Chester South Junction: D1023 Western Fusilier roamed far and wide in the run-up to the final demise of the class in early 1977. On Saturday 29th January it ran from Paddington to Chester via the Severn Tunnel, Hereford and Crewe, returning via Wrexham to pick up the outward route at Shrewsbury. Here the 'Western Memorial' railtour is passing Chester No. 6 box just after departing from the city on the return to London.

Mistley: A westward view through a rather grimey Mistley station towards Manningtree on 29th January 1978. At the time, the station was still manned and the landmark EDME chimney stack was adding to the grime. Major change arrived in the 1980s when the line to Harwich was electrified and the signaling modernized. In 1985, the signal box was moved to the East Anglian Railway Museum at Chappell and Wakes Colne. The main building has since been cleaned and looks much fresher.

Alresford (Hampshire): LNER A4 60009 'Union of South Africa', standing in Alresford station on the Mid-Hants Railway on 29 January 1995.

Prestonpans: A class 322 EMU on a North Berwick - Edinburgh service arriving at Prestonpans in bright winter sunshine on 29 January 2003. The points to the left of the train are for the up loop and the line into Cockenzie power station.

Prestonpans: A North Berwick - Waverley train calls at Prestonpans station on 29 January 2003. In the left background major works are underway in connection with realignment of the ECML due to recent subsidence problems in the area.

Prestonpans: 'errr... Did you notice that signal by any chance...?' GNER ECML express passing through Prestonpans station in January 2003.

Prestonpans: A Virgin Voyager Cross Country service runs west through Prestonpans in January 2003 heading for Waverley.

Prestonpans: ScotRail 322485 arrives at Prestonpans on 29 January 2003 with an Edinburgh - North Berwick service. The excavation and construction activity in the left background is in connection with the Dolphingstone deviation of the ECML. This major engineering project became necessary in order to avoid areas of actual and potential subsidence resulting from old mine workings in the area. See image [[44817]]

Stirling Middle Junction: 158728 about to enter Stirling station from the south on 29 January 2005 with an early afternoon Edinburgh - Dunblane service. The train is passing Stirling Middle signal box and some of its associated semaphores see image [[24505]].

Stirling Middle Junction: Long lens view of Stirling Middle box looking south from the platform in January 2005.

Stirling: Rainy day at Stirling in January 2005. The Ochil Hills can just be seen through the mist.

Stirling: A Newcraighall - Dunblane train about to leave Stirling on 29 January 2005. Stirling North signal box stands on the other side of the overbridge.

Bridgeton Cross [CR]: Looking east toward the tunnel. The Supports hold London Road above.

Bridgeton Cross [CR]: Looking west from the mouth of the tunnel toward the present day station. The Supports hold London Road above.

Bridgeton Cross [CR]: Looking west toward the present day station. Notice the track bed still visible plus the orginal refuges and original tiles

Parkhead Stadium: Entrance to London Road Tunnel next to Celtic Park.

Bridgeton Cross [CR]: Under London Road, not many people are aware of this location. Note the partly infilled platform

Gushetfaulds Freightliner Terminal: Some sort of strange art piece at the former Gushetfaulds yard.

Gushetfaulds Freightliner Terminal: Remains of points at Gushetfaulds on January 2006.

Gushetfaulds Freightliner Terminal: Lever for moving a set of manual points. Gushetfaulds, January 2006.

Gushetfaulds Freightliner Terminal: Disused building on the site of the former Gushetfaulds freightliner terminal in January 2006.

Auchencarroch Siding: View towards Balloch at the Auchencarroch Siding from which a tramway ran to Auchencarroch Quarry.

Coatbridge Sunnyside: Main station building at Coatbridge Sunnyside looking west, 2007.

Coatbridge Sunnyside: Train for Drumgelloch leaving Coatbridge Sunnyside in January 2007.

