This day in history 15 March
Images
West Kilbride: A northbound train entering West Kilbride on a snowy March day in 1963.
West Kilbride: Snow in evidence at West Kilbride on 15 March 1963 as BR Standard class 4 no 80049 brings a Largs train under Law Brae and into the platform.
Winchburgh Junction: An afternoon Glasgow Queen St to Edinburgh Waverley push-pull service recedes from the camera towards Winchburgh Tunnel having just passed through the junction there behind a pair of class 27s, of which No. 5400 was the leading loco. Thought to have been taken in April 1972.
Durham: The classic view of Durham cathedral from Wharton Park, as it was on 15th March 1978. Leaving Durham station, and about to cross the impressive viaduct, is 47449 on a southbound service. I was staying nearby and suffered a sleepless night thanks to engineering works on the viaduct. Trains were still crossing at low speed, but each had to explode a detonator to warn the track workers ahead.
Penmanshiel Tunnel: A southbound HST creeps out of Penmanshiel Tunnel on 15 March 1979, two days before the tragic tunnel collapse in which two men died. (The tunnel works were being undertaken to increase the line's loading gauge to accommodate the new generation of containers.) As the tunnel was in such a dangerous condition following the collapse, the line was subsequently rerouted and the tunnel sealed, with the men's bodies left entombed. A memorial now stands on the hillside above the tunnel. See image [[28041]]
Prestatyn: In its last month of working 40098 looks in fine fettle as it hauls container flats through Prestatyn. An opportune picture from a Crewe to Holyhead train that had stopped in the station. Withdrawn in April 1981 the loco was cut up at Swindon two years later.
Colwyn Bay: Oops - and not an orange jacket in sight. Brush Class 47, 47463, heading for Holyhead with a passenger train, creeps gingerly past a derailed brake van and coal trucks at Colwyn Bay. My records show the loco in charge of the freight was a Class 40, 40031, the former Sylvania, which was withdrawn two months later. The Class 47 lasted a further 14 years and both were dismantled in Crewe Works.
Crewe: 25245 on a Cardiff service leads a short rake of MkI stock out of Crewe and onto the Shrewsbury and Hereford - Welsh Marches - route to South Wales.
Holyhead: English Electric Class 40 1Co-Co1 No. 40004, one of the ten pilot scheme locos that started life on the Great Eastern main line in 1958, draws a long train out of Holyhead container depot passing the passenger station and an arriving Met-Cam DMU. 40004 continued in main line use for a further three and a half years before withdrawal in September 1984 after twenty six years service. It was cut up at Crewe two years after that.
Barnhill Signal Box: The signal box at Barnhill, Perth, photographed on 15 March 1986.
South Gosforth: A Tyne & Wear Metro unit slows for the South Gosforth stop on its way to South Shields via the city centre in 1991. The network control centre is adjacent to the northbound platform. The old North Eastern Railway footbridge is a reminder of the main line days at this station.
Burneside: Burneside level crossing on the Windermere Line in March 1993, looking north over Hollins Lane towards the station.
Plenploth Bridge: Looking north to Fountainhall from Torquhan in 1997. Even before line clearance the trackbed here was in pretty good shape with the ballast still clearly visible. Bit of a hard surface for walking on as I recall!
Inverkeithing: 56075 enters Inverkeithing with a southbound coal train on 15 March 1997. Note the barrow crossing in front of the locomotive.
Crianlarich: Coming down from a climb of Mheal Dhamh via the Grey Height in 1997 afforded this evening view of Crianlarich station and junction from above. The lower station timber sidings were gone and timber was handled in the station. The station building, a replacement for the original, had not yet itself been replaced with the present waiting room in imitation WHR style.
Elliot Junction: Looking towards the former station at Elliot Junction in March 1999. View is over the site of the level crossing at the start of the Carmyllie branch.
Elliot Junction: The former station footbridge at Elliot Junction in March 1999. Access to the island platform was via steps from the now blanked off central section of the bridge. Notice the structure comprises 2 standard decks, but in different styles.
Longforgan: Looking south across the LC at Longforgan on 15 March 1999. The former station building stands on the left.
Bennie Railplane: A poster showing the George Bennie Railplane prototype in operation near Milngavie in the early 1930s.
Burntisland Viaduct: An Edinburgh bound train crossing the bridge over Burntisland High Street on 15 March 2007, shortly after leaving Burntisland station.
Burntisland [1st]: The Edinburgh and Northern 1847 terminus at Burntisland which linked with the train ferry to Granton. All doors and windows are now boarded up, March 2007.
Dalgety Bay: A northbound service leaving Dalgety Bay on 15 March 2007.
Pettycur Harbour: Heading north around Pettycur Bay to Kinghorn.
Burntisland Viaduct: A southbound service leaving Burntisland in March 2007. In the background is Burntisland Harbour, part of which was used by the E&N train ferries that ran between Burntisland and Granton prior to the opening of The Forth Bridge in 1890. See image [[4002]]
Dalgety Bay: A recent arrival picking up passengers at Dalgety Bay on 15 March 2007.
Picton NZ: Picton freight yard, New Zealand south island on a sunny day on 15 March 2008. The Coastal Pacific is currently undergoing repairs after the earthquake in Kaikoura but is due to reopen later this year (September 2017).
Salford Crescent: 150277 departs from Salford Crescent with a service to Manchester Victoria around midday on 15 March 2008.
London Road [Glasgow]: This view taken from the entrance to the former London Road goods yard in March 2008 looking towards Celtic Park stadium shows clearance works carried out in connection with Glasgow's proposed East End Regeneration route and velodrome see image [[38764]].
Inverness: The reason why 37 248 is currently in Inverness.
Millburn Yard: 67 011 stands in Millburn Yard, Inverness, on 15 March 2008 alongside 37 422.
Inverness: West Coast Railways 37 248 Loch Arkaig at Inverness Station on 15 March.
St Germains Level Crossing: Edinburgh - North Berwick train approaching St Germains level crossing on 15 March.
