Eldroth: Hardwicke and the Midland Compound burst out from under Cragg Lane Bridge, west of Eldroth on the Settle Junction to Carnforth line on 24 April 1976. No 1000 is unfortunately partly obscured by its own exhaust steam. See image [[37313]]

Shipley: The pairing of LNWR Precedent class 2-4-0 No. 790 'Hardwicke' and the Midland Compound No. 1000 might not have been historically authentic but the two locos still made a pleasing sight as they passed Shipley Bingley Junction box in April 1976 while working the Gainsborough Model Railway Society's London & North Western & Midland Railways Joint Tour between York and Carnforth. The only jarring note is the BR corporate blue and grey livery adorning the Mk1 coaches which formed the train.

Eldroth: LNWR Precedent class 2-4-0 No. 790 'Hardwicke' and the Midland Compound No. 1000 head towards Clapham with the Gainsborough Model Railway Society special of 24th April 1976. Although sunny the day was rather hazy so that the fine Dales scenery in the background is barely visible.

Wennington Junction: The Wennington signalman has been quick to return his down (?) starter to danger as a Leeds - Morecambe DMU accelerates away from the station during the early evening of Saturday 24th April 1976. Running off to the right is the trackbed of the direct line to Lancaster, closed in 1966.

Melling Tunnel: Flying Scotsman bursts out of Melling Tunnel and passes Wennington up distant while working the GMRS special of 24th April 1976 on its return from Carnforth to York.

Butterley: Stanton No. 24, an 0-4-0CT built by Andrew Barclay in 1925 stands in the open air at the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley, in April 1977.

Kings Cross: Deltic 55014 The Duke of Wellington's Regiment carries out a few manoeuvres between turns at the north end of Kings Cross on 24 April 1979.

Peterborough: Deltic 55007 Pinza clears Thorpe Road Bridge as it approaches Peterborough station on 24 April 1979 with a northbound train on the East Coast Main Line.

Aviemore: HST 254-023 at Aviemore with an ASLEF Centenary Special on the 24th of April 1980. This was apparently the first HST on the Highland.

Bristol Temple Meads: 50018 Resolution enters Bristol Temple Meads with a train from the south-west on 24 April 1982.

Birmingham New Street: 50014 Warspite at Birmingham New Street on 24 April 1982.

Ardleigh: The level crossing at Ardleigh was converted from manual gates to automatic lifting barriers on April 24th 1983. Despite no working signals or track circuiting, the trains were kept running by basic signaling methods that dated back to the early years of railways. In this photo taken on that day, 47 431 heading a Norwich to London express is being flagged down for the driver to be assured that the line ahead was clear. I learned from a signalman some months later that there had been a “miscommunication” during this operation which had resulted in a “narrow squeak”.

Healey Mills Marshalling Yard: Ex-Departmental locomotives TDB 968009 (24142) and ADB 968001 (D8233) at the east end of Healey Mills Yard in April 1984, where they had lain for over a year following use as train heating units. In the background a class 37 rumbles past with a coal train. Whilst 24142 was to succumb to being scrapped, at Coopers Metals in Sheffield, in September that same year, D8233 is undergoing restoration by 'The Class 15 Preservation Group' on the East Lancs Railway. The class 15s were some of the earliest diesels withdrawn by BR see image [[2884]]

Chester: Down but not out! In April 1987, the 45s had little time left on passenger services - but this one still looks fit to head for Leeds - at around 19.05, according to the Chester platform clocks.

Cliddesden: A residential training course in Hampshire allowed me to make a pilgrimage to the site of Cliddesden station, just outside Basingstoke. It last saw passengers in 1932 but five years later achieved fame as Buggleskelly, with many action scenes in the comedy 'Oh Mr Porter' being filmed here. Stars Will Hay, Graham Moffat and Moore Marriott got into various scrapes around this little station. By the time of my visit in 1991 just the mounds of the platforms, now on private land, and the trace of the track bed in between were visible. This view from the site of the level crossing looks south east through the site towards Alton.

Battledown Flyover: An early evening Up train from the south coast to London Waterloo, formed by express EMU 2416, crosses Battledown Flyover just to the west of Basingstoke. The Salisbury lines pass under the flyover while the Down line to Winchester and Southampton goes off to the left.

Toddington: Ex-GWR Modified Hall 4-6-0 7903 Foremarke Hall at Toddington on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. Built at Swindon in 1949, the locomotive went to Woodhams following withdrawal by BR in 1964, where it languished for 20 years until rescued by the Swindon & Cricklade Railway in 1984. Another 22 years on and restoration work was completed with the locomotive now resident at Toddington, where the photograph was taken on 24 April 2008.

Alloa: Looking south east towards the platform at Alloa from Old Brewery Lane on 24 April 2008, with ScotRail 158730 standing at the buffer stops. The unit is waiting to return to Stirling on a crew familiarisation trip, with less than four weeks to go before recommencement of public services over the route.

Alloa: Unit 158730 about to leave the platform line at Alloa on a route familiarisation trip to Stirling on 24 April 2008, the month before the line reopened to passenger services. The train is about to pass below the bridge that once took the original Alloa Wagonway over the S&D route.

Botanic Gardens Tunnel: Glasgow Central Railway. Looking from Kirklee towards Botanic Gardens through the bars at the mouth of the tunnel.

Livingston North: Bit of a mess. An Edinburgh Waverley - Bathgate DMU arriving at Livingston North on 24 April 2008. The construction work is in connection with the redoubling, electrification and eventual reopening of the line to Airdrie. Through services on the reinstated route commenced in December 2010.

Kelvin Bridge: Glasgow Central Railway. Bridge over the River Kelvin at the site of the former GCR Kelvin Bridge station.

Kelvin Bridge: Glasgow Central Railway. Kelvin Bridge to Botanic Gardens tunnel, bricked up entrance.

Botanic Gardens: Glasgow Central Railway. Botanic Gardens station from above.

Botanic Gardens Tunnel: Kirklee end of tunnel leading to Botanic Gardens Station on the Glasgow Central Railway.

Kirklee: Glasgow Central Railway. Kirklee Station site showing platform.

Kirklee: Remains of the Glasgow Central Railway at Kirklee Station site. Looking north in April 2008 to where the railway bridge crossed Ford Road. Please excuse the litter.

