Earby: 3442 The Great Marquess stands at Earby, Lancs, between Colne and Skipton, with 'The Dalesman' railtour on 4 May 1963. The special, organised by the RCTS (West Riding Branch) was the first outing in preservation for no 3442.

Bradford Forster Square: Gresley K4 2-6-0 no 3442 The Great Marquess about to leave Bradford Forster Square on 4 May 1963 with what is believed to be the locomotive's first outing in preservation. The train is The Dalesman, organised by the West Riding branch of the RCTS.

Kings Park: Simultaneous arrivals of football specials at Kings Park, one steam hauled and the other behind an EE Type 1. Carriage doors of course are being opened before the trains have come to a standstill. The occasion was the 1963 Cup Final at Hampden, between Rangers and Celtic, watched by a crowd of almost 130,000.

Barnoldswick: The first outing in preservation of no 3442 The Great Marquess took place on 4 May 1963. The RCTS Dalesman railtour ran from Bradford Forster Square and visited a number of branches in Lancashire and Yorkshire. One such visit was along the former Barnoldswick Railway, a short branch off the line between Nelson and Skipton. The K4 is seen here running round the special at Barnoldswick terminus late on that Saturday afternoon in 1963.

Arthington: K4 2-6-0 no 3442 The Great Marquess during a photostop with The Dalesman railtour on 4 May 1963. The train is standing at Arthington station, facing in the direction of Leeds, having just arrived from Bradford Forster Square. The Leeds to Harrogate line platforms can be seen on the extreme right. The tour was organised by the West Riding branch of the RCTS. See image [[33226]]

Kings Park: Supporters heading for Hampden after the simultaneous arrival of two football specials at Kings Park on Cup Final day 1963. Rangers and Celtic were meeting in the final for the first time since the war, attracting a massive crowd of 129,643. The game ended in a draw and the replay eleven days later was also watched by a crowd of more than 120,000. No nonsense about penalty shoot-outs!

Barnoldswick: The Dalesman railtour of 4 May 1963 was organised by the RCTS West Riding branch and hauled throughout by 3442 The Great Marquess. Starting and finishing at Bradford Forster Square the special visited various branches in Yorkshire and Lancashire. 3442 is seen here running round at the terminus at Barnoldswick (colloq. Barlick) where, in the absence of on-train dining facilities, the opportunity to purchase one of the renowned Stanley's Crumpets was doubtless greatly appreciated by many of the participants.

Mount Florida: Supporters heading for Hampden on Cup Final day 1963, after the simultaneous arrival of two blue train specials at Mount Florida. Rangers and Celtic were meeting in the final for the first time since the war, attracting a massive crowd of 129,643. The game ended in a draw, with Rangers winning the replay eleven days later. There would no doubt also have been plenty of specials for the replay, as another huge crowd of more than 120,000 turned up for it.

Embsay Junction: The first post-preservation passenger outing of Gresley K4 2-6-0 no 3442 The Great Marquess took place on 4 May 1963 when the locomotive hauled the RCTS (West Riding Branch) 'Dalesman' railtour out of Bradford Forster Square. The train is seen here on the day shortly after passing Embsay Junction on the Grassington branch.

Holbeck Shed: Jubilee 45562 Alberta stands in the shed yard at Holbeck in May 1963.

Grassington and Threshfield: The RCTS Dalesman railtour at Grassington on 4 May 1963 behind Gresley K4 2-6-0 no 3442 'The Great Marquess'.

Plates, signs, notices etc: Closure notice, Inveresk, East Fortune and East Linton, 4 May 1964.

Glasgow St Enoch: 45124 and 80050 at St Enoch station bringing in stock for Kilmarnock and East Kilbride

Tweedmouth: The remains of the straight shed at 52D Tweedmouth during demolition on 4th May 1968. The roundhouse in the right background still survives in 2013, albeit now derelict following a fire some years ago. See image [[40716]]

Tillynaught: A dreich day at Tillynaught Junction, just after 8pm on Saturday 4 May 1968, with the driver of the final coast train from Aberdeen to Elgin exchanging tokens with the Tillynaught signalman. Meantime, the last eastbound train (hauled by Birmingham Type 2 D5331) waits in the passing loop.

Elgin East: The last ever departure board at Elgin East on Saturday 4th May 1968, announcing the final trains to Aberdeen via the coast, as well as Cairnie Junction via the Craigellachie and Dufftown route. Note the board for 'rail bus to Aviemore' surviving three years after closure! Platforms 5 & 6 refer to the platforms of the adjacent ex-HR Elgin West station. See image [[26833]]

Tillynaught: D5331 with the final Moray Coast train from Elgin to Aberdeen waits to cross its westbound equivalent at Tillynaught Jct on 4 May 1968.

Elgin East: Suitable weather for a unique occasion in British Railways closure history at the ex-GNSR Elgin East station on 4th May 1968 - with the last trains for two different lines waiting side by side prior to departure. On the left at Platform 1 (the through road from ex-HR Elgin West station) is D5331 on the 19.09 (last Up) train to Aberdeen via Buckie, while at bay Platform 2 is a DMU forming the 19.07 (last Up) train via Craigellachie. (The EE Type 4 lurking in the background at the buffer end of Platform 4 is probably off the Scottish Malt Distillers Doncaster - Burghead/Muir of Ord block grain train.) See image [[26815]]

Teversall East: The SLS (Midland area) Farewell to GN Branch Lines in Derbys & Notts rail tour stands at the former GN station at Teversall East (Teversall until 1953) on 4 May 1968. In the background is the bridge carrying the Midland Railway route, while behind the camera the GN line ran on to serve two local collieries. The 6-car 101 DMU had arrived with the special from Birmingham New Street. The branch from Skegby Junction to Teversall East closed two days after the photograph was taken and the line from Kirkby-in-Ashfield to Shirebrook via Skegby some three weeks later.