Seafield Branch Junction: Looking towards the east coast along the trackbed of the former Kirkcaldy District Railway approaching Invertiel Viaduct on 15 March with a 170 DMU crossing the Tiel Burn. A junction once existed near this point with a spur climbing up to the right to join the main line and the route straight ahead dropping below it to reach the planned terminus at Seafield Harbour. The harbour had originally been intended as an export dock to handle coal from the various pits in the Cowdenbeath area. Unfortunately, as a result of severe damage to the works following a sustained period of bad weather, the project eventually failed.
Leith North: A Sunday morning jogger takes the former Caledonian route heading east towards Leith Docks on 15 March 2009 and is just about to pass below Lindsay Road bridge. The 6 lines once spanned by the bridge ran to the Western Docks, Leith North Goods Depot and Leith North passenger station, while off to the right at street level beyond the wall stood George Street mineral depot.
Leith North: View west from Lindsay Road bridge on 15 March 2009 along the wide trackbed of the Caledonian approach from Newhaven station running towards Leith North and the docks behind the camera. At the higher level off to the left stood George Street coal yard. Modern housing now occupies the site and the old yard has gone without trace, as indeed has George Street itself. The former street did however have its 15 minutes of fame, when it pretended to be an area of Glasgow as a setting for the controversial Peter McDougall play Just Another Saturday, broadcast by the BBC in 1975. To view this scene 47 years earlier see image [[26330]].
Leith North: The old Lindsay Road bridge that once spanned six tracks of the Caledonian Railway on the western approach to Leith docks, photographed on 15 March 2009. Up ahead stood Leith North passenger station, Leith North goods and the western access to the docks themselves. The bus in the background is heading towards Granton along the realigned Lindsay Road (the old bridge is now inaccessible to motor vehicles) and is about to pass the Chancelot Mill, standing in the Western Harbour area of the docks in the left background.
Niana: Scene at Niana station on the Castledare Miniature Railway in Perth, Western Australia, on 15 March 2009.
Junction Bridge: View east from the bridge carrying Great Junction Street in March 2009, with the Water of Leith Walkway continuing its journey alongside the river. The pedestrian route off to the left gives access to steps up to Coburg Street. The line veered to the north here on leaving Junction Bridge station, ([[72412]]) before entering a tunnel in the left foreground (now sealed off and landscaped). The north portal of the old tunnel was still visible and formed part of a play area (see [[22862]]).
Bonnington: Now forming part of the Water of Leith walkway, the photograph shows the 1846 station at Bonnington on the North Leith branch in March 2009. The building provided access from Newhaven Road directly above the camera. Bonnington lost its passenger service as early as 1947, although the branch survived for freight traffic until 1968.
Bonnington: The trackbed through the former Bonnington station, now a walkway/cycle path, seen here on a March morning in 2009. The view is east towards North Leith, with the station building located on the other side of the bridge carrying Newhaven Road.
Newhaven: Looking west along the Leith North branch from the former Newhaven station on 15 March 2009. The old booking office still looks over the platform remains from its lofty position on Craighall Road. View from the westbound platform, showing the end of the truncated down platform, with the route of the former goods lines beyond.
Victoria Swing Bridge [Leith]: Looking south east from Leith Docks past the Victoria swing bridge towards the inner harbour on 15 March. On the left is Ocean Drive, with Rennie's Isle to the right.
Bonnington: View west along the platforms at Bonnington on 15 March 2009, with the two storey station building on the left providing access from Newhaven Road See image [[23037]]. At one time in this view the centre of the bridge would have been bisected by the large and distinctive chimney of the old Chancelot Mill that stood in the background. This section of the North Leith branch was finally closed to freight traffic in 1968.
Bonnington: At first glance, no 94 Newhaven Road, seen here in March 2009, might appear to be a bungalow attached to a tenement block. Not so. The building formed the entrance to the Edinburgh, Leith & Newhaven Railway's 1846 station at Bonnington on the North Leith branch and is part of a two storey structure linking to the platform below see image [[23036]] - the tenements actually came later! Bonnington station was closed to passengers in June 1947 but the line remained open for freight for another 20 years or so.
North Leith: On leaving North Leith, the line entered a tunnel running under Coburg Street, emerging alongside the Water of Leith and the first stop at Junction Bridge. The north end of the tunnel, seen here from the station site in March 2009, has been bricked up and a play area formed, with the stone steps providing a shortcut to Coburg Street.
North Leith: The former 1846 Edinburgh, Leith and Newhaven station at North Leith, now the Citadel Youth Centre, in the midst of a revamp, seen looking west along Commercial Street on 15 March 2009. The station lost its passenger service in 1947 but the line itself remained open until 1968. See image [[1070]]
Lenzie: The 5-car 0918 Inverness - Glasgow Queen Street train passing the overgrown site of Woodilee Hospital on 15 March 2009, with Lenzie station in the distance. Originally opened as The Barony Parochial Asylum in 1875, by the time it became a Glasgow Corporation Hospital in 1930 it accommodated 1,250 patients. Woodilee closed its doors for the last time in 2001.
North Leith: Standing on the site of the approach lines to North Leith station in 2009, looking into the terminus from what is now Citadel Place. Much of the old station survives and is seen here undergoing refurbishment work when operating as a youth centre. In the background, the former bonded warehousing on the north side of Commercial Street has been converted to flats. For a closer, less cluttered view of the station approach see image [[1069]].
Lenzie: The 1229 to Alloa boarding at Lenzie on 15 March 2009.
Newhaven: Looking east towards Leith North through Craighall Road bridge on 15 March 2009. Remains of Newhaven station can be seen beyond the bridge. [Ref query 19 April 2018]
Leith Docks: View east along what was an internal dock road (now Ocean Square) running between the site of the old West & East docks (now occupied by the Holiday Inn and the large government building) off to the left and the rear of the former warehousing facing onto Commercial Street (now converted to residential accommodation) on the right. As can be seen, some of the embedded rails that ran between the docksides and the various warehouses have been left in place.
Newhaven: Looking north across the platforms at Newhaven station on the Leith North branch in 2009. View is from the westbound platform below the station building which spanned all four tracks. The surviving section of the down platform is opposite, with the trackbed of the old goods lines running beyond. Note the remains of the pedestrian stairway supported by the columns on the right. On the left is Craighall Road bridge, the nearest span of which now accommodates a public walkway. The northern span has been enclosed, presumably by the joinery firm who operated from the site for many years following station closure in 1962 see image [[4532]].
