Stainmore Summit: Photograph taken from The Stainmore Limited eastbound over Stainmore summit on 20 January 1962. See image [[24103]]

Stainmore Summit: View from a train - 1962. Photograph taken from The Stainmore Limited, as 77003+76049 haul the 9 coach special over Stainmore summit, commemorating the end of operations on the line. The South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway route across the Pennines was notorious for snow blockages in winter with a summit height of 1,370 ft (compared with Shap at 914 ft and Beattock at 1,033 ft) placing it between Slochd (1315 ft) and Britain's highest main line summit at Druimuachdar (1484 ft). The old cast iron summit signs are now preserved, one at the NRM in York, the other at North Road Museum in Darlington.

Exeter St Davids: Class 50 no 50002 Superb at Exeter St Davids on 20 January 1991 in Network SouthEast livery.

Peebles Goods: The trackbed of the former NB line turning east out of Peebles towards Galashiels, shortltly after leaving the station. Photographed in January 2005. See image [[31892]]

Peebles CR and NBR Junction: View east from the Tweed Bridge along the south bank of the river in 2005 showing the route of the former line from the Caledonian station (behind the camera) which crossed the river in the distance to link with the NB system on the north side see image [[29949]].

Peebles Goods: The old goods/weighbridge office in the former goods yard at Peebles in January 2005.

Peebles Tweed Viaduct: Site of the former crossing point of the Caley/NB link bridge across the Tweed at Peebles in January 2005. Note the surviving part of the bridge abutment on the opposite (north) bank.

Edinburgh Waverley: Here we go again...Work underway on Waverley's west end platforms on 20 January 2007.

Balwhirley Tunnel South: The G&SW line to Princes Pier approaching the twin Cartburn tunnels from the east. Here it crosses the Wemyss Bay line. From the bottom right to centre is the Kilmacolm trackbed, while to the centre right is the Inchgreen branch trackbed, later used as the goods line to the Container Terminal.

Greenock Ladyburn Shed: A Class 334 approaching Cartsdyke passes the location of Ladyburn Shed in Greenock.

Edinburgh Waverley: The Newcraighall shuttle service at Waverley on 20 January 2007. With platform space at a premium during the current works the service has been relegated to the east end of platform 9 on this occasion.

Edinburgh Waverley: Sleeper stalwarts nos 90028 and 90027 standing in the east end locomotive bay at Waverley on 20 January 2007.

Cairns Central Station: Kuranda service arriving at Cairns Central. All railways North of Brisbane are 3ft 6in gauge.

Glasgow Central: Passengers boarding 221143 at Platform 5 at Glasgow Central on a service to Birmingham New Street

Blackgrange: 170 460 nears Blackgrange level crossing with a Glasgow Queen Street - Alloa service on 20 January.

Kilbagie: EWS 66197 passes Kilbagie on 20 January 2009 with a Hunterston-Longannet coal train on the direct route via Stirling and Alloa.

Clydebank: Although long after sunrise, full daylight seemed a long time coming at Clydebank on a dull 20 January. Meantime 320 302 prepared to leave with one of the four trains an hour on the short hop to Dalmuir. Class 320s can't use the Argyle Line, so this service had stayed north of the Clyde - from Springburn in fact.

Springburn: The opening of the Cowlairs Cord in 1993 allowed direct running between Glasgow and the Cumbernauld line (without reversing) for the first time since Buchanan Street station closed in 1966. The non-top service this allows between Springburn and Glasgow Queen Street is unsurprisingly more popular than multi-stopping services through Glasgow Queen Street Low Level which head of in the opposite direction from the bay platforms.  158 739, seen here on 20 January, will be at High Level station in just a few minutes.

Singer: Singer station is rather unusual in that it is named only after a brand: the nearby Singer factory never gave its name to the locality; IBM station is not quite the same as it serves only the factory and is not for the public. If, radically, Singer were to have been given a geographical name, then 'Clydebank North' might have suited, 'Kilbowie' having been spoken for by the NB station. On 20 January 318 263 calls with a Larkhall service.

Pollokshields West: In the fading light of a winter afternoon 314 204 is about to come to a halt at Pollokshields West, its first stop on a Cathcart Inner Circle working.

