Scotsgap: NE 0.4.4T 67295 at Scotsgap on Rothbury train.

Coupar Angus: 4.6.2 46255 City of Hereford stopping at Coupar Angus. (Also 55226)

Nethermill Junction: Approaching Newtyle from Alyth Junction. C.R. 0.4.4T 55226. This is the approximate site of Nethermill Junction, north of the later Newtyle Junction (behind camera).

Stanley Junction: Stanley Junction. 5P 4.6.0 45463 arrives with a freight off the Highland. See image [[39639]]

Kirriemuir Junction: Kirriemuir Junction. 5P 4.6.0 45036 on up St. Mungo Express.

Forfar South Junction: Forfar South Junction. C.R. 0.4.4T diverges with the daily goods for Brechin.

Forfar North Junction: Loco variety at Forfar North Junction. C.R. 0.4.4T 55193 on the goods from Brechin.

Guthrie Junction: Guthrie Junction. N.B.R. 4.4.2T 67491 on Arbroath-Forfar Local.

Friockheim: C.R. 0.4.4T 55198 entering Friokheim. Forfar-Arbroath train.

Strathord: A down freight hauled by Black 5 4-6-0 no 44925 photographed at Strathord in April 1953. The line from Bankfoot comes in on the right.
See query 2293

Stanley Junction: Jubilee 4-6-0 no 45728 'Defiance' runs south through Stanley Junction on 6 April 1953 at the head of the up 'Bon Accord'.
See query 2040

Forfar South Junction: A down Aberdeen relief photographed passing Forfar South Junction on 6 April 1953. Locomotive in charge is St Rollox Black 5 4-6-0 no 45355.

Almond Valley Junction: Pickersgill 4-4-0 no 54485 passing Almond Valley Junction northbound on 6 April 1953 with a Blair Atholl goods. [Ref query 13523]

Forfar North Junction: Reid ex-NBR C16 4-4-2T 67491 passing through Forfar North Junction with an Arbroath train on 6 April 1953.

Kinnaber Junction: A relief to the up 'Postal' runs south through Kinnaber Junction on 6 April 1953. Locomotive in charge is Perth based Black 5 4-6-0 no 44924.
See query 2119

Glasterlaw Junction: Black 5 4-6-0 45155 passing the site of Glasterlaw Junction with an Aberdeen - Buchanan Street express in the spring of 1953. View north along the trackbed of the line that once ran south to Arbroath via Friockheim Junction (closed in 1908). The St Rollox based locomotive was one of only 5 of the class to carry names in main line service, in this case 'The Queen's Edinburgh' between 1942 and 1944. [Ref query 18 March 2019]

Forfar North Junction: Ex-Caledonian 4-4-0 54450 with a down goods passing Forfar North Junction in April 1953.
See query 2083

Almond Valley Junction: An up goods about to run through Almond Valley Junction on the northern approach to Perth on 6 April 1953 behind Black 5 4-6-0 no 45499.

Almond Valley Junction: Black 5 44972 pilots classmate 44978 through Almond Valley Junction on 6 April 1953 with the down Royal Highlander.

Dubton: The up 'Postal' passing Dubton Junction on 6 April 1953 hauled by Stanier Pacific no 46255 City of Hereford. See image [[57064]].

Bridge of Dun: View west from Bridge of Dun towards the junction on 6 April 1953 as BR Standard class 5 4-6-0 no 73007 approaches the station hauling the down Bon Accord.

Strathord: Ex-Caledonian 4-4-0 54467 passing Strathord station on 6 April 1953 with a southbound train from Blair Atholl. (Strathord station had closed to passengers in 1931.)
See query 2034

Kirriemuir Junction: One of Thornton Junction's ex-WD Austerity 2-8-0s no 90690 about to run north east through Kirriemuir Junction on 6 April 1953 at the head of a coal train.

Friockheim Viaduct: The former Friockheim Viaduct seen looking north from Station Road on 6 April 1958. Built by the Aberdeen Railway in 1848 the structure formed part of the 'Friockheim Curve' linking Friockheim Junction and Glasterlaw Junction. The curve allowed trains to run direct from Arbroath to both Montrose (CR) and Aberdeen. Final closure of the curve came in 1908 with the viaduct itself eventually demolished in the 1980s.
See query 2250

Guthrie Junction: The Forfar - Arbroath goods photographed passing through Guthrie Junction behind a CR 0-4-4T on 6 April 1958.

Kyle of Lochalsh: Class 2P 55227 at Kyle of Lochalsh in 1960.

Kyle Shed: A coach body alongside Kyle of Lochalsh locomotive shed in April 1960. [Ref query 27 September 2018]

Kyle of Lochalsh: Class 2P 55227 at Kyle-of-Lochalsh.

Inverness: Ex HR postal sorting van, dating from 1916, seen at Inverness in April 1960.

Rose Street Junction: D8033 on the station bypass at Rose Street Junction in Inverness with a freight to the north in 1960.

Inverness: Former Pullman restaurant car SC217M, on 1040 Inverness-Wick, waiting departure in April 1960.

Kyle of Lochalsh: Class 5MT 44718 departs Kyle of Lochalsh on 1740 to Inverness.

Achnasheen: Achnasheen station seen from the west in 1960.

Rose Street Junction: D8033 on a freight to the north in 1960. The photograph is from the end of the northern platforms at Inverness station.

Kyle of Lochalsh: Ex CR Class 2P 0-4-4T 55227 shunting at Kyle of Lochalsh in 1960.

Langholm: The SLS/MLS 'Carlisle Railtour' about to leave Langholm to return to Carlisle on 6 April 1963 behind preserved ex-North British 4-4-0 no 256 Glen Douglas.

Crown Street Goods: Upperby shed's 'Jinty' 0-6-0T no 47667 at Crown Street goods depot, Carlisle. The photograph is thought to have been taken on 6 April 1963. Crown Street was officially closed by BR in 1966 see image [[24608]].

Langholm: Preserved ex-NBR 4-4-0 no 256 Glen Douglas at Langholm with the SLS/MLS Carlisle Railtour on 6 April 1963. The locomotive is in the process of running round its train prior to returning to Carlisle.

Carlisle: The SLS/MLS 'Carlisle Rail Tour' stands at platform 5 of Carlisle station on 6 April 1963. Locomotive no 256 Glen Douglas handled the tour throughout, which visited various lines and yards in and around the city, as well as making a return trip over the Langholm branch see image [[31793]].

Langholm: The SLS/MLS Carlisle Railtour of 6 April 1963 at Langholm behind peserved ex-NBR 4-4-0 no 256 Glen Douglas.