Halton [NWR]: This bridge over the Lancaster to Wennington direct line was built in 1960 to carry the Lancaster By-pass, later the M6 Motorway. The railway closed only six years later however and this view looks east towards Halton station along the trackbed cyclepath. The lorry is just about to cross the River Lune on the much more impressive motorway viaduct. Map Ref SD 495644.

Grosmont: Information board alongside Stephenson's original 1835 tunnel at Grosmont in April 2009. [See 24122] [Railscot note: Paul Harvey points out that the tunnel under the Queens Park in Edinburgh (on the Edinburgh & Dalkeith Railway approach to St Leonards station) opened in 1831 and therefore predates the NYMR tunnel.] See image [[17619]]

Grosmont Tunnels: The original railway tunnel at Grosmont in April 2009, now used as a pedestrian route between the station and shed (far end). See image [[24121]]

Knaresborough: A quiet period at Knaresborough station in April 2009. View is north east along platform 2 towards the south portal of Knaresborough Tunnel and the onward route to York.

Sinderby: Class 47 no 47540 (formerly The Institution of Civil Engineers) standing in a field alongside the A1 at Sinderby, North Yorkshire, in the spring of 2009. For details see image [[23755]].

Ripon: Once served by long distance trains, Ripon station closed to passengers in March 1967. The impressive 1848 building, the entrance to which is said to echo the classic lines of Ripon Cathedral, has since been converted to residential accomodation, seen here on 24 April 2009. A powerful lobby continues to press for re-establisment of train services to Ripon utilising much of the former 12 mile link from Harrogate, though any future station would be located further south nearer the town centre on the other side of the River Ure.

Glasgow Central: 156513 on the approach to Glasgow Central at the head of a train comprising three class 156 unit's on 24th April 2009

Poppleton: Poppleton part 3 ....and finally ...our man at Poppleton reverts to his earlier role as gatekeeper and gets the road traffic moving once again. While not all my fellow motorists would have agreed, I found the 4 minutes and twenty seconds unscheduled stop an unexpected and enjoyable bonus that day. [See image [[30746]])

Lune Aqueduct: Viewed from the Lancaster to Wennington trackbed, John Rennie's Lune Aqueduct carries the Lancaster Canal across the River Lune on five arches, each spanning 70' and at least 50' above the river. This significant engineering achievement cost £48,000 in 1797, almost three times its original estimate, and is still open for canal traffic having outlived the railway by over 50 years already. Map Ref SD 485639.

Glasgow Central: 92034 departs with the empty Glasgow Central portion of the Caledonian Sleeper heading for Polmadie

Lune Aqueduct: Although the Lune Aqueduct of the Lancaster Canal was built (in 1797) more than 40 years before the railway one of its five 70' arches was able to accomodate the double track Wennington line. Later, Lancaster Power Station was built here and a third line under the arch served coal sidings operated by fireless locomotives See image [[27588]] until closure in 1981. View down the trackbed cycle path towards Lancaster Green Ayre.

Knaresborough: Looking over the east end of Knaresborough station on 24 April 2009. A Northern trains service for Leeds awaits its departure time at platform 1 as a customer visits Fireplaces of Yesteryear on platform 2.

Knaresborough: View over Knaresborough station towards York in April 2009.

Knaresborough: The 1259 arrival from Leeds, having terminated at Knaresborough on the afternoon of 24 April, now stands on the viaduct awaiting clearance to run back past Knaresborough's unique signal box and into the up platform where it will form the next service to Leeds. See image [[23425]]

Darlington [Bank Top]: Face off at Darlington. A would be passenger stands at the concourse end of bay platform 2 at Darlington station on 24 April 2009, looking for some sign of life from the Pacer that will soon form the 1132 service to Saltburn.

Lancaster Green Ayre: Formerly an overhead electrified rail route, Greyhound Bridge on the other Lancaster to Morecambe line closed to trains in 1966 and was soon converted for road traffic. This view from the site of Lancaster Green Ayre station, alongside the River Lune (at low tide), also shows the Castle and the Priory church on the hill behind.

Starbeck: Platform view at Starbeck on 24 April 2009, looking south east over High Street level crossing. Opened in 1848 by the Leeds and Thirsk Railway the station was named Harrogate until 1857. Just beyond the signal box stood Starbeck shed, latterly carrying the BR code 50D. The shed, along with the sizeable adjacent goods yard, was closed in September 1959.

Darlington [Bank Top]: The south facing bay platforms at Darlington, seen in April 2009.

Ripon: Part of the old goods yard at Ripon in April 2009, with redundant railway accommodation now used by private enterprises. View is south towards the exit on Hutton Bank, with the former station off picture to the right.

Ripon: Part of the once bustling goods yard that served the City of Ripon, seen from the main entrance on Hutton Bank on 24 April 2009. Part of the large former station building on the old Leeds - Northallerton main line (closed to passengers in March 1967) can be seen on the left. On the right is the main goods sheds which, along with other ex-railway properties on the site, is currently in use as commercial premises.

Darlington [Bank Top]: A train of coal empties returning north about to take the down platform line through Darlington station on 24 April 2009.The locomotive is EWS 66173, with coal hoppers bearing blue stripes, used at the time to denote Scottish based wagons see image [[16404]].

Darlington North Road: Northern 142065 calls at North Road, Darlington, with the 1000 Saltburn - Bishop Auckland on 24 April 2009. The station building, seen in the background, is now a museum, with access to the current operational North Road platform via steps from McNay Street just off picture to the left. See image [[21141]]

Ripon: Hutton Bank, Ripon, in April 2009, looking towards the entrance to the once extensive goods depot, closed in the late 1960s. Part of the old depot is currently used by a pet food company, whose advertising banners decorate the fence. Above them is the remains of the wooden notice board that once announced <I>British Railways, Ripon Goods Depot</I>.

Hessay: The old station at Hessay on the Harrogate - York line in April 2009. The building is now a private house, although the annexe on the left provides accommodation for the signalman / crossing keeper, whose levers and instruments are located on the platform.

Darlington [Bank Top]: FTPE 185 136 pulls away from the up platform at Darlington on 24 April 2009 with a Newcastle Central - Manchester Airport service.

