Garrowhill: Gresley V1 67633 near Garrowhill on 14 April 1958 with a Hyndland - Airdrie train.

Carlisle Kingmoor Shed: Fowler ex-LMS 2P 4-4-0 no 40695 stands on Kingmoor shed in April 1960.

Ballater: A Cravens 2-car DMU arriving at Ballater with the 3.10pm service from Aberdeen on 14 April 1960. [Ref query 8 January 2018]

Ballater: The old goods shed at Ballater, photographed in April 1960. See [[21565]].
See query 2264

Cove Bay: View through Cove Bay station on 4 April 1961 with a breakdown train approaching on its way north. The locomotive in charge is Perth based Black 5 4-6-0 no 44720.
See query 2160

Patricroft Shed: Stanier 2-6-4T no 42561 stands outside Patricroft shed in April 1962. The locomotive was withdrawn from here in November the following year.

Polmadie Shed: Carlisle Kingmoor's Britannia 7MT 4-6-2 No.70022 (the other 'Tornado') is resting at the back of Polmadie shed on 14 April 1962. The amount of coal on the tender suggests that it will be moving out soon.

Liverpool Docks: Memories of Merseyside. Mersey Docks & Harbour Board 0-6-0ST no 26 moving a rake of wagons within Liverpool Docks in April 1962. This locomotive [Avonside 1810 of 1918] is currently in store on the Ribble Steam Railway awaiting restoration.

Aintree Shed: B1 61010 'Wildebeeste' on shed at Aintree on 14 April 1962.

Polmadie Shed: Polmadie shed is the location, on 14 April 1962, of 46200 'The Princess Royal', newly allocated to Carlisle Kingmoor. Sadly, the days of this magnificent loco were numbered, and it was withdrawn before the end of the year.

Aintree Shed: Fowler 3F 0-6-0T 47512 standing alongside Aintree shed in April 1962.

Chester: Black 5 no 45278 brings a down train past the ex-LMS shed (6A) on the southern approach to Chester station in April 1962. [Ref query 5818]

Roxburgh: Recently arrived at Roxburgh on 14 April 1963 is B1 61324 with the SLS/BLS Scottish Rambler no 2 (Joint Easter Railtour).

West Kilbride: D3929 with a ballast train during PW works at Kilruskin cutting near West Kilbride on Easter Sunday 14 April 1963. See image [[36500]]

West Kilbride: Another shot of the Permanent Way squad at work on Easter Sunday 1963 during the reballasting of Kilruskin cutting near West Kilbride see image [[37966]]. Note the preferred headgear of the day.

West Kilbride: A Largs bound DMU working wrong-line passing a PW train on the morning of Easter Sunday 1963, during reballasting work at Kilruskin cutting, near West Kilbride. See image [[36606]]

Roxburgh Viaduct: B1 no 61324 has just cleared Roxburgh Viaduct and is approaching the station with Scottish Rambler No 2 on 14 April 1963. The B1 was on the leg from Coldstream to Hawick, where it would hand over to A3 Pacific no 60041 Salmon Trout for the next stage to Carlisle.

Jedfoot: 'Scottish Rambler no 2' photographed at Jedfoot on 14 April 1963 behind B1 4-6-0 no 61324 on its way to Jedburgh.

West Kilbride: Reballasting work underway in Kilruskin cutting, West Kilbride, on Easter Sunday 1963. Horwich built class 08 no D3929 had arrived at Ardrossan shed ex-works two years earlier. See image [[36606]]

Roxburgh: B1 no 61324 near Roxburgh Junction on 14 April 1963 with the SLS/BLS Scottish Rambler No.2 (Joint Easter Rail Tour) which included a visit to the Jedburgh branch. See image [[34310]]

Motherwell Shed: Ex Ministry of Supply Riddles WD Austerity 2-10-0 no 90756 stands in sidings alongside 66B Motherwell Shed on 14 April 1963, almost 4 months after official withdrawal by BR. The locomotive was finally cut up in Darlington Works scrapyard in November of that year.

Loch Park Siding: Part of the facilities at Loch Park PW depot, on the south side of Hawick, photographed on a wet day in April 1963. Approaching through the rain from the left with a southbound train is St Margarets A3 Pacific no 60041 'Salmon Trout'.

Nisbet: 'Scottish Rambler no 2' stands at Nisbet on 14 April 1963 behind B1 4-6-0 no 61324. The B1 had taken over the special at Coldstream and had pulled up here for a photostop on the journey to Jedburgh. Nisbet had closed to passenger traffic along with the other stations on the Jedburgh branch in 1948 but freight continued to use the line between Roxburgh Junction and Jedburgh until 1966. See image [[19897]]

West Kilbride: Permanent way squad at work on Easter Sunday 1963 during the reballasting of Kilruskin cutting near West Kilbride. Hi-vis what...?

Jedburgh: B1 61324 near Jedburgh on 14 April 1963 with 'Scottish Rambler No 2'. See image [[34310]]

West Kilbride: Ballast train in the yard at West Kilbride on 14 April 1963.

West Kilbride: A DMU for Largs operating 'wrong line' slowly passes a PW team engaged in reballasting work near West Kilbride in April 1963. See image [[36606]]

West Kilbride: D3929 takes a ballast train out of West Kilbride goods yard on the morning of Easter Sunday 1963. That particular weekend saw major track replacement and re-ballasting work carried out in the surrounding area.

West Kilbride: One man and his shovel. A member of the PW team involved in reballasting work on the Largs branch between West Kilbride and Fairlie on Easter Sunday 1963.

Motherwell Shed: Reid North British Class N15/2 3MT 0-6-2T no 69196 seen at 66B Motherwell Shed on 14 April 1963. Stanier LMS 2-6-2T 40187 is the loco stabled behind it.

