Llandudno Junction Shed: Stanier 3P 2-6-2T no 40122 stands in a line of stored steam locomotives in a siding at Llandudno Junction shed in April 1963, approximately 10 months after withdrawal.

Bangor Shed: Stanier 3P 2-6-2T 40173 stands amongst other stored locomotives on Bangor shed in April 1963. 40173 had been officially withdrawn from here 9 months earlier.

Bangor Shed: Locomotives on shed at Bangor on 1 April 1963, with Jubilee 4-6-0 45672 Anson in the centre of the picture.

Llandudno Junction Shed: Stored locomotive line at Llandudno Junction in April 1963, with Black 5 no 44686 at the head of the queue. See image [[49922]]

Llandudno Junction Shed: Johnson ex-LMS 3F 0-6-0 no 43618, stored in the sidings alongside Llandudno Junction shed in April 1963. The 1899 veteran, which had been withdrawn from 6K Rhyl more than a year earlier, was finally broken up at Cashmore's scrapyard, Great Bridge, two months after the photograph was taken.

Glasgow St Enoch: Standard Class 4 2-6-0 76092 departs from Glasgow St Enoch with a rush-hour suburban service in April 1964.

Shilford Summit: 46140 The King's Royal Rifle Corps with a Carlisle - Glasgow stopping train at Shilford on 1 April 1965. [Ref query 4268]

Shilford Summit: Kingmoor Black 5 no 45112 climbing Shilford Bank with a St Enoch - Carlisle stopping train on 1 April 1965. [Ref query 2159]

Shilford Summit: Royal Scot 46140 The King's Royal Rifle Corps starts the descent of Neilston Bank at Shilford at the head of a Carlisle train on the first day of April 1965.

Carlisle Kingmoor Shed: Preserved Gresley A4 Pacific 4498 'Sir Nigel Gresley' simmers on Carlisle Kingmoor shed on 1 April 1967. Its tender is being filled with water following arrival in Carlisle on a special working to celebrate restoration to full working order following purchase from British Railways.

Carlisle Kingmoor Shed: 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley at Kingmoor on 1 April 1967, on the occasion of its first outing in preservation. The A4 had arrived with a 12 coach special off the WCML from Crewe, returning via the S&C and Blackburn. See image [[4583]]

Carlisle Kingmoor Shed: A pair of Claytons passing Kingmoor with a freight on 1 April 1967. This was the occasion of the A4 Preservation Society 'Inaugural run of Sir Nigel Gresley' railtour from Crewe. 4498 can be seen on Kingmoor shed in the background with one or two photographers in attendance.

Carlisle Kingmoor MPD: BR Standard Class 7P6F 4-6-2 70040 'Clive of India' is seen stabled in the south yard of 12A Carlisle Kingmoor Shed in April 1967. The loco is minus nameplates with the name painted onto the smoke deflectors. This was the same day that A4 Sir Nigel Gresley worked a special to Carlisle, and was watered and coaled on Kingmoor, and the depot was open to go round.

Wreay: The commemorative BR ticket read... A4 Preservation Society Tour - 'The Inaugural Run of Sir Nigel Gresley'.
No 4498 was photographed passing Wreay on the outward journey on 1 April 1967. The 12-coach special ran from Crewe to Carlisle via the WCML, returning via Hellifield and Blackburn.

Shankend Viaduct: A touch of the Tyrol about Shankend Viaduct as a type 2 crosses with a single coach engineer's trip on a wintry 1 April 1970. See image [[26572]]

Whitrope Summit: An inspection saloon on the Waverley Route, photographed just south of Whitrope Tunnel on 1 April 1970. The locomotive is D5307. (See image [[26380]])

Whitrope Tunnel: I took this photo on the closed Waverley Route on 1st April 1970. It shows an Engineer's Special poking out of Whitrope Tunnel. A few minutes before this I'd been on the footbridge at Stobs taking a photo of this loco and carriage approaching and had an exchange with a gentleman walking his dog on the track further up the line towards Shankend. I shouted 'There's a train coming!' To which he replied, 'Huntie gouk' [English translation 'April Fool']. Seconds later came the sound of both the Type 2 diesel and the rusty track being scrunched. I took my photo facing the Hawick direction, then turned round to look towards Shankend and watched the gent scrambling up the verge. He approached me after the train had passed and mumbled, 'Ye bugger, ye were right!'

Stobs: D5307 passing south through Stobs station with an engineer's inspection saloon on 1 April 1970.

Shankend Viaduct: View west towards Shankend Viaduct on 1 April 1970 as D5307 crosses with an engineer's inspection coach.

Garmouth: Originally thought to have been Port Gordon, a number of people have kindly pointed out my error. With a little assistance from a video of the Moray Coast line the bungallow to the left of the station building clinches it as Garmouth. The photo was taken during a working holiday in the area and the confusion arose because I lodged in Portgordon.

Dalnaspidal: The 08.45 Edinburgh-Inverness south of Dalnaspidal on the climb to Druimuachdar on Sunday 1st April 1973, with clear evidence of the former second track, lifted some six years earlier and destined to be reinstated just four years later. Unusually for Highland Main Line haulage, there is just a single Type 2 at the head of the train. The railway cottages were about a mile south of Dalnaspidal.

Tay Bridge: Entering the central section of the Tay Bridge headed towards Dundee one fine spring morning in 1980 see image [[33615]].

