Best Ian Forth Podcasts (2025)

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Ian Lavery MP and Caroline Ball – World Cup Winner Ashington 10:56

Play Pause

5h ago10:56

10:56

When Ashington Station reopened in December 2024, having been closed as part of the Beeching cuts, the impact of the railway on this north east town has been more than ever imagined, it has been described as life changing for the community. The town was home to World Cup winners Jack and Bobby Charlton, along with fellow footballer Jackie Milburn. …

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Episode 141 - A "Found Fiction" Holiday Episode 25:24

2h ago25:24

25:24

Our final episode of our fifth season is a special holiday episode. It's part of a continuing series we like to call "Found Fiction." We present a story first published in 1903: "The Fur Coat: The Story of a Matrimonial Difference" by Ludwig Fulda. It was discovered on Project Gutenberg in an anthology published in 1907 by P. F. Collier & Son - The…

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SF0201 Festive Forthy 2025 Pt 3, #14-1 1:12:40

9h ago1:12:40

1:12:40

Ignore the rest, settle only for these 14 best tracks of 2025!By Ian Deeker Forth

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Clare Wildfire – Great Great Great Grandaughter of rail pioneer Edward Pease 3:41

1d ago3:41

3:41

Railway 200 has caused Clare Wildfire to reflect and reconnect with her ancestral legacy of industrialist Edward Pease, one of the leading lights in the launch of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Edward Pease was visionary in being able to project into the future about how the railway will change lives and communities. Today Clare is involved i…

1
Findlay Napier – Firecracker on 21st Century Folk 12:44

2d ago12:44

12:44

Folk singer songwriter Findlay Napier recalls writing “Firecracker”, a song he wrote about Joanne Ormesher as part of BBC Radio 2’s 21st Century folk project which this year celebrated Railway 200, turning rail stories into songs, written and performed by top musicians like Findlay. Listen to Firecracker and all of the 21st Century Folk songs celeb…

1
Steve Williams – A journey like no other 8:22

4d ago8:22

8:22

Driver and Permanent Way operative Steve Williams drives a train like no other in the country. With a top speed of 6.5 mph, a maximum gradient of 20% and with no connection between the engine and passenger carriage, the Snowdon Mountain Railway opened in 1896 and has been carrying tourists and day trippers to summit of Snowdon ever since. After a t…

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Dr Bob Nicholson – The birth of the platform bookstore 8:03

6d ago8:03

8:03

The train is a place of reading says Dr Bob Nicholson, Historian of Victorian Culture. Time spent on the train has always been used as a time to read. Today that might be on a smartphone, but before news apps, audio books and digital readers, rail travellers would buy newspapers, books and specifically edited journals and magazines designed for the…

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SF0200 Festive Forthy 2025 Pt 2, #27-15 1:05:21

6d ago1:05:21

1:05:21

SF0200 Festive Forthy 2025 Pt 2, #27-15 by Ian Deeker ForthBy Ian Deeker Forth

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Sherin Aminossehe – Meet me under the clocks 14:55

7d ago14:55

14:55

Sherin Aminossehe arrived in the UK as a young 6 year old girl. Her love of the railway was almost immediately piqued on a family holiday to Torquay. Today Sherin is an architect and an artist; it was a drawing project during lockdown that started her thinking about station clocks and the connections that people make as they meet under them. From T…

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Luke Ryan - The Talyllyn Railway and Rev Wilbert Awdry 10:23

9d ago10:23

10:23

Talyllyn Railway volunteer Luke Ryan describes the history and heritage of the world’s first preserved heritage railway. Originally built to transport slate down from the North Wales mines it was also designed with passengers in mind. Despite all the changes to the rail industry over the centuries, Talyllyn has remined independent and in 1951 it wa…

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Dr Neil Strong – promoting the flora and fauna of the rail network 10:46

11d ago10:46

10:46

Did you know that the railway provides one of nature’s unique corridors, abundant with plants and wildlife? Far from being isolated boundary strips of land, the trackside is alive with flora and fauna. This unique habitat provides an environment for both rare and unique plant life. Dr Neil Strong is the Biodiversity Strategy Manager for Network Rai…

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Toufic Machnouk – Evolution or revolution for the railway of the future? 25:33

12d ago25:33

25:33

By Railway 200

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SF0199 Festive Forthy 2025 Pt 1, #40-28 1:09:19