Jedfoot Bridge Viaduct: B1 no 61324 on its way back from Jedburgh on 14 April 1963 with the SLS/BLS Scottish Rambler No 2 has just passed through Jedfoot station.

West Kilbride: Looking towards Fairlie in April 1963 as a PW squad carries out reballasting in and around Kilruskin cutting on the Largs Branch. D3929 is on the front of the ballast train. See image [[36500]]

Charlesfield Munitions Factory: The SLS (Scottish Area)/BLS 'Scottish Rambler no 2' joint Easter rail tour was a 4-day marathon that ran from 12-15 April 1963 and involved no less than 14 different steam locomotives. Seen here on day 3 of the tour is B1 no 61324 bringing the special back from a visit to Jedburgh. The photograph is thought to have been taken from the siding that ran into the former munitions factory at Charlesfield, with the train about to cross over the minor road linking the A68 and the B6359 to the south of St. Boswells.

Jedfoot: SLS/BLS Scottish Rambler No 2 photographed at Jedfoot on 14 April 1963. The special was on its way back from a visit to Jedburgh behind B1 4-6-0 no 61324.

West Kilbride: A passing DMU working 'wrong line' to Largs during reballasting work in Kilruskin cutting near West Kilbride on Easter Sunday 1963.

Busby: Standard tank number 80116 approaches Busby with the 17.33 from St Enoch to East Kilbride in April 1966. The colour and modus operandi of the excavator is worthy of note.

Newhailes Junction: A gloomy Tuesday afternoon in April 1970 as EE Type 4 No. 252 passes Newhailes Junction with the 11.50 Aberdeen to Kings Cross Freightliner service. The single track of the by then freight only Musselburgh branch runs immediately to the right of the locomotive.

Feistawiese: Giesl ejector fitted 0-6-2RT No. 97.208 eases the 09.39 empties from Vordernberg downhill at Feistawiese on 14 April 1976, with sister locomotive No. 97.201 providing additional braking assistance at the rear of the train.

York: Deltic 55013 The Black Watch arriving at York on 14 April 1979 with an ECML service.

Hoghton: A very clean EE Class 40 40073, seen just west of the site of Hoghton station in April 1980, heading for the West Coast Main Line at Farington with a fitted van train.

Knottingley: 47179 photographed at Knottingley with a train of coal hoppers in April 1980.

Leyland: English Electric Type 4s meet at Leyland in April 1980. 40098 is on the Down Slow with a fitted van train while now preserved 40135 is on the Up Fast with ICI Sodium Carbonate tanks from Corkickle heading for Northwich in Cheshire.

York: 50039 Implacable brings the 1S27 Plymouth - Edinburgh train into York platform 15 on 14 April 1981. Standing ready to take over the train for the York - Edinburgh leg is Deltic 55015 Tulyar.

Gorgie Junction: 37147 brings a returning Aberdeen - Oxwellmains cement train off the E&G and onto the Edinburgh sub on 14 April 1981. The train is crossing Wheatfield Road between Haymarket West and Gorgie Junctions in the industrial area of Edinburgh dominated by the North British Distillery Co.

Gorgie Junction: After taking a freight through Gorgie Junction on the Edinburgh sub, 25026 turns towards Haymarket West Junction where it will join the E&G main line. The branch on the right runs to Haymarket Central Junction, beyond the tenements which stand on the corner of Robertson Avenue and Gorgie Road. The dominant aroma in this part of the city in 1981 came courtesy of the North British Distillery Co.

Gorgie East: A southbound cement train crossing the bridge over Gorgie Road and approaching the site of Gorgie East station on the Edinburgh sub on 14 April 1981.

Gorgie East: 25026 has just passed the site of Gorgie East station on the Edinburgh 'sub' with a northbound freight on 14 April 1981. The train is about to cross the bridge over Gorgie Road before taking the left fork at Gorgie Junction to join the E&G main line at Haymarket West.

Gorgie Junction: A class 37 approaching Gorgie Junction from the west with a cement train in April 1981.

Butterley: Peak D4 Great Gable at the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley, on 14 April 1983.

Felixstowe Beach: Class 10 'Colonel Tomline' (D3489) pulls a rake of container wagons through Felixstowe Beach station on 14th April 1984. It is about to reverse the wagons into a siding to clear the path for an incoming container train. This well known locomotive was eventually retired from the docks in 2001 after almost 32 years of service there and is now preserved on the Spa Valley Railway.

Woodbridge: The driver of 31 173 waits to be waved away from Woodbridge on Saturday April 15th 1984. The train is the 8.27 a.m. departure to London Liverpool Street. From isolated unstaffed halts in deepest Suffolk to major towns and the capital, and from pay train through local school train to Inter City express, the daily buffet car service from Lowestoft covered the entire range in one journey. This highly individual service ran for the last time on May 12th 1984 leaving the East Suffolk Line without through trains to London for the next 15 years.

Felixstowe Beach: A train of Class 37s is seen shortly after passing through the former Felixstowe Beach station running towards the junction near Felixstowe. From there, the locomotives will head to Ipswich for servicing see image [[34707]]. At the time, in April 1984, the heavy freightliner trains to the container port at Felixstowe were double-headed and this peculiar working helped ease the congestion on the line before the loop to Trimley was built.

Barnstaple: A weedkiller train, with a class 20 at each end, arrives at Barnstaple on 14 April 1992 with sprays in operation.

Prestonpans: View west towards Edinburgh from the platform at Prestonpans station in April 2003 as the ECML realignment resulting from the Dolphingstone diversion takes shape.

Pen Rhiw-calch: The Bryn Oer Tramway (also known as the Brinore Tramroad) was built to transport coal and limestone from Trefil (near Ebbw Vale) to the canal at Talybont east of Brecon. There was a long incline above - and steeper than - the Brecon & Merthyr's 'seven mile bank'. The photograph was taken at Pen Rhiw-calch, where the tramroad went through the hill below in a short tunnel. Visible at the top right of this picture just below the square-ish woodland is the route of the B&M heading to Torpantau.

