Inverness: Ex CR 4-4-0 54482 passes Inverness (Rose St) on 3.45pm Tain to Inverness train in April 1960.

Darlington Shed: A lineup of J94s (left to right are 68010, 68060, 68051 and 68011) at rest in the half roundhouse at 51A Darlington Shed on 5 April 1964.

Heaton MPD: A3 Pacific no 60080 Dick Turpin approaching 52B Heaton Shed to its rear in 1964, passing one of many engineering works still active in this part of the city at that time. See image [[25886]] I had originally indicated it to be 60070 Gladiator, but my notes from the time show 60080 as being photographed as we were walking on the path to the shed and 60070 seen later on shed.

Darlington Shed: J27 0-6-0 no 65789 seen on Darlington Shed on 5 April 1964 looking pristine. It had only recently arrived on shed following despatch from the nearby North Road Works after a general overhaul undertaken over the preceding two months.

Eastfield Shed: One might have imagined that the beautiful external restoration of McIntosh 0-4-4T 419 to 'St Rollox' blue Caledonian Railway livery would have been undertaken at St Rollox, but it was in fact rival Cowlairs that carried out the work. The photograph was taken at Eastfield in April 1965, just before the locomotive was moved to the Falkirk shed of the SRPS.

St Boswells: St Boswells good shed, its subsidiary buildings and the yard's 3-ton crane look in pristine condition in this 'Mary Celeste' shot on 5th April 1969 - devoid of goods, people or trains. This photograph is from David Spaven's latest book Border Union Dream: the inside story of Britain's boldest railway preservation bid.

Tulloch Viaduct: BR Scottish Region's 'Grand Tour no.7' was a day excursion from Edinburgh to Mallaig, and the train is seen here as it turns south from Tulloch for the climb to Corrour summit in April 1969. The locomotive was BRCW Type 2 5357.

Galashiels [1st]: Looking south towards Tweedbank in April 1975 from the throat of the former yard at Galashiels, with S&T cable supports still in place.

Capel: In April 1977, this shed and piece of platform were the last surviving structures of the former Capel station, as situated beside the A12 on the closed branch between Bentley and Hadleigh. The view is towards Bentley. In 2010, the site was occupied by Capel Station Garage, which appropriately displayed its name board in the pattern of a British Railways blue totem.

Royal Oak: A class 50 with the 0834 Penzance - Paddington about to pass the LT Hammersmith & City Line station at Royal Oak in April 1980, less than half a mile from its destination. For the same view 33 years later see image [[75773]].

Tay Bridge: A Type 2 crosses the Tay Bridge with a Dundee - Edinburgh train in 1983, while two figures walk along the down line. The piers of the ill-fated original bridge still stand alongside.

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay!
Alas! I am very sorry to say
That ninety lives have been taken away
On the last Sabbath day of 1879,
Which will be remember'd for a very long time.

William McGonagall (1825-1902)

Edinburgh Waverley: An Edinburgh - Glasgow class 47 powered push-pull service at Waverley in April 1984, with 47711 Greyfriars Bobby providing the power. This was the 'conventional' arrangement, with the locomotive at the Edinburgh end, although there were occasional 'exceptions to the rule' see image [[53519]].

Ropley: 90775 westbound at Ropley on the Mid Hants Railway on 5 April 1987.

Newcastle West Junction: Railcar 153304 in Regional Railways livery passing Newcastle West Junction, between Central Station and the King Edward Bridge, on 5 April 1997. Redheugh Bridge carries road traffic across the Tyne in the background.

Newcastle Central: The west end of Newcastle Central in April 1997. On the left a GNER service has recently arrived from Kings Cross, while on the right an HST in BR InterCity livery is awaiting departure time with a Birmingham train.

Newcastle West Junction: 'Pardon me for being so blunt...' A GNER service approaching the west end of Newcastle Central off the King Edward Bridge in April 1997. The first occasion on which I'd witnessed such an arrangement.

Grandtully: View east over the former station, now a car park, at Grandtully in 1997. Not only did the platform survive but also the goods loading bank see image [[2818]], this is in the distance on the left. The trackbed has since been infilled to the level of the platform.

Newcastle Central: The arrival at Newcastle of a GNER service from the south fails to interrupt ballet practice in progress alongside platform 2. View west from the station footbridge in April 1997.

Newcastle Central: Busy platform scene at Newcastle Central in April 1997, with a GNER Kings Cross - Edinburgh train boarding at platform 2, as the up Highland Chieftain runs into platform 3. A Pacer stands at bay platform 1 in the left background.

Dundee: 158733 coasts down the hill towards Dundee station with a train from the south in April 1998.

Dundee: A 158 leaving Dundee for the south in April 1998.

Beattock: Freightliner 86602 and friend double heading the Basford Hall - Coatbridge containers north through Beattock station on a misty morning in April 1999. Timber loading activity has been taking place in the sidings on the west side of the line.

Beattock: 56029 climbing Beattock with empty oil tanks returning from Dalston to Grangemouth in April 1999.

Beattock: A pair of 'InterCity' liveried class 86 locomotives run north through the site of Beattock station in the spring of 1999 with a Virgin Rail WCML service. The second locomotive has its pantograph down.

Beattock: A 'Transrail' liveried class 56 with northbound oil empties passing Beattock in April 1999.

Retford Low Level: 66036 passing the former GC shed at Retford Thrumpton with coal empties from Cottam to Worksop in 2002. The GC shed was situated to the right of the picture. The site has since been redeveloped and is now a housing estate

Tickets and labels: Part of a faded LNER steamer ticket for a journey from Clynder or Roseneath to Craigendoran. The ticket is stamped on the back 13 Au 1936.