Leith North: Standing on the bridge that once carried Lindsay Road over the 6 tracks of the Caledonian Railway as they approached Leith Docks from the west. Scene in March 2009, showing the realigned main road passing by on the left with the old bridge now used by pedestrians (see [[22978]]). The various railway yards, sheds and sidings have long gone, as has the former Leith North terminus, which stood alongside the advertising hoarding in the centre background (see [[3211]]).
Preston Junction: Preston Junction was known as Todd Lane Junction from 1952 until closure in 1968. As a youngster I was taken from Huncoat to Todd Lane on the Accrington based Cravens DMUs many times for family visits and got to know its island platform well. After 1968 trains ran through for a further four years until full closure. It has since become the Preston Junction country park as seen in this view towards Preston from the site of the former overbridge and station entrance. Map Reference SD 553264
Junction Bridge: The site of Junction Bridge station on the North Leith branch, seen looking west from Great Junction Street on 15 March 2009, with the Water of Leith on the left and the tenements of Ferry Road in the background. The trackbed here now forms part of the Water of Leith Walkway. Originally opened as Junction Road in 1846, the name was changed to Junction Bridge in 1923. Closure came in 1947.
See query 2251
Junction Bridge: The entrance to Junction Bridge station, opened by the Edinburgh, Leith and Newhaven Railway in 1846 (closed 1947), is now occupied by the metal railed section of the parapet seen here on the west side of the bridge carrying Great Junction Street over the Water of Leith. The platform below the bridge (see [[22902]]) stood on the north bank of the river with a stairway linking it with the former street level booking office.
Junction Bridge: Standing on the site of the platform at Junction Bridge in 2009 looking towards North Leith. The station, less than 300 yards from the terminus, opened as Junction Road in 1846. From here the line ran under the bridge before curving off to the left and through a (now filled in) tunnel below Coburg Street. (For a view of the north end of the tunnel see image [[22862]].) Access to the station was from a booking office on the bridge carrying Great Junction Street (its former position on the bridge can be seen beyond the tree in the centre). The Water of Leith runs by on the right. Junction Bridge station closed in June 1947.
Victoria Swing Bridge [Leith]: The Victoria Swing Bridge, dating from 1874 and which, at one time, provided a link across the Water of Leith between the eastern and western sections of Leith Docks. The bridge originally swung open to give access to the inner harbour and the two old docks running parallel with Commercial Street. Photographed on a Sunday morning in March 2009 surrounded by the penthouses of the new Leith. Note the sections of embedded rail still in place. Today the bridge provides a pedestrian link between what are now known as Ocean Drive and Rennie's Isle (opposite).
Newhaven: View west along the trackbed at the old Newhaven station on the Caledonian Leith North branch on 15 March 2009. The goods lines ran to the right of the former down platform, most of which has now been removed. The street level booking office on Craighall Road was used by a local joinery firm for many years following closure in 1962, but the building is now deserted and in a generally poor state of repair.
Newhaven: The former booking office and entrance to Newhaven station stands abandoned on Craighall Road on 15 March 2009, some 47 years after the end of passenger services on the Leith North branch. The building had latterly been used by a local joinery business. View is south east, with Trinity Academy in the background. See image [[33904]]
Bonnington: On the east side of Newhaven Road stands the former entrance to Bonnington station on the North Leith branch, seen here in March 2009. The station lost its passenger service in 1947, although freight traffic on the branch continued well into the 1960s. The two storey building is now a private residence with ithe lower floor adjoining the old westbound platform running below the bridge (see [[23913]]). The sign on the wall indicates the nearest pedestrian access to the old trackbed... now referred to as the Water of Leith Walkway.
Charing Cross [GC and DR]: 320313 emerges from below the M8 at Charing Cross on 15 March with an eastbound service. The dome of the Mitchell Library dominates the skyline.
Port Edgar West Naval Pier: The western of two former naval piers at Port Edgar looking north across the Forth in March 2011 see image [[15419]]. This pier was rail served. It was not the pier on which Port Edgar station was located.
Dumbarton Central: ScotRail units 156 474 + 156 476 forming the 12.21 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban/Fort William, photographed entering Dumbarton Central station on 15 March 2011.
Perth: 158725 runs under St Leonard's Street Bridge and into Perth station on 15 March 2011 with a service from Edinburgh.
Port Edgar West Naval Pier: Rails still in place alongside western of the two former naval piers at Port Edgar on 15 March 2011 see image [[15419]].
Dumbarton Central: 334 001 on the 12.40 Helensburgh Central - Edinburgh Waverley calls at Dumbarton Central on 15 March.
Cardiff Canton: Cardiff Canton steam era east end water tank on 15 March 2012 with an access hole cut into the west side. Freightliner 66615 had been stabled alongside from the previous day.
Pembrey and Burry Port: A lengthy footbridge at east end of Pembrey and Burry Port station in March 2012. No doubt it once spanned various lines serving Burry Port harbour and engine shed.
Pembrey and Burry Port: Pembrey & Burry Port station looking west. The brown wooden building beyond the footbridge is the local tourist information office and part time Arriva Trains Wales travel centre.
Cardonald: Clockwise from bottom left are David Steele, Allan Maliska, ScotRail's Cardonald station team manager Christopher McLaren, and Janette McClumpha. [See adjacent news item]
Swindon: Scene at Longcot on the eastern edge of Swindon on 15 March with Freightliner 66567 passing on an eastbound container train.
Leadhills: Scene on the Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railway on 15 March 2012 showing Clyde inside the shed. [With thanks to the very helpful and friendly staff.]
Cardonald: In-Work Ltd members David Steele, from Greenock, and Janette McClumpha, from Port Glasgow, with one of the colourful new planters at Cardonald station.
Abington: Freightliner 66523 held in the loop at Abington with a southbound coal train on a murky 15 March 2012.
Swindon: A container train heading east out of Swindon passes Longcot on 15 March 2012. Locomotive is Freightliner 66594.