Crawnon Valley: Part of the route of the Bryn Oer Tramway through the woods above the Crawnon Valley, Powys, in April 2004 see image [[38228]].

Oban: Scene at Oban in April 2005 with a train for Glasgow Queen Street at the platform.

Oban: Afternoon train for Glasgow standing at Oban station in April 2005.

Oban: Road approach to Oban station in 2005.

Taynuilt: Platform view at Taynuilt looking east in April 2005.

Ardrishaig: 'HMS Example' is an Archer Class patrol and training vessel attached to the University Royal Naval Unit and based at HMS Calliope at Gateshead to serve the north-east universities. Normally to be seen moored on the River Tyne between deployments it presented an unusual sight on the Crinan Canal at Easter 2006. It is interesting to reflect whether any of the students on board thought their potential naval career would ever involve a transit of the 'World's most beautiful short cut'.

Gleneagles: Unique pairing, SWT 158789 and Commonwealth Games 170460 heading north for Inverness passing Gleneagles.

Gleneagles: The Great Britain special heading home to London runs south through Gleneagles on 14 April behind 57601.

Gleneagles: 47245 at the rear of The Great Britain returning to London Kings Cross passing Gleneagles on 14 April.

Dalston: Single unit 153 on a Carlisle - Whitehaven service at Dalston on 14 April 2007.

Silverton Crossing: Closed NBR line where Greenhead Road Dumbarton crosses, looking West.

Silverton Crossing: Closed NBR line where Greenhead Road Dumbarton crosses, looking East.

Gleneagles: Ancient furniture at Gleneagles.

Gleneagles: Diverted Inverness - Edinburgh train races through Gleneagles at 1223 on 15/04/07.

Aviemore: After the briefest of stops at Aviemore 60009 & 61994 ease The Great Britain up to the signals.

Aviemore: The Great Britain railtour arrives at Aviemore.

Tomatin: The sun lights up 60009 & 61994 as they leave Tomatin with The Great Britain and head for Findhorn Viaduct.

Tomatin Viaduct: 60009 & 61994 are seen crossing the viaduct above Tomatin with The Great Britain.

Edinburgh Waverley: Scene at the west end of Waverley on a bright and sunny Saturday morning in April 2007. Platform availability was severely limited at this time due to ongoing electrification work. A service from Glasgow Queen Street has just cleared The Mound tunnel and is making its way towards platform 16. ScotRail DMU 170420 is one of a pair that had been specially turned out in Commonwealth Games promotional livery.

Dalwhinnie: Northbound service passes the old watertank and the signalbox at the north end of Dalwhinnie.

Lamington Viaduct: 66522 in Freightliner - Shanks livery presenting an interesting change from the usual bog standard colours (sorry) heads south over the Clyde at Lamington in atrocious weather on 14 April 2007.

Bridge of Earn: Engineers possession 14/15 April at Bridge of Earn looking NW. The signal is Hilton Junction distant.

Tebay: South of Tebay a track maintenance machine comes north by the River Lune and M6. It's a curious livery with something a bit Irn Bru about it.

Shap Summit: Were you worried about the load? A double headed Freightliner runs south from Shap Summit ... and it was a longer train than is shown here ...

Esk Viaduct [Cumbria]: Pendolino crosses the Esk Viaduct (Cumbria) on its way north on the evening of 14 April. In the distance the line to Longtown turns off to the right.

Little Strickland: Varying sizes and shapes of limestone empties from Lackenby run south from Little Strickland on 14 April 2008.

Little Strickland: Northbound Virgin service near Little Strickland.

Stromeferry: The basic facilities of Stromeferry station.

Scout Green: Virgin service on the former level crossing at Scout Green. View looks south in April 2008.

Achanalt: 45407 is pictured running fast between Achanalt and Achnasheen with The North Briton on 14 April 2008.

Rockcliffe: Glasgow bound Pendolino north of the former Rockcliffe station at the point where the up slow line begins its climb to the flyover into Carlisle Marshalling Yard.

Norton Bridge Junction: View looking south to Norton Bridge Junction, Staffordshire, in April 2008. The route to the left is to Stone and Stoke-on-Trent, that in the foreground to Crewe and the line runs south to Stafford.

Wyre Viaduct: Northbound First service crossing the Six Arch Viaduct (or Wyre Bridge on an OS map!) at Scorton.

Wennington Junction: Wennington signal box was in the recess but was removed in 2006 having been switched out for many years. The signalling block section now extends from Carnforth to Settle Junction. Picture taken looking west towards the former junction for Lancaster where the remaining line swings right towards Melling and Carnforth. The signalbox has gone to the Poulton and Wyre Railway Society.

Wennington: Still served by five Pacers a day each way between Leeds and Lancaster but that is a far cry from when a Jubilee or Patriot would arrive with a corridor express from Leeds to be divided into portions for Lancaster and Barrow in Furness. Picture taken looking east towards Bentham.

Esk Viaduct [Cumbria]: Virgin service crossing the Esk Viaduct at Metal Bridge. View looks west.

Penkridge: A tired villa, shutters drawn? No, Penkridge station building on the up platform. A building so close to the edge of the platform that the yellow line to keep back from runs just about along the front of the building.

Shapbeck Quarry: A northbound Pendolino leaving Shap with the the town and Hardendale Quarry as a backdrop.

Arkholme: Closed to passengers in September 1960, Arkholome station was converted into an outstanding home. Picture taken looking west towards Borwick and Carnforth from the B6254 roadbridge. (SD586725)

Lune Gorge: Not far from the former water troughs of Dillicar Common a First service heads south. An interesting comparison in investment at a fairly remote spot; two tracks versus one motorway comprising two roadways of four lanes each.

