This day in history 04 March
Images
Eastfield Shed: NB J36 0-6-0 no 65293 photographed in the sidings alongside Eastfield shed on 4 March 1963. The locomotive had been officially withdrawn from Carlisle Canal shed approximately 4 months earlier and was eventually cut up at Motherwell Machinery & Scrap, Wishaw, in April 1965. [Additional: Peter Hughes noticed the locomotive at Gourock in April 1963 in use as a stationary boiler for carriage heating].
Balornock Shed: Class J36 no 65285 in the shed yard at 65B Balornock Shed on 4 March 1963. This is one of the modified examples of the class with cut down cab and boiler fittings, for use on the Gartsherrie branch.
Willesden Junction High Level: One of Stratford's Brush Type 2 locomotives no D5517 brings a lengthy North London Line freight through Willesden Junction High Level station in March 1969. The train is signalled for Mitre Bridge/North Pole Junctions and the link to the West London Line.
Drongan: 5367 nears Drongan in March 1972 with empties from Ayr Harbour for Killoch.
Drongan: BRCW Type 2 no 5367 about to pass through the remains of Drongan station (closed 1951) on 4 March 1972 with a train of coal empties from Ayr Harbour heading for Killoch.
Keswick: View west from the already vandalised signal-box at Keswick on the last day of service, Saturday 4th March 1972. The line had been cut back to here six years earlier and was now operated with a DMU as a long siding from Penrith.
Burnton Loop: NCB West Ayr Area no 24 (AB 2335/1953) approaching Dunaskin in March 1972 with coal from Pennyvenie destined for the washery.
Minnivey Nos 4,5: NCB empties for Pennyvenie Colliery photographed at Minnivey in March 1972. The train is about to pass a pug waiting to head back to the washery.
Burnton Loop: A trainload of coal from Pennyvenie pauses at the west end of the loop between Minnivey and Dunaskin Washery in March 1972. The locomotive is NCB West Ayr Area No 24 (AB 2335/1953), fitted with Giesl ejector. On the right is the tail end of a rake of empties waiting to complete the return journey. The various angles of the waggons suggests this section was anything but a smooth ride.
Cutler Tip: Coal from Pennyvenie approaching Dunaskin washery on the Waterside complex in March 1972.
Burnton Loop: An internal NCB coal train from Minnevey Colliery at Burnton Loop on the Waterside complex in 1972 just west of Minnivey, with the shunter riding side-saddle.
Minnivey Nos 4,5: NCB No 10 at Minnivey in March 1972 with a trainload of coal destined for Dunaskin washery. [Ref query 504]
Barony Colliery: Scene in the yard at Barony Colliery, Auchinleck, in March 1972. The colliery, which employed 1200 people at its peak, finally closed in 1989.
Killoch Colliery: An NCB Sentinel diesel shunter (4WDH 10012/1959) on duty in the yard at Killoch in March 1972. This locomotive is now preserved at the ARPG centre, Waterside. See image [[28387]]
Pennyvenie Colliery Nos 2, 3, 7: Scene at Pennyvenie Colliery on the Waterside complex in March 1972. View from from the west of Pennyvenie Nos 2, 3 and 7, No 7 still being active.
Cutler Tip [2nd]: Spoil train for the tip between Dunaskin and Minnivey on the Waterside complex, March 1972.
Dunaskin Central Washer: Shunting at Dunaskin washery, Waterside, March 1972. Locomotive is No 17. Cutler Sidings in foreground.
Burnton Loop: NCB Ayrshire Area 0-4-0ST No 10 with empty wagons near Burnton Loop on the Waterside complex on a cold March morning in 1972.
Minnivey Nos 4,5: A spoil train at Minnivey in March 1972 being made ready for the journey to Cutler Tip.
Twin Spires Creamery: Lost Railfreight With the GNSR main line between Persley and Bucksburn over the fence to the left with the former pole route marking the way, the remains of the sidings and run round loop in Twin Spires Creamery are being recovered for reuse on the Strathspey Railway in March 1973. The creamery has now gone as well and the site is a small business park. #COP26
Twin Spires Creamery: The sidings at the Twin Spires Creamery near Bucksburn in March 1973 whilst track lifting was taking place. The view is towards Aberdeen with the GNSR mainline on the other side of the fence to the right. The track and pointwork were being recovered for re-use on the Strathspey Railway.
Inverness MPD: Inverness shed sidings, 47001 and 47210 both at rest. 04 March 1979.
Holt: The restored B12 4-6-0, now numbered 8572, seen at Holt station on the North Norfolk Railway on 4 March 1995. This was the occasion of the locomotive's return to service following a marathon preservation project.
Sheringham: B12 4-6-0 no 8572 being prepared for the off at Sheringham on 4 March 1995.