Coatbridge Sunnyside: A westbound service stops at Coatbridge Sunnyside in January 2007 alongside the 1888 station building.

Livingston North: Building site with trains. Scene at Livingston North station on 29 January 2009 as 158 739 leaves on a Waverley - Bathgate sevice

Inverkeithing South Junction: View north along the Rosyth Dockyard branch approaching Inverkeithing South Junction on 29 January 2009. The main line runs parallel within a tunnel on the left at this point.

Livingston North: Advance departure booard on display at Livingston North on 29 January 2009.

Jamestown Viaduct [Inverkeithing]: With a light haze hanging over the Forth, a southbound First ScotRail 170 commuter service crosses Jamestown Viaduct bound for Edinburgh on 29 January 2009.

Uphall: Standing on the recently commissioned platform at Uphall station on 29 January looking towards Edinburgh, as 158 735 pulls into the westbound platform with a Bathgate service.

Longbridge: We made cars here once, not so long ago. This view looks east towards the mainline over the stub of the former Longbridge - Old Hill line. The Longbridge Plant existed on both sides of the line and across the A38 behind the camera. Only the South Works remained standing on this visit (out of shot off to the right), hopefully to be used by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation in the future. The signalbox formerly controlled sidings used by the works and, longer ago, the line through Longbridge (2nd) station. Longbridge (1st and 3rd) station is out of sight in the centre distance. Latterly the signalbox rejoiced in the name Longbridge East Shunt Frame. There has been discussion of re-opening the line from Longbridge to Frankley to aid regeneration.

Conder Viaduct: Just to the south of the Oubeck Loops a six arch viaduct carries the WCML across the River Conder and the village of Galgate. Here, looking east, a Transpennine Unit can be seen as can a small, steel built, trackworkers refuge that is cantilevered to the outside of the bridge and apparently a later addition to the structure.

Halesowen Junction: View south over Halesowen Junction on 29 January 2010. The remaining part of the Longbridge Plant is on the horizon and you could almost imagine the line to the right is still in use. The train in the background is sitting in a turn-back siding to the south of Longbridge station.

Longbridge: The frontage of the closed Longbridge (2nd) station which was within the Longbridge Plant. Regrettably some of the letters have fallen off in the past few years - all that remains is 'TickEts parcels' where the missing letters can still be seen pristine white against the grime. The station was below street level.

Carnforth: 2011 view of Carnforth coaling tower, with WCRC coaching stock occupying the coaling roads. View from the west side of the shed. See image [[32540]] for the same location in steam days.

Carnforth: Immaculately restored, and apparently cleared for 100mph running, Inspection Saloon 999506 stands outside the former steam shed at Carnforth amongst other West Coast Railways coacing stock.

Markinch: Heralded by an announcement including exotic locations like Tiverton Parkway and St Erth the daily Aberdeen to Penzance Cross Country service calls at Markinch on 29 January.  It is less than 2 hours into its 13 hour 22 minute journey, Britain's longest scheduled service - in distance and surely also duration.  On the wall on the right you can see traces of a large sign which said 'Markinch for Glenrothes' but after 'Glenrothes with Thornton' station opened in 1992 the 'for Glenrothes' was scratched out and the sign later removed.  This is despite the fact that Markinch station is nearer both the periphery and the centre of Glenrothes.

Balbirnie Viaduct: Thomas Bouch's Cabbagehall viaduct at the Leslie end of the branch is more conspicuous, but the line also had a viaduct at Balbirnie near Auchmuty Junction at the Markinch end.  Like most of the Leslie and Auchmuty branches this is now a walkway. I'm standing at the west end of the viaduct, looking towards Markinch on 29 January.  One of Scotland's 3 River Levens passes below.

