This day in history 27 April
Images
Polmadie Signal Box: The 10am Glasgow Central-London 'The Royal Scot' being hauled by 10202 and 10201 passing Polmadie on the 27th of April 1957. Although a grainy image Dixons Blazes' coke ovens can still be observed. Polmadie bridge was a favourite gathering point for many Glasgow youngsters in those earlier years. (Photo taken by Graham Ewing and permission given to submit.)
Carntyne: One of Parkhead shed's Class N15 0-6-2Ts, no 69190, brings a goods train out of the yard at Carntyne on 27 April 1958. Carntyne station stands just off picture to the right.
Craigentinny Depot: B1s passing alongside Craigentinny signal box on 27 April 1958. On the left is 61398, with sister locomotive 61332 on the right.
Eastfield Shed: Little and Large at Eastfield shed on 27 April 1963. Caley 0-4-0ST 56039, with permanently attached wooden tender, is sharing a quiet spot behind the old coaling stage with Motherwell's Austerity 90468. It was the last resting spot for the saddle tank, but the WD 2-8-0 lived to fight another day.
Eastfield Shed: Eastfield shed on 27 April 1963. B1 4-6-0 No 61008 'Kudu', recently arrived from England, finds itself in a wet Glasgow with nothing but ex-LMS locos for company!
Bishopton Tunnel Signal Box: Black 5 44900, alongside the Clyde between Langbank and Bishopton, on the 5.03pm from Gourock on 27th April 1967. This was one of the last few steam operated services on the line, the final steam run taking place on the same service the following day. In the distance a Blue Star line cargo vessel can be seen heading down river past Dumbarton Rock.
Soho Pool: What is thought to be EE Type 1 no D8134 with a brake van tour, photographed during a photostop at Soho Pool, Birmingham, on 27 April 1968. [Identification assistance sought by SLS/MLS - with thanks to all contributors]
Brechin Goods [2nd]: Class 24 5072 has worked the goods to Brechin on 27th April 1972. I had arranged to ride the freight that day to take some pictures. This view is in the large goods yard added south east of the station around the time of the opening of the Edzell and Forfar lines.
Aviemore: 26040+47711 northbound out of Aviemore on 27 April 1980 with a service for Inverness.
Euxton Junction: Brush Class 47 47350 takes a rake of MGR hoppers under the M6 Motorway on the Up Fast line at Euxton Junction in 1981. The loco later became Freightliner Class 57 57005 and (as at April 2012) is presently in store at Carnforth See image [[36155]].
Dereham: A train of loaded grain wagons approaches Dereham station in April 1984 after a trip up to the granary at North Elmham. The crew had 6 hours on the branch to conduct their brief business, a secluded rest room on Dereham station and suspicion for inquisitive strangers with cameras. Photographing this train on the move north of Dereham became a game of endurance and disinformation. This traffic ceased in 1989 and the line is fortunately now in the hands of the Mid Norfolk Railway.
North Elmham: Locomotive 37 080 looms over the level crossing at the former North Elmham station on April 27th 1984. It has just completed shunting the cramped sidings alongside Seaman's granary (closed 1989) and is setting off south to Dereham and Wymondham with loaded grain wagons.
North Elmham: Shunting of grain hoppers under way at North Elmham on 27th April 1984. The train loco (37 080) is setting back to position empty wagons alongside the granary silos before taking the loaded wagons forward. This traffic and the line to Dereham closed in January 1989.
East Kilbride: A quiet Spring afternoon at East Kilbride in April 1985. The Trans-Clyde liveried Class 116 DMU will shortly be heading for Glasgow Central.
Boat of Garten: 37114 gets ready to return to Aviemore light engine, having brought The Royal Scotsman into Boat of Garten on 27 April 1986.
Boat of Garten: BR Class 37 no 37114 prepares to depart from Boat of Garten back to Aviemore light engine after having brought in the 'Royal Scotsman' in April 1986. On the right is an NBL 0-4-0 DH shunter stabled in front of ex LMS Black 5 no 5025.
Boat of Garten: Little and Large on the up line at Boat of Garten on 27 April 1986 during a shunt move into the sidings. The leading engine is Barclay 0-4-0ST Clyde with ex LMS Black 5 no 5025 behind.
Boat of Garten: Shunting at 'The Boat' in 1986. Barclay 0-4-0ST Clyde shunts an NBL 0-4-0 DH and Black 5 no. 5025 at Boat of Garten in this view from the south signal cabin on 27 April 1986. To the right of the Black 5 are the remains of Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 no. 46428 see image [[19072]].
Boat of Garten: 37114 in the process of running round the Royal Scotsman at Boat of Garten on 27 April 1986 prior to heading back to Aviemore.
Preston: Preston station at 11pm, as a class 85 pulls up at the platform with a southbound train on 27 April 1990.
Preston: A Regional Railways class 142 stands at platform 2 at Preston station in 1990.
Wakefield Kirkgate: 47517 'Andrew Carnegie' runs into Wakefield Kirkgate station from the south, after turning off the ECML at Hare Park Junction, Crofton, with a northbound 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' working in April 1991. It would then head west along the Calder Valley and over Copy Pit to Blackburn, where it handed over to A4 Union of South Africa on the steam leg over the S&C to Carlisle. Flying Scotsman hauled the return leg back to Blackburn, where 47517 took back over on the diesel leg back to Doncaster, with a Class 91 electric back to Kings X
Granton: The end of the pier at Granton Harbour in April 2002 with rails remaining along its length. The building on the right dates from 1842 and was originally built as a gunpowder store.
Saughton Junction: Pathfinder Tours 'The Edinburgh Explorer' passing Saughton on 27 April 2002. 66040 and 66117 were in charge. This view has since been transformed and restricted by overhead wires and the tram route.
Granton: Looking west across Lower Granton Road in April 2002 at the clearly defined route of the Caley line as it curved past the former Caledonian goods shed and climbed towards Granton gasworks (indicated by the gasholder just visible in the left background).
Granton High Goods: The climb from Granton Harbour up to Breakwater Junction in April 2002 with the former Caledonian goods depot on the left and Granton Square behind the camera. Part of the Granton Gasometer can be seen in the centre background. The so-called Waterfront development (apologies to Marlon Brando) is currently underway here and this scene is likely to change considerably over the next few years. See image [[35840]]
Granton: Traces of track running parallel with the waterfront west of the harbour in 2002. The old CR Granton goods shed stands on the left with the Gasworks in the centre background.