Carlisle Kingmoor Marshalling Yard: Ex-NBR 4-4-0 Glen Douglas with the SLS/MLS 'Carlisle Rail Tour' standing in a siding alongside Kingmoor Yard on 6 April 1963 during a photostop.

Gilnockie: Ex-NBR 4-4-0 no 256 Glen Douglas with the joint SLS/MLS Carlisle Rail Tour on 6 April 1963. The locomotive is posing during a photostop on the level crossing at Gilnockie on its way back from Langholm to Carlisle.

Langholm: Preserved ex-NBR 4-4-0 no 256 Glen Douglas at Langholm with the SLS/MLS Carlisle Railtour of 6 April 1963 preparing to return to Carlisle.

Carlisle: Preserved ex-NBR 4-4-0 no 256 Glen Douglas arriving at Carlisle on 6 April 1963 to pick up the SLS/MLS 'Carlisle Rail Tour'. The tour visited various locations in and around the city as well as several local branch lines. See image [[33542]]

Canonbie: A North British Railway locomotive on an ex North British Railway. No 256 on the SLS/MLS Carlisle Rail Tour at Canonbie on 6 April 1963. Some 32 of these Class K locomotives were built at the NB's Cowlairs works to William Reid's design. No 256 was built in 1913. The NB livery was re-applied in August 1959 when BR Scottish Region took out four pre grouping locomotives and restored them for special workings.

Paisley Gilmour Street: The 5.03pm service from Gourock to Glasgow Central arrives at Paisley Gilmour St, behind Black 5 44899, on 6th April 1967.

Paisley Gilmour Street: The 16.22 Bishopton-Glasgow Central arriving at Paisley Gilmour Street on 6th April 1967, during the final month of steam operation. The service was at that time frequently worked by a Class 5 running tender first - on this occasion Black 5 45013.

Bridge Street Junction: Plenty of power on the 5.20pm to Gourock, double-headed by Polmadie Standard Fives 73059 and 73060. The photograph was taken from the train as it passed Bridge St Junction, shortly after leaving Glasgow Central on 6th April 1964.

Glasgow Central: Superpower for the 5.20pm service to Gourock, awaiting departure from Glasgow Central behind Polmadie’s 73059 and 73060 on 6th April 1967. On the platform a nice line up of parked 1960s motor cars, as they did then, with a Ford Corsair nearest the camera.

Paisley Gilmour Street: Kingmoor Black 5 45455 sets off from Paisley Gilmour St with the 3.57pm Glasgow to Gourock on 6th April 1967.

Glasgow Central: Kingmoor Black 5 45455 ready to leave platform 11 at Glasgow Central with the 15.57 to Gourock in April 1967. Framed by the open door of a platform cabin, a diesel unit on an Ayr line service can be seen heading away from Platform 10.

Paisley Gilmour Street: Kingmoor Black 5 45455 pauses at Paisley Gilmour St with the 15.57 Glasgow to Gourock on 6th April 1967.

Burscough Bridge: The LCGB Lancastrian railtour from Liverpool Lime Street, hauled by 45305 calls at Burscough Bridge on 6 April 1968 on its way to Southport. The junction signals above the third coach cover the north curve (left) towards Rufford & Preston, the line to Wigan (straight on) and the South Curve (right) towards Burscough Junction and Ormskirk. The chimneys and factory behind the locomotive have now gone. Behind the junction signal is the A59 road overbridge, from which the steps down to the eastbound (Wigan) platform are just visible.

Liverpool Lime Street: 45305 prepares to leave Liverpool Lime Street on 6 April 1968 with the LCGB Lancastrian railtour.

Liverpool Riverside: The LCGB Lancastrian railtour in the trainshed of Liverpool Riverside station on 6 April 1968, with Black 5 no 45305 in the process of running round. The 1895 Riverside station was provided by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board specifically to handle boat trains and became well known in connection with the former LNWR American Specials that ran from London Euston and the numerous troop trains during WW2. The last train to use the station carried soldiers bound for Northern Ireland in 1971. Riverside station has since been demolished. See image [[24724]]

Lady Victoria Pit Signal Box: The surviving section of the Waverley Route passing Lady Victoria colliery, Newtongrange, in 1971. View north towards the site of Newtongrange station.

Lady Victoria Colliery: A rake of NCB wagons passing below the overhead weigh house at Lady Victoria Colliery on 6 April 1971.

Lady Victoria Colliery New Sidings: Loading area at the south end of Lady Victoria Colliery in April 1971. The Waverley route (closed south of here in 1969) runs past beyond the far right of the picture.

Lady Victoria Colliery: A pug shunts a rake of loaded coal wagons in the yard at Lady Victoria Colliery, Newtongrange, on 6 April 1971. The NCB locomotive shed stands on the left, with the remains of the Waverley Route on the far side see image [[52089]].

Lady Victoria Colliery New Sidings: Scene at Lady Victoria Colliery, Newtongrange, in April 1971. View south from the B704 road bridge towards the loading area. See image [[6112]]

Boat of Garten: Looking north towards Grantown on Spey with Boat of Garten North signal cabin standing over the remaining track work on 06 April 1973 in the early days of preservation by the Strathspey Railway. The point on the right had connected to the ex GNoSR line to Nethy Bridge but the scrapmen had truncated it just beyond the ex CR crane. The reason for the facing point lock here was to permit passenger services to run through from Aviemore to Craigellachie when the Speyside service was extended from Boat of Garten in BR days. On the ex HR line, a rail has been removed from each side beyond the point and at the north end of the loop the track had been lifted immediately after the point.

Boat of Garten: Barclay 0-4-0ST No.1 Dailuaine (2073/1939), named after the distillery where it had worked before moving to the Strathspey Railway at Boat of Garten see image [[36675]]. Stored out of service on 6 April 1973 along with a rake of four ex Aberdeen Gas Board coal wagons.

Kyle of Lochalsh: The LCGB's weekend Railtour from Euston to Kyle of Lochalsh has now arrived at its destination, on 6th April 1974.

Strathcarron: Strathcarron signal cabin, still with a British Railways Scottish Region running-in board, on the Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh line, seen during a stop by the LCGB weekend 'Skyewayman' Railtour from Euston to Kyle of Lochalsh on the morning of Saturday, 6th April 1974.

Achnasheen: After its overnight journey from Euston, the LCGB's weekend 'Skyewayman' railtour to Kyle of Lochalsh is seen here during a leg-streching stop at Achnasheen, on the Kyle line proper, while waiting for a train to Inverness to cross in the loop, on the morning of Saturday, 6th April 1974.

