Cromer High: A century ago, this desolate scene was Cromer (High) station, a major terminus and the destination of prestigious non-stop expresses from London Liverpool Street. Pictured here in May 1976, the poorly-sited station eventually closed to passengers in 1954 and to all traffic in 1960. The view today is of housing.

Horbury and Ossett: 31175 approaches the west end of Horbury cutting in May 1977 on a short freight from Healey Mills Yard, the floodlights of which can be seen in the left background. Just beyond the rear of the train the chord to Crigglestone Junction diverges southwards off the ex-L&Y main line.

Horbury and Ossett: An unidentified Brush Type 4 brings an eastbound train of 100T bogie oil tanks under Addingford Lane Bridge at the west end of Horbury cutting. Thought to have been taken on 12th May 1977.

Aberdeen: A Swindon DMU leaves Aberdeen for Inverness in May 1979, accompanied by the usual smokescreen.

Chaloners Whin Junction: 20053+20093 passing through Chaloners Whin Junction, south of York, heading south west with a freight on 12 May 1979.

Chaloners Whin Junction: 45034 passing through Chaloners Whin Junction south of York heading for Sheffield on 12 May 1979

Chaloners Whin Junction: Deltic 55014 The Duke of Wellington's Regiment passing Chaloner's Whin Junction south of York in May 1979 with an ECML service bound for Kings Cross.

York: Deltic 55011 The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers with an ECML train at York on 12 May 1979.

Ipswich : The climb out of Ipswich towards Belstead is tackled by 47486 at the head of a Norwich-Liverpool Street express on 12 May 1984. The recently prepared foundation for an OLED mast visible below the locomotive reveals that electrification works have commenced.

Dalry: The station building at Dalry, looking north in 1984.

Dalry: The signal box at the south end of Dalry station in 1984. The town can be seen behind the box, the station was off to the right and Dalry Junction is far off to the left. This box replaced 'Dalry Station' box in 1906, then new box being Dalry No 2. Closure came in 1986 by which time No1 and No3 were already closed.

Wemyss Bay: Wemyss Bay station on 12th May 1985, with a Class 303 unit in Strathclyde PTE livery awaiting its return to Glasgow Central . The poster proclaims that “Red Star goes like there’s no tomorrow”. This boast was inevitably a hostage to eventual fortune because by 2001 the Red Star parcels service was gone and had no tomorrow. Class 303 units (formerly the “Blue” trains), ran out of tomorrows a year later in 2002.

Balloch Central: 303 029 about to leave with a service to Airdrie in May 1987.

Balloch Pier: View south from Balloch Pier in 1987, a year after closure of this electrified line beyond Balloch Central. The abandoned bay can be seen on the right.

Balloch Pier: Balloch Pier looking north towards Loch Lomond in 1987. The site is completely cleared today. Disused bay platform to the left, electrified track to the right.

Balloch Pier: Balloch Pier looking from the end of the platform to Loch Lomond. Disused bay to left and electrified line and siding to right. Now completely cleared.

Balfron: Looking north east over the former Balfron station.

Balloch Central: Class 303 about to cross over the level crossing at Balloch Central.

Balloch Pier: Looking south at Balloch Pier, after closure but before track lifting.

Squamish: Royal Hudson 4-6-4 no 2860 heads south along the Pacific coast of British Columbia in May 1988, shortly after leaving Squamish with a special returning to Vancouver.

London Victoria: Gatwick Express hauled by a large logo class 73 at Victoria.

Stirling: 26041 with molasses bound for Menstrie.

Dingwall: The 19.14 train to Kyle of Lochalsh leaves Dingwall behind a class 37 on 12 May 1993. Note the Kyle Line coaching stock in use at the time.

Dingwall: 37404 Ben Cruachan leaves Dingwall on 12 May 1993 with the 1914hrs train to Kyle of Lochalsh.

Wanton Walls Junction: Among the confusion of lines crossing this area was a freight-only route from Niddrie West Junction to the ECML facing east, joining it beyond the current Musselburgh station. It ran side-by-side with other lines for most of it's length, being unaccompanied only through the village of Newcraighall. The trackbed of that section is pictured here, looking south east over Newcraighall Road in May 1995 towards Wanton Walls Junction, where it was joined by the Lothian Lines branch from Niddrie North. The line was superseded in the 1960s by a less direct route through the new Millerhill Yard to Monktonhall Junction.