Partick Central: Looking across the River Kelvin at the location where a branch from the Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire crossed the river from Partick Central to meet the network of lines around Pointhouse Quay and the Queen's Dock. Overhead is the viaduct of the Stobcross Railway. The scrapyard seen on the opposite bank has since closed and been cleared.
Leaderfoot Viaduct: 'Thank you for your support ...' Leaderfoot Viaduct looking impressive as ever in the morning sunshine. View north across the River Tweed towards Earlston on 27 April 2005. See image [[40067]]
Leaderfoot Viaduct: Leaderfoot viaduct, looking west along the Tweed in April 2005.
Alloa Bridge: The northern abutment of the old swing bridge at Alloa - April 2006.
Bathgate Yard: EWS 60062 shunts part of its load into Bathgate STVA yard on 27 April 2006
Alloa Bridge: Remains of Alloa swing bridge seen from the north side of the Forth in 2006, showing the rail-banded northern abutment and surviving piers. Opened in 1885, the 21 span, wrought iron structure carried a single line 1,615 across the river linking Throsk and Alloa. The bridge incorporated a rotating span to permit passage of shipping, with a combined control cabin and signal box mounted above the rails . (The shorter piers – the fifth set out from the north shore – supported the mechanism used to rotate the opening span). Passenger services ceased in 1968, while the last freight to use the bridge brought a final consignment of coal for the steam driven turning mechanism in May 1970. Dismantling took place during 1971.
Alloa Bridge: Remains of Alloa swing bridge in April 2006 looking across from the abutment on the north bank of the Forth towards Throsk.
Alloa Bridge: Piers of the former Alloa swing bridge stand in the Forth in April 2006 - view south towards Throsk.
Cardross: 67 and coaches on Fort William Sleeper driver training run passing Cardross on the way south.
Alloa Bridge: Abutment and two of the piers of the former Alloa swing bridge on the north shore of the Forth in April 2006 - looking west along the river towards Stirling.
Alloa Bridge: The other Forth Bridge - Alloa - April 2006. View from the north shore of the Forth.
Longcarse Junction: Remains of Longcarse Junction on the route south from Alloa towards the Forth along the route to the old swing bridge in April 2006.
Longcarse Junction: Looking south across acres of ploughed field (well.. a lot) in April 2006 at the embankment running towards Alloa swing bridge in the distance. The public path ends at the pile of earth by the tree on the right and to the right of that is the raised dyke running alongside the Forth.
Alloa Bridge: View south west across the Forth towards Throsk in April 2006 showing the surviving piers of the old swing bridge. The lower piers supported the steam driven opening span with the control cabin / signal box mounted above.
Lurgi Gas Plant: Old line to Thornton curves to the right at Westfield Power Station.
Glasgow Central: A bet to see if it still works was it? A bit of creativity on 92019 Wagner, sitting at Glasgow Central
Glasgow Central: 156493 departing Glasgow Central for Whifflet
Eskbank and Dalkeith: The magnificent old station building at Eskbank in April 2007. The trackbed is in a cutting to the left.
St Vincent Street Glasgow: Metal screening around the public toilet on St Vincent Street Glasgow. The screening came from Glasgow Cross Station when it was demolished. If you look closely you can see the Caledonian Railway insignia and initials.
Bridgeton [1st]: Stripped of all its Glory and Glasgow 2014 Signage ... Dalmarnock Road underbridge waiting to be removed.
Bridgeton [1st]: View from Dalmarnock Road looking east. Traffic cones have closed off the road on both sides of the soon to be dismantled bridge! The new EERR will follow the former route of the switchback line from here through to the M80 at Provan.
Bridgeton [1st]: Looks like work is finally about to start on the East End Regeneration Route through Glasgow. Dalmarnock Road has been closed off for 2 weeks to allow removal of the redundant bridge that once carried the Switchback. View east on 27 April 2009, with Swanston Street (and Dalmarnock station) off to the right.
Glasgow Central: A train made up of two Class 156 units in the new ScotRail blue approaching Glasgow Central on 27th April 2009
Lancaster: A Birmingham New Street to Glasgow Central Virgin Voyager arrives at Lancaster with the 1538 hrs service on 27 April 2009.
Stewarton: Three of the commemorative posters produced by Stewarton Academy on display outside the town's railway station on 27 April 2010.
Poulton-le-Fylde: Significant building work at Poulton has seen the very long island platform drastically shortened and refurbished. Because the area under the canopy is also under renovation it is also fenced off leaving only a limited area for trains to use. Northern Adelante 180103 calls on a Manchester to Blackpool service on 27 April but only four of its five coaches fit the available area of platform. View towards Blackpool.
Carr Lane Halt: Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 46429, of Preston shed, hauled the last goods train from Knott End over Carr Lane level crossing on 13.11.1950 and a line that had only been open since 1908 was cut back to Pilling. Sixty years later the hump in the lane, and the two concrete gate posts on the right, still betray the site of the crossing. This was also the location of a small railmotor halt from 1921 to 1930 serving the western end of Pilling village. Map Reference SD 402478.
Poulton-le-Fylde: The eastern approach to Poulton-le-Fylde. Semaphore signals still control the trains here although the former through lines have been taken out of use. In the foreground are the remains of the eastern end of the island platform, recently removed as part of a refurbishment See image [[28706]]. Adelante 180103 is heading for Blackpool North while 158817 is going to York.
Preston: View across the south end of Preston station as a Voyager arrives from Birmingham on the afternoon of 27 April 2011.
Caldercruix: A Helensburgh Central - Edinburgh Waverley service, formed by SPT liveried 334007, leaving Caldercruix on 27 April 2011. The new station had opened here two and a half months earlier, replacing the 1862 original which had occupied the same site (closed January 1956).
Wennington Junction: Hurried Pacer substitution? Heading for Morecambe, 150275 was still displaying Manchester Victoria on its rear destination blind as it left Wennington. The Sprinter is just passing the former junction for the Lune Valley line through Halton to Green Ayre and about to swing right for Melling Tunnel on the Carnforth line. The recess in the foreground was for Wennington signal box, only removed a few years ago. See image [[13328]]
Preston: Northern 158757 crosses the River Ribble on the southern approach to Preston whilst on a York to Blackpool service in April 2011.
Oban: The first train of the day from Glasgow Queen Street about to arrive in Oban on 27 April 2011.
Helmsdale: 158701 leaving Helmsdale for Wick and Thurso on a glorious 27 April 2011.