Plates, signs, notices etc: Overall the stock may have been more interesting in the early 1970s but in terms of moving people about (not unimportant) railways were surely at their nadir. Here there are only 6 trains a day between Kilmarnock and Glasgow during the week. Only 2 of them called at Stewarton and Dunlop and they were pick up only; the opposite applied in the evening so it was impossible to travel by train between those towns and Kilmarnock! The timetables then covered a whole year, in this case 4 May 1970 to 2 May 1971.

Fort William Headshunt: Grand Scottish Tour No.19 stands at Fort William after arrival from Edinburgh on 4 May 1974. All would be swept away the following year.

Glenfinnan: A Mallaig bound excursion passes a BRCW Class 27 hauled service train at Glenfinnan on 4 May 1974.

Tulloch: A pair of Class 24 BR Type 2s near Tulloch, with an excursion to Fort William and Mallaig, on 4 May 1974.

Motherwell: On Saturday 4th of May 1974, the last day of Class 50 hauled services to London Euston from Glasgow before the electric hauled Class 87s, 50045 is seen at Motherwell. A Central SMT Lodekka bus is on the overbridge ... and no, I didn't get the driver to adjust tops to suit me (IM)!

Frances Colliery: No 29 with loaded wagons at the east end of the Frances Colliery site in May 1974. See image [[38712]]

Stirling: An unidentified type 2 takes a northbound train away from Stirling in May 1977.

Stirling: 27018+27103 leaving Stirling southbound on 4 May 1977 with a train from Inverness to Glasgow Queen Street.

Edinburgh Waverley: The SRPS preserved J36 no 673 Maude at Edinburgh Waverley 'sub' platforms with the 'Rainhill Commemorative' from Falkirk - Edinburgh - Inverkeithing and return on 4 May 1980, a rehearsal for her epic trip to Rainhill.

Edinburgh Waverley: Lost Railfreight. J36 0-6-0 65243 'Maude' runs round its train (The SRPS Rainhill Commemorative) at Waverley station on 4 May 1980. On either side are vehicles for the carriage of parcels, a traffic lost - but about to be resurrected - to rail. #COP26

Haymarket: NB 0-6-0 no 673 Maude passing through Haymarket on 4 May 1980 with an SRPS special see image [[32976]]. Approaching in the opposite direction along platform 2 is a class 40 running light engine having just left Haymarket Tunnel, presumably on its way to Haymarket MPD.

Haymarket: NB 0-6-0 no 673 Maude photographed with her first railtour about to pass through Haymarket station on 4 May 1980. The special ran from Falkirk Grahamston and, although no headboard is being carried, the tour is logged on SBJ as The Rainhill Commemorative. [With thanks to Alan Young, SRPS]

Rotherham Masborough: View north from platform 4 at Rotherham Masborough on a scorching hot day in May 1981. Holbeck 'Peak' no 45073 has just run through platform 1 and passed below Midland Road bridge heading for Leeds with a train from Bristol.

Rotherham Masborough: 'Oil be seeing you...' crew change for a class 47 with a tank train at the south end of Rotherham Masborough station in May 1981. In the background an EE Type 4 waits for a path with another northbound freight.

Rotherham Masborough: A class 47 takes a freight south through Rotherham Masborough station in May 1981 on the Sheffield avoiding line. Held in the down loop is a class 40 with a ballast train.

Rotherham Masborough: A class 47 restarts a northbound tank train at Rotherham Masborough station in May 1981 following a stop for a crew change. See image [[29803]]

Rotherham Masborough: 'Good grief... there's a story here about the possibility of tilting trains in the future!' A couple of sceptics catch up with the latest news on the barrow crossing at Rotherham Masborough on a sunny afternoon in May 1981. Meantime, a York - Bristol express runs south through the station at speed behind 47445.

Rotherham Masborough: Bescot class 47 no 47386 brings a train of 100t oil tanks under Coronation Bridge and north through Rotherham Masborough station in May 1981. The station finally closed in October 1988.

Rotherham Masborough: A train of 100t tanks rumbles north through platform 3 at Rotherham Masborough in May 1981. The train is on the goods lines from Tapton Junction avoiding Sheffield. The main north east - south west lines which run through platforms 1 and 2 are just visible under Midland Road bridge in the background. See image [[39925]]

Rotherham Masborough: Thornaby shed's Brush Type 4 no 47052 approaching Rotherham Masborough from the north on a bright May morning in 1981 with a train of oil tanks from Teesside.

Motherwell MPD: Pictured opposite Motherwell shed on 4th May 1982 as far as I can recall. 20099 on a freight service, comprising steel rails by the looks of it.

Clydebank: A well kept Clydebank station on 4 May 1985 with an afternoon service for Dalmuir arriving.

Willesden Junction High Level: The shape of things to come...! One of the first of the privately owned Foster Yeoman class 59 locomotives has just crossed the WCML with its aggregates train at Willesden Junction in May 1986. The freight is on the link from Acton Wells to Kensal Green Junctions taking it from the West London to the North London line. See image [[23123]]

Dundee: A class 47 brings an evening train from the south down the hill towards Dundee station in May 1987. The Tay Bridge can be seen in the left background, as can the maintenance control centre building standing on the site of the former Esplanade station.

Macclesfield: An up HST runs alongside the River Bollin in 1987. For a more modern view see image [[47609]].