Sheringham: LNER B12 4-6-0 no 8572 on its first day in service after nearly 35 years out of use. Photographed at Sheringham on 4 March 1995. See image [[34275]]
Brundall: A Norwich service calls at a snowy Brundall in 2005.
Shandon: Looking up to the culvert passing under the military railway and the JCB working on the old line to repair the West Highland Railway.
Shandon: Road/rail crane heading from High Balernock L.C. back to operations near the former Faslane Junction. The crane is passing the site of the demolished Shandon station.
Shandon: Looking north-west at repairs to the West Highland Railway (embankment to the right). The photograph is taken from the overgrown course of the old line to Faslane, looking to Faslane.
North Queensferry [1st]: The bricked up bridge under Ferry Road looking north from North Queensferry pier on 4 March. The cutting and tunnel mouth beyond the bridge on the route back to Inverkeithing South Junction are now part of a housing development and park.
Blackgrange: Crossing barriers now in situ at Blackgrange on 4 March, although they are fenced in. The backdrop is Dumyat a hill behind Menstrie. Not long now before trains to Alloa.
Shandon: Temporary stairway up onto the West Highland (left) from the old Faslane branch. View looks to Faslane Junction
Inverkeithing South Junction: The climb up from the North Queensferry pier/Rosyth branch towards Inverkeithing, seen looking north about 400m from the junction.
Inverkeithing South Junction: An Edinburgh bound 158 passes Inverkeithing South Junction on 4 March. Seen from the public foot crossing on the Rosyth/North Queensferry pier branch.
Stirling: A class 170 with an Alloa - Glasgow Queen Street service stands at Stirling platform 6 on 4 March 2009. This platform is normally used by these trains in both directions.
Stirling Middle Junction: 66 167 signalled for the Down Kincardine line at Stirling Middle Junction on 4 March with a coal train for Longannet.
Falkirk Grahamston: A terminating service from Glasgow Queen Street arrives at Falkirk Grahamston on 4 March 2009, formed by 170 473.
Edinburgh Park: 158 786, repainted from SWT livery but still lacking transfers, heads a Bathgate-bound set at Edinburgh Park on 4 March 2009.
Larbert: Two English exiles pass at Larbert North box on 4 March: 158 871 in Alphaline silver livery heads for Dunblane and while ex-SWT 158 786 approaches Larbert station with an Edinburgh service. The semaphore is in odd but pleasing contrast with the swish Network Rail Training School to the left. Last year semaphores gave way to LED MAS to the south at Larbert Junction and at Plean Junction to the north, where the very tall box (image 19254) is now demolished. There are LN (Larbert North) plates on the signals on their former patch.
Drumgelloch [1st]: The driver of 334 013 waits hopefully for passengers at Drumgelloch on 4 March 2009 with the 12.08 train to Helensburgh.
North Queensferry: Formed of EWS stock but run by First ScotRail this set beefs up commuter services on the Fife Circle with an Inner in the morning and an Outer in the evening, so in terms of getting into Edinburgh (mostly what it's about) it's the western (Dunfermline) half of the circle which benefits. An all maroon train with a proper engine (though, let's face it, not a pretty one) it attracts stares from onlookers though seeming indifference from passengers. 67008 is the locomotive, photographed at North Queensferry on 4 March 2009.
Alloa: EWS 66004 passes through Alloa on its way back to Hunterston on 4 March 2009 with Longannet empties, dwarfing the 3-car 170 at the station platform forming the next service to Glasgow Queen Street.
Coatbridge Central: Hunterston bound EWS 66004 at Coatbridge Central with empties on 4 March 2009, the same train photographed a short time earlier by David Panton passing Alloa. [Image 22723].
Stirling: 170 478 is halted at Stirling with a Glasgow to Dunblane service while Alphaline-liveried 158 871 pulls out for Edinburgh on 4 March 2009.
North Queensferry: SPT uses 170s on only two of its routes, and more sets were delivered in SPT livery than could be needed on them, leading one to suspect they once had higher hopes. The consequence is that these sets frequently appear on services originating in Edinburgh and going nowhere near Glasgow. Here on 4 March 2009 an almost empty 170 472 comes off the Forth Bridge into North Queensferry station on a morning Fife circle working having passed busy commuter trains heading the other way in quick succession.
Edinburgh Park: 170 458 pulls into Edinburgh Park station on 4 March to drop off a few late commuters and carry the rest on to Haymarket and Waverley.
Alloa: Scene at Alloa on 4 March 2009. 7 seconds past the off but the signal awaited the next service to Glasgow Queen Street formed by 170 461, unusually for this line not an SPT-liveried set.
Oubeck Loops: A southbound Pendolino rushes through Oubeck on its way from Lancaster to Preston on 4 March 2010 passing a Colas track machine in the loop awaiting a path south.