Millerhill Yard: Hold up. Coal empties held at the north end of Millerhill Yard - April 2006. Locomotive is EWS 66193.

Greskine Signal Box: A Voyager on Beattock bank north of Greskine in April 2007.

Crawford Viaduct: Northbound Tesco containers about to cross the Clyde at Crawford on 5 April 2007.

Dykebar: Looking east, the path runs along the approximate line of the trackbed of the Pasiely & Barrhead district railway at the location of Dykebar station. The location is now St. Andrews High School in Paisley. The building on the centre right in the background also sits on the trackbed, and it reappears at that point.

Longannet West Arrival: 66083 arrives at Longannet power station on 5 April 2008 with the inaugral coal train via the newly reopened Alloa route.

Clackmannan and Kennet: First coal train on the SAK, 66083 with 6G18, coal from Hunterston for Longannet PS via Stirling and Alloa. This inaugral service over the reopened route ran on 5 April 2008.

Longannet West Arrival: A coal train from Hunterston Import Terminal heads east along the Forth under the Kincardine Bridge and out towards Longannet Point on 5 April 2008. On reaching Longannet power station it will discharge the first shipment of coal to arrive via the newly reopened rail link through Alloa.

Kincardine: EWS 66083 passes below Kincardine Bridge on 5 April 2008, hauling the first coal train from Hunterston Import Terminal to use the newly reopened line between Stirling and Longannet power station. In the right background a freighter standing off Longannet Point is about to enter Grangemouth docks.

Dykebar: Remains of the Hawkhead Road railway bridge just to the west of Dykebar station in Paisley

Kincardine: Running along the riverbank of the Forth between Kincardine and Longannet, the first train of 70 ton coal hoppers to run over the newly reopened route nears Longannet power station. In the distance stands the Falkirk Wheel.

Reading: A Paddington - Penzance railtour, hauled by gleaming D1015 Western Champion, about to restart from a stop at Reading on 5 April 2008.

Reading: D1015 Western Champion arrives at Reading with a Paddington to Penzance railtour on 5 April.

Longannet West Arrival: A consignment of coal from Hunterston Import Terminal approaching a signal check near the extremity of Longannet Point on 5 April 2008, just prior to turning onto the west arrivals line into Longannet power station.

Whithorn: A colourful reminder of times past at Whithorn. Photographed in April 2009, some 59 years after the local station closed to passengers.

Becconsall: O&K 0-4-0T+WT Montalban in the guise of Monty the Friendly Engine, running round the train at Becconsall on the West Lancashire Light Railway on 5 April 2009. The chimney in the background shows the original use of this site, a brick works with its own clay pit.

Becconsall: There's something missing! Kerr Stuart Joffre 0-6-0T+WT sits in the shed at Becconsall on the West Lancashire Light Railway. The locomotive was one of 70 built for the French Government Artillery Railways during World War 1. It had been in use in a quarry near Calais from after the war and was repatriated to the UK in 1974 in a derelict state. Initially it was stored, but restoration has now been underway for a number of years. Seen through the gap between the two side tanks where the boiler and smokebox should be is Quarry Hunslet Irish Mail resting between turns on the Friendly Engines Day service on 05 April 2009. See image [[36154]]

Bladnoch Viaduct: A bridge on the Wigtown line on 5 April 2009, just south of the Bladnoch Viaduct.

Bladnoch Viaduct: The remains of Bladnoch Viaduct near Wigtown seen here in April 2009 from the south bank of the river.

Stirling Middle Junction: K4 61994 The Great Marquess with the SRPS Forth Circle Steam Special making its 1316 departure from Stirling to Linlithgow on 5 April 2009.

Plean Junction: EWS 66124 heading south at Plean on 5 April with empty rail waggons.

Kilbagie: The Great Marquess K4 61994 struggling with nine coaches as it reaches the summit at Kilbagie with the Forth Circular on 5th April.

Cowdenbeath: 61994 The Great Marquess at the head of The Forth Circular special operated by the SRPS on 5th April passes the old Cowdenbeath South Junction and heads west towards Crossgates.

Aberdour: The SRPS Forth Circle Steam Special passes Aberdour on its first trip on 5 April 2009. Locomotive K4 no 61994 The Great Marquess.

Plean Junction: 61994 The Great Marquess with the SRPS Forth Circle Steam Special at Plean on 5 April 2009.

Dalmeny: John Cameron Esq., looking chuffed on The Great Marquess, awaiting departure from Dalmeny on the second trip on 5 April.

Kilbagie: The Great Marquess climbing Kilbagie Bank on 5 April heading for Alloa with the SRPS Forth Circle special.

Plean Junction: A six car 158 set on an Aberdeen - Glasgow working, photographed near Plean on 5 April 2009. The first set is in transitional blue livery.

Inverkeithing South Junction: 67009 climbs away from Inverkeithing with an unidentified train on 5 April, following some 15 minutes behind the scheduled Fife Circle service See image [[28383]] .

Inverkeithing South Junction: DB Schenker liveried 67018 lifts the evening Fife circle service away from Inverkeithing on 5 April 2010.

St Margarets Shed: 64A St Margarets shed plate last carried by 42128 see image [[28341]]. The layout of the lettering is unusual.

Jamestown Viaduct [Inverkeithing]: 61994 The Great Marquess coasts downhill off Jamestown viaduct on 5 April with a Crewe - Thornton movement.

Farington Curve Junction: The Ormskirk Bubble Car bears right and right again at Farington Curve Junction as a Voyager heads for Birmingham on the Up Fast. Northern 153360 will take the single line to Midge Hall, the former main line to Liverpool, through the grey bridge on the far right.