Dundee: A class 47 hauling an evening Aberdeen - Glasgow Queen Street train climbs away from Dundee on 4 May 1987.

Llandudno Junction: 46229 Duchess of Hamilton makes an atmospheric restart from Llandudno Junction on 4 May 1991 with the west-bound Ynys Mon Express working to Holyhead, as a BR InterCity HST stops alongside heading east.

Llandudno Junction: 46229 Duchess of Hamilton makes a water stop at Llandudno Junction with the Holyhead bound Ynys Mon Express on 4 May 1991. Railfreight grey liveried 47107 can be seen stabled by the carriage siding to the right of view See image [[27784]]

Colwyn Bay: Stanier Coronation Class 46229 'Duchess of Hamilton' is seen running alongside the A55 expressway, between Colwyn Bay and Llandudno Junction, whilst working the Ynys Mons special to Holyhead on 4th May 1991.

Colwyn Bay: Stanier Pacific no 46229 Duchess of Hamilton runs alongside the A55 Expressway between Colwyn Bay and Llandudno Junction on 4 May 1991 bound for Holyhead with the Pathfinder Tours Ynys Mon Express.

Llandudno Junction: Stanier Coronation 7P Pacific 46229 Duchess of Hamilton being replenished with water at the east end of Llandudno Junction station on 4 May 1991 while working the return leg of the Ynys Mon special from Holyhead.

Llandudno Junction: A class 47 (now confirmed to be 47107) and a class 151 prototype 3-car Sprinter set, photographed at Llandudno Junction carriage shed in May 1991.

Ardmore Level Crossing: A Glasgow bound Class 303 approaches Ardmore East Level Crossing in May 1994 on a service from Helensburgh.

Redhill: A 12-car emu bound for London Bridge about to leave platform 2 at Redhill on 4 May 2002.

Haywards Heath: Platform view south towards Brighton from Haywards Heath station in May 2002. [Ref query 1674]

Worthing: A westbound train destined for Portsmouth Harbour about to leave platform 3 at Worthing in May 2002

Cowdenbeath: A fine May afternoon at Cowdenbeath station in 2005, with First ScotRail 170456 awaiting its departure time with a service to Edinburgh Waverley.

Cowdenbeath: An afternoon service to Edinburgh Waverley about to leave the southbound platform of a particularly neat and tidy Cowdenbeath station in May 2005.

Glenrothes with Thornton: View east over a deserted Glenrothes with Thornton station on a quiet Wednesday in May 2005.

Ladybank: View south at Ladybank in May 2005 as an Edinburgh - Dundee train enters the station.

Ladybank: A train from Edinburgh about to leave Ladybank for Dundee on 4 May 2005.

Ladybank: Exterior view of Ladybank station, seen from the west in May 2005. Ladybank is claimed to be the oldest 'unaltered' station in Scotland (that presumably excludes the blue and white porch!)

Dalgety Bay: A ScotRail service heading for Edinburgh runs into platform 1 at Dalgety Bay on a pleasant May morning in 2005.

Elderslie: 66410 at WH Malcolm, Elderslie to collect freight

Elderslie: 66410 at WH Malcolm in Elderslie to collect freight for transit to Grangemouth

Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, bridge below Beardmore Street bridge, looking W from double track tunnel.

Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, bridge below Beardmore Street bridge, LH tunnel double track.

Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, bridge below Beardmore Street bridge, RH tunnel single track, siding to sewage works, whisky plant and oil depot.

Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, bridge below Beardmore Street bridge, looking from W.

Dalmuir Riverside: The trackbed of the former Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, looking west from Beardmore Street bridge in May 2007.

Chivas Bros Siding [Dalmuir]: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, trackbed looking W at rear of Chivas Regal/Pernod/Ricard Plant.

Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, the Caley Bridge over Dumbarton Road.

Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, near Dumbarton Road, trackbed looking E.

Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, bridge over Agamemnon Street looking E.

Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line at Golden Jubilee Hospital, looking to site of Dalmuir Riverside Station.

Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, points lever still in place.

Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, looking W. Golden Jubilee Hospital to the left.

Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, bridge over Agamemnon Street.

Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, bridge over Agamemnon Street, Dalmuir.

Elderslie: Driver of 66410 finds a use for his jacket as a sun screen. WH Malcolm, Elderslie

Elderslie: Container loader hard at work at the WH Malcolm Elderslie depot

Elderslie Fly Under: Fly Under at Elderslie West Junction where the track headed for Cart Junction

Cart Junction: Rail Bridge at Cart Junction that took the railway to Bridge of Weir and Kilmacolm. The trackbed here is now blocked by the A737

Elderslie West Junction: Mile post or sign post marker at the fly under at Elderslie West Junction

Elderslie: Construction work continuing at the WH Malcolm Elderslie depot, here a water tanker is at work keeping the dust down

Canal Junction [Elderslie]: Looking to Elderslie East Junction, the trackbed now part of the cycle path network

Kilbarchan: Looking East, this view shows the rail bridges at the Western end of the Kilbarchan station. To the right was Platform 1, with the bridge to the left going to Platform 2

North Johnstone: End of the line? The trackbed at North Johnstone comes to an abrupt halt, the site for the almost complete Morrison superstore taking its place. The original Johnstone North station was located where the pylon to the right stands

Ferguslie Viaduct: Although now a railway embankment, it was at this point that that the Paisley & Barrhead District Railway passed under the main line to Ayr

Ferguslie Viaduct: 66080 approaches Elderslie East Junction with an empty coal train heading for Hunterston

Bristol Harbour: Peckett 0-6-0ST Portbury departs from the Cumberland Basin terminus of the Bristol Harbour Railway and Industrial Museum on 4 May.