Colne: Having just left Colne station and crossed the viaduct the 13.50hrs to Blackpool South service runs across the high embankment that dominates the west end of the town. Colne station, a terminus since 1970, is a mere shadow of its former self See image [[17150]] and nowadays only sees this basic hourly service.
Armadale: The 13.40 Helensburgh Central - Edinburgh Waverley runs into Armadale station on 27 April 2011. Photographed from the recently reopened bridge carrying the B8084 Station Road.
Longridge (Lancashire): A direct Then and Now comparison with David Hindle's 1966 view of Longridge goods yard and the line to the quarries. This road has been built on the old trackbed and all trace of the railway removed. See image [[33841]] for the same location in 1966.
Culloden Viaduct: The evening sun highlights the stonework of Culloden viaduct on a fine spring evening in 2011.
Loughborough Midland: An East Midlands HST hustles north through a wet Loughborough station on 27 April 2012.
Newhaven: Newhaven station on 27 April 2012. See here either side of Richard Arnot are Patrick Hutton and Lawrence Marshall of the Capital Rail Action Group. [See adjacent news item]
Micheldever: Rebuilt 'Merchant Navy' Pacific no 35028 Clan Line at Micheldever on 27 April with The Royal Wessex special bound for Swanage.
Farington Curve Junction: Less than 2 miles out of Preston at the start of Day 7 (27 April 2012) of the Great Britain V railtour, with 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' approaching Farington Curve Junction gradually building up speed. The train had been routed onto the slow line to allow a following London bound Pendolino to pass it before Balshaw Lane Junction, the southern end of the 4 track section from Preston.
Challow: GWR 'Castle' class locomotive no 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe standing in the loop at Challow on 27 April awaiting permission to depart for Bristol.
Plates, signs, notices etc: My work made this special poster for my retirement day, the picture was taken at the NYMR.
Loughborough Midland: The new 'Olympic length' platforms at Loughbrough Midland, seen looking North from the new footbridge on 27 April 2012, with a lift tower visible on the left and the Brush works standing on the right. See image [[30501 for an earlier view from the old footbridge]]
Leicester Midland: The destination blind on this train at Leicester Midland says 'Class 170 Turbostar'; which is 100% true and 99% useless information. The tail lights are also deceptive, as the train is about to depart for Birmingham.
Loughborough Midland: There can't be many stations where the original Victorian-height platforms still survive - albeit fenced off. View looks South; the chord to the East Leake branch (formerly the GCR main line) can be seen to the left as a descending embankment.
Leicester: Track machines getting on with their 6-day snooze round the back of Leicester station. View from platform 4 on a Friday afternoon in April 2012.
Loughborough Midland: The new order at Loughborough: an up Class 222 Meridian passes below the new footbridge on 27 April 2012, under the watchful eye of a suit with a 'phone. The station refurbishment here is now complete.
Loughborough Midland: I must admit, the Loughborough ticket office looked a bit bland just in white see image [[36271]]. More sprucing up for the Olympics!
Ingrow West: Behind D0226 on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway near Ingrow West in April 2013. See image [[43013]]
Bowling: K4 no 61994 heads east towards Glasgow with the West Highland portion of the GB VI railtour, ending 27 April 2013 in Edinburgh. Bowling basin and the River Clyde are to the right out of shot.
Banavie Swing Bridge: The midday service to Mallaig crosses Banavie Swing Bridge over the Caledonian Canal in 2013.
Bowling: 334034 passes Bowling at speed on its way east with a service from Helensburgh on 27 April 2013.
Banavie Junction [2nd]: Banavie Junction looking to Fort William with the Mallaig line through the trees on the right and the former Banavie Pier branch in the foreground left. This closed branch served the Caledonian Canal and was opened with the West Highland Railway. It provided the start point for the line to Mallaig. For some inexplicable reason this location was the most requested on the website for which there was no photograph, well now there is!
Ingrow West: Prototype EE 500hp diesel electric D0226 at Ingrow West on 27 April 2013. The survivor of a pair of similar locomotives built at the Vulcan Foundry in 1956 (the scrapped D0227 was fitted with hydraulic transmission).
Ingrow West: Platform scene at Ingrow West on 27 April featuring D0226. See image [[43013]]
Haworth: Locomotives on shed at Haworth on 27 April include 08266, 90733, 80002 and 37264.
Haworth: DMU SC51803 stands in the yard at Haworth on 27 April 2013.
Oxenhope: Railfreight Coal liveried 20031 photographed at Oxenhope on 27 April 2013 during the KWVR Diesel Gala.
Kyle of Lochalsh: The Royal Scotsman leaves Kyle passing the recently renovated signalbox (museum and holiday accommodation).
Ingrow: 26038 waits with a train in the loop at Ingrow on 27 April 2013.
Whitemoss Level Crossing: The Great Britain VI hauled by Black Fives 44871 and 45407 gets to grips with the 1 in 90 gradient between Whitemoss level crossing and Auchterarder on the afternoon of Saturday 27 April.
Oakworth: A train stands at the platform at Oakworth on 27 April 2013. On the front is preserved diesel locomotive 25059.
Bowling: Having just called at Bowling on 27 April, an eastbound service pulls away on the short leg to Kilpatrick.
Bowling: K4 no 61994 brings the West Highland portion of Great Britain VI through Bowling on 27 April 2013 heading for Edinburgh.
Oakworth: Closing the level crossing gates at Oakworth, April 2013.
Bowling: 320310 is seen passing Bowling with a Glasgow bound service on 27 April 2013.
Tomatin: The Great Britain VI southbound from Inverness on 27 April, double headed by Black 5's 44871+54507, approaching the closed station at Tomatin.
Oakworth: Eight minutes past eleven, Oakworth, 27 April 2013.,
Oxenhope: 20020+20031 photographed at Oxenhope on 27 April 2013 during the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Diesel Gala.
Kingussie: Black 5's 44871+45407 double head the northern portion of the Great Britain VI south to Edinburgh on 27 April 2013. Pictured north of Kingussie with the snow-capped Cairngorms in the background
Hardengreen Viaduct: The new Borders Railway bridge over Hardengreen roundabout looking south on 27 April 2014. Side panels are now in place along both sides of the deck and much of the scaffolding has been removed. Newbattle viaduct stands in the background, complete with temporary safety fencing.
Kinghorn Tunnel: 60009 Union of South Africa climbs to Pettycur, between Burntisland and Kinghorn, with the first Forth Circle on 27 April.