Exhibition Centre: Although there had been a Finnieston station on a different line, the more recent Finnieston was new when the Argyle line opened in 1979. It did however overlap the site of Stobcross station which had closed when the old Glasgow Central low level line closed in 1964.  The new Finnieston was renamed Exhibition Centre after the opening of the venue in 1985.  On 20 January 2010, unit 318 250 pulls in heading West and will shortly start climbing the 1979 innovation to Finnieston East Junction where it will join the North Clyde Lines.

Yoker: The press got hold of the announcements '...via Yoker not calling at Yoker' some years ago and made the name briefly famous.  Why Yoker was chosen to signify this route is a bit of a mystery as it's the least used station of the five - Jordanhill, Scotstounhill, Garscadden, Yoker and Clydebank - and surely the least recognizable location (forgive me, Yoker).  However it is now established.  On the cold grey morning of 20 January 318 250 brings in a Dalmuir service with a Lanarkshire origin.

Springburn: Springburn - 158 718 with a Cumbernauld service on 20 January 2010

Crosshill: The island platform at Crosshill is unusually narrow.  The ticket office is more like a booth with the window onto the platform and there's certainly no space for a waiting room.  The benches on the platform are even in single file. Photographed in January 2010.

Glasgow Central Low Level: Only the fluted pillars betray the real age of Low Level station (opened 1896) in this view taken on 20 January 2010.  So integral is it to the SPT network that it is hard to believe it was closed between 1964 and 1979.  334 032 halts a few minutes, as timetabled, with a service for Milngavie.

Springburn: Waves of modernisation have swept away most station buildings of character in suburban Glasgow, but Springburn's ticket office on workaday Atlas Road seems to be original.  The lower storey meets platform 2 at an angle but it is not used and platforms are accessed by footbridge.

Sighthill East Junction [2nd]: Virgin 57 305 John Tracy (formerly 47 822) reverses in order to switch lines at Sighthill East Junction on 20 January 2010.

Exhibition Centre: In this view from the east, Exhibition Centre station presents a deceptively junction-like appearance. In fact the track on the far left is a siding, and platforms 2 and 1 serve the Argyle Line westbound and eastbound respectively. The westbound track remains in the open and joins the North Clyde Line at Finnieston East Junction, while the track from Finnieston West has had to burrow under the North Clyde Line (among other things) in the 950yd Kelvinhaugh Tunnel which opens straight onto Platform 1. From there 318261 departs for Larkhall on 20 January.

Pollokshaws West: Pollokshaws West shrouded in fog on 20th January 2011. View looks North West.

Pollokshaws West: 156507 about to disappear into the fog after departing Pollokshaws West on 20 January with a service to East Kilbride.

Barassie Junction: Freightliner 66551 on 4S06 York Holgate to Hunterston empty HHAs on 20 January. The train was unusually diverted via the G&SW line rather than the WCML. This necessitated a run round in Barassie reversing spur from which it is seen emerging on the final leg of its journey to Hunterston.

Highbury and Islington: London Overground units 378137 and 378153 at a snowy Highbury & Islington station on 20th January 2013.

Great Portland Street: A scene on the world's first Underground, the Metropolitan Railway, with a now withdrawn train of LUL C69 stock on a Hammersmith & City Line service to Barking departing from Great Portland Street station, while just above outside in the street heavy snow was falling, on 20th January 2013. Wikipaedia, like most Londoners, insists on calling the sub-surface lines 'tubes' which is quite incorrect. It was only when the deep-level lines that were bored through the clay came into being, starting with the City & South London Railway (now part of the Northern Line) in 1890, that the word 'tube' was coined but that term is now applied, very wrongly, to the entire London Underground network.

Haggerston: 378153, with a London Overground service to Highbury & Islington, arriving at Haggerston station through the snow on 20th January 2013. This station opened in 2010, just north of the previous station of that name that had closed after heavy war damage in 1940. The station is on the partially reopened Broad Street viaduct of the North London Railway opened in 1865 and closed in 1986.

Highbury and Islington: 378153, with a London Overground service, just arrived at Highbury & Islington station where it terminated, in the heavy snow of 20th January 2013.

Highbury and Islington: London Overground units 378153 and 378137 at Highbury & Islington in heavy snow on 20th January 2013.