Quainton Road: Sentinel 0-4-0 no 6515 of 1926 in operation at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road, on a very wet day in April 1986.

Greenhill Lower Junction: Greenhill Junction main line home signal holds up a Railfreight 37. Driver at phone. A Glasgow Queen Street - Dunblane 101 passes by. Between the two lines was Bonnybridge Junction signal box, removed in early 1970s.

The Queen's: Looking west from London Road bridge at St. Margarets in 1989. On the right is the former siding to the (wagon) Sheet Shed, destroyed by fire in 1922. On the left was located the Queens Platform, built in 1850 for Queen Victoria (being convenient for Holyrood Palace) and used for about thirty years. This picture was taken during the short period prior to electrification when the this stretch of line was experimentally relaid at 2' gauge as a potential cost saving measure.

Edinburgh Waverley: 311 104 stabled at Edinburgh Waverley on 1 April 1991 between driver training duties on the North Berwick branch.

Linlithgow: Haymarket's Class 150s took over from first-generation DMUs on Fife Circle, Dunblane and Bathgate services until they all disappeared suddenly in 2005 for service in Wales, their services being taken over by 158s and 170s. I don't think many people missed them, particularly if they had the full complement of buttocks. On 1 April 1995 set 150 245 calls at Linlithgow with a Dunblane service.

Laisterdyke: 37716 reverses loaded scrap wagons out of the European Metals Recycling siding at Laisterdyke, Bradford, on 1 April 1998. The train will use the crossover by the bridge to regain the main line and run down to Bradford Interchange, where it will run round before heading west via the Calder Valley to reach its ultimate destination at Liverpool's Alexandra Dock. The unused track to left of the loco, which was formerly a part of the east to south avoiding line that formed a triangle with the Halifax line, continues a short distance to a run round loop and head-shunt See image [[30126]]. As of 2016 the loco is still at work, now with DRS.

Bradford Interchange: EWS 37716 weaves across tracks leaving Bradford Interchange on 1 April 1998 after running round the 'European Metal Recycling' Laisterdyke - Liverpool Alexandra Dock scrap working See Image [[27023]]. After taking a right towards Mill Lane box, passing the lines turning left to New Pudsey and Leeds, it will take the straight ahead route to Halifax and the Calder Valley route west.

Bradford Interchange: View north as EWS 37716 pulls away from Bradford Interchange in April 1998 with the Laisterdyke - Liverpool Docks scrap metal working, having just run round its train. Note the ongoing development work in the background, including (just off picture to the right) land formerly occupied by Bradford Exchange station. For a 1960s view in the opposite direction, featuring the wall on the left see image [[26905]].

Laisterdyke: Loading in progress at the European Metal Recycling depot at Laisterdyke, Bradford, on 1 April 1998. EWS 37716 can be seen on the far right at the head of the train currently being loaded, which will eventually be heading for Liverpool's Alexandra Dock following a reversal at Bradford Interchange see image [[26953]].

Rosyth: The disused ticket office perched above Rosyth station just before demolition in April 1999.

Bristol Harbour: 0-6-0ST Portbury operating a shuttle service along Bristol's Harbour front on 1st April 2001.

Brunstane: Photograph taken during a break in construction work at the new Brunstane station in Edinburghs eastern suburbs on 1 April 2002. Off to the right lie the houses of Brunstane with the adjoining development of Gilberstoun continuing to expand to the south. The new station opened to passengers some 2 months later on 3 June 2002.

Newcraighall Junction: What was to become Newcraighall North Junction, photographed on 1 April 2002, a few days after the track panel had been lifted into place and connected up (see [[10140]]). At that time the junction gave access to a new turnback siding, constructed for the use of trains terminating at the soon to be opened Newcraighall station on the far side of the bridge. The new station opened to passengers 8 weeks later (see [[3430]]).

Millerhill Yard: Only 9 weeks to go before the commencement of train services from the under construction Newcraighall station behind the camera. With the new reversing siding recently installed, work is now being carried out on the associated security fencing. See image [[10140]].

Mount Vernon: A quiet Sunday morning platform scene at Mount Vernon in April 2007, looking west towards Carmyle. It would be another seven and a half years before the advent of electric services on the Whifflet route see image [[49758]].

Carmyle: Not one of the most memorable stations. Looking east at Carmyle in April 2007 from the A763 Carmyle Avenue. Served by trains on the Glasgow Central - Whifflet line, the station and line reopened to passengers in 1993 see image [[10481]].

Dalmarnock: Parting of the ways. Scene heading north from Strathclyde Junction, less than quarter of a mile from Dalmarnock in the spring of 2007. The line on the left is the Glasgow Central Railway route dropping down to reach the station, following which it will pass below Dalmarnock Road and turn west towards the city centre. On the right is the trackbed of the Switchback, which once crossed the road at the same point, but by means of a bridge, before continuing its journey north. See image [[14355]]

Bridgeton [2nd]: View down into the urban cutting that brought the GCDR lines round from Gallowgate and into the former terminus at Bridgeton Central. Taken in April 2007, with the camera set on timed release and held up above the wall on the end of a monopod. This was attempt number 9.

Strathclyde Junction: Coming together. View south approximately half way between Dalmarnock station and the River Clyde on 1 April 2007. To the left is the trackbed of the high level Switchback, while on the right the Glasgow Central Railway has almost completed its climb up from Dalmarnock station. The two routes came together at Strathclyde Junction just south of here, before crossing the River to reach Rutherglen.