Strathcarron: Apologies for the graininess but here is another vintage photo from my archives of the LCGB 1974 'Skyewayman' weekend railtour from Euston to Kyle of Lochalsh, seen here during a stop at Strathcarron on the Saturday morning of 6th April after its overnight journey. This allowed a train from Kyle to Inverness to pass in the loop and provided enough time for tour passengers to alight and stretch their legs. Little did I know then that it would be 45 long years before I would visit the Kyle line again, on a packed 158712 from Inverness on 18th June 2019 (see my photo [[70568]]).

Achnasheen: Achnasheen station, during a stop by the LCGB weekend 'Skyewayman' railtour from Euston to Kyle of Lochalsh (that travelled overnight from London to Inverness), in April 1974. The 19th of August 2020 is the 150th anniversary of the line's opening from Dingwall to Stromeferry. The extension to Kyle of Lochalsh did not open until many years later in 1897.

Newburgh [2nd]: The 6th of April 1978 was the first occasion of an HST covering the Perth - Ladybank route. The view looks west over the site of the closed station where a loop still remained.

Grosmont: NER T3, LNER/BR Q7 0-8-0 901 (63460) in Grosmont Station, NYMR, on 6th April 1996.

Goathland: A Riddles War Department 2-10-0, 90775, southbound through Goathland Station on the NYMR on 6th April 1996. This engine could be one of the imports from Greece, either via the Mid-Hants or the Lavender Line.

Grosmont: USA 160 2-8-0 No.2253 with a NYMR service departing Grosmont for Pickering on 6th April 1996.

Craigendoran Junction: A service for Oban approaches Craigendoran Junction along the seawall on the 6th of April, 2003. The train is just coming off the short section of single track before the junction between the Helensburgh Central and West Highland routes. The line in the foreground is a loop on the West Highland route and the buffer terminates the down CE siding (formerly the westbound line of the Helensburgh Central route). About this point the line originally came straight on to Helensburgh Central, Craigendoran being on the present line, a deviation opened in 1882. This was also the site of a wartime yard.

Dalfaber Level Crossing: A graphic illustration of what can happen when you ignore the warning lights at an ungated level crossing. This is Dalfaber on the Strathspey Railway where, fortunately, only the car was written off. Photo credit David Gray.

Heriot: The former Heriot station looking south in April 2007. One of the old level crossing gates has finally given up. See image [[4118]]

Shrivenham: BR Standard Pacific 71000 Duke of Gloucester westbound at Shrivenham on the outskirts of Swindon with the first North Briton special on 6th April 2007. The train was running an hour late due to water tanker problems experienced earlier at the site of Challow Station.

Preston: A TransPennine Express Blackpool North - Manchester Airport class 185 service departs from Preston on 6 April.

Preston: 158753 departs south from platform 2 at Preston with a Northern service to York on a sunny afternoon on 6 April 2007.

Chinnor: Chinnor station, Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway, looking north on Good Friday, 6th April 2007. The station opened with the line to Watlington on 15th August 1872 and closed when passenger services were withdrawn on 1st July 1957. The whole line remained open to freight until 1961 when it was cut back to Chinnor (where the station had been demolished) and this stub remained open for cement traffic until 1989. Thereafter, the preservation group moved in to revive the line and rebuilt Chinnor station to the designs of the original. The first public passenger trains ran on 20th August 1994 as far as the site of Thame Junction, offering just an out-and-back ride until 2018. After a few test runs into the bay platform at Princes Risborough, an official reopening of the rest of the line took place there on 15th August 2018, 146 years to the day since the opening of the original line to Watlington.

Preston: 153315 stands in platform 3c at Preston on 6 April with an Ormskirk service.

Reading: 71000 heads west from Reading towards Bristol with The Great Britain railtour which will visit Cornwall, Wales and Scotland in the days ahead.

Reading: 71000 Duke of Gloucester steams through Reading with the 1st leg of the 7 day Great Britain steam railtour.

Tynehead: View south over Tynehead station in April 2007 from the road bridge. The former station building is off to the left and a goods yard (reached via a line from a junction in the distance) stood beyond.

Stow: A man from Carillion carrying out measurements and taking photographs on the road bridge alongside the former Stow station on the morning of 6 April 2007.

Stow: The old station at Stow in April 2007 - the house on the trackbed is in the left background.

Stow: The Waverley trackbed and platform remains at Stow in April 2007 - looking north from the road bridge over the former station towards Fountainhall.

Stow: The unfortunate house built on the trackbed at Stow station. Judging by the sign the owners are, understandably, less than happy about the situation. April 2007. See image [[23801]]

Stow: Stow, 6 April 2007.

Tynehead: Tynehead station looking west towards the road bridge over the line in April 2007. Steep stairways led down to the platforms from each side of the bridge.

Preston: Class 153 and 156 on a service to York head south out of Preston on 6 April.

Fushiebridge [1st]: The trackbed south of the former Fushiebridge station (1849-1959) in April 2007. View is north along the Waverley route towards Gorebridge. Goods facilities existed here, with the station itself located on the north side of the bridge.

Whatley Quarry: EWS 60065 hiding at the rear of a car park on the Whatley Quarry (Hanson Aggregates) branch near Frome, Somerset, on 6 April 2008.

Thorntonhall: Thorntonhall station on 6 April 2009, looking towards East Kilbride

Halton [NWR]: It looks like the last train called at Halton station yesterday rather than over 40 years ago as it is well maintained by the rowing club that now uses it as a base. It sits on the Caton to Lancaster Green Ayre cycle track and behind the building the integral goods shed can be seen. Beyond the station the bridge over the River Lune can be glimpsed through the trees. This was a railway owned toll bridge until the station closed but now, substantially rebuilt although still very narrow, it is owned by the local authority and toll free.

Busby: Glasgow Central - East Kilbride service arriving at Busby on 6 April. The former station building on the right is now The Shanghai Express Chinese restaurant.

Busby: View over Busby station on 6 April 2009 looking towards East Kilbride.

Tay Bridge: Alongside the Tay Bridge in 2009, looking north with the stumps of the first bridge on the right.

Thorntonhall: A Glasgow Central - East Kilbride service waits to depart from Thorntonhall on 6 April.

Shrivenham: Ex-GWR Castle class 4-6-0 no 5029 Nunney Castle, westbound with a special on 6 April, passing the site of Shrivenham Station on the outskirts of Swindon.

Dysart: 67021 nears Dysart on 6 April with the empty stock from the 17.20 Edinburgh - Cardenden service.

Paulton: This very steep tramroad was built to link a colliery with the Paulton Basin on the Somerset Coal Canal. The ridge in the field would be barely noticeable but for the two 'kissing gates' kindly provided by the local council. Presumably, a fence will follow when finances are less tight than at present.