Carrbridge: 40145 passes South through Carrbridge on 5th April with a Pathfinder railtour. This is the first tour  to pass through Carrbridge since the derailment in January. Note the recent repairs to the platform edge.

Penwortham: The Lancaster Canal was built to connect Wigan with Kendal but the central section, that would have involved an aqueduct over the River Ribble, was too expensive and a five mile tramroad was built in 1803 to connect the two canals. The arrival of the railways meant the canal aqueduct was never built but the tramroad struggled on until it eventually closed around 1864. The route between Preston and Bamber Bridge became a public right of way as early as 1872 and has been popular with walkers ever since. View north from Factory Lane on Easter Monday looking towards Preston along the long avenue of trees that line the old tramroad for much of its length. Map Ref SD 542275

Arbroath 'The Dens' Siding: DBS class 67 no 67018 passing north through Arbroath on 5 April with a pipe train bound for Aberdeen.

Wakefield Westgate: The large high-rise multi-user car park that has replaced the low-level car park that previously occupied the former goods yard at Wakefield Westgate station. The siting of the new car park in the throat of the old yard has precluded any possibility of running tracks behind the S&T building to provide extra platform capacity.

Wakefield Westgate: The remaining building from the former goods yard alongside Wakefield Westgate Station, seen here on 5 April 2011. See image [[33629]]. It was demolished in 2013 when the new station main building was being built on the cleared area seen in the foreground, that continues to the multi-storey car park erected to left of view.

Low Moor Crossing: An up East Coast service passing Low Moor Crossing, Northumberland on 5 April heading towards Belford.

Fleetwood Ferry [Tram]: A new Flexity tram waits to leave Fleetwood Ferry on Day 2 of scheduled services since reopening of the tramway after refurbishment. Just ahead of the tram is the curve where the first scheduled service on Day 1 was derailed due to a build up of sand in the track. However services were quickly back on schedule.

Fleetwood Ferry [Tram]: New Flexity tram 001 negotiates Pharos Street in Fleetwood, part of the turnaround loop, and rejoins the double track section with an early evening service to Blackpool on 5 April 2012. The new timetable sees these trams providing a 20 minute interval service between Fleetwood and Starr Gate throughout the day but a 10 minute interval is planned and there will be additional trams on the Cleveleys to Pleasure Beach section.

Cragg Mill: Rural tranquility on the ECML in April 2012. The former crossing keepers cottage at Cragg Mill (or Crag Mill or Cragmill) in Northumberland. Located between Belford and Smeafield, Cragg Mill station was an early ECML casualty, closing to passengers in 1877.

Low Moor Crossing: View east at Low Moor Crossing, Fenham le Moor, Northumberland on 5th April 2012. An up CrossCountry service runs through the crossing, with the holy island of Lindisfarne in the background.

Broadwater: Flexity 010 pulls into the new Broadwater stop on a Blackpool bound service. The stop has been moved here from the other side of the crossing and the lines renewed. See image [[36344]]. These long, stylish Bombardier trams have five sections mounted on three bogies.

Starr Gate: The new two platform station at Starr Gate sees 011 in the arrival platform and 001 ready to depart for Fleetwood on 5 April. The new corporate lively of maroon and white is very classy but I suspect the Mad Men will already be designing full length advertising liveries.

Blackpool: View over the shoulder of the driver of a new Flexity tram on Blackpool Promenade on Day 2 of the new services. It is a warm spring evening and a sister unit is heading for Starr Gate as this Fleetwood bound tram approaches the Tower. Some of the recent improvements to the promenade can also be seen.

Market Harborough: The embankment for the Northampton lines at Market Harborough see image [[42700]] was quite wide. Still, there's plenty of advertising space for the railway.

Hallaton: These impressive abutments are located between Hallaton Junction and Harefield Junctions on the GN and LNW line South of Melton Mowbray. I was touring in luxury in a borrowed Jaguar S-type in April 2013.

Hallaton: Old station sites are often completely demolished and cleared; occasionally tastefully preserved; or as in the case of Hallaton, have a couple of random huts and perhaps a loading dock still standing. You will just have to imagine platforms, sidings, a signal box, station buildings ...

Rockingham [LNWR]: The goods shed at Rockingham station, near Caldecott village and North West of Corby, shows an interesting mixture of styles - restored original yellow brick; extension in red brick (left); and wholesale replacement by profiled steel (right). Unusually, both station and station master's house see image [[42674]] also survive. View south west in April 2013.

Rockingham [LNWR]: The station master's house at Rockingham, North-West of Corby, on 5th April. Notice the fence across the former crossing, above the car on the left. The platforms and a waiting shelter are still present, but in view of the tall fences, I respected the owners' privacy.

Market Harborough: I like the equal-height chimneys on this station - the Midland obviously had a thing about equality of draft. The platform waiting shelter on the right, on the other hand, looks easy to model. I nearly cropped out the front of the Volvo on the left, but that would have spoiled the view of the embankment which used to carry the lines to Northampton. View looks North.

Horrocksford: Having left Mossend at 0658, and travelled via Beattock and the S&C, it is now 1210 and 66105 propels a rake of empty cement tankers under the loading facility at the Castle Cement Works at Horrocksford near Clitheroe. This view taken from the West Bradford Rd level crossing. See image [[30807]] for the view along the branch in the opposite direction.

Horrocksford: 66105 reversing a train of wagons over West Bradford Road into the Castle Cement works near Clitheroe in April 2013.

