Bolton: A Lancashire scene from the late 1950s with Aspinall ex-L&Y 2-4-2T no 50850, dating from the 1890s, waiting in the rain at Bolton with a local train on 7 April 1959. (Bolton station, opened by the MB&B in 1838, carried the suffix 'Trinity Street' between 1910 and 1954). The locomotive, which was a resident of nearby 26C at the time, was eventually withdrawn from Southport shed at the end of 1961.

Plates, signs, notices etc: They do say that the longer the menu the worse the food, and this is only half the menu at the Royal Station Hotel, Hull, on 7 April 1959 - not a period noted for the quality of its dining out experience. The menu compiler's French ran out at Potage Oxtail (2/-, or 10p) ...and can Ouefs a l'Ecossaise really be Scotch Eggs?

Plates, signs, notices etc: Back in the days of railway hotels, Philip Larkin, who lived in Hull, wrote a poem called Friday Night at the Royal Station Hotel. Seven years earlier a guest had been so impressed by his visit that he kept the Grill Room menu and recorded the date, 7 April 1959, on the front cover. This was, alas, a Tuesday, so it was less likely that All the salesmen had gone back to Leeds leaving shoeless corridors.

Arisaig: Class K1 62031 at Arisaig on down freight in 1960.

Bolton MPD: Former Aspinall design Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Class 27 3F 0-6-0 52523 seen stabled alongside 26C Bolton shed on 7 April 1963, after possibly having been withdrawn from service. See image [[36976]]

Lostock Hall: Kitson 0F 0-6-0ST no 47008, one of a batch of 5 built at Horwich Works in 1953 based on an original 1932 design see Image [[31728]] but with shorter saddle tank and extended coal bunker. The locomotive was photographed at 24C Lostock Hall Shed on 7 April 1963.

Grangemouth Shed: Ex - CR Jumbo No. 57269 must have been one of the last in service when photographed at Grangemouth shed during the Easter holidays in 1963, although I doubt that my sister Lynn (posing here on the footplate) would have too impressed by that fact! Thought to have been taken on Sunday 7th April 1963.

Carlisle: The 1S91 Crewe - Glasgow Central relief service about to leave Carlisle platform 3 on 7 April 1966 behind Kingmoor's Britannia Pacific no 70002 Geoffrey Chaucer.

Carlisle: Britannia Pacific no 70022 Tornado stands at Carlisle platform 3 on 7 April 1966 at the head of the 1S93 London Euston - Glasgow Central relief service.

Torwoodlee North Viaduct: On 7th April 1969, Trip E10 from Millerhill to Hawick heads south towards Torwoodlee (between Stow and Galashiels), hauled by EE Type 3 No. D6847. Photograph from David Spaven's latest book Border Union Dream: the inside story of Britain's boldest railway preservation bid.

Boat of Garten: A sense of anticipation at Boat of Garten on 7 April 1973 with enthusiasts awaiting the imminent arrival of the down DMU special from Perth see image [[28779]].

Aviemore: Looking north as a 3 car Metro-Cammell DMU departs southwards from Aviemore before reversing to access the line to Boat of Garten on 07 April 1973. The railway staff with the hi-vis vests will be applying a point clamp before he DMU runs over the facing points.

Aviemore Shed: Aviemore shed (60B) in 1973, during the intervening years between BR ownership and being put back into railway use by The Strathspey Railway. An interesting collection of vehicles is scattered around the outside the shed.

Boat of Garten: The down platform at Boat of Garten, photographed looking north standing in the 6-foot on 7 April 1973, just prior to the arrival of the special see image [[28779]].

Boat of Garten: The much photographed 'special' following arrival at Boat of Garten on 7 April 1973. See image [[28779]]

Aviemore: The Speyside Express railtour from Edinburgh to Boat of Garten on 07 April 1973 is seen on the outer face of the island platform at Aviemore whilst operating one of the three return trips to Boat of Garten. While today's trains on the Strathspey Railway operate from this platform, at that time the DMU had to first run into the headshunt at the south end of the station in order to access the original route north to Inverness via the line to the right of the train.

Boat of Garten: Another photograph showing the DMU special at Boat of Garten on 7 April 1973. Note that it is now displaying Edinburgh on the destination blind, which is where its journey actually started that day.

Aviemore: A view north from the island platform at Aviemore in April 1973 with Aviemore North SB in the middle distance. It looks quite different today with the police station on what was waste ground on the left and the Strathspey Railway using the outer face of the island platform.

Boat of Garten: A Class 101 DMU at Boat of Garten on 7 April 1973 with the first passenger train to visit the station since official closure.

Boat of Garten: One of the first passenger-carrying trains to reach Boat of Garten after its reincarnation as the terminus of the Strathspey Railway - a 101 DMU from Perth - stands at the station on 7 April 1973.

Leschede: Southbound DB 43 636, seen shortly after passing through Leschede on the Rheine-Emden route on 7 April 1977. A 2000 tonne trainload of coke eventually destined for the steel mills of the Ruhr.

Newton-on-Ayr: The 11.35 Glasgow Central - Stranraer service passing through Newton - on - Ayr station in April 1978. Falkland Yard is in the background and the line off to the left runs to Ayr Harbour.

Colchester: The HST (class 43) was originally powered by Paxman diesel engines made in Colchester, and the success and longevity of these trains has depended on the good quality of the Paxman design and engineering. The company's Colchester workforce was thanked with a special run of a HST set to Colchester North station on Saturday 7th April 1979. The train is seen being admired by workers and their families at 6.15 that morning, shortly before they all climbed aboard and were whisked away south for a day out.