Preston (Ribble Branch): Recent arrival NS 663 was one of five locos in use at the 2012 RSR Diesel Gala. The Dutch Class 11 was previously the NRM Shildon shunter See image [[31506]] but has now been purchased by Ribble Rail. Seen here on its first RSR passenger turn, paired with Hunslet Class 05 D2595.

Paulton: Paulton Halt closed twice to passengers - once in 1915, then finally in 1925. No wonder there isn't much platform left. View looks West towards Hallatrow see image [[38370]]. There is also little left at Camerton, which was opened as a terminus for services from Hallatrow; became a through station when services were extended to Limpley Stoke; then became a terminus in the opposite sense when the line to Hallatrow closed!

Wellow: A cut-down passenger waiting shelter on the Southbound platform at Wellow in April 2012 - no doubt a nice place to sit out and relax on summer evenings. See image [[38866]]

Wellow: Not every disused station has a swimming pool, you know. The Southbound platform nameboard reflects on retirement on the Somerset and Dorset. View looks East by Northeast, so no Cary Grant. See image [[38866]]

Dunkerton: The viaduct at Dunkerton was demolished with explosives in about 1981; but both embankments are still visible. View looks substantially East on 6th April 2012.

Wellow: Never mind the swimming pool see image [[38763]], here is Wellow station in April 2012 - extended and not quite original here and there, but rather nice all the same. This platform would have been for Bath.

Hallatrow: The purist might object that this carriage is not just the wrong colour, but also some 15 metres across from, and 4 metres up from, the trackbed of the Bristol and North Somerset Railway, in the garden of the Station Hotel. The purist might just miss out on a good lunch!

Dunkerton: Surprise and delight: while bypassing an awkward section of the GWR Cam Valley trackbed, the Railway Ramblers suddenly realized they were walking on an old tramroad. Any information on its history would be gladly received. View looks (distantly) towards Limpley Stoke see image [[38385]].

Farington Curve Junction: Day 1 of the Pathfinder 'Easter Chieftan' railtour on 6 April 2012 was from Exeter to Dumbarton Central. Seven and a half hours into the journey sees the pair of DRS Class 37s at Farington Curve Junction on the approach to Preston.

Dunkerton: Four ages of transport. To the left, the rolling English road (made, according to G.K.Chesterton, by the rolling English drunkard). Then, the lower ridge in the field, which was the Somersetshire Coal Canal; and to the right, the GWR Cam Valley line, of Titfield Thunderbolt fame, partly built over the canal. The fourth age? The walkers on their hind legs on the right.

Oxheys: Following a 50 minute stop at Preston, the Pathfinder 'Easter Chieftain' railtour leaves Preston on 6 April and heads north to its next stop at Penrith. The tall church spire in the background is that of St Walburghs, which stands next to the railway just north of Preston station between the WCML and the line to Blackpool.

Wellow: Detail view of the weather vane at Wellow, Somerset, in April 2012. It actually looks like an S&D locomotive, which is not such a common situation as you might think. See image [[38866]].

Camerton: This line, of 'Titfield Thunderbolt' fame, has an infeasibly large number of beautiful locations. This rail-over-stream bridge is East of the site of Camerton station. View looks South.

Oxheys: DRS 66422 passing the Oxheys up goods loop to the north of Preston with the Mossend to Daventry intermodal service on the afternoon of 6 April 2012.

Bamber Bridge: Now operating with West Coast Railway Company, 57313 is westbound on the front of a returning Carlisle - Hereford 'Statesman' railtour on 6 April 2013. The train was photographed at Bamber Bridge heading for the WCML at Farington Junction. This is one of four Class 57/3s to have now moved to Carnforth.

St Germains Level Crossing: 67007 passes St Germains level crossing with the 6B44 empty 'Binliner' from Oxwellmains to Powderhall on 6 April 2013.

All Saints: DLR unit no.52 from Canary Wharf to Stratford arriving at All Saints, on 6th April 2013. This station occupies the site of the NLR's Poplar station that closed with the line from Dalston Junction after heavy bomb damage in 1944. The Poplar to Bow section was reopened as part of the first two stages of the DLR in 1987. The section of the line through Hackney had reopened for heavy trains in 1979 linked to Stratford via the ex-GER branch from the latter to the site of Victoria Park station and is now part of London Overground. However, the section of the former Dalston to Poplar line between Victoria Park and Bow has been abandoned, leaving the district of Old Ford as the only place on the route not to have regained a passenger service.

Niddrie West Junction: D9009 at Niddrie West Junction on 6 April heading for Millerhill with empty stock from the Pathfinder Tours excursion from Crewe to Edinburgh. See image [[42627]]

Bamber Bridge: On the afternoon of 6 April 2013, a pair of Voyagers westbound under the M6 motorway at Bamber Bridge with the 1M57 Glasgow Central - Birmingham New Street. The train had been diverted via the Settle and Carlisle route due to engineering work on the WCML north of Preston.

Shadwell and St George's East: Derelict entrance to the former Shadwell & St. George's East station, originally two stops east of Fenchurch Street, seen here on 6th April 2013. The station was closed as a WWII economy in 1941 and never reopened after 1945. Most of its site at track level is now occupied by the island platform of the DLR's Shadwell station, opened in 1987 with a short piece of platform of the old station still in evidence on the south side of the viaduct just to the east.

St Germains Level Crossing: A diverted Edinburgh - Manchester Airport TransPennine service formed by 185119 nears St Germains level crossing on 6 April 2013.

Cyprus: DLR unit no.130 from Beckton to Stratford International departing from Cyprus station on 6th April 2013, seen through the rear windows of a train heading to Beckton. This station opened with the Beckton extension in 1992 and is bowl-shaped beneath a roundabout as is Beckton Park station. With station names like Cyprus and East India, you can seemingly go a very long way on the DLR!

Shadwell and St George's East: This is all that remains at platform level of the former Shadwell & St. George's East station, closed in 1941, looking east from the DLR's Shadwell station, opened in 1987, that occupies most of the old station site, on 6th April 2013. The boarded up entrance building still survives at street level.

All Saints: DLR unit No.27, from Stratford to Canary Wharf, arriving at All Saints on 6th April 2013. This is on the site of the NLR Poplar station which closed in 1944 after heavy WWII bomb damage. Part of the retaining wall of the old station is all that is left and can be seen behind the glass platform screens on the right.

St Germains Level Crossing: Deltic D9009 Alycidon charges past St Germains level crossing with a Pathfinder Tours excursion from Crewe to Edinburgh on 6 April.

