Michael Chaplin

I promised you two long reads from The QT archives this weekend (I trust you have already enjoyed the tale from @InsideOutCJ that he discovered when he was in New Zealand). Now I bring you words from that gifted storyteller Michael Chaplin who makes an epic journey through time and space to celebrate perhaps the greatest gift made to the world by the North East— the railways. This was first published in edition 6 of our weekly news magazine. Please share, comment, like etc if you would like us to be able to bring you more of these quality stories. <!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->theqt.online/ticket-to-ride/

And finally... Close the curtains, imagine there’s a roaring gale outside, pour yourself a stiff drink — rum for preference — and follow @MichaelChaplin2's tales of epic voyages of Tyne sailors in search of the most fabulous cargo — and it isn’t gold… theqt.online/all-at-sea-for-…

Coming later today... QT21: We've got a bumper collection of election wishes this week while @paulhtfp ponders electoral reform and @ArlenPettitt points out that inflation may be down but there's a squeeze still to come for families still on fixed-rate mortgage deals. Prepare to have your timbers shivered by @MichaelChaplin2's latest masterclass in storytelling and @DavidJWhetstone discovers the latest attractions at Beamish. @SimonTheQT reports on the wider impact poverty has on our primary schools, and there's stories of redemption and honour from @samwonfor and @Hendrover.