This day in history 09 March

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Glasgow St Enoch: An EE Type 4 prepares to take a train out of St Enoch in the spring of 1963.

City of Glasgow Union Railway
R Sillitto/A Renfrew Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 1963


Corkerhill Shed: 9 March 1963 and Standard 5 No 73101 has recently returned from overhaul at St Rollox Works, and is waiting for the go ahead to depart from Corkerhill shed.

Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Colin Kirkwood 1963


West Kilbride: The Largs branch pickup goods leaves the yard at West Kilbride on the afternoon of 9 March 1963.

Largs Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
R Sillitto/A Renfrew Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 1963


Corkerhill Shed: The 'dead row' at Corkerhill shed on 9 March 1963 featured 2P No 40615 (minus chimney) and Caley 0-4-4 tank No 55221 (also minus chimney), Sister loco No 55203 had a rusty unattractive stovepipe chimney, which is perhaps why it was still on the smokebox. The front of Royal Scot No 46102 'Black Watch' also intrudes into the picture.

Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Colin Kirkwood 1963


Kirkcudbright: Men behaving badly. Messing around on the platform at Kirkcudbright in March 1963. View north from the buffer stops towards the locomotive shed, with the goods shed visible on the left through the smoke.

Kirkcudbright Railway
R Sillitto/A Renfrew Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 1963


Ardrossan Town: BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T no 80049 stands in the bay following arrival with a train at Ardrossan Town in March 1963.

Ardrossan and Johnstone Railway
R Sillitto/A Renfrew Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 1963


Kirkcudbright: A branch train from Dumfries arriving through the rain at Kirkcudbright in March 1963, just over two years prior to closure of the line.

Kirkcudbright Railway
R Sillitto/A Renfrew Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 1963


Hull Dairycoates Shed: Great Northern Gresley Class K3/2 5P6F 2-6-0 61969, viewed outside 50B (previously 53A) Hull Dairycoates shed during an absolutely horrific downpour in March 1963. This was during a day out to York, where extensive flooding of the River Ouse had occurred, and Hull, from secondary school, for a small group of rail enthusiasts who were to leave school that year, together with a teacher.

Hull and Selby Railway
David Pesterfield 1963


West Kilbride: The daily Largs branch pick-up goods about to leave the yard at West Kilbride heading north on an overcast March day in 1963. See image [[38996]]

Largs Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
R Sillitto/A Renfrew Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 1963


Hull Dairycoates: LNER Class V3 2-6-2T no 67638 stabled on a very wet Hull Dairycoates Shed in March 1963.

York and North Midland Railway
David Pesterfield 1963


Berwick-upon-Tweed: EE Type 4 No. D253 makes the Berwick call on 9 March 1968 with the early morning York to Edinburgh train. The steam heating boiler is clearly functioning properly although the state of the hose connections is questionable. In the background a United Automobile Services vehicle, which I think is a Bristol LS5G, heads north on the A1.

North British Railway
Bill Jamieson 1968


Tay Bridge South Junction: Train 4E47, the Aberdeen - London Kings Cross early afternoon fish train, comes off the Tay Bridge and past the south box in the spring of 1972 behind an unidentified Brush Type 4 locomotive. See image [[32177]]

Tay Bridge and Associated Lines (North British Railway)
John Furnevel 1972


Brampton (Suffolk): A DMU headed for Lowestoft pulls away from Brampton station on 9th April 1978, next stop Beccles. The waiting shelter dates only from 1960, and even then it was secondhand, having previously been in use at Great Ormesby station until the Midland & Great Northern system closed in 1959. Although it was removed from Brampton in 1985, the shelter continued to lead a charmed life and ended up under preservation at the Mangapps Railway Museum in Essex.

Halesworth, Beccles and Haddiscoe Railway (East Suffolk Railway)
Mark Dufton 1978


Polkemmet Colliery: Andrew Barclay No 8 (1175 of 1909) leaves a smoke screen over the exchange sidings a little to the west of Polkemmet Colliery as it returns to the pit on 9 March 1978.

Greenrigg and Polkemmet Collieries Railway (William Dixon Ltd)
Bill Roberton 1978


Prestonpans: A 'Peak' approaches Prestonpans, with cement from Oxwellmains, in March 1981.

North British Railway
Bill Roberton 1981


Blindwells Opencast Disposal Site: 26001 leaves Blindwells loading point on 9 March 1981 with a loaded coal train.

North British Railway
Bill Roberton 1981


Leith South Yard: 46029 with a trainload of pipes in Leith South yard in March 1981.

Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Bill Roberton 1981


Cockenzie Power Station: 26006 waits to leave Cockenzie Power Station siding on 9 March 1981 with a train of empty hoppers.

Prestonpans Power Station Branch (British Rail)
Bill Roberton 1981


Leith South Yard: A Renault car train waiting for unloading to be completed in Leith South yard on 9 March 1981.

Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Bill Roberton 1981


Prestonpans: Looking east at Prestonpans in March 1981. The Down platform building has since been replaced by a bus shelter and the footbridge by a more electrification - friendly version.