Bay Horse: Colas Rail 66843 is now operating on its own on the Carlisle to Chirk log train. It is seen on 4 March 2010 heading south at Forton near Bay Horse.
Bay Horse: DRS 66414 heads north near Bay Horse on the WCML with an Intermodal service on 4 March 2010.
Armadale: The 08.11 service to Edinburgh Waverley (06.40 ex-Helensburgh Central) calls at Armadale on 4 March 2011. This was the first day of scheduled passenger services at the new station.
Armadale: Platform sign at the new Armadale station which opened to passengers on 4 March 2011. The original station at Armadale, located a little further to the west, closed in January 1956.
Kilmarnock: Class 156 no 156506 with the 09.18 service to Carlisle about to pass class 31 no 31106 with a track measurement train at Kilmarnock on 4 March 2011.
Kilmarnock: Class 31 no 31106 is about to propel DB999508+DBSO9701 from Kilmarnock towards Greenburn on 4 March 2011 during operations with the 2Q88 Network Rail track measurement train.
Ashton Hall [Private]: View towards Lancaster along the Glasson Dock branch cycleway, alongside the River Lune, near the site of the private halt for Ashton Hall. Contrary to appearances this route is nowadays very busy with cyclists and walkers and undoubtedly carries far more traffic than it ever did when the rails were down. See image [[33042]] for the sparse passenger service in 1915. By the time of full closure in 1964 the branch goods was running as required which in practice meant no more than weekly.
Kilmarnock: Class 31 no 31106 about to propel DB999508+DBSO9701 to Greenburn on 4 March with a Network Rail test train.
Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal: Temporary exhibit: this rail-under-road bridge (see new tracks in background, for imminent expansion of DIRFT) was due to be jacked under the A5 over the weekend of 4th-7th March. In the meantime, it is nicely obscuring the site of the former Kilsby station.
Torryburn: The former approach road to Torryburn Station on 4 March 2012. Houses have been built on the site, behind which runs the Culross/Longannet line. Note the lengths of rail used as a gatepost and fence supports. See image [[6481]]
Swindon: Hanson class 59 no 59101 Village of Whatley passing through Swindon station on 4 March with stone empties heading for Westbury via Melksham. The train had been held in one of the eastern loops for just over 30 minutes.
Swindon: A First Great Western DMU at Swindon on 4 March 2013 awaiting its departure time with a service to Cheltenham.
Swindon: An HST from Paddington runs into Swindon on 4 February 2013 bound for Bristol Temple Meads.
Swindon: Platform scene at Swindon on 4 March 2013 with 66154 passing through with coal empties heading towards Bristol.
Adlestrop: There was not much to see as far as the former Adlestrop station was concerned when it was visited on 4 March 2014. The degraded remains of the platforms were just visible and the station house still stood as a private residence through the trees on the left. [Ref query 3485]. Photographed from the bridge carrying the A436 over the railway.
Longdon Road: Deep in the countryside with nature taking over the remains of Longdon Road station on 4 March 2014. The station was on a line from Moreton-in-Marsh to Shipston on Stour although it had started life in 1826 as part of the Stratford Upon Avon to Moreton-in Marsh Tramway. The platform face is in very good condition considering the station closed to passengers in 1929.
Adlestrop: The station nameboard and a bench (with GWR scrollwork) from Adlestrop station in use in the village bus shelter on 4 March 2014, some distance from the railway. The station closed in 1966 but is remembered in a poem by Edward Thomas when a train he was on stopped at the station in June 1914. Edward Thomas was killed in action at the Battle of Arras in 1917.
Kingsknowe: Unit 350404 coasts downhill from Kingsknowe station with the 12.00 TransPennine service from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh Waverley on 4 March 2014.
Blisworth: A southbound Pendolino at speed near Blisworth, Northants, on 4 March 2014.
Longdon Road: Although track and gates have gone, one set of gate posts remains on the west side of the level crossing at Longdon Road on 4 March 2014. The station was to the left and the goods yard to the right. The former railway house has been extended across the trackbed. See image [[46801]]
Blisworth: A southbound Voyager approaching the site of the former Blisworth station, Northants, on 4 March 2014 with the 11.30 Birmingham New Street - London Euston.
Camps Junction: GBRf 66735 powers the 6S45 North Blyth - Fort William alumina tanks past the former Camps Junction on 4 March.
Balgreen [Tram]: Edinburgh Tram 276 heads towards Balgreen and the city centre on 4 March, passing between Carrickknowe Golf Course and the E & G/Fife main lines.
Port Edgar West Naval Pier: The western of two former naval piers at Port Edgar looking north across the Forth in March 2015, with construction of the new Queensferry Crossing underway just beyond the western breakwater.
Forth Bridge: Looking east over the rooftops of South Queensferry on a sunny afternoon in March 2015. An up ScotRail DMU about to complete its crossing of the Forth Bridge begins to slow for the Dalmeny stop.
