St Margarets Shed: Detail of D3733 at St Margarets in May 1959. The locomotive was one of a batch of 6 of the class which had recently arrived new from Crewe Works.

Paisley Gas Works: Ardrossan based Fowler class 2P 4-4-0 no 40579 passing Paisley Gas Works on the approach to Gilmour Street station on 2 May 1959 with a Largs to Glasgow train.

St Margarets Shed: Old and new at St Margarets in 1959 with D3560 standing alongside N15 0-6-2T no 69186 on the north side of the main line.

St Margarets Shed: NBL diesel hydraulic locomotive D2722 photographed on St Margarets shed on 2 May 1959.

St Margarets Shed: Early NBL diesel-hydraulic shunter no D2727 stands at St Margarets in May 1959, one of a number of the class to be delivered new to the depot around that time.

St Margarets Shed: One of a batch of 6 class 08 diesel shunters to arrive at St Margarets in the spring of 1959, this one numbered D3733. The locomotive is standing on the north side of the depot on 2 May, looking as though it's still waiting for the paint to dry.

St Margarets Shed: D3733 stands on the north side of St Margarets shed in May 1959, not long after delivery.

Paisley Mineral Depot [GSW]: Standard Mogul 76097 approaching Paisley Gilmour Street with a freight in May 1959.

Paisley Gas Works: 'Crab' 2-6-0 no 42745 passing Paisley Gasworks with an Ayr - St Enoch train on 2 May 1959. At this point the train is running parallel with Brown Street on the left.

Heaton: An ecs working leaving Heaton carriage sidings for Newcastle Central in May 1964 behind Gresley V3 no 67636.

Edinburgh Waverley: Long before the days of VDUs, LCDs, Flappers etc, train departures from larger stations were often displayed via a manually operated scroll, such as this one in the booking hall at Waverley. When a service was withdrawn the entry was deleted using a brush and a pot of white paint. On 2 May 1964 we see the demise of the service that formerly departed between the 4pm Talisman to London Kings Cross and the 4.10pm all stations to Hawick (apart from Tynehead on Saturdays). [Note the number of trains that called at Portobello in those days - also the large advertisement for Player's Gold Leaf cigarettes on the left.] [Additional - Alasdair Taylor advises that the service deleted was the 4.5pm to Dunbar, calling at Portobello, Joppa, Inveresk, Prestonpans, Longniddry, Drem, East Fortune and East Linton.]

York: A dull and overcast Saturday 2 May 1964 sees B1 4-6-0 no 61031 Reedbuck receiving attention in the yard at York. The locomotive was being prepared to work the RCTS North Eastern Limited from York to Middlesbrough via Falsgrave Junction, Whitby Town and Battersby.

York: 4472 Flying Scotsman at York station on 2 May 1964 with the London - North Eastern Flyer, organised by The Gresley Society, on its way from Kings Cross to Darlington. Standing on the centre road is 60051 Blink Bonny which had arrived earlier with the RCTS North Eastern Limited from Newcastle.

Robin Hood's Bay: The RCTS North Eastern Limited calls at Robin Hood's Bay on 2 May 1964 on its way from Newcastle to Whitby. B1 61031 Reedbuck had taken over the train at York. See image [[26270]] for a view of the station forty five years on.

York: 4472 Flying Scotsman stands at York station on 2 May 1964 with the Gresley Society's 9 coach 'London North Eastern Flyer' which ran between Kings Cross and Darlington North Road. The trip included a visit to Darlington Locomotive Works.

York Works: BR Standard class 9F 2-10-0s nos 92211 & 92205 receive attention in the workshops at York in May 1964.

York: A3 60051 Blink Bonny stands at York on 2 May 1964 after earlier bringing in the RCTS North Eastern Limited from Newcastle. Standing alongside is another special, the Gresley Society London-North Eastern Flyer, on its way to Darlington behind 4472 Flying Scotsman. See image [[39196]]

Newcastle Central: Scene at Newcastle Central station on the morning of Saturday 2 May 1964. Gresley A3 Pacific no 60051 'Blink Bonny' is awaiting its departure time with the first leg of the RCTS North Eastern Ltd bound for York.

Inveresk: The first of the three stations to carry the name Musselburgh, in this case for a mere 13 months from June 1846 until July 1847, when it was renamed Inveresk. On a dreich 2nd May 1964, the last day of operation of Edinburgh-Berwick local services, a westbound stopping train makes plenty of steam as it prepares to restart from Inveresk station.

Edinburgh Waverley: The distinctive smoke deflector stands out from the gloom in this 2nd May 1964 shot of an A1 simmering at the east end of Waverley waiting for the 'off'.

Buckie [GNSR]: Closure notice at Buckie, photographed on 2nd May 1968 - signalling the end was nigh in just a few days for both passenger and freight trains on the Moray Coast line - and advising that alternative services would subsequently be available at Keith Junction.

Buckie [GNSR]: The penultimate Buckie freight trip shunts the goods yard on 2nd May 1968 - coal and shellfish traffic continued to be handled at Buckie right up to the final service the following day. See image [[37763]]

Portessie [GNSR]: The mid afternoon Elgin-Cairnie Junction DMU waits to cross an Aberdeen-Elgin DMU at Portessie on 2nd May 1968.

Buckie [GNSR]: D5335 shunts coal wagons in the yard at Buckie on the penultimate freight trip on Thursday 2nd May 1968. This formerly Inverness-based locomotive is now preserved on the Caledonian Railway at Brechin. See image [[37763]]

Buckie [GNSR]: Mother and pram wait for the mid-afternoon train from Elgin to Cairnie Junction at Buckie station on a warm and sunny Thursday 2nd May 1968.

Forres [2nd]: A view of the former triangular platform layout at Forres, taken from the rear of an Inverness-Aberdeen DMU on 2nd May 1968. The redundant platform to the left formerly served passenger workings from the Elgin direction to Aviemore via Dava and Grantown, the line beside it probably last being used for freight traffic prior to 1965 closure. The layout at Forres - with just a single platform - has remained virtually unchanged since then, despite regularly-voiced proposals to shift the crossing loop (the start of which can be seen in the centre-right of the photo) back into the station.

Mundesley on Sea: Mundesley on Sea station and yard lay immediately to the south of Links Road in the town, but 12 years after closure, the site had been claimed by housing. This is the view north from Links Road on 2nd May 1976 showing how the track once continued beyond the station towards Trimingham and Overstrand. The lonely building on the horizon was built as a hotel for all the wealthy Victorian and Edwardian holidaymakers that were confidently expected to flock to Mundesley by rail as they had to Cromer. Unfortunately for the ambitions of the railway companies and promoters, the well heeled were not so inclined.

Belaugh Green: Looking west over Belaugh Green level crossing on 2nd May 1976. Situated on the line between Wroxham and Coltishall, it was then in occasional use for freight from Lenwade via the Themelthorpe curve. A level crossing still exists here for the narrow gauge Bure Valley Railway which now uses the trackbed.