North British Railway
Bill Roberton 1981


Prestonpans: HST 254 026 passes Blindwells opencast mine with a Down express in March 1981. 26001 waits with a loaded train.

North British Railway
Bill Roberton 1981


Hexham: The coal drops alongside Hexham station in March 1985. View west towards Carlisle.

Newcastle and Carlisle Railway
Bill Roberton 1985


Dunblane: Shortly before repainting in ScotRail livery as part of the BR sectorisation policy, 47 712 Lady Diana Spencer heads a push-pull set through Dunblane on a Glasgow Queen Street-Aberdeen service.

Scottish Central Railway
Mark Dufton 1985


Didcot Railway Centre: 3822 under repair at The Great Western Society, Didcot, on 9 March 1986.

Great Western Railway
Peter Todd 1986


Stranraer Town: The Stranraer sleeper was maintained at Stranraer Town until the service was withdrawn in 1990. This was the sleeper coach maintenance siding in 1988 - the former station is off to the left in this west facing view. This had been the site of the original carriage shed and sidings (until their replacement with larger facilities at Stranraer Harbour Junction in the Second World War).

Portpatrick Railway
Ewan Crawford 1988


Stranraer Harbour: Sealinks Galloway Princess prepares to come alongside at Stranraer. Owned by British Rail until 1985. She then became Stena Galloway and is now M/F Le Rif.

Portpatrick Railway
Ewan Crawford 1988


Stranraer Harbour: Looking to the buffers in the new trainshed at Stranraer Harbour.

Portpatrick Railway
Ewan Crawford 1988


Stranraer Harbour: Glasgow train waits by Stranraer Harbour signalbox. Access by kind permission of British Rail.

Portpatrick Railway
Ewan Crawford 1988


Stranraer Harbour: View from the signalbox; the train from London arrives to connect with the Galloway Princess. Access by kind permission of British Rail.

Portpatrick Railway
Ewan Crawford 1988


Stranraer Harbour: View from Stranraer Harbour signalbox in 1988. The train from London arrives to connect with the 'Galloway Princess'. To the right the Glasgow train awaits departure. Access by kind permission of British Rail.

Portpatrick Railway
Ewan Crawford 1988


Stranraer Harbour: Inside Stranraer Harbours signalbox. Note the semaphore signal hard against the box (back window). Complete with obligatory section of carpet. Access by kind permission of British Rail.

Portpatrick Railway
Ewan Crawford 1988


Stranraer Harbour: In the increasing gloom an 08 draws up to the London trains stock to withdraw it from the station.

Portpatrick Railway
Ewan Crawford 1988


Stranraer Town: Station shunter 08693 was conveniently parked next to the offices in the former Stranraer Town station building. In the background is the Stockton Haulage shed. The 08 was employed on shunting Stockton Haulage wagons, car carriers, sleeper and other coaches, and tripping over to Stranraer Harbour.

Portpatrick Railway
Ewan Crawford 1988


Barrhill: Barrhill station looking north in 1988.

Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway
Ewan Crawford 1988


Glenwhilly: At the time this was quite a disappointing photograph of Glenwhilly signalbox. Now it is a reminder of the interior of the locomotive hauled stock which operated on the Stranraer line in the 1980s.

Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway
Ewan Crawford 1988


Craigo: 60009 (running as Osprey) passes Craigo signal box with the 'North Briton' to Aberdeen on a murky 9 March 1991. The signalbox was re-activated in 2019 after being switched out for several years .

Aberdeen Railway
Bill Roberton 1991


Prologis Park: Prologis Park sidings, formerly Keresley/Coventry Colliery. The sidings had been recently relaid, lighting installed and sheds built in 2003.

Coventry Colliery Branch (London and North Western Railway)
Ewan Crawford 2003


Coventry Colliery: Following clearance of the Coventry/Keresley Colliery site not much remained apart from the relaid railway and this NCB sign, seen in 2003. The site is now the [[Prologis Park]].

Coventry Colliery Branch (London and North Western Railway)
Ewan Crawford 2003


Rumbletonlaw: Looking east along the trackbed of the former Berwickshire Railway between Gordon and Greenlaw near Rumbletonlaw in March 2004.

Berwickshire Railway
James Young 2004


Dalry Middle Junction: View west showing the replacement deck of the former railway bridge that once carried the Caledonian lines over Dalry Road, seen here in March 2006. Dalry Road station and shed stood off to the left and Dalry Middle Junction to the right. The bridge now carries part of the West Approach Road. See image [[29480]]

Wester Dalry Branch and Dalry Road Lines (Caledonian Railway)
John Furnevel 2006


Haymarket: 'You can get this lot shifted for a start'..... preliminary discussions underway in Haymarket station car park on 9 March 2006 regarding construction of a new bay platform 0. See image [[8207]]

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
John Furnevel 2006


Gleneagles: EWS 66088 nears Gleneagles with a northbound cement train on 9 March 2006.