Port Edgar West Naval Pier: Remains of imbedded track still surviving in the boatyard at Port Edgar on 4 March 2015, at the point where the line once swung north to gain access to the western of two naval piers (see image [[75083]]). In the background work is in progress on the new Queensferry Crossing, which was officially opened to traffic on 30 August 2017.
Forth Bridge: Part of the 'Forth Bridge 125' celebrations included an event recalling the 'Forth Bridge raid' carried out by the Lufwaffe on 16 October 1939. The commemorative event, which took place on 4 March, featured a replica Spitfire flying over the bridge - seen here from South Queensferry. Below the bridge is Inchgarvie, a gun emplacement during WW2, providing protection for the bridge and the nearby Rosyth Naval Base (the target of the 1939 raid). Inchgarvie is said to resemble (from the air) a British Navy Battleship. Please yourself.
Aberfoyle: The railway cottages just east of the site of Aberfoyle station on the trackbed of the former Strathendrick and Aberfoyle Railway seen on 4th March 2015. The line is now a popular walking route to Buchlyvie.
Port Edgar West Naval Pier: Old and new at Port Edgar on 4 March 2015 looking north across the Forth. Between the yachts to the right is the western of the two former naval piers, with track still visible in the foreground. Standing beyond are the towers which will support the new Queensferry Crossing, due to open in 2016.
Aberfoyle Shed: Still partly visible on 4th March 2015 in the woodland which has grown up on the site of the east end of Aberfoyle station, the circle of concrete marks the location of the old turntable. See image [[20597]]
Forth Bridge: Passengers on the 1323 Cowdenbeath - Edinburgh Waverley service approaching South Queensferry on 4 March breath a collective sigh of relief, having safely completed their crossing of the Forth Bridge, after being 'buzzed' by a Spitfire see image [[50544]].
Port Edgar West Naval Pier: Looking north west across the Forth from Port Edgar towards the former west naval pier in 2015. The south tower of a new bridge rises from the waters of the Forth beyond the naval pier. This is the Queensferry Crossing, officially opened in 2017.
Aberfoyle Shed: This curious structure made from old rails is to be found near a path off the trackbed of the S&A near the site of the former Aberfoyle locomotive shed. My impression (I did not measure it at the time) was that it was too small to be the remains of a standard gauge buffer stop, though it appears I am outvoted. I hope to return with a measuring tape to settle the matter.
Strood: View of Strood station from Station Road on 4 March 2016. [Ref query 11223]
Desborough and Rothwell: The former station building at Desborough and Rothwell viewed from the public road on 4 March 2016. A passing EMT Meridian unit can be seen to the left of the building.
Glendon and Rushton: Restoration work was in progress during my visit to Glendon and Rushton on 4 March 2016. The view is from the access road and the Midland Main Line is on the other side of the building.
Brock: The light overnight covering of snow was already beginning to thaw (and it was raining) as 37401 Mary Queen of Scots headed north at Brock with the Northern Rail 1005hrs (M-F) Preston to Barrow-in-Furness service on 4th March 2016.
Turku: Scotlands former transport minister. Alex Neil, recommended double deck trains for the Edinburgh and Glasgow line. It certainly is an excellent idea, if all the new wires were raised and bridges rebuilt. This is how they do it in Finland. The coaches dwarf the loco and it is by UK standards not small. Turku, 4th March 2017. Alongside is a Pendolino.
Dalston: The perils of trying to fit in as much of a moving locomotive as possible. 'Galatea' passing through Dalston Cumbria heading home to Euston on 4th March 2017. It was a little late and so was I taking the picture! (I may get another chance on 25/03/2017.)
Dalston: Yet another failed loco hauled Northern service being recovered to DRS depot in Carlisle. The service broke down at St Bees and can be seen passing through Dalston Cumbria on 4th March 2017.
Chard Central: Looking South at Chard North, here is one of the 'back to nature' parts of the line from Ilminster see image [[56377]]. The cyclepath has a smooth tarmac surface, but dodges on and off the actual trackbed.
Donyatt Halt: Peasmarsh Somerset. Slightly South of Donyatt see image [[56769]], the trackbed is covered by the A358; this is where the two rights of way part company. The cyclepath is very badly signposted, the best marker being a signpost on the other side of the road to 'Chilworthy 1/2'. The cyclepath will soon jink right to avoid a sewage works built on the trackbed.
Salisbury: Units on shed - or at least in the sidings. See image [[49995]] for comparison.
Chard Central: On the Stop Line Way approaching Chard from the North in March 2017. The concrete fenceposts indicate either a prevailing wind, or a soft embankment. See image [[58473]]
Knowle St. Giles: A second row of tank traps on the footpath now known as the Stop Line Way see image [[52607]]. There was also a gun emplacement near the line here, disguised as a chicken shed.
