Ayr MPD: 08344 condemned in a siding at Ayr depot on 11 May 1985. The former D3414 had been withdrawn the previous year and was cut up in 1986 by J R Adams in Glasgow.

Stanmore: Tadpole amongst the tubes. The LCGB/Southern Electric Group Hastings DEMU Farewell at Stanmore on 11 May 1986

Granton: Looking east along the trackbed of the Granton Harbour branch in May 1986. View from Wardie, towards Newhaven.

Fairlie: The former Fairlie High signal box (closed 11 May 1986).

Tower Colliery: 37694 Loading at Tower Colliery coal for Aberthaw in 1989. No doubt many others have walked through the local cemetery to get their pictures here.

Bathgate Yard: 47114+47360 shunt the car sidings at Bathgate on 11 May 1990.

Dalwhinnie: Smell the Highland air in this study of Dalwhinnie station, looking north, in May 1997.

Kingussie: Inverness bound 158 712 at Kingussie in May 1998.

Rome Street Junction: The remains of Rome Street Junction in May 2002, some nineteen years after damage to the bridge over the River Caldew had resulted in final closure of the Carlisle goods lines. View is south east from Rome Street Bridge. The route to Upperby and London Road is to the left, with Currock Jct to the right. On this particular Sunday the surviving leg of the former triangle of lines is occupied by an eastbound engineer's train hauled by EWS 37668.

Aviemore: The up GNER 'Highland Chieftain' HST calls at Aviemore in May 2002. On the right is Ivatt 2MT 4-6-0 no 46512 with a recent arrival from Boat of Garten standing at the Strathspey Railway platform.

Aviemore: 'The Royal Scotsman' heads south out of Aviemore in May 2002 behind 37416 see image [[3679]].

Little Water of Fleet Viaduct: Site of the Little Water of Fleet Viaduct looking east to Loch Skerrow.

Dumfries Goods: Looking over the meagre remains of Dumfries south sidings from Annan Road bridge in May 2003 as a ScotRail DMU heads off in the in the general direction of Carlisle. The old goods depot off to the right is now occupied by retail outlets and associated car parking, with the area shown here now used for PW access and storage. Meantime a wall has appeared on the left in connection with a car dealership. The area beyond the wall was once occupied by the coaling stage of Dumfries shed.

Dumfries Goods: A Glasgow Central - Carlisle DMU south of Dumfries station in May 2003. The building on the right is the headquarters of Dumfries and Galloway Police, standing on the site once occupied by Dumfries locomotive shed. See image [[45214]]

Linlithgow: A Glasgow - Edinburgh shuttle service arriving at Linlithgow in May 2005.

Linlithgow: An Edinburgh - Glasgow service calls at Linlithgow in May 2005.

Inverkeithing: A Fife Circle train on the return trip to Waverley calls at Inverkeithing in May 2005.

Linlithgow: The GNER 0755 Inverness - London Kings Cross 'Highland Chieftain' at speed through Linlithgow station in May 2005.

Linlithgow: Platform view looking east at Linlithgow in May 2005 as a train for Edinburgh leaves the station.

Linlithgow: Road approach to Linlithgow station in the spring of 2005.

Livingston South: Livingston South looking towards Edinburgh in May 2005.

Inverkeithing South Junction: Southbound from Inverkeithing station in May 2005 passing Inverkeithing South Junction and the line down to Rosyth Dockyard. The train will shortly cross Jamestown Viaduct while the branch line will pass below it on its way to the dockyard - see [[9756]].

Inverkeithing: Platform view looking north at Inverkeithing Station in May 2005 with southbound coal empties approaching on their way back to Hunterston.

Inverkeithing Central Junction: A coal train being loaded (by JCBs) at the collection and disposal point on the south to west curve just north of Inverkeithing Station in May 2005.

Inverkeithing: Train from Edinburgh arriving at Inverkeithing on 11 May 2005. The excavation work underway on the right is in connection with station access improvements.

Inverkeithing: EWS 66149 trundles south through Inverkeithing station on 11 May 2005 with coal empties.

Rosyth: A partially re-liveried 170 DMU heading for Cowdenbeath arriving from the south at Rosyth station on 11 May 2005.

Dunfermline Queen Margaret: Eastbound arrival at Dunfermline Queen Margaret in May 2005.

Dunfermline Queen Margaret: A Fife Circle line train calls at Dunfermline's Queen Margaret station in May 2005. Located on the eastern edge of Dunfermline, the station was opened in January 2000.

Linlithgow: A Glasgow Queen Street - Edinburgh Waverley service approaching its scheduled stop at Linlithgow in May 2005. View is west along the appropriately named Back Station Road.

Kirkby Stephen East: The old station site at Kirkby Stephen East looking west from the road bridge in May 2006

Warcop: BR class 205 'Thumper' DEMU no 205009 in Connex livery, standing in the sidings at Warcop on the Eden Valley Railway on 11 May 2006. Built at Eastleigh in 1957, the unit had been withdrawn from operational service at the end of 2004.

Alston: The signal box at Alston station on a quiet spring morning in 2006, seen looking north west from the level crossing.

Whiteinch Riverside: Whiteinch Riverside looking west.

Whiteinch Riverside: Whiteinch Riverside looking east. Apparently the embankment was removed here to stop the riverside flat developments being separated from the rest of Partick. However the embankment of the Clydeside Expressway and busy South Street still separate them.

