October channel update!

Hi everyone, just a quick update for what I'm working on at the moment!

Firstly, thanks to everyone who sent in a question for the Q&A - I got about 130 questions all up, and there are some really good ones in there! I have recorded the audio of me answering them all (some similar ones grouped together), and it's going to be very long-form - probably around 90 minutes. However it won't take long to produce as I am basically just talking through it all 'live,' so there will be very minimal editing. I plan on filming a walk through the city of equivalent length to give it some visual interest. I expect to have the whole thing done and uploaded within the next couple of weeks.

The next most complete video is about bus replacements - it's specifically about the ~2.5 months worth of bus replacements we had on the Hurstbridge line over the last 12 months, but is also a general commentary on Melbourne bus replacements overall. This will be a bit of a critical opinion video, but as usual I'll try to make it a bit entertaining as well.

The Upfield line video is progressing slowly but surely, I'm making pretty good progress on the writing for it. I probably need to make a few trips out there to get some more footage/images shortly. But I think it's going to be a good one, and will hopefully rival the Hurstbridge line video in both interest and length.

I have several 'almost' finished scripts, where I'm waiting for inspiration to strike, or trying to sort out exactly how they should be laid out. The most complete one is about the divide between V/line and Metro and, and the various issues with the way suburban/interurban/long distance trains are operated. This will also include some discussion about future electrification of the V/line network. I have also made a good start on a more general explainer video on the V/line fleet similar to the most recent suburban train video, as I'm getting more and more requests to do something on V/line.

One video I've had in the back of my mind for ages but have finally made a decent start on is an explainer on Adelaide suburban trains - this will be similar to the one I did about Melbourne sparks showing their timeline and evolution. It won't cover the steam era in depth, but will focus on the diesel railcars through to the EMUs (finally getting there Maikha!).

My 'real' job is picking up a bit as we get closer to the end of the year which might limit the time I have for the channel, but overall my production time has been speeding up a bit as I'm getting more practiced at it all.

The picture: an artifact created during production of my last video.

Thanks as always for your ongoing support!

Martin