Parson Street: Consolation photograph of a Voyager Cross Country service passing through Parson Street station, Bristol on 4 May 2008. (The expected star of the show, 71000 Duke of Gloucester, failed to arrive with a scheduled Bristol - Plymouth excursion following a mechanical problem.)

Kinghorn: 67 003 pulls away from Kinghorn on 4 May 2009 with the returning EWS-stocked Outer Circle service.

North Berwick: 322 481 waits at North Berwick on 4 May 2009 with the next service to Edinburgh Waverley. Compare this with the photograph taken 25 years previously (from my pram) see image [[19087]]. Apart from the rails there is no single point of similarity. The buffers were moved slightly towards Edinburgh when the old station buildings were demolished.

Dalmeny: EWS 67003 brings a returning Fife Circle commuter train into Dalmeny on 4 May 2009

Bower Bridge: Bridge on the Waverley route around half a mile in the Heriot direction from Fountainhall station near Brockhouse Farm seen in May 2009.

Kinghorn: The evening EWS-stocked Outer Circle service pulls into Kinghorn on 4 May 2009 behind 67 003.

North Berwick: Buffer stops at North Berwick on 4 May 2009 with 322 481 ready to start the journey back to Waverley.

Ferniehirst Bridge: Waverley route bridge at Ferniehirst, between Stow and Bowland in May 2009.

North Berwick: Still there on the High Street 44 years on from the 1965 image change. Photographed at North Berwick on 4 May 2009.

Dalmeny: A 6-car 158 unusually employed on an off-peak service at Dalmeny on 4 May 2009.

Carnforth: As work on the viaduct there continues, trains are still terminating at Arnside. TPE 185118 has collected a pilotman at Carnforth on 4 May and now crosses over to run wrong line through Silverdale to Arnside with a service from Manchester Airport. Passengers for stations from Grange-over-Sands to Barrow in Furness will have transferred to the bustitution service at Lancaster.

Carnforth: The DRS Class 37s that have been in long term storage at Carnforth (37605/612/261) departed for Carlisle in April 2011 leaving only the six DRS Class 20s and BRCW Type 3 33030 on this road behind the station. However they have been joined by Brush Type 4 No. 47772 in faded RES red livery and a smart looking West Coast EE Type 3 No. 37214. At the other end of this long line, but less accessible for photographs, were Brush Type 4 No. 47768 in green undercoat and EE Type 3 No. 37668 in faded EWS livery.

Abington: Ballast is drawn north to Abington's loops in 2012. The Clyde, Abington village, the motorway and services are in the background.

Riccarton: The ruinous stationmaster's house at Riccarton as seen in 2012.

Riccarton: The platform at Riccarton, seen partly restored in 2012. The viewpoint is just below the stationmaster's house near where the footbridge crossed over to the platform.

Leyland: With Bradshaw in hand whilst filming in the North-West, Michael Portillo stands at Leyland on a rather dull Friday evening. The film crew had packed up and were about to move off when he kindly agreed to pose for one more photo after a long day on the road. He told me that he was making a programme on the railways around Manchester.

Dalgety Bay: A4 60009 Union of South Africa heading home to Thornton Depot after working an excursion from York to Edinburgh, nearing Dalgety Bay on 4 May.

Canonbie Colliery Signal Box: View north towards Canonbie station, Rowanburn, on the Langholm branch on 4 May 2013. The branch trackbed is on the left with the old route into Canonbie Colliery on the right.

Liddel Viaduct: Looking across Riddings Viaduct, spanning the Liddel Water. View towards Riddings Junction on 4 May 2013.

Cranmore: GWR 0-6-2T 5637 running round its train at Cranmore on 4 May 2013.

Cranmore: Scene at Cranmore on the East Somerset Railway on 4 May 2013 with GWR 0-6-2T no 5637 in the process of running round its train.

Barassie Junction: Deltic D9000 Royal Scots Grey with the 6Z54 Brodie Works to Glasgow Works EMU drag, seen leaving Barassie sidings with 334025 in tow shortly after running round.

Barassie: D9000 Royal Scots Grey approaching Barassie sidings dragging EMU 334025 from Brodie Works, Kilmarnock. After running round in the sidings the train will continue north to Glasgow Works.

Barassie Junction: Deltic D9000 Royal Scots Grey leaves Barassie sidings on 4 May 2013 with the Kilmarnock Works to Glasgow Works EMU drag transferring unit 334025.

Thames Ditton: 4555750, departing from Thames Ditton in Surrey, with a service from Hampton Court to Waterloo, on 4th May 2013. Withdrawal of the Class 455s commenced in 2022, the 40th anniversary of their introduction into service.

Nuneaton North Chord: It's not every day that you get the chance to photograph the first passenger train on a new line. This is the 'Llandudno Victorian Statesman', joining Nuneaton North Chord on 4th May. The next passenger train will be the UK Railtours 'Whitehouse Wanderer' on 25th May.

Surbiton: 455 5701 from rear with a Hampton Court to London Waterloo service calling at Surbiton on 4th May 2013. Nearly ten years on from this image the first 455s are now being withdrawn.

Surbiton: 450016, from Waterloo to Basingstoke, arriving at Surbiton on 4th May 2013. Surbiton, of course, was the setting for the popular 1970s sitcom 'The Good Life' starring Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal, Penelope Keith and Paul Eddington, although all the outdoor scenes were filmed at Northwood in Middlesex.

Thames Ditton: The up platform at Thames Ditton, the only intermediate station on the short Hampton Court branch, during a short sharp downpour on 4th May 2013. The branch from the main line west of Surbiton to Hampton Court station (on the south side of the Thames, the Palace is on the north) opened in 1849 with Thames Ditton station being opened in 1851.