Bartlow: Bartlow was the junction of the Stour Valley line and the line from Audley End via Saffron Walden. Trains on the latter mostly started and terminated at this timber platform and connecting passengers had to walk from and to the nearby Stour Valley station platforms. The service via Saffron Walden ended in 1964 and the Stour Valley station closed in 1967. The junction itself was controlled by the signal box seen in the distance of this 7th April 1980 view of the decaying infrastructure.

Aviemore: 47518 approaching Aviemore from the south at 0940 on 7 April 1982.

Comrie Colliery: Sidings at Comrie Colliery, Fife, on 7 April 1983. Present are NCB Austerity No 19, an NBL Diesel Hydraulic shunter and Austerity No 7. I understand all three ended up at Bo'ness with No 19 being active for many years.

Kirkcaldy Harbour: The steeply graded Harbour Branch at Kirkcaldy on 7 April 1983. See image [[28131]]

Inverkeithing East Junction: 27012 northbound at Inverkeithing East Junction on the afternoon of 7 April 1983.

Thornton Yard: Locomotives stabled at Thornton Yard on 7 April 1983 include 27210, 20199 & 20204.

Cameron Bridge [1st]: View east over the Cameron Bridge site on 7 April 1983. The location was in use and not so overgrown at this time. The distillery is behind the camera.

Methil Power Station: EE Type 1s, nos 20199+20204, stand alongside the unloading area at Methil power station in April 1983.

Leadburn Inn: A Mk1 coach at the rear of the Leadburn Inn awaiting conversion to a dining car in April 1985. The Inn, located opposite the site of Leadburn station on the A6094, burned down in 2005 and was rebuilt in 2010. The coach survived the fire although its current whereabouts are unknown.
Note from Alastair Taylor:
According to the Vintage Carriages Trust website, this TSO was originally M4427 and was scrapped (presumably on site) in 2006.

Loanstone Sidings: Loanstone level crossing box and surviving gatepost alongside the B7028, on the Peebles branch north of Pomathorn in April 1985. The sign on the gate reads Loanstone Crossing. The line closed completely in 1962.

Perth New Yard: 4771 'Green Arrow' backs off the turntable at Perth Yard. 7th April 1986.

Edinburgh Waverley: V2 4771 'Green Arrow', and 9F 92220 'Evening Star', pass a Class 27 diesel as they leave Waverley with the 'EMI Music Express' to Gleneagles on 7 April 1986.

Kinbuck: 4771 'Green Arrow' + 92220 'Evening Star' are buzzed at Kinbuck with the EMI Music Express. 7th April 1986.

Perth New Yard: 92220 Evening Star on the turntable in Perth New Yard, with 60800 Green Arrow following on in preparation for returning an excursion to Edinburgh on 7 April 1986

Haymarket Coal Yard: V2 4771 'Green Arrow', and 9F 92220 'Evening Star', take coal at Haymarket yard in preparation for the 'EMI Music Express' from Waverley to Gleneagles on 7 April 1986.

Bothlin Viaduct: A view of the Bothlin Viaduct east of Lenzie station. Just to the east of Lenzie station were two junction - one north to Lennoxtown and another south to join the Monkland and Kirkintilloch. This was later known as <i>The Bulls Horns</i>. In the foreground are E&G stone sleepers. In the foreground were the Garngaber Sidings.

Bothlin Viaduct: This is the south side of the Bothlin Viaduct viewed from the trackbed of the former Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway in 1987. The trackbed is now, 2019, the A806.

Bothlin Viaduct: View of the north side of the Bothlin Viaduct looking east. The second arch carried the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway and was skewed, unlike the rest of the viaduct, and had additional buttressing on either side. It now carries the A806 below. Off to the left was the short lived Woodley station from which a horse operated passenger service connected with the E&G and ran to Kirkintilloch Basin.

Wemyss Bay: An arrival from Glasgow Central stands at platform 2 of Wemyss Bay station on 7th April 1988. The recently lifted road into platform 3 can be seen on the left.

Kings Sutton: 71000 Duke of Gloucester northbound at Kings Sutton on 7 April 1990, one of its first mainline trips following restoration.

Levisham: WD Austerity 2-10-0 no 90775 runs into Levisham on 7 April 1996 with a train on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Levisham: LNER Q7 0-8-0 no 901 running into Levisham, NYMR, on 7 April 1996.

Ruswarp: No 5 Emily in action on the Ruswarp Miniature Railway near Whitby in April 1996.

Edinburgh Waverley: Royal Mail unit 325004 awaiting departure from Edinburgh Waverley on 7 April 1997.

Radley: 60072 'Cairn Toul' northbound through Radley with empty coal wagons from Didcot Power Station on 7th April 1999. The loco has been stored for some time at Toton but one of the nameplates sold at auction in 2018 for £2,900.
See query 2223

Didcot Parkway: 58026, 37370 and 66015 in Didcot Station sidings on 7th April 1999. At this time 66015 had only been in service for some six months. The Class 37 was withdrawn from service the following year and later cut up at Booths, Rotherham. 58026 is still in existence, although currently stored in France.

Radley: 37897, southbound light engine through Radley Station on 7th April 1999. The Type 3 was stored the following year, withdrawn in 2005 and cut up at EMR Kingsbury in 2008.

Saughton: A ScotRail class 170 DMU in National Express livery catches the spring evening sunshine as it runs west through Saughton on 7 April 2003, shortly after leaving Haymarket on an Edinburgh - Glasgow shuttle service.

Auchendinny Viaduct: The sun catches the rail bridge over the North Esk at Auchendinny, seen here looking along the trackbed towards Penicuik from above the tunnel in April 2004.