Darlington [Bank Top]: The prospect of Darlington. Platform view from the south in April 2009 showing the full width of the station. From left to right the triple span train shed covers platform 4, bay platforms 3 & 2 and platform 1. The top of the clock tower above the Park Lane station entrance is visible in the left background.

Ripon: Part of the large main shed, complete with colourful canopy, in the extensive goods yard that once served the cathedral city of Ripon. Photographed in 2009, more than 40 years after rail traffic had ceased, with the shed along with various other buildings within the yard having been adapted for private commercial use.

Grosmont: S15 4-6-0 no 825 has just left Grosmont station after coming off a morning train from Whitby on 24 April and is crossing the bridge over the Esk on its way to Grosmont shed.

Knaresborough: A service from Leeds that has terminated at Knaresborough backs out of the arrival platform towards the crossover on the viaduct. After crssing over, the DMU will run back into the station before starting its return journey to Leeds fom the other platfform.

Leeds: The east end of Leeds station in bright afternoon sunshine on 24 April 2009. On the right a terminated East Coast service from Kings Cross is standing alongside platform 8, while a Northern DMU from Hull has recently arrived at 11.

Ripon: The impressive former station house at Ripon looking south east from the junction of Station Close and Station Drive in April 2009. The equally impressive main station building, now converted to residential accommodation, stands to the right beyond the trees see image [[23883]].

Sinderby: Privately preserved (?) class 47 no 47540 (ex D1723) on the site of the former Sinderby station (now occupied by an agricultural equipment company) in North Yorkshire on 24 April 2009. The locomotive, which once carried the name The Institution of Civil Engineers, was withdrawn from Old Oak Common in May 1998. [Addendum: On 22 May 2009, four weeks after this photograph, the locomotive was removed on a low-loader bound for the Wensleydale Railway at Leeming Bar.] [Finale: The stripped out shell was moved from the Wensleydale Railway to Thompsons scrap yard in Stockton-on-Tees during March 2016 and cut up in early April]. (With thanks to David Pesterfield)

Sinderby: The remains of Sinderby station (1852), North Yorkshire, on the former Northallerton - Leeds via Harrogate line, photographed on 24 April 2009 looking north. The station closed to passengers in 1962, with the line itself closing completely 5 years later. The land in the immediate vicinity of the old station is now occupied by an agricultural equipment supplier. The A1 road runs past the site directly behind the camera. Note the 'preserved' class 47 standing in the left background. See image [[23755]]

Leeds: Sign of the times... 43 years on. (Leeds City station was renamed Leeds on 13 June 1966.) Photographed on 24 April 2009 as a 158 awaits its scheduled departure time at platform 17 with an early afternoon service for Sheffield.

Leeds: Northern 150228 stands in the sunshine alongside platform 1 at the west end of Leeds in April 2009. The DMU has recently arrived with a service from Manchester Victoria via Todmorden.

Poppleton: Poppleton part 2. The 13.29 ex-Leeds via Harrogate stands at Poppleton, from where it will continue on the last leg of its journey as the 14.33 service to York. Our station man is currently at the far end of the platform having a quick word with the driver. See image [[30767]]

Leeds: A Liverpool bound First TransPennine service is about to depart platform 16a at Leeds on 24 April 2009.

Knaresborough: Running south west off the High Street in Knaresborough is a cul-de-sac named Station Road. At the bottom of the road is the railway station opened in 1851 by the York and North Midland Railway Co. The station is unstaffed nowadays, with much of the building leased out as commercial premises - including a welcome station cafe. A half hourly service operates to Leeds and hourly on the single line section to York. Plans are in hand to double the latter.

Darlington [Bank Top]: The 0912 Newcastle Central - Manchester Airport service leaves Darlington platform 1 on 24 April 2009

Goldsborough: Closed in 1958, the former station buildings at Goldsborough on the York - Harrogate line have since been converted to form a unique and interesting private residence see image [[23596]].

Darlington North Road: The overall roof over a section of the through platform at North Road, Darlington in April 2009 looking west towards Bishop Auckland. Trains no longer stop under the roof but use the eastern end of the platform nearest the McNay Street entrance. It does however appear to be much appreciated by the local pigeons. See image [[30877]]

Leeds: Soaking up the sunshine at Leeds on 24 April 2009. On the right Northern 333005 is arriving with the 1300 ex Bradford Forster Square. Over to the left is the recently terminated East Coast 1105 from London Kings Cross.

Ripon: The rear (platform side) of the large former station at Ripon, seen looking west from the goods yard in April 2009. Closed to passengers in 1967 the building has since been converted to residential accommodation.

Darlington North Road: A Saltburn - Bishop Auckland DMU leaves Darlington North Road in April 2009. The buildings to the left of the green fence now form part of the Railway Museum.

Knaresborough: The stone signal box at Knaresborough, looking south west from the end of platform 1 on 24 April 2009. Out on Knaresborough Viaduct is an empty DMU which had recently arrived with a terminating service from Leeds at platform 2. The train has since reversed out onto the viaduct via the crossover and is now about to run back into platform 1 where it will form the return service to Leeds.

Grosmont: Having taken over from no 825, which brought in the train from Whitby, Standard class 4MT 2-6-0 no 76079 moves off towards Grosmont tunnel with the last service of the morning for Pickering on 24 April 2009. The original 1835 tunnel, now used as a pedestrian link between the station and shed, stands just off picture to the left.

Ripon: Looking east across Station Drive, Ripon, towards the main entrance to the former station on the Leeds Northern route midway between Harrogate and Northallerton. Closed to passengers in March 1967 the building has since been converted to luxury apartments, with the classic 1848 frontage largely unaltered.

Leeds: Northern EMU 333005, forming the next service to Skipton, stands in the sunshine at Leeds on 24 April 2009 awaiting departure time.

Darlington [Bank Top]: A mid-morning Bishop Auckland - Saltburn train pulls away from Darlington on 24 April 2009.

Hessay: Looking north over the level crossing at Hessay on the Harrogate - York line in April 2009, with the closed (1958) station beyond. Accommodation for the current crossing keeper/signalman is the annexe on the left of what is now a private residence. The lever frame and instruments are located on the platform below the arc lamp.