Poplar: DLR unit no.93 from Stratford to Canary Wharf at Poplar station, on 6th April 2013. This station is south of the original NLR Poplar station (where All Saints station now stands) and is more or less on the site of the former London & Blackwall Railway's Millwall Junction station that had closed in 1926. The present Poplar allows cross-platform interchange with the north/south Stratford to Canary Wharf line and the east/west routes from Beckton or Woolwich Arsenal to Bank or Tower Gateway, the latter trains using the outer edges of the two island platforms.

Logierait Viaduct: A view from the Tay Viaduct looking east along the Aberfeldy branch trackbed towards the Ballinluig junction with the Highland main line.

Newtongrange: A quiet Sunday morning at Newtongrange in April 2014 during a weekend break in construction work on the Borders Railway. The A7 can be seen crossing the formation just beyond the site of the new station in the left background, with the road bridge sporting its recently acquired raised parapets. Over to the right of the picture standing on land once occupied by colliery sidings, is part of the extensive temporary 'village' used by the various project teams during the construction phase.

Grandtully: The A827 road from Aberfeldy still crosses the branch line trackbed at Grandtully on this narrow overbridge, controlled by traffic lights. The line closed in 1965, two months short of its centenary. View towards Ballinluig on 6 April 2014.

All Saints: Southbound platform at All Saints station, Docklands Light Railway, on 6th April 2013. This station opened with the first stage of the DLR in 1987 and is on the site of the ex-NLR Poplar station, opened in 1866 and which was almost completely pulverised by enemy bombing in WWII and closed with the line to Dalston Junction in May 1944. In those days, this was the terminus for trains from Broad Street; today's DLR trains continue south with the present Poplar station more or less on the site of the ex-London & Blackwall Railway's Millwall Junction station that had closed in 1926. The only surviving remnant of the old Poplar station is a retaining wall that can be seen in the background.

Dalkeith: A new role for the old station site at Dalkeith. Scene on 6 April 2014 looking east towards the town centre with Eskbank Road on the right and the car park for the new Supermarket taking shape see image [[43844]].

Sheriffhall City Bypass Overbridge: The bridge which will carry the Edinburgh city bypass over the Borders Railway looking north on Sunday morning 6 April 2014. Traffic is still using the 'temporary diversion route' although infilling of the breached sections on each side of the new structure is now underway in preparation for restoration of the original road.

Bristol Harbour: Henbury, a Peckett 0-6-0ST, (No 1940 from 1937), in action on the M Shed Railway (formerly Bristol Industrial Museum) on 6 April 2014.

Partick Central: View across the Kelvin towards Benalder Street Bridge and what little remains of Partick Central on 6 April 2014. A pile driver is now on site in connection with the construction of new flats to be built here. See image [[45979]]

Eskbank and Dalkeith: Little obvious significant change at the old Eskbank station since the previous visit, other than the raised bridge parapet and the seven daffodils. View north on Sunday 6 April 2014.

Glenrothes with Thornton: 47832 passes the little-used platform 2 at Glenrothes with Thornton on 6 April with the Northern Belle returning from Dundee to Edinburgh. 47790 is on the rear of the train.

Newtongrange: View north along the trackbed of the Borders Railway towards the site of Newtongrange station on Sunday 6 April 2014. The new station will be located just before the bridge carrying the A7. The Firth of Forth is visible in the background with the Kingdom of Fife beyond.

Bristol Harbour: Steam activity at Bristol Harbour on 6 April 2014, featuring Peckett 0-6-0ST Henbury operating on the M Shed Railway see image [[46907]].

Bo'ness: Glasgow Subway car 55 on display at SRPS Bo'ness on 6 April, a new exhibit.

Tomatin: DRS 37607 and 37218 traveling fast on the approach to Tomatin on 6 April 2015 with the Pathfinder 1Z73 Inverness-Eastleigh railtour.

Bo'ness: NBL-built 8F 2-8-0 TCDD no.45170 inside the Railway Museum at Bo'ness on 6 April. Still in Turkish Railways condition it is hoped to restore the loco to mainline running order.

Cromdale: This is an old coach on the Speyside Way near Ardbeg Farm, North of Cromdale, this is a mile or so from the Speyside railway line.

Bo'ness: Ex-NCB Comrie Colliery no.19 (Hunslet 3818 of 1954) arrives at Bo'ness on 6 April with a service from Manuel. In the background is the doomed Longannet Power Station.

Slochd Viaduct: Over Slochd Viaduct in bright sunshine on 6 April 2015, DRS 37607 and 37218 head south with the Pathfinder 1Z73 Inverness-Eastleigh railtour.

Church Brampton: Stopping service near Church Brampton, Northampton, on 6th April 2015.

Cowlairs Incline: SB Rail ballast tamping machine inches up the down line and 'commits a SPAD' in the line of duty.

Edinburgh Gateway: 170410 passes the future Edinburgh Gateway station heading to Waverley.

Cowlairs Incline: SB Rail ballast tamping machine inches up the down line and 'commits a SPAD' in the line of duty.

Knutsford: Knutsford station, on the Manchester Piccadilly to Chester line, looking south from the northbound platform on 6th April 2016. This station was opened by the Cheshire Lines Committee on 12th May 1862 as the temporary terminus of the line from Altrincham until extension to Northwich on 1st January 1863. The Victorian writer Mrs. Gaskell, a.k.a. Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865) based her novel 'Cranford', on the town of Knutsford.

Edinburgh Waverley: Intermodal.
Railscot contributor Bill Jamieson - for it is he - wheels his trusty bike towards 158 867, forming the 13.24 to Tweedbank, at Waverley on 6 April.

Edinburgh Gateway [Tram]: Tram 256 passes the Edinburgh Gateway construction site.

Knutsford: 150147 to Manchester Piccadilly arriving to a crowd of waiting passengers at Knutsford station, on 6th April 2016.

Edinburgh Park Central [Tram]: Tram 277 approaches Edinburgh Park Central with a westbound service. In the background is the bridge over the E&G at Edinburgh Park.

Knutsford: 142009, from Manchester Piccadilly to Chester, departing from Knutsford station on 6th April 2016. This Pacer was later scrapped at EMR Kingsbury in the West Midlands.

Blairgowrie: Blairgowrie, where it's difficult to find any remains of the railway station, but the sign on the industrial estate is a clue of the previous use. Just beyond the sign the road stops and the original alignment continues.

Blairgowrie: Just beyond where the road stops in Blairgowrie the original alignment continues south.

Blairgowrie: View south in Blairgowrie from the site of the former station.

Hest Bank: After a lengthy absence (reportedly due to work at the paper mill) the log trains from Carlisle to Chirk have started running regularly again. Colas 60095 powers the long train south through Hest Bank on 6th April 2017

Coupar Angus: The 6th April, Coupar Angus, almost the same vantage point of an older picture looking at the former goods yard see image [[[[24848]]]]. Now used car sales where once were freight wagons and locomotives.