Alloa: Proposed location of the new Alloa Station, looking east in April 2005. The siding leading off to the right, through the gate, served the former brewery complex. Alloa shed (sub to 62C Dunfermline) stood on the left. A large supermarket and car park is planned for the area in the right background.

Eskbank and Dalkeith: Eskbank looking north - April 2005.

Eskbank and Dalkeith: Down platform shelter at Eskbank gradually being consumed by nature - April 2005.

Alloa [1st]: Looking west towards the site of the original Alloa station in April 2005, with a surviving loading platform on the left. The location of the proposed new station is behind the camera on the other side of the bridge see image [[4088]].

Whittingham: The terrace of 5 railway cottages at Whittingham in Northumberland in April 2007. Clearly built to last, as were all the buildings on the Cornhill branch. All occupied and well maintained, in uniform Brunswick Green, some 120 years after build and c 75 years after the last passengers passed through the station.

Bo'ness: Arrival back in Boness.

Bo'ness: Three tank engines under repair within the loco shed at Boness.

Bo'ness: Ole Macdonald had a farm, ee aye ee aye oh! New larger creche site for open days at Boness 2007.

Bo'ness: New fire shovelled for the forthcoming 1300 trip to Birkhill.

Bo'ness: Morayshire running around at Boness. Part of the Royal Scotsman set is stabled in the yard. 7/4/07.

Bo'ness: LNER D49 246 Morayshire starts a train for Birkhill with steam cocks open, Easter Saturday 2007.

Bo'ness: Groundframe at south end of platform controlling crossover. This is released from signalbox with bell signals being exchanged. However none of these bell signals are heard by the customers.

Bo'ness: Main building at Boness which contains a railwayana shop, excellent cafe/restaurant and a Visit Scotland counter. However concerns are afoot because the south wall is made of plywood.

Bo'ness: Great stuff standing on a bridge when a steam train goes below. Morayshire off up the hill to Birkhill, 7/4/07.

Bo'ness: CR 0-4-4T no 419 lies bereft of chimney in the loco shed at Boness on 7 April 2007.

Bo'ness: Volunteers paint the stack of No 419 after welding.

Bo'ness: Morayshire passing the coaling stage while running around her train during an Open Day in April 2007.

Bo'ness: Grounded GSWR BSK, rescued from Paisley Canal. Serving as a bothy for the MPD staff. The water column was donated from Grangemouth station.

Fort William: View towards the buffer stops at Fort William on 7 April 2008, with 67004 at the head of the 1950 sleeper to Euston and 156 493 about to leave with the 1737 service to Glasgow Queen Street.

Livingston North: Panorama taken on 7 April 2008 showing the extensive excavation and clearance work that has been carried out in the area surrounding Livingston North station as a 158 prepares to leave with a service for Edinburgh.

Norwich: Driver nodded off perhaps....? The unusual sight of EWS 90021 in First ScotRail Caledonian Sleeper livery arriving with a train at Norwich on 7 April 2008.

Kirkham and Wesham: Leaving Kirkham for Preston on the former four track section is a Northern Pacer, 142047, on a Blackpool South to Colne working. In this view from Carr Lane bridge Kirkham and Wesham station is hidden by the trees directly behind the train, which is just passing the Boys' Brigade camp site.

Princes Street [Tram]: Welcome indeed... the total takeover of Edinburgh's Princes Street by the tram works seems almost complete in this view from the west end on 7 April 2009. The Castle has, of course, seen it all before.

Haymarket: The 0952 Aberdeen - London Kings Cross National Express HST service pulls up at Haymarket platform 1 on 7 April 2009.

Haymarket [Tram]: View west over the site of the demolished Caledonian Alehouse on 7 April 2009. The image shows works in connection with the forthcoming Edinburgh Tram system, within which Haymarket will become a major Rail/Tram/Bus interchange.

Haymarket Tunnels: A ScotRail DMU emerges from Haymarket Tunnel into bright sunshine on 7 April 2009, with less than half a mile to go to reach Waverley. Viewed from the south wall of St Cuthberts churchyard, with the multistorey car park on Castle Terrace occupying much of the left background

Edinburgh Waverley: View over part of the vast glazed roof of Waverley from the North Bridge, looking towards Calton Hill on 7 April 2009, where scaffolding surrounds the Nelson Monument, currently undergoing major restoration. Standing at the old 'sub' platform 8 is the 1308 CrossCountry service to Plymouth preparing to start its journey south.

Edinburgh Waverley: View over Waverley from the North Bridge in April 2009, with major upgrade works well underway within the station. Refurbishment of the external sub platforms, including replacement of the old canopy, was a lower priority project, which wouldn't get underway for another two years. Awaiting its departure time at platform 8 is the 1308 CrossCountry service to Plymouth. For the same scene showing the new canopy in place see [[58751]].

Princes Street Gardens Cutting: The 0700 Kings Cross - Glasgow Central NXEC service skirts the base of the Castle Rock shortly after leaving Waverley on 7 April on the last stage of its journey. The Scott Monument and NB Hotel can be seen in the left background.

Princes Street Gardens Cutting: A commuter service runs alongside the Castle Rock in Princes Street Gardens in April 2009.

Edinburgh Princes Street: On the south side of Rutland Street the former entrance to Edinburgh's Princes Street station still stands, complete with gates, in April 2009. The rear of the Caledonian Hotel still looks over the area once occupied by the station concourse, although today's view is over a car park to the buildings of Edinburgh's financial district.

Haymarket Tunnels: The 0700 Kings Cross - Glasgow Central National Express East Coast service about to disappear into Haymarket tunnel westbound on 7 April 2009.