Esk Viaduct [Cumbria]: A Glasgow bound Pendolino crossing the Esk just north of Floriston late in the afternoon of 14 April 2008.

Arkholme: Former station at Arkholme, closed in September 1960, and now extended as a very nice country home with the bonus of trains still passing through.

Knaresborough: 153317 and 155347 form a service to Leeds at Knaresborough on 14 April 2009.

Musselburgh: The remnants of a North Sea haar appear to be hanging over the southern approaches to Edinburgh on 14 April 2009 as a northbound HST runs through Musselburgh on its way to its next scheduled stop at Waverley. The train is the National Express East Coast 0845 Leeds - Aberdeen service.

Musselburgh: The Great Britain II railtour (1010 ex-Waverley) returning south through Musselburgh on 14 April 2009 behind 60009 Union of South Africa.

Scotland Street: View north from the site of Scotland street station on 14 April 2009 through the newly reopened Rodney Street tunnel.

Musselburgh: The 0845 Leeds - Aberdeen HST passes through Musselburgh on 14 April 2009 heading for its next stop at Waverley.

Thornton West Junction: The bald-looking 159 782, long painted out of SWT livery but still unbranded, passes Thornton West Junction approaching Glenrothes with Thornton station with an outer circle service.

Musselburgh: Gresley A4 Pacific no 60009 Union of South Africa heading south through Musselburgh on 14 April with the returning Great Britain II railtour.

Scotland Street: A young woman with a pushchair walks from King George V Park, through the site of Scotland Street station towards the south portal of the newly reopened Rodney Street Tunnel, perhaps on her way to visit the superstore located alongside the northern approach. The old tunnel now provides a useful pedestrian and cycle link between this part of the New Town and the Broughton area, avoiding the need to cross two very busy roads. See image [[36593]]

Dalston: 60163 Tornado powering through Dalston, Cumbria,  just after 1.30pm on 14 April with the Cumbrian Coast Tornado. The locomotive is heading for a well earned rest at Carlisle, having left Crewe around 7am. The weather could not have been better.

Hest Bank: A glorious morning at Hest Bank as A1 Pacific 60163 approaches the level crossing with the Cumbrian Coast Tornado excursion, running about thirty minutes late. It has been a steamy start to 2010 on the West Coast Main Line in the North West with more specials planned as the year progresses. 60163 was booked to take the coast line to Carlisle via Workington and then return on the Settle and Carlisle.

Hest Bank: The pantograph on Stobart liveried 92017 is rising as it approaches Hest Bank level crossing where the wires are set high to provide clearance. The very long train was composed almost entirely of Tesco containers, with just a few empty flats at the rear, demonstrating DB's confidence in the Class 92 Co-Co electric's hauling capabilities over the climbs ahead.

Leuchars: On 14 April 170 416 pulls into Leuchars with one of the hourly Dundee to Edinburgh semi-fast services.  These trains are a fairly recent addition to the hourly Aberdeen services and have doubled the number of daytime services here, as well as doubling the work (or at least the lever-pulling) of the signalman in the box in the background.

Cowdenbeath South Junction: Cowdenbeath South was where the deviation to Cowdenbeath New (the existing route) left the line through the original station. The fact that a sign was placed here shows that the junction survived after its signal box closed with the opening of Edinburgh Signalling Centre. However it doesn't appear to have lasted much longer and it's clearly not been thought worthwhile to remove the sign (seen here in April 2010) for that last 30 years or so!

Cowdenbeath: As well as its Fife Circle services Cowdenbeath is the terminus of an hourly train from Edinburgh during the day.  Trains arrive and depart from the 'right' platforms which, as the crossover is at the 'wrong' side of the station makes things slightly awkward and the crew have to change ends three times during each visit.  Here on 14 April 170 471 performs the middle manoeuvre, running wrong line into the southbound platform.  Note the black eye effect of using FSR coloured spares on an SPT liveried set.

Dunfermline Queen Margaret: Hoping to influence the local rail traveller, a candidate for the Dunfermline & West Fife seat in the General Election has placed some placards in the field adjoining Queen Margaret station.  Meanwhile 158 731 pulls in on its first stop on a Cowdenbeath to Newcraighall service.  It has just passed, beyond the disused overbridge, the rusty loops at Townhill Junction, busy with Longannet coal trains until 2 years ago when the reopening of the Alloa line obviated the need for a lengthy detour and and some shunting.

Leuchars: View over the south end of Leuchars station on 14 April 2010. The site of the bay used by some East Fife line services can clearly be made out.  St Andrews still appears on the departure monitors here, but the platform number is 'BUS'. Note the shortening of the Up platform: this is mirrored at the northern end see image [[28538]] making Platform 1 significantly shorter than Platform 2. This is quite an achievement for an island station and I can't quite work out the rationale behind it!

Milton Junction: The former Milton Junction was where the East Fife line left the main line just south of Leuchars station. The box which controlled it was called Leuchars South. The East Fife line was single so a tablet was needed, therefore a tablet platform was located alongside the box.  This odd remnant is the lamp which illuminated the platform, still in situ 41 years after the closure of the junction and box.  Photographed in April 2010 by sticking my head over the parapet of the overbridge on which it is mounted!

Cowdenbeath: Cowdenbeath on 14 April and the crew of 170 471 have just changed ends for the third and final time and are ready to return to Edinburgh and Newcraighall.  Things would be a little easier for Cowdenbeath services if the crossover were to the north of the station (ie in the distance in this shot) rather than to the south.  The station building dates from 1962 and its opening was thought worthy of an article in the British Railways staff newspaper.