Gospel Oak: Gospel Oak, looking west, in heavy snow on 20th January 2013. This station was opened as Kentish Town by the Hampstead Junction Railway in 1860 and renamed Gospel Oak in 1867. It was rebuilt in this sturdy style by the London Midland Region of BR in 1955. The bay platform for trains to Barking is down the far end on the right and opened in 1981 on the site of one closed in 1925 (when trains to Chingford were withdrawn) when trains from Barking were diverted here from Kentish Town.

Highbury and Islington: 378231, with a London Overground service to Stratford, calling at Highbury & Islington in inclement conditions on 20th January 2013.

Haggerston: Haggerston, London Overground, looking south in the heavy snow that prevailed on the afternoon of Sunday, 20th January 2013. This station opened in April 2010, concurrently with the partial reopening of the former North London Railway's Broad Street viaduct of 1865, linked via a new stretch of track at Shoreditch to the former London Underground East London Line. This is on a site just to the north of the original Haggerston station that closed after heavy WWII bomb damage in 1940. One of its platforms still exists on the left, beyond the station, in the far background.

Whitechapel [ELR]: 378137, with a southbound London Overground service, arriving at Whitechapel station on a snowy 20th January 2013.

Kirkby Lonsdale: Half a bridge is better than none. Just east of the old Kirkby Lonsdale station, on the Low Gill to Clapham line, is the village of Cowan Bridge where this bridge carried the railway over the lane to Leck. With the embankment having been removed many years ago it is surprising that the low bridge hasn't gone too but it still straddles the road, 47 years after it carried its last train. Map Ref SD636765.

Barbican: The disused Widened Lines platforms at Barbican station, with the still extant Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines platforms on the left, looking east in the snow on Sunday, 20th January 2013. This station opened as Aldersgate Street in 1865 with the extension of the Metropolitan Railway from Farringdon Street (now Farringdon) to Moorgate Street (now Moorgate) and was renamed Aldersgate & Barbican in 1923 (though it was never shown on the famous London Underground diagram as such, only as Aldersgate) and finally to just Barbican in 1968. The former all-over glass roof was destroyed in the London Blitz of World War Two and the frame was taken down in 1955 but it is still possible to see the support brackets on the walls of the two side platforms, above the replacement canopies. For many years, this station was closed on Sundays but is now open full-time again.

Barbican: The disused Widened Lines platforms at Barbican station, looking west, in the snow on Sunday, 20th January 2013. This station opened in 1865 and once boasted a magnificent all-over glass roof that disintegrated during the London 'Blitz' air raids and the frame was taken down in 1955. It is still possible to see the brackets that supported the roof all the way along the outer walls of the station. The signal box in the background has since been demolished. I would also refer you to Sir John Betjeman's delightful poem 'Monody on the Death of Aldersgate Street station' (under which name the station opened in 1865) in which he describes his love for the London that once was and his horror for the changes that came after 1945.

Hawes: A thin layer of snow at Hawes station but a scene otherwise unchanged for many years. View towards Aysgarth from the road overbridge in January 2013. There is clearly not much heat being generated from the boiler of the G5 lookalike tank engine which has been on static display here for a long time now.

Ais Gill Summit: This southbound coal train has just crossed the summit at Ais Gill and is now accelerating along the undulating section through Garsdale and Dent to Blea Moor. Freightliner 66512 caught me by surprise as no coal trains are scheduled on a Sunday and I presume this must have been either an additional working or one delayed by the weather.

Gospel Oak: 378210, with a London Overground service to Richmond, departing from Gospel Oak station in the heavy snow of a freezing Sunday afternoon, 20th January 2013. Most people who alighted here were armed with sledges, off to enjoy themselves on the slippery slopes of Parliament Hill which the line runs alongside just to the west of the station.

Kirkby Stephen: Sunday scene at Kirkby Stephen (West) looking up the gradient from the station footbridge. The drop in temperature up here on the S&C, and the amount of snow, compared with the town below was most noticeable.

Whitechapel [Metro]: LUL D78 stock (now withdrawn) on a District Line service to Barking at Whitechapel station in heavy snow on 20th January 2013.