Haymarket: The 0952 Aberdeen - London Kings Cross about to enter Haymarket tunnel eastbound on 7 April 2009 after restarting from its stop at Haymarket, just as the coffee brigade gets stuck into another cuppa in the local Starbucks.

Haymarket: One of three alternative proposals for the new transport interchange at Haymarket published in 2007 involved demolition of the A-listed station building and its two adjacent hostelries, Ryries and The Caledonian Alehouse. Result - universal outrage. The final plan saw the station building receive a modern extension, with one of the pubs surviving unscathed. The loser was The Caledonian Alehouse, remains of which lie beyond the metal barriers on 7 April 2009. In the background, between the buses on Haymarket Terrace and the station building, stands Ryries, doubtless breathing a sigh of relief. For the original layout see [[16520]].

Oubeck Loops: Early morning mist hangs over the WCML at Oubeck on 7 April as Freightliner 66621 waits in the Up Loop with an infrastructure train.

Saughton: Westbound 158 782 passes under the new 'Carricknowe Viaduct' carrying the Edinburgh tram route on 7 April 2010. Progress is also being made on the related earthworks.

Weeton [Lancashire] Signal Box: Just beyond the deep cutting at Weeton the line to Blackpool North runs onto a low embankment covered with reeds. These are lit by the evening sun as Sprinter 156487 heads east with a Northern Rail service for Liverpool.

Paisley St James: A Class 334 unit running along the embankment next to the M8 directly opposite Glasgow Airport with a service for Gourock. In the bottom right hand corner of shot is railway viaduct at Ferguslie carrying the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway. In the centre bottom of shot is Ferguslie Station on the Paisley & Barrhead District Railway, with the line of trees that runs to the centre right showing the trackbed of the PBDR that ran to Paisley St. James. The housing at the bottom left stands on the site once occupied by the Pressed Steel plant and Chrysler car factory.

Dalgety Bay: 67018 Keith Heller coasts downhill towards Dalgety Bay on 7 April with a returning evening Fife commuter train.

Arnside: With the viaduct closed from March to July 2011 for renewal of the decking, Arnside station has become a temporary terminus. The contractor's site can be seen behind the buffers and fence built across the line and services from Carnforth are running wrong line to here before returning south. See image [[31078]] for the same view seven months earlier.

Kent Viaduct: Redecking and refurbishment of Arnside viaduct underway on 7th April with two rail mounted cranes busy supporting the engineering work. The opportunity is also being taken to repair Lindal tunnel near Barrow while the line is closed.

Wirksworth: The 'Royal Train', headed by an immaculate 78019, approaching Wirksworth on 7 April 2011 bearing the rare '4 lamps' headcode.

Monkton Combe: The iron gateposts on either side of the garage are the sole remains of Monkton Combe station in April 2012. A through station better known as Titfield (a terminus), of Titfield Thunderbolt fame. The posts were on either side of the approach road, and can be clearly seen in the film.

Freshford: A 158+153 combination restarts from the village station at Freshford, south of Bath, on 7 April 2012. The passengers may be a bit bedraggled due to the drizzle, but the award winning station gardens - so rare today - are clearly visible over the train roof.

Wellow: Mellow in Wellow: this signal box at the North end of the station, covering a crossing of a minor road, is said to be the last S&D box still standing in its original location. It is situated, appropriately, on Railway Path; and is lived in. The projecting clock, seen at the front of the verandah, is nice, but probably not original. View looks East in April 2012.

Hallatrow: Some way South of Pensford viaduct see image [[26020]], there is an industrial estate, which happens to contain the remarkably well preserved station of Hallatrow, seen here in April 2012. The apparently inflated signal box is an extension built between the platforms; the aged Land Rover is a nice touch. This station was the Western junction station for the Cam Valley branch, of 'Titfield Thunderbolt' fame.

Limpley Stoke: The word 'idyllic' was probably invented for places like this. A location between Freshford and Bath is a good start; also being the Eastern junction for the Cam Valley line (of 'Titfield Thunderbolt' fame) is a bonus. Limpley Stoke station is long closed but currently lived in, with its small car park being used by a pub; so not all is lost. View South West across the River Avon on 7 April 2012.

Monkton Combe: Looking West, away from the Monckton Combe station site see image [[38531]], towards Hallatrow in April 2012. No railway remains, but it's clear where the track went in this peaceful and beautiful place.

Bath Spa: Looking back... but not in anger: the driver of South West Trains 159001, forming the 14.42 to Bristol Temple Meads, checks on the guard's instructions before leaving Bath Spa on 7 April 2012.

Bath Spa: A South Western Trains 159 see image [[38394]] adds a splash of colour to a greyish Bath Spa station on 7 April 2012. Notice the coffee bar on the right, where I bumped into a railtouring friend whom I had not seen for about 5 years!

Kelty: Newly installed sculpture on Kelty Main Street to commemorate the Blairenbathie branch which crossed nearby at the 'White Gates' and served various collieries and a gasworks. Bears a passing resemblance to a Hunslet 'austerity' 0-6-0ST. One of this type worked at the Opencast Executive's Kelty Disposal Point, closed in 1962. See image [[36699]]

Limpley Stoke: A view looking North at this former junction station for the Cam Valley line, of 'Titfield Thunderbolt' fame in April 2012. see image [[38385]]

Monkton Combe: On the left, we see the trackbed of the Cam Valley line immortalized in 'The Titfield Thunderbolt'. In the distance, we see the road viaduct for the A36. And on the right, the cricket pitch used in the classic Ealing comedy; now used by Monkton Combe school.

Newnham Bridge: A lamppost and passenger shelter (on the Bewdley platform) are just visible through the undergrowth at Newnham Bridge in April 2013. Their preservation owes much to this station's previous role as a garden centre see image [[42713]].