Larkfield Junction: 'You quite sure this is where you dropped your pen?' View east from Larkfield Junction during Sunday morning engineering works occupation on 1 April 2007.

Larkfield Junction: Sunday engineering works at Larkfield Junction, looking west on 1 April 2007. The quadruple lines to the right are for Glasgow Central, the track machine is on the route through to Shields Junction, while branching off to the left are the lines to Muirhouse South Junction.

Isla Viaduct: Stumps of Isla Bridge north of Coupar Angus on the Blairgowrie branch. The background is the Sidlaw Hills.

Newtyle [2nd]: Overbridge on the Newtyle Deviation, west of the village and, by rail, closer to Dundee.

Newtyle [1st]: Newtyle Old station. Train shed.

Bridgeton: Not quite the same impact as its near neighbour. The current Bridgeton station in April 2007, looking south across London Road.

Bridgeton [2nd]: <I>What's in a name...?</I> Bridgeton Cross (1892), Bridgeton Central (1954), Bridgeton (1965), Ladbrokes (1980), To Let (2007), ...what next for the classic facade on London Road? The Station Bar looks on unconcerned.... unlike Mr Bean.

Ladybank: A Sunday Dundee - Edinburgh train formed by 170 460 calls at Ladybank on 1 April 2007.

Dalmarnock: Dawn at Dalmarnock station. View north along Swanston Street towards Dalmarnock Road early on a Sunday moring in April 2007. The time is 0835 and the station is not yet open, with the first train of the day not due for over an hour. Dalmarnock station was temporarily closed for modernisation in June 2012 as part of Glasgow's East End Regeneration project in preparation for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The station reopened in May 2013, with a modern replacement entrance created near the junction of Dalmarnock Road and the new A728 'Clyde Gateway'.

Oldmeldrum: Station buildings at Oldmeldrum, still intact. Now a bus garage. Engine shed is at the right of the picture, and the bus to the extreme left sits on the station platform, also still intact. Looking West

Larkfield Junction: The north side of Larkfield Junction in April 2007, looking towards Pollokshaws Road with the lines to Glasgow Central curving off to the right. The derelict land here had previously been occupied by Larkfield carriage sheds and sidings, with the area to the north of that (beyond the trees) last used to house Gushetfaulds Freightliner Terminal. Today, commercial developments occupy all of the former railway land (which is now bisected by the M74 Motorway).

Oldmeldrum: Station buildings at Oldmeldrum, still intact in 2007. Sight now used as a bus garage. Looking west.

Dalmarnock: The Swanston Street entrance to the low level Dalmarnock station on a Sunday morning in April 2007. The high level route visible behind the station is the remains of the Switchback, which crossed Dalmarnock Road on a bridge off to the left see image [[23436]]. The first Dalmarnock station was opened on this high level line in 1841, but closed in 1895 on the opening of the Glasgow Central route.

Forres East Junction: A Class 170 on the approach to Forres with an Inverness service.

Gallowgate: Part of the south abutment of the CGU viaduct in the Gallowgate on 1 April 2007 - with various interesting messages alongside.

Gallowgate: Looking west along the Gallowgate on a Sunday morning in April 2007 showing the viaduct carrying the CGU route between Saltmarket Junction (left) and High Street Junction. Just beyond the viaduct, Chrystal Bell's pub takes up the corner of Watson Street, while beyond that the Tollbooth Steeple stands at Glasgow Cross. Anyone leaving the pub after one too many should have no difficulty finding the number of the local taxi company.

Milton Junction [Glasgow]: 'Ahhh would you look at that Ted - some eejit's gone and dumped an old bridge in that field...' Not what it seems.. view of the the bridge carrying the Cumbernauld line over the M80 motorway, seen from Royston Road on 1 April 2007 see image [[14426]].

Barnhill: View from the entrance to the southbound platform of Barnhill station from Petershill Road in April 2007. Looking north towards Sighthill East Junction and Springburn.

Helmsley: Former main entrance and station forecourt at Helmsley on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors in April 2008. The old signal box is just visible alongside the site of the goods yard in the right background.

Helmsley: View back along the eastbound platform at Helmsley (Closed 1953) on 1 April 2008, looking west towards the ECML. The station building, now a substantial private house, stands on the other side of the fence, with the old signal box beyond.

Grosmont Shed: BR Sulzer Type 2 D5032 undergoing refurbishment and restoration work in April 2008 at the NYMR's Grosmont depot - see [[75208]].

Thirsk: The First TransPennine 0959 Middlesbrough - Manchester Airport service arrives at Thirsk on a fine Tuesday morning in April 2008 with a fair number of passengers waiting on the platform.

Thirsk: A service for Manchester Airport boarding at Thirsk on 1 April 2008. First TransPennine 185135 started its journey in Middlesbrough and has arrived via the up slow line. The platforms that once served the fast lines here are now disused and fenced off from the rest of the station - see image [[18729]].

Nunnington: Between the ECML and the town of Pickering, on the North York Moors, in the district of Ryedale, is a field. At the bottom of that field, standing in a shallow dip, at the end of a long sheltered driveway, is the former Nunnington station, built, for reasons beyond my understanding, by the North Eastern Railway in 1871, closed to passengers in February 1953.

Nawton: Station approach and forecourt at the former Nawton station in April 2008.

