Carlisle: 46115 Scots Guardsman at Carlisle on 13 February 1965 with the R.C.T.S. (Lancashire & North West Branch) Rebuilt Scot Commemorative Rail Tour. See image [[23520]]

Carlisle: Kingmoor Britannia 70013 Oliver Cromwell makes an aggressive start from Carlisle platform 3 with a northbound train in February 1965.

Hellifield: An up freight of covered mineral wagons is held at signals alongside Hellifield station on a damp and overcast February day in 1965. The locomotive is leaky Fowler ex-Midland 4F 0-6-0 no 44462 off Skipton shed.

Hellifield: Fowler 4F 0-6-0 no 44462 brings mineral wagons south through Hellifield in February 1965. The locomotive shed stands on the other side of the foot crossing.

Hellifield: Following closure of Hellifield shed by BR in 1965 it was subsequently used for the storage and renovation of exhibits earmarked for the National Railway Museum in York, which opened in 1975. This photograph, taken inside Hellifield shed in February 1965, shows Holden 0-6-0 no 1217, now part of the national collection. Built at Stratford in 1905 as GER class G58 no 1217 and finally withdrawn from 31B March in 1962 as BR class J17 no 65567, the preserved locomotive is currently on extended loan to Barrow Hill Railway Centre.

Curriehill: The 1.20 pm Edinburgh Princes Street - Lanark train battles up the 1 in 143 past the site of Curriehill station on 13th February 1965. The station, which had closed in 1951, reopened to passengers on 5 October 1987. View is north, with Curriehill Road on the right.

Crewe: A grey and overcast February morning at Crewe in 1965 sees Royal Scot 46115 Scots Guardsman about to leave with the RCTS (Lancs & North West Branch) Rebuilt Scot Commemorative Railtour bound for Carlisle. See image [[34561]]

Wreay: The RCTS Rebuilt Scot Commemorative Rail Tour southbound from Carlisle on 13 February 1965 photographed running through Wreay cutting on its way back to Crewe. Locomotive in charge is Royal Scot no 46115 Scots Guardsman. See image [[23520]]

Carlisle: 46115 Scots Guardsman brings the 10-coach RCTS Rebuilt Scot Commemorative Railtour into Carlisle on 13 February 1965. The special had started from Crewe and travelled via Blackburn, Hellifield and the S&C

Blackburn: The RCTS Rebuilt Scot Commemorative Rail Tour photographed at Blackburn station on 13 February 1965 behind 46115 Scots Guardsman. The special was on its way from Crewe to Carlisle via the S&C.

Edinburgh Waverley: D365 leaving Waverley with a parcels train on a frosty Saturday morning in 1971.

Lockerbie: View north over Lockerbie in February 1972, looking like a station about to be rebuilt, which it was. Note the old yard and former locomotive shed still surviving behind the up platform building. The external appearance of the class 50 is very much in sympathy with its surroundings.

Lockerbie: A freight heads north through Lockerbie on the WCML in February 1972. Demolition work is underway on the former Dumfries branch platforms and trainshed as part of the refurbishment of Lockerbie station undertaken in advance of electrification.

Attlebridge: By 1976, the former Midland and Great Northern Joint line from Norwich City had been lifted to a point just north of Attlebridge station. This photo shows that point on 13th February 1977. In the background is the concrete products factory near Lenwade that was then supplying traffic for the remaining track.

Lenwade: The last traffic on the (latterly) freight only line between Lenwade and Wroxham was generated by Anglian Building Products Ltd from its factory just south of Lenwade station. This is a view of the factory sidings in 1977 a few years before final closure of the line, looking south towards Attlebridge. The company's shunting locomotive is green painted Class 03 D2118 which has survived into preservation.

Lenwade: The Midland and Great Northern railway architecture was very characteristic and attractive. At the time of this photo, in February 1977, Lenwade was the last example of a fully equipped M&GN station that was substantially intact and still operational for goods. One hoped that when regular freight traffic petered out at the end of 1981, some serious preservation attempt would be made. What one got initially included a stockade built round the station, Keep Out notices and a vicious sounding dog to guard it. Although the trackwork and accessories have now largely gone, the building and platform still remain alongside Marriotts Way.

Dundee: Trolley at the ready! 40062 arrives at Dundee platform 4 in 1978 with an Aberdeen train.

