It's not been a good few days for the railway, has it ... but, silver linings abound. Or whatever the right phrase is for 'thank fuck things weren't any worse'.

There's been a landslide on the WCML this morning, which derailed a southbound Pendolino. A few bumps and bruises on board, a bit of havoc in the timetable and a little battle damage to the 390 and track, but thankfully that's that. Usual questions to be asked about track upkeep.

Likewise, some loony saw fit to go at people with a knife on the ECML on Halloween ... and yet thanks to some genuine heroics by an onboard staff member (currently in stable condition in hospital) and some seriously quick thinking by a anonymous-as-far-as-I'm-aware signaller to divert the train to Huntingdon, so that armed bastards could subdue and nab the culprit, that's as bad as things were.

It's like, shit happened, as it does, and it's shit that it happened. All you can do is hope that heads are banged together, and books are thrown as needed. Just disheartening to see """enthusiasts""", having grudgingly learned that IS THE TRAIN OK isn't acceptable, are now doing their Chicken Little act and suggesting that seat tray tables should be detachable so they can be used as a bludgeon, or whatever. Fuck's sake.