Belah Viaduct: The eastern abutment of Belah Viaduct stands on a remote hillside in the Pennines on the former South Durham & Lancashire Union Railway line over Stainmore. Photographed from the other side of the valley in May 2006. The shell of the old stone signal box still stands.

North Spiers Wharf: New locks under construction at Port Dundas to link the Spiers Wharf Basin to the Pinkston Basin. The canal was owned by the Caledonian Railway

Port Dundas Swing Bridge: The swing bridge which gave access to the island wharfs at Pinkston. This was served by the Pinkston Branch of the E&G which also had a link to St Rollox. The Diageo distillery is on the left and was there before the railway.

Alston: The former goods shed at Alston in May 2006. Now The Hub museum. [Ref query 1514]

Lartington: The trackbed running east through the former Lartington station in rural Teesdale on 11 May 2006, showing the well preserved goods shed and station building. [Ref query 6615]

Warcop: RSH 0-6-0 diesel hydraulic shunter Darlington (RSHD8343/1962), similar to the BR Class 04 design, stands at Warcop on the Eden Valley Railway in May 2006.

Kirkby Stephen East: Part of the old station at Kirkby Stephen East [closed to passengers in 1962] seen here on 11 May 2006 looking north west.

Alston: The Grade II listed former station building at Alston, opened in November 1852. Seen here in May 2006 looking south east up the hill towards Station Road.

Kirkby Stephen East: Restoration challenge at Kirkby Stephen East station, 11 May 2006. The locomotive is 31410 which had arrived from Carnforth 3 months earlier. The plan is to restore it in BR green with its original number D5669.

Belah Viaduct: I get a definite Transylvanian feeling in the area of the Pennines around Belah. I think this is due to my general overall sensitivity, although my wife says it's because I am quite mad. The remains of Bouch's great viaduct with its stone signal box still perch threateningly on the hillside in May 2006.

Warcop: The station and signal box at Warcop, Cumbria, on the Eden Valley line, photographed looking north west on a fine afternoon in May 2006. The station closed to passengers in 1962 and the line back to Appleby in 1989. Warcop is now the headquarters of the Eden Valley Railway. See image [[32774]]

Lartington: The impressive frontage of the former Lartington station on the Stainmore line in May 2006. View is east towards Barnard Castle.

Cliburn: The surviving signal box at Cliburn, Cumbria, in May 2006. Located on the northern section of the Eden Valley line, the station closed to passengers in 1956 with the line itself closing completely 6 years later. View is east over the site of the old level crossing, with the former station building, now a private residence, located off picture to the right see image [[35003]].

Warcop: The signal box at the south end of the platform at Warcop station, photographed in May 2006.

Cliburn: The old signal box at Cliburn, Cumbria, standing alongside the trackbed of the Eden Valley line in May 2006. View is north across the trackbed, with a level crossing to the left and the former station off to the right. This section of the line, running between Weatherriggs and Appleby North Junctions, closed in 1962.

Raglan: Raglan Station building has survived as a road maintenance depot. Much of the A40/A449 between Usk and Monmouth is built around the formation of the railway.

Forth Bridge: Like painting the Forth Bridge.... 'A job that is never finished because by the time you get to the end it's time to start over again.' (Cambridge Dictionary of Idioms)

The photograph shows the heavily scaffolded south span of the bridge on a May evening in 2006, partway through the 10 year project aimed at making the old cliche redundant.

On 9 December 2011 BBC News reported : 'The painting of the Forth Bridge has finally been completed and the structure is now scaffold-free for the first time in a decade. It will not need another paint job for 25 years. New techniques and products are behind the project's success. A 400-strong team applied a triple layer of new glass flake epoxy paint which creates a chemical bond to provide a virtually impenetrable layer to protect the bridge's steel work from the weather'.

Kirkby Stephen East: 20169 being restored at Kirkby Stephen East in May 2006. The locomotive is seen here housed in a temporary enclosure erected to the west of the station building.

Cliburn: The former station at Cliburn on the Eden Valley line between Appleby and Penrith. The station closed to passengers in September 1956 and is seen here 50 years on, having been adapted as a private residence.

Romaldkirk: View northwest over the former station and level crossing at Romaldkirk. The old station, seen here in May 2006, stood on the Tees Valley Railway, which ran from the junction with the Stainmore line at Barnard Castle to a spacious rural terminus at Middleton-in-Teesdale. The line was closed in 1964.

Kirkby Stephen East: View east towards Stainmore at Kirkby Stephen East station in May 2006.

New Galloway: Former station building at New Galloway (located in Mossdale), now with extensions on both sides. View south from the site of the station yard in May 2007.

New Galloway: The former main building at New Galloway station (extended on both sides) in May 2007. As with many stations in this part of the country the name and location have little in common. This is the village of Mossdale (5 miles from New Galloway) looking east. See image [[32835]]

Ladybank: 170425 crosses over to the up line at Ladybank and heads for Edinburgh.

Ladybank: Edinburgh 170 approaches Ladybank, off the Perth line.

Kingskettle: Arboreal Paradise. 170 437 on a local Dundee to Edinburgh approaching the houses of Kingskettle.

Ladybank: Just in time for the forecast rain. New waiting shelter at Ladybank station. CCTV will be installed soon.