Crossgates: The SRPS Forth Circle railtour approaches Crossgates during the morning running of Sunday, 27 April, 2014, behind 60009 Union of South Africa.
Winchburgh Junction: A4 Pacific 60009 Union of South Africa climbing away from Winchburgh Junction with the morning SRPS Forth Circle special on 27 April 2014.
Eskbank and Dalkeith: Looking south from the the A6094 on 27 April 2014, with the old Eskbank station immediately behind the camera. The new station will be located just beyond the yellow works container in the background, some 9 miles out from Waverley. The houses of Hardengreen Lane stand just off to the right behind the trees.
Cowie: The SRPS Forth Circle, hauled by 60009 Union of South Africa, passing Cowie on the climb away from Stirling on 27 April 2014, with the castle on the skyline.
Winchburgh: 60009 crosses Beatlie Road, Winchburgh, with the morning Fife Circle tour on 27 April 2014.
Stirling: 60009 Union of South Africa during the photo stop at Stirling station with the afternoon running of the SRPS Forth Circle railtour on Sunday, 27 April, 2014.
Eskbank: The Waverley trackbed looking south west from the new Eskbank station site on Sunday 27 April 2014. As can be seen, considerable excavation work has been carried out in the area. In addition, a new bridge is to be built in the background to replace the old masonry arch bridge filled in along with the original cutting following closure see image [[34354]].
Inverkeithing: A4 60009 Union of South Africa draws into Inverkeithing station on Sunday 27 April with the afternoon running of the SRPS Forth Circle railtour.
Carrbridge: Deltic 55003 Meld at Carrbridge on 27 April 2015. The locomotive was on its way from Glasgow to Inverness where it will haul the Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh return leg of the 'Great Britain VIII' railtour. This is one of the changes resulting from the current suspension of WCRC from the national network.
Brock: A gleaming rake of MkI stock from Carnforth rolls south at Brock behind DBS 66122 heading for Wembley on 27 April. The 11 coaches in this ECS movement (and the loco) were required for the GBVIII tour the following day, hauled by 70000 Britannia. See image [[51120]]
Bonnybridge High: An image taken from Dykehead Farm overbridge on 27th April 2015. Between 170415 and the red signal was the location of High Bonnybridge (Bonnybridge High) station. To the right of the unit was a trailing junction feeding the Bonnybridge Silica and fireclay works (The Silica).
Balgreen [Tram]: An airport-bound tram at Balgreen on 27/04/2016. The tramstop is on the site of Balgreen Halt at the very start of the Corstorphine Branch.
The word depository, on the former Jenner's warehouse in the background, has unfortunate historical associations. The only word I can think of that rhymes with it is similarly infelicitous.
Bay Horse: Diverted via the WCML due to the Armathwaite landslip, DB 66114 takes the Horrocksford to Mossend cement tanks north at Bay Horse on 27th April, 2016. The evening sun that had been illuminating the embankment disappeared briefly while the train passed.
Bay Horse: DB 66120, in EWS livery, takes the regular Hardendale (Shap) to Margam freight south through Bay Horse on the evening of 27th April 2016. The train is scheduled to leave Hardendale at 1826hrs and run via Shrewsbury and Hereford to arrive in Margam at 0439hrs.
Almondhaugh: Almondhaugh Halt, destination of the Almond Valley Light Railway.
Bay Horse: DRS 37604 (leading) and 37069 on the embankment south of Bay Horse station with the evening flasks from Sellafield to Crewe on 27th April 2016. DRS put six Class 37s up for sale during 2016 but these two were not offered at that time and remain in service.
Bishopton: 380015 departs from Bishopton heading to Glasgow on 27 April 2017.
Bishopton: 314s call at Bishopton on 27 April 2017. On the left is 314209 in ScotRail blue heading to Wemyss Bay and on the right 314206 in Strathclyde livery heading to Glasgow Central.
Mossband Junction: A Dumfries to Carlisle Scotrail service is about to pass under the A74M at Mossband Jct on 27 April 2017.
Aberdour: A model of Aberdour signal box on display on the occasion of the box opening.
Bishopton: 380019 rushes non-stop through Bishopton on 27 April 2017 with a Glasgow bound service.
Balloch Pier: A view of the engine room on the Maid of the Loch in April 2017. It is understood that whilst the engines have turned during 2019, the public will be able to view this during 2020 even if the ship remains tied up at Balloch Pier. Hopefully the Chief Engineer will receive some 'maintenance' before this happens.
Clifton Mill: Looking south west towards Rugby from near Clifton Mill station on the LNWR line from Peterborough in April 2017. The disused viaduct once carried the line over Butlers Leap on the approach to Rugby station. [Ref query 1015]
Balloch Pier: The engine room on board the Maid of the Loch in April 2017. According to a recent News Item, the public will be able to view the engines at work again in the Spring of 2020.
Kilpatrick: 318250 calls at Kilpatrick while working from Cumbernauld to Dumbarton Central on 27 April 2017.
Bishopton: A Glasgow bound service, with 314206, approaches Bishopton on 27 April 2017.
Coatbridge Sunnyside: The Sunnyside Coffee Company is based in the station building at Coatbridge Sunnyside. A small modification is needed to the station sign - it is of course the Summerlee Heritage Centre not Museum!
Mossband Junction: DRS 66303 leads 66429 on a northbound container service as it passes Mossband Junction heading to Mossend on 27 April 2017.
Grantown-on-Spey East: Progress at Grantown-on-Spey East station on 27 April 2017. View north from a vantage point alongside the A95. See image [[26143]]
Kilpatrick: 320413 heads east from Kilpatrick and passes under the Erskine Bridge on 27 April 2017.
Glenfinnan: In light rain, a Jacobite service, returning from Mallaig, leaves Glenfinnan. The view is from The Viaduct Trail, a relatively easy path (think West Highland Way) from the station to above the west end of Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Kilpatrick: Ex London Midland unit now 320413 and in ScotRail livery arrives at Kilpatrick with an eastbound service on 27 April 2017.
Dalry Road: Though a stretch of one face of the island platform survives at the eastern end of Dalry Road, there's not much to see at the western end and you'll have to use your imagination. The path to the left existed when the station was open, and gave access to the platform via a subway with two right angles. The running lines would have run either side of me. To the right can be seen the remains of a coal loading bank. The main line ran behind the trees; despite the proximity it never had platforms.
Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The unlamented extension to the Millennium Hotel, now reduced to a skeleton, seen in late April 2018 with the 'Muncher' having a rest after its heavy meal.