Wigan North Western: 88002 Prometheus hauls 68205 Superb and the loaded test train north through Wigan North Western on 6th April 2017. This was the return leg of a test run from Carlisle to Crewe.

Carlisle: DRS 37405 at Carlisle.

Coupar Angus: Coupar Angus looking to Aberdeen from the former platforms. The view is of a new development; more former railway land lost forever.

Carstairs: After uncoupling from its other half, the Edinburgh portion of the Lowland Caledonian Sleeper is prepared for the final part of its journey. The buckeye coupling having been dropped, the buffers are being extended and fitted with saddles. The tail lamp is already in place.

Forfar Road Level Crossing [Eassie]: Here is the level crossing at Eassie on the Strathmore route, a crossing gate post and fencing remain. The view looks east. The station was west of here.

Carlisle: 57304 laying over at Carlisle.

Forfar Road Level Crossing [Eassie]: Here is the level crossing at Eassie on the Strathmore route, a crossing gate post and fencing remain, the Green house (the former gate keeper's house) and conservatory are on the track bed, this is looking west, just beyond is the A94.

Carlisle: 37 arriving at Carlisle from Barrow.

Forfar Road Level Crossing [Eassie]: Just to the east of the crossing in Eassie, there is a cabin with the door long gone. Gary Straiton comments: It's a Fogmans hut. Positioned at Distant signals (in this case Eassie's Up Distant?) and manned in times of poor visibility. Detonators were put on the line to warn drivers of their location.

Lancaster: Two DRS veterans, 37069 and 37602, head a single flask from Crewe to Sellafield. The pair are seen passing Lancaster Castle station on the Down Through line on a bright morning, 6th April 2017.

Hardengreen Junction: A northbound ScotRail service on the Borders Railway passing the site of Hardengreen Junction on 6 April 2017. Eskbank station and footbridge are visible in the left background.

Lancaster: Although coal traffic is greatly reduced this train of empty four-wheel box wagons worked from Belmont Yard to Killoch on 6th April 2017. DBS 66088 is seen approaching Lancaster station with the train that had been routed via Copy Pit and the WCML.

Hardengreen Viaduct: Approaching Hardengreen Roundabout from the west on 6 April 2017 as the 0954 ex-Edinburgh Waverley crosses Hardengreen Viaduct on its way to Tweedbank.

Wigan North Western: Cascaded and newly refurbished, but Northern vinyls not yet applied, 319450 slows to call at Wigan North Western with a Preston to Lime Street service on 6th April 2017.

Liverpool Lime Street: Two Northern Electrics sit in the north side platforms at Lime Street station on 6th April 2017. 319450, newly arrived from Preston, is as yet unbranded but 319382, waiting on the right to depart to Warrington, has full Northern livery.

Carstairs: You're leaving me? 1B26, the Edinburgh portion of the Lowland Caledonian Sleeper, seems a bit upset at parting company from the Glasgow portion from which it has just been uncoupled. Photographed from the corresponding part of the Glasgow portion as it started to accelerate away.

Lancaster: 88002 Prometheus and 68025 Superb turn a few heads as they cross the River Lune on Carlisle Bridge with the northbound test train on 6th April 2017. The similarities between the two locos is very noticeable in this side view.

Kames Gunpowder Works: The Kames Gunpowder Mills were a dangerous place to work and it is estimated that between thirty and forty people were killed there during the years of operation. This plaque by the B8000 road records the names of those known to have died at the works but there will be others whose names are not known. 6th April 2018.

Shillingstone: The cab, tanks and boiler have been removed from USA 0-6--0T 30075 to improve the view of Shillingstone signal box. Obvious, really. View looks South West from the North Dorset Trailway.

Shillingstone: The North Dorset Trailway, on the old Somerset and Dorset trackbed, offers the unusual feature of spare trouser clips for cyclists on its direction signs. This one has strayed onto the wrong arm; perhaps that's why it was still there a month later.

Kames Gunpowder Works: One of the substantial former buildings in the Lower Mills area of Kames Gunpowder Works. These were built with strong walls to withstand accidental explosion, but weak roofs to direct the blast upwards, and so they survive all over the site. Most of them were supplied by spurs from the internal tramway system.

Sturminster Newton: Decisions, decisions - to cycle or to drink? I decided that my cycling was wobbly enough already. The sign is on the North Dorset Trailway, which uses the Somerset & Dorset trackbed. 6th April 2018

Mold: Not much trace of the station now remains, but this car park access road preserves at least some of the route near the town centre. The view looks south towards the station site. Though closed to passengers in 1962 and goods in 1964, the line through Mold remained in use for rail access to a chemical factory until 1983 and was not lifted until 1985.

Sturminster Newton: A perfectly respectable short track panel, but not quite original. This monument is thirty feet above the original track level at the infilled Sturminster Newton station site. View looks South [opposite direction to image 49255]

Kames Gunpowder Works: Former offices of the Kames Powder Works Company, now a private house, alongside the B8000 road. Other workers cottages also survive in good order. 6th April 2018.

Kames Gunpowder Works: These bridge supports carried the horse drawn tramway and an internal roadway across the Craignafeoch Burn in the Lower Mills area of the Kames Gunpowder Works. This view looks back towards the B8000 road on 6th April 2018. The works and tramway closed in 1921 so the bridges have been crumbling for almost a century.

Shillingstone: Much of the S&D infrastructure, including this brick arch bridge north of Shillingstone, is still in excellent condition.

Mold: View north away from the site of Mold station. The former trackbed in the foreground is now used as access to a car park.

Portavadie: Calmac MV Loch Riddon, built at Hessle in 1986, has just left Portavadie crossing Loch Fyne for Tarbert on a sunny 5th April 2018.

Kames Gunpowder Works: Crumbling abutments of a tramway bridge over the Craignafeoch Burn in the Lower MIlls area of the old Kames Gunpowder Works, as seen from the B8000 road in April 2018. The works, and its internal horse drawn tramway, closed in 1921.

Kames Gunpowder Works: The Kames Gunpowder Works was actually in the village of Millhouse and at the entrance to the cemetery that now occupies part of the site a number of artefacts are displayed to mark the history of the site. 6th April 2018.