South Nitshill: Lying in a Council yard in Nitshill on 11 May 2008 awaiting restoration, this ex-South African Railways class 15F locomotive no 3007 was recently on parade at Glasgow's George Square. The locomotive will eventually go on display at the new Glasgow Riverside Museum.

Durham Gilesgate: This marvellous former station is now a Travelodge hotel and Italian restaurant. Here is the front entrance - the left hand gatepost being more convincing than the right. The restaurant (r) seems to be in the former passenger platform area, which closed to passengers 152 years ago!

Durham Gilesgate: The former station at Gilesgate is now a hotel. Funnily enough, Travelodge only decided to keep one pair of doors on the goods shed, which closed to trains in November 1966, 110 years after the last passenger trains. The building on the left is clearly newer.

Durham Gilesgate: Detail of the former Durham Gilesgate station, which is now a Travelodge hotel and Italian restaurant. Here is the station master's house, or company headquarters. Notice the cobblestones.

Scorton [Lancashire] [1st]: The setting sun lights up a northbound Voyager as it leans into a curve just south of the site of Scorton station. The M6 motorway is immediately behind the train, but thankfully screened by the trees so only the Bowland hills can be seen.

Paisley Gilmour Street: 334039 waiting to depart to Glasgow Central from Platform 4. This unusual working was due to overhead line problems between Johnstone and Paisley which resulted in a bus service between Johnstone station and Gilmour Street with train services terminating and starting at Platform 4 at Gilmour Street

Crawford Viaduct: The 12.54 Glasgow Central - Manchester Airport TransPennine Express service crosses the Clyde at Crawford on 11 May 2010.

Crawford Viaduct: Looking south across the Clyde Valley at Crawford on a spring afternoon in 2010 as a Virgin Voyager heads south on the climb towards Beattock summit.

Crawford Viaduct: And there's more... Stobart Rail liveried 92017 runs north over the Clyde viaduct at Crawford on 11 May 2010 with a long, long train of Tesco containers.

Chester: The driver of 57316 looks back to check all is in order before she starts off from Chester on the final leg of the 16.16 ex-Cardiff Central Welsh Assembly funded service to Holyhead. This loco is now owned by West Coast Railway Company, at Carnforth, and has been painted in the WCRC burgundy livery and named Alnwick Castle.

Wrexham General: Thunderbird 57311 Parker stands unwanted in the Wrexham & Shropshire servicing bay at Wrexham General on 11 May 2010. Meantime DBS 67003 awaits signals to move back onto Merseyrail stock in the run round siding beyond Watery Road level crossing see image [[29026]]. Finally, the Class 175 14.02 Arriva Trains Wales service to Holyhead (ex Cardiff) is approaching the station.

Crawford Viaduct: A northbound Voyager runs over Crawford Viaduct on 11 May 2010.

Haymarket East Junction: A ECR 225 comes off the Carstairs line from Glasgow Central with a service for King's Cross. The four car class 158 is headed for Kirkcaldy.

Chester West Junction: Colas Rail 66843 gets the right of way from Chester Station at 17.30 on 11 May to access the coast line to Saltney Junction on a lengthy timber working to Kronospan at Chirk. This was the second working that day, as DRS Fastline liveried 66434 worked empty wagons north through Wrexham General around 13.30.

Haymarket: The 1704 service for Glasgow Queen Street calls at Haymarket.

Crawford Viaduct: A Virgin Voyager forming the 0920 Birmingham New Street - Glasgow Central service about to cross the River Clyde on Crawford Viaduct in May 2010.

Greskine Signal Box: A London Euston - Glasgow Central Pendolino climbing Beattock bank on 11 May 2010.

Crawford: A class 92 locomotive in Stobart Rail livery brings a container train north through the village of Crawford, South Lanarkshire, on 11 May 2010.

Croes Newydd North Junction: The signal box at Watery Road level crossing, located some 400m south of Wrexham General Station, and almost opposite the site of the former 89C Croes Newydd shed. The box also controls the run round siding on the up side from near the box to beyond the A525 Ruthin Road. View is south over the crossing towards Ruabon on 11 May 2010 with a close up of the signal box nameboard shown below.

Chester: Colas Rail 66843 runs west through Chester station at 17.30 on 11 May with a lengthy timber service heading for Kronospan at Chirk. This was the second working that day, as DRS Fastline liveried 66434 worked empty wagons north through Wrexham General around 13.30.

Pleasure Beach [Tram]: 'L' Plates displayed but is that for a tram driving licence or a skipper's ticket? Trawler Tram 737, promoting Fleetwood based 'Fisherman's Friend' lozenges, is on training duties at the Pleasure Beach turning circle but being driven from the stern end. After several years out of service the tram was restored for the 2016 illuminations.

Paisley Gilmour Street: Work underway at Paisley Gilmour Street in May 2011 in connection with the construction of a new fully-glazed overall roof at the station.

Coatbridge Central: Freightliner 66513 with the 4C07 return Longannet PS to Ravenstruther coal empties held in the loop at Coatbridge Central on 11 May.

Whifflet: Freightliner 66513 powers through Whifflet on 11 May with 4C07 Longannet to Ravenstruther coal empties

Blackpool North: Nameplate (and shed plate) as carried on the elderly flanks of Network Rail Brush Type 2 31602. Driver Dave Green named the locomotive himself at a surprise ceremony at the Serco workshops in Derby on 3 November 2007 to mark his 52 years of railway service. 19B was the code for Millhouses shed in Sheffield from 1935 to 1958 (later 41C). Plate photographed at Blackpool North while the locomotive was on layover with a Network Rail test train See image [[34032]].