Patterton: 314 206, still in SPT livery, calls at Patterton with a service for Glasgow on 04/03/2017.
Cathcart: An Inner Circle service calls at Cathcart on 04/03/2017. On the far left 'N' above the signal indicates that the road is set for a Neilston train. 'C' is displayed for circle trains.
Coatdyke Viaduct: Airdrie to Balloch train passing over Centenery Ave Viaduct approaching Coatdyke station (4/3/17).
Pollokshaws West: A Barrhead service calls at Pollokshaws West on a cold and damp 04/03/2017. This is the most staffed-looking unstaffed station I know.
Dalgety Bay: The 11.47 VTEC service from Aberdeen to London Kings Cross nears snowy but thawing Dalgety Bay on 4 March. The train had been diverted via Perth and Newburgh due to planned (but cancelled) engineering work at Cupar. The leading power car was 43309, 43238 trailing.
Dunblane Junction: What a difference a day makes. Probably the southbound 1T80 Inverness - Queen Street.
Forth Bridge: The Forth Bridge is a World Heritage site. This view from the Boatyard Steps shows the new plaque to that effect, seen here on the right. Unveiled today.
Forth Bridge: Forth Bridge World Heritage site, the plaque unveiled today at the Boatyard Steps.
Havana: Havana Station frontage. Havana main station is at present shut for refurbishment. My translation of the project notice is for completion in 2018. Hm, I think that is a little optimistic!
Havana: Information board for the reconstruction of Havana station.
Havana: Havana main station is at present shut for refurbishment. My translation of the project notice is for completion in 2018. Hm, I think that is a little optimistic!
Havana: Platform view showing old and new facilities at the Havana terminus.
Dunblane: The 1A88, ex Glasgow, departs north from Dunblane station on 4th March 2018.
Dunblane: 1PXX at Dunblane on 4th March 2019, plus a southbound Inter7City HST set.
Hilton Junction: Recent tree cutting has opened up views of the junction as the LNER train from Inverness heads south on 4th March 2019.
Hilton Junction: Recent tree cutting has opened up views of the tunnel approach at Hilton Junction. 4th March 2019.
Tomatin Viaduct: 47245 hauling a Stoneblower south from Helmsdale to Dunkeld. Pictured crossing the Tomatin Viaduct, above Tomatin Village.
Hilton Junction: Recent tree cutting has opened up views of Hilton Junction. 4th March 2019.
Brock: A northbound Pendolino passes a pair of DBC Class 90s on a Mossend to Daventry intermodal service at the site of Brock station on 04 March 2019.
Brock: Heading to Southall around 10 minutes early, B1 no.61306 'Mayflower' passes the site of Brock station on 04 March 2019. The loco with support coach also had 33207 in the consist. The loco is scheduled to haul a London to Bristol charter on 07 March 2019.
Lancaster: 90016 and 90049 have just crossed the River Lune and are passing through the north Lancaster suburbs on their way from Daventry to Coatbridge. The speed restriction sign on the Up Line refers to the 75mph limit on the through line in the station and 40mph for the divergence to Platforms 4 and 5. This view taken from St. Chad's Road on 4th March 2019. [Ref query 6 March 2019]
Dundee: This refitted HST on an Aberdeen to Edinburgh service has arrived at Dundee well early, so there is plenty of time for the changing crew to 'share a joke' as they used to say in newspaper captions. Photographed on 4th March 2020.
Bristol Temple Meads: The coupler unit between two Hitachi 800s, seen at Bristol Temple Meads on 4th March 2020.
Magdalen Green: Although this footbridge straddled the platforms at Magdalen Green it had no stairs down to them. The station had its less substantial footbridge only slightly further west which also had public access from both sides. Not a trace of the station remains. Photographed 4th March 2020.
Bristol Temple Meads: 43098 'Walton Castle' at Temple Meads on 4th March 2020. These HSTs short sets have been named after west country castles and are now used on journeys centred on Bristol, such as to Exeter and Taunton.
Invergowrie: I don't know what happened to the plans for an hourly Glasgow to Dundee stopping service but Invergowrie has to manage with only 13 trains a day both ways. One of only three trains between peaks, the 12.21 to Glasgow, calls on 4th March 2020. The world-leading Ninewells Hospital can be seen behind it.
Dundee: A view along Dundee's Platform 1 on 4 March 2020 as people await the 1421 to Edinburgh, which will arrive surprisingly early. Do people still use trolleys? Anyway, they are there if you need them. The high retaining wall is most definitely needed as, uniquely in the UK, the platforms here are below sea level - and the sea is less than 100 yards away. Photographed 4 March 2020.
Bristol Temple Meads: Colas 70811, nearly overwhelmed with a rake of three cement tanks at Temple Meads on 4th March 2020. It stopped for ten minutes, I assume waiting for a clear road.
