It's quite hard to define a nation except by the rather circular definition of 'a group of people who consider themselves a nation'. But you sort of know one when you see one. And whil… (View Post)

Well, not really. The British Empire was less British than the Ottoman Empire was Turkish, and less British than the French empire was French. Far more use was made of local bigjobs than in other Eur… (View Post)

It only needs to run once a term in each direction. And it would run along the Settle and Carlisle line! You can't get more Hogwartsy than that. Not in England, anyway. (View Post)

I like this conversation. I have often thought this - my favourite station in this regard is York. Which still retains an air of what it must have been like in rail's heyday. (View Post)

Problems we have include: - Britain (well, England) is full. Every inch is valued. Every square foot has its own preservation society. Every field is of historical importance. All our countryside is … (View Post)