Sheringham: The Midland and Great Northern Joint station at Sheringham became a passenger terminus in 1964 but by 1966 the premises and associated level crossing were considered too expensive to maintain. The solution was to construct a smaller halt (opened in January 1967) on the Cromer side of the crossing, as shown here with a Norwich-bound service on May 2nd 1976. Many of the visible features were surviving items from the former station, including the signage, platform seats, lighting columns and, somewhat unexpectedly after nearly a decade as an unstaffed halt, the luggage handcart. The original station still operates, but now under the auspices of the North Norfolk Railway.

Cromer High: Rain is about to dampen the disused and crumbling platforms of Cromer High station on 2nd May 1976. There had been no trains here since 1960 when the site was used as a depot for materials scavenged from the recently closed M&GN system. Passenger trains ceased to call in 1954.

Farington Junction: Brush Type 4 47280 brings a freight off the East Lancashire line onto the Up WCML at Farington Junction in May 1980. The former D1982 continued in service for a another 19 years until withdrawal from Bescot, and then languished in storage for a further eight until scrapped at EMR Kingsbury in December 2007. The shiny track in the foreground led to the two loco exchange sidings where electric locos would wait for southbound freights but they later fell into disuse. In 2012 however they were used again on consecutive February Saturdays to hold 86259 Les Ross waiting to take over from steam on the returning 'Cumbrian Mountain Express'. See image [[38393]]

Gartcosh: DMUs meet at Gartcosh in 1980. The rolling mill and sidings are on the left, Gartcosh Junction and signal box can just be seen in the background above the train on the right. This is the approximate site of the new Gartcosh station opened on 9 May 2005. See image [[16718]]

Kinnaber Junction: The 'Last Train to Brechin' railtour held at the outer home signal for Kinnaber Junction. It had to reverse and cross over to the Up Main to continue its journey south. [Ref query 24 March 2018]

Brechin: The 'Last Train' DMU returns to Brechin Station; I think it did a short run to Bridge of Dun and back but I could be wrong.... In the background is an unidentified 0-6-0ST in maroon livery. For a view of Brechin Station with the railtour train see image [[69867]]

Brechin: See yourself as you looked 40 years ago? A shot of the visitors at Brechin Station from the top of the coal stockpile on the occasion of the Douglas Blades' organised railtour 'The last Train to Brechin' on 2 May 1981. For an example of the ticket for this event see image [[55678]]. There was quite a variety of DMU stock in use.
See query 2136 BTW there is a photo looking the other way showing me in the background on another website...

Moorthorpe: After leaving York on 2 May 1981, ex-S&DJR 7F No. 13809 heads south through Moorthorpe to Sheffield, where it will hand over the Pines Express excursion to 'Peak' No. 45 075 for the return to Leicester. Moorthorpe still boasted a nice collection of semaphore signals at that time, the arm on the extreme left giving access off the Swinton and Knottingley Joint line, which the special has traversed from Ferrybridge, onto the ex GNR Doncaster to Leeds line.

New Mills Central: On its first outing after restoration from Barry scrapyard condition, preserved ex S&DJR 2-8-0 No. 13809 passes New Mills Central station with the Pines Express excursion of 2nd May 1981. The train, which had originated in Leicester, was powered by 13809 from Guide Bridge to York and then back to Sheffield. Just in front of the locomotive is the turnout for the Hayfield branch, the stub of which was retained as a turnback siding for terminating local trains from Manchester Piccadilly.

Brechin: Ticket number 123 for the last train to Brechin. Although the train ran from Edinburgh, we members of the Aberdeen University Railway Society, actually boarded the train at Montrose not at Dundee as shown on the ticket. It was a short but memorable trip.

Cranmore: Barclay 0-4-0ST 'LORD FISHER' an 0-4-0ST 1398/1915, on the East Somerset Rly, on 2nd May 1983. It was working a permanent way train on this occasion but has since located at the Yeovil Railway Centre.

Townhill Wagon Shops: After Dunfermline Townhill closed, it was used for a time for storage of locomotives awaiting the call to works. Classes 08, 20 and 26 under cover but not secure as you could just walk in of the street. 02/05/1984.

Cowans Sheldon Works: Seen from a train on the WCML, 31449 waits for entry into Carlisle with a service off the Settle and Carlisle line. In the background is the NEI Cowans Boyd (formerly Cowans Sheldon works) with a crane in the forecourt. Now a retail park. 2 May 1986.

Carmuirs West Junction: SPTE 107 passing Carmuirs housing scheme. Train from Glasgow to Falkirk via Lenzie. The three bings are near Roughcastle.

York: Can't say I'm a fan of 150's. Noisy, not enough windows, and not exactly pretty. This is the one photograph I have taken that makes one look good. On a brighter note, I was on my way to my best friend's wedding - arriving with smuts in my teeth through grinning at the steam engine ('Mallard' or similar) seen at the North end of the station!

Kirkcaldy Bus Depot: A London Underground car being delivered from Rosyth Dockyard after refurbishment, to the Fife Scottish depot in Kirkcaldy for repainting. 2 May 1991.

Larkhall Central: View looking north over Larkhall Central after vegetation removal.

Larkhall Central: View looking south at Larkhall Central after vegetation removal.

Merryton Junction: Disused building at Merryton Junction - signalbox base? The view looking north. The building has now been demolished.

Merryton Junction: Looking south at Merryton Junction. The original route (Coalburn Branch) is to the left (double track) and newer route (Mid Lanark Lines) to the right. It is the route to the right which is being reinstated.

Merryton Junction: Looking south towards the site of Merryton Junction.

Merryton Junction: Looking north from Merryton Junction. The old (now demolished) building to the left may have been a signalbox.

Coatbridge Sunnyside: Part of the refurbished 1888 station building at Coatbridge Sunnyside looking east from Gatsherrie Road in May 2005. The Lamberton Engineering building stands in the left background.

Kaikoura: Train at Kaikoura station, New Zealand on the Christchurch - Picton line in May 2005.

Glasgow Central: Class 156 and 314 units coming and going at Glasgow Central

Glasgow Central: 334035 at the head of a two unit set crossing the points when heading for Platform 11

Glasgow Central: 67001 heading into Glasgow Central

Bowling [CR]: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line trackbed looking E towards Erskine Bridge.

Bowling [CR]: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line stone pier, purpose unknown. [This carried a footbridge to access the light by the shore. -EC]

Bowling [CR]: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire lime stone retaining wall for Forth & Clyde Canal near Bowling Harbour.

Bowling [CR]: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line trackbed looking W at Bowling Harbour.

Bowling Swing Bridge: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line bridge over Forth & Clyde Canal at Bowling Harbour.

Bowling [CR]: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line looking E towards bridge over Dumbarton Road, Bowling.