Newnham Bridge: Suddenly it's 1970 - but Virgil Exner is nowhere to be seen. Despite many signs being stolen, and others being removed to Collectors' Corner, this kind of back-to-nature look must have been quite common on abandoned lines in the late 1960's. Newnham Bridge station was used as a garden centre until about 2007, but is now abandoned; so its obscuration by trees has been delayed by some 45 years. View looks North in an unusually cold April 2013. see image [[42646]]

Newnham Bridge: This substantial station building at Newnham Bridge, some five miles East of Tenbury Wells and adjacent to the 'new' road to Worcester, seems to have been extended, going by the different coloured brickwork to the left of the door. After some 10 years of being boarded up, the building is once more in use at May 2022. View looks towards Worcester by road; or Bewdley by train.

Glasgow Central: The Glasgow interstations bus - now in ScotRail livery. Photographed on 7 April 2015 at Central station.

Blackburn: View from 156421, from Clitheroe to Manchester Victoria, crossing the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, built between 1770 and 1816, soon after departing from Blackburn and heading down the now singled-line through Darwen to Bolton on 7th April 2016.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Work on the north end of the platforms in progress on 7th April 2016 prior to some remodelling of the trackwork at the station throat.

Manchester Victoria: Ex-Thameslink 319377 at Manchester Victoria, waiting to depart for Liverpool Lime Street on the afternoon of 7th April 2016.

Rochdale Town Centre [Tram]: Manchester Metrolink tram 3083 to Ashton-under-Lyne, via Oldham, coming off the short single line section in Rochdale town centre, on 7th April 2016.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Work on the platforms under the Cathedral Street bridge taking place on 7th April 2016.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: View of what remains of the north end of platforms 1-6 as the work to modify the track layout proceeds. The spray painted lines are markers for drainage work, and a line of shuttering crosses the centre of the picture diagonally down the right side of platform 1.

Glasgow Central: 320416, in London Midland livery, leading the 1450 to Lanark. The former 4 car sets 321411-7 are being reduced to 3 cars and renumbered 320411-7 (where will the removed coaches go?). This is needed because 4 + 3 cars would have been too long for many ScotRail platforms. 380s thus released will be available for the E&G pending arrival of 385s.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Scaffolding dominates the scene near the entrance to the tunnel on 7th April 2016 as preparations are made to remove a cable gantry spanning the tunnel mouth.

Newhey [Tram]: Manchester Metrolink 3104 to Rochdale departing from Newhey stop, on the site of the former heavy rail (New Hey) station [[21081]], on 7th April 2016.

Hale: 142051, to Stockport only, arriving at Hale on 7th April 2016. This particular Pacer was scrapped at Newport in June 2020. Bit of a nuisance having to change at Stockport to get back to Manchester and then a Metrolink tram from Piccadilly to Victoria as I hot-footed it for my first ride from the latter to reopened Clitheroe.

Hale: 142011, from Chester to Manchester Piccadilly, arriving at Hale, early in the morning on 7th April 2016. Following withdrawal this Pacer went to the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley, but is reported to only be a source of spares for their other unit, 142013.

Hale: Hale station, looking south towards Chester with bus on level crossing, on 7th April 2016. The retention of the picturesque canopies is somewhat offset by the boarded-up waiting rooms.

Hale: 66221 travelling light towards Chester through well-preserved Hale station, early in the morning of 7th April 2016.

Glasgow Central: A class 320 colour contrast at Glasgow Central.

Finnieston East Junction: PS Waverley awaiting the season.

Gilroyd: A long steel bridge, that previously carried coal trains on the Worsborough to Silkstone section of the Manchester to Wath 1500V Woodhead route, crossing the M1 motorway near Gilroyd south of Dodworth. The trackbed from Silkstone to Wombwell is now known as the Dove Valley Trail, and forms a part of the longer distance Trans Pennine Trail. View south from Keresforth Road in April 2016

Cardiff Queen Street: A twin Pacer unit leaves Cardiff Queen Street heading north across Newport Road. The large building in the background is Brunel House built as a regional HQ for British Rail. (It is vertical, despite the distortion from the phone camera).

Alnwick (Lionheart) : Looking south towards the buffers at Lionheart Station. The loco is Drewry 0-6-0DM 'Drax', an industrial version of the BR 04 class. The A1 road passes to the right.

Hale: Hale station on Chester to Stockport line, looking north from the level crossing, on a dismal 7th April 2016. Trains generally run through from Chester to Manchester Piccadilly although a few occasionally terminate at Stockport. The signal box is no longer in use. [Ref query 11 January 2019]

Alnwick (Lionheart) : Hudswell Clark 0-6-0T 'Richboro' stabled inside the workshop.

Hale: Exterior of Hale station on 7th April 2016. This was opened as Peel Causeway with the line from Altrincham to Knutsford on 12th May 1862. Renamed Peel Causeway for Hale on 1st January 1899 and finally just Hale on 1st January 1902.

Alnwick (Lionheart) : Looking north from the footbridge. The main line and future connection to the Alnwick branch formation passes to the left of the junction signal.

Clitheroe: The 1893 station building at Clitheroe, (which replaced one of 1850 slightly to the south), seen from the 1994 reopening platforms on 7th April 2016. Regular services from Blackburn to Hellifield were withdrawn pre-Beeching on 10th September 1962 but excursions continued until 7th February 1971. The line then settled into 19 years of freight and diversion use until excursions resumed on 14th May 1990. On 29th May 1994, Clitheroe and the line to Blackburn were fully reopened to passengers. This included a county council ticket hall and information office at the new Clitheroe station but this closed on 5th February 2020. North of Clitheroe the line still sees freight, Sunday Dalesrail passenger excursions and railtours. 150201 from Manchester Victoria has just arrived on 7th April 2016.