Scottish Central Railway
Bill Roberton 2006


Hawes: Dales Countryside Museum at Yorkshire Dales National Park, Hawes Centre. Former station building is on the left. Hawes also contains the Bronte House Museum.

Hawes Branch (North Eastern Railway)
Alistair MacKenzie 2007


Hawes: Reconstruction of G5 0-4-4 loco no. 67345. Part of museum at Yorkshire Dales national Park Centre at Hawes.

Hawes Branch (North Eastern Railway)
Alistair MacKenzie 2007


Edinburgh Waverley: Virgin and GNER services wait in the pouring rain at the Waverley sub platforms on 9 March 2007. The recently modified walkway can be seen above the platform canopy, while through the arch of North Bridge is part of the new Edinburgh Council HQ.

North British Railway
John Furnevel 2007


Millerhill: The converted former Millerhill station in March 2007. In the background the Roslin branch (latterly serving Bilston Glen colliery) comes in from the right to join the Waverley route.

Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
John Furnevel 2007


New Inn Yard Junction: North London Line - the old viaduct (now heavily overgrown) that used to lead into Broad St station

North London Railway
Michael Gibb 2007


East London Line Extension: East London line extension - the works in the background are on the site of the new Shoreditch High St station. Note the old tube stock bottom right.

East London Railway to North London Railway link (East London Line)
Michael Gibb 2007


Kingsland Viaduct: East London line extension - looking along Kingsland viaduct, accommodating its numerous garages, warehouses and stores, towards Hoxton. Virtually all the rubbish, vegetation etc has now been cleared in preparation for track laying.

East London Railway to North London Railway link (East London Line)
Michael Gibb 2007


Lochgelly: Lochgelly looking west on a dismal sunday in March.

Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
Brian Forbes 2008


Inverkeithing: 170404 on the right, calls at Inverkeithing after a refit at Babcock Engineering Services, Rosyth Dockyard (see image 22278). New lighting is evident, however the unit has been involved in a rough shunt.

Aberdour Line (North British Railway)
Brian Forbes 2009


Shields: Work taking place on the trackbed near Shields Road between Shields EMU Depot and Shields station. This was the route that took the line from St. Enoch to Paisley Canal and has been disused since the line closed. I'm not sure what the work is for, but appears to be either drainage work or possibly connected with the depot being built at Shields for the new Class 380s.

Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Graham Morgan 2010


Garnqueen: Looking north west along the trackbed of the Monkland and Kirkintilloch railway at Glenboig on 9 March 2010. See image [[3013 in Notes & Queries]]

Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway
John Robin 2010


Galashiels: Early signs. Notable new road sign alongside the site of the future Galashiels station photographed on 9 March 2011. The station is scheduled to open in 2014 as part of the new Borders Railway line to Tweedbank.

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
John Yellowlees 2011


Kirkham and Wesham: Double Donkeys call at Kirkham & Wesham on their way west to Blackpool North (a few hundred yards from the beach!) on 9 March 2011. Unit 142007 is on the front and 142028 on the rear, the destination board on the latter still showing Manchester Victoria.

Preston and Wyre Railway, Dock and Harbour
John McIntyre 2011


Llanharan: Freightliner 66585 runs through Llanharan Station during the late afternoon on 9 March with the return Port Talbot to Tunstead limestone empties. The loaded outbound service ran through Cardiff Central at 09.00 that morning, being looped before reaching Bridgend to let passenger services pass.

South Wales Railway
David Pesterfield 2011


Kirkham and Wesham: Arriving at Kirkham & Wesham is 150150 on its way from Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria on 9 March 2011. The station building is receiving some refurbishment at present and temporary steps (under the white sheeting) have been installed while work is carried out on the normal stairway leading from the ticket office. The tracks on the right are the fast lines that bypass the station.

Preston and Wyre Railway, Dock and Harbour
John McIntyre 2011


Barcelona: My old boss told me that this line through Barcelona's Zona Franca to the docks had one train a day. This must be it then, a diesel-hydraulic shunter ambling amiably seaward.

RENFE
Ken Strachan 2011


Inverkeithing: Dannine Stenhouse, Willie Cowan and Kerry-Ann Quinn armed with information on the Caledonian Sleeper at Inverkeithing on 9 March.

Dunfermline and Queensferry Railway
ScotRail 2012


Rugby: I have a soft spot for 92's. At the very least, they make a change from the ubiquitous 66's. 92030 'Ashford' is seen here passing through Rugby at about 7am on 9 March heading south with a mixed consist of tanks and flat wagons.

London and Birmingham Railway
Ken Strachan 2012


Inverkeithing: Willie Cowan (ScotRail staff member at Inverkeithing Station) joined promotional team members, Kerry-Ann Quinn (left) and Dannine Stenhouse (right) on 9 March to tell passenger, Fraser Littlejohn, about the Caledonian Sleeper service.