Alexandra Palace: 717011 with a stopping service from Moorgate to Welwyn Garden City arriving at Alexandra Palace station (known as Wood Green until 1982), on 4th March 2020. Services on this route were subject to delays and cancellations on this day due to problems with the OLE at Potters Bar.
Alexandra Palace: Brand new Azuma unit speeding north on the ECML passing Alexandra Palace station (known as Wood Green until 1982), in the north London suburbs, on 4th March 2020.
New Barnet: 717011 from Moorgate to Welwyn Garden City heading away from the camera as it departs from New Barnet station, on 4th March 2020. Services on this route were subject to delays and cancellations on this day due to a problem with the OLE at Potters Bar.
New Barnet: The now fenced-off obsolete fast platforms at New Barnet, a London commuter station on the ECML where only the outer sides of the two island platforms are in use, seen here looking north on 4th March 2020. This station opened with the GNR's London Extension on 7th August 1850 as Barnet and was renamed New Barnet on 1st May 1884. On the far right, a class 717 unit from Welwyn Garden City to Moorgate is calling at the surviving outer edge of the up platform.
Dundee East: In November 2019 I idly wondered what the plans were for the disused sidings at the site of Dundee East station as they had recently been devegetated (I know, horrible word). Well, there is obviously something afoot as today, 4th March 2020, the area is being inspected by these gents from Commercial Property Maintenance Services. The cutting leading to Dock Street tunnel is between them and me.
Kings Cross: Another UK Railtours' excursion bites the dust as 60017 rests after dark at Kings Cross, on the evening of Saturday, 11th June 2016. In this case, an out-and-back trip to the north east to just south of Newcastle, then back via Sunderland, Hartlepool and Stockton to Northallerton, diverging from the ECML again south of Doncaster to run via Gainsborough Lea Road and Spalding back to the ECML at Peterborough and so back to King's Cross.
Euxton Balshaw Lane: A pair of LSLs green Class 37s head north near Euxton Balshaw Lane with an ECS working from Crewe to Berwick-upon-Tweed on 4 March 2021. The train is scheduled to then return to the west coast and head south along the Cumbrian Coast. Friday sees the train travel south before heading north over the S&C and the Sou-West main line to Kilmarnock and Carstairs! The WHL is billed as the destination for the weekend, ECS all the way.
Euxton Balshaw Lane: 769442 out on a test run passes Euxton Balshaw Lane on 4 March 2021. The EDMU was on the return trip to Springs Branch, Wigan having travelled to Blackpool North earlier in the morning and was running on the diesel power packs.
Thornton North Junction: An aerial view of Thornton North Junction looking north with the under re-construction line to Leven curving off to the right. Thornton Junction station was out off shot at the bottom.
Earlseat Loading Pad: For the re-opening of the line to Leven a compound has been laid out at the site of the Earlseat Loading Pad. This aerial view looks to the north west.
Wyre Viaduct: After a successful appearance at the East Lancashire Railway steam gala, 46100 'Royal Scot' moved on to the Worth Valley on 4th March 2022. Routing from Heywood via Manchester, Preston and the Bentham line means a steam loco arrives on the KWVR facing the right way and the Scot is seen crossing the River Wyre at Scorton heading north.
Blackford: There was plenty of work going on at the new Highland Spring rail sidings on 4th March 2022, although no main line connection yet. I guess that will be up to Network Rail to supervise.
Leyland: 46100 Royal Scot passes Leyland with its support coach on 4th March 2022, whilst moving from Castleton on the ELR to the K&WVR.
Blackford: Highland Spring rail sidings taking shape on 4th March 2022, although not connected to the main line yet.
Events
Events from the chronology which occured on this day. This generally lists events before 1995, the creation of the website.
| Year | Companies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1847 | Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway | Cowlairs Incline engine brought back into use, having been fitted with larger cylinders. |
| 1890 | Forth Bridge Railway | Bridge opened by HRH Prince of Wales driving the last rivet. |
| 1903 | Callander and Oban Railway | Oban station enlargement authorised. |
| 1964 | Dalry Road Lines (Caledonian Railway) | Stirling and Falkirk trains diverted from Edinburgh Princes Street to Edinburgh Waverley. |
| 1972 | Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway | Keswick to Penrith closed completely. |
| 1998 | Sutherland Railway | Station building at Golspie sold at auction in Glasgow (as was a former railway cottage at Dalwhinnie). |
| 2020 | West Highland Railway | A Class 55 ^Deltic^ visits Fort William for the first time (55019 ^Royal Highland Fusilier^) on a tour from Cardiff. |
News
These are old news items which which occured on this day. This generally lists events after 1995, the creation of the website.