Kames Gunpowder Works: An extract from the 1895 6 inch OS map showing the Lower Mills (or south) site of the Kames Gunpowder Works. The complex layout of the horse drawn tramway, linking the widely dispersed buildings on the site, can be clearly seen. Used today the map makes it possible to interpret the remains of this heavily overgrown site which ceased operations in 1921. The clear circular area now forms the local cemetery. Added by Mark Bartlett. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland http://maps.nls.uk/index.html

Kames Gunpowder Works: Looking northwards along the old High Mills tramway of the Kames Gunpowder Works from the B8000 road. Although the works and its internal horse drawn tramway closed in 1921 two wooden sleepers can still be seen embedded in the trackbed.

Kames Gunpowder Works: In the Lower Mills area of the Kames Gunpowder Works the main route of the horse tramway curved around the area that is now the cemetery and dropped down to the water mill, passing these substantial buildings. This section of trackbed is effectively a continuation of the present day cemetery access road. 6th April 2018.

Otter Ferry: The old pier at Otter Ferry on the Cowal peninsula is a listed structure. A ferry operated from here across Loch Fyne to West Otter Ferry from the 1700s until closure in 1948. Nowadays the ferry sails from the Portavadie slipway (nine miles south of here) to Tarbert. 6th April 2018.

Kames Gunpowder Works: The watermill in the Lower Mills area of the Kames Gunpowder Works, as seen looking down from the boundary fence of the local cemetery that occupies part of the old site. The internal tramway dropped down to stream level and ran in front of the building but then immediately doubled back across the Craignafeoch Burn to access a number of works buildings. 6th April 2018.

Kames Gunpowder Works: At first glance this line through the trees at Kames Gunpowder Works appeared to be another old tramway route but the 6-inch OS map of 1895 shows it to be the mill race, taking water from a now collapsed weir down to the water mill. 6th April 2018.

Sturminster Newton: The former Sturminster Newton grain store was built in 1945, and is now used as a carpet shop. It is the only railway related building left in town. Intriguingly, there is no irreversible blockage of the solum. View looks North in April 2018. [Ref query 28 May 2018]

Kames Gunpowder Works: This low embankment carried a section of the Kames Gunpowder Works horse tramway alongside the Craignafeoch Burn in the Lower Mills area. The metal bridge pillars and abutment mark the point where a spur crossed the water at right angles, presumably accessed by a small turntable, while the main line carried on following the curve of the watercourse. 6th April 2018.

Kames Gunpowder Works: Looking east towards Tighnabruaich on the B8000 road in Millhouse at the point where the horse drawn tramway of the Kames Gunpowder Works crossed from the High Mills site through the gap on the right into the Lower Mills. Just beyond the level crossing is the road bridge over the Craignafeoch Burn. 6th April 2018.

Kames Gunpowder Works: These metal bridge supports and brick abutment are one of the more substantial remains of the Kames Gunpowder Works horse drawn tramway. Sitting at right angles to the line it joined, this spur was probably accessed by a turntable and led to the buildings that can be seen in the background. 6th April 2018.

Auchenlochan Pier: At one time there were two piers serving Tighnabruaich but the more southerly of these has been closed for a long time. The pier entrance building still stands and is in use as a local garage but of the pier itself only a few metal supports survive, as seen here on 6th April 2018. The pier at the north end of the village remains in use and is a listed structure. This view looks down the eastern Kyle of Bute with the island of the same name on the left.

Dduallt: Now back on the original 1836 alignment of the Ffestiniog Railway, 'Linda' and 'Blanche', are passing Dduallt station on 6th April 2019. Ahead is the bridge that carries the spiral the train just negotiated and is now about to pass underneath. This is a UK Railtours' charter train from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Caernarvon via both the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, double-headed as far as Porthmadog.

Abergele and Pensarn: Abergele & Pensarn, on the North Wales Coast Line, seen from UK Railtours' excursion from Euston to Llandudno Junction for the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, behind 68034, passing on 6th April 2016.

Talacre: Talacre signal box on the North Wales Coast Line, seen from UK Railtours' excursion from Euston to Llandudno Junction behind 68034 passing on 6th April 2019. Talacre station closed on 14th February 1966 and the box, which once controlled access to Point of Ayr Colliery, closed in 2018 and was fenced off.

Broadbottom: Northern EMU 323232 calls at Broadbottom whilst on a Piccadilly to Hadfield service on 06 April 2019. The grandiose station building appears out of use at the moment.

Windsor and Eton Central: With the cloud base at 1200' the view from this plane landing at Heathrow only just opened up in time to photograph Windsor. Central station is the building with the cream coloured roof in the lower half of the picture. The branch line to Slough runs to the left from there before curving over the river and away to the north. 6th April 2019.

Tan-y-Bwlch: UK Railtours' chartered train from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Caernarfon seen near Tan-y-Bwlch on the Ffestiniog Railway section, on 6th April 2019.

Tan-y-Bwlch: UK Railtours' charter from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Caernarfon, during a brief stop at Tan-y-Bwlch on 6th April 2019. The original Ffestiniog Railway had a policy of trains at loop stations using the right hand track and this continues today, with the Welsh Highland Railway also using this practice. I first visited here as a boy on a family holiday in north Wales in August 1965 when it was the temporary terminus for trains from Portmadoc (as it was then called). The line from Penrhyn reopened to Tan-y-Bwlch in 1958 and this remained the terminus until the extension to Dduallt in 1968. Blaenau Ffestiniog was finally reached in 1982, fulfilling the dream to reopen the line in full which had started in 1954 with the reinstatement of just the short section across The Cob from Portmadoc Harbour to Boston Lodge.

Colnbrook: Aerial shot of the former station at Colnbrook, now freight terminus of the truncated Staines West branch. It closed to passengers in 1965 and freight ceased beyond this point in 1981 to allow the M25 to be constructed. The station master's house, a last link with the old station, can be seen at the foot of the picture.

Penrhyn: UK Railtours' chartered train from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Caernarfon via both the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, passing Penrhyn station, on 6th April 2019.

Penrhyn: UK Railtours' chartered train from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Caernarfon, via both the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, on Penrhyn level crossing on 6th April 2019.

Porthmadog Harbour [FR]: 'Fairlie' 0-4-4-0T 'David Lloyd George' waiting to depart from Porthmadog Harbour station with a Ffestiniog Railway service to Blaenau Ffestiniog on 6th April 2019. This was built at the FR's Boston Lodge works in 1992 and is the most powerful steam locomotive in the FR fleet. Following an extensive overhaul, it returned to service in May 2014 fitted with new power bogies and converted to coal firing.

Bangor: 175001 to Holyhead, calling at Bangor, on 6th April 2019.