Dundee: Haymarket based 40062 approaching Dundee with an Edinburgh - Aberdeen train in 1978.

Dundee: A Type 2 with a northbound train calls at Dundee platform 4 in February 1978.

Aviemore: 40160 trundles through Aviemore with a freight on 13 February 1981.

Dover Western Docks: 4 CEP (Class 411) unit 1560 emerges from Dover Western Docks on 13 February 1993 bound for London Victoria. The station at Western Docks (formerly Dover Marine) closed the following year. The listed station building was subsequently put to use as a cruise terminal.

Millerhill Marshalling Yard [North]: EWS 66197 with northbound coal empties approaching from Millerhill Yard on 13 February 2002. The train is on its way to join the westbound sub at Niddrie West and head for Ravenstruther. The new turnback siding for use by passenger services terminating at Newcraighall station (scheduled to open 4 months later) is under construction on the right.

Newcraighall Junction: Coal empties restarting northbound from Millerhill yard in February 2002 following a signal check. Newcraighall station is under construction just beyond the bridge and part of what will become the new turnback siding is visible on the left. The new station and siding became operational four months later.

Brunstane: Crossing the footbridge at Brunstane on 13 February 2002 looking north over the new platform under construction.

Newcraighall: Coal empties heading north out of Millerhill Yard on 13 February 2002 about to pass a busy Newcraighall station. Those on the platform are all members of the construction team engaged in preparation work on the new station ready for its official opening in early June that year.

Fauldhouse: Looking east along the platform at Fauldhouse on a cold day in February 2006 following a sprinkling of snow.

Carfin: An Edinburgh Waverley - Glasgow Central via Shotts train calls at Carfin in February 2006. View west towards Holytown Junction from the B7066 road bridge.

Shotts: A Glasgow Central - Edinburgh Waverley train leaves Shotts on 13 February 2006 passing north east under Station Road.

Hartwood: Looking west over the platforms of Hartwood station, North Lanarkshire, in February 2006.

Holytown: SPT liveried 318267 pulls away from Holytown station in February 2006 with a Milngavie - Lanark service.

Shotts: The station buildings on the westbound platform at Shotts on a bright and frosty February morning in 2006. The bridge carrying Station Road over the railway is just off picture to the left.

Breich: The lonely station at Breich, looking east, February 2006.

Holytown: Holytown looking east 2006.

Holytown: An eastbound coal train rumbles through Holytown station in February 2006. The edge of the former bay platform can be seen on the left and what is now open ground to the south of the station once accommodated a sizeable yard. The train is signalled for the Cleland & Midcalder line at Holytown Junction.

Shotts: Entrance to the westbound platform from the south side of Shotts station in February 2006, complete with surviving station building. View across the running lines to the higher level entrance to the eastbound platform from Station Road, top right.

Addiewell: A cold February day at Addiewell in 2006 following a light snowfall - much too cold to wait for a train to appear!

Bellshill: A train for Lanark about to pick up a solitary passenger at Bellshill on 13 February 2006.

Haymarket MPD: A South West Trains liveried 158 stands alongside Haymarket MPD in February 2007.

Whitemoss Level Crossing: Whitemoss Level Crossing relay cabin looking east.

Edinburgh Waverley: Waverley on 13 February with track laying looking well advanced into the realigned platform 17 as a First ScotRail service runs into 12. Canopy work continues on 15-18.

Haymarket MPD: Transport Minister Tavish Scott unveils a commemorative plaque marking the official opening of new facilities at Haymarket depot on 13 February 2007. First ScotRail's Managing Director Mary Dickson looks on.

Haymarket MPD: Maintenance work in progress in the new shed at Haymarket on 13 February 2007. The facility had been officially opened during a ceremony earlier that day by Transport Minister Tavish Scott, accompanied by ScotRail Managing Director Mary Dickson.

Haymarket MPD: Transport Minister under a train at Haymarket!!!
Now, now... calm down..

Morecambe Junction: The junction for the Heysham branch, just east of Morecambe (new) station on 13 February, controlled from the ground frame standing to the right of the junction. The lines to the left lead to Bare Lane, thence the WCML, with the line to Heysham turning away to the right. The former line to Lancaster Green Ayre also diverged at this point and can now be followed into Lancaster as a cycle path, passing just to the right of the large blue building. The loop on the extreme right is rarely used nowadays as the nuclear flask trains for the Heysham line normally run top & tail thus obviating the requirement to run around at this point.