Gretton: The ironstone railways feeding the short-lived (46 years) Corby steelworks were lightly laid and left little trace after their passing. My c1980 OS map shows a railway here, along the farm track, and a second line in a cutting to the right now infilled and grassed over. There is no trace of a level crossing beneath my feet, but a couple of broken arch bricks bore witness to the former bridge to my right. Stewarts and Lloyds feeder lines

Market Harborough: An East Midlands class 222 heading for St Pancras passes through Market Harborough non-stop on 5 April.

Pitlochry: Dawn at Pitlochry, with a warm light beginning to brighten the sky, on 5th April 2014. This was a memorable couple of hours to spend watching a variety of early morning trains including the northbound sleeper service [[46922]].

Mangapps: The main boarding station for the short working railway at Mangapps Railway Museum, about three miles north of the town of Burnham-On-Crouch in Essex, on 5th April 2014.
See query 2089

Wickford: 321434, working from London Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria, departing from Wickford station in Essex on 5th April 2014. Wickford is the junction for the Crouch Valley Line to Southminster.

Mangapps: The main station for the short working railway at Mangapps Railway Museum, near Burnham-on-Crouch, on Saturday, 5th April 2014. This museum, isolated in the depths of the Essex countryside, is somewhat hard to find but well worth a visit. An infrequent bus service passes the entrance but when I boarded this in Burnham and asked the driver to please stop for me at Mangapps, he said he'd never heard of it!

South Woodham Ferrers: South Woodham Ferrers station on the Crouch Valley Line in Essex, seen from 321331 calling with a service from Wickford to Southminster on 5th April 2014. As plain Woodham Ferrers this was the junction for passenger services to Maldon East until 1939 with a goods service that lasted until 1953 as far as Maldon West with the section between the West and East stations at Maldon surviving as a siding until 1959. Maldon East remained open for passengers from Witham until 1964 and goods until 1966. This station was renamed from Woodham Ferrers to South Woodham Ferrers on 20th May 2007.

Pitlochry: Inverness bound Tesco containers rolling north through Pitlochry behind 66430 early on a misty morning in April 2014.

Old Heath: View through driving cab approaching Old Heath at the far end of the short Mangapps Railway Museum line, near Burnham-on-Crouch in Essex, on Saturday, 5th April 2014. The track only extends a few yards beyond the platform. This line was constructed purely for the museum and does not follow a former railway line.

Mangapps: Old signs on display at Mangapps Railway Museum, near Burnham-On-Crouch in Essex, on 5th April 2014. Much nicer than the black and white boards that replaced these in the 1970s when BR went through a manic period of 'standardisation', the old BR regional colours and totem signs were far more aesthetically pleasing.

Wickford: 321331, just arrived from Southminster at Wickford station in Essex, on 5th April 2014. This is the junction where branch trains on the Crouch Valley Line join the Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street line with some through workings to and from London.

Hairmyres: 80118 passes below Thornton Road Bridge on 5 April 1966 with the 5.33pm St Enoch - East Kilbride.

Pitlochry: The northbound Caledonian Sleeper service pulls away from Pitlochry at 0617 on 5 April, next stop Blair Atholl. Beyond DBS 67004 the signal box can be seen through the early morning mist.

Southminster: 321331 at Southminster station, terminus of the Crouch Valley Line in Essex, on 5th April 2014. See image [[65354]] of the same location thirty years earlier, since when electrification has forced the platform canopy to be cut back behind the platform edge.

Burnham-on-Crouch: Burnham-on-Crouch station on the Crouch Valley Line in Essex looking towards Southminster, on 5th April 2014. This is another branch station where the canopy has been cut back during electrification See image [[28336]] from 1978. [Ref query 18 December 2018]

South Woodham Ferrers: South Woodham Ferrers station in Essex, seen from 321 331 calling with a Crouch Valley Line service from Southminster to Wickford, on 5th April 2014. The station was just plain Woodham Ferrers until 2007 and was once the junction for Maldon, closed to passengers in 1939 and freight in 1953. It was also a passing place but the loop has been removed, leaving traces of an abandoned platform opposite, behind the train. The loop at Burnham-on-Crouch station has also been removed so that, for many years now, trains can only pass at the one remaining loop at North Fambridge station, as renamed from plain Fambridge in 2007.

Didcot Railway Centre: 60007 at the Great Western Society Big Blue Engine Day at Didcot on 5 April 2014.

Southminster: Another view of 321331 at the Southminster branch terminus, waiting to depart with a Crouch Valley Line service to Wickford, on 5th April 2014.

Blair Atholl: Inverness bound 170405 has cleared the single line section from Pitlochry allowing the southbound Tesco containers to leave Blair Atholl behind DRS 66430.

Pitlochry: 0615 on a misty April morning in 2014 and the Caledonian Sleeper service is on time as it rolls in to Pitlochry station behind DBS 67004.

Didcot Railway Centre: A1 Pacific 60163 Tornado at Didcot on 5 April during the GWS 'Big Blue Engine Day'.

Glenrothes with Thornton: 170475 and sister form the 16.15 from Glenrothes with Thornton to Edinburgh on 6 April. In the background is the former wagon repair shop, subsequently given over to light industrial use and now largely vacant.

Pitlochry: Early morning mist, the Dawn Chorus and, just after this picture was taken, the tinkle of signal wires as the Pitlochry Home signal was raised for a northbound train. Very atmospheric and well worth the early rise to experience it.

Princes Street [Tram]: Tram 266 takes the curve from Princes Street into South St Andrew Street on 6 April.

Croston: A Preston to Ormskirk service at Croston on 5 April. The service is usually a single Class 153 or a Class 142 unit but on the day of the Grand National at Aintree, Northern supplemented 153317 with 150111. The disused platform on the right has received quite a makeover by the Friends of Croston Station see image [[36136]].