Knaresborough: The terminated 11.59 ex-Leeds stands at Knaresborough station on 24 April 2009. The DMU will shortly run back onto Knaresborough Viaduct (behind camera) before crossing over to platform 1 where it will form the 13.05 service back to Leeds. See image [[23671]]

Goldsborough: View west over the former station at Goldsborough (closed 1958), standing alongside the York - Harrogate line (seen running past on the left). Now converted to living accomodation, the building incorporates the former signal box, the lower section of which is now an integral garage.

Leeds: The South side of Leeds station seen from the footbridge on 24 April 2009. View is east, with First TransPennine services for Hull and Liverpool Lime Street standing at platforms 15 and 16 on the far right and a stopping service for Manchester Piccadilly in bay platform 13 below.

Darlington [Bank Top]: 142095 stands in the bay at the south end of Darlington station on 24 April 2009.

Poppleton: Poppleton part 1. Arriving by car at Poppleton level crossing just as the gates are closing is not recommended for anyone in a hurry. If you happen to be an enthusiast however... Scene at the crossing alongside Poppleton station on 24 April 2009. The signalman/gatekeeper/station master/ticket collector, whose residence stands opposite, has just prepared the way for the Northern 150 DMU forming the 13.29 Leeds - York via Harrogate to run into Poppleton station. See image [[30757]]

Darlington [Bank Top]: A mid morning TransPennine Express DMU arriving at Darlington on 24 April 2009 with a Manchester Airport - Newcastle Central service. Viewed looking west across platforms 2 and 3 forming the wide south bay (originally 4 tracks reduced to 2). This area now handles terminating train services, primarily off the Middlesbrough/Saltburn route, including their stabling and routine servicing requirements.

Darlington [Bank Top]: A mid-morning Saltburn - Bishop Auckland service runs into platform 4 at Darlington on 24 April.

Darlington [Bank Top]: EWS 66173 about to take northbound coal empties through Darlington station platform 4 on 24 April 2009.

Burnley Manchester Road: Looking up the bank towards Copy Pit summit from Burnley Manchester Road. Steam freights were always banked in both directions on this steeply graded line but the Blackpool-York 158s are well on top of the job. A sizeable group waits for 158756 coasting in to the rebuilt station on the 1857 service to Blackpool.

Maryhill Park Junction: Maryhill Park Junction is where the short Kelvindale branch to Anniesland leaves what is effectively the West Highland Line, as it sees no other passenger trains between this point and Knightswood North Junction where it joins the North Clyde lines until Craigendoran Junction.  The branch therefore sees far more trains than the 'main line' and the rails are a good deal shinier. 

Kilpatrick: Looking west over Kilpatrick station from the Erskine Bridge on 24 April 2010 as 320 308 prepares to leave with a Balloch to Airdrie service.

Summerston: Nonchalance - Summerston - 24 April 2010

Halifax: A Huddersfield to Leeds via Bradford working leaves Halifax and is just about to enter Beacon Hill tunnel. 155343 is passing the still operational signalbox, which once also controlled the junction with the GN&LY Jt line to Bradford via the Queensbury Triangle. That steeply graded line closed to passengers in 1955, leaving only this direct route that is still busy today.

Halifax: The surviving island platform at Halifax handles all services and is accessed by the overbridge seen here in this view towards Bradford. The signal box controls the colour lights in the station and also nearby Dryclough Junction where the line to Sowerby Bridge and the reopened Greetland line split. 155343 waits to depart for Leeds on 24 April.

Drumry: Opened in 1953, Drumry is in the select band of stations that joined the network between the 1930s and the station opening 'mini-boom' of the 1980s. The unusual architecture reflects the period. Neighbouring Singer alone has a building in the same style but it is long out of rail use. Note that while the rest of the station is in the 'Scotland's Railway' colour scheme the canopy remains in SPT maroon. Health and safety concerns, perhaps.

Hebden Bridge: Its not only the platform area of Hebden Bridge that is attractive See image [[23133]] but the external buildings too. This is the main booking office entrance and cobbled station forecourt. The station buffet is also doing a roaring trade on a fine April morning and customers are using the tables outside next to the bus turning circle.

Brighouse: Brighouse reopened to passengers trains in 2000, thirty years after its original closure. Since then service have expanded and it is now on two reopened passenger routes. 155343 calls on a Huddersfield to Leeds (via Bradford) working and will turn right at Greetland Junction to go up the hill to Halifax.

Hebden Bridge: 3-car 144014, heading for Manchester Victoria, calls at the west bound platform at Hebden Bridge on 24th April 2010. This unit continued in service for a further ten years with Northern, lasting into 2020.

Carlisle: The Network Rail Measurement train about to set off south from Carlisle on 24 April 2010.

Dalmuir: 320 319 at Damuir with a Balloch to Airdrie via Singer service on 24 April 2010. Note the contrast between the new footbridge and the ageing Portakabins.

Anniesland: A summer's day in spring as 318 269 pulls into Anniesland with a Dalmuir to Lanark service on 24 April.  There seemed to a convention of bowlers (the people, not the hats) in town as badge-decked blazers and grey slacks were everywhere.  In the background the Maryhill line curves off to the right on the site of Knightswood South Junction, the rebuilt line having access to Platform 3 only and no connection with the through lines.  The Dawsholm gasometer has, in that splendidly cop-out phrase, its own beauty.

Burnley Manchester Road: Burnley Manchester Road reopened in 1986, following the successful reintroduction of passenger trains on the Copy Pit line between Lancashire and West Yorkshire two years previously. This view, from the very long access ramp to Platform 1, looks towards Gannow Junction and Rose Grove and shows the new platforms alongside the original station building, closed in 1961 and no longer used by the railway.

Newton: You don't have to wait long to see a train at Newton, though most of them are either whooshing by on the WCML which bypasses it and which also carries local services via Bellshill, or are Larkhall trains which don't stop here.  Nevertheless the Glasgow-bound platform sees four departures an hour during the day, each with a different route.  318 263 for Milngavie has picked up quite a crowd on this fine Saturday lunchtime on 24 April.

Dewsbury: Having called at Dewsbury on its way to Leeds, Northern Pacer 144004 rejoins the main line from the platform loop that allows overtaking for trains travelling north. View towards Batley from the southbound platform.