Dunfermline and Queensferry Railway
ScotRail 2012


Dunblane: Disbelief plus annoyance is the reaction of some bleary-eyed arrivals at Dunblane on the morning of Sunday 9th March 2014. At close of business the night before, there had been two footbridges linking the platforms, but by dawn, only one remained, and that did not allow exit on the west side of the station. Some were faced with a long walk around... Removal of the council owned footbridge pending construction of a new version with lifts by Network Rail temporarily revealed the southern aspect of the original Victorian footbridge for the first time since the early 1970s. See image [[4210]]

Scottish Central Railway
Mark Dufton 2014


Culloden Viaduct: Culloden Viaduct pictured on a lovely Spring day, 9th March 2015.

Inverness and Aviemore Direct Railway (Highland Railway)
Gordon Steel 2015


Leyland: Colas 66849 Wylam Dilly heads south at Leyland on 9 March 2015 with the Carlisle to Chirk log train. On the right work is underway to extend platform 1 in connection with the plan to run fewer but longer trains to Manchester during the work on Farnworth tunnel from May to October this year. See image [[50273]]

North Union Railway
John McIntyre 2015


Havenstreet: Adams O2 0-4-4T W33 Bembridge (in reality W24 Calbourne) taking on water at Haven Street on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway on 9 March 2015.

Ryde and Newport Railway
Peter Todd 2015


Kilmarnock: DRS 37259 at the head of the Network Rail inspection train pausing at Kilmarnock on its way from Carlisle to Mossend on 9 March 2015. Sister locomotive 37610 is on the rear of the train.

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Ken Browne 2015


Riccarton Junction: Of several photographs of the journey of 26040, here is the one I like best myself.

Border Union Railway (North British Railway)
Jeffray Wotherspoon 2016


Leyland: Looking north from the top of the steps of the new footbridge at Leyland to where the old bridge used to be on 09 March 2016. The old station booking office is now sealed up and a question hangs over it's future. The view could change again in the near future. Compare with a view from just over 6 years earlier See Image [[27212]].

North Union Railway
John McIntyre 2016


Calderpark Viaduct: View of the remaining north west abutment, now concealed in the trees behind the new housing at the former Glasgow Zoo site.

Glasgow, Bothwell, Hamilton and Coatbridge Railway
Colin McDonald 2017


Calderpark Viaduct: The remaining north west abutment of the viaduct viewed from the north showing the considerable amount of masonry involved which to this day stabilises the ground near the new housing.

Glasgow, Bothwell, Hamilton and Coatbridge Railway
Colin McDonald 2017


Euxton Balshaw Lane: DRS 66430 slows the Carlisle to Crewe infrastructure train through Euxton Balshaw Lane on 9th March 2017, waiting for the Balshaw Lane Junction signal to clear to join the two track section to Wigan. The train mainly comprised loaded stone wagons but track machine DR77904 was also being hauled.

North Union Railway
Mark Bartlett 2017


Holytown: DB Cargo no.66103 passes Holytown working 4E99 from Mossend Euroterminal to Tees Dock BSC Export Berth

Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Ken Browne 2017


Euxton Balshaw Lane: Northern 319382 has just left Euxton Balshaw Lane heading south but is held by the signal protecting Balshaw Lane Junction where the four track section of the WCML becomes two tracks. These Preston to Liverpool services had just resumed after the Lime Street cutting collapse.

North Union Railway
Mark Bartlett 2017


Coatbridge Central: DB Cargo no.66103 heads 4D51 Grangemouth to Mossend through Coatbridge Central on 9 March 2017.

Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway
Ken Browne 2017


Motherwell: DB Cargo 66099 heads 6K31 Carlisle NY to Rannoch engineers consist North through Motherwell on 9 March 2017. On the adjacent track Pendolino 390119 is heading for London Euston with train 1M17, the 1640 ex Glasgow Central.

Clydesdale Junction Railway
Ken Browne 2017


Motherwell: Royal Mail emu 325001 approaching Motherwell on 9 March 2017 working ecs to Shieldmuir Mail Terminal, from where it would later form 1M03 to Warrington.

Clydesdale Junction Railway
Ken Browne 2017


Motherwell: 320412 + 320313 pausing at Motherwell on 9 March with 2C06 Milngavie to Cumbernauld. Alongside is 320311 on 2B92 Glasgow Central to Lanark. Unit 320412 is one of the Ex London Midland class 321 4 car EMUs converted to 3 cars for Scotrail services.

Clydesdale Junction Railway
Ken Browne 2017


Greenfoot Level Crossing: 68 020 Reliance approaching Greenfoot Level Crossing with the morning empty coaching movement from Edinburgh Waverley to Motherwell Tmd (9/3/17).

Caledonian Railway
Alastair McLellan 2017


Euxton Balshaw Lane: 319382 calls at Euxton Balshaw Lane on a Preston to Lime Street service on 9th March 2017. Since that date these services now start at Blackpool, and are moving over to be operated by Class 331 EMUs. 319382 has also been reliveried and now runs in the Northern white and blue scheme.

North Union Railway
Mark Bartlett 2017


Crathes: Crathes signal box, 9th of March 2017, The box is in good condition, but the wooden access steps have collapsed but I managed to peer in to see a large telescope.