Partick Central: Building preparations well advanced at the site of the former Partick Central looking west on 5 April 2014. Soon there will be nothing to show there was once an extensive goods and passenger station here. See image [[13371]]

Didcot Railway Centre: Unusual combination. 6023 King Edward II teams up wth 60163 Tornado on 5 April 2014 in the Great Western Society yard at Didcot during 'Big Blue Engine Day'.

Tilt Viaduct: Passing through the ornate bridge over the River Tilt, 170405 slows to call at [[Blair Atholl]] on 5 April. The Turbostar was on a Glasgow Queen Street to Inverness service.

Euxton: The Northern Belle charter from Glasgow Central to Liverpool Lime Street on 5 April (the day of the Grand National at Aintree) passing Euxton. The train was hauled by DRS 47832 with 47790 on the rear, both resplendent in Northern Belle livery.

Didcot Railway Centre: 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley is one of the stars of the Great Western Society's 'Big Blue Engine Day' at Didcot on 5 April 2014.

Leyland: A Northern service from Blackpool to Liverpool arrives at Leyland on 5 April 2014. The 156 DMU has been supplemented with a class 142 as this was Grand National day at Aintree.

Didcot Railway Centre: 60163 and 60007 side by side at Didcot on 5 April during Big Blue Engine Day.

Pitlochry: The early morning ECS working from Perth to Blair Atholl, seen at Pitlochry in the first light of Saturday 5 April 2014. 158711 is on the rear of this triple 158 set and will return at the head of the train when it forms the 0712 Blair Atholl to Edinburgh.

Killiecrankie: Looking south from the road bridge over the site of Killiecrankie Station (closed 1965). The A9 road can be seen in the background, high above the gorge. The houses alongside the old station are a recent construction See image [[14998]]

Burnham-on-Crouch: 321324 at Burnham-on-Crouch station in Essex on 5th April 2014. The train will head away from the camera when it departs with a Crouch Valley Line service from Southminster to Wickford.

Dalry Junction [Edinburgh]: Course of the CR main line into Edinburgh, looking towards Princes Street station from Dundee Terrace in April 2015. Dalry Road shed was under that bridge and hard to the left. The building on the right was rail served, and sleeper traces can still be seen.

Bristol Harbour: Peckett 0-4-0ST Kilmersdon in action on the Bristol Harbour Railway on 5 April 2015. Built in 1929, the loco is on loan from the Somerset And Dorset Trust, located at Washford on the WSR. The new housing in the background is being built on a former coal concentration depot that was rail served up to the early 1990's.

Scottish Industrial Railway Centre: Former Ardrossan Shell Refinery Fireless locomotive No. 8 (Barclay 1952/1928) at the Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group on 5 April 2015 - needing a little more work. See image [[48234]]

Merehead Limestone Quarry: Quite a large yard by today's standards - Merehead, Somerset, seen from the A361, looking South on 5 April 2015 see image [[22842]].

Merchiston: Merchiston has the reputation of being Edinburgh's literary quarter and was also the home of John Napier, he of the logarithms (what happened to those?). It was the first station out of Princes Street on the Carstairs line. Looking towards the city on a warm Easter Sunday 2015 you can see a stretch of platform supports on the down side and, right, some platform fencing, looking not too bad after 50 years.

Cranmore: Time for bed - the DMU heads for the shed at Cranmore after the last service of the day on 5 April 2015.

Cranmore: Lady Nan [Barclay 1719/1920] takes a rest from providing clouds of steam at Cranmore on 5 April see image [[43002]].

Merchiston: Business premises occupy the down platform of the former Merchiston station which closed with the line between Edinburgh Princes Street and Slateford Junction in 1965. The platform edges have gone, but the surviving supports still stand proud in 2015.

Cranmore: Ivatt 2-6-0 46447 is clearly taking to its latest role as Shed Humidifier at Cranmore on 5 April. It also sounded rather good on the 1 in 56 up from Mendip Vale halt. See image [[49210]]

Gilling East: A fine example of a 7.25 inch gauge working model of a North Eastern Railway liveried Worsdell C class 0-6-0 tender loco seen during a station stop on the Ryedale Society of Model Engineers multi gauge layout by the village hall at Gilling East, North Yorkshire. Passenger days operate Sundays and Bank Holidays from April to September as well as on Gala days.

Mendip Vale: If you go down to the woods today... you are liable to find preserved Ivatt 2-6-0 46447 running round its stock. see image [[50924]]

Ramsbottom: After the mid-day East Lancashire Railway train from Rawtenstall to Bury Bolton Street has gone on its way, Ramsbottom station lapses back into slumber. This view looks north towards Rawtenstall, on 5th April 2016, along a platform that was originally completely removed after the 1972 closure. See image [[49126]].

Manila: There's a train in there somewhere - comprising a relatively low-roofed single cab GE locomotive and flat-roofed coaches. Loco' haulage see image [[36658]] has been replaced by DMUs on suburban services, so this must be a long distance service coming into the city. Grab shot from a Jeepney.

Den of Cowie Viaduct: Turbostar 170414 in Borders Railway Livery. An unexpected sighting, at Stonehaven, of 170414 on an Aberdeen service and, for once, I had my camera ready.

Summerseat Viaduct: View from East Lancashire Railway train from Bury Bolton Street to Rawtenstall, crossing Summerseat Viaduct over the River Irwell, on 5th April 2016. The road bridge, and the building that used to stand on it, were devastated during flooding in 2015. Since that time the bridge has only been available for pedestrian use.