Cowdenbeath: 170 412 approaches Cowdenbeath with an Outer Circle working on 14 April. It is crossing over the High Street.  The Leisure Centre on the right of the picture occupies the site of No 7 pit, right in the town centre.  Coal was indeed king.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Even with the tunnels immediately off the end of the platforms there is a light and airy feel to Queen Street station, greatly assisted by the light coloured floor tiles. 170401, newly arrived, sits alongside 158738, which is just about to leave on an all stations to Anniesland shuttle service.

Haymarket: Two Scotrail Class 170s pass in the tunnel mouth at Haymarket. 170418 on the left is heading for Waverley and the approaching 170414 is bound for Dunblane.

Anniesland: Conversation at Anniesland. The crew of 158738 chat before returning to Glasgow Queen St via Maryhill while 318257 leaves on a service to Milngavie.

Busby: An East Kilbride bound service, formed by 156512, calls at Busby and will then join the single line section that starts just beyond the platforms.

Coatbridge Sunnyside: Having left Coatbridge Sunnyside station heading for Helensburgh 334006 is just passing Sunnyside Junction where the freight only line from Whifflet trails in See image [[10949]]. Immediately beyond here, but hidden by the train, the former line to Gunnie yard branched off to the right.

Anniesland: Looking towards the Clyde from Anniesland as 318258 crosses the girder bridge over the Great Western Road on a service for Dalmuir. The colour light signal in the foreground controls Hyndland North Jcn with the feather being for the single line chord to Hyndland West Jcn, mainly used for ECS Yoker movements.

Coatbridge Sunnyside: An Edinburgh to Helensburgh service, formed by Saltire liveried 334006, pauses at Coatbridge Sunnyside after a run along the new A to B line. Resurfacing and other work was taking place on the car park and station forecourt here on this date.

Busby: 156512 leaves Busby on a Glasgow service on 14th April. This was the eve of the 45th anniversary of the last steam train on this line See image [[46728]] and I know that the gent waiting for the approaching East Kilbride Sprinter was ruefully wishing it was a 2-6-4T for the climb to the terminus.

Edinburgh Waverley: 380104 stands under the scaffolding at Waverley on 14 April 2011 with a train for North Berwick.

East Kilbride: The crew of 156431 changes ends during a short stop at the functional terminus of the East Kilbride line before dropping back down the branch with another service for Glasgow Central.

Newcraighall: Platform view north at Newcraighall on 14 April 2012. Planters on the platform here are maintained by the Rotary Club of Portobello.

Ashton Swing Bridge (Preston): The 'Olive Branch' railtour visited the Ribble Steam Railway at Preston Docks on 14 April 2012. 66138 is seen crossing the swing bridge at the west end of the docks on the return journey. The pyramid shaped building on the extreme right of the photo is the bridge control room.

Cupar: Some of the exhibits on display within the new Cupar Heritage Centre, located in the former Station Master's cottage, seen here on 14 April 2012. The Centre will be open from 12 to 4 on Saturdays and from 2 to 4 on Sundays.

Blackpool (Gynn Square): There are still classic trams operating in Blackpool, but only on special heritage services between Pleasure Beach and Little Bispham. Open top Balloon car 706 runs north through Gyn Square on a Promenade Tour service on 14 April 2012. See image [[32859]] for the same view just over one year earlier.

Portobello: Despite the Freightliner depot at Portobello closing 25 years ago, the sign and crane remain : and Freightliner Heavy Haul freights again pass the site, bringing coal from Leith Docks. Photograph taken on 14 April from a train on the main line.

Newcraighall: A wave from Bill Douglas to passengers at Newcraighall on 14 April 2012.

Cupar: Cupar Heritage chairman Guthrie Hutton at the opening of the new Cupar Heritage Centre on 14 April 2012 seen (above) introducing Sir Bob Reid and (below) with some of the local volunteers who have been involved with the project [see adjacent news item].

Fort George [2nd]: The still intact embankment that carried the trackbed of the Fort George Branch, coming from right of picture running into the distance towards Gollanfield Junction in April 2012. Taken from Station Road in Ardersier where Fort George Station was located.

Fort George [2nd]: The still complete goods shed at Fort George Station in Ardersier, some 53 years after complete closure of the branch see image [[5171]].

Amsterdam Central: Platform scene at Amsterdam Central on 14 April.

Lenzie: Raised umbrellas on platform 1 at Lenzie on 14 April as the 09.37 Glasgow Queen Street to Aberdeen Sunday morning service arrives in the rain.

Sale: Like their counterparts on the Bury line many of the Metrolink stations on the Altrincham line retain the features from their main line railway days. This is Sale in April 2014, complete with canopies and street level booking hall, as Tram 3012 calls on its way to Manchester.

Sale [Tram]: Metrolink 3024 rolls into Sale heading for Manchester on 14th April 2014. The very long platforms reflect earlier main line railway use. Nowadays there is just a short section, long enough for four tramcar coaches, available for use. The Bridgwater Canal lies immediately behind the brick wall seen here.

Brooklands: Metrolink 3051 leaves Brooklands on a Manchester bound service, next stop Sale, which is just visible through the bridge arch. The Bridgwater Canal lies immediately behind the Up platform and runs parallel to the line. See image [[41430]] for the same station in 25kv main line days.

Hellifield: Signals at Hellifield, April 2014. Left: Vewed in close-up, it can be seen that Hellifield signal HD52 applies to the down loop and not the down main, as might be thought when seen from a distance. Right: Forty years ago, a starting signal like this on the up side would hardly have warranted a second glance. Thankfully it has not been spoiled by clumsy modern alterations.

Hellifield: The recently restored canopy at Hellifield makes a very attractive frame for the various signals on the down side. This end of the island platform has not been raised as part of the refurbishment works and is no longer used, although it can still be accessed when the tearoom is open.

Kilmarnock: Platform scene at Kilmarnock Station in spring sunshine on 14 April. The 13.42 ex-Glasgow Central has recently arrived at platform 2. The colourful half-barrels here are lovingly maintained by the Hurlford Gardening Club.