Bowling [CR]: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line bridge over Dumbarton Road, Bowling, signal post stump.

Bowling Swing Bridge: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line bridge over NBR Glasgow, Helensburgh & Balloch line at Bowling.

Bowling Swing Bridge: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line bridge over Forth & Clyde Canal at Bowling.

Bowling Swing Bridge: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line bridge over Forth & Clyde Canal at Bowling.

Bowling [CR]: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line access bridge at Bowling Harbour.

Glasgow Central: 156455 and 314214 pass each other outside Glasgow Central

Glasgow Central: 92030 Ashford crossing the Clyde Viaduct with the empty Caledonian Sleeper

Eglinton Street: A Class 156 unit at the point where the line is crossed by the CGUR St Enoch approach railway bridge

Craven Arms: A Manchester - Carmarthen via Newport evening service formed by 175105 calls at Craven Arms on 2 May 2008.

Craven Arms: Craven Arms looking north from the footbridge towards Shrewsbury on 2 May 2008.

Bridgeton [1st]: The demolition company had built a temporary road up to the bridge span so that the sides could be cut away.

Bridgeton [1st]: View at top of temporary road onto bridge

Bridgeton [1st]: View facing Rutherglen. Central support in still in place

Bridgeton [1st]: Another view of the old bridge after removal of the arch.

Bridgeton [1st]: Looking toward Mordaunt Street (left hand side). This will become part of Glasgow's East End Regeneration Route (EERR) which will link the M74 at Polmadie with the M8 at Provan.

Hyndland: The 1960 Hyndland station building, with panelled wood exterior, seen on 2 May 2009. The ticket office is currently closed for refurbishment.

Jordanhill: 318 259 with an eastbound service at Jordanhill on 02 May 2009

Partick: Looking over the recently completed airport - like concourse at Partick, early on Saturday 2 May 2009. A weekday pattern of 14 trains per hour (more at peaks) in each direction makes this the busiest double-track station in Scotland, with the addition of parallel bus and Subway services creating one of its busiest transport interchanges.

Pollokshields West: 314 201 call at Pollokshields West with a Newton to Glasgow Central service on 2 May 2009

Bishopbriggs: 170 476 about to pick up post-lunch trippers to Glasgow from Bishopbriggs on 2 May 2009.

Queens Park: 314 203 stands at a smart-looking Queens Park with a Cathcart Outer Circle train on 2 May 2009.

Yoker Depot: Sign of the times... 22 years on. Photographed on 2 May 2009, the opening announcement sign still standing alongside Yoker depot.

Bridgeton [1st]: Baltic Lane remains of North arch ajacent to Eastend Sawmills. Notice a semaphore signal base near centre of photograph

Bridgeton [1st]: Looking North to Baltic Lane where the arch over the road has been demolished

Yoker Depot: Manoeuvres at Yoker, with 320 320 about to enter the network after picking its way out of the depot on 2 May 2009.

Hyndland: 320 306 at Hyndland with a Balloch service on 2 May 2009.

Garscadden: 318 268 leaving Garscadden for Dalmuir on 2 May 2009

Hyndland East Junction: 318 256 takes the east to north curve at the busy Hyndland East Junction on 2 May heading for the stop at Anniesland, thence either north to Milngavie or west via Singer.

Strathbungo: With Pollokshields East and Queen's Park a walk away, Crossmyloof within sight and Pollokshields West literally across this road, it's perhaps not suprising that Strathbungo succumbed to Beeching. During the 1980s a table of bus connections at Glasgow Central listed listed this spot, rather racily, as Strathbumgo. Unit 156 513 is seen heading towards Glasgow Central on 02 May 2009.

Raiziehill Loading Bank: Looking back towards Blackridge on 2 May 2010, from the point west of the village where the A89 crosses the trackbed at Bedlormie Toll. Considerable construction work is underway in this area at present.

Stepends Junction: The rail bridge over the A89 on the eastern outskirts of Plains, seen here looking towards Caldercruix on 2 May 2010 with the new deck now in place.

Armadale [1st]: Some notable progress at Armadale on 2 May 2010, on the previously heavily waterlogged section of the trackbed west of Station Road bridge. View is towards Blackridge with the under-construction Armadale station on the other side of the roadbridge behind the camera. See image [[26594]].

Forrestfield: View east at Forrestfield, looking over the part of the former station site where drainage problems now appear to have been resolved see image [[26557]]. The brick building on the right is the remains of an old lamp room and stood at the rear of the now demolished westbound platform.

Clarkston (Lanark): The new bridge over the trackbed at Towers Road, Airdrie, looking south east on 2 May 2010. This is the site of the former Clarkston (Lanark) station, closed in 1956 see image [[20208]]. The bridge is part of the improved local infrastructure required in connection with the reopening of the Airdrie - Bathgate route. The replacement Drumgelloch station will be located just off to the right.

Drumgelloch: The new station at Drumgelloch takes shape on 2 May 2010, seen looking south from the end of Katherine Street. Standing approximately midway between the current station (off to the right) and Towers Road bridge, facilities here will include parking for upwards of 330 cars.

Airdrie: Scene at Airdrie on 2 May looking towards Bathgate, with a westbound service from Drumgelloch entering the station in the left background. Clearance work has been completed on the north side of the line and construction of the second through platform is currently underway.

Uphall: Approaching Uphall station from the south, with major works to the west of the station progressing on Sunday 2 May 2010. The single-file B8046 road north below the bridge is currently being widened, with access to the station and car park currently available only from this side via the road turning off to the right.

Uphall: View west at Uphall on 2 May 2010. The strip of land between the new eastbound platform and the M8 motorway has now been cleared and prepared for road access, additional parking etc, while at the far end work continues on widening the bridge over the B8046 Station Road see image [[28761]].

Hayes Knoll: The day's duty passenger engine Salmon [Barclay 0-6-0ST 2139 of 1942] in action at the Swindon and Cricklade Railway Industrial Locomotive Gala day on 1 May 2010.

Armadale: Progress on the new station at Armadale on 2 May 2010. View east towards Bathgate. See image [[33819]]

Livingston North: Any old iron? Just part of the incredible amount of metalwork now surrounding Livingston North station. Photographed looking west towards Bathgate on 2 May 2010.

Bathgate: Progress on the new station and surrounding infrastructure at Bathgate. Seen on 2 May 2010 from Edinburgh Road looking south over the former yard.

Blackridge: Progress on the new station at Blackridge, between Armadale and Caldercruix, looking south from the A89 road through the village on 2 May. [Note the previous station serving this area, a short distance to the west, was named Westcraigs - closed January 1956 - see separate entries under that name.]

Bathgate: Looking south west from Edinburgh Road across the former yard towards the under construction Bathgate station on 2 May 2010, with work on associated road access, pathways and parking bays well underway.