Coatbridge Central: Colas Rail's 47739 passes Coatbridge Central on 0Z47 Hamilton to Cadder Yard return LE working on 11 May after delivering wagons for repair to the E G Steele depot. This is one of several such trips made by the locomotive that day.

Blackpool (Rigby Road): The little used but at one time essential emergency access route to Blackpool (Rigby Rd) Tram Depot. This is the view north along Blundell Street at the end of which the line turns left along Princess Street to access the promenade. This link would be used if something was blocking the main depot access route along Lytham Road. The building on the right is the Blackpool Transport Services main office and the depot itself is behind the camera. The emergency link was disconnected at the Promenade end in April 2013 See image [[42845]] as the depot now houses only heritage vehicles.

Paisley Gilmour Street: 380010 at Platform 4 of Paisley Gilmour Street with a service for Ayr, while 334017 peeks out from behind the protective screening at Platform 1 as it waits to depart for Glasgow Central.

Erwood: Looking North on the B4567 from Boughrood to Erwood, those abutments may appear to be for a rail over road bridge. As the road is built on the trackbed, the reverse is true.

Blackpool North: Brush Type 2 locos were once a fairly regular sight at Blackpool North but not these days and on 11th May 2011 31602 was a most unusual visitor with a Network Rail train. The loco is seen in Platform 1 with one of the (soon to be replaced) Northern Class 180 Adelante units alongside.

Vancouver Waterfront: Waterfront station is the main transit terminus in downtown Vancouver, used by the Skytrain Millennium, Expo and Canada lines, the West Coast Express suburban service to Mission and the Seabus catamaran across the Burrard Inlet to North Vancouver. The spacious concourse is seen here on 11 May 2012. See image [[39091]]

Vancouver Waterfront: Scene in the sidings in downtown Vancouver on 11 May 2012 showing one of the West Coast Express double deck push-pull units. Five trains run inbound to Vancouver from Mission in the morning, lay up in sidings during the day and return to Mission in the late afternoon/early evening. See image [[39070]]

Vancouver Waterfront: A trolley bus alongside Waterfront station, Vancouver's main transit terminus, seen here on 11 May 2012. See image [[38992]]

Barton and Broughton: 66164 is on the rear of a northbound engineers train at Barton and Broughton on 11 May 2013. 66194 was the lead locomotive on this occasion. A few months after this photograph was taken the former station building behind the locomotive was demolished see image [[44079]].

Melbourne: A Z Class and an A Class tram pass at the junction of St. Kilda Road / Swanston Street and Flinders Street, Melbourne on 11 May 2013. Just off to left is Flinders Street Station.

Barton and Broughton: DB 60011 leaves the loop at Barton and Broughton and heads north with an engineers train on the afternoon of 11 May 2013. This was one of a few similar trains moving into position for a possession that evening.

Swindon: A northbound FGW HST on the outskirts of Swindon heading for Gloucester on 11 May 2013.

Salwick: Pre-electrification works on the Blackpool line at Salwick in May 2013 saw a new bridge installed at the station, one of several on this line. 156426 passes the unfinished bridge over the down line in pouring rain on a Manchester Victoria to Blackpool North service. See image [[19130]] for an earlier view at the same location.

Swindon: GWR Castle Class 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe headed the 'Cheltenham Flyer' from Gloucester to Paddington and return on 11 May 2013. Both trips were non-stop but there was a water carrier in the consist. The train is seen just north of Swindon on the Gloucester line heading for London at speed.

Salwick: Electrification preparations at Salwick have also seen the Up side bridge being removed. This used to span three tracks and although its replacement is shorter it has still left space for two tracks should these be required in the future. Pacer 142014 hurrying through on a Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria service is a reminder that the wires can't come soon enough for this line.

Swindon: 150106 heading into Swindon on the Gloucester line on 11 May 2013.

Swindon: The 'Cheltenham Flyer' seen on the outskirts of Bristol behind GWR Castle Class 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe on 11 May 2013. The special was on a non-stop run from Gloucester to Paddington. See image [[43051]]

Barton and Broughton: It is late in the afternoon on Saturday 11 May and DB Schenker 60011 waits patiently in the Barton & Broughton loop with an engineer's train ready to move to the work site at Garstang.

Milton of Crathes: Scene at Milton of Crathes on the Deeside Railway on 11 May 2013, featuring 0-4-0ST Sir Thomas Royden (AB2088/1940), currently on loan from 'Rocks by Rail', Oakham, Rutland.

Milton of Crathes: Platform scene at Milton of Crathes on 11 May 2013. Ex BR class 03 no D2094 stands in the siding on the right

Euxton: A southbound Pendolino negotiates the switchback that is the WCML at Euxton on 11 May 2013. The telephoto lens makes the track look more undulating than it really is. The ride is in fact surprisingly smooth, even at 110 mph plus.

Euxton: A pair of DRS class 20s head south on the WCML at Euxton with a single 4 wheel wagon on a move from Sellafield to Crewe on 11 May 2013.

Milton of Crathes: Class 03 no D2094 in the siding at Milton of Crathes on 11 May 2013.

Bo'ness: Midland Compound 1000 in the shed yard at Bo'ness on 11 May 2014.