Disley: A Buxton to Piccadilly service with 150132 as the leading unit arrives at Disley on 06 April 2019.
See query 2045

Blaenau Ffestiniog [FR]: 'Linda' attached to 'Blanche' about to run-round at Blaenau Ffestiniog before hauling a train chartered by UK Railtours through to Caernarfon via the Ffestiniog (originally spelt with only one F) and Welsh Highland Railways, on 6th April 2019. 'Linda' dates from 1893 and was originally a 0-4-0ST locomotive built for the Penrhyn Quarry Railway. It was purchased by the Festiniog in 1963 and rebuilt as a 2-4-0STT in 1972. In 2003 it received a new boiler and four years later was temporarily withdrawn from service for a major overhaul taking 10 years before it returned to steam in December 2017.

Bangor: The now trackless north side of the island platform at Bangor, Chester direction, on the North Wales Coast Line, looking east, on 6th April 2019.

Blaenau Ffestiniog [FR]: Two immaculate 126 years old Ffestiniog locomotives, 'Linda' (left) and 'Blanche', at the terminus at Blaenau Ffestiniog prior to double-heading a special, chartered by UK Railtours, as far as Porthmadog and then, with a change of locomotive, through to Caernarfon via the Welsh Highland Railway on 6th April 2019.

Hereford: If someone tells you that the Hereford Greenway overlies the trackbed of the Gloucester line, take their advice with a pinch of salt - but see image [[70064]]. Here, the Greenway is seen crossing the trackbed near Vincent Carey Road. View looks towards Gloucester in June 2019.

Datchet: Datchet is the penultimate station on the Windsor & Eton Riverside branch, now operated by London South Western trains. It lies directly under the approach to Runway 27L at Heathrow, as seen here on 6th April 2019.
See query 2048

The Cob: View from UK Railtours' charter train from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Caernarfon via the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways crossing The Cob, the man-made embankment that dams the Afon Glaslyn, on the approach to Porthmadog Harbour, on Saturday, 6th April 2019.

Bangor: 150282, from Holyhead to Cardiff Central, calling at Bangor on 6th April 2019. This two coach unit left with standing room only and was barely into its long journey.

Windsor and Eton Riverside: Aerial photo of Windsor and Eton Riverside station in April 2019. The long platforms at this station contrast with the truncated stub at nearby Central. One of the town's larger dwellings can be seen in the foreground.

Tanygrisiau: UK Railtours' charter from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Caernarfon over the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, seen near Tanygrisiau double-headed by locomotives 'Linda' and 'Blanche' as far as Porthmadog, on 6th April 2019.

Dduallt Spiral: UK Railtours' charter from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Caernarfon, doubled-headed by 'Linda' and 'Blanche' as far as Porthmadog, entering the top of the Dduallt Spiral on 6th April 2019. Unique in the UK, the spiral was built to enable the revived line to gain height avoiding the section flooded after closure. The train will descend through 360 degrees to rejoin the original 1836 route.

Bangor: Platform for trains to Holyhead at Bangor on 6th April 2019. This is the surviving side of a former island platform, in fact both islands now only have one face in use. The old steam shed can be partly seen behind the platform canopy, still standing nearly sixty years after closure.

Bangor: Bangor on the North Wales Coast Line, opened 1st May 1848 for the Chester & Holyhead Railway, looking east on 6th April 2019. This was the junction for the line via Caernarfon to Afon Wen where it connected with the Cambrian Coast Line. The line south of Caernarfon to Afon Wen was closed in 1964 but passenger services between Bangor and Caernarfon continued until 1970. Some cynics said that this only stayed open after 1964 to cope with crowds for the investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle in 1969. After that, local people who'd used the line perhaps felt they didn't matter.

Rhyd Ddu: A timetabled Welsh Highland Railway train from Caernarfon to Porthmadog arriving at Rhyd-Ddu on 6th April 2019. The locomotive is a 1999 replica of former 0-4-4T single 'Fairlie', built for the Festiniog Railway in 1876 and named 'Taliesin'. It was withdrawn from service around 1932 so it was well over 60 years before this replica was built, bearing the name of its predecessor.

Broadbottom: A rather impressive goods shed at Broadbottom still stands and is in use as an activity centre. The Class 323 EMU is on a Hadfield to Piccadilly service and is approaching Broadbottom station. OS maps from the late 19th century indicate that the station was originally called Mottram and Broadbottom.

Dduallt Spiral: 'Linda' and 'Blanche' double-heading UK Railtours' charter from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Caernarfon via the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, double-headed as far as Porthmadog, now at the foot of the Dduallt spiral and rejoining the original 1836 route on 6th April 2019.

Ellenbrook: Looking towards Tyldesley and Leigh at the site of Ellenbrook station on 6th April 2021. The railway embankment was removed when the guided busway was constructed resulting in the long slope down from the original elevation to road level. This view, taken from the ramp leading up to the greenway on the remainder of the loop line through Worsley to Patricroft, shows a Manchester bound bus calling at the Newearth Road stop that now occupies the station site.

Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal: This picture taken through the fence which used to protect the radio transmitters for the BBC World Radio Clock Service shows progress in extending the line through the current Daventry container terminal (see image [[52516]]) - notice the container suspended from the crane in the background - towards the A5. There is a generously proportioned concrete arch bridge - without site access, I speculate (a) that it crosses a watercourse and (b) that it is an accommodation bridge.

Girvan: The main (only) building at Girvan receiving attention in April 2021.

Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal: Its amazing what springs up when you don't visit your office for two months. This view south on the A5 during an unseasonal flurry of snow shows progress in building a bridge crossing the road, formerly known as Watling Street, from the Daventry container terminal on the right to the currently isolated rail over road bridge (see image [[74717]]). Two months is rather less than the 5 years 7 months that I have been anticipating this development!

Burton and Holme: The hamlet of Holme Mills is a short distance from Burton and Holme station, and the mill itself was connected to the main line there by a quarter mile long siding. The mill lodge is now a valued community resource, seen here from the towpath of the Lancaster Canal. 88005 'Minerva' passes with a Daventry to Mossend intermodal on 6th April 2021.

Girvan: The 13.59 to Stranraer departing Girvan on 6th April 2021. No crossing movement was required, hence the use of the main platform.

Reston: An Azuma speeds past the future site of the new replacement Reston station. Works to build the station have seen an area of farmland cleared and the beginning of the widening of the railway embankment.

Kinghorn: LNER Azuma 800107 runs through Kinghorn, with the 09.52 from Aberdeen to Kings Cross, on 6 April 2021.

Ellenbrook: The 4.5 mile guided busway to Leigh starts at the site of Ellenbrook station, although the bus stop here is now known as Newearth Road. The station closed in 1961, eight years before the loop line from Kenyon Junction to Patricroft succumbed. The busway has been ramped down to join the road but the embankment beyond illustrates the original elevation of the railway (and station), and also marks the start of a greenway through Worsley that appears to be very well used.