Forrestfield: The trackbed at Forrestfield on 2 May looking west towards Hillend Reservoir with the former hotel on the left. This remains a particularly wet site and two pumps were in continuous operation throughout the stopover. See image [[31917]]

Forrestfield: The abandoned former stagecoach inn close to Forrestfield station (1862-1930) standing alongside the A89 between Airdrie and Bathgate. Seen here on a sunny May morning in 2010 boarded up awaiting demolition.

Caldercruix: View west over the station site at Caldercruix on 2 May 2010 from the road bridge.

Caldercruix: View east over work in progress at the Caldercruix station site on 2 May 2010.

Bathgate Upper: The new line running west from Bathgate towards Armadale on 2 May 2010.

Ribblehead: Colas Rail 66845 (formerly DRS 66410) waits in the timber loading siding at Ribblehead on 2 May for a northbound passenger service to pass. Once this had cleared the section the locomotive drew the timber wagons over the viaduct before running round at Blea Moor then heading south for Chirk.

Kelvindale: The only pedestrian access to the platform at Kelvindale is via this multi right-angled path. Whether it is designed to dissipate the slope I don't know, but you do expect to find a large lump of cheese at the end of it. The Forth & Clyde canal and the delicate-looking girders of the Dawsholm gasometers complete the scene.

Hillington West: Intermittent short lengths of track for the third line between Glasgow and Paisley are either in place or, as here, waiting to be properly bedded in. This view on 2 May looks east from Hillington West station where the points in the foreground will presumably allow access to the westbound platform. In the background a new but uncommissioned signal gantry is now in place.

Giffnock: For monoglot Gaels who have got all the way to Giofnag without knowing the anglicised version of the name it has borne for several hundred years, this sign will surely be welcome confirmation. Station sign at Giffnock, 2 May 2011.

Millerhill Yard: Progress at the north end of Millerhill yard on 2 May 2011. Running off to the right is the new route to Tweedbank. Over on the left 67021 waits to pick up empty stock from the yard.

Newhaven: The 1879 Caledonian Railway station building at Newhaven, closed since 1962, but currently looking better than it has for some considerable time, thanks to the recent attention of The Cockburn Association. The old timber-board panelled structure, seen here in May 2011, has even been given a new nameboard. The building is currently C-listed. See image [[22916]].

Ribblehead: With Whernside forming the backdrop on a glorious 2011 May Day Bank Holiday two Northern 158 units leave Ribblehead on a Leeds to Carlisle service. Just ahead of the train the line becomes single to cross the long viaduct and then doubles again at Blea Moor.

Hillington West: 314 203 heading for Glasgow at Hillington West on 2 May 2011.

Hillington East: Framed by the 1960s lighting arch at the bottom of the footbridge 318 252 pulls into Hillington East with an all stations Gourock to Glasgow service on 2 May. On the platforms red safety barriers have been placed around holes dug to receive the gantry supports necessary to supply the third track between Glasgow and Paisley, currently under construction.

Newhaven: Looking east across Craighall Road at the former Newhaven station on 2 May 2011, with Trinity Academy standing in the background. The old station building has had a recent facelift see image [[33895]].

Glasgow Green: It's difficult to get a decent shot of the platform side of the former Glasgow Green station (closed 1953) as it's between tunnels and the only viewpoint is an overbridge across the middle with high walls. Nevertheless here we go. This view looks towards the city centre. The rear of the fine facade can be made out, as can the the site of the top of the stairs to the platforms. Argyle line trains continue to pass through here every few minutes.

Rosslyn Castle: The station remains at Rosslyn Castle on the Penicuik branch, closed to passengers in 1951. The line survived until 1967 as a freight only route serving paper mills along the North Esk but is now part of a walkway / cycle path. Photographed on 2 May 2011 looking north east towards the former junction with the Peebles Railway at Hawthornden.

Bridgeton: The current Bridgeton station (beyond the wall) is only half the station it once was. It used to be a junction for the line to Carmyle - and eventually Coatbridge Central. The course of the sharp divergence at this point can be seen here in the foreground on 2 May 2011. Both lines and the station closed in 1964, but the line through the Rutherglen platforms reopened in 1979 with a station called plain Bridgeton.

Farington Junction: Units racing along the WCML south of Farington Junction towards Leyland on 2 May. On the up fast line in the background is a TPE unit heading for Manchester Airport (next stop Chorley), whilst in the foreground on the up slow line is a Northern service to Manchester Victoria (next stop Leyland).

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The immaculately preserved Edinburgh & Glasgow Railway milepost of 1842 at the buffers of Platforms 2 & 3 at Queen Street where it was placed in 2008 see image [[5245]]. 'Edinburgh' for the first few years was Haymarket, hence the slight short total mileage compared with today. I doubt very much whether it was painted warning yellow in 1842, but I don't suppose anyone is suggesting that it was and at least it's more conspicuous like this.

Giffnock: A sunny, warm May Day bank holiday in Glasgow sees an East Kilbride service, formed by unit 156 436, preparing to pull away from the platform at Giffnock.

Glasgow Green: The site of Glasgow Green station looking towards Bridgeton on 2 May. It doesn't seem to have been thought worthwhile providing access to London Road (in the background), perhaps because Bridgeton Cross station, on the same line, was so near.

Bridgeton: 318 248 calls at a sunny Bridgeton with a Lanark indirect service on 2 May. Until closure in 1964, Bridgeton Cross, as it then was, sported full canopies. These had disappeared by the reopening in 1979. The impressive building in the background was the Olympia Theatre of Varieties, and subsequently several other things. Sadly it's been empty for years and up close it looks in a pretty bad way.

Ribblehead: All loaded up and ready to go - the 1215hrs timber train for Chirk stands in the siding at Ribblehead, which originally provided access to the nearby quarry and later served as a stabling point for engineering plant. When the passenger service has cleared the section Colas Rail 66845 will take the loaded wagons for the short run north across Ribblehead viaduct before running round at Blea Moor signalbox and heading south for Chirk. A number of plantations in the nearby dales have obviously been subject to recent felling and it is good that this loading facility exists so that the timber can be taken away by rail.

Glasgow Central Low Level: Trains have just departed in each direction more or less simultaneously from Glasgow Central low level station on 2 May 2011 (as is the pattern for most of the day) so the island platform is currently pretty quiet. However, it will get steadily busier in anticipation of the next Dalmuir (left) and Motherwell services already showing on the screens. The young gentleman with the moth problem is photographing the platform. Get a life. This photograph was taken from the foot of the stairs.

Anniesland: Although superseded when Scottish Regions were abolished in 1996 the now rather dated-looking lettering of the early 1980s Strathclyde Transport logo on Strathclyde 'Red' can still be seen on quite a few overbridges at stations. This may be because of the problems in keeping road traffic moving while the work to replace them goes on but they managed to get them there in the first place... This prominent example is over an especially busy road: Great Western Road (A82) at Anniesland station, on 2 May 2011.