| Year | Companies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Edinburgh Light Railway | A circular tramway from Edinburgh to Leith and Newhaven proposed by Transport Initiatives Edinburgh Ltd (City of Edinburgh Council) is to be opened in 2009 following allocation of funding by the Scottish Executive to the project. Further branches are proposed; West Edinburgh Link (City to Gyle, Edinburgh Park and Edinburgh Airport), South Easy (City to new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary site). Edinburgh City Council closed the extensive Edinburgh Corporation tramways between 1952 and 1956. |
| 2004 | Airdrie to Bathgate consultation phase; Airdrie Public Meeting | A public meeting at John Wilson Town Hall, Stirling Street Airdrie on Thursday the 4th of March at 19:30. All welcome, questions may be asked. |
| 2004 | Third man held over rail deaths [BBC News] | A third person is arrested over the deaths of four men killed by a runaway railway trailer. |
| 2006 | First class seats [Scotsman] | FIRST ScotRail is investing more than £1 million on further improvements to stations across Scotland. |
| 2006 | Businesses getting behind trams plan [Scotsman] | FOUR out of five businesses in Edinburgh support the reintroduction of trams, according to a study. |
| 2007 | Progress at Aberdeen | The multi-million pound revamp at Aberdeen is now well underway. A provisional car park is now in place together with new temporary access at the front of the station. Ticket gates are being installed on the main concourse and the first of the new ticket vending machines is now operational. Access to platform 6 (north) has been altered to facilitate the relocation of a retail unit and lifts are being installed on either side of platform 7. The Aberdeen station revamp will be completed by the end of 2007. [First ScotRail] |
| 2008 | Review of Borders rail link plan to delay finish till 2012 [Scotsman] | Reopening the Borders rail line will be delayed another year ministers are expected to announce tomorrow. |
| 2010 | Damaged locomotive arrives at Inverness [Railscot News] | Following recovery from the crash site at Carrbridge, 66048 has arrived at Inverness on a low-loader. The locomotive is to be partially stripped down here prior to being transported to Derby for major repairs. [All photographs kindly supplied by Keir Hardie.] |
| 2010 | In pictures: railway^s golden age [BBC News] | The second of three auctions of vintage railway art from a collection described as the most important of its kind, is getting under way. Malcolm Guest^s posters advertising trips to UK holiday resorts could make his family £1m. |
| 2011 | Demand for overnight trains ban [Inverness Courier] | TRAINS which sound like ^a helicopter landing on the roof^ have prompted people living near an Inverness railway line to demand a ban on night-time services. [From John Gray] |
| 2011 | First ScotRail Insight | Two items from the latest First ScotRail ^Insight^ newsletter are attached. [With thanks to David Panton] |
| 2012 | Little used stations should be closed [Scotsman] | RAILWAY stations in Scotland used by few passengers should be closed, a leading business group has argued. CBI Scotland said stations must justify their existence and “sacred cows” challenged. The country’s ten least used stations clock up fewer than 300 passengers a year each. At some, no passengers get on or off nine in ten trains which stop. The quietest, Barry Links near Carnoustie, handled just 90 passengers in 2009-10, while only 116 used Breich in West Lothian. Both were served by only two trains a day. Network Rail has already highlighted that fare revenue from such stations does not even cover the cost of stopping trains. |
| 2012 | Poland suffers deadly train crash near Szczekociny [BBC News] | Two trains have collided in southern Poland, leaving 15 people dead and 50 hurt, local officials say. The accident occurred on Saturday evening on the Warsaw-Krakow mainline at the small town of Szczekociny, according to Polish TV. Two express trains, one of which was on the wrong track, collided head-on, a senior railway official said. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the accident Poland^s ^most tragic train catastrophe... in many years.^ Mr Tusk arrived at the scene early on Sunday morning, with three other cabinet ministers. |
| 2013 | New operator sought for CairnGorm Mountain ski centre [BBC] | A new operator is being sought for the CairnGorm Mountain snowsports centre near Aviemore. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) owns the site, which includes Scotland^s only funicular railway and the UK^s highest restaurant. |
| 2014 | Dawlish railway to reopen 2 weeks earlier than planned [Western Daily Press] | The railway line at Dawlish in Devon, badly damaged when the sea wall was breached in the recent storms, is to reopen almost two weeks earlier than planned. After first saying it hoped the coast-hugging line would be repaired around mid-March, Network Rail (NR) put back the proposed reopening date to mid-April following further damage from the severe storm on St Valentine’s Day. But NR has now been able to announce a reopening date of Friday April 4, meaning the line, a key link to the far south west of England, will be up and running in time for the Easter holidays. |
| 2014 | Chiltern Rail take ^overcrowded^ First TransPennine Express trains [BBC News] | The government^s Transport Committee chairwoman has said it is "outrageous" that trains will be moved from the North to the South of England. MP Louise Ellman has written to the Secretary of State for Transport for an explanation about plans to transfer nine trains to Chiltern Railways. The trains, currently used between Manchester and Hull, will move from April 2015 in a lease agreement. The current train operator has "no contractual rights" to the locomotives. [From Mark Bartlett] |