Turnberry Hotel: Designed by James Miller, built by the Glasgow and South Western Railway Company and opened in 1906 as the Station Hotel, Turnberry. View from the west in May 2014 see image [[7207]].

Dalmeny Junction: 170477 with the 14.02 from Glenrothes with Thornton to Edinburgh, south of Dalmeny Junction on 11 May.

Caldercruix: Looking west from the platform 1 passenger access ramp at Caldercruix in May 2014. A 6-car 334 EMU combination, led by an SPT liveried set, is passing through. The 1119 Edinburgh Waverley – Helensburgh Central runs non-stop between Bathgate and Drumgelloch, this being the longest non-stop section (just over 12 miles) undertaken by trains on this route. The 67 mile journey between Waverley and Helensburgh Central links a total of 38 stations.

Turnberry Hotel: The main entrance to Turnberry - at the back of the building, where the covered passageway used to lead from the station. To the left of the entrance, under the tower, in the middle of the sandstone area between the windows, the crest of the G&SWR is displayed.

Marley Hill Shed: The driver seems a little apprehensive as he takes his train through the points at the east end of the yard at Marley Hill in the spring of 2014. The locomotive is Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST No 2 (works no 2859 of 1911), formerly deployed at Keighley Gasworks.

Bo'ness: Resident shunter D3558 with Colas 56094 taking a weekend break at Bo'ness on 11 May.

Achnasheen: The Highlands and Islands Explorer photographed west of Achnasheen on Sunday 11 May, with the rain continuing to sheet down. Black Five No.45407 is leaving for Kyle of Lochalsh after a water stop.

Bo'ness: 62712 Morayshire leaves Bo'ness with the 14.05 to Manuel on 11 May 2014.

Shustoke: The site of Shustoke station, between Nuneaton and Birmingham, closed in March 1968 and seen here looking West in May 2014. The main building has since been extended to become Ye Olde Station Guest House. [Ref query 9430]

Dalmeny Junction: Power car 43295 leads the 10.00 East Coast HST from Kings Cross to Aberdeen uphill towards Dalmeny Junction on 11 May 2014.

Turnberry: Another 'light railway' underbridge for a farm road immediately south of Turnberry Station site in May 2014.

Dalgety Bay: DBS 67026 Diamond Jubilee passes Dalgety Bay with the Dundee - Dumbarton Central leg of The Cock of the North railtour on 11 May.

Worden Park: A scale model of LNER B1 no 61264 hauls a non scale load around the Leyland Society of Model Engineers 'small' circuit in Worden Park on 11 May 2014. The larger scale track runs out into the park and features Worden Parkway station.

Crewkerne: The disused modernist flat roofed former signal box at Crewkerne, still standing to the rear of the London bound platform in May 2015. See image [[51408]]

Crewkerne: Looking east along the car park at Crewkerne Station on 11 May with the boarded up flat roof signal box seen at the end of the London bound platform, and the former goods shed further along to its left.

Braehead Viaduct: View south west at the first sections of the new Bargeddie railway viaduct which have now been brought to the site and are currently (11th May 2015) being welded together.

Shrubhill Tram Depot: The Dryden Street facade of Edinburgh Corporation Tramway's former Shrubhill depot and works in May 2015. Having survived demolition for so long it is a pity this building is a target for graffiti (sorry, street art). Added to the scene are some cars which will cause nostalgic head-shakings in future decades.

Braehead Viaduct: A Dalmuir - Motherwell service passes the construction site of the new M8 Bargeddie Viaduct on 11th May 2015. The line of old sleepers in the foreground shows the route of the former Tannochside branch of the Caledonian Railway.

Shrubhill Tram Depot: The south west face of what remains of Edinburgh Corporation's tram depot and works in May 2015. The now detached power house chimney is probably not tall enough to qualify as a landmark but I hope it stays (and it has done remarkably well so far). The bridge I'm standing on crosses the Powderhall branch.

Braehead Viaduct: Looking east at the construction site of the new M8 Bargeddie Viaduct on 11th May 2015.

Plates, signs, notices etc: Invitation to the proprietors of the Formartine and Buchan Railway to attend an Extraordinary General Meeting of the company, held at the Royal Hotel, Union Street, Aberdeen, on 7 June 1866.

Crewkerne: The architecturally impressive up side main building at Crewkerne, Somerset, looking south from Station Road in May 2015. The station is remote from Crewkerne itself, being some 2km from the town centre. A redundant signal box stands boarded up at the east (London) end of the up platform off to the left.See image [[51382]]

Crewkerne: View east at the large and ornate Crewkerne Station on 11 May 2015 see image [[51347]]. The canopy is sited towards the London end of the bi-directional former up side platform.

Inverkeithing East Junction: Colas 60076 passes Inverkeithing East Junction with the Aberdeen - Oxwellmains cement empties on 11 May.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Ballasting of the recently replaced track and pointwork in progress at the station throat on 11th May 2016. 66598 is at the head of the ballast train which is on the platform 7 road, the only track still remaining in the station from before the closure.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The new pointwork in place at the station throat awaits the arrival of a ballast train and RRV with grab see image [[55063]]. The end of the rebuilt platforms 3 and 4 can be seen with a circular access shaft now installed.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: In the gloom of the station throat, an RRV starts to place ballast round the newly laid pointwork for the realigned platform 1 - 4 roads. The engineering train with the ballast waggons on the old platform 7 road has just arrived. Meanwhile in the brilliant spring sunshine, work continues on platform reconstruction. In keeping with modern practice, there will be no ramps at the ends of the platforms.