Leighton Buzzard: A Friday morning at Leighton Buzzard station in February 2009. View north just after the rush hour.

Pitlochry: Snow scene at Pitlochry on 13 February. View across the running lines to the northbound platform.

Chirnside: Lonely planet...the joys of walking in fresh snow. View back along the trackbed of the Berwickshire Railway near Chirnside in February 2009.

Chirnside: The former Chirnside station photographed following a snowfall in February 2009. The buildings have been in use as a storage and distribution centre for farming supplies.

Carnforth: A Pendoline speeds south past the still well used loops, and double slip crossing points at Carnforth in February 2009. On the left a small platform can be seen. This was Crag Bank Halt and was used for the steam shuttle passenger services when Steamtown was still open to the public. West Coast Railway Company stored stock can be seen in the private sidings and the old coaling tower stands beyond.

Pitlochry: A snow scene, with the returning empty Tesco containers from Inverness to Grangemouth passing through Pitlochry on 13 February behind DRS 66412, with a dead class 37 behind the train locomotive. Thanks to John Gray for the tip.

Glasgow Central: 156433 waits at Platform 8 of Glasgow Central with an East Kilbride service on 13th February. This is the first Class 156 to have the new Saltire markings applied following last years extension of the First Group franchise by the Scottish government.

Glasgow Central: The new door markings on 156433 at Glasgow Central on 13th February. This is the first Class 156 to have the new Saltire livery applied and these are the only markings identifying the current franchise operator.

Mornington Crescent: Mornington Crescent station on the Northern Line, Friday 13 February 2009

Carrbridge: Recovered containers being removed from the crash site at Carrbridge on Saturday morning 13 February 2010. The lorries are using the temporary road laid to provide a direct link between the site and the A9.

Grafton East Junction: 60019 Bittern passing Crofton on the Berks & Hants line with a special on 13 February 2010.

Leyland: Scots Guardsman is hauled back to Carnforth through Leyland on 13 February 2010 after problems on the rerun (from 30 January 2010) of the Cotton Mill Express. [The second failure of 46115 in a fortnight is very sad. Although I wasn't able to travel on the rerun today I feel for WCRC, RTC (the tour operator) and in particular for all those who were looking forward to an enjoyable day out and have again been left disappointed.]

Leyland: Looking south along the WCML under several bridges as West Coast Railways 47760 breasts a minor summit on the approach to Leyland with an ecs recovery move from Manchester Victoria to Carnforth on 13 February 2010. The train was routed home via Blackburn, Clitheroe, Hellifield and the Little North Western.

Caldercruix: A new station for Caldercruix, photographed on reopening day 13 February 2011. The previous station on this site closed to passengers on 9 January 1956.

Preston (Ribble Branch): The February Ribble Steam Gala saw two visiting locos, including the immaculate ex NCB Bagnall 0-4-0ST 2648/1941 Linda from the Chasewater Railway. With an impressive bark from its chimney Linda accelerates a train towards the exchange sidings.

Preston (Ribble Branch): Peckett 1370/1915 0-4-0ST May standing in the rain, wet but resplendent, at the Ribble Steam Railway 2011 gala where she was a visiting engine from the ELR at Bury. I remember May as a worn out reserve locomotive at the Heap Bridge paper mill See image [[33097]]. She is obviously much better cared for these days, having been restored by the Beet family.

Preston (Ribble Branch): A 1950s goods wagon demonstration train at the RSR Gala on 13 Fbruary 2011 contrasted markedly with the almost brand new VTG bitumen tankers that were in the station waiting to be tripped to the exchange sidings on Monday morning. See image [[25132]] to see one of this wagon's 44 year old predecessors, finally withdrawn at the end of 2010.

Caldercruix: Caldercruix. Opening of the new station on 13 February 2011.

Caldercruix: A train arrives to pick up passengers waiting at Caldercruix on the morning of 13 February 2011, first day of services at the new station.

Strand Road Exchange Sidings: Three saddle tanks for the price of one. RSR resident Barclay John Howe and two visitors, Peckett May and Bagnall Linda run through the exchange sidings prior to triple heading a Gala service back to the museum. The initial acceleration of the three coach train out of the sidings was quite something to experience.