Nawton: The old station at Nawton, North Yorkshire, looking west towards Helmsley and the ECML on 1 April 2008. The station closed to passengers in 1953.

Gilling: Looking east into the former goods yard at Gilling, North Yorkshire, from the main road through the village in April 2008. The station building is on the left, with the site of the level crossing beyond. Gilling closed in 1953, although many railway artefacts have been preserved on the site see image [[20205]]. [Ref query 25 August 2018]

Grosmont Shed: A4 60019 Bittern on shed at Grosmont in April 2008.

Grosmont Shed: A4 Pacific 60019 Bittern receives attention inside Grosmont shed on 1 April 2008.

Polkemmet Junction: Rumours of a treasure wagon buried somewhere in Bathgate during the A to B ground investigation had spurred this gold digger to take up his iron pinch bar and get the ground shifted. Photo by A Driller.

Thirsk: The 11.34 Manchester Airport - Middlesbrough First TransPennine service about to leave Thirsk on 1 April 2008 as a northbound Cross Country Voyager runs through the station on the down fast line.

Sinnington: The former station at Sinnington, North Yorkshire, in April 2008. View east towards Pickering.

Grosmont: Inside the NYMR's Grosmont shed on 1 April 2008. Amongst the locomotives undergoing maintenance and refurbishment is ex-BR Sulzer no D5032. For the view from the other end see [[19316]].

Helmsley: The old signal box at Helmsley, North Yorkshire, some 12 miles west of Pickering, seen here in April 2008. View is south west with the station off to the right and the former goods yard located on the far side of the box [[55155]]. The building on the left is a later addition now occupying part of the trackbed. Helmsley station closed to passengers in 1953, with the line remaining open for freight as far as Kirbymoorside until 1964.

Gilling: The closed station at Gilling, North Yorkshire, photographed on 1 April 2008 looking east over the site of the B1363 level crossing towards the junction for the routes to Malton and Pickering. Despite being closed to passengers for more than 50 years there are plenty of reminders of its original purpose. These include sections of platform, clock, canopy, goods shed etc. The surviving sign reads 'Cross the line by the footbridge only'.

Helmsley: On the edge of the North York Moors stands the old market town of Helmsley. The station here closed to passengers in 1953 but the impressive former station building still looks as good as ever - witness this view from the platform side looking west on a pleasant April afternoon in 2008.

Keighley: The Network Rail platforms at Keighley looking east on 1 April as 333015 departs on a Skipton - Leeds service.

Ardrossan Harbour: A sole non-standard sign stands defiantly at Ardrossan Harbour on 1 April 2009 - the second line should be left-justified.

Paisley Gilmour Street: 318 257 with a Glasgow-bound service stands at platform 3 of Gilmour Street station, Paisley on 1 April 2009.

Partick: A Milngavie Service, formed by 318 256, calls at Partick on 1 April 2009.

Ardrossan Town: 318 257 stands at Ardrossan Town on 1 April 2009, about to start the return journey to Glasgow Central.

Ardrossan Town: 318 257 lies over at Ardrossan Town on 1 April before starting the return journey to Glasgow Central.

Inverkeithing: EWS 67 003 and the usual 6 coaches make their second trip of the day round the Fife Circle - the evening Outer.

Alexandria: Rear view of 320 311 as it pulls out of Alexandria on 1 April 2009 with the last leg of a service to Balloch.

Lochwinnoch: 334 017 heads a 6-car train for Glasgow at Lochwinnoch on 1 April 2009.

Glasgow Queen Street Low Level: Queen Street Low Level platform 8 looking west on 1 April 2009.  The three recently installed CIS screens are a big improvement on the rather apologetic single-site monitors they replaced.  Whoever programmed the new system was obviously feeling nostalgic when deciding on Balloch Central, given it has been plain Balloch since the station was resited slightly closer to Glasgow in 1988 to cut out a level crossing. In fact it had become the sole Balloch station 2 years earlier when the short extension to Balloch Pier was closed - making the suffix especially redundant!

Renton: Looking north towards Balloch from the platform at Renton on 1 April 2009. The building is no longer in rail use, but occupied and fairly well maintained.

Dalreoch: 320 303 pulls away from Dalreoch with a Balloch service on 1 April 2009, while electricians install new platform cameras and monitors.

Renton: A Balloch - Airdrie train, formed by 320 311, arives at Renton on 1 April 2009.

Anniesland: View along Great Western Road at Anniesland station on 1 April 2009, showing what is probably the most prominent overbridge still to have the image before last still in place.

Thornton Yard: Ex-LMS 6201 Princess Elizabeth arriving at Thornton Depot after working a special to Edinburgh on 1 April 2010.

Cardenden: An eastbound 158 calls at Cardenden on 1 April 2010.

Ullesthorpe: Old railway, or canal? Ironically, this stretch of the Midland Railway Rugby-Leicester line at Willey, near Ullesthorpe, approaching the level crossing on the A5 (which was notorious for delays to road traffic) was recently cleared of vegetation to lay a water main. Looks like it's leaking. View looks North on 1 April 2011, near Coal Pit Lane. See image [[33719]]

Carnforth: With Arnside viaduct closed for repairs in 2011 traffic for Sellafield is routed via the WCML to Carlisle. DRS Class 37s 37667 and 37194 had a lengthy wait in the loops at Carnforth before getting underway again with the 6C53 Crewe to Sellafield on 1 April. The train comprised seven nuclear flasks and is seen here rejoining the main line immediately south of the station platforms. A further halt in the Oxenholme loops was probably expected by the crew. [Editor's note: No 37667 (then D6851) hauled the last down Anglo-Scottish freight on the Waverley Route (the 08.30 Kingmoor-Millerhill) on Saturday 4th January 1969.]