Thames Ditton: Thames Ditton on the Hampton Court branch, looking towards Waterloo, on 4th May 2013. The short Hampton Court branch from just west of Surbiton on the LSWR main line was opened in 1849; the terminus station is situated on the south bank of the Thames in the village of East Molesey but was named after the famous palace across the bridge on the north side. Thames Ditton station was added to the line in 1851.

Bo'ness: D49 62712 Morayshire with a Thomas special near the Bo'ness terminus on 4 May 2014 see image [[47234]].

Linlithgow: K1 2-6-0 no 62005 speeds through Linlithgow on 4 May, destined for Fort William and the start of the Jacobite season.

Bo'ness: 26038 on an SRPS 'Thomas' special near the B'oness terminus on 4 May. 62712 Morayshire is on the other end of the train.

Elsecar and Wentworth: Something else that used to belong in Exeter see image [[50901]]. This guards van is now a resident of Yorkshire, seen here on the Elsecar Heritage Railway in May 2015. The engine to its right looks interesting - it's either a 3 cylinder unit, or one of its exhaust downpipes has gone missing.

Elsecar and Wentworth: Steam ('Birkenhead') meets diesel ('Louise') in the former mine yard at Elsecar on 4 May 2015. see image [[51231]] Mercifully, there was no locomotive called Thelma - nor any 'Thunderbirds'.

Paterson's No 1 Siding: Driver's-eye equivalent view of the approach to Galashiels station. Scene on 4 May 2015 with a roadrail machine standing alongside the platform, work in progress on the Transport Interchange opposite, 2-way traffic reinstated on the A7 Ladhope Vale - all being closely observed by one of the Eildon Hills to the south.

Slateford: DRS 68006 having come off the 'sub' at Craiglockhart Junction runs through Slateford with an Edinburgh - Motherwell empty stock working (off a Fife service) on 4 May 2015.

Craiglockhart: DBS 66004 passes through the closed Craiglockhart Station on the Edinburgh 'sub' on 4 May 2015 with the 6S58 Lackenby - Dalzell 'slabs'.

Galashiels: Work continuing at the new Galashiels station on 4 May 2015. The exit ramp down to road level and the pedestrian crossing is just to the left of the roadrail machine.

Tweedbank: The Borders Railway terminus at Tweedbank on Bank Holiday Monday 2015. Much going on, including work on the car parking area and various landscaping/planting activities. The blue-cladded structure is referred to on the BR website as the 'Train Operators Building'.

Tweedbank: Looking south from the east side of the line at Tweedbank on 4 May 2015, showing the area covered by the new station and its associated infrastructure.

Elsecar: 'Would all passengers please lean to the right...' 144023 breezes into Elsecar with a Sheffield service on 4 May. The 1897 former station building is out of sight to the right.

Kilnknowe Junction: View south from Kilnknowe Street bridge showing the rail approach to Galashiels on 4 May 2015. A much tidier scene generally, with the Plumtreehall Brae footbridge now in place over the line in the background. See image [[47225]]

Tweedbank: Extract showing modified/updated layout at Tweedbank station - May 2015 see image [[13769]].

Redbridge Viaduct: View south from the new road bridge carrying Winston Road, Galashiels, looking towards Tweedbank on 4 May 2015, with construction work essentially complete and a general clean-up well underway. See image [[46467]]

Lydney Town: Lydney Town level crossing with, in the background, the replacement 2001 station for the original opened in 1875 and closed in 1960, Dean Forest Railway, seen from one of the coaches taking UK Railtours' day-trippers back to Bristol Temple Meads for the return excursion train to London, on the evening of a very warm and sunny Saturday, 4th May 2015.

Redbridge Viaduct: The re-excavated cutting at Langlee, seen from Winston Road, looking north west towards Galashiels on 4 May 2015 with Galafoot Lane footbridge in the distance. At this stage permanent way preparation work on the Borders Railway was nearing completion, as was much of the landscaping and fencing activity. Crew training turns over the new route began running between Newcraighall and Tweedbank the following month. For the view back from the footbridge prior to commencementt of the re-excavation work see image [[71790]].

Elsecar and Wentworth: 'I'm sure there was an awning up there before I blew off steam.' Saddle tank 'Birkenhead' looking guilty at Elsecar Heritage Centre on 4th May. The red engine in the background is called 'Earl Fitzwilliam'. A mobile sweetshop operating from a vintage van can just be seen on the left.

Derby: A down CrossCountry Voyager meets an up East Midlands Meridian at Derby on 4 May, while a Nottingham service approaches Etches Park in the background. [Accidental duplicate image.]

Derby: 2b or not 2b - a Northbound Voyager slows at Derby to pick up passengers distracted by Shakespearian debate. 4th May 2015.

Tweedbank: Warm work at Tweedbank station on 4 May 2015, with planting and landscaping being undertaken along the eastern perimeter of the site. View is west across the car park towards the station entrance.

Lydney Junction: This could be a scene from seventy summers ago but is actually 4th July 2015, a very warm and sunny Saturday, with ex-GWR class 4500 2-6-2T 5541, built at Swindon in 1928, just arrived at Lydney Junction with a Dean Forest Railway train from Parkend. This locomotive was designed by George Jackson Churchward (1857-1933).

Ladhope Tunnel: View north through Ladhope Tunnel, Galashiels, on 4 May 2015 showing the widening carried out to accomodate the Borders Railway. Part of the new footbridge on Buckholmside is visible in the background.

Sheffield: Clearing the road traffic away from the forecourt certainly gives a better view of that Victorian stonework - which is probably a lot cleaner than it was in the 1950s.