Deeside Railway
Alan Cormack 2017


Holytown: WCR 47245 works 0Z92 through Holytown from Fort William to Steamtown Carnforth.

Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Ken Browne 2017


Aspatria: Aspatria station, seen on a sunny 9th March 2018 looking towards Carlisle. The station building is in private use and this is a request stop nowadays.

Maryport and Carlisle Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Hairmyres: Glasgow Central to East Kilbride 156462 approaching Hairmyres station on 9th March 2018.

Busby Railway
Ian Millar 2018


Baggrow: The Bolton Loop of the M&CR was intended to open up the coalfield in that area but was worked as two separate branches that met at Mealsgate. There was an intermediate station at Baggrow to the right of this surviving bridge abutment. Passenger services ceased in 1930 but colliery traffic and general freight from Aspatria to Mealsgate lasted until 1952.

Bolton Loop (Maryport and Carlisle Railway)
Mark Bartlett 2018


Flimby: A sunny day at Flimby on the Cumbrian Coast in March 2018 with clear views to the hills around Dalbeattie across the Solway. The Carlisle platform has been slightly raised along its length but there is a Harrington Hump on the southbound side.

Whitehaven Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Bullgill: DRS 37423 failed at Bootle on the 0546 Barrow to Carlisle service on 9th March 2018. The train eventually arrived at Sellafield 105 minutes late where it was terminated. Later that day 37059 was sent south to pick up the failed loco and train and is seen here returning to Kingmoor at Bullgill. The previous day it had been announced that one of the Class 37 diagrams will be operated by a Class 68 from 12th March to improve reliability.

Maryport and Carlisle Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Mealsgate: Mealsgate was on the Bolton Loop of the Maryport and Carlisle Railway but, although a through station, was effectively operated as the terminus of two branches, one from Wigton and the main one from Aspatria. Built to serve several nearby collieries the line closed to passengers in 1930 but goods and coal traffic continued until 1952. This image looks north east from the road overbridge in March 2018, with trees preventing a fuller view. The station is now a private residence. [Ref query 16 April 2018]

Bolton Loop (Maryport and Carlisle Railway)
Mark Bartlett 2018


Workington: Mechanical signalling and glazed canopies at Workington on 9th March 2018, but unfortunately no trains due to an earlier Class 37 failure that had thrown the timetable into chaos.

Whitehaven Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Bullgill: At first glance the bridge at Bullgill station appears to be over single rather than double track but it is one of several Maryport & Carlisle structures built to very tight clearances that still hamper operations today. Class 150 and 158 Sprinters are not allowed to operate over this line and stock with droplights on the doors has to have bars (or for charters a steward in each vestibule). Bullgill station had staggered platforms either side of the bridge and the old platform steps can still be seen. 9th March 2018.

Maryport and Carlisle Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Denfinella Viaduct: A view of the Denfinella Viaduct seen from below. This impressive viaduct is 130ft high.

Montrose and Bervie Railway
Grant McGill 2018


Maryport: At one time Maryport had a huge stone built station building, but only ever a single platform. Nowadays this shelter suffices at the unstaffed station, seen here on 9th March 2018 looking towards Carlisle.

Maryport and Carlisle Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Maryport: The signal box at Maryport is still quite busy as all Whitehaven direction trains have to cross over to the platform road and then cross back again to continue. There is also through line for freight and charters and a goods loop. The former lines to the docks curved right just beyond the modern bridge. 9th March 2018.

Maryport and Carlisle Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Edinburgh Waverley: Signs of the times. New hanging signs awaiting deployment in the new Platforms 5 and 6.

North British Railway
David Panton 2018


Southport Lord Street: The Cheshire Lines station in Southport had a frontage onto the main shopping street, Lord Street. The clocktower has the letters SCLER carved beneath the clock referring to the Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway. Entrance to the station was through the arch at the bottom of the tower however since the station closed in 1952 the platform area was filled in and used as a bus station. Today the arch leads to a national supermarket chain and the building is in use for various commercial purposes.

Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway (Cheshire Lines Committee)
John McIntyre 2018


Workington: The booking office at Workington, and the station forecourt, have been refurbished and now look pristine as seen here on 9th March 2018.

Whitehaven Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Kirksanton Level Crossing: Kirksanton, one of two level crossings just north of Millom, is manually operated by a gatekeeper based in the green hut who also controls protecting semaphore signals. There was a station here very briefly but it closed in 1857.

Whitehaven and Furness Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Harrington: Early morning at Harrington on 9th March 2018 with the rising sun illuminating the scene. This view looks south from the station footbridge along the line towards Parton and Whitehaven and should have included a Cass 37 hauled passenger train but that had failed at Sellafield.

Whitehaven Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Harrington Church Road Halt: Church Road Halt in Harrington was only open from 1914 to 1926, served by trains from Workington to Lowca. Freight continued after closure until as late as 1973 and part of the line is now accessible as a trackbed footpath. This view looks northwards and the halt itself was on the far side of the road, originally crossed by a steel bridge, but nothing remains.

