard reading "National Railway Museum 50 Years 1975-2025".
It was fun to officially reveal our latest named @lner.co.uk Class 91 loco this morning: "National Railway Museum 50 Years 1975-2025", featuring a stunning livery design by @samjessupdesign.bsky.social, cleverly weaving the NRM and LNER brands whist celebrating the museum's history and its future π
Thank you Andy, so very kind of you! ππ
Yesterday, had the thrill of my livery design work unveiled on the famed turntable in the Great Hall at the National Railway Museum, celebrating 50 years of this great institution, on an @lner.co.uk Class 91. Huge thanks to @gawuffy.co.uk for the incredible effort to bring the design to the rails!