13d ago1:09:19

1:09:19

It's the most wonderful time of the year when we start to unleash this year's Festive Forthy (Best of 2025).By Ian Deeker Forth

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Episode 140 - Anna Monardo: AFTER ITALY: A FAMILY MEMOIR OF ARRANGED MARRIAGE 55:12

14d ago55:12

55:12

Nebraska author Anna Monardo joins me to talk about her books After Italy: A Family Memoir of Arranged Marriage and The Courtyard of Dreams (both from Bordighera Press). She reveals the unique connection shared by these books - one CNF and the other fiction - and the writer's journey that made them both possible. https://annamonardo.com/ Support th…

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Alan Ross – Celebrating the Forth Bridge 9:12

15d ago9:12

9:12

Alan Ross, Engineering and Asset Manager for Network rail in Scotland takes us a journey over the iconic Forth Bridge. From his first impressions as a 17 year in awe of the bridge, through to today he was part of the team who made the case for why the bridge should be recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. At just under 2.5km in length, wit…

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Colin Haynes – Telling the stories behind the names 12:00

18d ago12:00

12:00

A passion for history and his natural curiosity led Colin Haynes, Director of Environment, Health and Safety at Alstom, to research into the stories of the names on the war memorials at the Crewe works site. What started as a winter project has become much bigger, unearthing stories of Railway factory workers who gave their lives in both World Wars…

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Dr Mike Esbester – People make the railway 15:21

20d ago15:21

15:21

People are fundamental to the railways - none more so than the staff who keep everything moving. But how do we find out about railway workers of 100 or more years ago? What was working life like for them? And how did an innovative safety campaign spread from the railways to influence British society? University of Portsmouth historian Dr Mike Esbes…

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Niccy Hallifax – Artistic and Festival Director of S&DR200 15:21

21d ago15:21

15:21

What started as a month long celebration soon became a nine month national celebration and the S&DR200 festival continues to grow onwards into 2026. The artistic and festival Director of S&DR200, Niccy Hallifax, reflects back on the some of the highlights of and looks forward at the legacy of the anniversary year in County Durham and Tees Valley.…

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Iain Quinn - a nostalgic look back at the connections between the railways and the Waverley paddle steamer 4:10

24d ago4:10

4:10

Iain Quinn, quartermaster on The Waverley, the last sea-going paddle steamer in Great Britain, takes a nostalgic look at the connection between rail and sail. His earliest memory of travelling on the Waverley goes back to childhood when he used to travel by train then take the paddle steamer via Craigendoran to get home to Dunoon, West of Glasgow.…

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Samina Siddiqui - Muslims on the railways 7:33

27d ago7:33

7:33

Author Samina Siddiqui shares her joy at researching the stories of Muslims working on Britain’s railways. Through listening to stories from Muslims working on the railways across the 60s, 70s, and 80s Samina uncovered rich themes of duty, service and a real sense of belonging and community. The research has also inspired her to dig into her own fa…

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Episode 139 - Vishwas R. Gaitonde: "The Wrath of Allah" 46:27

28d ago46:27

46:27

Author Vishwas R. Gaitonde started life in India, and then made his way to England and finally the US, having lived in many states before settling in North Carolina. His short story collection On Earth As It Is In Heaven won the 2023 Orison Prize for fiction, and was published by Orison Books in 2025. We read "The Wrath of Allah," a story from On E…

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Jools Townsend - Giving communities a voice through the Community Rail Network 13:25

1M ago13:25

13:25

Jools Townsend, Chief Executive of the Community Rail Network explains the important history, evolution and contribution of the Community Rail Network to our relationship with the railways. Set up around 30 years ago, the Community Rail Network aims to help and encourage communities and community groups to get involved with their railways so they g…

1
Mark Smith – The Man in Seat 61 5:38

1M ago5:38

5:38

In the original Eurostar cars 7, 8, 11 or 12 seat 61 gave Mark Smith the perfect table and window view he wanted. So on special trips he would always book this place on the train. Inevitably when this career railwayman developed a website about international train travel it could have only one name. Inspired by a school trips by train to the then L…

1
SF0198 Peak Pulp Revisited 30 Years On 1:06:59

1M ago1:06:59

1:06:59

Pulp are back in 2025 but their heyday was the 90s when they influenced the artists featured in this episodeBy Ian Deeker Forth

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Linda Hilton – Stories from her railwayman dad John Monk 11:36