Ramsbottom: The splendid station building and awning on the northbound platform at Ramsbottom, East Lancashire Railway, during a lull between trains, on 5th April 2016. Even before the original closure by BR in June 1972, the station had fallen into a deplorable state with all buildings demolished and the southbound platform abandoned [[21550]]. It took 15 years before it could reopen with trains to and from Bury Bolton Street in 1987, the extension to Rawtenstall opening in 1991. Work to restore Ramsbottom to this condition has continued through to the present. It is one of my favourite heritage stations and really blends with the delightful old town that it once again serves.

Summerseat: Summerseat station, East Lancashire Railway, looking back south towards Bury, from a Rawtenstall bound train on 5th April 2016.

Burntisland Junction: DBS 68003 passes Burntisland links with the evening Cardenden - Mossend empty stock working. The loco is passing over the severed link to the docks.

Stubbins: View from East Lancashire Railway train approaching the disused Stubbins station, on 5th April 2016. Alder Bottom viaduct, crossing the River Irwell, is on the abandoned main line that diverged at Stubbins to Accrington via Helmshore but closed in 1966.

Brock: The Sellafield Belle heads for Crewe at Brock on the evening of 5th April 2016. The Pullman liveried duo are 57312 Solway Princess and 57305 Northern Princess, formerly Virgin Thunderbirds The Hood and John Tracy respectively.

Longmorn: Longmorn is south of Elgin and was on the line between Elgin and Craigellachie. It served the Longmorn Distillery and three others nearby, the size of the goods yard reflected this, being quite large. This is the main station building, on the northbound platform. There was a waiting shelter on the southbound platform, also in very good condition, but this was burnt down in an act of vandalism before 2005 see image [[38312]].

Ballater: Ballater Station site, with the area screened off and a scaffold 'tent' in place.

Summerseat: Ex-British Railways London Midland Region running-in board at Summerseat station on the East Lancashire Railway, on 5th April 2016, seen from Bury Bolton Street to Rawtenstall train. Unfortunately, on the day of my visit, there were no trains between Bury and Heywood.

Stubbins: East Lancashire Railway train from Rawtenstall to Bury Bolton Street, behind BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T 80080, passing disused Stubbins station, closed in 1972 and not revived for heritage operations, on 5th April 2016. On the right is the trackbed of the former main line to Accrington, closed in 1966, that made a connection with what was formerly the Bacup branch south of Stubbins station although no Accrington line platforms were provided there.

Bury Bolton Street: With a splendid semaphore signal gantry in the background, BR 2-6-4T 80080 runs round at Bury Bolton Street after bringing in an East Lancs Railway train from Rawtenstall, on 5th April 2016. Services from Rawtenstall were terminating here on this day and not running on to Heywood, which was rather a disappointment.

Ramsbottom: The beautifully restored Ramsbottom station, East Lancashire Railway, seen from a Bury Bolton Street to Rawtenstall train, just arrived on 5th April 2016.

Ramsbottom: East Lancashire Railway train from Bury Bolton Street to Rawtenstall departing from Ramsbottom over the level crossing. This view looks back south towards the station with a local bus on the left, waiting for the crossing gates to reopen, on 5th April 2016.

Ramsbottom: Ex-BR standard class 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80080, with an East Lancashire Railway service from Bury Bolton Street to Rawtenstall, taking on water at Ramsbottom station on 5th April 2016.

Rawtenstall: Standard 4MT 2-6-4T 80080 running round at Rawtenstall station, East Lancashire Railway, on 5th April 2016.

Stubbins: East Lancashire Railway train from Bury Bolton Street to Rawtenstall passing the disused Stubbins station, looking back south towards Bury, on 5th April 2016. Despite a salient of modern housing quite close to this former station, it has rather surprisingly not been revived for heritage services. Just south of the station, the former main line to Accrington diverged and passed by the station but without any platforms. This closed on 5th December 1966, another victim of the infamous Beeching cuts.

Ramsbottom: A peek inside ex-BR standard class tank loco no. 80080 during a thirst-quenching stop at Ramsbottom station, East Lancashire Railway, on 5th April 2016.

Irwell Vale: Irwell Vale station on the East Lancashire Railway, seen from Bury Bolton Street to Rawtenstall train looking back towards Bury, on 5th April 2016.

Ramsbottom: Ramsbottom signal box and level crossing, just to the north of the station, East Lancashire Railway, on 5th April 2016.

Rawtenstall: Having completed the run-round manouevre, 80080 is now waiting to depart from Rawtenstall station with the return train to Bury Bolton Street on the East Lancashire Railway, on 5th April 2016. This is one of a batch of 155 2-6-4Ts designed by R.A. Riddles (Robert Arthur Riddles (1892-1983) and known to his friends as Robin). They were built between July 1951 and November 1956. These locomotives were a familiar sight in the London area for many years on services from Fenchurch Street to Tilbury, Southend-on-Sea and Shoeburyness prior to the electrification of the line in 1962.

Hayes and Harlington: Platform widening and extension work in progress at Hayes & Harlington platforms 4 and 5 as part of the Crossrail project. 387137, one of the 110mph GWR Electrostar EMUs introduced from September 2016 on London Paddington services, waits in the recently reconstructed bay platform 5 behind the railings on the left of the photograph.

Paddington: Heathrow Express EMU 332004 waits for departure on 5th April 2017

Lounge Car: Interior view of the Buffet Open First type lounge car on the Caledonian Sleeper. These are Mk2f coaches built in the early 1970s and converted about 15 years later. Unlike the other lounge cars, these have normal fixed seating facing toward or away from the direction of travel. New Caledonian Sleeper rolling stock is due to be introduced in 2018.