Tweedbank: 'That's the style!' (and the bench.) The former access and seating facilities at Tweedbank see image [[13777]] still survive in the undergrowth alongside the site of the new Tweedbank station in May 2015, some 4 months prior to the official opening.

Falkirk High: OHLE mast bases are just visible alongside the trackbed to the right of the train as a late afternoon service from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh approaches Falkirk High on 4 May. In the other direction, mast bases are now in place between the Falkirk tunnel and Polmont.

Derby: A down CrossCountry Voyager meets an up East Midlands Meridian at Derby on 4 May, while a Nottingham service approaches Etches Park in the background.

Galashiels: Shape of things to come. View south east along Stirling Street, Galashiels, on 4 May 2015, with construction work well advanced on the new interchange.

Sheffield: Had you told residents of Sheffield in 1985, that they would still be riding round in 142s and 144s in 2015, the response would probably have been less than cheerful and complimentary - to you or the trains. Notice Sheffield's controversial 'streets in the sky' in the background.

Rockingham [South Yorkshire]: The short Elsecar Heritage Railway has an impressive amount of stock (see also image [[51409]]). Rockingham station is also known as Elsecar and Wentworth.

Cardross: 44871, with what looks like a pretty busy footplate, heads for Fort William after an overnight pause at Dumbarton Central see image [[54973]].

Glenfinnan: The guard checks for passengers as the final westbound train of the day pauses at Glenfinnan. The view is from the east end barrow crossing.

Glenfinnan: 45407 heads west, winding its way out from Glenfinnan station with The Jacobite. Loch Shiel is in the background right.

Nuneaton: ROG locomotive 37601 pauses in platform 6 at Nuneaton. According to rail staff in the bothy off platform 1, 'Perseus' was waiting for his compatriot 'Theseus' to turn up, so they could set about a minor tour together. It's not a myth - you can't beat classic traction.

White Hart Lane: Obsolete boarded-up waiting rooms on the Liverpool Street-bound platform at White Hart Lane station, north London, on 4th May 2018. This station opened in 1872 and became part of London Overground in 2015.

Stamford Hill: 315 808 with a London Overground service to London Liverpool Street departing from Stamford Hill station, north London, on 4th May 2018. The Enfield Town and Chingford lines have been part of London Overground since May 2015.

Hanborough: A platform with a yellow 'keep back' line, a shelter, bins, a disused platform, a wheelchair ramp, bins, what more could you want? Oh, trains, I suppose. View looks North.

Aberdeen: A letter received regarding archaeology works to do with HS2 in my area - although it's happening in Buckinghamshire - not Aberdeenshire!

Ayr: The planters at Ayr take one's eye off the derelict Station Hotel - almost. 4th May 2018.

Butterley: Class 127 d.m.u. W51591 at the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley on 4th May 2019. The destination blind is showing Barking - us north Londoners could have done with this on the GOBLIN line during the period when delays and cancellations were being caused by the continued failure of the new class 710s to appear.

Castle Cary: I don't regret a minute of the time I spent chasing and photographing HSTs in their last few months. Here is an excellent example, 43188 'The Welshman', heading West at Castle Cary.

Bromsgrove: The enlarged station at Bromsgrove was opened on 12th July 2016. It offers much more flexibility in operations then the rather basic original 2-platform station.

Butterley: 1908 0-4-0ST 'Whitehead' arriving at Butterley station with a Midland Railway Centre train from Hammersmith to Riddings, on 4th May 2019. On the right is the stock of UK Railtours' excursion from London Victoria which was stabled at Butterley during the afternoon.

Swanwick Junction: 1908 0-4-0ST locomotive 'Whitehead' steaming away from Swanwick Junction with a Midland Railway Centre vintage train from Riddings to Hammersmith, on the afternoon of Saturday, 4th May 2019.

Swanwick Junction: A 2019 visitor to the Midland Railway Centre is Class 485 0-6-0 Hunslet locomotive 'Lord Phil', built for the War Department in 1944 for military and industrial use and seen here arriving at Swanwick Junction with a train from Hammersmith, on 4th May 2019. Alas there was not enough time to have a ride behind this locomotive before UK Railtours' excursion train returned to London.

Bromsgrove: Thats a fine new steel fence you have there. A Southbound class 170 coasts into the newly expanded Bromsgrove station in May 2019.

Butterley: Exterior of the Midland Railway Centre's Butterley for Ripley and Swanwick station, except that its not the original, this being the identical station from Whitwell on the Nottingham to Worksop line, closed in 1964 (since reopened) and brought here brick by brick and reassembled for the MRC in 1981. Seen here during a visit by UK Railtours on 4th May 2019.

Pollokshaws West: A Glasgow service calls at 'Shaws West on 4 May 2019. Four cars indicate an East Kilbride origin; Barrhead services manage fine with two.

Riddings: 1908 0-4-0ST locomotive 'Whitehead' running round at the eastern end of the Midland Railway Centre's line at Riddings, on the afternoon of Saturday, 4th May 2019. At the present time, this terminus consists of just a run-round loop with no station nor alighting facilities but the MRC does have a long-term aim to bring the line closer to the Erewash Valley Line with a new Pye Bridge station to allow passengers to alight at this end of the line. As it is, the current Riddings run-round loop is within sound, if not sight, of the Erewash Valley Line which is just behind the trees in the left background.

Bearsden: A Milngavie service calls at Bearsden on 4 May 2019.