Leadhills: Scene on the Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railway on 15 March 2012. View is east past the signal box to the station.
Leadhills: Permanent way maintenance taking place at the west end of the Leadhills station on 15 March 2012.
Horrocksford Junction: DRS 57302 passes Horrocksford Junction signal box on 15 March 2013 whilst on a light engine move from Carlisle to Crewe.
Leyland: Transformation! When the new ticket office building was delivered to Leyland a month ago see image [[46371]] it looked like a portacabin with a door and no windows. On 15 March 2014 it has been transformed with windows, passenger access door and a sloping roof.
Hayes Knoll: Class 08 D3261 standing in the shed yard at Hayes Knoll on 15 March.
Hayes Knoll: Class 09 D3668 in the shed yard at Hayes Knoll on the Swindon and Cricklade Railway on 15 March 2014.
Doboj: Standing at Doboj station on 15th March 2014 are two Bo-Bo electrics, Nos. 441.531 and 441.059, belonging to the ZRS. They are awaiting the arrival of train number 396, the Sarajevo to Zagreb express (possibly a bit of a misnomer as it consists of only three coaches and probably never exceeds 60mph), which they will take over from a similar loco of the ZBiH (Railways of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina). 441.059 was detached at Banja Luka, leaving 441.531 to continue alone to Volinja in Croatia where the train was handed over to the HZ (Croatian Railways).
Blunsdon: BR Class 73 electro-diesel no E6003 Sir Herbert Walker running round at Blunsdon on 15 March.
Doboj: On a plinth outside the admin buildings of the ZRS in Doboj, northern Bosnia, is this Czech built 760mm gauge 0-10-0 numbered 1937. The choice of loco is curious as it had been built for and worked on the Steinbeisbahn, an extensive NG system in western Bosnia.
Bay Horse: 4464 Bittern heads north at Bay Horse with a Tyseley to Carlisle special on 15th March. Unfortunately the train was running under caution signals here due to a preceding freight and the A4's regulator was closed as it passed the assembled photographers at a very sedate pace.
Shap: Steam substitute on Shap. D1755 northbound over Shap on 15 March 2014 with the Cumbrian Ranger from Tyseley to Carlisle. The diesel had taken over from the scheduled steam locomotive 4464 Bittern at Carnforth due to 'gauging issues' with the A4. See image [[46643]]
Prijedor: Plinthed 760mm gauge 0-10-0 No. 1934 standing alongside Prijedor station in north-west Bosnia on 15 March 2014. The choice of loco is quite appropriate, as Prijedor was once the northern outpost of the former Steinbeisbahn, for which Jugoslavian Railways (JZ) ordered six of this type from Skoda in 1949.
Shap: A4 4464 Bittern with support coach heading north over Shap on 15 March 2014. See image [[46651]] [Editors note: The 'gauging issues' appear to concern platform clearance at Carlisle, relating to the valances fitted to 4464]
Hayes Knoll: Class 73/0 E6003 Sir Herbert Walker running around its train at Hayes Knoll on 15 March.
Hayes Knoll: Scene in the shed yard at Hayes Knoll on the Swindon and Cricklade Railway on 15 March 2014. Class 09 D3668 (left) stands alongside class 08 D3261.
Leyland: LNER A4 no 4464 Bittern heads north through Leyland on 15 March with the Cumbrian Ranger tour from Tyseley to Carlisle. The A4 had taken over from 47773 at Crewe and should have worked through to Carlisle but due to reported gauging issues the tour was diesel hauled from Carnforth. See image [[46651]]
Hayes Knoll: Metropolitan Railway E Class 0-4-4T No.1 inside the shed at Hayes Knoll on 15 March.
Llangollen: 9F 'Spaceship' 92214 displays its huge size to good effect as it backs down to the shunting neck at Llangollen after bringing in a train from Carrog during the Steel, Steam and Stars Gala 2015.
Inverkeithing East Junction: Freightliner 66550 passes Inverkeithing East Junction with spent ballast for Millerhill on 15 March.
Croes Newydd North Junction: The operational signal box at Croes Newydd North Junction, just south of Wrexham General station, and an old railway cottage by the level crossing. This was where the long closed line to Brymbo left the main line and 89C Croes Newydd steam shed sat in the triangle of lines between North, South and West Junctions.
Coventry Arena: Looking South East over the new Coventry Arena station on 15 March with rapid progress evident. There are fence posts on the southbound platform, supports for the northbound platform and, in the foreground, a possible new pedestrian entrance. The popularity of the shopping centre can be gauged by the full car park in the background. See image [[50538]],
Llangollen: The GWR 51xx 2-6-2Ts are not small engines but 5199 is positively dwarfed by 9F 92214 at Llangollen on 15 March 2015. The green 2-10-0 was visiting from the Great Central for the Steam, Steel and Stars Gala and the duo had just double headed a train from Carrog. See image [[48951]]
Carrog: The 2015 Steam, Steel and Stars Gala brought a number of visiting locomotives to the Llangollen line. One of these was Bulleid West Country 4-6-2 34092, newly overhauled on the Worth Valley Railway and running as plain Wells ahead of its formal re-dedication as the better known City of Wells. The gleaming Pacific is seen at Carrog on 15 March after a run down the new line to Corwen.
Frosterley: Looking north-west across the River Wear towards Frosterley on 15 March 2015, showing the bridge abutment of a line that left the Wear Valley Railway and climbed up to one of the many quarries in the area.
Festiniog: View through the old Festiniog station site towards Blaenau Ffestiniog on 15 March 2015. [Some sources show the station name as Llan Ffestiniog, others as plain Festiniog.] [Ref queries 2931 / 4434]
Festiniog: Looking south from the site of Festiniog station at Llan Ffestiniog towards Trawsfynydd in March 2015. The line closed in 1961 but reopened for traffic to the nuclear power station in 1964. The last flask train ran in 1998 when Trawsfynydd closed but the disused tracks remain. [Ref queries 2931 / 4434]
Stanhope: Weardale Railway diesel electric shunter HO 50, formerly NS 653 (EE 2150/1956), stabled at the west end of the platform at Stanhope on 15 March 2015.
