Jan Ford's World

When I started to think back over the year, I was surprised at the variety of things I'd done. Alright, many people might not want to do...

Hitachi's Ashford Depot at night At the end of 2007, I was involved in systems testing on the first Class 395 unit. Testing is based...

The first Class 395, shown in Hitachi's Ashford maintenance depot, is currently involved in pilot trials. Hitachi have a long history...

I hope it won't be regarded as a breach of taste if I digress briefly on Public Conveniences. Washrooms, Restrooms - the euphemisms are ...

Quite by chance, I discovered that London Midland were taking over the former Silverlink and Central Trains franchises on the 12th of Nove...

Remembrance Day 2007 was particularly poignant. All over the globe, conflict, of one sort or another, is still flourishing. Hopes that the ...

Autumn has been rather late this year. When I was in Japan in September, people were telling me how late the trees were changing colour and...

My recent visit to Japan gave me the opportunity to see how they run the railways in Japan. The answer appears to be 'very well', co...

'Thomas' during the re-railing process. Nothing brings a chill to a railwayman like the phrase "They're off the road...

I've chosen the O-Torii Gate on Miyajima as a single symbol of a wonderful trip. I've been back in England for a few days now, b...

Well, not literally a postcard, but I'll try to add a picture when I'm home. In transit through the clean, quiet, efficient airport ...

The Park Hyatt is a very swish, modern hotel, although I think it's been open about 13 years now. It occupies a number of floors starti...

So, what about Sunday? I rose at 6.00am had a little walk exploring the park before breakfast at 7.30. I'd booked an English breakfast a...

I caught the Shinkansen West from Kyoto and changed at Shin Kobe. The line pops out of a tunnel halfway up a wooded mountain, there's ...

This is what the White Heron Castle in Himeji and a D51 look like.

Kyoto Steam Locomotive Museum My last day in Kyoto. Early breakfast, out at 7.50am, walk to nearest subway station and go downtown to Kyo...

The Main Gate of a Shinto shrine in Kyoto I started the day with a short walk in the Imperial Palace Gardens, quite close to the hotel. T...

Geishas in the Gion area of Kyoto As I think we all imagined, the 'Shinkansen' left Nagoya on time and arrived in Kyoto on time, 4...

Nagoya Castle viewed from my hotel My last morning in Nagoya. I slept well, had a buffet breakfast at 7.00am and decided to try out the...

Nagoya is the fourth largest city in Japan, I think, but for some reason it is to the Japanese like Wolverhampton to the English - a laughin...