Dumbarton East: Former ticket office...or shop? The street level entrance to Dumbarton East station alongside Glasgow Road on 24 April 2010. See image [[4663]]

Drumry: 334 020 with a Dalmuir service at Drumry on 24 April 2010

Summerston: Monsieur Reynard see image [[28671]] having deigned to make way for it, 158 734 approaches Summerston with an Anniesland service on 24 April. Due to engineering works at Cowlairs lasting several weeks this train has originated from Ashfield rather than Glasgow Queen Street.  The seven stations on this line come thick and fast, averaging a little over half a mile apart.

Hebden Bridge: An antidote to modern corporate signs and logos. Hebden Bridge has many period features that make it a very pleasant place to change trains. Signs with pointing fingers rather than arrows were common place at one time but are now hardly ever seen, however this is one of several at the station. The Parcel Office is now an excellent station buffet, popular with locals and travellers alike.

Glasgow Central: The 'Heilan'man's Umbrella' entrance to Glasgow Central on Argyle Street. Those familiar with this spot will be unable to view this picture without smelling in their mind's nose the reek of chips and vinegar which hangs around here. There's only the Low Level ticket office on this floor: its platforms are downstairs, while the main line station is upstairs.

Brighouse: Leyland built Sprinter 155347 leaves Brighouse. The station lies on an east-west line and trains for Leeds call in both directions. This service, from Huddersfield via Halifax, heads west initially and an hourly service travelling east also goes to Leeds but via Dewsbury. From May 2010 Grand Central plan to introduce a Bradford Interchange to London service that will call here. A remarkable turnround for the once closed station.

Kilpatrick: 320 312 arrives at Kilpatrick on 24 April 2010 with an Airdrie - Balloch service.

Glasgow Queen Street Low Level: 0829 on Saturday 24 April and the eastbound platform at Queen Street Low Level is deserted - apart from me, of course.  The remains of the island platform can be made out.  Like most stations on the Subway, but unlike Glasgow Central Low Level, escalators to the platform are not deemed to be necessary here, although there is a lift.

Halifax: A new three times daily direct service from Bradford and Halifax to London Kings Cross is scheduled to start on 23rd May 2010 using Grand Central Adelante units running via Brighouse and Wakefield Kirkgate. 158753 runs into Halifax from Bradford on a Northern Rail York to Blackpool service.

Halifax: Close to Halifax station the Eureka Children's Museum occupies the old LYR Goods Depot site, with some railway buildings still visible. Since the museum opened in 1992 a MkII coach has acted as a classroom. The coach and a Hunslet diesel shunter were recently refurbished by Northern Rail (at a cost of £30,000) with the shunter being given a main line style livery and fictitious number 02 641. The still open mainline passes behind the trees.

Halifax: The main station building at Halifax was in a semi derelict condition for many years but has now been refurbished and incorporated into the Eureka museum complex. Behind this imposing structure the surviving island platform at Halifax is still busy with trains. The land in the foreground was once occupied by tracks leading to the LYR goods depot and the museum's preserved shunter can just be seen under the bridge See image [[28759]] standing in the old yard area.

Stoke-on-Trent: A well kept station, in fine Victorian style. Stoke-on-Trent on 24 April 2011.

Central Rivers Depot: No, people don't often walk into the side of Harry Needle's shunting engines. Why do you ask? 08943 stands at Central Rivers Depot, Burton-on-Trent, on 24 April 2011.

Stapleford and Sandiacre: The signal box at Sandiacre in April 2011, now with full ventiltion on its top floor. Very bracing, but I fear it means demolition is near. I hope someone is preserving a 1930's brick-built signal box somewhere. Toton yard is beyond the A52 road bridge on the right.

Central Rivers Depot: The world's shortest Voyager - these driving cars are kept as spares at Bombardier's Central Rivers Depot, Burton on Trent, their coaches having been shared out among other units. Photograph taken from the BLS 'Another Trent Explorer' railtour, which passed through the depot on 24 April. See image [[34105]]

Sheffield Station [SYPTE]: A Sheffield 'Supertram' heads North along the tracks above the retaining wall to the East of Sheffield station on 24 April 2011.

Rugby: Continuing the series of photographs taken on the MR Rugby-Leicester line see image [[33741]] here is most of the track remaining in April 2011, a short curved siding on the North side of the main line. There's about half as much track again on the right (East), so it's a good job they didn't try to stable a 66 there.

Stockport: Just 27 years after the Ipswich 37's see image [[33173]], here are the Stockport 66's. (181, 194, 060, and 095, according to my notes) Four 'red sheds' travelling together through the pleasant evening of the 24th April 2011. I was on my way home after bailing from the BLS 'Another Trent Explorer' tour.

Stoke-on-Trent: A Northbound Voyager pulls into Stoke-on-Trent on the morning of 24th April. Manchester was the destination, if I recall correctly.

Cowdenbeath: The morning SRPS Forth Circle special on Sunday 24 April seen speeding away from Cowdenbeath behind A4 Pacific no 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley.

Burntisland Viaduct: The morning Forth Circle special photographed on 24 April nearing Burntisland station behind no 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley.

Cowdenbeath: The Forth Circle special approaching Cowdenbeath on 24 April behind 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley.

Dalgety Bay: 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley passing through Dalgety Bay with the SRPS Forth Circle special on 24 April.

Stirling: 60007 stands at Stirling with the SRPS Forth Circle railtour on 24 April 2011.

Inverkeithing East Junction: 60007 with the Forth Circle special on 24 April between Inverkeithing Central and East Junctions.

Inverkeithing: 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley arrives at Inverkeithing with the afternoon SRPS Forth Circle railtour on 24 April.

Stirling: 60007 stands at Stirling with the SRPS Forth Circle railtour on 24 April 2011.

Stoke-on-Trent: The end of a long day - passengers leaving a London-bound Pendolino at Stoke-on-Trent on 24th April 2011.

Stockport: A class 175 and a Virgin Voyager await the off at Stockport on a Saturday evening in April 2011.

Stoke-on-Trent: The BLS 'Another Trent Explorer' railtour sidles into Stoke behind 66.157 on 24th April 2011.