Gospel Oak: 172006, with a London Overground GOBLIN service to Barking, waiting to depart from Gospel Oak. This view is looking west in heavy snow on 20th January 2013.

Ribblehead: Light snow on a grey Sunday morning at Ribblehead in January 2013. Looking towards Horton-in-Ribblesdale the staggered Down platform can be seen and also the timber loading sidings.

Ribblehead: Ribblehead viaduct, the Station Inn and the long snow covered station approach road in January 2013. This image was taken from the entrance to the railway station car park.

Gospel Oak: 172006, on a London Overground GOBLIN service to Barking, waiting to depart from the bay platform at Gospel Oak station. The through platforms served by LO services between Stratford and Clapham Junction or Richmond are on the left. Until April 1981, trains from Barking on this line ran to Kentish Town on the Midland Main Line; the section that trains now follow from just west of Upper Holloway to Gospel Oak had been freight only since 1925. This bay platform also dates from the diversion of trains to Gospel Oak in 1981. The freight lines are on the right behind the train which make a junction with the LO electrified lines just to the west of the station, to which this view is looking, in the snow on 20th January 2013. Beyond the station, in the far right background, is Parliament Hill on the north side of the line and which was full of sledgers on this wintry Sunday afternoon and their shouts and squeals of laughter permeated through the blizzard across to the station.

Crouch Hill: Crouch Hill station on the London Overground GOBLIN, looking south-west towards Gospel Oak in the snow on Sunday, 20th January 2013. This is my local station and I was glad to get home out of the cold. The scene has changed completely here now with the installation of the masts and overhead wires for the line's forthcoming electrification but as of January 2019, us north Londoners are STILL waiting for our electric trains, promised a year or more ago, with the 172 DMUs continuing to run indefinitely - and with a reduced service at weekends, too.

Crouch Hill: 172006, with a London Overground GOBLIN service from Gospel Oak to Barking, calling at Crouch Hill station in north London, on the cold and snowy afternoon of Sunday, 20th January 2013.

Kirkby Stephen: Looking at the restored station buildings at Kirkby Stephen (West) it is hard to believe the station was closed from 1970 until its 1986 re-opening. It is about two miles from (and much higher than) the town centre but is quite well used now and has trains seven days a week throughout the year. View north towards Appleby from the station footbridge.

Haymarket: Stained glass at Haymarket, January 2014.

Welshpool Raven Square: A long disconnected vintage points operating mechanism seen by Welshpool Raven Square station on 20 January 2014.

Machynlleth: Arriva Trains Wales 158820 is stabled in the former 89C steam shed at Machynlleth. The shed is now used as a deep under-frame cleaning facility.

Llanfair Caereinion: The station approach signal bracket and signal box at Llanfair Caereinion on 20 January 2014.

Kilmarnock: Network Rail track recording train headed by DBSO 9703 leads DRS 37603 into Kilmarnock station on 20 January 2014.

Kilmarnock: DRS 37603 about to take the Network Rail track recording train away from Kilmarnock on 20 January.

Llanfair Caereinion: Diesel loco and rolling stock, including what appears to be a works mess unit, are seen in this view over Llanfair Caereinion yard, looking towards the station, during the winter closure period.

Welshpool Raven Square: The Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway terminus station at Welshpool in January 2014. View from the adjacent A458 road looking towards Raven Square and the Raven Inn.

Kilmarnock: Network Rail track recording train headed by DRS 37603 about to depart from Kilmarnock station on 20 January 2014.

St Andrew Square [Tram]: Edinburgh trams 268 and 262 pass at St Andrew Square tram stop on 20 January 2015.

Glasgow Central Low Level: The drab decor on Glasgow Central Low level platform 17 since the yellow panels have been removed. Platform 16 on the other side retains its panels for now. Perhaps a colourful tulip motiv will be forthcoming on the change of franchise?

Easter Road: 67025 passes the former Easter Road Junction with the returning Oxwellmains - Powderhall empty 'bins' on 20 January 2015.

Alnwick (Lionheart) : Progress at the Aln Valley Railway's under-construction Lionheart station, Alnwick, looking towards Alnmouth on 20 January 2015. The new station now boasts platforms, water crane, signal cabin and some handsome signal posts.