Baillieston: All go at the south end of the new overbridge at Baillieston at the end of April 2018
Union Bridge: A class 47 locomotive, 47772, leads a West Coast Railways Branch Line Society railtour over the now little used bridge which once saw so much traffic from St. Enoch station.
Dalry Road: The gap on the bricks reveals the blocked-up eastern entrance with steps up to Dalry Road station. We are in the Telfer Subway (between Fountainbridge and Dalry) which once went under the CR lines out of Princes Street, converted to a road in 1974. How may people poured (or trickled) out of here to nearby factories is hard to say; my impression is that Edinburgensians who were around at the time did''t even notice that they had a suburban rail network. This may explain why the number of suburban stations post-Beeching was 1 (Slateford).
Dumbarton Central: Interior of the former stationmaster's office at Dumbarton Central. This was located in the east end of the southern island platform's building.
Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The 50m extension to platform 1 at Glasgow Queen Street nearing completion in late April 2018. the extra length will enable 4 coach trains to use the platform.
Dumbarton Central: Railway crest on a fireplace inside Dumbarton Central. I always find these quite difficult to interpret, I guess this is the initials of the Dumbarton and Balloch Joint Line Committee, who rebuilt the station when it became jointly owned in 1896.
Woodacre Crossing: West Coast Railways now have the Northern Belle contract and the coaches are maintained at Carnforth. On 20th April 2018 57313 crossed the Grizedale Brook at Woodacre with empty stock to pick up passengers at Preston, Lime Street and Manchester Victoria before heading along the Furness line to Barrow. 57601 was on the rear on this leg to share the haulage for the day.
Union Bridge: A West Coast Railways Branch Line Society railtour, with Class 37 37516 at the rear and Class 47 47772 leading, makes an unusual sight on this little used line on a spring Saturday afternoon.
Dalry Road: Nobody has caught a train here since 1962. However not many caught one before then either, as this face was for Edinburgh Princes Street only a few hundred yards away and trams and buses on Dalry Road were plentiful and cheaper. The other face of this island platform has not survived, presumably as it got in the way of the 1974 West Approach Road (background) on the course of the main line.
Dumbarton Central: MSP Jackie Baillie and Provost William Hendrie prepare to cut a red tape to open the Armed Forces Veterans' Association Heritage Centre with an unusually large pair of scissors. The centre is located in room 1 platform 2 of Dumbarton Central.
Dumbarton Central: MSP Jackie Baillie and Provost William Hendrie return the scissors having officially opened the Armed Forces Veterans' Association Heritage Centre.
Chasewater Heaths: This rather unambitious speed limit on the Chasewater Railway might tempt you to look for a man with a red flag. It could be due to the state of the track, or perhaps in case some of the resident deer are trespassing on the line, and need to be Chased away.
Greenwich [DLR]: DLR unit 57 to Lewisham at Greenwich, seen from approaching DLR train to Bank, on 27th April 2019. The National Rail platforms are out of view on the left.
Millom Iron Works: A fine sculpture stands on a plinth in the town square at Millom, just a few yards from the railway station, in tribute to the workers at the long closed Millom Ironworks and its surrounding industries. 27th April 2019.
Shrivenham: 46233 'Duchess of Sutherland', leading the first leg of the Great Britain XII train from Paddington to Bristol and beyond, seen here approaching the site of the long gone Shrivenham Station on the GWML, just to the east of Swindon on 27th April 2019.
Chasewater Heaths: A private charter train doing a runpast on the Chasewater Railway. Originally, it was going to be a black engine; then a blue one; but it turned out to be red. The name of the train was 'The Half Century Limited', but the headboard did not fit the lamp brackets. Bruggle strothers.
Chislehurst: Exterior of the 1868 station at Chislehurst, Kent, looking south along Station Approach on 27th April 2019.
See query 2068
Brownhills West: The signal box - a beacon of light on a wintry night. An aspect of the 'big railway' which we are losing year by year, but which is faithfully preserved on steam railways. I used to regularly drive down the bleak road between Abergavenny and Pontypool, and was cheered by the lights at Little Mill Junction box - these are no longer available.
Appleby: I was standing waiting for the 1514hrs Northern service to Carlisle on 27th April 2019 and the signal was up. I was rather surprised to see so many people on the platform, and I did wonder why, but the arrival of 60009 explained that. My own train was delayed by about fifteen minutes but it was nice to see this steaming through Appleby.
Turnhouse: Nothing remains of Turnhouse station itself, but the somewhat modified 1897 station house survives. Turnhouse (with Lennie) is no more than a scattered hamlet but it gave its name to an RAF station and so in turn to Edinburgh's Airport for a while. It is now back to obscurity. Photographed incidental to my daily exercise permitted under emergency coronavirus legislation.
Donibristle Platform: Azumas 800207 and 800201 pass Donibristle with an empty stock working from Clayhills, Aberdeen to Doncaster IEP depot on 27th April 2020. This was part of a swap arrangement with another pair. Photo ancillary to daily exercise during corona virus emergency.
Crow Nest Junction: 150111 leads a brace of Sprinters coming off the Atherton line at Crow Nest Junction with a service for Kirby on 27th April 2021. Immediately to the right of the train is the location of the BR signal cabin that was installed around 1968 when the junction was simplified. This replaced a large L&YR box that was in the fork of the junction. See image [[35542]] from 2011 when the BR signal box was still operational (It closed in 2013).
Hindley: This impressive structure takes the Borsdane Brook, and a now pedestrianised roadway, under the high railway embankment between Hindley station and Crow Nest Junction. 27th April 2021.
Oxford: Low-geared Freightliner 66601, southbound through Oxford, with a Banbury to Bristol Freightliner Terminal service on 27th April 2021.
Hindley and Blackrod Branch Junction: An unofficial footpath allowed a partial exploration of parts of the old Hilton House branch around the junction with the 1889 link to Dobbs Brow Junction. See map [[76558]]. This was known as Hindley and Blackrod Branch Junction and an L&YR cabin controlled this until both lines closed in 1968. It was a wooden structure so inevitably, after over fifty years, most of it has gone but some brickwork from the base was still visible on the right to mark the spot, along with some S & T paraphernalia. This April 2021 view looks south where the Dobbs Brow line went left and that to Crow Nest Junction curved to the right.