Toddington: The absence of people in this shot might be regarded as an accurate feature of pre-Beeching railways. The destination blind on this DMU at Toddington on 1 April 2012 says 'To The Pub' - maybe that's where they all went. View looks North towards Honeybourne.

Castle Douglas: The top picture shows a trackside relic just south west of Castle Douglas - view looking west. Below is the top surface of one of a pair of them standing at the sides of a path within Threave Gardens, complete with metal numbers. Both photographs taken on 1 April 2012. See image [[41753 for explanation]]

Nuneaton: An up Pendolino passing Nuneaton platform 4 at about 100mph on 1 April 2012. Notice the cut-back end of platform 3 on the left - this was damaged by the sleeper derailment in 1975 and has never been restored. Notice also the contrast between the original cross-station footbridge and the extension spanning the recently built platforms 6 and 7 to the right.

Ringstead and Addington: Look carefully. This is neither a tall tunnel entrance, nor an old sports car missing its wheels and grille; but simply a hole in the end of a bridge girder on the L&B between Thrapston (behind) and Irthlingborough (ahead). see image [[44958]]

Castle Douglas: Refurbished bridge over the Mill Burn just west of Castle Douglas in April 2012. This section of the trackbed of the former Kirkcudbright Railway now carries a footpath.

Rugby: The Caledonian sleeper passing through Rugby on 1 April 2012. As it took two months for everything to come together to get this picture, I would have been annoyed if the Pendolino approaching on the right had got in the way!

Castle Douglas: Cast-iron overbridge at Lodge of Kelton in April 2012 looking towards Kirkcudbright - now bypassed by a loop in the road over the infilled cutting.

Northampton: Passengers leaving a Birmingham-bound 350 at Northampton in April 2012. The service splits here, with the other 4-car unit heading for Crewe. They usually marshal two sets with different seat colours and make an announcement along the lines of 'green seats for Birmingham, blue seats for Crewe'. The pneumatically-actuated couplers offer a considerable health and safety advance over the old routine of slipping off the platform and unhooking a chain.

Castle Douglas: Bridge No. 65 (Kelton Mains) on the Kirkcudbright Railway looking towards Castle Douglas on 1 April 2012. The steps on the left lead to Threave Castle.

Birmingham: Interior photograph showing new seating arrangements on the prototype 'Suspendolino' during trials at a location near Birmingham on 1 April 2013.

Eaves Tunnel: In the early stages of the journey from Buxton to Blackpool, Northern 150145 drifts downhill from Dove Holes between Barmoor Clough and Eaves tunnels on 1 April 2013.

Pavillion Gardens: The station in the Pavilion Gardens at Buxton on 1 April 2013 with steam outline 0-6-0 locomotive Edward Milner bringing the last train of the day into the station.

Coatbridge Central [NB]: Remains of the former NB station at Coatbridge Central on 1 April 2013. The station closed to passengers in September 1951. [Ref query 4559]

Brownhills West: 'STAND WELL CLEAR OF THE DOORS PLEASE!!!' A rare photograph taken at Brownhills West showing the prototype automatic synchronised slam-door coach under test. Unfortunately, the trials had to be abandoned eventually after considerable finger trouble.

Ayr: 156509 departs Ayr on 1 April with the 17.04 Kilmarnock - Stranraer.

Garstang and Catterall: With less than 48 hours before the Network Rail suspension came into force West Coast 47580 County of Essex and 47760 run light engine from Preston to Carnforth at Garstang & Catterall on 1st April. The Brush 4s had brought The Pendle Dalesman from Rugby to Preston for onward S&C haulage by 45699 Galatea.

Stirling: The VTEC 0755 Inverness - Kings Cross Highland Chieftain calls at Stirling on 1 April 2015.

Forthside Ordnance Depot: The Engine Shed alongside Stirling station, seen here on 1 April 2015. Originally built as an ordnance depot in the 1890s the building, part of what was known latterly as Forthside Barracks, is currently being refurbished and transformed into a centre for construction skills. The centre is due to open in the Spring of 2016 and will host events, exhibitions and other related activities.

Stirling: Freightliner 66618 with the 0613 Oxwellmains - Aberdeen Craiginches cement train about to run north through Stirling station on a bright and sunny morning on 1 April 2015.

Stirling: A bright and sunny morning at Stirling station platform 9 on 1 April 2015 sees the 0836 Alloa - Glasgow Queen Street marking time during its scheduled 8 minute stopover here, following a 9 minute journey from Alloa.

Stirling: A bright Wednesday morning at Stirling in April 2015 sees a ScotRail DMU from the south arriving out of the sun and running under the footbridge into bay platform 7.

Stirling: The 0841 Glasgow Queen Street Aberdeen meets the 0903 Dunblane Edinburgh at Stirling on 1 April 2015, day 1 of Abellio ScotRail operations. Not the best start date perhaps...

Stirling: The Virgin Trains East Coast 0755 Inverness - Kings Cross Highland Chieftain HST is waved off from the Stirling stop on 1 April 2015. The activity over on platform 2 is a publicity bash organised by Abellio who took over the ScotRail franchise that day from First Group. See [[50832]].