Carnforth: A pair of red and gold DBS Class 90s take the Dollands Moor to Irvine china clay tanks through Carnforth on 20th January 2016. 90020 Collingwood is working in multiple with 90039 but, due to the ongoing Lamington viaduct repairs, they will be replaced by diesel traction at Kingmoor rather than Mossend.

Garstang and Catterall: 37401 propels the 0515 Carlisle to Preston through Garstang & Catterall on a dull 20th January 2017. The train is about to pass the Highways England salt store that serves the adjacent M6 Motorway.

Shrubhill Tram Depot: Part of the former Edinburgh Corporation Shrubhill tram depot on 20 January 2017, showing the unique octagonal brick chimney which once served the site's power station. The chimney is to be retained as an integral part of the redeveloped site.

Didcot Parkway: 66's still dominate on freight at Didcot, although apparently GBRf are taking over some DB EWS turns. 66108, 66103 and 66030, running light from Acton to Hinksey (Oxford), pass through on a murky 20th January 2018.

Didcot Parkway: GBRf 66753 EMD Roberts Road, westbound at speed through Platform 3 at Didcot on 20th January 2018 heading for Cardiff.

Didcot Parkway: New GWR EMU 387166 at Didcot on 20th January 2018, waiting to head back to Paddington.

Alexandra Parade: These days Alexandra Parade is days mainly served by Cumbernauld to Dumbarton Central services and one of these pulls in on Saturday 13th January 2018. The driver is no doubt steeling himself for the gruelling 600 metre haul to Duke Street.

Dunblane Junction: A double hold up at Dunblane on a sub-zero 20th January 2018. To the right is the Caledonian Sleeper running ECS between Aberdeen and Polmadie. To the left is the 12.13 service to Glasgow Queen Street. Both are waiting upon the 11.58 service to Edinburgh to clear the station.

Didcot Parkway: Scene at Didcot on 20 January 2018, where twelve car EMU's are now gradually replacing 166 DMU's. However, the 166s still run to Oxford, so passengers have to change at Didcot. The 800's are running under electric power as far as Didcot and possibly further. Swindon goes live in April 2018. 387159 runs into Didcot from Paddington under electric power on a wet 20th January 2018.

Burntisland: Rail being replaced on the Up line; new baseplates and bolts being set out. 20 January.

Prestwick Town: A rarely seen view of the west elevation of the up building at Prestwick Town on 20th January 2019. Train for Ayr in the platform. Old Prestwick Golf Clubhouse adjacent to station.

Lea Road: Having briefly dominated services to Blackpool North following the 2018 electrification the ex-Thameslink Class 319s are now giving way to new CAF 331s. What does the future hold for these old workhorses? 319375 approaches the site of Lea Road station with a Northern service for Manchester Airport on a sunny 20th January 2020.

Perth: A Railway Heritage Trust plaque was unveiled today by Bill Reeve of Transport Scotland at Perth Station on the northern block which has been refurbished to provide a lounge and training facility for the Caledonian Sleeper.

Heaton Chapel: 390157 hurries through Heaton Chapel heading for Euston on the fast line on 20th January 2022. The large 'Heaton Chapel & Heaton Moor' running in boards on each platform are a notable feature.

Heaton Chapel: The ticket office at Heaton Chapel closed a few minutes before I took this picture, hence the shuttered doorway. The alternative entrance to Platform 2 for Manchester is behind the camera via a steep ramp down into the cutting.

Heaton Norris Junction: One of the odd things about the Denton line is that loaded trains from Tunstead can be seen passing in both directions, depending on their final destination. Freightliner 66601 joins the main line at Heaton Norris Junction on 20th January 2022 with Tunstead stone for Northampton.

Heaton Chapel: Mid-afternoon shadows in the cutting at Heaton Chapel on 20th January 2022. 331006 is the rear unit of a six-car EMU working from Hazel Grove to Blackpool North and has stopped in Platform 2. 150141, the lead of a pair of Sprinters, is heading for Buxton. It is on the slow line but not stopping here. There are long sight lines at Heaton Chapel in both directions, and plenty of variety on the four lines with Avanti, TPE, Northern, EMR, Cross Country and TfW passing here, but the freights for Trafford Park mainly take the Styal line to avoid Stockport.

