Elizabeth Line Central Core visit

Took a ride on this today, getting off at most of the stations and having a look around. It's a great line and will be an even better one once fully connected up; fast trains, great information displays and huge platforms.

I also had some other good fortune as an enthusiast today:

• witnessing a "scrap move" of two of Southern's withdrawn Class 455s
• seeing a Class 59 and a 2EPB on my journey out to Hayes & Harlington
• Arriving at Romford in time to see two of the older Class 315s arriving. Video to go on YouTube.

Some of my photos are below.

US TV Upfronts 2022

 Some reflections on the recent spate of renewals, cancellations and orders etc.

• The CW, a network that usually gives its shows a final season order to allow them to wrap up their stories, is now up for sale - and decided to go on a show-killing spree, cancelling no less than nine shows, with only Riverdale getting a final season order. Among these was Legends of Tomorrow, the only Arrowverse show I watched regularly and managed to reinvent itself multiple times, which has gone on a cliffhanger ending, which seems very unwise. There is a fan campaign for a renewal, but I don't place too much hope in these things.
• I've yet to see CSI: Vegas, which I expect will get an airing on Paramount Plus when it starts here in June, but that got renewed.
• Blue Bloods is still going, although with a black female NYPD commissioner in real life, is looking rather unrealistic now...
• The Blacklist is still going too; I've yet to see Season 9, so I can't comment.
• Yet to see Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (no UK release until June) but Star Trek: Picard after a very good start, really failed to stick the landing. The third season looks very much a TNG reunion and a send-off for Picard. I will be watching that along with Season 5 of Discovery. The best show in the franchise is frankly Lower Decks.
• The bloom has come very much off the rose with Netflix. They had an expensive flop with Cowboy Bebop (and with that, a lot of pressure will on One Piece to be good), Stranger Things is ending and the tent pole shows are not enough now. With the economic downturn and inflation, many people are cutting back. Netflix will likely have to go for advertising to survive.
• Advertising, though, will be a problem due to the likely global recession we're heading towards.
• Apple TV have become a big name in the streaming world with a lot of highly talked about shows. I intend to watch For All Mankind at some point once I've finished French series Missions on BBC4.
• None of the US network orders have really inspired me; I've not even watched any trailers. They will need to up their game to survive.

Southern Class 455 Farewell

Went to Victoria this evening to see the farewell tour coming in. I wasn't quite expecting that many enthusiasts. I wasn't expecting that many young and loud enthusiasts. I wonder what the security guys were thinking!

I can't begrudge them enjoying it though - it's nice to know that the hobby has motivated newcomers.

So, that's the end of the 455/8s on Southern. We've got the SWR ones still left going for a few months and I may try to do their farewell tour.

Ncuti Gatwa is the Doctor

So, we have our 14th Doctor. Wasn't quite expecting it to drop that suddenly around Sunday lunchtime, but it is what is.

Having never seen Sex Education, which I will now have to do, I wasn't familiar with him, but checking out clips in and out of character on YouTube, he seems like he'll be an excellent Doctor.

Welcome to the franchise, Mr Gatwa. Your life will never be the same again.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Season 13

I backed this on Kickstarter and have seen the first three episodes that have been previewed for backers. Got to say that I thoroughly enjoyed them, including the Q&As afterwards. Personal favourite so far is probably Beyond Atlantis, with some great jokes and an original song that deserves to go on a soundtrack alarm.

Check it out - it's worth your money