Auchmuty Junction: Although most of the Leslie branch runs through what is now Glenrothes, that town wasn't thought of even when the line closed to passengers in 1932, and unlike the other four Scottish New Towns simply had no existence before it was designated.  The branch therefore wasn't troubled with intermediate stations, but it did have a junction at Auchmuty for the Paper Mill branch.  That Branch lasted longer than the line to Leslie which closed completely in 1967 whereas the Paper Mill line survived until the 1980s.  This was the site of the junction, looking west with Leslie to the left and the Paper Mill to the right. 

Auchmuty Junction: The Leslie branch remained open for goods until 1967, long enough for much of Glenrothes New Town to be built round it and for the line to be bridged (briefly) by new roads.  This is the realigned A92 of the mid-1960s, seen here in January 2011.  It is the same road and bridge seen (under construction?) in the background of an earlier Railscot photograph see image [[27713]] though viewed from the other side. Laverock Avenue is therefore to my left. 

Auchmuty Junction: Base of an old signal post at Auchmuty Junction, Glenrothes, on the former Leslie branch. Photographed on 29 January 2011. See image [[32587]]

Balbirnie Viaduct: The Leslie branch had two substantial viaducts - this is Balbirnie, just to the west of Auchmuty Junction, itself not far from the main line at Markinch.  It crosses the valley of the River Leven.  Although there was a location called Rothes around here there is no river Rothes, and Fife has Dens rather than Glens.  Denleven might therefore have been a more appropriate fabrication than Glenrothes, which it is said was chosen to suggest a romantic Highland location in order to attract American investment. 

Auchmuty Junction: This appears to have been the site of the signal box at Auchmuty Junction on the Leslie branch; there is certainly the remains of a signal post base nearby see image [[32566]].  I would imagine that it was the quiet sort of box which was either a signalman's first posting or his last.  The box would have become redundant on the closure of the line to Leslie in 1967 but rail traffic would continue to pass here on the way to to Auchmuty Paper Mill until 1991/2 (thanks to David Spaven for this information) and the rails remained in place into the 21st century.  Photographed on 29 January 2011.

Enterkine Viaduct: Looking towards Enterkine Viaduct on the old Ayr and Cumnock line which now runs as far as Killoch washery. View from the east on 29 January 2012 see image [[11615]].

Wilpshire Tunnel: 45699 Galatea is working hard but near the summit of the climb from Whalley as it leaves Wilpshire Tunnel with a ten coach test train from Carnforth on 29 January. The Jubilee was scheduled to haul its first 2014 excursion three days later.

Pilling: This Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST (1885/1955) has been cosmetically restored and is displayed at the entrance to the caravan site that is built on the Knott End line trackbed in Pilling. The loco has been named Pilling Pig, an unofficial name for all trains on the railway which originated with the 1875 loco Farmer's Friend which had a particularly squealing whistle. The number 11302 was actually carried by Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST Knott End, built in 1908 and scrapped by the LMS in 1925. The Pilling Piglet behind may be a representation of the ex-LNWR Railmotors that plied the line from 1923 to 1930.

Dalmarnock: 1324 service to Larkhall leaving Dalmarnock for Rutherglen. The sun's rays give the perfect atmospheric ambience to the shot.

Appleby: Northern 158860 leads a four car Leeds - Carlisle service into Appleby station on 29th January 2016. This view from the station footbridge shows the well preserved station buildings to good effect. For several years, GWR 4-6-0 4979 Wootton Hall sat alongside the line here awaiting restoration See image [[47466]] but in October 2014 the Furness Railway Trust moved it to the Ribble Steam Railway where it is now kept under cover and work has started.

Quorn and Woodhouse: The Great Central Railway started their Winter Gala on Friday, running five engines in total working a variety of trains.
Bulleid Pacific no 34053 'Sir Keith Park' is on loan from the Severn Valley Railway.