Cambois Shed: The site of Cambois shed has been cleared. See image [[23983]] for the view in 1987.

Battleship Wharf: View from the level crossing of the junction of the new(ish) Battleship Wharf coal import line with the North Blyth line.

Grenoble: A Double decker Coradia Duplex emu, built by Alstom in 2004-05 and designated Class Z 26500 by SNCF, awaits its next Transport Express Régional (TER) turn at Grenoble, having received attention from the local neds... sorry graffiti artists.

Forres [2nd]: Road approach to Forres station in May 2012. The platform is on the right and the A96 runs past directly behind the camera.

Freemans Level Crossing: Metronet 66718 waits at Freemans Crossing on 2 May, having loaded with coal at the relatively new Battleship Wharf loading point. Changed days, North Blyth now imports coal for English power stations. See image [[24005]]

Fontburn: Hm, so what are we looking at here? A very short stone-built causeway and a complex network of concrete posts linked together with metal bars. Some kind of unusual mine loading point? No, this is Fontburn station which was approached along that short stone causeway onto a timber platform which itself was in front of the concrete posts. The posts formed the fencing at the back of the platform and ran up either side of the stone causeway. The tall post bore a lamp. The view looks north. This view is from the same angle as the photograph in the Oakwood Press book on the line.

Blyth West Staithes: The Blyth West Staithes sidings have been lifted in recent years. In the background left and right is Bates Staithes on the other side of the harbour. See image [[24005]]

Farington Curve Junction: Ex LNER B1 no 61306 Mayflower slowly approaching Farington Curve Junction under adverse signals during a return test run from Carnforth via Hellifield, Blackburn and Preston on 2 May 2013. The loco has been turned out in early BR green livery with British Railways in full on the tender sides.

Nuneaton: Trains over Nuneaton North Chord have to run wrong line through the flyover platforms, as the North Chord can only be accessed from the line towards Leicester see image [[42864]]. This is 66165 roaring through platform 7 on 2nd May. The crossover beyond the flyover was still switched over 10 minutes later, to allow the opposing Freightliner (which would normally arrive before this train) to access the WCML via platform 6. Network Rail - reinstated Leicester-Birmingham flyover line

Farington Curve Junction: Having been held at the signal protecting Farington Curve Junction, B1 61306 approaches the WCML and heads north towards Preston on 2 May 2013 on a loaded test run from Carnforth.

Farington Curve Junction: B1 no 61306 waits at the signal protecting the WCML from the East Lancs line on 2 May 2013. To the right is the Ormskirk route with the remains of the old Up Line visible.

New Cumnock: The third in the ICE series of plaques commemorating engineer John Miller (the others are at Haymarket and Ayr) was unveiled at New Cumnock Station on 2 May 2013 by Andy Savage, executive director of the Railway Heritage Trust and Provost Jim Todd of East Ayrshire.

Derby: GBRf 66724 stands on Etches Park depot as a XC Turbostar DMU heads towards Derby Station from the Nottingham direction. In the background Network Rail measurement train rolling stock is stabled near the RVEL depot. Photographed on 2 May 2013 from a passing northbound train.

Preston: Black 5 no. 45407 comes to a stop at Preston in the late evening of 2 May 2014 in order to take water whilst moving from Cadder Yard back to its base on the East Lancs Railway following GB VII railtour duties. Behind the two support coaches was 44871 which was also watered during this stop.

Preston: On the back of the 5Z45 move from Cadder Yard to Castleton Junction on the evening of 2 May 2014 , Black 5 44871 is watered at Preston, along with 45407 on the front of the train. See image [[47195]]

Morar: The Royal Scotsman west of Morar on 2 May 2015, with Deltic 55022 Royal Scots Grey masquerading as 55003 Meld at the head of the train. 66735 is discreetly tagged onto the rear.

Glenfinnan Viaduct: Deltic 55022 Royal Scots Grey masquerading as 55003 Meld pauses for a few seconds on Glenfinnan Viaduct on 2 May with the Royal Scotsman before continuing on to Mallaig. 66735 in GBRf livery brings up the rear ofthe train.

Glenfinnan: Spotless GBRf liveried 66735 on the approach to Glenfinnan with the return working of the Royal Scotsman from Mallaig on 2 May 2015. Deltic (55022) 55003 Meld is at the other end of the train.

Loch nan Uamh Viaduct: A very clean looking GBRf 66735 crossing Loch nan Uamh Viaduct with the return working of the Royal Scotsman from Mallaig to Fort William on 2 May 2015. Deltic (55022) 55003 Meld is at the rear.

Durham Gilesgate: Inside the former Durham Gilesgate station in May 2015. Some fine detail work by GT Andrews, still available for viewing 165 years on. This area is now an Italian restaurant, rather well done. Gilesgate closed to passengers in 1857 but survived as a goods station until 1966.

Durham Gilesgate: The former Durham Gilesgate terminus in May 2015. Durham's 2nd station, superseded by the current station for passenger use in 1857, was reached by a short branch from Belmont and continued as the city's goods station until November 1966. A classically elegant structure by GT Andrews, the main building is now a hotel, having served for many years as a builders' merchants.

Durham Gilesgate: Inside Durham Gilesgate Station in May 2015. Architect G T Andrews would perhaps approve of the restoration work. Leaning on (and around) the bar are distinguished members of the North Eastern Railway Association, engaged in ernest historical research. (The management and staff of the restaurant were very welcoming and tolerant of the visiting eccentrics, notwithstanding that they were about to cater for a large wedding party.)

Durham Elvet: View west along the embankment of the line into the terminus at Durham Elvet in May 2015. The building is the Clubhouse of Durham RFC, built on the site of the station throat. Elvet was Durham's fourth station, opened in 1893 when the NER extended the branch into (just) the city. The site of the station buildings is now occupied by the Magistrates court. Passenger services were short-lived with withdrawal in Jan 1931. However on one day per year, until final closure in 1954 the station was one of Britain's busiest. This was the annual Durham Miners Gala when excursions ran from many of the county's pit villages to Elvet, emptying onto the racecourse. Attendance at the Gala in its heyday would be 150,000 plus (city population 20,000!).

Bristol Temple Meads: Must admit, that old sorting office is beginning to be a bit of an eyesore. see image [[13109]]

St. Philips Marsh: One of the smaller exhibits at the recent 40th birthday party for the HST was this display of motive power and stock from the AVWP, near Keynsham. Notice the chap sensibly sheltering from the rain on the left.

Hexham: 156448 arrives at a clean and bright Hexham station with a stopping service from Newcastle that will terminate here. Departure for the return trip from Platform 1 is controlled by the starting signal to the right of the unit, which will run wrong line to the crossover beyond the signal box.

St. Philips Marsh: We love Muffin, Muffin the mule - even if we're not quite sure what a mule does in a Traction Maintenance Depot. See also image [[34054]].