Pont-y-Pant: Platform view at Pont-y-Pant on 14th April 2015. The former Gents (centre) which now forms part of the accommodation of the private residence in the station building seems more generously proportioned than the present shelter for passengers - and certainly more substantial in construction.

Dolwyddelan: View from what was formerly the end of the island platform at Dolwyddelan on 14th April 2015. The infilled section in the parapet is where the access steps met the overbridge.

Dolwyddelan: Platform scene at Dolwyddelan in April 2015. To the right of the now singled track through the station is an incline once used to bring down slate from the local quarries.

Tal-y-Cafn: Late afternoon sunshine at Tal-y-Cafn on 14th April 2015. The board on the retained but disused up platform still displays the full former name of Tal-y-Cafn & Eglwsbach.

Pont-y-Pant: The 148 yard Pont-y-Pant Lower tunnel, seen here from the station approach lane overbridge, still appears unlined but has been rock bolted and netted internally in recent years.

Pont-y-Pant: Looking southeast towards Pont-y-Pant from the approach lane overbridge in April 2015. The station had a passing loop until 1951 and also a siding along the line of the present cable duct, but only had a single platform. When the scene is observed from other viewpoints the radio mast and cabin are less obtrusive than appears here.

Roman Bridge Tunnel: The Roman Bridge Tunnel, seen here from the Blaenau end, is surprisingly dated 1891 (the line through to Blaenau was opened in 1879). This is actually the date the tunnel was lined.

Betws-y-Coed: A tantalising glimpse of a 'real' train through the station entrance at Betws-y-Coed on 14 April 2015 proves to be the static coach used as a tearoom in the Conwy Valley Railway Museum.

Glan Conwy: Beauty and the bus shelter - looking north towards Llandudno Junction over the River Conwy in the late afternoon sunshine on 14th April 2015.

Betws-y-Coed: Strange creatures at Betws-y-Coed on 14th April 2015. Edith, the Bottle Top Rhino waits on the platform to inform bemused visitors about the plight of her relatives in South Africa while resident Red Dragons (see inset) look down from the roof.

St Kitts: How's this for obscure? An abandoned section of the sugar cane railway in St. Kitts.

Betws-y-Coed: View south on the remaining single platform at Betws-y-Coed on 14th April 2015. The static coaches and vans on the right are part of the Conwy Valley Railway Museum and are located on a section of the line to the former goods shed.

Boat of Garten: View north at Boat of Garten on 14 April 2015

Edinburgh Waverley: 'Window cleaner wanted - must have large bucket'. View north west over Market Street towards Princes Street on 14 April 2015 showing part of the glass canopy covering the station.

North Llanrwst: Having paused at the signalbox to exchange tokens, the 1653 Llandudno - Blaenau Ffestiniog carries on through North Llanrwst station on 14th April 2015 without being requested to stop.

Edinburgh Waverley: The escalator alongside platform 11 linking the Waverley west end concourse with the cross-station walkway. This oddly angled addition was brought into use at the end of 2013. Long term plans for the extension of platform 12 could mean its days are already numbered - along with those of the building in the right background. Standing at the west end of platform 11 on 14 April 2015 is the 1100 to Glasgow Queen Street.

North Llanrwst: Looking through North Llanrwst station towards Llandudno Junction from the barrow crossing on 14th April 2015.

Waterloo Place: Opened in 1819 as the Waterloo Hotel, the building at 23 Waterloo Place was promoted as Edinburgh's 'first large scale hotel' with the strapline '...an establishment where strangers can see the manners of the people and mix with the society of the place'. The location was later to become, for many years, the Headquarters of the North British Railway Company. Now a category A listed building it has since reverted to its original use, this time under the name Apex Hotel, seen here on 14 April 2015. The Dugald Stewart Monument stands on Calton Hill in the right background.

Dolwyddelan: The 1511 Blaenau Ffestiniog - Llandudno service passes the former island platform of the well kept but now quiet Dolwyddelan station on 14th April 2015. The station also had a goods loop and shed serving a slate quarry on the hill to the right.

Dolwyddelan: The approach to Dolwyddelan from the south west (Blaenau Ffestiniog) direction takes the line over the middle section of this substantial triple bridge over the Afon Cym Penamnen. The bridge was formerly double tracked when the station had an island platform. [Ref query 7615]

Pont-y-Pant: The station building at Pont-y-Pant, now a private residence, seen from the approach lane on 14th April 2015.

Burton Salmon: A grounded railway carriage by the entrance to a livery stable close to the former Burton Salmon station, although now becoming more obscured by trees. Considering how many years it has been here it is in remarkably good condition. I recollect it was previously used by a cricket club as a pavilion.

Burton Salmon: View along a grounded railway carriage near the former Burton Salmon station.

Farington: All that is missing is the double arrow logos on each loco and the photo could have been from 30 to 40 years ago. 20142 and 20189 pass Farington heading towards Preston whilst working the 5Z20 from Wolverton to Craigentinny with a pair of barrier coaches. The train actually only reached Carlisle later that night, completing the journey to Craigentinny the following day.

Edinburgh Airport [Tram]: Amidst the paraffin smells and sudden roars of the airport, trams come and go for York Place (where else).

Braunton: The old goods shed at Braunton see image [[56400]] is now the Museum of British Surfing. I assume that is an outdoor activity, as opposed to Internet browsing.

Aboyne: Aboyne railway station yesterday, part of the building is now a café, 'Spider on a bicycle' it was a welcome stop while I ran from Holburn Street station to Ballater on the Deeside way which mostly follows the old line.

Aboyne: Aboyne railway station yesterday, part of the building is now a café, 'Spider on a bicycle' it was a welcome stop while I ran from Holburn Street station to Ballater on the Deeside way which mostly follows the old line. The ceiling has lovely original plasterwork.