Hindley and Blackrod Branch Junction: This bridge (SD 635066) is on the 1889 direct route from Hindley and Blackrod Branch Junction to Dobb Brow Junction on the Atherton line. See map [[76558]]. The latter created a fast route out of Manchester to Liverpool and this short line, joining the older line to Blackrod, allowed L&YR expresses to Blackpool or further north to bypass Bolton. Twenty years younger than a nearby bridge on the curve to Hindley this is made of blue rather than red brick and has a flat girder deck rather than a brick arch. However, in 2021 it is looking very tired. Much of the trackbed south of here towards Dobbs Brow was in cuttings and long sections have been filled in.
Hindley and Blackrod Branch Junction: This crumbling red brick arch bridge (SD 634063) is on the 1868 line from Hindley to Blackrod, just to the south west of Hindley and Blackrod Branch Junction. See map [[76558]]. It last saw a train in 1968 but still carries a public footpath. An unofficial path also leads down onto the trackbed.
Crow Nest Junction: A pair of Sprinters, working from Kirby to Manchester Victoria, approach Crow Nest Junction soon after departing Hindley, whose platforms can be seen in the distance. The trees here create an impression of a long cutting but in fact this is a high embankment, which used to support four tracks, crossing the Borsdane Brook on a substantial bridge [[76603]]. 27th April 2021.
Westhoughton: This was the point where, until 1968, the line from Dobbs Brow Junction to Blackrod passed underneath the Wigan to Bolton line. (Map Ref SD 640059) See map [[76558]]. The cutting is still there, to the left of the rear cab of the train, but the bridge itself has been filled in. 150150 and 125 are working from Southport to Oxford Road, next stop Westhoughton, on 27th April 2021. With the May 2021 timetable change these Southport services have been extended to Alderley Edge and are now worked by Class 769 Flex units.
Oxford: Chiltern Railways 168003, in the LNWR/LMS part of Oxford Station on 27th April 2021 with a train from Marylebone.
Dobbs Brow Junction: 150116 heads for Kirby at Dobbs Brow on 27th April 2021. This is a rather non-descript location at present but, prior to 1968, there were four tracks here and the junction for the cut off line to the Hindley and Blackrod branch was about half way between the train and the bridge in the background. See map [[76558]]. For the future, 150116 is identified to become a three-car Class 150/0 using a Class 150/2 car in the centre, one of four such Northern conversions. Additionally, Dobbs Brow has been proposed as a location for a brand new station, which will make three serving Westhoughton with the obvious one and also Daisy Hill.
Didcot Parkway: Colas Rail Freight 70805 passing Didcot on 27th April 2021. This freight, running from Bescot to Eastleigh with engineering wagons, was just one of many seen at Didcot that day.
Oxford: GWR 802018, northbound at Oxford, heading from Paddington to Hereford at 1241hrs hours on 27th April 2021.
Oxford: It is a long time since Virgin held the Cross Country franchise and worked trains through Oxford. However, a Virgin Trains sign can still be seen on the platform, partially covered but a reminder of a long gone enterprise.
Oxford: DB 66129 with a northbound freight through Oxford on 27th April 2021. This was a Southampton MCT to Birch Coppice Sidings working at 1225 hours.
Didcot Parkway: DB 66135, eastbound at Didcot, working from Morris Cowley to Southampton MCT at 1115 hours with a fully loaded car train.
Crow Nest Junction: Just to the east of Crow Nest Junction, on the line to Westhoughton and Lostock Junction, this bridge has been substantially rebuilt with a prefabricated steel deck replacing the original structure. There is still a strict weight limit but the bridge only provides access to nearby stables and a public footpath. 156424 passes underneath heading from Southport to Manchester Oxford Road on 27th April 2021.
Oxford: Chiltern Railways 165001, standing in bay platform 2 at Oxford on 27th April 2021, will become a departure for London Marylebone.
Crow Nest Junction: 158752 takes the Atherton line towards Salford, at the much simplified Crow Nest Junction, with a Wigan to Leeds service in April 2021. I have a picture taken from this spot in 1968, immediately prior to rationalisation, showing an L&YR signal box in the fork, controlling three converging railways, with eight tracks in total. Whereas today's junction has a single diamond crossover the 1968 picture shows eleven in the very complex layout. See map [[76558]] showing the various lines around this area in 1959.
Didcot Parkway: Freightliner 66570, westbound at 1040hrs through Didcot, with the Southampton to Lawley Street intermodal (Rep No 470A) on 27th April 2021
Oxenholme Lake District: 43290, looking a little 'down at heel' in patchy ex-LNER livery, leads the NRMT from Slateford to Crewe L&NWR on 27th April 2022. The train has just passed through Oxenholme and is approaching the bridge at Newlands with 43299 on the rear.
Didcot Parkway: C2C 387306 in Didcot Parkway, on loan from C2C to cover for the GWR's 387s that have been withdrawn for crack repairs.
Oxenholme Lake District: 390154 winds through the Westmorland hills on the climb to Oxenholme with a Euston Glasgow service on 27th April 2022. The Pendolino is approaching the bridge at Natland, less than a mile south of the station itself.
Carnforth: 390046 speeds south alongside the Carnforth loops on 27th April 2022. On the far left the two Jubilees on the GBXIV railtour are being watered before continuing to Chester. In between, 158867 has recently terminated at Carnforth station on a Bentham Line service from Skipton, and will shortly go forward to Lancaster as empty stock.
Didcot Parkway: An empty first wagon on the Wentloog to Felixstowe intermodal (Reporting number 445L) allows a view of the rear cab of Freightliner 66514 as it passes through Didcot on 27 April 2022.
Oxenholme Lake District: 90020 and 90021, with a Mossend to Daventry intermodal, wind through the curves at Oxenholme on 27th April 2021. 90021 sports an eye-catching brand new 'Malcolm 100 years' livery.
Farington Junction: GB XIV Tour continues. Day 6 and the Grange Over Sands to Chester leg of the tour produced a pair of ex LMS Jubilees, reportedly the first such occurrence on the mainline in preservation. 45596 'Bahamas' leads 45690 'Leander' in the sunshine at Farington Junction on 27 April 2022. The second leg of the day saw the train travel from Chester to Cardiff via Hereford.
Carnforth Bottom End Sidings: The GBXIV tour started from Grange-over-Sands on 27th April heading for Chester and later Cardiff. Although Grange is only a few miles from Carnforth the locos and stock had been all the way to Askam to reverse so, with all that mileage and time accrued, were heading for a water stop at Carnforth Loops. Jubilees 45596 and 45690 double headed the train throughout the day and are seen passing under the Ironworks Tramway bridge at Warton, just to the west of Carnforth.