| 2015 | UK government sells Eurostar stake for £757.1m [BBC News] | The UK government has announced that it is selling its 40% stake in the cross-Channel train operator Eurostar to an Anglo-Canadian consortium for £757.1m. Under the deal, Patina Rail LLP will acquire the UK Treasury^s entire share of the high-speed rail service. The French and Belgian national railways continue to own the rest. |
| 2016 | Appleby landslip: Carlisle-to-Settle rail repair plan agreed [BBC News] | Plans to repair a damaged section of the Carlisle-to-Settle railway line have been agreed by engineers. A 500,000-tonne landslide at Eden Brows forced the line^s closure between Appleby and Carlisle early last month. Network Rail has revealed plans to build a structure underneath the track at Armathwaite to support it. The project, expected to take many months, will also involve major earthworks to stabilise the embankment. There is no exact timetable, due to the scale of the slip, the fact the earth is still moving and the remoteness of its location. Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line said it remained ^open for business^, with trains running between Leeds and Appleby and a bus replacement service to Carlisle. |
| 2016 | New trains unveiled for Glasgow Subway system [BBC News] | The first images of the new trains to be introduced on the Glasgow subway have been revealed as part of a £200m deal to overhaul the system. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has awarded the contract to a Swiss/Italian consortium. The authority said the new trains would offer quieter and smoother journeys and have dedicated facilities for wheelchair users for the first time. The trains, which can run driverless, are due to be operational by 2020. |
| 2016 | Scotland^s first rail chaplains office opens at Paisley Gilmour Street | The first Rail Chaplains office in Scotland has opened at Paisley Gilmour Street station in Renfrewshire. The chaplaincy service is operated by The Railway Mission - a Christian charity which helps rail users |
| 2017 | NR delivers rails for Far North Line renewals for first time in Scotland by sea [IRJ] | Over 1,000 new rails have been delivered to Scotland for the first time by sea to Scrabster Harbour to be used to renew 6.5 miles of track on the Far North Lines Thurso branch that stretches from Thurso Station to Georgemas Junction. [From Richard Buckby] |
| 2017 | Protecting former line could cut cost of new railway by millions [Press and Journal] | A national transport charity has called on the Scottish Government to protect the former Buchan railway line and cut the bill of reinstating the route by tens of millions of pounds. Transform Scotland, the sustainable transport alliance, has responded to a government transport consultation and proposed special protection for former branch railways, which were closed after the controversial Beeching Report. The Buchan line, which connected Peterhead and Fraserburgh to Aberdeen via Ellon, has been closed for more than 50 years and there have been myriad calls for it to be reopened. |
| 2019 | Five out of six electric vehicle charging points at East Lothian stations not working [East Lothian Courier] | Five of ScotRails charging points for electric vehicles at train stations in East Lothian remain out of action “ nine months after they were forced to take them offline after faults emerged. |
| 2020 | On this day, March 4, 1890: Take it as red, Forth Bridge is still awe-inspiring [Sunday Post] | Carrying rattling train carriages back and forth between South and North Queensferry, the [[Forth Bridge]]^s red arches are one of the most iconic symbols of Scotland. |
| 2020 | Stunning new HS2 railway station with huge platforms unveiled for Solihull [Birmingham Live] | Plans for the single largest HS2 development in [[Solihull]] - a whole-new train station near the airport and NEC - have been handed to the council. The huge building project will take place on an area of green belt land bordered by three of the borough^s busiest routes - the M42, A45 and A452. Initial designs for the Interchange Station were first unveiled in 2018 and updated artwork released earlier this year, with the application now lodged with the local authority. |
| 2020 | ACME regenerates Folkestone harbour seafront in Kent [Architects Journal] | The £5 million project for [[Folkestone Harbour]] and Seafront Development Company includes a boardwalk, public lift and staircase and station refurbishment |
| 2020 | Berwick station closed off after ^explosive^ attack on ATM as thieves snatch cash [Berwick Advertiser] | Berwick^s station is closed after thieves used explosives to break into an ATM to steal cash, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. |
| 2020 | Task force needed to press for investment on rail services between Inverness and central belt [Inverness Courier] | A major study is recommending a task force be set up to press for investment in rail services between Inverness and Perth. |
| 2020 | Train trouble derail meeting to discuss Lockerbie rail woes [BBC News] | Disruption on the West Coast main line leads to the cancellation of a meeting to discuss problems at [[Lockerbie]] station. |
| 2020 | Visitors able to climb Forth Bridge after plans granted [BBC News] | The proposals will see construction of a bridge walk and reception hub on the south of the bridge at [[South Queensferry]]. |