Roslin: Looking north east along the trackbed back towards the site of Roslin station (now a housing development) beyond the bridge carrying the B7006 road through the village. The bridge has been 'modified' since closure of the line, presumably for strengthening purposes.

Hexham: The 10.43 for Middlesbrough leaving Hexham platform 1 on 13 February 2012. This involves a short section of 'wrong line working' before the DMU crosses on to the 'proper' eastbound line towards Newcastle.

Roslin: 'The human cannonball' must have experienced a similar view just before some joker shouted 'FIRE!' Looking south west along the the trackbed of the EL&R under the 'modified' bridge carrying the B7006 at Roslin on 13 February 2012. The route is heading towards the last passenger station on the branch at Glencorse see image [[32792]] and the freight only extension to Penicuik. The Pentland Hills stand on the horizon.

Loch Awe: The Loch Awe Hotel from the north shore of the loch in February 2013 with the old 'Tea Train' coach standing in the foreground.

Eastcote: LUL S8 stock on a Metropolitan Line service from Uxbridge to Aldgate arriving at Eastcote on 13th February 2013. This station, also served by the Piccadilly Line, was originally a tin hut halt opened in 1906, two years after the line opened in 1904 and was rebuilt as a station in 1939 to the designs of Dr. Charles Holden (1875-1960), the London Underground's Chief Architect between the two world wars.

Loch Awe: View east at Loch Awe station on 13 February 2013.

Falls of Cruachan: The platform at Falls of Cruachan on 13 February 2013. View west towards Oban.

Ruislip Manor: LUL S8 stock on a Metropolitan Line service to Uxbridge departing from Ruislip Manor on 13th February 2013. This opened as a halt in 1912 in open countryside and was rebuilt as a station in 1938 by Dr. Charles Holden following residential development in the area. The station is also served by the Piccadilly Line.

Broomhill Junction: Strathspey Railway Class 27 No 5394/27106 near Broomhill Junction on 13 February hauling the Colas Crane towards Broomhill. The crane will be used to lift the replacement bridge into position across the River Dulnain.

Stranraer: Since last September this McLeans electric bus has connected Stranraer Station, the town centre and Cairnryan ferry terminals. Photographed alongside the station on 13 February.

Oldham Central: One of three brand new town centre tram stops, this is Oldham Central, opened in January 2014. Tram 3050 is leaving for Manchester on 13 February, seen from a Rochdale bound service.

Broomhill: Scene at Broomhill on 13 February, with the Colas Crane being prepared in readiness for lifting the replacement bridge into position across the River Dulnain. [See recent news item]

Tebay: The memorial at Tebay to four track workers, Colin Buckley, Darren Burgess, Gary Tindall and Chris Waters who were killed by a runaway PW trolley on 15 February 2004 while maintaining the railway. The WCML is on the other side of the wall to the left.

Manchester Victoria: Extensive rebuilding at Manchester Victoria will see it close to trams for nine months from February 2014. The famous Hole in the Wall has already gone as seen here. One of the very few operational early series trams, 2001, passes 3056 near the station entrance four days before the station tram stop closed. Trams will continue to pass through while work takes place but passengers will have to use Shudehill. See image [[33280]] for the same location prior to the rebuilding work.

South Chadderton: An interesting civil engineering solution. The Oldham Loop line climbed through South Chadderton on an embankment without a station. On conversion to Metrolink a tram stop was built but at street level with the trams dropping steeply down on either side before climbing back to the original formation. In this view looking towards Oldham Tram 3020 drops down to the new halt passing what remains of the original L&YR railway embankment.

Oldham Mumps: Metrolink trams 3039 and 3053, on a Rochdale to East Didsbury service, call at the new Mumps interchange stop just to the east of Oldham town centre. They will climb through the town before dropping steeply down to rejoin the old railway formation at Werneth. See image [[44114]] for a view of this location under construction during the previous summer.

Oldham Mumps: Curving away from the original railway alignment onto the new Oldham town centre street running section a Manchester bound service approaches the new Mumps interchange. The short lived and now redundant level crossing, closed in January 2014, can be seen beyond the new landscaping. See image [[44114]] showing construction works at the same location in 2013.