London Victoria: GB Railfreight 66719 has just brought the stock for UK Railtours' excursion to the Midland Railway Centre in Derbyshire into London Victoria and will travel at the rear of the train with 66753 at the head. Arrival was just after 07.10 in plenty of time for the 07.47 departure on Saturday, 4th May 2019. This was an unusual choice of starting point for a tour heading north, crossing the Thames twice within 10 minutes and creeping round Longhedge and Latchmere Junctions to gain the London Overground West London Line to Willesden Junction. It then took the LO North London Line to Gospel Oak and the GOBLIN to just east of Crouch Hill before traversing the spur up to the ECML at Harringay that is not normally used by passenger trains. After all this the train was then free to set its sights to the north.

Swanwick Junction: Midland Railway Centre train from Hammersmith to Riddings, behind 1908 0-4-0ST locomotive 'Whitehead', at Swanwick Junction on 4th May 2019.

London Victoria: GB Railfreight 66753, with 66719 at the rear, at the head of UK Railtours' excursion to the Midland Railway Centre in Derbyshire, unusually departing from London Victoria, early on the sunny (but with a cold wind) morning of Saturday, 4th May 2019.

Greenside Junction: This is the site of Greenside Junction, with the Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway turning to the right while the line to the Kipps Shed and the Ballochney Railway went straight ahead. 4th May 2019.

Giffnock: An East Kilbride service calls at Giffnock on 4 May 2019.

Alexandra Palace: UK Railtours' excursion to the Midland Railway Centre started at London Victoria and made its somewhat unusual way to the ECML at Harringay via the West London, North London and GOBLIN lines of the London Overground. Here at Alexandra Palace (formerly Wood Green) it is at last about to head north as it pauses to pick up more day-trippers on 4th May 2019. I could have easily boarded the train here as I live quite close to Ally Pally but then I'd have missed having my first ride ever on the normally freight only/empty stock workings spur between the GOBLIN at Crouch Hill and the ECML at Harringay.

Muirend: I suppose it's the fact that the canopies at Muirend are balanced on the building that they can manage without obvious support, but they do seem to defy gravity. A Neilston to Glasgow service calls on 4 May.

Greenside Junction: Airdrie and Balloch services pass at the site of Greenside Junction on 4th May 2019.

Swanwick Junction: The Midland Railway Centre, or Midland Railway, Butterley as it is also known. 47401 was attached to UK Railtours' excursion from London Victoria to assist the train into Swanwick Junction station where it is seen, with 66753 behind, on Saturday, 4th May 2019. This first Brush Type 4 entered service as D1500, based at Finsbury Park depot in north London, on 28th September 1962. With the rundown of the class in the mid 1980s, the locomotive, by now 47401, managed to survive until withdrawal on 5th June 1992, three months short of its 30th birthday. It arrived at the Midland Railway Centre on 7th July 1993 and began passenger operations there 10 days later.

Hillfoot: A Motherwell service calls at Hillfoot on 4 May 2019.

Oakham: Oakham station, Rutland, seen through the windows of UK Railtours' excursion from, somewhat unusually, London Victoria to the Midland Railway Centre in Derbyshire, on Saturday, 4th May 2019.

Swanwick Junction: With 47401 now detached, 66753 stands at the Midland Railway Centre's Swanwick Junction station about to haul this UK Railtours' excursion to Butterley station where it will be stabled until time for the return journey to London Victoria. This was on a roundabout route as befits a railtour via Nottingham, Lincoln and Spalding before rejoining the outward route at Peterborough on Saturday, 4th May 2019.

Swanwick Junction: Busy scene at Swanwick Junction station after the arrival of UK Railtours' excursion from London Victoria on 4th May 2019. This railway centre, also known as Midland Railway, Butterley, arose out of a scheme to create a museum to the history of the Midland Railway. It runs along a section of the former Ambergate to Pye Bridge line that opened in 1875 and closed in 1968. The western end of the line, nearest to Ambergate, was breached by a road widening scheme (it would be) so a new station where none had previously existed was constructed at Hammersmith (very London sounding). Although the preservationists moved in in the mid 1970s it was not until 22nd August 1981 that passenger trains could run over a one mile section. Today, the line runs for three and a half miles between Hammersmith and Riddings, within sound of the Erewash Valley line but where there is no station nor alighting facilities. Swanwick Junction, to the east of Butterley, is also a station built especially for the Midland Railway Centre where none had existed before.

Giffnock: A Glasgow train pulls in to pick up Saturday shoppers at Giffnock on 4 May 2019.

Hammersmith [Midland]: Train from Swanwick Junction just arrived at the western terminus of the Midland Railway Centre's line at Hammersmith in Derbyshire, behind 47401, on 4th May 2019. This station did not exist prior to the closure of the Ambergate to Pye Bridge line in 1968 and was built purely for the heritage line. To the west the line to Ambergate has disappeared beneath a wretched road widening scheme. As the nameboard implies, Hammersmith was the birthplace of scientist, engineer and inventor Sir Barnes Wallis (1887-1979) of 'Bouncing Bomb' fame, immortalised in the 1954 film 'The Dam Busters' with Michael Redgrave as Barnes and Richard Todd as Wing Commander Guy Gibson. Plus, of course, that stirring March by composer Eric Coates.

Hammersmith [Midland]: Having run round its train at the western terminus of the Midland Railway Centre's line at Hammersmith, 47401 is now about to be re-attached for the return journey to Riddings, on 4th May 2019. The bright blue skies and sunshine belie the fact that there was a freezing cold strong wind.