Aboyne: This is where the line crossed the Tarland burn just east of Aboyne station. The bridge abutment looks like it has been partially removed and with subsequent development it makes the line difficult to locate.

Chivenor: Further to the well known signal at Signal Court see image [[56400]], these two signals decorate a driveway adjacent to RAF Chivenor, Devon.

Launceston: I knew I shouldn't have taken that wrong turn at Mount Pleasant, I hate pasties. A former Royal Mail underground train loiters in the museum at the Launceston Steam Railway.

Launceston: Malcolm Stone has very sensibly and generously lent his collection of signal finials to the Launceston Railway Museum.

Ballater: View over the rear of the fire damaged Ballater station on the morning of 14 April 2017, with the camera held at full stretch above the barrier.

Nuttall Tunnel: EE Type 4 50015 Valiant runs south through the cutting between Nuttall and Brooksbottom tunnels hauling a Ramsbottom to Bury shuttle service during the Class 40s at 60 Gala on 14th April 2018. See image [[32571]] for a track level view of this location.

Loddington Goods: Sometimes, the dedicated railway rambler should really carry a Geiger counter. Old sleepers covered in moss at the Loddington freight terminus emit a slightly unearthly glow.

National Railway Museum [York]: The South Leith branch, then North Berwick branch, then Port Carlisle horse drawn Dandy Car, seen with 'Mallard' in the National Railway Museum in York on 9th April 2018 - 'Hold tight please!'. See image [[41960]] of Port Carlisle station today.

Bamber Bridge: 50049 and 50007 head east from Bamber Bridge hauling 'The Cumbrian Hoovers' railtour from Birmingham International to Carlisle on 14 April 2018. The outward journey was via the S&C with the return around the Cumbrian coast.

Summerseat: The East Lancashire Class 40s at 60 gala ran from 13th to 15th April 2018 and featured six of the seven survivors, with five being operational. Here, immaculate 40012 Aureol approaches Summerseat station heading for Bury with a morning train. The last time I saw this loco was in 1985 when it was briefly in departmental service before final withdrawal See image [[23791]]

Woodacre Crossing: The Cumbrian Hoovers tour made a fine sight heading back home at Woodacre after traversing the Cumbrian Coast line on 14th April 2018. 50007 and 50049 had a full rake of blue and grey stock on this fully booked train.

Brock: Catching the early evening sunshine, 50007 and 50049 are approaching Brock on 14 April 2018 whilst working the return leg of 'The Cumbrian Hoovers' railtour from Carlisle to Birmingham International via the Cumbrian coast.

Culloden Viaduct: 66743 and 66746 double head *The Royal Scotsman * over Culloden Viaduct on the way to Aviemore from Inverness. From Aviemore the train will be hauled by a Strathspey Railway engine to Boat of Garten.

Millerhill Engineers Depot: Looking south from Whitehill Road to the Civil Engineers compound at Millerhill Yard. A new siding has been installed, perhaps to compensate for ground given up for the new electric train depot. This is at a level some thirty feet above the track level in image 63372! 20 February 2018.

Brooksbottom Tunnel: 40013 Andania visited the ELR for the Class 40s at 60 gala. The pristine green machine is seen emerging from Brooksbottom tunnel near Summerseat heading back to Bury on 14th April 2018.

Welford and Kilworth: 50 years after closure there is still a hump in the road here, at the site of the former level crossing. The station was on the left side of the road. Ironically, there is a secondhand car dealer on the right, which is useful when you are miles from the nearest railway.

Inverkeithing East Junction: Scotrail power car 43146 brings up the rear of a Craigentinny - Dundee working at Donibristle on 14th April 2018.

Summerseat: During the ELR Class 40s at 60 Gala in April 2018 all the passenger services between Heywood and Rawtenstall were hauled by Class 40s but there were also Parcels Train shuttles between Bury and Ramsbottom with other English Electric locos. Deltic 55009 Alycidon is seen leaving Summerseat for Bury with one of these trains, formed of a rake of vans and two passenger carrying MkIs.

Dufftown: Class 108 Driving Motor Standard Lavatory (DMSL) 51568 arrives at Dufftown on 14/04/18

Summerseat Viaduct: 40135 looks immaculate as it crosses Summerseat Viaduct and approaches the south portal of Brooksbottom tunnel heading for Ramsbottom during the ELR Class 40s at 60 Gala on 14th April 2018.

Donibristle Platform: Colas 60087 leans into the curve as it nears Donibristle with a Dundee - Millerhill engineers train on 14th April 2018.

Summerseat Viaduct: Green liveried 40106, now named Atlantic Conveyor, crosses Summerseat Viaduct heading north during the ELR Class 40s at 60 Gala on 14th April 2018.

Welford and Kilworth: View north from the former level crossing at Welford and Kilworth in April 2018. There is no physical trace of the former station; but instinct tells you it was here. see image [[25890]]

Burntisland: The 1215 Edinburgh Waverley - Glenrothes with Thornton arriving at Burntisland on 14 April 2019.

Blair Atholl: 158705, working from Inverness to Glasgow Queen Street, leaves Blair Atholl on 14th April 2019.

Newcraighall North Junction: ScotRail 170415 takes the Borders line at Newcraighall North Junction on a bright and sunny 14 April 2018. The train is the 0911 (Sunday) Edinburgh - Tweedbank.

Leeming Bar: The burnt off stump of the tender drawbar of ex BR 9F 2-10-0 92219 is still in situ as it awaits restoration at Leeming Bar, Wensleydale Railway.

Blair Atholl: Blair Atholl signal box is still operating the semaphores and controlling the level crossing at this location in 2019. GBRf 66743 passes through with empty Royal Scotsman stock from Boat of Garten to Dundee on 14th April.