Bristol Parkway: A CrossCountry Voyager runs into Bristol Parkway station, to form the 10.09 service to Manchester, as a trio of mixed livery Freightliner operated class 66 locomotives moves onto a stabling siding in an unusually empty yard. Leading is DRS liveried 66415, then Freightliner liveried 66956, with Bardon Aggregate liveried 66623 at the rear.

Stretford: Tram 3055 departs Stretford for Altrincham, on the six minute interval service from Manchester. When used by MSJAR main line trains Stretford station had turnback sidings for extra Manchester departures, although nowadays there are just two through roads. The old street level booking office is still in use by a local newsagent.

Bamber Bridge: 46115 Scots Guardsman passing Bamber Bridge on 13 February 2014 whilst out on test from Carnforth. The run was over 75 minutes early at this point which hopefully means that it was more successful than last weeks test and that it will be out on the Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express on 15 February 2014.

Cardiff Central: The current south side entrances to Cardiff Central, making use of the east end subway, with the right side entrance for Valley line platforms 6 & 7 only and the left side entrance for all other platforms. To the right of the entrance is a section of the new retaining wall being created forward of the old one to make space for an extra running line through the new platform 8, being created to the left of view.

Oldham Werneth: Not your regular railway/tramway sign. Approaching the site of Oldham Werneth station in February 2014 tram drivers were confronted by these road style chevron boards. Understandable I suppose as until the previous month they continued straight on through the tunnels but are now faced with a tight 90 degree turn onto the new town centre line. Viewed from behind the driver of a Rochdale bound tram, See image [[44091]] for the same location in 2013. By August 2014 the tracks and catenary through the tunnels had been removed, probably for use elsewhere as Metrolink is extended.

Oldham Central: A four-car Metrolink tram leaves the new Oldham Central stop heading for Rochdale on 13 February. Road vehicles are excluded from this particular stretch of the street running section of the new line, which had only opened during the previous month.

Oldham King St: This steep switchback section of tram track is a reminder of why the L&YR did not go into the centre of Oldham but instead went by tunnel from Werneth to Central and on to Oldham Mumps, all skirting the edge of town. The new Metrolink line employs some substantial engineering to reach the town centre and this is a driver's view of the climb from Westwood to Oldham King St.

Manchester Victoria: Rebuilding at Manchester Victoria will transform both the main line and Metrolink areas. Tram 3023 on a Bury service arrives under temporary roofing alongside Northern 153 and 158 units. The Victoria tram stop closed completely a few days later and for the rest of 2014 trams passed through the site on a single line but not stop. The station will fully reopen when the additional tracks and platforms in connection with the new second city crossing line have been finished.

South Chadderton: A Rochdale to East Didsbury (via Manchester) tram calls at the new street level stop of South Chadderton on a gloomy February morning. Ahead of 3020 is the short rise that will take it back onto the original L&Y railway formation to continue down to Hollinwood and Failsworth. See image [[46324]]

Oldham Mumps: A 4-car Metrolink tram leaves the old railway formation at Oldham Mumps and climbs to the interchange stop, one of four new Metrolink boarding points through the town centre. A large railway bridge once dominated the background here and the location, including the surviving building on the left, featured in a Railscot mystery image which ran in March 2012 see image [[37965]]

Leyland: The new ticket office for Leyland was delivered on 13 February 2014. CCTV has recently been installed and the next improvement is scheduled to be a replacement footbridge with lifts to provide access between all 4 platforms. See image [[46997]]

Junction Bridge: The site of Junction Bridge station (closed to passengers in 1947) looking west towards Bonnington in February 2015. On 7 April 1941 a German bomb landed and exploded near here, on the embankment between the Leith platform and Largo Place, off Ferry Road. See image [[20453]]

Hest Bank: A Six Nations special from Carmarthen to Edinburgh, in connection with the Scotland-Wales match two days later, runs north through Hest Bank behind DRS 68005 Defiant on Friday 13th February 2015. The train was scheduled to return south again the following Monday.

Castlecary Viaduct: On a cold February afternoon, an Edinburgh - Glasgow DMU crosses the M80 unaffected by the snow which has slowed motorway traffic. One set of OHLE masts has been fitted to its support brackets on the viaduct see image [[52829]].