Salford Central: Disused platforms at Salford Central, seen from Clitheroe to Manchester Victoria train arriving at one of the remaining platforms, on 7th April 2016.

Preston: Several of the EE Type 3s were repainted into 'Large Logo' livery during their time on the Northern Cumbrian Coast trains but 37405 retained its DRS Compass livery. It is seen at Preston on 7th April 2017 waiting to leave with the 1004hrs to Barrow-in-Furness.

Peebles CR and NBR Junction: The Caledonian and North British systems were connected at Peebles by a link line running east from the CR terminus for a quarter of a mile along the Tweed before turning north and crossing the river to reach Peebles Junction, just short of the NB station. Part of the embankment that once carried the link line north of the river runs alongside Tweed Avenue, seen here looking east in 2017, with the embankment incorporating an old infilled bridge.

Peebles CR and NBR Junction: View north along Tweed Avenue, Peebles, in the spring of 2017 towards the road junction with Walker's Haugh. The embankment and infilled bridge on the right once carried the line linking the Caledonian system on the south side of the River Tweed (behind the camera) with the NB system on the north side. The line joined the NB approximately 250 yards further on at Peebles Junction to the east of the goods yard, just short of the NB station. See image [[38441]]

Skelmersdale: There isn't a railway here and there hasn't been one, however the derelict site of the former Glenburn Sports College (right) and West Lancashire College (left) has been mentioned in a proposal to bring rail back to Skelmersdale. The document suggests extending the Merseyrail service east of Kirkby and leave the existing Wigan to Kirkby line east of Rainford Jct. This is the proposed station site in Skelmersdale and interestingly a planning notice for the demolition of these buildings on or after 24 April 2017 was found during the visit.

Kelvin Viaduct: 66737 on 6E45 Fort William - Blyth Alcans crossing the River Kelvin at Partick being re-routed through Glasgow Central Low Level due to the landslip between Ashfield and Gilshochill.

Kelvindale: From the publicity: 'Friends of Kelvindale Railway Station are creating a Butterfly Garden containing the essential plants for Glasgow caterpillars, butterflies and moths within the station grounds. We will also be unveiling a public information board to help Glaswegians identify and support our native butterflies.'

Selkirk Junction: Sleepers still remain on the solum of the former Selkirk branch alongside the closed gas works. It was a surprise to find them as so much has simply been erased or removed of the railways in the borders. This view is looking from the south bank of the Tweed towards Winston Road to the South (next to the Gas Works).

Colintraive: Calmac MV Loch Dunvegan is mid way across the narrow eastern Kyle of Bute on a misty morning in April 2018. This image, taken from the viewpoint on the A8003 Tighnabruaich road, shows the point where Loch Riddon meets the Kyles at the northern tip of Bute.

Trimley: Considering the volume and value of the container traffic that was passing through Trimley station in 2018, the infrastructure looked surprisingly dilapidated on 7th April of that year. Loco 70 015 and its train has recently left the Port of Felixstowe to head to Ipswich and beyond while, in the distance, the passenger service from Ipswich (153 306) has left for Felixstowe. Not long after this date, work started to double the track between here and Orwell to increase line capacity.

Malton: There are three extant road over rail bridges across closed lines within Malton & Norton. One of these is seen, in a westerly view looking towards Malton Town centre, on Old Maltongate Road, which was the main road to Pickering pre the Malton by-pass removing most of traffic heading towards Pickering and Whitby. The trackbed is still used as a path for a distance either side of the bridge.

West Sleekburn Junction: UK Railtours' excursion from King's Cross diverging from the Ashington line onto the North Blyth branch, which to the best of my knowledge has never had a passenger service, on 7th April 2018. This had travelled via the ECML to Morpeth and thence via the line through Choppington to Bedlington and on to Newsham. It then reversed to retrace its steps through Bebside and Bedlington to visit North Blyth but, alas, did not go to Ashington. The train returned direct from North Blyth to Newcastle back through Bedlington and Newsham and on through Seaton Delavel. Funding for reopening the Ashington line with stations at Northumberland Park (an interchange with the Tyne & Wear Metro), Seaton Delavel, Newsham, Bebside (to be called Blyth Bebside), Bedlington and Ashington, was given in January 2021. However, the Morpeth to Bedlington line is not included in the reopening scheme but maybe considered at a later date.

Malton: There are three extant road over rail bridges across closed lines within Malton & Norton. One of these is on Old Maltongate Road, which was the main road to Pickering. The tracked is still used as a path for a distance either side of the bridge, with the trackbed to the right formerly running north towards Slingsby and Hovingham and to the left heading towards the bridge that crossed the River Derwent. The Malton by-pass, which removed most of the road traffic heading towards Pickering and Whitby, severed the trackbed running north on the edge of town.

Morpeth: UK Railtours' excursion from Kings Cross passing Morpeth station in Northumberland and crossing the southbound track to take the freight line to Bedlington via Choppington (closed to passengers on 3rd April 1950), on 7th April 2018. The train continued south beyond Bedlington to Newsham where it reversed on its way to North Blyth. It then returned direct to Newcastle along the freight only line through Seaton Delavel. Alas, it did not go to Ashington; however, funding for the reopening of the Newcastle to Ashington line to passengers was granted in January 2021 but not including Morpeth to Bedlington.