Butterley: The Midland Railway Centre's Butterley station, showing its full title Butterley for Ripley and Swanwick, seen from a train from Hammersmith to Riddings on 4th May 2019. The station originally opened with the line from Ambergate to Pye Bridge on 1st May 1875 as Butterley and until 1st June 1930 was the junction for a branch via the town of Ripley to Little Eaton Junction, just north of Derby, the important town of Ripley losing its passenger service decades before Beeching. (In the first edition of 'Passengers No More' by G. Daniels and L.A. Dench, there is a great shot by the renowned railway photographer H.C. Casserley of a train arriving from Butterley at Ripley station in 1926.) On 29th July 1935, Butterley station was renamed Butterley for Ripley and Swanwick and stayed open for passengers until 16th July 1947 and for freight until 1964 with the line being abandoned in 1968. After closure the station was demolished but an identical disused station at Whitwell, closed in 1964, was taken apart brick by brick, reassembled here and opened with the first section of the heritage line on 22nd August 1981. (A brand new station at Whitwell was opened in 1998 with the resumption of passenger services between Mansfield Woodhouse and Worksop.)

Butterley: Butterley signal box, Midland Railway Centre on 4th May 2019. Technically now a ground frame, this signal box formerly stood at Ais Gill Summit at an altitude of 1167 ft. above sea level on the Settle & Carlisle Line, between Garsdale and Kirkby Stephen. It was opened on 14th June 1900, replacing an earlier box opened on 2nd August 1875 and was closed on 28th January 1982, finding its way to the MRC at Butterley the following year.

Mount Florida: A bit of harmless (I suppose) May the fourth nonsense on screens throughout the area. I have never seen Star Wars. No really, I haven't.

Swanwick Junction: UK Railtours' excursion from, somewhat unusually, London Victoria just arrived at the Midland Railway Centre's Swanwick Junction station, at lunchtime on Saturday, 4th May 2019.

Butterley: A scene at the Midland Railway Centre's Butterley for Ripley and Swanwick station with 47401 calling with a service from Hammersmith to Riddings. 66719 has the empty stock of a UK Railtours excursion stabled in the loop platform until its 16.25 departure from Swanwick Junction back to London Victoria, on 4th May 2019.

Mount Florida: On 4 May 2019 Class 314s are still clinging on, here on the Cathcart Lines and on Inverclyde. A Newton service calls at Mount Florida.

Butterley: 47401 departing from the Midland Railway Centre's Butterley station with a service from Hammersmith to Riddings on 4th May 2019.

Butterley: The former Whitwell station, from the Nottingham to Worksop line that closed in 1964, now at the Midland Railway Centre and seen here on 4th May 2019. It was moved to Butterley in 1981, as an identical replacement for the original Butterley for Ripley and Swanwick station that had closed in 1947 and was demolished. (A new station at Whitwell opened in 1998 with the resumption of passenger services between Mansfield Woodhouse and Worksop, passenger services between Nottingham and Mansfield Woodhouse having been reinstated in 1995.)

Butterley: 111 year old 0-4-0ST 'Whitehead', built in 1908 for use on Welsh colliery lines, seen arriving at the Midland Railway Centre's station at Butterley with a train from Riddings to Hammersmith on 4th May 2019. After withdrawal, this was purchased by the Great Western Society and was initially based at the West Somerset Railway. It arrived at the Midland Railway Centre in July 1999 but it was not until March 2011 that it returned to service after a major overhaul. (On the left is the empty stock of UK Railtours' excursion train, stabled in the loop platform.)

Euxton Junction: On an afternoon which was not only dark but also very wet, an unusual visitor to these parts, a TPE Class 802, is seen having just passed Euxton Jct heading to Bolton via Chorley. The unit was 802201, it had travelled to Carlisle in the morning from Edge Hill Depot and although running as ECS stops were made at Wigan NW, Preston, Lancaster, Oxenholme and Penrith. It is thought that both runs were for testing rather than training purposes as they were operated by Freightliner rather than TPE. A further run took place on Wednesday but one scheduled for Thursday was cancelled.

Raskelf: Colas operated 70801 heads north on the down slow line with a lengthy rake of empty bogie cement tanks, having just passed below Hagg Lane bridge, by the former Raskelf station, whilst returning to Oxwellmain cement works from Hunslet East Yard in Leeds late afternoon on 4 May 2021.

Woodacre Crossing: In what is believed to be the first run of a Hitachi Class 80x set on the WCML, TPE 802201 worked from Edge HIll to Carlisle on 4th May 2021. It returned later in the day but went to Bolton and then on to Longsight and repeated the run on other days that week. Whether these tests are a precursor to some regular West Coast passenger workings for these trains is not clear at present.

Raskelf: A slightly disappointing view of a five loco working running south from Millerhill SS to Doncaster Up Decoy Yard on 4th May 2021. They also had a rake of Network Rail auto ballast wagons in tow (out of view), following use on engineering workings in Scotland over the May Day BH weekend. Unbeknown the camera had turned slightly to the left after been sighted, whilst resting on a fence post due to a very strong wind and rain. I almost missed the fifth loco from the shot as well as the wagons. The location is just north of the former Raskelf station, and the GBRf locos were 66765; 66772; 66769; 66782; & 66723.

Bridge of Gairn: The 1900 edition of 1:2500 scale map shows the location of the terminus of the former Bridge of Gairn Tramway. Lying to the west of the River Gairn the area was shown as vegetation 30 years after the line was abandoned. The location of the abutments for the bridge are also clearly visible. The bridge was reused for a road across the river at Daldownie in Glen Gairn. Map extract used with permission of the National Library of Scotland.

Raskelf: A rain affected view of a Grand Central Alstom class 180 DMU, running along the down slow line just north of the former Raskelf station on 4 May 2021. This was 1N93, the 12.45 ex Kings Cross to Sunderland. Most if not all Grand Central services were withdrawn at times during Covid so good to see this operating.