1M ago11:36

11:36

The railway has been a part of Linda Hilton’s life since she was a young girl. In this Great Rail Tale, Linda tells of her love of listening to some of her dad’s stories from a career spent on the rails with his closest friend Brian Selkeld. John and Brian worked together for decades but lost touch after retirement. A chance meeting bought these tw…

1
Susan Major – The Railway Women of World War 2 10:30

1M ago10:30

10:30

Author Susan Major tells the story of the role of women on the railway during World War 2 from her research of the oral history collections at the National Railway Museum.By Railway 200

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Christian Wolmar - The railway and war 12:44

1M ago12:44

12:44

Journalist, author and railway historian Christian Wolmar reflects on the role that trains, and the railway network had on wars and the ways that war have been fought. Rather than just ferrying troops to or from embarkation ports, Christian explains how the symbiotic relationship between trains and frontlines has shaped modern warfare. He reflects …

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Episode 138 - Ian Forth: "Every Little Thing Gonna Be Alright" 52:12

1M ago52:12

52:12

Author Ian Forth divides his time between Bordeaux, France and Wales. His debut story collection Hazlitt and the Mobility Scooter (Hard Travelling Books) was released this year. He's also a memoirist, with two published titles: Water Under the Bridge: Recollections from an Only Life, and Canal Conversations: Cycling on the Canal des Deux Mers. We r…

1
John Chalmers – Driving Her Majesty the Late Queen to Paris 12:19

2M ago12:19

12:19

To mark the centenary of the Entente Cordiale between Great Britain and France, Queen Elizabeth II travelled to Paris on the Eurostar. John Chalmers was chosen to drive the train that day and recalls how his career as an apprentice railman took him to the platform of Gard du Nord to be introduced to his Royal passengers.…

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Penny Allen – Discovering the railway is in your blood 4:17

2M ago4:17

4:17

A shift in career led Penny Allen down an entirely different life track. A passion for the railway was born and soon led to her discovering that the railway was already in her blood. In Penny’s Great Rail Tale she recalls her family background in the railway and how it has shaped her life today.By Railway 200

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SF0197 Self Referential Songs 1:06:12

2M ago1:06:12

1:06:12

Songs with the title or the content about the band who are singing it.By Ian Deeker Forth

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Alan Brooks – Oh la la! Driving the first train through the Channel Tunnel 8:54

2M ago8:54

8:54

Eurostar driving instructor, Alan Brooks recalls a lifetime on the rails that he can trace back to a French class at school. But what started at school ended up with Alan driving one of the very first trains to travel through the newly completed Channel Tunnel.By Railway 200

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Tim Shoveller – From steam volunteer to CEO Freightliner Group 8:33

2M ago8:33

8:33

A railwayman through and through, Tim Shoveller found himself using his bardic lamp to help guide an ambulance to a halt when his wife went into early labour. But his railway life started long before parenthood. Tim was first introduced to the railway trainspotting with his mother on the platform at Reading. The railway found its way into his blood…

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Episode 137 - Michael Hopkins: "Foreclosure" 59:41

2M ago59:41

59:41

Wisconsin author Michael Hopkins is an award-winning writer whose debut collection Never Stop Exiting (Cornerstone Press) was released this year. It has been called "stealthily complex and persistently compassionate" by Phong Nguyen, author of Bronze Drum. We read "Foreclosure," a story from the collection. https://www.michaelhopkinswriter.com/ Sup…

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Christina Burgess – Remembering Joseph Harrop 4:01

2M ago4:01

4:01

Volunteer at the multi award winning Goostrey station, in this Great Rail Tale Christina Burgess recalls work and roles that railway worker, Joseph Harrop had at the station and on the Crewe – Manchester Line over his half a century of service. Telling Joseph’s story is part of a wider storytelling event at Goostrey station where friends of Goostre…

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Alex Alder – Discovering 39 tonnes of miracle 9:32

2M ago9:32

9:32

When engineer and rail enthusiast, Alex Alder, got a message in a group chat saying someone had found a scrapped steam engine, little did he know the story and adventure that was waiting for him in a shed at the far end of the grounds of a convent.By Railway 200

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SF0196 The Twilight Turntable Co-Hosting Episode 1:17:41

2M ago1:17:41

1:17:41

Co-hosting with Paul Howarth and Tony Harris, my friends over at the Twilight Turntable podcast: they choose some tracks to reflect the story of their musical lives.By Ian Deeker Forth

