Middleton: 25 inch map extract showing the station at Middleton, terminus of the very short L&YR branch from Middleton Junction. There were goods sidings and sheds on both sides of the passenger platforms, which ended very near to the station entrance at the main crossroads in town. Despite this convenience, the line struggled against tram and bus competition and closed to passengers in 1964, and freight a year later. A large factory was later built on the site with all trace of the railway removed. Map added by Mark Bartlett. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland http://maps.nls.uk/index.html.

Middleton: A murky day in Middleton, 27th December 2024. This is the view from Towneley Street into the old station site, now occupied by a factory which was empty and 'For Sale' at the time of this visit. The factory occupies much of the old station and goods yards site but sits roughly in line with the old tracks. However, the station building and platforms were much nearer the road, the tracks stopping roughly where the portacabins are in the picture.

Abbey Wood: 700010, Thameslink to Dartford, heading away from the camera as it departs from Abbey Wood at 14.06 on Saturday, 30th November 2024. On the left, behind the fence (that infuriatingly obstructs the view), 345029 is waiting to depart from the Eizabeth Line terminus with a service to Reading. I managed to get over the bridge and catch that train before it departed which is how I knew the number.

Manchester Victoria: Two class 504s approach their destination at Manchester Victoria, with a working from Bury, in an undated shot from 1991. This service was soon to be converted to be the first part of the Manchester Metrolink system. Still plenty of track to be seen at the east end of Victoria at that time, with the lines going off to the left heading for Red Bank carriage sidings and the Cheetham Hill Loop. The lower part of the huge Victoria East signal box can be seen through the bridge columns.

Severn Tunnel Junction: 37306 is about to go on shed at Severn Tunnel Junction in September 1986. The depot is behind me and we are looking towards Bristol. What a busy place this was once, with a great variety of locos.

Appleby: Colas Rail Plasser & Theurer Tamper DR73921, a regular sight in the north west of England, makes good time through Appleby on Monday 13th January 2025 working 6J11, the 1239hrs Oxenholme Lake District to Garsdale URS. The track machine had been involved in weekend work on the WCML and was positioning ahead of overnight work on the S&C.

Crieff [2nd]: This substantial bridge carried Sauchie Road over the line to Comrie west of Crieff [2nd] station. On this occasion, below the bridge was an interesting assortment of furniture and roadsigns ...

Appleby: Colas Rail 43251 trails the NMT through Appleby station, during a brief period of sunlight on Monday 13th January 2025 working 1Q13, the 1423hrs Carlisle to York. In 1991, after the reopening of the S&C, the Appleby Round Table funded the rebuilding of the water tower at Appleby but it has been made defunct in recent years due to health and safety concerns.