Central Rivers Depot: A lineup of Voyagers inside the shed at Central Rivers Depot, Burton on Trent, on 24 April 2011. Seen from the BLS special Another Trent Explorer, which ran through the shed on the tilt test line. See image [[33912]]

Rugby: Marvin the Paranoid Viaduct Pier: I used to support the Master Cutler, now I'm just a lampstand (notice the yard lamps facing the camera and to the right). One of the surviving piers of the former GCR 'birdcage' viaduct standing on the north side of the main line at Rugby.

Gogar Tram Depot: Gogar Tram Depot from the public footpath alongside the A8, on 24 April 2012.

Kingswood Tunnel: 46115 brings the southbound 'Great Britain V' out of Kingswood Tunnel on 24 April 2012 on its way to Perth.

Gleneagles: 'Great Britain V' runs through Gleneagles on 24 April behind 46115 Scots Guardsman.

Perth: It was nice to see a steam engine standing in Perth station again. 46115 Scots Guardsman at the head of the southbound 'Great Britain V' on 24 April 2012. See image [[6823 for a similar scene nearly half a century earlier.]]

Craigentinny Depot: 380 103 passes the fuelling point at Craigentinny depot with the 13.27 from North Berwick to Edinburgh on 24 April 2012.

Gogar Tram Depot: General view of the yard at Gogar Tram Depot on 24 April 2012.

Blair Atholl: 46115 Scots Guardsman photographed at Blair Atholl on 24 April with the 'The Great Britain V' railtour.

Findhorn Viaduct [Tomatin]: On 24 April 2012, a day of heavy showers, rebuilt Royal Scot no 46115 Scots Guardsman crosses Findhorn Viaduct on its way to Glasgow with the northern portion of the 'Great Britain V'.

Barassie: Stanier Black 5 4-6-0s nos 45305+45407 about to pass south through Barassie station on 24 April 2012 with the Glasgow (Barnhill) - Stranraer leg of the Great Britain V railtour.

Ardrossan South Beach: Platform scene at Ardrossan South Beach on 24 April 2012 with DRS 37194+37667 passing on the 6M22 Hunterston - Carlisle Yard nuclear flasks. [Editor's note: Locomotive 37667 (then D6851) hauled the last down Anglo-Scottish freight over the Waverley Route (the 08.30 Kingmoor-Millerhill) on Saturday 4th January 1969.]

Carmyle: DBS 66156 on 6G09 Hunterston to Longannet loaded hoppers runs through Carmyle in the late afternoon of 24 April 2012.

Carmyle: Royal Scot no 46115 Scots Guardsman passes Carmyle at 19.04 on 24 April with the Inverness to Glasgow Central leg of the 'Great Britain V' railtour.

Gleneagles: Rebuilt 'Royal Scot' no 46115 Scots Guardsman pictured south of Gleneagles on 24 April with the 'Great Britain V'.

Invergarry: The cleared subway entrance to the former Invergarry station, seen here in April 2013. See image [[36321]]

Auchendinny: Station House, Auchendinny, photographed looking north west from the B7026 in April 2013. The lane leading down to the station site (now part of a walkway) runs past the front of the cottage. See image [[42973]]

Tay Bridge: The Great Britain VI leaves the Tay Bridge southbound on 24 April 2013 behind 60009 Union of South Africa.

Inverkeithing East Junction: A4 60009 Union of South Africa at Inverkeithing East Junction with the Great Britain VI from Aberdeen to Edinburgh on 24 April. Support act 47760 waits in the up loop.

Blackpool (Foxhall Square): Most of the recent UK tram news has been about new lines and systems but in Blackpool a section of track was removed in April 2013. This is Foxhall Square where the emergency connection along Princess St and Blundell St to Rigby Rd left the Promenade. Now that only heritage trams use that depot the back up link is considered unnecessary and track lifting has started. The line of fresh tarmac seen here follows the curve of the lifted tracks but all trace will go when the re-surfacing is complete.

Irvine: The Irvine / Kilmarnock line closed in October 1965 and the track was lifted except for a fan of sidings between the Ayr / Glasgow line and the main road. Several years later the sidings themselves were lifted, but still two colour light signals which had protected the former junction remained. Now almost lost in the trees, here they are on 24 April 2013 - together with a close up.

Blackpool (Rigby Road): Balloon Car 701, seen here outside Rigby Rd depot, was fitted with a snow plough over winter 2012/13. It was used on clearing duties on a couple of wintry days in January but later reverted to standard guards. What looks like engineering department paintwork was actually the base of a previous advertising livery but very appropriate for a tram not in passenger service. It was later reliveried and now forms part of the heritage fleet See image [[51396]]

Muchalls: Black 5 No 45407 ascends the gradient past Muchalls with the Great Britain VI on the way to Aberdeen on 24 April. In the background is the headland known as Grim Brigs.

Limpet Mill: A4 Pacific no 60009 Union of South Africa reprises a role it would have been familiar with fifty years ago, hauling an express between Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Pictured on 24 April 2013 north of Stonehaven with the Great Britain VI.

Kyle of Lochalsh: Kyle signalbox on 24 April 2013. It has been renovated and will re-open incorporating a model railway and holiday accommodation. See image [[26348]]

Invergarry: Tree felling at Invergarry station, April 2013.

Hellifield: The gantry at Hellifield South Junction looks to have seen better days, although it has altered relatively little since the end of steam with, as far as I can tell, just the loss of one calling-on arm, which was mounted on a very short doll just to the left of the lower arm giving access to the Blackburn line.

Appleby East: The gates on Station Road at Appleby East in April 2014. The crossing has become much more dilapidated and overgrown in recent years. See image [[21207]] [Ref query 5454]

Appleby: Looking north from the up platform at Appleby just after 09:00 on the morning of 24th April 2014, and the Appleby North signalman won't be interrupted from reading his newspaper for almost another half hour, when he will clear the road for the 08:53 Carlisle - Leeds.

Hellifield: View showing how close the up starter is to the gantry at Hellifield South Junction. The signals are cleared for the 16:18 Carlisle - Leeds on 24th April 2014.

Edinburgh Waverley: TransPennine 350406 stands at Waverley on 24 April 2014 prior to working the 1812 to Manchester Airport.