Stanhope: Scene at Stanhope station on 15 March 2015, with the Class 121 railcar preparing to depart for Wolsingham with the final round trip of the day. On the left the Mk 2 coaches which had previously been used for the Polar Express, wait for their transfer south (which took place on 20 March 2015).
Frosterley: Class 122 no.55012 heads west from Frosterley with a Weardale Railway Trust service to Stanhope on 15 March 2015.
Wrexham General: Looking towards Wrexham General on 15 March from the level crossing at Croes Newydd just south of the station. The bridge parapet on the right marks the point where the short branch to Wrexham Central passes under the main line.
Stanhope: A view east from the footbridge at Stanhope in March 2015 when the Class 121 railcar was operating a shuttle service from Wolsingham.
Blaenau: The southern portal of the 2 mile 333 yards Ffestiniog Tunnel in March 2015. The contrast between the rural area around the northern portal at Roman Bridge and the moonscape found when emerging here is always amazing and the train continues through the slate heaps for almost a mile to the present day station. One of Blaenau's numerous old inclined planes can be seen top left.
Frosterley: Class 122 railcar no 55012 calls at Frosterley on 15 March 2015 on its way from Wolsingham to Stanhope with the last train of the day. The service was operated by the Weardale Railway Trust who will be running services at weekends (and some weekdays) until the end of October.
Gothenburg Central: A snabbtag (high speed train) for Stockholm and a pendeltag at Gothenburg Central on 15 March 2015.
Wolsingham: The Weardale Railway Trust operated their first service of 2015 on Mothering Sunday, 15 March 2015, utilising a Class 121 railcar. The service is seen here at Wolsingham with passengers boarding for the second trip to Stanhope.
Stirling: This poster went with the announcement of the 20,000 additional seats and 200 further services made on the 15th of March. To put this in perspective, ScotRail currently runs 2,300 services a day.
(The fingers belong to Abellio UK managing director Dominic Booth, Transport Minister Derek Mackay and ScotRail Alliance managing director Phil Verster.)
Inverkeithing: 73968 and 73967 call at Inverkeithing with the ex-Aberdeen portion of the Caledonian Sleeper on 15 March 2016.
Philpstoun: 170461 with a Dunblane train. Tree clearance and access scaffolding for electrification masts are evident.
Philpstoun: A little to the east of Philipstoun a Glasgow - Edinburgh service led by 170429 passes an access point for road-rail machinery.
Ravenstruther: Ravenstruther coal terminal, now redundant and demolished, although trackwork remains.
Bothwell [North British]: View south under the Blantyre Mill Road bridge and along the Bothwell Nature Trail which follows the trackbed of the former line to Hamilton. The bridge spanned the tracks for the goods station as well as the passenger station, sited behind the camera.
Craighead Viaduct: View south across the Clyde from the base of the 2nd remaining pier. The stump of the central pier which collapsed unexpectedly in 2015 is just discernible breaking the surface of the water slightly right of centre near the south bank. The viaduct had 6 masonry piers, of which three were demolished in 2008.
Bothwell [North British]: The Bothwell Nature Trail following the track of the former line to Hamilton under Silverwells Crescent and heading towards Craigend Viaduct.
Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Those hoping for a (very brief) display of pyrotechnics when the new OHLE goes live on the 9th April are due to be disappointed as the wiring is currently being thoroughly checked prior to being energised. Cabling at all platforms is complete, with all insulators now fitted see image [[57122]].
Bothwell [North British]: View south from near Silverwells Crescent bridge along the trackbed towards the Clyde and the site of Craighead Viaduct.
Bothwell [North British]: View south from under the Silverwells Crescent bridge towards the river Clyde and the Craighead viaduct. The former railway overbridges which feature in the Bothwell Nature Trail are the best preserved examples of the infrastucture of the GBH&C railway.
Dingwall: 158708 at Dingwall forming the 14 10 Scotrail service to Inverness on 15th March 2017.
Dingwall Middle LC: A Kyle of Lochalsh service crawling towards Dingwall middle crossing on 15th March 2017.
Fraserburgh Shed: The old locomotive shed at Fraserburgh in March 2017, looking north east towards the harbour from the car park of Fraserburgh leisure centre. The building is part of a wholesale fish merchants located off South Harbour Road. See image [[38317]]
Bothwell [North British]: View north along the Bothwell Nature Trail under the Silverwells Crescent bridge. The site of Craighead Viaduct is behind the camera.
Didcot Parkway: Freightliner 70010 passes eastbound through Didcot with a container train on 15 March 2017.
Didcot Parkway: Class 08 No 604 'Phantom'. The Didcot Rly. Centre's shed shunter.
Dundee: The interim (one can hardly say temporary) entrance to Dundee station, seen from behind the ticket barriers on 15/03/2017. The building which will contain the new entrance takes shape on the eastern side, replacing the one that looks like it was made of plastic.
Didcot Parkway: 66147 shunting wagons from Network Rail into the Steam Centre.
Arbroath: It's some years since long-disused goods shed was demolished, but the crane is still there and there's no evidently no call on the land for development. Things move slowly round here. The platform track was severed at it's southern end (potentially its most useful one) a long time ago.
Arbroath: The Borders Railway unit seems to follow me around (including my previous visit here last year see image [[56960]]) but I suppose there are only so many 170s and I should stay in more. It is here heading for Aberdeen on 15/03/2017.
Boroughbridge [2nd]: A soon to be lost view south east from Leeming Lane of the retaining wall built to support the new Boroughbridge station, at the start of the extension of the line, running from Pilmoor, from the old station through to Knaresborough. The large house type building is the extant former station masters house for the new station. The old station site can be identified by the buildings at extreme left of view. Bridges existed across Leeming Lane and also the un-named road to Dishforth running between the two station sites. See image [[59223]]
Didcot Parkway: The OLE is progressing well, heading west. Apparently the Electrics come to Didcot at night on trials etc. Not too sure what power they use, diesel or OLE. 37424 arrived from Oxford and rapidly departed west towards Swindon.
Bothwell [North British]: View north at the partly infilled site of Bothwell station. This section of the line is now designated 'Bothwell Nature Trail' and is popular with walkers.