Nateby: These tank traps, presumably around 75 years old, sit alongside the Lancaster Canal near Nateby Hall. The upper picture shows the point where the trap crosses a stream and old rails are embedded upright to maintain the defence. Either side of the stream are the concrete blocks that climb up the hill and the last block is actually on the towpath of the canal. Behind the camera in the lower picture there is also a well preserved lime kiln from the days when lime was brought by canal from Kendal for use on local fields. Map Ref SD475461.

Edinburgh Waverley: Food for thought - a Virgin Trains advert at Market Street next to Waverley.

Cambus o' May: The station building and platform at Cambus 'O May on a very cold February day. Looking east towards Dinnet.

Cambus o' May: The suspension bridge at Cambus 'O May which gave access from south bank of river Dee to the railway station throughout GNoSR, LNER and BR days. Sadly damaged in the December 2015 storms/floods. From a quick look main suspension cables, end towers and anchor blocks OK. Deck needs remedial work.

Castlecary Viaduct: On a cold February afternoon, a Glasgow - Edinburgh DMU at speed passes the first set of OHLE masts to be fitted to the previously installed support brackets on the viaduct.

Upwey: 150 108, a First Great Western stopper, heading to Weymouth, I believe this train may have originated in Gloucester and travelled via Bristol Temple Meads and Westbury.

Upwey: 442 024 on an express to London Waterloo.

Upwey: 442024 passes through Upwey on 13 February 2017 with an express from Weymouth to London Waterloo.

Hest Bank: Super Sprinter 158s have always been rare birds around Lancaster but that is about to change with the May 2018 timetable as they are being introduced on services between Barrow and Manchester Airport. Accordingly, two ECS runs have been scheduled each week day to train Barrow crews and Scotrail liveried 158870 is seen heading towards Lancaster on 13th February with the second trip of the day.

Donibristle Platform: A ScotRail HST climbs Donibristle bank on a crew training run from Haymarket to Dundee on 13th February 2018. Power cars are 43135 and 43037.

Manor Park: Class 345, on a TfL Rail service from Liverpool Street to Shenfield, heading away from the camera as it departs from Manor Park in east London, on 13th February 2019. The line at this point was opened by the Eastern Counties Railway in 1839 but this station was not opened by the Great Eastern Railway until 1873. The obsolete platforms on the fast tracks (left) are now fenced off.

Manor Park: Manor Park, east London, looking east on 13th February 2019. These buildings replaced the original in 1949 as part of the electrification of the line for suburban services from Liverpool Street as far as Shenfield. In the far background, the new footbridge and walkway to the 1873 ticket hall is now in use but work is still proceeding on the lifts to give step free access. The obsolete main line platforms on the fast tracks (left) are now fenced off. Just to the east of this station, the Ilford flyover, that was ready in 1947, switches the local lines from the south side of the alignment to the north with the fast tracks passing beneath.

Arbroath: An LNER service for Aberdeen pulls into Arbroath on 13 February 2019. As well as being longer than their ScotRail siblings these LNER sets look a little more cheerful.

Romford: 360119, from Colchester Town to Liverpool Street, departing from Romford on 13th February 2019.

Forest Gate: 66956 Freightliner heading east on the fast lines through Forest Gate on 13th February 2019. The platforms on these lines are now obsolete and fenced off from those still open on the slow lines.

Gidea Park: 315829, with a TfL Rail service from Shenfield to Liverpool Street, arriving at Gidea Park on 13th February 2010. For many years, this station was the outer terminus of the all-stations service from Liverpool Street (a fan of carriage sidings exists to the east of the station) but which has, for many years now, run on to Shenfield.

Wanstead Park: Zoom lens view of 66170, approaching Wanstead Park on the London Overground GOBLIN section between Barking and Gospel Oak, on 13th February 2019.

Romford: 321429, to Southend Victoria, will head away from the camera when it departs from Romford on 13th February 2019. This train then ran fast to Shenfield and all stations to Southend thereafter.

Forest Gate: 315820, with a TfL Rail service from Shenfield to Liverpool Street, arriving at Forest Gate on 13th February 2019. This is a short level walk along the street to Wanstead Park on the London Overground's GOBLIN section from Gospel Oak to Barking. This EMU had a late overhaul and was one of the last of the class in service, only withdrawn in May 2021.