ScotRail: The new ScotRail class 385 electric multiple unit to be built by Hitachi. Artist's impression distributed at the Abellio franchise launch on 1 April 2015.

Preston: The first run of the Caledonian Sleeper under the new operator, Serco, at Preston station at 0100 on 1 April 2015. The train is the 1S25 London Euston to Aberdeen, Fort William and Inverness with traction supplied by GBRf in the form of 92018.

Stirling: One of a number of Abellio platform posters unveiled at Stirling station on 1 April 2015, the first day of the new ScotRail franchise.

Preston: Close up of the logo on the side of GBRf 92018 at Preston with the Serco Caledonian Sleeper on 1 April 2015 see image [[50831]], taking the form of a stag atop the letters C and S.

Stirling: The 0833 Edinburgh - Dunblane runs into Stirling platform 2 on the morning of 1 April 2015. The red carpet beyond the train is part of an Abellio launch event to mark their takeover of the ScotRail franchise. At the top left of the picture Stirling Castle looks on impassively, having seen it all before.

Haymarket: 68006 Daring recently arrived at Haymarket on 1 April 2015 with a Fife Circle service for Waverley.

Carlisle: 45669 Galatea at Carlisle with the Pendle Dalesman on 1 April 2015. The Jubilee had been substituted at the last minute for Royal Scot 46115 Scots Guardsman.

Grafton East Junction: B1 61306 'Mayflower' at speed passing Crofton Pumping Station on the GWR Berks and Hants Line on 1 April 2015 with the Cathedrals Express bound for Kingswear.

Stirling: The 1013 Dunblane - Glasgow Queen Street boards at Stirling platform 3 on 1 April 2015, while the Abellio launch celebrations continue over on platform 2.

Preston: A cross-platform view of the Serco operated Caledonian Sleeper at Preston in the early hours of 1 April 2015 see image [[50831]]. Of note was the fact that the train was routed into platform 1 rather than the usual platform 4 due to a coal train from Hunterston to Fiddlers Ferry Power Station having been brought to a stand fouling the south end of platform 4 with a serious wheelflat on the first wagon.

Aldcliffe: More than fifty years after it was swung across Railway Crossing Lane for the last Glasson Dock goods train this crumbling level crossing gate can still be seen in Aldcliffe near Lancaster in 2015. The cyclepath from Glasson leaves the trackbed at this point but the railway formation continues towards Lancaster for a short distance before being built over. [Ref query 6608]

Stirling: A harsh morning sun illuminates the 0923 ScotRail service to Glasgow Queen Street awaiting its departure time in bay platform 7 at Stirling station on 1 April 2015.

Manchester Piccadilly: A Class 185 unit at Manchester Piccadilly sporting the new TransPennine livery. This was 1st April 2016, the launch day of the new franchise.

Morecambe South Junction: Trans-Pennine 350401 and 350403 form a Manchester Airport to Glasgow service seen passing under the new Heysham Link Road bridge at Morecambe South Junction on 1st April 2016. This was the day that First Group took sole responsibility for the TPE franchise having previously been in partnership with Keolis.

Haymarket: The 0637 Fife Circle calls at Haymarket at 0848, DRS providing a little variety.

Morecambe South Junction: 1st April 2016 was the first day of operations for the new Arriva Northern franchise. A debranded 156444 leaves the Morecambe line at Morecambe South Junction to run towards Lancaster. The current pattern of services will not alter until the May 2016 timetable change.

Wetherby [2nd]: View south through Wetherby station site towards Linton Lane road overbridge on 1 April 2016. The station car park is now the southern limit of a footpath, that runs as far as Spofforth, along the former track-bed that continued further to join the Leeds to Harrogate line at the east end of the Crimple Viaduct near Pannal Station. [Ref query 14582]

Manchester Piccadilly: Parked for display, a class 185 unit at Manchester Piccadilly with the new TransPennine livery on the launch day of the new franchise.

Thornton Junction: Thornton Community Council commissioned this locomotive sculpture to recall the time when Station Road led to the village's station. The real Marquess is no stranger to the local tracks.

Wetherby [2nd]: Looking north from Wetherby station site towards the A661 over-bridge, adjacent to which was Wetherby South Junction where the line split to head north west to Harrogate and east to Tadcaster and Church Fenton. The Harrogate line crossed the A661 at Spofforth en route. A through line also ran north of the town, and this formed a triangle, by-passing the station which was sited on the Leeds line, and allowed direct running between Harrogate and Church Fenton. See image [[44329]] for a 1963 view in the same direction

Morecambe South Junction: The Bay Gateway bridge over the WCML is an impressive structure but was only carrying construction traffic when 37402 propelled the Carlisle to Preston service under it on 1st April 2016. A short distance to the east another bridge carries the new road over the Lancaster Canal. What appears to be a single yellow signal is actually a flashing aspect indicating the next signal is also on yellow but the train is routed into the speed restricted Platform 4 line at Lancaster.

York: The prototype Parry High Speed People Mover stands at York following a trial run from Darlington on 1st April 2016. Photo by Ken Dickinson.

Cowlairs Incline: Busy works traffic on Cowlairs Incline - several PW trains stacked on the up main.

Grindleford: Cafe is super! A 142 heads into the Totley Tunnel at Grindleford.

Eglinton Street: The site of Eglinton Street station looking south as a Virgin Pendolino passes on the final mile to Glasgow Central.