Cleator and Workington Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Harrington Church Road Halt: Just south of Harrington Church Road the old Lowca track bed runs through open countryside with sea views. A little further south was another small halt, known as Archer Street, following which trains were faced with a 1:17 gradient for 285 yards, reportedly the steepest passenger line in the UK to be worked by adhesion. Passenger services ceased in 1926 and freight in 1973.

Cleator and Workington Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Elizabeth Dock: Elizabeth Dock, one of the two main docks in Maryport Harbour in March 2018. From the 1850s there were sidings on both sides of this dock, which was part of a busy commercial port. However, in 1927 Workington opened a deep sea dock and the commercial traffic at Maryport quickly fell away with the harbour railway sidings closing in 1930. Nowadays this dock sees only fishing vessels and adjacent Senhouse Dock, once also rail served, is a marina.

Maryport and Carlisle Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Edinburgh Waverley: Days after the rest of Scotland's rail service returned to normal after 'The Beast from the East' the reason for the continued closure of the North Berwick branch is given as snow. (Banks of snow above cuttings.) At least it's a chance for humble Drem (pop 93) to star as a destination, surely the smallest place ever to be so (at least from Waverley).

North British Railway
David Panton 2018


Bullgill: Although Bullgill closed in 1960 the remains of the Carlisle platform can still be seen, and the steps leading down from the road. The house alongside the line is however entirely new. Platforms here were staggered and the steps to the Workington platform on the other side of the bridge are also in place although the platform itself has gone. 9th March 2018.

Maryport and Carlisle Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


High Harrington: High Harrington station on the Cleator & Workington Junction Railway, seen in March 2018. This view looks towards Distington along the established trackbed cycle path. The remains of the Workington platform, which last saw passengers in 1931, can be seen on the right. Goods trains continued to pass through until 1964. The central bridge pier is a later addition supporting the heavy road traffic that passes over today. [Ref query 14 March 2018]

Cleator and Workington Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Grange-over-Sands: Bailey Lane level crossing was a popular route for pedestrians to access the promenade at Grange but after a near miss in the summer of 2017 it was closed by Network Rail and Cumbria County Council. There is a subway fairly close to this point and it remains to be seen if the closure, presently effective until 2020, will become permanent.

Ulverston and Lancaster Railway
Mark Bartlett 2019


Grange-over-Sands: Northern 156438 skirts the promenade at Grange-over-Sands heading for the next stop at Kents Bank with a service for Barrow-in-Furness on 9th March 2019.

Ulverston and Lancaster Railway
Mark Bartlett 2019


King River Gorge Viaduct: A view of the King River Gorge from the railway. This beautiful heritage railway, operated with an Abt rack, uses three original steam locomotives built by Dubs in Glasgow.

West Coast Wilderness Railway
John Yellowlees 2019


Eskbank: I'm no expert (omnes: 'We noticed') but surely a second line and platform here at Eskbank would not be out of the question, should the need arise - like now. Unfortunately the Hardengreen Farm road bridge, where I am standing, doesn't quite have clearance for two tracks, though it is of rather generous width for one. Photographed 9 March 2020.

Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
David Panton 2020


Eskbank: Unit 170420 in plain blue unbranded livery approaching the platform at Eskbank on 9 March 2020 with the ScotRail 0924 Edinburgh Waverley - Tweedbank service.

Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
John Furnevel 2020


Eskbank: A Tweedbank service pulls out of Eskbank on 9 March 2020 having deposited me. It is a pity that the 'Plat 1' cannot be suppressed when there is only one platform; where else is it going to leave from?

Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
David Panton 2020


Lancaster: 68034 propels a TPE MkV push-pull set out of Lancaster, on a training run from Carlisle to Crewe on 9th March 2021. 68034 is used by Trans-Pennine on an 'as required' basis and so remains in DRS livery and has not yet been named. Covid restrictions mean that I have been unable to try these new trains out, or indeed the TPE 802 bi-modes and 397 EMUs. Hopefully not for too much longer.

Lancaster and Carlisle Railway
Mark Bartlett 2021


Lancaster: 88006 'Juno' drops down Lancaster bank, with a late running northbound 'Tesco' service, on a grey and damp 9th March 2021.

Lancaster and Carlisle Railway
Mark Bartlett 2021


Lancaster: TPE 397004 slows to call at Lancaster, working from Lime Street to Glasgow Central on 9th March 2021. The train is crossing a particularly pleasant stretch of the Lancaster Canal, which approaches the city centre from the south alongside Aldcliffe Lane.

Lancaster and Carlisle Railway
Mark Bartlett 2021


Donibristle Platform: HST power car 43145, with a facemask. I had almost forgotten those. Seen leading the 13.56 from Aberdeen to Edinburgh past Donibristle on 9th March 2021.

Aberdour Line (North British Railway)
Bill Roberton 2021


Donibristle Platform: Scotrail 43143 and 43164 pass Donibristle with an Inverness - Haymarket movement on 9 March 2021. (I dare say any passenger could be put in the guard's compartment...)