Arbroath: On 13 February 2019 a terminating service from Edinburgh waits to let a southbound train pass before it heads past Arbroath signal box and into the Up siding to reverse. As at Gleneagles it is forever 12 o'clock on the analogue clocks but it's presumably not considered a good idea to cover them up.

Gidea Park: Gidea Park, on the ex-GER main line, looking east on 13th February 2019. It was opened by the GER as Squirrel's Heath & Gidea Park on 1st December 1910, to serve new residential housing to the east of the Essex market town of Romford, now part of Greater east London. In 1913 the names were switched to Gidea Park & Squirrel's Heath with the Squirrel's Heath suffix dropped in 1969. This is the only station on the quadrupled section of the GER from Liverpool Street to comprise two island platforms, originally two up and down platforms which became islands with the final quadrupling of the line from Romford to Shenfield (which included the notorious Brentwood bank) in 1934. Those on the left are for the slow lines and on the right the fast. On 2nd January 1947, Gidea Park was the scene of a fatal crash when, after dark and in thick fog, a Liverpool Street to Peterborough train passed a signal at danger and collided with the rear of a stopping train to Southend Victoria that was departing. The rear three coaches of the Southend train were destroyed and seven people lost their lives with forty five seriously injured.

Montrose: An Aberdeen to Glasgow service pulls into Montrose on 13 February 2019. '3 carriages - apologies' announces the departures screen, a familiar message on this and the Highland Main Line in the absence of sufficient HSTs.

Gidea Park: 315836, with a TfL Rail service from Liverpool Street to Shenfield, departing from Gidea Park on 13th February 2019. The station serves a residential neighbourhood east of Romford (which is still in Essex for postal reasons but now part of Greater London).

Goodmayes: 345009, with a TfL Rail service from Shenfield to Liverpool Street, arriving at Goodmayes station, on 13th February 2019. This service should have started running under London through the Crossrail tunnels two months earlier but time and again the opening has been delayed and as of 31st December 2020, there is still no sign of when the new service will start, this time the coronavirus pandemic providing a good excuse for further delays.

Montrose: An Edinburgh to Aberdeen 170 calls at Montrose on 13 February 2019. This train used to go on to Inverurie, but the through trains stopped (temporarily?) with the December 2018 timetable.

Wanstead Park: 172005, with a London Overground GOBLIN service from Gospel Oak to Barking, departing from Wanstead Park on 13th September 2019. These trains were running alongside three class 378 sets to fill the gap in the late delivery of the new 710 EMUs.

Crouch Hill: In my photo of Crouch Hill station (Image number 67407) on the GOBLIN section of the London Overground, I stated that as of January 2019 us north Londoners were still waiting for our electric trains despite being promised them over a year earlier and then no later than December 2018. It is now February 2019 and electric trains are finally running but NOT with the bright new class 710 EMU's and NOT fulfilling the line's full service. There is still no confirmed date of when they will start operating on this route but, in the meantime and to avoid a total shutdown of the GOBLIN, TfL has drafted in some class 378s that have been used on the rest of the already electrified LO network since 2010. However, only three sets are to be used running alongside the class 172 units of which two have already been taken out of service for refurbishment ahead of their transfer to West Midlands Trains. If the 378s do not cover all the gaps in the GOBLIN service, there will be further reductions. A reduced service is currently already operating at weekends. At 12.11 on Wednesday, 13th February 2019, 378 232 arrives at Crouch Hill station with a Gospel Oak to Barking service.

Wanstead Park: A Class 172 two car diesel unit, on a London Overground GOBLIN service from Barking to Gospel Oak, continuing on its way along the 1894 Tottenham & Forest Gate Railway viaduct, with its 384 arches, just after departing from Wanstead Park on 13th February 2019.

Arbroath: An Aberdeen to Edinburgh service approaches Arbroath on 13 February 2019. Since December 2018 that shunting signal has become a great deal busier (and the crossover a little shinier) as Arbroath became the terminus of hourly trains from Edinburgh.