Pitlochry: 66522, on a special working of engineer's wagons from Millerhill to Aviemore, powers through Pitlochry on 14th April 2019. In Platform 1 170430, on an Inverness to Edinburgh service, waits for the line to clear. These trains should have passed at Dunkeld but the passenger train had been delayed at Blair Atholl by 'animals on the line'.

Leeming Bar: Another one that got away. Brush Type 4 47715, after being rubbed down and repainted in Network South East livery, was removed by Harry Needle for use at his Worksop storage facility. It is seen stabled by the signal box at Leeming Bar in April 2019.

Leeming Bar: View of ex BR 9F 2-10-0 92219 stored to the rear of the platform at Leeming Bar station of the Wensleydale Railway. The cab is still in very good condition but the boiler backhead is devoid of fittings. It is a long term restoration project for the owner of one of the Class 37 diesel locos at the railway.

Leeming Bar: Front three-quarter view of ex BR 9F 2-10-0 92219 stored to the rear of the platform at Leeming Bar station of the Wensleydale Railway. The smoke deflectors are still in very good condition but there is a lot to do before it steams again! This loco, together with the same owners EE Type 3 37674, was removed from the railway in 2020, and is now apparently located in a yard at Tebay. See image [[75490]]

Leeming Bar: Ex Southern Region BRCW Type 3 33035 is seen in the depot yard by the Wensleydale Railway's Leeming Bar station in April 2019. As of 2021 This loco is now the mainstay for the loco hauled stock and the Polar Express specials, and is on hire from Pioneer Diesels.

Blair Atholl: The up starter signal at Blair Atholl in April 2019. This protects the level crossing and the single line section south from here to Pitlochry.

Garstang and Catterall: During the Covid-19 lockdown railway outings were curtailed, but occasionally the daily permitted exercise walk coincided with an interesting movement through Garstang or Woodacre. This NRMT train, from Derby to Carlisle on 14th April 2020, was one example. It is pictured here passing the point where the old Knott End line came in to run parallel to the WCML down to Garstang and Catterall station through the single arch bridge, which is one of two that still span the old trackbed. 37423 was in charge with 37424 (37558) on the rear.

Broomhill Siding: This extract of the OS 1:2500 scale 1st Edition map shows the location of the temporary siding built to facilitate the movement of materials for the construction of part of the Aberdeen Water Works Extension in 1864-1865. It was located where the railway was close to grade to enable easy unloading of wagons between Broomhill Cottage and Broomhill House. The AWWE contractor, (Alexander) Easton Gibb, of the Gibb civil engineering dynasty, was himself a railway engineer and made extensive use of the Deeside Railway's goods trains for transporting his materials from Aberdeen Harbour and Guild Street Goods Station to the stations along the line to Banchory. He also used DRCo's passenger coaches to transport his workers from Aberdeen in special early morning trains. A siding at Ruthrieston Station was authorised by the DRCo. board at the same meeting which heard that the Broomhill Siding was in operation but, as shown here and on later maps, it does not seem to have been built perhaps because it lay between an embankment and a shallow cutting. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland. See https://maps.nls.uk/index.html

Garstang and Catterall: Careful timing of the daily permitted walk on 14th April 2020 meant that 57301 was seen at Garstang heading south from Kilmarnock with Greater Anglia 317885 in tow, heading for Ilford Depot. In fact there were three loco hauled trains at this point in quick succession which was most fortunate in these restricted times.

Garstang and Catterall: A very clean looking 66175 heads south at Garstang with a Mossend to Daventry service on 14th April 2020. The previous month the locomotive had been named 'Rail Riders Express' at an event at Toton. Photograph ancillary to a permitted daily exercise walk.

Abbeyhill Junction: Back in the day these two bridges on Abbeymount each carried double tracks through Calton Tunnels into Waverley; now there is only one track through each tunnel and both of them use the bridge on the left. The bridge above me carries nothing, not even student flats. Incidentally the unusually high pavement is a result of the roadway being lowered in the 1970s to provide better headroom. Photographed incidental to my daily exercise permitted under emergency Coronavirus legislation.

King's Road Junction: The Leith South branch is out of regular use and vegetation is encroaching. This view looks north towards the site of Kings Road Junction (See image [[33091]]), which was more or less next to that redbrick building. The short branch from the junction went under the road to serve a far more imposing redbrick building, Portobello power station. Photographed incidental to my daily exercise permitted under emergency Coronavirus legislation.

Buckshaw Parkway: April 2021 has seen a series of daily ecs training runs between Manchester Victoria and Preston using Class 323 EMUs, a train seldom seen in the Preston area. On the 14th the third return trip to Manchester with 323237 is seen approaching Buckshaw Parkway.

Edinburgh Park: A Class 385, from Dunblane perhaps, reaches the city proper at Edinburgh Park on 14 April 2021. Office development in Edinburgh Park itself advances southwards and could well reach the station by the end of the century.

Hurworth Burn: How many council workers does it take to move an information board two feet to the right? Three, apparently. This work was taking place at the site of the former station at Hurworth Burn. I did not make further enquiries.

Hett Mill Level Crossing: A down Azuma shows no sign of slowing down for its next stop at Durham as it passes Hett Mill level crossing. This crossing has little road traffic as it is on a cul-de-sac, but another photographer turned up while I was in residence.

Pitlochry: First light at Pitlochry, and just enough to capture the on time northbound sleeper. Grubby 73968 contrasted with the shiny green 66779 'EVENING STAR' as they slowed for the station stop on 14th April 2022.

Prospect Place Foot Crossing: Although there is a daily path each way for the Oxwellmains to Inverness cement tanks, in practice it seems to run no more than once a week. 70805 is approaching Pitlochry a few minutes early at 0645hrs on 14th April 2022. This view from the garden at www.pitlochrylineside.co.uk