East Pilton Halt: The halt opened to serve social housing in a tram-starved part of the city, but was more handy for an engineering works and a hospital (now the site of flats and a Morrison's respectively). For the site of the street-level ticket 'office' on Pilton Drive. See Edin Photo.

Choppington: UK Railtours' excursion from King's Cross passing the site of Choppington station on the freight-only line from Morpeth to Bedlington in Northumberland, on 7th April 2018. This line and demolished station closed to passengers on 3rd April 1950. Although reopening of the Ashington line, including Bedlington station, is now set to go ahead, the line through Choppington is not currently being considered for reopening to passengers.

Bedlington: UK Railtours' excursion from Kings Cross on 7th April 2018 has just come off the freight only line from Morpeth, closed to passengers on 3rd April 1950, and has joined the also currently freight-only Ashington line passing the currently disused Bedlington station, closed with the line on 2nd November 1964. However, after years of talk and no action, funding for the long awaited reopening to passengers of the Ashington line was granted in January 2021 and will see Bedlington reopened - and not before time too. However, the project does not include reopening to passengers of the Morpeth to Bedlington line that this tour has just visited.

Bebside: UK Railtours' excursion on Bebside level crossing on the Ashington line in Northumberland, heading south, on 7th April 2018. The now demolished station was on the south side of the crossing and closed with the line on 2nd November 1964. However, funding was granted in January 2021 for reopening this line to passengers - and about time too - with a new station here to be called Blyth Bebside.

Newsham: UK Railtours' excursion on 7th April 2018 on the Ashington freight line at the site of Newsham station, one-time junction for the branch to Blyth that closed to passengers on 2nd November 1964 at the same time as the Ashington line. Having left the ECML at Morpeth travelling via the freight line to Bedlington where it meets the Ashington line, the train is seen after reversal about to retrace its steps through Bebside and Bedlington before going on to the North Blyth freight branch. Now that funding for the reopening of the Ashington line has been granted, a new station will be built here.

Bedlington Viaduct: View from UK Railtours excursion, making its way north from Newsham to North Blyth, crossing Bedlington Viaduct over the River Blyth in Northumberland, looking east, during pouring rain on 7th April 2018. Closed to passengers in 1964, this line has finally been granted funding that will see its reopening from Newcastle to Ashington.

Grantshouse: A Cross Country 221 passes the loops and civil engineers sidings at the site of Grantshouse station. The Voyager was on its way from Edinburgh to Bristol Temple Meads on 7th April 2018.

Bedlington: Having reversed at Newsham, UK Railtours' excursion is now returning north to North Blyth, seen here on Bedlington level crossing and about to again pass through the disused station, closed on 2nd November 1964, in pouring rain on 7th April 2018. Bedlington is due for reopening now that funding for the resumption of passenger services on the line to Ashington was at long last granted in January 2021.

Chester-le-Street: The Geordie-Go-Round rail tour ran from London Kings Cross on 7th April 2018 to visit Tyne Yard and the North Blyth branch. The return leg is seen passing Chester-Le-Street on a gloomy evening behind DB 90035, with 67008 out of sight on the rear.

Bedlington: UK Railtours' excursion for North Blyth, passing the disused station at Bedlington, with Bedlington North signal box behind, on 7th April 2018. This line closed to passengers on 2nd November 1964 but is due for reopening after funding was granted in January 2021. The track leading off to the left is the start of the freight line via Choppington to Morpeth which closed to passengers on 3rd April 1950, which the tour had travelled on earlier.

Newcastle Central: 67008 at the rear of a UK Railtours excursion just arrived at Newcastle after a visit to the former Blyth and Tyne Railway on 7th April 2018. The tour went to the North Blyth freight branch but not, alas, to Ashington but the line there is at long last to be reopened to passengers with stations at Northumberland Park, an interchange with the Tyne & Wear Metro, Seaton Delavel, Newsham, Bebside, Bedlington and Ashington.

Chester-le-Street: EWS liveried 67008 brings up the rear of The Geordie-Go-Round rail tour returning to Kings Cross through Chester-Le-Street on 7th April 2018. 67018 had assisted 67008 with the tour on the North Blyth branch but the return from Tyne Yard was hauled by DB 90035.

Princes Risborough: 37409 Lord Hinton, at the head of a train from Chinnor, on the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway in April 2019.

Leamington Spa Avenue: Some interesting timber trunking on the station end of the former viaduct on the Rugby line. Taken from the Bath Place council car park, which is free on Sundays, on 7th April 2019.

Mount Florida: Due to engineering work on the WCML between Motherwell and Glasgow Central, through trains and some locals were being diverted via Mount Florida. The 17.38 from Glasgow Central to London Euston passes Mount Florida as 320415 calls with the 17.19 from Neilston.

Pass of Brander Stone Signals: The stone signals in the Pass of Brander are usually described alongside photographs of a post holding two semaphore arms in the “off” position. [See Image 22517]. At each end of the 4 mile boulder screen, single arms prevail and at the westernmost end near Bridge of Awe the lever post carrying the weighted operating mechanism can also be seen.

Leamington Spa Avenue: Councils throughout Britain are keen to demolish disused railways - outmoded, ugly, blot on the landscape, etc. I beg to differ. This is the disused viaduct leaving Leamington station on the Rugby route; which I think enhances its surroundings.

Warwick Parkway: Under reconstruction - improvement works proceeding in April 2019. Warwick Parkway was built for Chiltern Trains on the former Birmingham and Oxford Railway.

Princes Risborough: The business end - the leading cab 37.409 exudes a functional air on the new platform 4 for the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway. see image [[69733]]

Donibristle Platform: Freightliner 66548 leans into the curve on the decent of Donibristle bank with an Aberdeen - Millerhill engineers train on a dreich 7 April. 66518 is on the rear.

