Latest updates

The most recent updates from my various webpages. To keep up-to-date on the topics covered, follow @andrew_grantham on Twitter for railways (and other things which interest me), and @ConcreteEar for sound mirrors and suchlike.

Railways of Afghanistan

If you thought Afghanistan was bereft of railroads, read on for a story of international intrigue, invasion plans, the Great Game, and powers imperial and hydro-electric.

  • 15 September 2025Herat railway progress
    Deputy Minister of Public Works, Mawlawi Mohammad Ishaq Sahibzada, travelled to Herat province to see progress with the Khaf to Herat railway. Deputy Minister of Public Works, Mawlawi Mohammad Ishaq S …
  • 12 February 2025Herat to Kandahar railway studies commissioned
    د هرات-کندهار د اوسپنيزې کرښې د تفصيلي ډيزاين اړوند (۵) تړونونه د شاوخوا (۲۶۴) ميليونه افغانيو په ارزښت له پنځو شرکتونه سره لاسليک شول۷مه، شعبان المعظم ۱۴۴۶د ا.ا.ا د ټولګټو سرپرست وزير محترم الحاج ملا …
  • 9 February 2025Iran to Afghanistan passenger trains next year?
    The railway from Khaf in Iran to Herat province is ready for passenger services, the official state news agency reports. Bakhtar News Agency says Mustafa Rezaei, CEO of the Afghanistan Railway Develop …
  • 4 February 2025Ministry of Public Works railway video
    در ماه جدی از طریق خطوط آهن (۴۰۸۸۷۶) متریک تُن انتقالات صورت گرفته است.👇 pic.twitter.com/uO6lhcRQvg — Ministry of Public Works – د ټولگټو وزارت (@mopw_afg) February 3, 2025 …
  • 1 February 2025Kabul Mashin Khana railway
    A 1916 photo of the narrow gauge railway at the

Sound mirrors

Follow @ConcreteEar on Twitter for sound mirror news and updates.

  • 20 August 2026Riff Raiders single “Sound Mirror”
    Melbourne, Australia, based “modern hard rockers, Riff Raiders have dropped their latest single SOUND MIRROR and accompanying video to celebrate the physical release of their new album Welcome to Mars …
  • 4 September 2025Concrete at War photo exhibition
    Concrete at War photo exhibition by Mark Wrigley. Concrete at War is a photographic study documenting Britain’s coastal wartime defences. […] The exhibition features ‘sound mirrors,’ an ingenious acou …
  • 15 January 2024Kilnsea sound mirror in The Sun
  • 23 August 2022Naturism and sound mirrors(!)
    Wasn't expecting this! "those looking to get naked on the south coast can head to Abbot’s Cliff in Folkestone. Hotels cost around £70 a night in the Kent area and the beach offers stunning v …
  • 10 November 2021US ‘Sound Mirror’ art exhibition
    VISITOR CENTER is pleased to present its inaugural exhibition ‘Sound Mirror,’ a solo exhibition by Audra Wolowiec featuring works on paper and sculptures investigating the materiality of sound and the …

Railways of Iraq

  • 25 June 2018PC class streamlined loco photo
  • 29 November 2016Pictures of Baghdad Central station
    BBC report In pictures: The crown jewel of Iraq’s railway. See if you can spot the steam loco in the second and the last photos.
  • 13 April 2015Mobile friendly
    I have changed this website’s WordPress theme, so hopefully it should now be more mobile device friendly. Let me know if anything doesn’t work. Meanwhile, I would recommend following “Historical Railw …
  • 16 January 2015New coaches for Iraqi Republic Railways
    Tüvasaş has built 14 coaches for Iraqi Republic Railways, including 2 sleeping, 4 couchette and 2 restaurant cars pic.twitter.com/CM4IdLrKvC — Railway Gazette (@railwaygazette) January 14, 2015
  • 29 September 2014Derailment response vehicle for IRR
    One of 7 Zagro derailment response vehicles ordered by Iraqi Republic Railways, on show at #InnoTrans pic.twitter.com/J0HmL5iUER — Railway Gazette (@railwaygazette) September 26, 2014

Other – travel and similar

If God had intended us to fly, He would never have given us the railways.