Hayes Knoll: Metropolitan No 1 and GWR 5637 on shed at Hayes Knoll on 24 April 2014. The locomotives were participants in the Swindon and Cricklade Railway Steam Gala the following weekend.

Appleby: Unit 158901 runs into Appleby on a fine spring morning on 24 April 2014 forming the 08:53 Carlisle - Leeds working.

Hellifield: Unit 158901 is beckoned on by the up starter signal as it pulls away from the Hellifield stop on 24 April while working the 08:53 Carlisle to Leeds service.

Hellifield: These shunting signals on the down side at Hellifield in April 2014 provide a contrast in styles - no prizes for guessing which one dates from the 21st century! Beyond is the bracket signal carrying the down starter and exit signal from the down loop.

Appleby: From this angle, with the morning sun reflecting off apparently glossy paintwork, former Barry inmate and now Appleby resident No. 4979 Wootton Hall almost looks respectable when photographed on 24th April 2014. The reality is very different see image [[25117]].

Old Trafford: Over the top! Two 3000 series trams heading for East Didsbury drop down the steep slope alongside Old Trafford Metrolink Depot to regain the original Midland Railway formation. Behind them is a depot access point and beyond that the Trafford Bar junction with the Altrincham line and the diveunder for Manchester bound trams. See image [[51062]]

Manchester United Football Club Halt: An East Midlands Trains Nottingham to Liverpool Lime Street service passes the Manchester United halt on 24th April 2015. Another EMT 158 on a Lime Street to Norwich service is just coming into view in the distance. In between the two trains is Trafford Park West Junction, which provides access to the container terminal.

Manchester United Football Club Halt: DBS 66124 runs through the platform line at Manchester United with a long rake of container flats from London Gateway. The train is approaching its Trafford Park destination, just beyond the next bridge.

Kilmarnock: 66746 leads 66733 into platform 4 at Kilmarnock with the Royal Scotsman from Bridge of Orchy for overnight stabling. The loco had just been released into traffic following a full repaint into Belmond British Pullman house colours.

Lady Victoria Pit Signal Box: ScotRail 158735 has just passed the Scottish Mining Museum on the site of the former Lady Victoria Colliery with a Sunday morning service to Tweedbank. View is south from the B704 road bridge on 24 April 2016. The road here originally spanned both the Waverley route and several colliery lines, with the area beyond the trees on the left once housing a yard and loading plant see image [[6115]].

Leicester: Taken from the station car park at Leicester looking north. Unsure why these are all stored here. Any ideas?

Kilmarnock: 66733 stabled in platform 4 at Kilmarnock with the Royal Scotsman from Bridge of Orchy.

Kilmarnock: 66746 stabled with 66733 and stock in platform 4 at Kilmarnock with the Royal Scotsman from Bridge of Orchy.

Lady Victoria Pit Signal Box: A Tweedbank bound ScotRail 158 passes the Scottish Mining Museum at Lady Victoria Colliery on 24 April 2016 shortly after restarting from Newtongrange.

Kilmarnock: 66733 top n tail with 66746 arrive at Kilmarnock with 1H87, the GBRf operated Royal Scotsman from Bridge of Orchy for overnight stabling.

Craigleith: Craigleith's former platform is now on the Roseburn Path

Gore Glen Bridge: Makes a pleasant change from metal... the attractive wooden footbridge that now spans the Borders Railway in Gore Glen Woodland Park. The northbound train is the 0845 (Sunday) Tweedbank - Edinburgh.

Dulverton: The former goods shed at Dulverton, on the GWR's branch line from Taunton to Barnstable, seen here from the roadside in April 2017. The station, hidden by bushes, closed in 1966 and is now private property. The associated goods shed also looks to have been converted into a home. [Ref query 1012]

Haymarket: Behind the ticket barrier at Haymarket on 24/04/2017, looking across the platforms. This structure replaced a mere footbridge in the reconstruction a few years ago. Who can forget coming up the escalators for the first time and momentarily wondering where the heck you were?

Haymarket: Cafe society: a look across the concourse at Haymarket on 24/04/2017. It's easy to forget that until a few years ago Haymarket's 'circulating area' was the in the original 1842 building which now acts as sort of vestibule. The white building on the other side of the tracks is over 100 years older than that. Easter Dalry House was once a mansion in open countryside ...

Haymarket: A Cross-Country Glasgow Central to Penzance service calls at Haymarket at 0957 on 24 April. The large 'Haymarket' lettering, in (still?) trendy bookspine fashion is wasted on all but a few flat-dwelling locals as it is not visible from the platforms.

Dundee: The new station building at Dundee taking shape on 24th April 2018.

Pollokshields East: An incoming Cathcart Circle service in, for now, the usual form of a Class 314. Not much point in painting this one out of its SPT livery, I think.

Moy: Jubilee Class 4-6-0 No.45699 'Galatea' and Class B1 4-6-0 No.1264 in LNER lined black double head the southbound GB XI across the rain sodden moors at Moy on 23rd April 2018.The rain is tending to make the smoke and steam cloud round the engines.

Moy: Jubilee Class 4-6-0 No.45699 'Galatea' and Class B1 4-6-0 No.1264 take the GB XI into Moy loop where it will be overtaken by the London King's Cross express.

Pollokshields East: From left to right: a Sikh temple, Pollokshields East station on the eastern part of the Cathcart Circle, a doomed Class 314 and, in the distance, the point (or points) where GSWR main line and the the western half of the Cathcart Circle part company. 24th April 2018.

Balavil Signal Box: Jubilee Class 4-6-0 No.45699 'Galatea' and Class B1 4-6-0 No.1264 speed along past Balavil Cottage, near Kingussie,with the southbound GB XI railtour on 24th April 2018.

Crosshill: So Cathcart Circle. An incoming service calls at Crosshill on 24 April. 314s are the mainstay of the Cathcart lines for now but are due to be scrapped this year in the Class 385 cascade. Yes, I know; they might hang on longer than expected ...

Queens Park: Tenements, retaining walls, island platforms, class 314: it's all there. Scene at Queens (or Queen's) Park taken from the Victoria Road end on 24 April.