St. Philips Marsh: There were supposed to be several steam engines at the HST's 40th birthday party see image [[55002]], but only Royal Scot 46100 got there. It was in steam, adding some interesting smells to the show.

Luib Summit: Black 5 No.44871 heading west to Kyle of Lochalsh with The Great Britain IX ,nearing the summit at Luib.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: A Road/Rail vehicle scoots up and down the newly-laid track of the platform 5 road with its grab full of ballast for topping up in the 'six-foot'. Behind it, sleepers laid out for the platform 6 track await the arrival of their rails. The ballast train is on the platform 7 road, where the old track remains.

St Philips Marsh Depot: The HST Celebrated its 40th birthday with an open day at St Philips Marsh depot, Bristol, on Bank Holiday Monday. Here are six different liveries (FGW, Grand Central, Network Rail, Virgin, EMT, and GWR), with the prototype power car just visible in the left background. [See recent news item]

St. Philips Marsh: I'm not a fan of the styling of the 150, but this one seems less ugly than the rest, in the new GWR livery. Seen at the HST's 40th birthday party see image [[55518]]

St Philips Marsh Depot: It wasn't just HSTs (see image [[79616]])- 37884 was also strutting its stuff at the HSTs 40th birthday party at St. Philips Marsh Depot in May 2016.

St. Philips Marsh: I couldn't see a kitchen sink at the HST's 40th birthday party see image [[54970]], but everything else was there. If you think the HSTs are getting on a bit, consider that the underframes on the 08s are actually pre-WW2 LMS technology. That's at least 77 years old.

St Philips Marsh Depot: One good turn deserves another - unless you can't spell, and end up with a cormorant. This is the wheel lathe at St. Philips Marsh depot. See image [[20963]]

Bristol Temple Meads: This rather unusual exit from the platform underpass at Temple Meads was used to guide enthusiasts from the station to the waiting shuttle buses for the St Philip's Marsh open day. For the usual standard of passage see image [[42033]] [Ref query 44498].

Alston: During the 40th Anniversary (of closure) weekend 0-6-2ST Barber, formerly of Harrogate Gas Works, runs round its South Tynedale Railway train in Alston station. See image [[38619]] taken from almost the same spot just over 40 years earlier.

Oldfield Park: Steel trains to Margam see image [[54711]] may be an endangered species; but 66.181 is ignorant of this as it pulls 6R94 (the 10.37 from Tilbury to Margam - presumably empties) out of the loop at Oldfield Park on Bank Holiday Monday. The train was diverted from its usual route due to an engineering possession.

St Philips Marsh Depot: During the HST's 40th birthday party at St Philips Marsh depot, Bristol, see image [[54970]] power car 43.002 was unveiled in its original service livery and new nameplates reading 'Sir Kenneth Grange', the train's industrial designer. Sir Kenneth attended the event, and made a very candid speech.

Hexham: Movement of plant before and after weekend engineering possessions can lead to some interesting routings. DR77001, rumbling through a damp Hexham station on the 2016 May Day bank holiday, was travelling from Lockerbie to Morpeth.

Alston: South Tynedale Railway 0-4-0DM No.9 stands in Alston station with a single coach on 2nd May, 2016, during the events that marked the 40th anniversary of closure of the branch by British Rail. The loco (Hunslet 4109/1952) was built for underground mine working but later converted for NCB surface use in the Durham area,

St Philips Marsh Depot: Oi! You lookin' at my radiator? Two class 08 shunters looking pugnacious during the HST's 40th birthday party at St Philips Marsh see image [[55518]].

St Philips Marsh Depot: Well preserved Hymek D7017 photographed during the HST's 40th birthday party celebrations on 2 May 2016 at St Philips Marsh depot, Bristol.

Clunes: Black 5 No.44871,on the way to Kyle of Lochalsh,runs alongside the Beauly Firth near the site of the closed station at Clunes.The Kessock Bridge in the background.

Hexham: 156448 departs Hexham for Nunthorpe, via Newcastle and Hartlepool, on 2nd May 2016. Trains from Newcastle that terminate at Hexham run wrong line on departure and the Sprinter will only cross over after passing under the signal box.

St. Philips Marsh: Unit 158.798 carries a vinyl wrap advertising the Springboard charity, which benefitted from the HST 40th birthday party on May 2nd see image [[54970]]. The unit provided a convenient covered area for guests to eat their lunch; which was handy, as the heavens opened.

St. Philips Marsh: Classes 35, 40, and 57 lined up at the HST's 40th birthday party at St Philips Marsh on 2 May 2016.

Nunnington: Looking south from the B1257 at Spring Hill west of Stonegrave, along the tree lined embankment of the former line to Hemsley and Kirbymoorside, with the junction with the Pilmoor to Malton line some 750 metres away near Cawton, between Gilling and Hovingham stations. The two single track lines ran west to Gilling where the physical connection was made.

St Philips Marsh Depot: A lovely nostalgic image from the HSTs 40th birthday party. See image [[54970]] for a full list of the liveries seen here. This now seems to be a lot more than 5.5 years ago. I doubt I will ever see a lineup like this again; though I had an accidental last sighting of an XC HST at Tamworth while heavily delayed there returning from Bath to Nuneaton.

Alston: 0-6-2ST Barber runs past the signal box at Alston in May 2016 as it draws forward to couple on to its train after running round. It seems to be semi-permanently coupled to a four wheel hopper wagon, emblazoned with GAS. This may be just in homage to the loco's working life at Harrogate Gas Works, but it may also be a nice solution to the problem of where to put the air brake compressor for the STR coaches.

Nunnington: View north from near where an abutment existed for a bridge that previously crossed the B1257, behind the camera, at Spring Hill west of Stonegrave. The Bluebell covered trackbed runs towards Nunnington Station on the former line to Hemsley and Kirbymoorside. A footpath crosses the trackbed in the distance from Scarlet Wood on the right.

Oldfield Park: They won't all fit through there you know. Well, not all at once. Apologies for the grain size, but this was an opportunity not to be missed. From left to right - an HST for London, a 158 for Weymouth IIRC, and steel empties for Margam see image [[55059]].

Kirkby Stephen: Normal S&C service resumed. The 1618 Carlisle to Leeds service leaves Kirkby Stephen to continue the climb up to Ais Gill summit on 2nd May 2017.

Glenfinnan: Having drawn forward to allow a ScotRail service to pass, passengers are allowed to stretch their legs at Glenfinnan. The train has its own Souvenir Shop. The station enjoys a burst of activity unrivalled the rest of the day.

Kingswood Tunnel: Black Five 45212 and K1 62005 lead the Inverness - Glasgow Central leg of the Great Britain X exiting Kingswood Tunnel, south of Dunkeld and Birnam.

Inverkeithing: The Great Britain X Railtour, hauled by 45212, passing Inverkeithing.

Dalguise: Black Five 45212 and K1 62005 lead the Inverness - Glasgow Central leg of the Great Britain X south of Dalguise.