Appleby: Two Class 158s head north from Appleby on a Leeds-Carlisle service on 29th January 2016. Ten days later the line was closed at Armathwaite due to a landslip that progressively worsened. Freight services have been diverted and passenger trains from the south terminate at Appleby with onward connections to Carlisle by bus. [See recent news item]

Quorn and Woodhouse: 34053 Sir Keith Park. Rebuilt Bulleid Battle of Britain 4-6-2, on loan from the Severn Valley Rly.

Quorn and Woodhouse: Mausell 'U' Class 2-6-0 31806 on loan from the Swanage Railway arrives at Quorn on 29 January.

Quorn and Woodhouse: BR 9F 92214 masquerades as 92220 Evening Star.

Quorn and Woodhouse: 34053 Sir Keith Park. Rebuilt Bulleid Battle of Britain 4-6-2, on loan from the Severn Valley Rly.

Quorn and Woodhouse: Stanier LMS 8F 2-8-0 48624 arrives at Quorn.

Quorn and Woodhouse: 6990 Witherslack Hall, GWR 4-6-0, recently restored.

Quorn and Woodhouse: Mausell 'U' Class 2-6-0 31806 on loan from the Swanage Railway.

Quorn and Woodhouse: Stanier LMS 8F 2-8-0 48624, with the GCR's Windcutter rake of 16T mineral wagons that are used for demonstration freight workings.

Quorn and Woodhouse: Ivatt LMS 2-6-0 46521 approaching Quorn and Woodhouse with the Windcutter mineral wagons on 29 January 2016.
Given the erratic weather, the best place to catch some sun - albeit late afternoon.

Aberdour: Freightliner 66536 nears Aberdour with Millerhill - Montrose autoballasters.

Aberdour: 170 478 slows for a stop at Aberdour. The former signal box is at the early stage of a refurbishment. 29 January.

Wraysbury: Looked at on a map, Wraysbury station is almost completely surrounded by various stretches of water but there are no signs of that from the platforms. This view looks towards Windsor on 29th January 2018 but the scheduled EMU was a little late.

Donibristle Platform: ScotRail HST, powered by 43132 and 43021, climbing past Donibristle with a Haymarket - Dundee training run on 29th January 2018.

Rosebank Cemetery: A BT mast overshadowing Rosebank Cemetery and in particular the Quintinshill Disaster Memorial seen on the 29th of January. An article in Edinburgh Evening News explains that BT are going to move the mast. However as you can see from these photos taken today, it is still there.

Gilmerton: A remnant of Gilmerton station? Hardly, as they didn't have shipping containers (or vinyl lettering) in 1930. A coincidentally placed structure on the site of Gilmerton station, seen on 29 January 2020.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Late evening view of the new Queen Street extension with work on the concourse floor taking place (bottom right) out of the sight of passengers who are on the other side of the hoardings. The refurbishment is due to be completed in Spring 2020.

Gilmerton: Cactus Gulch, EH17. A sculpture installation by the path that was once the Loanhead branch. Over the fence is Gilmerton Station Road which until very recently had only two houses, one of which was the station house. Housing development is under way from both ends.

Galgate: A trio of Class 37s, presumably released from RHTT duties, make their way from Gresty Bridge to Kingmoor on 29th January 2021. Grubby 37402, even grubbier 37401 and a more presentable 37424(558) are seen approaching Hampson Lane bridge. Photo incidental to a daily permitted exercise walk under Corona Virus legislation.

Galgate: Freightliner 66622 takes empty box wagons from Hardendale to Tunstead on 29th January 2021. The train is passing under the M6 Junction 33 link road, approaching Hampson Lane bridge.

Oubeck Loops: 68026 'Enterprise' propels an ecs TPE push-pull set south at Oubeck, working from Carlisle to Crewe on a dull and grey 29th January 2021. Photo incidental to a permitted essential journey.

Oubeck Loops: The Ou Beck is usually no more than a trickle but carried a little more water on 29th January 2021. 195107 passed through the Oubeck Loops heading for Manchester Airport from Windermere. Photo ancillary to a permitted essential journey under Corona Virus legislation.