Bedwyn: 'Tornado' on the GWR Berks and Hants line, just to the west of Great Bedwyn Station.

The train is heading west to Westbury and then onto Bath and Bristol.

Murrayfield: Intriguing works at the site of Murrayfield Station have exposed the approach to the goods yard to better view. The van is parked on the vehicle approach to the yard which turned right at the nearest of the two new supports (whatever they are for). A goods shed stood end-on to the road above where the red digger is. Meanwhile the passenger stairs, where the couple are passing, are thoroughly overgrown, though for the wooden gate still sports its Scottish Region blue after 54 years.

Knightswood South Junction: Knightswood South Junction viewed from a train diverted from Queen Street High Level.

Bedwyn: 'Tornado' with a special on the GWR Berks and Hants line, just to the west of Great Bedwyn Station, on 11 May 2016.

The train is heading west to Westbury and then on to Bath and Bristol.

Carstairs South Junction: A down Pendolino glides past Carstairs South Junction on 11 May 2017 prior to passing through the station on its way to Glasgow. The former Caledonian route via Carstairs East Junction to Edinburgh turns away to the right.

Carstairs South Junction: A late morning Glasgow Central - London Euston Pendolino about to run through Carstairs South Junction on 11 May 2017. The line from Edinburgh via Carstairs East Junction comes in on the right.

Dalgety Bay: Colas 60002 coasts downhill towards Dalgety Bay with Craiginches - Oxwellmains cement empties.

Carstairs South Junction: A fine and sunny morning at Carstairs on 11 May 2017 sees the 1040 Glasgow Central - London Euston Pendolino about to run through Carstairs South Junction, with the Edinburgh line curving away to the north.

Kirkland Yard: The site of the west throat of Kirkland Yard, Leven, on 11 May. In the foreground is the long-disused line to Methil Power Station and docks. Beyond is the demonstration track of the KFRPS depot which ends a hundred yards or so to the left.

National Exhibition Centre: Network Rail's Tango Quango team have decided that if you can't keep trespassers off the railway, you can help them not to trip up on the sleepers. More seriously, the rails on this exhibition length of track feature British Steel's new Zinoco anti-corrosion coating.

Swanage: Class 20 20142 'Sir John Betjeman' seen at the Swanage Diesel Gala.

Wester Hailes: The Caledonian main line out of Edinburgh has been under wires for decades, but only with the ongoing full electrification of the line all the way to Glasgow Central will there be an electric service for locals. For the time being 158s are used for stopping services with 156s for the semi-fasts. 158 739 calls on 11 May with an Edinburgh service. Electrification and a (surely?) more frequent service might boost the modest footfall here.

Swanage: EE Type 1 20142 Sir John Betjamin, in London Transport livery, making a guest appearance at the Swanage Railway Diesel Gala in May 2018.

Morecambe South Junction: A light load for DRS 66428 as it makes its way from Kingmoor to Crewe with a single DBSO, 9704, seen passing Morecambe South Junction on 11th May 2018.

Blackburn [Aberdeenshire Town]: Wordplay on the word 'Bogie': an unusual display on an industrial estate in Blackburn, Aberdeenshire; what looks like a mark one bogey with equipment on top. The solution to this mystery object is the name of the item display on top - a Roller Bogie. Wireline Engineering

Longniddry: A Class 380 on a North Berwick to Edinburgh service draws up at Longniddry on 11 May 2019 as an opposite working retreats. The latter is formed of a Class 385, the more usual fare these days.

St Pancras: Javelin arrival at St Pancras International from Dover Priory. I had returned on a Calais-Dover ferry: P&O Ferries still do turn-up and go foot passenger tickets at €39 single. My taxi cost from the ferry terminal cost £4.50 (there are no connecting buses) and the train to Milton Keynes cost £63.00. I should have planned ahead better and got the Eurostar from Lille....

Lairg: After a hard climb up from Invershin, 61306 'Mayflower', nears the summit of the gradient near Lairg with the Steam Dreams railtour from Inverness to Dunrobin and Brora on 11th May 2019.

Balshaw Lane Junction: A1 Pacific no.60163 'Tornado' makes up time as it heads south from Balshaw Lane Junction on 11 May 2019 while working 'The Mad Hatter' from Darlington North Road to Chester.

Longniddry: On 11 May 2019 the new eastern car park at Longniddry looks like it is about ready to open. There seems to be more verge than tarmac, but I'm sure they know what they are doing. Access is from the Drem Road, and there is a direct link to the platform by that new ramp.

Rochester [1st]: The remains of the former station at Rochester seen from a Javelin to St Pancras. A newer station has been opened on a site closer to the town centre. Is this a first?

Kings Cross: 66002 bringing the empty stock for UK Railtours excursion to Locomotion at Shildon and Stanhope on the Weardale Railway into King's Cross at just after 7.30 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, 11th May 2019. This locomotive deputised for a failed class 67 but with 67021 at the head. Because of this time was lost on the journey, compounded by a level crossing problem south of York which saw a queue of trains build up, one of which was this excursion and which resulted in the arrival at Shildon being one hour and ten minutes late.