Didcot Parkway: 66095, with stablemates, parked in the station sidings at Didcot.
Craighead Viaduct: View south across the Clyde (just visible through the undergrowth) over the remaining two piers of the Viaduct from the point where the Bothwell Nature Trail ends.
Didcot Parkway: 70003 heading a Freightliner from Bristol to London.
Didcot Parkway: 66543 & 66567 double head a Freightliner north to Oxford.
Craighead Viaduct: Journey's end for those following the Bothwell Nature Trail at the north approach to the former Craighead Viaduct.
Boroughbridge [2nd]: A section of bridge abutment remains at the east side of Leeming Lane, at Boroughbridge, at the west end of the new station site, as seen in this March 2017 view. This was the first bridge crossed when leaving the station heading on the extension of the line from Pilmoor through to Knaresborough. A further bridge was sited between the old and new stations at the east end of the new station site.See image [[59161]] and [[59223]]
Didcot Parkway: Freightliner 70005 on an eastbound train through Didcot in March 2017.
Bothwell [North British]: View under the Blantyre Mill Road overbridge just south of Bothwell station. Tke tracks for the goods station ran alongside the platform lines on the other side of the support.
West Calder: '... Carstairs Junction and Lanark.' This road sign near West Calder station is a neat listing of the closed stations on the Midcalder Junction to Carstairs section. Cobbinshaw is perhaps an odd choice as a road destination when the comparative metropolis of Woolfords is nearby. Cobbinshaw is an unmarked couple of houses at the end of an unsignposted lane. Good spot for reservoir fishing though, if you like that sort of thing.
Hardengreen Junction: Surviving tunnel mouth on the NB single line freight only route from Hardengreen Junction to Smeaton, photographed in March 2019. The route was closed in 1934, with the exception of the mile or so south of Smeaton Junction serving Dalkeith Colliery, which survived until 1980. This tunnel under Dalhousie Road, located 200 yards from Hardengreen Junction, is now sealed off and landscaped on the west side, while this east side view is only possible during winter/early spring.
Shawfair: A pleasant spring morning in March 2020 sees a ScotRail service northbound on the Borders Railway shortly after restarting from Shawfair station.
Shawfair: A northbound service on the Borders Railway pulls away from the platform at Shawfair on the morning of 15 March 2019. While various housing developments are currently in place or underway to the south and west of here, the area in the immediate vicinity of the station has changed little since opening in 2015, save for the car park and access road (visible above the first coach running towards Millerhill Road).
Narborough: View north from the footbridge, over the signal box and towards what may once have been the old goods offices at Narborough, Leicestershire. Photographed on 15 March 2020.
See query 2257
Blairhill: The old Portakabin ticket office at Blairhill has finally been removed. This was the scene on 15th March 2020.
Narborough: A week before lockdown kept me away from stations and trains, the 17.31 to Birmingham slips quietly out of Narborough.
Scorton [Lancashire] [2nd]: 47832 runs alongside Station Lane at Scorton as it brings up the rear of the BLS 'Eric and Ernie' tour from Doncaster to Carnforth on 15th March 2020. Train loco on this leg was 37706.
Shawfair: A bright and sunny spring morning at Shawfair on 15 March 2020. Approaching the station is the first Sunday morning train south on the Borders line. The DMU has just cleared 'recycling corner' built on part of the former Millerhill marshalling yard.
Alloa Loop: Road diesel photo bombs rail diesel (70816) at Alloa Loop on 15th March 2020. The train is traveling from Burntisland to Millerhill.
Lenaberg: The new, blue Upptåget crosses the river Fyrisån close to the location of the former Lenaberg Station. When the line was doubled in the early 1990s some of the smallest stations which had been closed in the 1970s were demolished to make way for the additional track. Designated ER1 this is a Stadler Dosto (a.k.a. KISS) 4-car doubledecker EMU. In the background is the prominent shape of Lena Kyrka the local parish kirk dating from around 1295 and to its left the 18th Century priest's farmhouse (Prästgården) now in private ownership.
Shawfair: The 6-car 0845 (Sunday) Tweedbank - Edinburgh Waverley approaching Millerhill's 'recycling corner' midway between Shawfair and Newcraighall on 15 March 2020.
Gregson Lane Crossing: The Branch Line Society 'The Eric & Ernie' railtour from Doncaster to Morecambe, via various lines in Yorkshire, is seen approaching Gregson Lane Crossing on 15 March 2020 with 37706 leading and 47832 on the rear.
Scorton [Lancashire] [2nd]: 37706 hauls the Branch Line Society 'Eric and Ernie' from Doncaster to Carnforth, passing Scorton on 15th March 2020. 47832 was on the rear and both locos and the stock had been used the previous day for a BLS tour of exotic locations, such as Drax Power Station, Ferrybridge Depot and Gascoigne Wood sidings, entitled 'The Power of Aire'.
Swindon: 1C17 GWR Azuma 800-014, westbound at the Stratton footbridge at Swindon, with a Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads service. My first outing for railway images since December and the sun shone.
Swindon: 6V32, with GBRf 66777 'Annette', westbound on the Tilbury to Trostre passing the Stratton footbridge at Swindon on 15th March 2021.
Farington Junction: DRS 88005 'Minerva,' on a Daventry to Mossend intermodal service, passes TPE 397011 on an Edinburgh to Manchester Airport service to the south of Farington Junction on 15 March 2021.
Leyland: A Network Rail test train from Derby RTC to Mossend is seen heading north approaching Leyland with DBSO 9702 leading and 37219 propelling on 15 March 2021.
Buxton: On 15 March 2022 66174 skirts the rooftops of Buxton, including an aptly named pub, as it starts the last leg of its journey from Toton North Yard on the freight only branch towards Briggs Sidings at Dowlow. The train entered Buxton from the Hope Valley via Peak Forest and the nearby Up Relief Sidings where the locomotive ran round its train. (See Image [[78292]])
Pitlochry: The John Yellowlees Room at the back of the Station Bookshop. JY tells me that the name started as a joke as he had insisted that the new tenant make use of both rooms for the shop. Now it looks like they could do with more space than ever and there are plenty of bargains available.