Princes Risborough: Not only have the lads restored the signal box at Princes Ris, they have also planted a garden - complete with the only gnome I have ever seen in a high vis' vest.

Dunnottar Signal Box: 6M86 travelling light with only five tanks in tow, heading to Irvine then onto Workington tomorrow after a midnight stop in Crewe yard. I was expecting to see a bit more of a change from the work QTS are doing or going to be doing. Trees have been cut down and wire mesh installed down at the bridge 334. The location is south west of Stonehaven.

Worsley: Worsley station closed in 1969, along with the loop line through Tyldesley and Leigh to Kenyon Junction. This view on 6th April 2021 looks north along the greenway that passes through the surviving sections of platform. Just to the north of the bridge is Roe Green Junction where the loop diverged from the line to Bolton Great Moor Street (closed 1954). Today it is the junction of two popular greenways.

Bamber Bridge: GBRF may be having some Class 56s re-engined to Class 69s at the moment but Colas is one operator keeping Class 56s in work. 56090 and 56105 are seen with the 6E32 Preston Docks to Lindsey Oil Refinery empty bitumen tanks to the east of Bamber Bridge on 7 April 2021.

Aberdeen Waterloo: COLAS (6A34) 70816, with a rake of 18 tanks, passing down the side of Roslin Terrace through some late spring snow on the Waterloo branch on 7th April 2021.

Berryden Junction: Approaching from the south, 70816 is held at the signal waiting to go into Kittybrewster for the 'Run Around' then down to Waterloo. Taken from the bridge on Powis Terrace.

Clayhills Yard: The 7th April 2021 was not a nice day in Aberdeen. The LNER AZUMA is just about to pull out of Clayhills to be the 09:52 (1E15) to KGX. Two Scotrail HST sets are also stabled.

Davidson's Mains Goods Junction: The walkable trackbed on the eastern approach to Dav(e)y Mains follows the way to the goods station; the passenger line was in the embankment to the right and the station was on the other side of Cramond Road South. This bit hasn't been surfaced and ballast is still visible as are, with imagination perhaps, impressions of sleepers.

Haymarket Goods: The curved loading platform at Haymarket Goods has seen decades of development all around it, perhaps because it provided a daylight gap in the absence of a road here. It has recently been scraped of its vegetation exposing the granite setts so maybe somebody has plans.

Eastleigh: South Western Railway EMU 701042, driver training, at Eastleigh heading for Poole on 7th April 2022. I formed the impression of a very smooth and silent train.

Eastleigh: GBRf 47739 bringing an East Midlands Railway Class 360 EMU towards Eastleigh Works for an overhaul and repaint into new colours. Apparently quite a few 360s are in store at Cricklewood awaiting similar attention. 47s are not as common as they used to be!

Eastleigh: DRS 66091 at Eastleigh in charge of an empty car train, (750 tons) ex Southampton Docks, bound for Halewood (Jaguar Cars) at 1100 hours on 7th April 2022. Rep. No 676K

Eastleigh: GBRf 69001 and 69005 nose to nose in Platform 3 at Eastleigh, waiting the road into the Works on 7th April 2022. Later that month 69005 emerged in green and cream livery, representative of that carried by Class 33s at one time.

Euxton Junction: A London via Birmingham Pendolino heads along the Up Fast line to the south of Euxton Junction on a wet 7 April 2022.

Eastleigh: Freightliner 70011 makes a spirited departure toward Southampton Docks through Eastleigh's platforms on 7th April 2022. Rep. No 492Y. Garston F.L.T. to Southampton M. C. T.

Romiley: A Class 195 departs from Romiley heading to Manchester Piccadilly in January 2022. Signal RJ21 has the feathers lit so the train will take the diverging route just beyond the signalbox and travel via Reddish North. The line straight ahead also goes to Manchester Piccadilly but via Hyde and Guide Bridge.

Woodacre Crossing: DRS moved six MkII coaches from Carlisle to ERS at Great Yarmouth. The clean rake included DBSOs 9710 and 9705, seen here cab to cab on the rear passing Woodacre on 7th April 2022. 9705 was left at Barrow Hill before the train continued to East Anglia.

Bay Horse: Although the 2022 Staycation Express has been cancelled (see recent news item) the green HST set was used for an out and back empty run to Carlisle on 7th April with Inter City liveried power car 43049. The five coach special is seen heading north at Forton in a sunny moment between heavy showers.

Eastleigh: DBC 66107 with a loaded car train heading, at speed, through Eastleigh to Southampton Docks, ex Morris Cowley, Rep. No 412Z, on 7th April 2022. Three trains in one hit as 70015 and 450099 also appear on the scene.

Woodacre Crossing: 57002 'Express' hauled a rake of six MkII DRS coaches from Carlisle to ERS at Great Yarmouth. The clean stock, still DRS branded, included DBSOs 9710 and 9705 and is seen passing Woodacre on 7th April 2022. 9705 was left at Barrow Hill before the rest of the train continued to East Anglia. Although DRS has sold most of its 57/0s, 57002 is still in the operational fleet.

Eastleigh: Another highlight of my visit to Eastleigh on 7th April 2022 was the appearance of GBRf 73213 and 73212 in Platform 3, heading for the nearby Works.

Eastleigh: GBRf have caused quite a stir with the various liveries on their new Class 69 locos. Speed whiskered 69001 hauled a dead 69005, in green primer, towards Eastleigh Works on 7th April 2022, ahead of a repaint. No 05 was the latest conversion from a Class 56 and subsequently appeared in a green and cream livery reminiscent of the early Class 33 scheme. This was one of the day's highlights.