Wemyss Bay: A beautiful bush under the glazed roof of the circulating area of Wemyss Bay station.

Longniddry: A Dunbar to Edinburgh service whooshes through Longniddry on 11 May 2019. It is a mystery to me why these services call only at Musselburgh. A YouTube channel has voted Class 385s the second ugliest trains in the UK. Only second?

Stanhope: Looking west through zoom lens from the footbridge at Stanhope station, Weardale Railway, County Durham with 67021 at the head of UK Railtours excursion from London King's Cross, just arrived on the afternoon of Saturday, 11th May 2019. The line once extended to Wearhead and closed to passengers in 1953. This view is looking west towards the mothballed section as far as Eastgate for which the Weardale Railway have plans to extend to although it will be several years from now until this dream is realised - if at all.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The Queen Street frontage works seen on the 11th of May 2019.

Kings Cross: Another UK Railtours excursion bites the dust as 66002, with 67021 at the rear, comes to rest in the Cathedral of trains that is London King's Cross station, after returning from a visit to Locomotion at Shildon and the Weardale Railway to Stanhope, after dark on the evening of Saturday, 11th May 2019. On the left is 82 207.

North Berwick: It is Saturday 11 May 2019, and the 1451 service to Edinburgh hums out of North Berwick almost as quietly as it arrived. Turnaround here is pretty tight on Saturdays when the service is half-hourly. You do wonder why, if they can manage this on Saturday, the service is only hourly on Monday to Friday.

NRM Shildon: Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 34051 'Winston Churchill' on display at Locomotion, Shildon, on 11th May 2019. Originally 21C151 and designed by Bulleid for the Southern Railway, it was built at Brighton and entered service on 30th December 1946. At a ceremony at Waterloo station on 11th September 1947, it was named after the wartime leader but as he was then in opposition, he refused to attend and name it personally. It passed into BR ownership in 1948 and was renumbered 34051. On 31st January 1965 it hauled Sir Winston's State Funeral train, witnessed on t.v. by 350 million people around the world (and I was one even though only 13 at the time). The train ran from Waterloo via Ascot and Reading and then through Oxford to Handborough, this being the nearest station to the church at Bladon where Churchill was interred. The locomotive was withdrawn on 19th September 1965, having covered 807,496 miles in service.

Croston: 150272 calls at Croston on 11 May 2019 with a Preston to Ormskirk service. The vegetable garden on part of the former Preston bound platform is progressing well with potatoes, onions, broad beans and beetroot some of the crops currently under cultivation by the station adoption group.

Shildon: UK Railtours excursion from King's Cross now arrived at Shildon, one hour and eleven minutes late on 11th May 2019. Scheduled time had been 1219 with a departure at 1430 for the Weardale Railway to Stanhope, allowing more than two hours to visit Locomotion. This was much cut down although the train was granted an extra 15 minutes by not departing until 1445. However, the front two and rear two carriages could not fit in the short platform at Shildon so those passengers had to walk through the train to alight. That took about 10 minutes, cutting down even further the time there for those unfortunate passengers of which I was one.

Stanhope: Stanhope station, closed in 1953, has been magnificently restored for County Durham's heritage Weardale Railway. This scene is on the afternoon of 11th May 2019 with UK Railtours' excursion from London Kings Cross which, because of earlier late running, was only here for 35 minutes so it was a mad dash to see everything, take photos and be back on board in time for departure.

Shildon: UK Railtours' excursion from London King's Cross, behind 67021 and with 66002 at the rear, now arrived more than an hour late at Shildon station in County Durham for a (truncated) visit to the Locomotion museum, on the afternoon of Saturday, 11th May 2019.

Stanhope: UK Railtours' excursion from London Kings Cross just arrived at Stanhope station, the current terminus of the Weardale Railway in County Durham, on 11th May 2019. The line originally ran to a terminus at Wearhead and closed to passengers in 1953. Since partially reopening as a heritage railway from Bishop Auckland as far as Stanhope, its vicissitudes have been manifold, too complex to precis here so may I suggest you google Weardale Railway if you would like further information.

Midge Hall: An early afternoon Preston to Ormskirk service heads south from Midge Hall (near the large white building in the distance to the left of the track) and across Pages LC (next to the white building to the right of the track in the middle distance) on 11 May 2019.

Stanhope: Exterior of Stanhope station, Weardale Railway, on 11th May 2019. When the railway first reached Stanhope on 22nd October 1862, it ran into a terminus type station which became a goods yard when the line was extended to Wearhead on 21st October 1895 and which included a replacement through station to the south-west of the original. The 1895 station originally closed to passengers with the line from Bishop Auckland on 29th June 1953. (For details of its restoration and of the line itself, I would respectfully suggest you google the Weardale Railway website for further information as it is too complex to precis here.)

NRM Shildon: Hands up all London area rail fans and commuters of the 50s, 60s and 70s who remember the lovely class 306 EMUs? They were built for the electrification from Liverpool Street to Shenfield in 1949, extended to Chelmsford and Southend Victoria in 1956. I loved travelling on these as a boy, bouncing up and down on the seats that were like armchairs, unlike the paving stone seats on recently introduced trains. The 306s ran for 32 years until 1981 and here is 017 outside Locomotion at Shildon, a long way from its original home, on 11th May 2019. It was stored at MoD Kineton for a time to resolve issues with asbestos, which was removed at Eastleigh before it moved to the East Anglian Railway Museum at Chappel & Wakes Colne in June 2011. It arrived at Shildon in October 2018 for assessment before restoration and will eventually find its way to York when space there permits. See image [[48405]].