Carnforth: Wreathed in steam, literally, two (honestly) Jubilees have all cylinder cocks open as they leave Carnforth with the 'GBXIV' railtour on 27th April 2022. This was the leg from Grange-over-Sands to Chester and Cardiff and 45596 and 45690 had just had their tender tanks replenished in the loop alongside Steamtown.
Hincaster Junction: 88002 'Prometheus' climbs towards Hincaster Junction with the northbound 'Tesco' on 27th April 2022.
Farington Junction: GBRF 66767 has just joined the WCML at Farington Jct as it works a Clitheroe to Avonmouth loaded cement train on 27 April 2022.
Oxenholme Lake District: Work stained Freightliner 66613 rolls down the gradient from Oxenholme, crossing the bridge over Natland Road, with stone empties from Hardendale to Tunstead on 27th April 2022.
Didcot Parkway: EWS/DB 66136 and 66139 arriving in Didcot on 27th April 2022 with a heavy load of 3400 tons of ballast from the Tytherington Quarries. Due to its size and the need for two 66s the train travels via Bristol Parkway, Bath, Westbury, Newbury and Reading West before arriving at Didcot. I assume its final destination is the Hinksey Virtual Quarry at Oxford.
Didcot Parkway: A close up of the inscription on the side of DBC 66136 at Didcot on 27th April 2022. Aits claim to fame is/was its involvement with the through rail freight traffic from China, pre-Ukraine. Suitably adorned with the correct text, if a little grubby.
Didcot Parkway: On a cloudy and fresh (to say the least) day, Colas 70809 takes a PW ballaster train east through Didcot at 1110 hours, possible destination Eastleigh.
Didcot Parkway: GWR hybrid 769943, west bound from Didcot on 27th April 2022, running from Maidenhead to Swindon. This was possibly a driver training run with a 'new' type of unit now appearing on the GWR scene.
Events
Events from the chronology which occured on this day. This generally lists events before 1995, the creation of the website.
News
These are old news items which which occured on this day. This generally lists events after 1995, the creation of the website.
| Year | Companies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Cowlairs re-signalling | Greenfoot signal box demolished, new signals lying on ground at Cumbernauld. |
| 2004 | Business plan holds up Waverley rail line bill [Scotsman] | THE timetable for processing parliamentary legislation to allow the Edinburgh-Borders rail link to be constructed is already months behind schedule because of "frustrating" delays in completing the business case for the £129 million scheme. |
| 2004 | Eurostar pays tribute to WWII spy [BBC News] | Rail company Eurostar names a new train after a French spy credited with saving London from V-1 flying bomb attacks. |
| 2004 | Joint blame for Potters Bar crash [BBC News] | Network Rail and the rail maintenance company Jarvis accept legal responsibility for the Potters Bar rail crash. |
| 2004 | Potters Bar firms admit liability [BBC News] | Network Rail and rail maintenance firm Jarvis accept responsibility for the Potters Bar train crash. |
| 2006 | Rail disruption warning [Scotsman] | RAIL giant GNER today advised people travelling from Edinburgh to Glasgow Central this weekend to instead use First ScotRail^s services to Queen Street, due to engineering works. |
| 2007 | Railtex round-up [Railway Strategies] | More than 9300 rail industry professionals attended Railtex 07 at ExCeL London. While visitors to the show from the UK predominated, some 700 were from overseas, more than double the figure attending the previous Railtex in Birmingham in 2004. |
| 2007 | On the right track [Railway Strategies] | Leading figures from the railway industry are lined up to share their best practice secrets at the Railway Strategies Supply Chain Conference |
| 2007 | DLR Stratford International extension [Railway Strategies] | Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has awarded the first of three major construction contracts to build the £211 million DLR extension to Stratford International, a key part of the transport plans for the 2012 Games. |
| 2007 | Conferences & Exhibitions [Railway Strategies] | This listing represents a selection of the events about which we have been notified. It is strongly recommended that direct contact should be made with the individual organiser responsible for each event before booking places or making travel and accommodation reservations. Cancellations and other last-minute alterations – such as those to venue or time or eligibility for attendance – are also liable to occur. We have checked the details provided as much as possible, but the editor and publishers of RAILWAY STRATEGIES cannot guarantee that all the listing details are correct and are not responsible for any loss or inconvenience suffered by readers in connection with this guide to events. |
| 2009 | Rail concerns at planning change [BBC News Article] | Councillors voice fears that moves to amend a structure plan signal weakening support for reopening rail links to the region. |
| 2009 | New station entrance a step closer [Evening News] | PLANS to create a new entrance to Waverley Station have been given the green light by planners |
| 2010 | Man Run Over By Train Survives [Greenock Telegraph] | A MAN had a miracle escape after being run over by a speeding train as it careered through a Greenock railway station. [From Graham Morgan] |
| 2010 | New East London Line opens [BBC News] | The new East London Line has been opened to the public, forming part of the London Overground network [From Michael Gibb] |
| 2010 | Stewarton - the Bonnet Toun [First ScotRail] | In celebration of the town^s new half-hourly train service on the Glasgow-Kilmarnock line, Stewarton Academy has provided ScotRail with six colourful posters now on display at the rebuilt station. The posters commemorate Stewarton^s fame as the Bonnet Toun where Glengarry hats worn by pipers have been made in the same factory using traditional methods since 1845. |
| 2011 | Network Rail displays Ipswich chord plans [Network Rail ] | Network Rail will be displaying plans next week as the final part of consultation for the proposed Ipswich Chord – a £41m investment in Ipswich’s railway that could ultimately take up to 750,000 lorry journeys off the road every year. |
| 2011 | Glasgow station gates to combat rail fare dodgers [BBC] | Automatic ticket gates are to be installed at four train stations in Glasgow in a bid to cut fare dodging. |
| 2012 | Highland Chieftain train stopped in its tracks by landslide [Highland News] | A LANDSLIP, which threatened to undermine the railway line, stopped the Highland Cheiftain train in it^s tracks this morning. The service which left Inverness at 7.55am encountered the slippage at the Slochd summit, which is the second highest point on the Inverness - Perth railway line at 1,315 feet above sea level. It^s thought the on-going heavy rain and stormy weather which most of the Highlands have endured for the past seven days may have brought on the landslide. The train turned back to Inverness and East Coast train operators says coaches have been laid on for passengers travelling to Edinburgh. |