Queens Park: Queens Park Railway Club, on the station platform, is (mercifully) nothing to do with nerds like us but an art gallery. I only found out afterwards that it is open daily and would have been open when I was there. It doesn't look it, does it?

Pollokshields East: 320s are not the usual fare on Cathcart lines services, but 320 320 is getting a shot today, 24 April 2018. Seen at Pollokshields East with a Neilston service.

Cleland: The Class 385 EMUs began passenger service (without advance warning!) on the Shotts line on Monday 22nd April 2019. Two days later, 385031 is seen passing through Cleland on the 1157 to Glasgow Central.

Aviemore: Passing trains at Aviemore on 24 April 2019. On the left the 1046 Inverness - Edinburgh is pulling away from platform 2, while arriving at platform 1 is the 0833 ex-Edinburgh on the reverse working.

Woodacre Crossing: Testing of TP Express loco hauled sets continued in April 2019. This is Driving Trailer Standard 12806 at the head of a rake of new MkV coaches being propelled through Woodacre by 68020 Reliance. The train had worked out from Manchester that morning and was now heading for Bletchley.

Pitlochry: Southbound Tesco Express, viewed from the footbridge at Pitlochry on 24th April 2019.

Perth New Yard: Track panels stored at Perth New Yard.

Shawfair: An Edinburgh service approaches Shawfair on 24 April 2019. I don't know what happened to the Class-170s-as-standard, promised months ago. In the background is the nearest settlement, for some reason always styled 'Newton Village' rather than just Newton. It will be subsumed into the residential paradise of Shawfair - or so is the plan.

Bruce Peebles Ltd: This little stockade has been a puzzle to me for some years. It is hard by course of the CR Leith branch at exactly the location of the points for the engineering works. It had a lamp (right) and an opening facing the track. Did it once contain the ground frame, shielding it from mischievous hands? Was it to corral people using a foot crossing?(there is a gap in the wall opposite) Photographed incidental to my daily exercise permitted under emergency coronavirus legislation.

Woodside Park: Woodside Park station, now part of the LUL Northern Line but originally opened by the GNR on 1st April 1872, looking north towards High Barnet on 24th April 2021. The extension of tube trains from East Finchley to High Barnet on 1st April 1940 and from Finchley Central to Mill Hill East on 18th May 1941 were the only parts of the GNR Northern Heights lines to be successfully converted to London Underground tube trains operation as envisaged in the 1935 New Works Plan.

Edinburgh Waverley: St Where? Engineering works can lead to some odd destinations and surely most Scots and Northerners might have difficulty finding St Neots on a map (if they've even heard of it). Smug people like us know of course, or have some idea. Neot was great friends with Budeaux, Ive and Bee. And of course everyone knew Pancras.

Leyland: DRS 88001 approaches Leyland on the Down Fast line with the 4S44 Daventry to Mossend intermodal on 24 April 2021. The equipment on the abandoned section of platform is dismantled temporary lighting being used in connection with p-way work on the Down Fast over recent weekends. See image [75871].

West Finchley: LU 1995 stock with a Northern Line service from High Barnet to Kennington via Charing Cross arriving at West Finchley on 24th April 2021. The line is now part of the London Underground but was opened by the GNR on 1st April 1872, although this station was an afterthought, opening on 1st March 1933 under the LNER. It retains its halt-like buildings and was first served by tube trains in 1940. The station serves the Nether Street area of Finchley and, when planned, locals were asked to suggest a name for the station and somebody came up with West Finchley. Personally, I don't see why it couldn't have been called Nether Street which is the main thoroughfare of this 1930s suburban development.

Newhailes: A North Berwick to Edinburgh service is captured to the north of Newhailes, crossing the boundary between East Lothian and the city. That signal looks distinctly out of scale.

Portobello Freightliner Terminal: It is now 36 years since Portobello Freightliner terminal closed, but not only is one of the cranes still standing but so is this sign; the red of the double arrow is so faded it is lighter than the once white background. It is beaten by one year for the sign for the nearby second Wanton Walls Junction - lifted 1984 - but admittedly that is lying flat on the ground!

Enfield Chase: Exterior of Enfield Chase on 24th April 2021. This station was opened by the GNR on 4th April 1910 with the extension of the Wood Green (now Alexandra Palace) to Enfield line to Cuffley, later extended back to the main line at Stevenage to form the Hertford North Loop in 1918. The first Enfield station on this line was a terminus at street level so, to avoid a level crossing, the extension started back from there to gain height and cross Windmill Hill on a bridge. This included a new station, the one seen here (which became Enfield Chase in 1924) just east of the original terminus that was absorbed into a goods yard. This was closed in the 1970s and today the site is covered by a vast housing estate. On the day of this photo, there were no trains to Moorgate, nor any London Overground trains to Liverpool Street from nearby Enfield Town station, so Enfield was completely reliant on buses.

High Barnet: Exterior of High Barnet station, LUL Northern Line, with the original GNR building in the background, on 24th April 2021. Passengers disembarking at this terminus are confronted with a steep climb up a footpath and even then the climb is not over as the gradient is just as steep along the street into the town centre.

Woodside Park: The GNR origins of Woodside Park station are apparent in this view of the building on 24th April 2021. Originally opened in 1872 on that company's High Barnet branch, it became a London Underground Northern Line station 68 years later in 1940.

Euxton Balshaw Lane: The rear of a northbound Pendolino is seen passing under (foot) bridge 90 to the north of Euxton Balshaw Lane station in the late afternoon of 24 April 2021.

Loanhead: An unusually quiet car park at Loanhead on the morning of 24 April 2022 allows an almost uninterrupted view of the station buildings from the south. (This normally busy car park is adjacent to the EL&R trackbed - now known as 'The Rosslyn Chapel Way') The former station masters house displays the date 1874 above the door, while on the left the old booking office is currently undergoing building modification and refurbishment work (see [[80317]]).

Slochd Viaduct: After the nice sunny weather of the previous day when the 'Great Britain XIV' ran north to Inverness, it was back to the traditional Highland Weather on the Sunday for the return. In murky conditions, Rebuilt Royal Scot 46115 'Scots Guardsman' leads the train off Slochd Viaduct on the way to Stirling from Inverness. Behind the smoke are the coaches and 47802.