Southall: Platform extension work in progress at Southall in April 2017. Quick grabshot from one of the Class 387 EMUs which currently have to use Selective Door Opening until the extensions are finished. A new station building is also being constructed as part of the Crossrail project.

Hest Bank: DRS 37218 hauls two flasks and 37609 from Heysham to Sellafield on 5th April 2017. The train is on the chord from Bare Lane to Hest Bank, running alongside the electrified main lines towards the junction at the level crossing.

Hest Bank: DRS 37609 brings up the rear of a two flask train from Heysham to Sellafield on 5th April 2017. The train is running along the chord from Bare Lane approaching Hest Bank with classmate 37218 leading.

Hest Bank: After two days of loaded test trains new DRS electro diesel 88002 Prometheus returned to light engine running on 5th April 2017. The loco, with pantograph rising for the Hest Bank crossing, is seen returning to Carlisle after a trip to Crewe.

Dalgety Bay: Colas 60087 nears Dalgety Bay with the Aberdeen - Oxwellmains empties on 5 April.

Hayes and Harlington: One of the 110mph GWR Class 387 EMUs which were introduced in September 2016 on Hayes & Harlington to London Paddington services waits in the recently reconstructed bay platform 5. Hayes & Harlington station is currently undergoing work to extend the other platforms and some of the canopies as part of the Crossrail project.

Campbeltown New Quay: The Calmac terminal and link span in Campbeltown Loch in April 2018. The Calmac Summer 2018 timetable shows three sailings a week to and from Ardrossan (with the Saturday sailing from Campbeltown calling at Brodick) but the ferry is not met by The Wee Train for Machrihanish which once ran along the foreshore at this point. Update: On 28th April it was announced that the Ardrossan - Campbeltown ferry would be suspended for at least one month due to a vessel shortage. [See recent news item].

Ballater: Front elevation of Ballater station on the morning of 5 April 2018, with recovery work well advanced, three years on from the disastrous fire see image [[9823]].

Portavadie: Calmac MV Loch Riddon waiting at the Portavadie slipway on 5th April 2018 prior to loading for another crossing of Loch Fyne to Tarbert.

Braemar: The restored former GNoSR office in Braemar, photographed during light snow on 5 April 2018.

Eastleigh: 377446, a Southern Railway EMU ex-Brighton, seen at Eastleigh returning from whence it came. 5th April 2018.

Eastleigh: A colourful 444031 southbound through Eastleigh station on 5th April 2018.

Kames Pier: Although the transport of materials around the Kames Gunpowder Works was handled by the internal horse drawn tramway the finished products were taken by road to Kames Pier on the eastern Kyle of Bute for shipping. Two piers were built here with a saltpetre works in between. The piers are now in private ownership, seen here from the Kames to Tighnabruaich road on the evening of 5th April 2018.

Cynonville Halt: A view of Cynonville Halt with the addition of the barbeque shelter and one of the original lamp posts still in situ.

Machrihanish: Looking east along the old trackbed from Machrihanish towards Drumlemble and Campbeltown in April 2018. The cutting at Campbeltown and this stretch of the old line are the only surviving recognisable parts of the C&MLR.

Eastleigh: Blue Type 1s 20189 & 20205, dead in the station sidings at Eastleigh on 5th April 2018. On Saturday 7th April they hauled a private GBRf charter train to London 'top and tailed' with a GBRf Class 73.

Machrihanish: The old Machrihanish station site, behind the Ugadale Hotel, in April 2018. The far end of the site is now an access road for a small housing development but the area is otherwise little changed. See image [[33499]] from 2011, since when the Ugadale Hotel has been fully refurbished.

Hongqiao: The vast departure waiting area at the Hongqiao Railway Station, Shanghai which covers over 10,000sq metres. The station is only served by G (long distance high speed) and D (intercity high speed) class trains. It has 30 platforms and passengers are normally given access to their platform 15 minutes before departure time although sometimes a slightly longer boarding period is given. In common with all larger Chinese stations, departure and arrivals areas are separate to ensure maximum efficiency in handling the very large numbers of passengers and effective crowd control. The platforms are beneath the departure area and the arrivals area, which mirrors the size of the departure area albeit with a lower roof, is beneath that. Beneath the arrivals level Hongqiao is served by Shanghai Metro lines 2,10 and 17 in a 6 platform station. In addition the station is part of the larger integrated Hongqiao transportation hub which also comprises the adjacent and connected Hongqiao International Airport. The station covers a total area of about 1.3 million square metres and also remarkably contains 61,000 square metres of solar panels generating about 6.68 MW of electricity. 05.04.18.

Eastleigh: 158890, repainted in the new London South Western colour scheme, is heading to Romsey and Salisbury from Platform 1 at Eastleigh.

Branksome: Two viaducts crossing Surrey Road, Branksome, photographed looking west in April 2018. The nearest is the disused east spur from Bournemouth depot, the other carries the line to Bournemouth station. [Ref query 6 May 2018]

East Loch Tarbert Slip: A full load waiting for the return trip on the slipway at Tarbert, seen from Calmac's MV Loch Riddon after another crossing of Loch Fyne from Portavadie on 5th April 2018.

Eastleigh: 66415, a blue Freightliner loco formerly with DRS, heading for Southampton Docks passing Eastleigh on 5th April 2018.

Cymmer Viaduct: Cymmer Viaduct, which carried the Llynfi & Ogmore Railway over the Afan valley and the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway, seen on 5th April 2018. The view is to the north.

Eastleigh: Colas 70808 & 70812 stabled in the Eastleigh station sidings on 5th April 2018.

Eastleigh: 66095 trundling southbound through Eastleigh station on 5th April 2018, and by the look of it taxed to the limit.