Leith Walk: The remains of Leith Walk station looking north west towards Powderhall on 1 April 2017. On the right, development is now well underway on the site of the former Shrubhill tram depot.

Portobello Junction: Caledonian Sleeper liveried 73970 stabled at the Portobello wheel lathe on 1/4/17.

St Enoch [Subway]: Looking across to the Inner platform at At Enoch on 01/04/2017. The acceleration / deceleration hump is clearly visible.

Dumbarton East: A 334 on an Edinburgh service calls at Dumbarton East on 01/04/2017.

Dumbarton Central: A Balloch to Airdrie service calls at Dumbarton Central on 01/04/2017.

Dumbarton Central: A Cumbernauld service starts it's journey from Platform 3 at Dumbarton Central on 01/04/2017. To the left Dumbarton Municipal Buildings undergo restoration.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: A 4-coach 156 reaches journey's end on 01/04/2017.

Hathersage: A 185 heading for Grindleford after leaving Haversage.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: A look across the busy concourse at Queen Street on Saturday 01/04/2017.

Pollokshields East: A 314 for Neilston at Pollokshaws East on 01/04/2017. Note that it still in SPT carmine and cream livery.

Totley Tunnel: Into the Totley Tunnel goes a 142 Pacer, just east of Grindleford.

Pollokshields West: 320 317 with an incoming circle service at Pollokshields West on 01/04/2017. You have to wonder what the people of this fairly comfortable suburb have done to deserve these station 'facilities'.

Inverness: 37259 departs Inverness for Inverurie with the Pathfinder Easter Chieftain four day railtour on 1st April 2018. 37605 was on the rear.

Corpach: To celebrate the 150th anniversary of The Glasgow Highlanders being formed Ian Riley has changed the identity of one of his Black 5s, from 45407 to 45157 The Glasgow Highlander. The engine is pictured sprinting away from Corpach with *The Jacobite for Mallaig on 1st April 2018.

Invergarry: The site of Invergarry Station on the Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway. This is being rebuilt by volunteers and will be a working museum when finished. The view is towards Fort Augustus, with Loch Oich on the left on 1st April 2018.

Toddington: A small Polish NG loco seen at Toddington on the Narrow Gauge Railway. Status : Operational; Builder : Chrzanow; Built : 1957; Works No. : 3512; Name - Tourska

Dumfries: A photograph by Louis Wall of the first Sunday farmers market at Dumfries Station. The market was held on the infilled former bay platforms.

Brading: If you look carefully, you will see that the signalman at Brading is a real dummy. Which is OK, because the signal box is preserved as a museum. see image [[45428]]

Lochailort: 45157 The Glasgow Highlander climbs out of Lochailort towards Mallaig with The Jacobite on 1st April 2018. The blue backgound of the smokebox numberplate is a nice touch.

Gotherington Halt: D6948 passing 7820 at Gotherington Station.

Winchcombe: D2182 yard shunter at Winchcombe.

Cowes: Looking towards Cowes, the former branch line to Cowes Docks falls on the right side. Thanks to Jeff Vinter for tipping me off about this feature in his book 'Railway Walks: GWR & SR'.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: 73966 shortly after bringing in the empty stock of the Caledonian Sleeper to platform 7 at Glasgow Queen Street on Easter Sunday. Despite the date this photo is not an April Fool, the train having been switched from Central due to WCML engineering works!

Fairlee Road Tunnel: The Northern portal of the tunnel under Fairlee Road - one of very few railway relics still to be found in the biggest town on the Isle, which is often choked with road traffic - can't think why!

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: 47749 City of Truro seen shortly before leaving Queen Street Platform 7 on 1st April 2018 with the diverted Caledonian Sleeper, only to fail a few minutes into the journey and return to Queen Street to await assistance. Another Class 73 locomotive was sent to the rescue from Waverley, and the Sleeper eventually made it to Euston 97 minutes late having partly made up for the delay.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Colas Rail 47749, an unusual visitor to Queen Street High Level on 1st April 2018, seen at the head of the Caledonian Sleeper which was diverted due to engineering works on the West Coast main line.

Toddington: 7903 Foremarke Hall in Toddington Station on 1 April 2018 with the 'Return to Broadway' special.

Toddington: A small Polish NG loco seen at Toddington on the Narrow Gauge Railway. Status : Operational; Builder : Chrzanow; Built : 1957; Works No. : 3512; Name - Tourska

Blackgrange: With a fine sense of occasion, a road vehicle defies convention and behaves as a train on April Fools' day 2018, much to the enjoyment of the driver. The location is Blackgrange level crossing on the Stirling to Alloa line and electrification works are in progress.

Ryde Esplanade: So that's why they use Tube trains - the very shallow tunnel under Ryde, with the 15.52 for Shanklin approaching over the crossover.

Ryde St John's Road: You wont see these here again. 1938 tube stock (class 483s) waiting rather desperately to be replaced by class 484s in 2018.

Cheltenham Racecourse: 7820 Dinmore Manor running around its train at Cheltenham Racecourse on the 'Return to Broadway' weekend.

Ryde Pier Head: The 15.41 from Esplanade to Pier Head can be seen over the sea in this view down the prosaically named A3054 in April 2018. The paucity of road traffic is unusual.

Brading: The guard's control area on the IOW 1938 stock is well kept, but inevitably looks like a museum exhibit. Given the small and local nature of the line, it is not surprising that the train crew recognize their regular passengers. But it is also heartening to see tourists with suitcases catching the train to and from Ryde.