Drumfrochar: A 380 calls at the single platform of Drumfrochar station in May 2019.

Clunes: In brilliant sunshine, B1 No. 61306 'Mayflower' heads the Steam Dreams railtour northwards from Inverness to Dunrobin and Brora. Pictured near the closed Clunes station on 11th May 2019.

Lairg: 61306 'Mayflower', on the climb from Invershin to Lairg, with the Steam Dreams railtour to Dunrobin and Brora on 11th May 2019.

Dalgety Bay: 43177 nears Dalgety Bay station with an Aberdeen Clayhills ECS working on 11th May 2020. This was the first movement into the refurbished stabling sidings at Slateford Yard. and was photographed incidental to a permitted daily exercise walk.

Dalgety Bay: 43139 brings up the rear of an Aberdeen Clayhills - Slateford Yard ECS working as it passes Dalgety Bay on 11 May 2020. The normally full car park had only a handfull of occupants. 43177 was leading.

Wood Green: Exterior of Wood Green station, Piccadilly Line, on 11th May 2021. This was opened with the first stage of the Cockfosters extension from Finsbury Park to Arnos Grove on 19th September 1932 and designed by Dr. Charles Holden (1875-1960), the Underground's Chief Architect between the two world wars. This, however, is where the money started to run out: the first two stations on the extension at Manor House and Turnpike Lane all had stairwell entrances to the street corners whereas Wood Green is boxed into a corner site without pedestrian subways to the other corners of the crossroads, on the north-east side of which it is situated.

Harringay: 717020, beneath a spiders web of overhead wires, heading away from the camera as it departs from Harringay station with a GN Electric service from Moorgate to Hertford North, on the fine afternoon of 11th May 2021. Surprisingly so, given that May 2021 was the coldest, wettest and windiest May since 1967, especially in London.

Kings Cross: View of the maze of tracks just north of Kings Cross, seen from 700119 emerging from the northbound portal of the Canal Tunnels with a service to Peterborough. These connect the ECML with St. Pancras International Low Level on the Thameslink route. Their name comes from the Regents Canal that they pass closely beneath. They were constructed between 2004 and 2006 but remained unused until the belated introduction of through services from Peterborough and Cambridge to destinations south of the Thames that commenced in May 2018. The tracks seen here on 11th May 2021 were very quiet due to the finding of cracks in the 800 Hitachi trains, wrecking the LNER timetable.

Blackfriars: The 2012 south side entrance to London Blackfriars, seen on 11th May 2021. This station was opened by the LCDR on 10th May 1886 as St. Pauls. The Metropolitan District Railway opened its station below here on 30th May 1870 but which was named Blackfriars. Not until 1st February 1937 was the ex-LCDR station renamed Blackfriars to correspond with the Underground station and, at the same time, Post Office station on the LU Central Line was renamed St. Pauls. Blackfriars was rebuilt in 1977 and then again in 2012, following completion of work that had begun in 2009. The new station spans the whole of the Thames bridge from north to south, this south side entrance opening on 20th February 2012.

Blackfriars Bridge: The rebuilt London Blackfriars station, unveiled in February 2012, spans both sides of the river Thames and is seen here looking north across the river, on 11th May 2021.

Edinburgh Waverley: D6851 and D6817 prepare for departure from Waverley on 11th May on a Dingwall to Corbridge charter. Before hauling the last northbound Anglo-Scottish freight over the Waverley Route on 4th January 1969, D6851 had a busy previous day, as described in 'Waverley Route: the battle for the Borders Railway:' Demonstrating a degree of operational efficiency which may come as a surprise to some advocates of today's privatised railway [D6851 worked] the 09.05 Millerhill-Kingmoor, returning on the 12.40 Kingmoor-Millerhill, then hauling the 20.10 Millerhill-Kingmoor, before completing an intensive day's work at the head of the 23.45 Kingmoor-Millerhill. More than 30 different locomotives (of nine different classes) worked through Hawick during the last three days of the Waverley Route. Surprisingly, over and above D6851, at least a further three have survived the breaker's torch: D1778 (47579), D5311 (26011) and D6846 (37146).

Aberdour: 37667 leads 37521 through Aberdour with LSL's charter from Dingwall (previously Thurso) to Corbridge on 11 May 2021. The train then ran empty back to Crewe.

Gauxholme Viaduct: 46100 Royal Scot heads the returning Yorkshire Coast Express 1Z71 Scarborough - Liverpool Lime Street - Crewe crossing Gauxholme viaduct, Todmorden at 20:16 on 11th May 2022. I had been waiting here for 50 minutes and all the while the sun was shining down the side valley but the train was late and this was a real nail-biter with not long to go until sunset. A street light behind the loco has been digitally removed.

Eglinton Street Tunnels: With a wash of the windscreen, COP-26 liveried 390121 nears Eglinton Street tunnel with the 11.30 from Euston on 11 May 2022.

Leyland: 86259 'Peter Pan/Les Ross', hauling 47746 'Chris Fudge', 33029 and a MkI coach, are seen heading south of Leyland with the 5V42 move from Carnforth to Southall on 11th May 2022. It is understood that 86259 was to come off at Rugby with the 47 taking over for the final part of the journey.