Reddish South: GBRf 66705 'Golden Jubilee' passes the deserted platform at Reddish South on 20th January 2022, heading for Hindlow Quarry near Buxton with stone empties (or nearly empty) from Hams Hall.

Heaton Norris Junction: 60026, working biomass hoppers from Edge Lane to Drax, swings right at Heaton Norris Junction to take the Denton line on 20th January 2022. Eastbound loaded trains take a circuitous route between Earlestown and Newton Heath to avoid the climb of Platting Bank out of Manchester Victoria but the westbound empties take the direct route from the Calder Valley onto the Liverpool and Manchester Railway route.

Royal Border Bridge: The iconic Royal Border Bridge in Northumberland will be repaired throughout 2022 in a major project led by Network Rail. Work on the scheme began earlier this month and will run until November 2022. During this time, engineers will repair all 28 arches of the Grade I listed bridge, which sits across the River Tweed. Carefully planned structural repairs should mean that the bridge won’t require any major maintenance work for the next 30 years, allowing the landmark to be enjoyed for years to come without impacting the community.

Heaton Norris Junction: 390040, heading for Piccadilly, passes the still operational Heaton Norris Junction signal box on 20th January 2022. The Denton lines curve away at this point. There are initially three tracks but these quickly reduce to a single line through Reddish South until double tracks are reached again at Denton.

Salford Crescent: 37611 approaches Salford Crescent from the Bolton line with the 5N32 Kilmarnock to Longsight move of 397005 on 20 January 2022. The line heading to the left is the Atherton route to Crow Nest Jct and Wigan.

Reddish South: I knew the Denton line was used for empty stock movements from Newton Heath but didn't expect to see TfW 158820 passing through on 20th January 2022. The unit was working from Doncaster to Abbey Foregate at Shrewsbury, presumably after some specialised repairs. There were once two island platforms here and four tracks together with a large yard but it has been a basic single line for many years.

Heaton Chapel: This distinctive structure at Heaton Chapel is the entrance and covered stairway that leads down to Platform 1 for southbound trains. Further along the road to the right of the entrance a ramp has also been constructed but it is quite steep.

Heaton Norris: GBRf 60087 comes off Stockport Viaduct and into the site of Heaton Norris station, signalled to bear right at the junction behind the camera onto the Denton line, on 20th January 2022. The long train of Biomass hoppers from Liverpool will take the Ashton Moss line at Denton then travel towards Manchester Victoria before being routed round the Brewery Curve onto the Rochdale and Calder Valley route heading for Drax Power Station.

Heaton Norris: The huge L&NWR goods warehouse at Heaton Norris, immediately to the north of Stockport Viaduct, is still in commercial use and displaying its origins. The passenger station here closed in 1959 and has been cleared away. As 156497 leads an East Midlands 156/158 set past the warehouse on 20th January 2022, a huge Emirates A380 above has its wheels down on finals for Manchester Airport.

Reddish South: Sparse service. Timetable for the Parliamentary service between Stockport and Stalybridge on display by the entrance to Reddish South in January 2022.

Reddish South: GBRf 66715 'VALOUR' takes stone from Tunstead through Reddish South on its way to Hope St terminal in Salford on 20th January 2022. The 'Platform 1' sign seemed a little superfluous but the station friends group keep it tidy and, although the next scheduled service from this 'Parliamentary' station wasn't for another two days, the steps and platform had been freshly salted.

Hall i' th' Wood: 150002 arrives at Hall i' th' Wood with a Clitheroe to Rochdale service on 20 January 2022. The platforms lie on opposite sides of the A58 Crompton Way and are accessed by long stepped ramps. The platforms are constructed of timber and the waiting facilities are fully air conditioned, an example of which can be seen behind the lamp post on the right.

Moorside: Moorside station, looking east, with a Blackburn to Kirkby service looking for customers on 20 January 2022.

Heaton Norris: Seeing this January 2022 trip working of five wagons from Guide Bridge (after repair or examination?) to Tunstead reminded me just how unusual short freights seem to be these days. 66507 has just come off the Denton line at Heaton Norris Junction and will cross the viaduct and pass through Stockport before branching onto the Hazel Grove line. All the wagons were sadly sporting widespread graffiti.