Pitlochry: The rarely photographed street side of the main station building with its distinctive pyramid-topped, crow-stepped gables. A path leads (behind camera) steeply down to street level and under the railway bridge towards the River Tummel, Dam and Fish Ladder and the Festival Theatre.
Hilton Junction: Having worked a night shift on the tracks very close to this box 20 years ago I was not able to get a photo in the dark and getting an unobstructed view of this signal box is not easy so I took a chance with this shot from a passing train in March 2022 and was rather lucky. Not only does this photo show the box and the semaphore signal protecting the junction but also the Down Ladybank line at the junction.
Events
Events from the chronology which occured on this day. This generally lists events before 1995, the creation of the website.
| Year | Companies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1859 | Somerset Central Railway | Branch to Wells opened |
| 1886 | Glasgow City and District Railway | Yorkhill (Finnieston East Junction) to Glasgow Queen Street Low Level to High Street (College East Junction) opened. A third rail was used for train lighting. |
| 1886 | Coatbridge Branch (North British Railway) | 1st_>College 1st terminus closed. |
| 1899 | London Extension (Great Central Railway) | Line opened from Annesley North Junction to Quainton Road, and from Canfield Place to London Marylebone. |
| 1941 | End of Clydebank Blitz |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Waverley set for cut-price £100m overhaul [Scotsman] | WAVERLEY Station is to get a cut-price £100 million overhaul under plans set to be unveiled early next month by rail chiefs. |
| 2004 | CCTV coverage of rail network [Scottish Executive] | Three more stations linked to scheme designed to make railway stations safer. Stations; Dyce, Arbroath, Leuchars. |
| 2005 | MPs call for rail cash guarantee [BBC News] | MPs have highlighted concern over a lack of money to fund community-run rail lines |
| 2005 | Cash case ^weak^ for Borders line [Scotsman] | THE economic case for reopening the Borders rail line is "not the strongest", the Scottish Executive admitted yesterday even as it confirmed it would fund the lion^s share of the £151 million project. |
| 2005 | 30mph trains face a strain to lure commuters [Scotsman] | JOURNEY times of more than an hour on the proposed Borders to Edinburgh rail link may prove too long to entice motorists out of their cars, rail campaigners warned today. |
| 2005 | Waverley Line plan wins backing [BBC News] | The Scottish Executive pledges up to £115m towards the cost of reopening a rail link to the Borders. |
| 2007 | £610m airport rail link wins go-ahead despite fears on cost [Scotsman] | SCOTLAND^S biggest transport project since devolution was approved by MSPs yesterday, clearing the way for the £610 million rail link to Edinburgh airport. |
| 2007 | Bill for Glasgow^s underground system revamp ^could hit £5bn^ [Scotsman] | PLANS to upgrade and extend the Glasgow Subway could cost up to nearly £5 billion, its operators revealed yesterday. |
| 2007 | Rail strikes formally suspended [BBC News] | The RMT union confirms that it has formally suspended rail strikes which were due to take place from Friday. |
| 2010 | Fast train to open a year ahead of schedule [China Daily] | The highly anticipated Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway will begin operation next year, and is expected to cut travel time from 10 to four hours. |
| 2012 | Rubber mats laid on railway at Stromeferry [BBC News] | The first batch of rubber mats have been laid alongside tracks at Stromeferry in Wester Ross to allow road traffic onto the railway. Highland Council is having the material called HoldFast installed to ease travel in the area. A stretch of the A890 has been shut since December following landslides. Traffic will be allowed onto the nearby railway when there are no trains passing through and until the risk of further slides is reduced. |
| 2012 | Six stations in a row for Greenock Landscape Co [Railscot] | A Greenock company has ‘adopted’ its sixth ScotRail station. In-Work Ltd, which provides gardening opportunities for people recovering from mental health issues, has added Cardonald station in Glasgow to its ever-increasing portfolio. ScotRail’s Adopt a Station scheme is designed to put stations at the heart of their communities. Allan Maliska, project co-ordinator for landscape contractors In-Work, said: “The scheme is ideal for us as it offers an opportunity to showcase the abilities of teams in a way that catches the public eye.” The company first ‘adopted’ Greenock Central several years ago, and has since added seasonal colour to two other Inverclyde stations - Cartsdyke and Port Glasgow. Its floral arrangements are now at Hillington East and West stations, with the latest venture at Cardonald. John Yellowlees, ScotRail’s external relations manager, said: “We are delighted that In-Work Ltd has taken to ‘adopting’ stations with such enthusiasm and commitment.” |
| 2013 | ^Persecution of commuters^ brings record rail takings [Telegraph] | Campaigners called for action to reduce the soaring cost of train travel, which went up for season ticket holders by an average of 4.2 per cent this year. In the final three months of 2012, passenger revenue in Britain rose to £1.96 billion, an increase of 8.3 per cent on the same period a year earlier and the highest quarterly figure on record. [From Mark Bartlett] |
| 2013 | HS2 ruling ^a victory^ despite unlawful compensation move [BBC News] | Rail minister Simon Burns said a High Court ruling into government consultations on the planned HS2 high-speed rail scheme is ^a major landmark victory^ for the project. The government won nine out of 10 points being challenged, effectively giving the ^green light^ to the project, he said. [From Mark Bartlett] |
| 2014 | HS2 should be seen as the future backbone of Britain^s railway [Guardian] | As MPs prepare for the second reading of the bill to allow construction of the first phase of the high-speed rail line, the companies that operate Britain^s railway have this week together called for the debate about HS2 to move on from if, to how, it will run. |
| 2014 | Glasgow Airport train-tram link ^will cost £90m^ [Herald] | A tram-train link between Glasgow Airport and the city centre will cost more than £90 million to introduce, according to experts. Consultants reviewing transport options have concluded that the preferred option of running trams jointly on newly-built light rail lines and existing heavy rail infrastructure would be the second most expensive option at an estimated £92.4m. It compares to an estimated £207.4m to reinstate a heavy rail project, while a third option of running futuristic bubble cars, which could each carry four passengers and sets of luggage, was estimated at £71.7m. The final report on the issue was jointly commissioned by Glasgow Airport, Transport Scotland, and Glasgow and Renfrewshire councils to find the best way to improve access to the airport, which can currently only be reached by road. Last month, Transport Minister Keith Brown announced that tram-trains were the preferred option and a feasibility study was under way. |