Gogarburn [Tram]: Tram pausing at Gogarburn.

Gogarburn [Tram]: Corporate branding (Royal Bank of Scotland) at Gogarburn tram stop.

Linlithgow: 170 471 pulls out of Linlithgow on an Edinburgh to Dunblane service on 02/05/2017. The front of the train is passing the EGIP-ready platform extension.

Murrayfield Stadium [Tram]: Seen at Murrayfield on 2nd May 2017 - 'Edinburgh Gateway has landed. The new quicker route from Dundee, Perth and Fife.'

Borrodale Tunnel: A westbound 4 car Sprinter is about to enter Borrodale Tunnel, the longest on the line, on a swelteringly hot day in 2017.

Oubeck Loops: 90045 and 90043, both in the modern Freightliner livery, head north on the WCML on 2nd May 2017. The container train, running from Daventry to Coatbridge, is approaching the Oubeck Loops.

Perth: Refreshment trolley at Perth on the occasion of the unveiling of a Jellicoe Express plaque, 2 May 2017.

Lochailort: Under a blazing sun the Jacobite rounds the west end of Loch Eilt not far east of Lochailort station.

Glenfinnan: The Jacobite and friend at Glenfinnan. The passengers have not yet alighted as the Jacobite has not yet drawn forward to clear the Fort William end of the station to allow the ScotRail train to leave. After drawing forward the engine is outside the station, which is a shame for those on the train who wish to photograph it.

Borrodale Viaduct: The returning east Jacobite is crossing Borrodale Viaduct immediately before entering Borrodale Tunnel.

East Didsbury: Arriva Trains Wales 158821 arrives at East Didsbury whilst on a Manchester Airport to Llandudno service on 02 May 2018.

Heald Green: ATW Class 175 DMU passes Heald Green whilst working the 1336 hrs service from Manchester Airport to Llandudno. Notice the difference in waiting facilities between the two platforms.

Gatley: Class 323 EMU unit 223 departs from Gatley on a stopping service from the Airport to Piccadilly on 02 May 2018.Built by Hunslet in Leeds, this class of unit is found on AC lines around Manchester and in the West Midlands.

Speymouth Viaduct: Built by the Great North of Scotland Railway,Spey Bay Viaduct was completed in 1886 as part of the Moray Coast line.The viaduct is 950 ft. long with the centre span being 350 ft.,the other spans being set at 100 ft. intervals. The line closed in 1968 and the viaduct is now part of a cycleway/footpath.

Inverkeithing East Junction: 68006 waits in the up loop at Inverkeithing East Junction with empty stock from Cardenden, being passed by 170410 on the 18.17 from Glenrothes with Thornton to Edinburgh. 2 May 2018.

East Didsbury: A Northern Class 319 EMU departs from East Didsbury on 02 May 2018 with a service to Manchester Airport.

Speymouth Viaduct: Built by the Great North of Scotland Railway,Spey Bay Viaduct was completed in 1886 as part of the Moray Coast line.The viaduct is 950 ft. long with the centre span being 350 ft.,the other spans being set at 100 ft. intervals. The line closed in 1968 and the viaduct is now part of a cycleway/footpath.

Divie Viaduct: From 1863 until 1898 the only way to reach Perth from Inverness by rail was via Forres,over the Dava Moor to Grantown on Spey and Aviemore. One of the main civil engineering features of the line was the Divie Viaduct. The seven arch viaduct was completed in 1863.It was designed by Joseph Mitchell and the contractor was George Meakin of Birkenhead. The line closed in 1965 as part of the Beeching cuts. The viaduct now forms part of the 24 mile long Dava Way.

Inverkeithing East Junction: 68018 passes Inverkeithing East Junction with the returning Edinburgh - Fife - Edinburgh evening commuter service.

Crewe: Crewe 2 May 2018.

Gatley: DB Cargo loco number 66085 passes Gatley whilst working a container train from Trafford Park to London Gateway on 02 May 2018.

Heald Green: A First TPE Class 185 multiple unit passes Heald Green heading for Manchester Airport on 02 May 2018. In the skies overhead an aircraft heads to the same destination whilst on the final approach to runway 23.

Gallowgate: 1264 and 44871 restart the 'Great Britain XII' from a water stop at the site of Gallowgate station on 2nd May 2019. View is west, with the train about to cross the bridge over London Road.

Glenwhilly: B1 No.1264 and Black 5 No.44871 are making quite a racket as they battle the curves and the gradient of the Swan's Neck near Glenwhilly with the Great Britain XII on 2nd May 2019.

Cleland: The GB XII Railtour westbound through Cleland station on Thursday 2nd May 2019 behind 61264 and 44871.

Glenwhilly: Thanks to an unfortunate change of wind direction,the smoke from LNER B1 No.1264 and Black 5 No.44871 almost hides the coaches of 'The Great Britain XII'. Pictured between Barrhill and Glenwhilly on 2nd May 2019.

St Johns Junction: Trains are rare at this location but on 2nd May 2019 1264 and 44871, with the Great Britain XII, stayed for a water stop at the site of St Johns junction. Seen here passing the site of Gallowgate station shortly after restarting.

Glenwhilly: The return working of the Great Britain XII from Stranraer with the train top and tailed. B1 No.1264 leads the attack on the first of the curves of the Swan's Neck,with Black 5 No.44871 at rear.

Ayr: 1226hrs to Girvan about to depart from Ayr on 2nd May 2020. Photographed incidental to daily permitted exercise.

Gorgie Tram Depot: This fine period piece used to illuminate the throat of the tramshed. It has surely only survived because it is 'off road' and the fact that it still has its original fitting suggests it has never been lit for the best part of a lifetime. The site of the tramshed itself is now occupied by a Sainsbury's which calls itself 'Murrayfield' branch. They are fooling nobody. Photographed incidental to my daily exercise permitted under emergency coronavirus legislation.

Woodacre Crossing: Bridge 57A, between Preston and Lancaster, carries the WCML over a small brook that runs down to the Wyre from the Barnacre estate. TPE 397011 passes over this low structure while running from Preston to Carlisle on 2nd May 2020. Soon after this date this field had the inevitable palisade fence installed.

Townhead EMU Sidings: Townhead Carriage SDidings on 2nd May 2020, photographed during a daily permitted exercise walk. Have they been 'furloughed' or does a further call await.

Pilmoor: Pilmoor Junction station sat astride the original twin track, and later four track, East Coast Main Line and also had a platform on the branch line spurring off to run via Brafferton and Boroughbridge to Knaresborough. The station closed in 1958 and in recent years the station house became derelict, but it has recently been renovated by a young couple and is now providing kennel accommodation in a newly built suite of kennels. View is looking west across fields and the main line to the former station house and out-building.