Aberdour Line (North British Railway)
Bill Roberton 2021


Portessie [GNSR]: Photographed at the former Portessie station with sounds of the sea in the background? Would be nice but unfortunately the station is gone without trace and, thanks to lockdown, I can't get within 150 miles of the Moray coast. Luckily there is a little bit of it in an Edinburgh garden. The seatback sign appears to be original but the bench isn't.

Moray Coast Railway (Great North of Scotland Railway)
David Panton 2021


Events


Events from the chronology which occured on this day. This generally lists events before 1995, the creation of the website.

YearCompaniesDescription
1837Newcastle and Carlisle RailwayBranch to the canal basin of the Carlisle and Port Carlisle Canal in Carlisle opened. The terminus later became Canal Yard and was an interchange point with the North British Railway who acquired the Carlisle and Port Carlisle Railway and Dock Company.
1840Durham Junction RailwayOpened for passengers. Service runs from Gateshead via the Brandling Junction Railway and Stanhope and Tyne Railway to Washington before continuing to Durham (Rainton Meadows).
1844Wishaw and Coltness RailwayExtended from 1st_>Carluke 1st to 1st_>Morningside 1st .
1853Monmouthshire Railway and Canal CompanyIn Newport, extended from temporary terminus at Newport Marshes Turnpike Gate to Newport Mill Street station.
1858Fife and Kinross RailwayLine opened from Strathmiglo to Milnathort.
1903Letterkenny and Burtonport Extension RailwayOpened from LR_>Letterkenny LR to Burtonport, extending the Letterkenny Railway.
1925Stirling and Dunfermline RailwayOakley renamed Oakley (Fife).
1964Dalry Road Lines (Caledonian Railway)Coltbridge Junction to Dalry Middle Junction to Dalry Junction closed to freight.
1964Dalry Road Lines (Caledonian Railway)Dalry Middle Junction to Haymarket West Junction closed.

News


These are old news items which which occured on this day. This generally lists events after 1995, the creation of the website.