Wanstead Park: The entrance to Wanstead Park station, on what is now the GOBLIN section of the London Overground, is tucked into one of the 384 arches of the ex-Tottenham & Forest Gate Railway viaduct, which line opened from the Hampstead Junction Railway at South Tottenham to the London, Tilbury & Southend Railway at Woodgrange Park, on 9th July 1894. The viaduct runs from just east of Wanstead Park station to just east of Walthamstow Queen's Road station, trains ascending or descending from and to the latter via a steep incline. This view from the south side is on the bright but still quite cold morning of 13th February 2019. [Ref query 14 February 2019]

Singleton: A sunny afternoon as Northern 319365 runs over the long Singleton embankment towards Poulton-le-Fylde with a Manchester Airport to Blackpool North service on 13th February 2019.

Goodmayes: 321352 to Liverpool Street, speeding past the obsolete platforms on the fast tracks at Goodmayes on 13th February 2019. The line here was opened by the Eastern Counties Railway on 20th June 1839 but Goodmayes was not opened until 8th February 1901 by the Great Eastern Railway to serve new residential development. Still theoretically in the County of Essex for postal reasons, Goodmayes is now within the confines of Greater east London.

Goodmayes: Goodmayes, in that part of Essex now within Greater London, looking west towards Liverpool Street on 13th February 2019. The line here was opened by the Eastern Counties Railway in 1839 but this station was not opened until 8th February 1901 by the ECR's successor, the Great Eastern Railway. Quadrupling of the main line as far as Shenfield was not completed until 1934 with the final section from Romford, that included the notorious Brentwood bank, by the London & North Eastern Railway that succeeded the GER at the 1923 Grouping. Out of view on the left are the fast tracks and obsolete platforms that are now fenced off from the surviving platforms.

Poulton-le-Fylde: Pendolino 390135, on the 1500hrs Blackpool North to Euston, heads east from Poulton-le-Fylde on 13th February 2019. The train is approaching the site of Holts Lane pedestrian crossing. This was temporarily closed for electrification work and that closure has just been extended for a further twelve months. [Ref query 17 February 2019]

Lancaster: 66614 '1916 POPPY 2016' heads south over Torrisholme Road bridge in Lancaster, on 13th February 2019, with the daily Hardendale to Guide Bridge box wagons.

Crouch Hill: 378232, drafted in by TfL to fill a gap in the London Overground GOBLIN service caused by the late arrival of the new 710 EMUs, departing from Crouch Hill station in north London with a service from Barking to Gospel Oak, on 13th February 2019. This is the train I travelled on from Crouch Hill to Wanstead Park in the morning and back home again to Crouch Hill in the evening, my first electric journeys on this line that I have known since I was a schoolboy more than half a century ago. The class 172 diesels continue to run alongside the 378s for the present until such time as the 710s takeover completely; in the meantime, it is a case of pot luck what turns up at a GOBLIN station when you go to catch a train.

Wanstead Park: 378232, drafted in by TfL to fill gaps in the London Overground GOBLIN service caused by the late arrival of the new 710 EMUs, arriving at Wanstead Park station with a Barking to Gospel Oak train, on 13th February 2019. Class 172 diesel units continue to run on this service too, at least for the time being.

Wanstead Park: 378232, temporarily drafted in by TfL to supplement the London Overground GOBLIN service while waiting for the much delayed class 710 EMUs, departing from Wanstead Park station, on 13th February 2019. I alighted here after boarding the train at Crouch Hill; having known this line for more than half a century and only ever travelled on it in diesel units, my first ride on an electric train had a slightly dream-like feel to it. However, 378232 made light work of the steep incline east of Walthamstow Queen's Road station, the 172 diesel units always seem to require a great deal of effort. The only drawback is that on the 378s we have to travel sideways and sit on those paving stones that pass for the seats; on the 172s you can sit facing direction of travel, the seats were reasonably comfortable AND they related to the windows, too.

Singleton: A 156 Sprinter (covering for the rostered 319 EMU) passes through the site of long closed Singleton station with a Blackpool to Preston service on 13th February 2019. During electrification this location has been one of the access and storage points and some equipment is still in place. See image [[20636]] from 2009 when the location was more accessible.

Farington Curve Junction: Having become used to 3-car and 4-car CAF units the 2-car sets seem a little truncated. New 195022 passes Farington Curve Junction on 13th February 2020 whilst on test between Springs Branch Depot at Wigan and Blackpool North.

Barton and Broughton: TPE 397004 hurries past the St. Helier footbridge in Barton, nearing its Preston destination, with a service from Glasgow on a bitterly cold 13th February 2021.