| 2012 | Newhaven station 50th anniversary [Railscot] | The last passenger train left Leith North for Edinburgh Princes Street on Saturday 28 April 1962. Today on the eve of the fiftieth anniversary members of the Capital Rail Action Group visited the station building at Newhaven, last survivor on the line, which Richard Arnot is turning into business accommodation. |
| 2013 | Midlothian rail depot plan [Midlothian Advertiser] | PLANS to create a rail depot in Midlothian were revealed this week. Network Rail’s scheme to develop the former Millerhill Marshalling Yards was approved by Midlothian Council’s planning committee. The project in Whitehill Road, Dalkeith, involves the formation of a train maintenance, cleaning and stabling depot and the laying of new railway lines. For full story, see this week’s Advertiser |
| 2014 | Scruton station on Wensleydale Railway reopens after 60 years [BBC News] | A railway station that was lost under trees and brambles when it closed 60 years ago has reopened to the public. Scruton station, on the Wensleydale Heritage Line, closed to passengers on 26 April 1954 before the widespread Beeching closures started in the 1960s. The Wensleydale Railway Trust reopened the line, which runs through the Yorkshire Dales, in 2003. The trust said the £180,000 restoration had returned Scruton station to how it looked when it closed. |
| 2015 | Borders Railway could yet be a success [Evening News] | IT is disappointing news that train timings on the Borders Railway starting in September have been further slowed – but no surprise. In 2009 Transport Scotland promised a maximum journey time of 55 minutes from Edinburgh to the Tweedbank terminus, but the writing was on the wall for that promise when the Scottish Government agency decided two years later to slash the provision of double track on the railway, from 16 miles to just nine-and-a-half miles. This made the reliable operation of a 55-minute timetable impossible, so Network Rail has been forced to add a time buffer to ensure that trains run as close to schedule as possible. [From David Spaven] |
| 2017 | British Steel rises to corrosion challenge with ultra-long rail [IRJ] | BRITISH Steel says it has become the first manufacturer to produce and deliver ultra-long corrosion protected rail with the completion of a renewal project in Scotland. It comes in response to a Network Rail request to provide longer lengths of rail to speed up installation and reduce disruption to passenger and freight operators. The first installation of five 216m sections of Zinoco rail has been completed in Inverkeithing Tunnel, near Edinburgh. [From Richard Buckby] |
| 2017 | New railway station plans for Wales chosen for scrutiny [BBC News] | Twelve new railway stations could be opened in Wales if the plans are judged to be viable. Economy Secretary Ken Skates has written to AMs saying the sites have been chosen from a list of 46 proposals for more detailed scrutiny. They include new suburban stations in Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham. The Deeside industrial park, Llangefni on Anglesey, Bow Street near Aberystwyth and St Clears, Carmarthenshire, are also on the list. |
| 2018 | Steam trains on track for Aberdeen after new turntable installed [Press and Journal] | The sight of steam trains travelling in and out of Aberdeen may be a distant memory. But a heritage group has devised ambitious plans for a new service to the city after a refurbished turntable was installed at Ferryhill yesterday. The structure was removed from site in September 2016 and has been under repair at eBlast and RIM Fabrication in Kintore. |
| 2018 | Major rail improvements coming to Elgin [ScotRail] | 2,700 extra seats each day for Elgin, More services to the Central Belt, Hourly service to Inverness ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes is set to confirm a number of major improvements for customers in the north of Scotland at a public meeting in Elgin on Monday (30 April). He will be meeting with local MSP Richard Lochhead and his constituents to discuss rail services in Moray, and the works currently underway along the Aberdeen to Inverness route. |
| 2019 | Anger over fresh delay to CalMac ferries [Press and Journal] | The launch of two long-awaited CalMac vessels has been delayed yet again amid anger that islanders are being left “in limbo†when it comes to lifeline ferry services. |
| 2019 | Buses replace trains between Aberdeen and Dundee on Sunday [Press and Journal] | Network Rail have announced that buses will replace every single train between Aberdeen and Dundee on Sunday. |
| 2019 | Review into Ballater Station overspend finds delays and money were justified by its stunning resurrection [Press and Journal] | Councillors have praised the stunning restoration of the historic Ballater Station but accepted that lessons must to be learned from the project. After a devastating blaze ripped through the building in May 2015, officers planned its rebirth, working with partners including Historic Environment Scotland and the Royal Household. |
| 2019 | Transport minister demands more powers to run Scotlands railways [Scotsman] | Scotlands transport minister has stepped up demands for Holyrood to be granted further powers over the running of the countrys railways. |
| 2020 | Fixed Link at Corran Narrows is confirmed as a viable option in new Study [Highland Council] | Construction of a bridge or tunnel across the Corran Narrows in West Lochaber - replacing the long-established ferry service - is a viable proposition from an engineering, planning and economic perspe |
| 2020 | GB Railfreight trials express delivery trains for vital NHS supplies [GB Railfreight] | GB Railfreight, one of the UK^s largest rail freight operators, has successfully trialled using former commuter trains for the express delivery of parcels. A service was run into Euston station earlier this month using a 100mph, Class 319, EMU train, which until recently was providing commuter services in the West Midlands. |
| 2020 | ScotRail helps volunteer group deliver vital equipment to NHS staff [ScotRail] | NHS staff in the Highlands will receive a vital donation of sanitary clothing, thanks to a volunteer group and the help of ScotRail. The train operator transported 30 bales of fabric which will be made into hospital scrubs for NHS staff in Inverness, Caithness, and Elgin by volunteer group, NHS Scotland for the Love of Scrubs. The material was loaded on to an off-peak service from Glasgow Queen Street to Inverness on Friday, 24 April. |
| 2020 | Spoon believed to date back to Second World War uncovered in ships anchor chain off Kyle of Lochalsh [Press and Journal] | A spoon found entangled in the anchor chain of a ship off the west coast has offered a fascinating reminder of the area^s wartime past. |
| 2020 | GB Railfreight trials express delivery trains for vital NHS supplies [GB Railfreight] | GB Railfreight, one of the UKs largest rail freight operators, has successfully trialled using former commuter trains for the express delivery of parcels. A service was run into Euston station earlier this month using a 100mph, Class 319, EMU train, which until recently was providing commuter services in the West Midlands. The trial showed the trains could successfully be loaded and offloaded with standard roll cages at most mainline stations across the UK and when seats are removed the carriages can carry significant volumes of parcels. |