YearCompaniesDescription
2007A traveller^s tale of railway woe [BBC News]One rail passenger is stuck after a journey affected by breakdowns, delays and strikes.
2007Fears Over Rail Upgrades [The Journal]Concern over East Coast rail services grew last night as it emerged that station improvements and catering could be dropped by a new operator. The Government yesterday announced new trains will be tested on the East Coast Main Line - linking the region with Scotland and London - in 2012 and be fully introduced two years later. But the future of catering services and station improvements are unclear. A Department for Transport (DfT) blueprint for the new East Coast franchise, drawn up after GNER handed its contract back last year, reveals that it will be up to the new operator to decide whether to carry on with planned upgrades. Transport companies First Group, National Express, Sunderland-based Arriva, and a joint bid between Stagecoach and Virgin are in the running to replace GNER by the end of the year. It will be up to the winner to decide whether to continue with the station investments that were part of GNER^s old franchise.
2010High Speed rail link plans to be announced [The Telegraph]They will include the exact proposed route between London and Birmingham and options on how to extend into the north of England and Scotland. The network could enable trains to reach Birmingham from London in 47 minutes and Glasgow in two hours and 40 minutes
2010China builds railway to Europe [Independent]Railway passengers will be able to travel from King^s Cross in London to Beijing in just two days on a journey that would be almost as fast as by aeroplane under ambitious new plans from the Chinese.
2010First class on trains - what^s the point? [BBC News]MPs may no longer be allowed to claim first class rail journeys on expenses - to the disgust of some. But are those in standard class really any different to travellers who have paid a premium, as one suggests?
2010Avalanche [blocked] West Highland Line reopened [BBC News]Debris from four avalanches which closed the West Highland Line for almost two weeks has been cleared and the track reopened for rail services.
2011Go-ahead for £290m Glasgow Subway modernisation [BBC]A £290m plan to completely revamp Glasgow^s ageing subway system has been given formal backing by ministers.
2011Accrington man falls under train and lives [Lancashire Telegraph]A MAN had an amazing escape after being run over by a train in front of horrified commuters. Police said the 55-year-old fell onto lines as he fought with two teenagers on the platform [from Mark Bartlett]
2011Network Rail bosses waive their bonuses [Guardian]Network Rail executives will waive their bonuses this year as the taxpayer-backed company overhauls its remuneration regime amid pressure from politicians and trade unions.
2012Bigger station plea for Borders Railway [Scotsman]CAMPAIGNERS yesterday called for the planned station at the end of the restored Borders Railway to be enlarged to accommodate tourist charter trains carrying up to 500 people.
2012Skipton-Bolton Abbey railway link ‘within five years’ [Craven Herald Pioneer]Within five years, the volunteers who run the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway hope to have established a link to Skipton which will open up the opportunity for people living in Leeds and Bradford to travel by rail to the tourist hotspot
2012Government to stage talks over plans to resurrect Rossendale rail link to Manchester [Rossendale Free Press]The Government will hold talks on restoring Rossendale^s rail link with Manchester, it has been revealed. Under plans proposed by supporters, commuter trains would run along the East Lancashire Railway, which is currently a heritage railway. [From Mark Bartlett]
2012Severn Valley Railway^s Bridgnorth station faces £2m restoration [BBC News]A heritage railway line has announced plans for a £2m revamp of a Shropshire station. The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) plans to construct a new station building in Bridgnorth and restore the existing 1862 building.
2013Final track laid for Bluebell Railway extension [BBC News]The final piece of track linking a volunteer steam railway in Sussex with the mainline network has been laid. The Bluebell Railway will officially open its extended track, from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead, on 23 March. The £3.5m project has taken nearly four years to complete, with workers having to remove 100,000 tonnes of domestic waste from the Imberhorne cutting.
2014Bristol-to-Taunton railway line to re-open [BBC News]The flood-hit railway line between Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads is due to re-open on Monday morning. First Great Western said there will initially be a reduced service because of the severe damage caused at Bridgwater. There will be a shuttle train service between Taunton and Weston-Super-Mare, calling at Bridgwater and Highbridge. First Great Western have also announced that Cross Country trains will be running.
2015Patrick McLoughlin: paper tickets will be phased out by 2020 [Telegraph]Paper tickets for travel on the railroad will be phased out by 2020 with passengers paying instead by their mobile phones or smart card. Patrick McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary, said the move away from printed tickets was necessary to make trains more accessible and allow passengers greater flexibility. Rail travellers in London are already able to use their “Oyster Card” to purchase season tickets and pay-as-they-go on the capital’s rail, Underground and bus network. [From Mark Bartlett]
2016Disruption after Inverness to Aberdeen train hits pheasant [BBC News]Passengers were left stranded after their train hit a pheasant in Aberdeenshire. The 05:54 Inverness to Aberdeen service - with 132 passengers on board - was halted after the incident between Huntly and Insch near Kennethmont. It caused an ^air leak^ which meant the train could not proceed. ScotRail said arrangements were made to initially take passengers to Huntly. A passenger said everyone was calm despite several hours of disruption.
2016Tram-trains for Edinburgh’s South Suburban line backed by rail chief [Evening News]Proposals to run hybrid trams on Capital’s South Suburban rail line received a boost today from the head of the ScotRail Alliance. Managing director Phil Verster told MSPs they offered a “real practical solution” to easing pressure on the rail network. Tram-trains, which are being trialled in Yorkshire and widely used in Europe, can run on both tram and train tracks. They could be introduced in Edinburgh under plans by Network Rail to electrify the “South Sub” to divert more freight trains from running through booming Waverley Station. [From Richard Buckby]
2017Looming RMT strike forces Northern to run just 40% of services [RTM] Northern has announced that it will only be able to run 40% of its usual schedule when union RMT go on strike on 13 March operating approximately 980 services across many, but not all of its routes in the north. The operator warned passengers to leave plenty of time for journeys and to consider if their journey was necessary before travelling, in anticipation of services being very busy as the TOC battles with staff shortages. Northern has also explained that more than 100 trained managers and colleagues will be carrying out conductor duties to keep services moving as regularly and quickly as possible. [From Richard Buckby]
2018Abseilers complete overnight snow battle to re-open North Berwick rail line [Scotsman]Abseilers have re-opened a snowbound rail line by clearing dangerous overhanging snow that had seen the route closed for nine days. The specialist engineers were drafted to work on the Edinburgh-North Berwick line to dislodge snow from a cutting near Drem.
2019Aberdeen MP claims north-east village being cut off from Glasgow train route [Press and Journal]Passengers in Laurencekirk have raised concerns that they have been missed out by the Aberdeen to Glasgow train, which no longer stops in the village. There have also been complaints about a reduction in direct services raised by passengers in Stonehaven. Both communities are increasingly relying on driving to Montrose to hop on a train to the central belt.
2019Fresh calls to reconnect Fleetwood^s rail links [BBC News]Residents and councillors are fighting to reconnect train links to one of the largest towns in England not to be served by the rail network. Fleetwood^s station was closed in 1966, with the nearest station now over five miles away in Poulton-le-Fylde. The Back on Track campaign group is continuing a fight for trains to be re-established.
2020Birmingham HS2 Interchange build begins [RAIL]Preparatory work underway at Birmingham Interchange HS2 station site. [The former [[Birmingham Curzon Street]] site.]
2020ScotRail first train operator to publish real time train data [ScotRail]ScotRail is now Britain^s first train operating company to publish data on its trains^ type and carriage length in real time. The operator has partnered with rail information provider realtimetrains.co.uk to share live information on the use of carriages and allocation of trains. In addition to visiting Realtime Trains, customers can still use the free app to check how many carriages their train has, and how busy the service will be.
2020Statement from Network Rail on the sale of British Steel [Network Rail]Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: ^We are delighted with today^s news that the sale of British Steel to Jingye has completed, securing the future of the business. We have given extensive support to British Steel and the official receiver throughout this process and we look forward to continuing this relationship with the new orner. British Steel is a major supplier to Network Rail and plays a vital role in our work to safely run the railway for the millions of people who rely on it every day.^