Eastleigh: Freightliner 70020 departing from Eastleigh station with an intermodal service after a crew change on 5th April 2018.

Cymmer Afan: Cymmer Afan station building, which was on the Rhonda and Swansea Bay Railway in a view looking west. The Llynvi Valley Extension (Llynvi and Ogmore Railway) station platforms were to the left. 5th April 2018.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Queen Street revealed at last. Note the North British Hotel name on right.

Cymmer Viaduct: Cymmer Viaduct which carried the Llynfi & Ogmore Railway over the Afan valley looking towards Cymmer Tunnel mouth which carried on to Maesteg.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: A memento of the North British revealed by demolition of the concrete extension to the Millenium Hotel. The North British Railway acquired the Queen's Hotel in 1903, renaming and extending it. British Rail sold it in the 1980s.

Eastleigh: 158890, standing in Platform 2 at Eastleigh station, returned from Romsey and heading back to Salisbury on the circular route via Southampton and Redbridge on 5th April 2018.

Eastleigh: 66130 passing through Eastleigh station on 5th April 2018 with a Cowley to Southampton car train.

Templecombe: The bridge on the left carries the former LSWR railway, which is still in use. The large retaining wall straight ahead carried the connecting spur from the Somerset and Dorset Railway. The trackbed behind the photographer forms the entrance drive to a torpedo factory - not a good place to trespass.

Stalbridge: The value of local knowledge - I spotted a mature local gent watching my explorations, so I asked him whether this had been the S&D main line. No, he replied - it was a siding into the goods yard. The main line, now completely torn up, was to the left of this view, which looks South. See also image [[51299]].

Braemar: Snow scene at Braemar on 5 April 2018 looking north towards the the restored former GNoSR office.

Didcot Railway Centre: GWR King Class 4-6-0 6023 'King Edward I', in BR Blue Livery, on static display at the Didcot coal stage on 5th April 2019.

Didcot: 47815 'Lost Boys 68-88', now working for Rail Operations Group, seen eastbound at Didcot working from Oxford on 5th April 2019.

Challow: GBRf 66707 'Sir Sam Fay Great Central Railway' and its freight train are stationary in the westbound loop at Challow Station, to the west of Didcot, on 5th April 2019.

Blackford: View from the newly opened Panholes footbridge showing work in progress on the new Highland Spring yard. It was being well used by local people who have been denied a crossing here for a few months while work progressed.

Glasgow Central: Now free toilet facilities at Glasgow Central ...

Didcot Railway Centre: 5th April 2019 saw the formal introduction into traffic of the 'new' GWR Saint Class 4-6-0, No.2999 'Lady of Legend'. As is well known, this is actually a conversion from GWR Hall Class No.4942 'Maindy Hall', a Barry engine rescued in the 1970s. The loco was formally dedicated by Prue Leith, an ex-BR Board Member and TV cake specialist.

Haymarket: A Glasgow Queen Street service calls at Haymarket on 5 April 2019. I wasn't actually in the station when I took this shot; I shoved my camera over the wall on Distillery Lane. Effective? No? Oh please yourselves.

Scotstoun East: The interior side of the island platform at Scotstoun East. The track was on the right hand side of this broad wall. The tenements of Fore Street overlook the remains.

Scotstoun East: The view south from the former Scotstoun East to the North British Engine Works and its remaining crane.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The new frontage of Queen Street onto George Square arises.

Didcot Parkway: One of the very few remaining HST 125's in action on the GWML. 43186 & 43162 eastbound out of Didcot.

Scotstoun East: The 'doocot' at the west end of Scotstoun East's island platform in a view looking east.

Didcot Parkway: EWS 66165 northbound to Oxford.

Didcot Parkway: One of the very few remaining HST 125's in action on the GWML. 43186 & 43162 eastbound out of Didcot

Didcot Railway Centre: 2999 'Lady of Legend' seen at Didcot on 5th April 2019, the date of its formal introduction to service. The last GWR/BR Saint was scrapped in 1953 with no preserved survivors. By and large, it has taken the GWS over thirty years to convert Barry loco 4942 but 'the boys done good'.

Didcot Railway Centre: D9516 working the Branch Train at Didcot Railway Centre on 5th April 2019.

Woodacre Crossing: Freightliner 66585 heads south at Woodacre on 5th April 2020 with a long train of recovered ballast and sleepers following an overnight engineer's possession. Photograph incidental to a permitted daily exercise walk.

Woodacre Crossing: The Easter 2021 Warrington Blockade saw trains diverted and running at different times. Freight workings such as this and the Chirk log train winding through Manchester delighted enthusiasts. The Margam to Hardendale train normally runs overnight but 66004 was powering north through Woodacre at lunchtime on 5th April.

Swindon: The old 1904 Great Western Railway Reading Library in Swindon in 2022. Many artefacts relating to the GWR are slowly vanishing from Swindon.

Bedwyn: Freightliner 66528, eastbound with a stone train from the Somerset Quarries to London, passing Bedwyn 1157 hrs on 5th April 2022.

Scottish Maritime Museum Linthouse Building: This is an image of the steam engine that operated the Kingston Dock bridge shown in the recent 'puffer' photo [[83576]]. This is now located in the Maritime Museum in Irvine. Driving west along the Clydeside was a quick way out of Glasgow - until you came to a sign showing the bridge was closed!

Bedwyn: LNER B1 4-6-0 61306 passing westbound through Bedwyn enroute to Bath on 5th April 2022. This was a Steam Dreams trip, in conjunction with the West Coast Rly. Co., running from Paddington to Bath Spa via the GWR Berks and Hants line.