St Leonards Bridge Junction: 1A90 seen from St Leonards Bridge, Perth on 1st April 2019.

Edinburgh Waverley: An expansion joint on the track at Platform 6. The strap rails in the centre keep the rails in position when air temperature changes cause them to expand or contract. see image [[55375]]

Edinburgh Waverley: Busy but orderly scene at the new Platforms 5 and 6 in Waverley. So different from the taxi queue chaos that used to prevail here.

Edinburgh Waverley: Innovative engineering in action: examples of hollow steel sleepers in platforms 5 and 6 at Waverley in April 2019. These allow cables to be run unducted below the tracks and keep each bay clear so that the ballast is undisturbed.

Glasgow Central: 86101 Sir William A Stanier FRS at the platform 10 buffers after bringing in the Glasgow section of the Lowland Sleeper on 1st April 2019.

Glasgow Central: GBRailfreight 92028 at the head of the Glasgow section of the Lowland Sleeper on 1st April 2019.

East Finchley: East Finchley station, looking north, on 1st April 2021, the 81st Anniversary of the extension of Northern Line tube trains from here over ex-GNR/LNER tracks to High Barnet. The station was originally opened by the Edgware, Highgate & London Railway in 1867 and was rebuilt in 1939 for tube trains which arrived here that year via a new extension from what is now Archway station that comes steeply to the surface just south of East Finchley. Only the outer edges of the two island platforms are used; had the Northern Line extensions been fully completed, the centre platforms would be used by peak hour services from Finsbury Park to High Barnet and Bushey Heath but the tracks now lead only as far as Highgate depot.

Stroud Green: Class 760 unit on a London Overground Gospel Oak to Barking service heading away from the camera, seen from the old Stroud Green viaduct on the former GNR Northern Heights line, on 1st April 2021. The LO passes underneath the viaduct in a short tunnel; in the days when the GNR line was still open there were never any interchange facilities here. The Barking line calls at Crouch Hill about a quarter of a mile away behind the camera.

East Finchley: The Archer statue pointing towards central London at East Finchley on 1st April 2021. This station was originally opened by the GNR in 1867 and was rebuilt for the Northern Line in 1939. Trains were extended from here north to High Barnet on 1st April 1940 but apart from a further short section from Finchley Central to Mill Hill East that opened on 18th May 1941, the rest of the Northern Line extensions between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace, Mill Hill East and Edgware and on a brand new line to Bushey Heath were cancelled after 1945. In the fields north of Edgware parts of a never-used viaduct, on which would have stood the proposed Brockley Hill station, survive as a memorial to the railway that never was.

East Finchley: View from East Finchley, LUL Northern Line, looking south with a train of 1995 stock to Kennington via Charing Cross, just departed and descending steeply into tunnel on 1st April 2021. The tracks in the centre now lead only to Highgate depot but used to continue to Finsbury Park with the Alexandra Palace branch making a trailing connection just beyond the depot. Had the pre-war plan to hand over the Northern Heights steam lines to London Transport been fully completed, these tracks would now be used by peak hour trains from Finsbury Park to High Barnet and Bushey Heath. The Alexandra Palace branch would have had an all-day service of Northern Line trains from Finsbury Park with passengers on that section and, outside peak hours, destined for High Barnet and Bushey Heath changing at Highgate. They could still do so until Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace closed in 1954.

Crouch End: View from the east end of the remains of Crouch End station, looking towards Finsbury Park, on 1st April 2021. The footbridge in the background was once used by peak hour commuters to save them a longer walk home from the main entrance (now demolished) on Crouch End Hill bridge at the opposite end of the station. It has been retained to give pedestrians on the Parkland Walk footpath, on the line's trackbed, access to the surrounding streets. Had it not been for World War Two, this part of the ex-GNR's Northern Heights lines would now be a branch of the London Underground Northern Line. Over £1 million was spent on the line before 1939 but it was never completed after 1945. Steam trains continued to run until 1954.

Abbeyhill Junction: An LNER Azuma from the south slips from the Down line to the Calton North Tunnel line on the approach to Waverley on 1 April 2021. As you can probably see there were once two double tracks here, one through each tunnel.

Newtongrange: The southern approach to Newtongrange station on a dull and overcast morning on the first day of April 2021. ScotRail DMU 170404 is nearing its next scheduled stop with the 0929 ex-Tweedbank.

Calton Tunnels: Recent devegetation (see chewed-up Buddleia, far right) has exposed the seldom-photographed east portals of Calton Tunnels to view from Regent Road Gardens, though tragically unchewed Buddleia obscures the south tunnel a bit. The north tunnel is 90 yards longer due to geography; Calton Hill climbs steeply to the right.

Crouch End: This building, alongside an abandoned section of the Northern Heights line at Crouch End (where I live), was intended to be an electricity substation for the extension of Northern Line tube trains from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace but the scheme was never completed and the line closed in 1954. The building is now a community centre, seen here during an afternoon stroll from Stroud Green to Highgate along the trackbed, now the Parkland Walk footpath, on 1st April 2021. (The top storey is a recent addition, as is that piece on the side, see my pic (image 72977) from December 2010.)

Drysdale Street Tunnel: National Transport Trust heritage plaque, commemorating the Alloa Waggonway, unveiled in Alloa on 1st April 2021.