Lady Victoria Colliery: Covid restrictions coupled with the current ScotRail strike served only to emphasise the Sunday morning stillness at Newtongrange on 2 May 2021. The walk from the deserted station car park along the path to the closed National Mining Museum (hoping to reopen soon) leads past the old yard on the north side of the former colliery. The abandoned railway vehicle is one of the narrow gauge surface cars used on the Easthouses Tramway (see image [[72286]]). Beyond the metal fence the Borders Line passes the site some 30 feet below ([[67783]]).

Crossgates (Fife): DRS 68018 nears the site of Crossgates station, with a diverted Grangemouth - Aberdeen Craiginches freight on 2 May 2021. 66422 was dead on the rear.

Lady Victoria Colliery: One of the information boards alongside the perimeter fence on the north side of the National Mining Museum. This one includes a photograph of the original Newtongrange station, which closed to passengers in January 1969. The line north to Millerhill closed two years later, while coal production at Lady Victoria came to an end in 1981.

Pilmoor: Pilmoor Junction station sat astride the original twin track, and later four track, East Coast Main Line and also had a platform on the branch line spurring off to run via Brafferton and Boroughbridge to Knaresborough. View is taken from the branch line trackbed showing a, recently part renovated, former branch side building. Old Maps identify the station as 'Pilmoor Station and Post Office'. Did this building act as the 'post office'? The station closed in 1958 and in recent years the station house became derelict, but it has recently been renovated by a young couple who are now providing kennel accommodation in a newly built suite of kennels seen to left of view.

Besses o' th' Barn [Tram]: Metrolink 3122 leads a double tram over Bury Old Road, and the M62 motorway, heading for Manchester on 30th April 2021. The most impressive trains to pass over this bridge were also the last, when the old Class 504 EMUs were towed away for scrap in 1991 by a Class 37, in trip workings to Manchester taking seven two coach sets at a time.

Pilmoor: Looking towards the main line at Pilmoor Junction in May 2021, showing the extant former branch platform on the right. The station closed in 1958 and in recent years the station house, to rear right of view, became derelict, but it has recently been renovated by a young couple; who are now providing extensive kennel accommodation in a newly built suite of kennels, part of which is visible on the right.

Pilmoor: Just south of Pilmoor Station the local road between Sessay and Brafferton first crosses the main line on Jobbing Cross Bridge and then the route of the Boroughbridge and Knaresborough branch line on the level. The view is taken by the overbridge and shows a trio of GBRf loco's heading light from Doncaster Down Decoy Yard to Tyne Coal Terminal on Sunday 2 May 2021. Brunswick Green 66779 'Evening Star' leads sister 66759 and former Colas Rail class 60 60095. The next day 66779 ran to Carlisle, 66759 was out on the Drax PS biomass circuit with 60021, and 60095 worked the Lynemouth PS biomass circuit.

Lady Victoria Colliery: The fence running alongside the public footpath linking Newtongrange station and the National Mining Museum has information panels attached at various points along its length. This one shows tubs containing the last coal to be brought up from the Lady Victoria Colliery in 1981.

Crow Nest Junction: A 156/150 combination takes the Westhoughton and Bolton line at Crow Nest Junction. The tree to the left of the train marks the point where the branch to Blackrod diverged left, prior to closure in 1968. Up to that date the three-way junction was controlled by an L&YR box in the fork of the Westhoughton and Atherton lines.

Laindon: Class 357 units on a C2C Fenchurch Street service at Laindon, Essex, seen from a departing service to Shoeburyness, on Bank Holiday Monday, 2nd May 2022. The father of the late Carry On actress Joan Sims (1930-2001) was the stationmaster here in the 1930s and Joan lived with him and her mother in the station house when she was a child.

Oban: Two trains, whose roles have changed in recent times, stand side by side at the bufferstops at Oban on 2nd May 2022. The Class 153 has arrived on a service train from Glasgow coupled to a Class 156 unit whilst the HST power car 43076 sits at the head of a Blue Pullman excursion from Lancaster.

Thorpe Bay: The delightful exterior of Thorpe Bay station, Essex, first and last stop from and to Shoeburyness on the C2C line from London Fenchurch Street, on the afternoon of Bank Holiday Monday, 2nd May 2022. The LTSR had been extended from Tilbury to Leigh-on-Sea in 1855 and further extended to Southend in 1856 but the extension from the latter to Shoeburyness was not opened until 1st February 1884. However, it was 1st July 1910 before this station was added to the extension, known for its first 17 days as Southchurch-On-Sea before being quickly renamed, to serve new upmarket residential housing to the east of Southend and which today is an affluent part of the Southend conurbation, which recently was granted City status.

Barking: LU S7 stock on District Line short working to West Ham at Barking, on Bank Holiday Monday, 2nd May 2022. District Line services between West Ham and Tower Hill were suspended over this long weekend for 'engineering works'. This photo was taken through the windows of a class 357 unit on a C2C Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness service waiting to depart and on which a friend and I travelled to its penultimate stop at Thorpe Bay for a Bank Holiday Monday trip to the seaside, except Southend and Thorpe Bay are actually on the Thames Estuary.

Westgate-on-Sea: A Ramsgate to London Victoria service arrives at Westgate-on-Sea on 2 May 2022. The service was formed by a pair of Class 465 EMUs, a class that is starting to be withdrawn/stored.

Levenmouth: The new Levenmouth station site(behind Sainsbury's) seen from the overbridge on 2nd May 2022.

Kirkland Loop: Some rust still to be cleared at Levenmoth. This view looking towards Kirkland from Sawmill Road in May 2022.

Leigh-on-Sea: The outer up and inner bay island platform at Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, seen from a C2C train to Shoeburyness arriving on the morning of Bank Holiday Monday, 2nd May 2022. This station was opened by the LMS (which had inherited the LT&SR, well outside its geographical territory, at the 1923 Grouping) in 1934, replacing the original 1855 station which was much more conveniently sited at the end of Leigh High Street. This still stands and is now the Headquarters of the Leigh Sailing Club, as it has been for several decades (see image [[68276]]). Leigh is not 'on Sea' at all, as neither is Southend, both being on that part of the Thames Estuary where it widens out to meet the North Sea at Shoeburyness but the suffix was bestowed on them by the LTSR Directors in the hope of encouraging leisure traffic though these days the line is mostly an outer commuter route to and from London Fenchurch Street.

Westgate-on-Sea: A pair of Southeastern Class 395 Javelins running from Ramsgate to St Pancras via the north Kent line, pass the leafy suburbs of Birchington and Westgate on Sea on the bank holiday Monday at the start of May 2022.

Cardross: A group of unimpressed herons are passed by the Lancaster to Oban Blue Pullman excursion.

Pass of Brander Stone Signals: A Blue Pullman excursion from Lancaster to Oban passes the last in the series of stone signals in the Pass of Brander near Bridge of Awe on 2nd May 2022

Levenmouth: The site of the new Levenmouth station, viewed across the river, on a dull and wet 2nd May 2022.