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Lewis Smith – What’s behind one of the world’s most famous logos? 13:16

2M ago13:16

13:16

The iconic British Rail logo is one of, if not, the most recognisable brand images in the world. But what is behind the logo? What do these iconic double arrows reflect and what imagery does it conjure in our collective mindset? While some people might imagine dirty, late or cancelled trains, Dr Lewis Smith, Marketing Lecturer from Brunel Universit…

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Jenny Clementson – Researching the railway of the future 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

Research project manager from the University of Derby, Jenny Clementson’s background was in the rail industry. Today she leads on the industry connected academic research into the future of our railway. From hydrogen powered shunting wagons to AI deciding where, when and how to implement infrastructure maintenance this is the edge where design, ide…

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Sam Slatcher – Passengers and Pioneers 13:08

2M ago13:08

13:08

Passengers and Pioneers is an album of stories from 1825 to today that celebrate what it means to be a passenger and travelling on a railway line. A writer in residence session with the Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership gave singer songwriter and heritage enthusiast, Sam Slatcher, a deep insight and connection to the route and people of the no…

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Episode 136 - Lauren D. Woods: "Clementine" 1:05:48

2M ago1:05:48

1:05:48

Washington DC author Lauren D. Woods discusses her debut collection The Great Grown-Up Game of Make-Believe, winner of the 2024 Autumn House Fiction Prize, with her husband and SST alum Andrew Bertaina (Ep. 10). We read her story "Clementine," which was first published in The Antioch Review. Support the show…

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Shahiesta Raja – Stations of Welcome 10:32

2M ago10:32

10:32

Shahiesta describes her job as the best job in the world. She is the education development officer for Community Rail Lancashire. Her passion is supporting south Asian Muslim women living in Lancashire feel a sense of belonging and connection with the local rail network. By supporting and encouraging women to travel by train she gets huge satisfact…

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The Bee Friendly Trust – Pollinating the platforms 10:33

3M ago10:33

10:33

Our platforms and rail networks are alive with wildlife. Hanging baskets, wildflower planters and station gardens are all helping bees pollinate the flora around the stations and tracks. This, in turn, encourages an increased biodiversity of fauna, even in the most urban areas. Emma Pritchard and the Trust’s founder, Luke Dixon describe how by work…

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SF0195 Merge Record Label 1:14:11

3M ago1:14:11

1:14:11

Tracks from bands signed to the doyen of US indie labels, MergeBy Ian Deeker Forth

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David Pitt – Adventures on the Iron Road 5:34

3M ago5:34

5:34

By Railway 200

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Roy Edwards – The Railway Clearing House – The first human supercomputer 11:40

3M ago11:40

11:40

The Railway Clearing House revolutionised the allocation of revenues collected for travelling passengers and the carriage of freight on the early rail network. Described as the original human supercomputer, a work force of hundreds would account for and distribute funds collected owed to railway owning companies. Dr Roy Edwards is Lecturer within S…

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Episode 135 - David Haynes: "That's Right, You're Not From Texas" 1:06:25

3M ago1:06:25

1:06:25

Missouri author David Haynes's long-awaited debut story collection Martha's Daughter has finally arrived after seven novels and five books for young readers. It is the sixth volume in McSweeney's OF THE DIASPORA series. SST alum Stanley Stocker (Ep. 42) interviews David about his life and work, and we read "That's Right, You're Not From Texas," whi…

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Jonathan Whitmore – Railway modelling through simulators 5:57

3M ago5:57

5:57

Artist, railway history enthusiast, and YouTuber Jonathan Whitmore explores the world of railway scenes through virtual railway simulators. Having recreated some himself, he reflects on the imagination and dedication that go into building digital versions of the great routes from around the world. These simulators can replicate railways in astonish…

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Lord Hendy – The Minister for Rail with transport in his blood 12:45

3M ago12:45

12:45

The railway has been a part of Lord Hendy’s life since he was a young lad, listening to the passing roars and whistles of the passing steam trains on the Great Western Line. But it was family holidays, travelling by train down to Cornwall that gave him a huge sense of adventure by rail. His passion for heritage railways is deeply rooted in their in…

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SF0194 Beauty lies in the eye 1:05:58

3M ago1:05:58

1:05:58

All eyes on this collection of tracks about watching, looking and seeingBy Ian Deeker Forth