| 2016 | HS2 denies claims that its trains are at risk of derailing at top speeds [Guardian] | HS2, the contentious rail project that will offer a high speed link from London to cities in the north of England, has been forced to deny claims that its trains are at serious risk of derailment when travelling at top speed. Research commissioned by HS2 and completed last year by Prof Peter Woodward is believed to have found that the speeds proposed would create “critical track velocity effects†and “significant issues†with track instability. |
| 2016 | DB Regio set to lose Tyne & Wear Metro contract [Rail News] | Nexus wants to renationalise the Tyne and Wear Metro operating contact for two years, as part of a ^long-term strategy to develop the system^. Nexus is seeking endorsement from Leaders of the North East Combined Authority to manage Metro operations directly for two years from April 2017, once the current contract has expired. Although Nexus has the contractual right to extend the current contract for a further two years, it said it ^did not wish to exercise this option^. It is instead proposing to manage train operations and stations directly until 2019, allowing it to prepare for significant changes that will come with investment in a new train fleet. [From Richard Buckby] |
| 2016 | HS3 rail link needs ^kick-starting^, report concludes [BBC News] | HS3, the planned fast rail link between Manchester and Leeds, needs ^kick-starting^ as part of a broader plan to improve transport links in northern England, a report has concluded. The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) also called for improvements on the most congested part of the M62 to be sped up. It said the region needed ^immediate and very significant investment^. The government will commit £300m for transport projects later this week. More details are expected in the Budget on Wednesday, although almost half of the money committed was announced in last year^s Autumn Statement. |
| 2016 | Rail revolution means 200 more services and 20,000 more seats for Scots passengers [Transport Scotland] | Transport Minister, Derek Mackay, today announced a “revolution in rail†in Scotland, which will deliver the largest programme of benefits to rail passengers seen in a generation. ScotRail will introduce 200 new services, providing 20,000 more seats per day, with passengers across Tayside, Stirlingshire, Perthshire, Aberdeenshire and the Borders set to feel the benefits. This represents a significant enhancement to ScotRail’s current timetable, which currently runs 2,300 services per day. Timetable improvements are made possible by the decision by the Scottish Government to retain 13 additional Class 170 diesel trains (39 additional carriages) beyond the terms of their current leases, which were due to end on 2018. These extra trains create the capacity to make timetable service improvements – with input supplied by local stakeholders to find the best fit for local priorities. |
| 2017 | Moray vintage railway to host open day for intrigued locals [Press and Journal] | The team behind one of Morays most treasured visitor attractions is inviting residents to learn about its allure during an open day. The Keith and Dufftown Railway Association has voluntarily preserved the tracks between the two communities since the route was axed by British Rail in 1991, and they began operating their own small-scale service in 2000. |
| 2017 | Deal struck with Aslef over Southern Rail dispute [BBC News] | A deal aimed at ending the dispute between Southern Railway and the Aslef union over driver-only trains has been agreed. Parent company Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) said both sides had secured a ^recommended deal^ after ^constructive talks^. Mick Whelan, General Secretary of Aslef, said union members would now be balloted on the proposals. The result of the vote will be announced on 3 April. Mr Whelan said the new terms ^offer solutions to our concerns, as well as restoring the confidence of all parties, and the travelling public^. GTR director Andy Bindon said he was pleased with the deal and hoped it would end ^an extraordinarily difficult period for passengers, staff and the regional economy^. |
| 2018 | Drifting snow shuts Cairngorms^ funicular railway tunnel [BBC News] | Scotland^s only funicular railway has been closed due to drifting snow blocking a tunnel at its mountainside station. Staff at CairnGorm Mountain snowsports centre said they were ^fighting a losing battle^ to keep the tunnel^s mouth and parts of the line clear. They were successful in their efforts to clear drifting snow from the tunnel earlier this week. However, the latest work has been hampered by high winds. |
| 2019 | ^Great merit^ in reopening Eastriggs, Thornhill and Beattock stations [BBC News] | The head of a transport body has said there is ^great merit^ in plans costing up to £37m to reopen three disused stations in south west Scotland. Andrew Wood chairs the South West Scotland Transport Partnership (Swestrans). It has been looking at the potential of bringing the sites in Beattock, Thornhill and Eastriggs back into use. It said a public consultation had found a ^high level of interest and expectation^ in the proposals. |
| 2019 | Network Rail publishes Freight Growth Plan for Scotland [Network Rail] | Network Rail has launched an ambitious plan to grow the amount freight on the rail network by 2024. A target of 7.5% growth was set by the Scottish Government in the High Level Output Specification, published in March 2018, which sets out the funding available for the railway between 2019 and 2024. |
| 2019 | Half a million people travel to Dundee since V&A opening [ScotRail] | Almost half a million people travelled to Dundee since the official opening of the V&A Museum in September 2018 – a 14 per cent increase compared to the previous year. In the first two months, over 200,000 people travelled to the City of Discovery by train, and 443,000 in total passing through the station since the opening of the V&A Museum. The ScotRail Alliance added more seats to trains to and from Dundee during the opening weekend, which included an additional late-night service. |
| 2019 | It’s full steam ahead for the return of charter train trips to Aberdeen [Press and Journal] | They evoke romantic memories of Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson in Brief Encounter and Jenny Agutter in The Railway Children. |
| 2019 | Video: Tornado storms in to wow enthusiasts as Aberdeen welcomes first steam engine in 25 years [Evening Express] | The age of steam returned to the north-east as a railway group welcomed its first locomotive for more than two decades. |
| 2020 | Union urges transport minister to intervene as staff accuse ScotRail bosses of intimidation and overseeing toxic corporate culture [Sunday Post] | Ministers have been urged to intervene after unions representing ScotRail staff accused bosses of bullying behaviour. |
| 2020 | Rail firms seek bailout as coronavirus hits fares [BBC News] | Train operators are in talks with government to slash services as passenger numbers fall. |