Dunaskin Platform: EWS 66050 descends from Chalmerston passing the Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group's Dunaskin platform with coal hoppers in May 2001.

Aviemore: A GNER HST pulls away from Aviemore on an overcast 12 May 2002 with the up Highland Chieftain bound for Kings Cross. The proceedings are being closely observed by Messrs Little and Large from the other side of the fence alongside the gated entrance to the Strathspey lines.

Aviemore: Platform scene at Aviemore in May 2002 with Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 no 46512 having recently arrived at the station with a morning train from Boat of Garten.

Aviemore: Road approach to Aviemore station from the south in May 2002.

Garroch Viaduct: The long closed Garroch viaduct, west of Maxwelltown, in May 2003, looking northwest towards the A75.

Findhorn Viaduct [Tomatin]: Findhorn Viaduct looking North.

Findhorn Viaduct [Tomatin]: Findhorn Viaduct.

Cadder Yard: Cadder Marshalling Yard looking west. This yard is being worked on.

Larbert: The last splitting distant in Britain. A Glasgow train southbound approaching Larbert.

Cambus: Looking east from Cambus level crossing. The lead off to Alloa yard was to the right.

Cambus: Looking west at Cambus. This was the station.

Larbert: Southbound empty parcel vans from Inverness to Mossend. The last splitting distant in Britain is in the background showing the train will take the line to Carmuirs West. Larbert box is also in the distance.

Stirling Forth Viaduct [SandD]: The old NBR bridge over the Forth in Stirling is being repaired. The view looks north.

Stirling North Junction: Looking north at Stirling North box. Note the buffers on the former Dunfermline route. The track has been lifted for replacement.

Corby Gates Signal Box: View north towards the signal box and level crossing in the village of Great Corby, North Cumbria, during a wet afternoon on 12 May 2006. A Stranraer Harbour - Newcastle Central DMU is heading east over the crossing having just left Wetheral Viaduct see image [[32749]].

Larbert: The splitting distant signal approaching Larbert from the north in May 2005. This signal can now be found at Bo'ness see image [[33351]].

Larbert: Shunting signals at Larbert.

Stirling Forth Viaduct [SandD]: The old NBR viaduct at Stirling undergoes repairs whilst a train crosses the parallel old CR viaduct.

Stirling: Sprinter awaits departure for the south at perhaps the least most convenient location for passengers. The Motorail terminal and goods yard were to the left and have been swept away in favour of an unused and gated road system.

Wetheral: A rainy day at Wetheral on 12 May 2006 looking west towards Carlisle. The 1836 station, closed in 1967 and reopened in 1981 as an unstaffed halt, also serves the nearby village of Great Corby, which stands to the east, separated from Wetheral by the valley of the River Eden. The canopy on the right gives access to the walkway along the north side of Wetheral Viaduct which provides a pedestrian link between Great Corby and the station. See image [[32749]]

Corby Gates Signal Box: A grey, wet afternoon, looking south over Great Corby level crossing on the Newcastle and Carlisle line on 12 May 2006. The sign points the way to Wetherall station via the walkway along the north side of the viaduct see image [[32749]].

Wetheral Viaduct: View east across the valley of the River Eden over the 5-arch Wetheral Viaduct on the Newcastle and Carlisle line. The photograph was taken from the footbridge at Wetheral station during fine, misty, Cumbrian rain on 12 May 2006. Note the footway running along the north side of the viaduct which provides a pedestrian link with the village of Great Corby just across the valley see image [[32217]].

Eastgate: View over Eastgate station (now a private house) in May 2006 looking back along the Weardale branch towards Bishop Auckland. The station, on what was a major mineral branch, lost its passenger service in 1953. The line was cut back from the original Wearhead terminus to the Eastgate Blue Circle cement works (behind camera) by 1968. This part of the line closed in 1993 but, further east, the privately operated Weardale Railway is active.

Glasgow Central: 37410 departs from Platform 9, bound for Polmadie, with the empty Caledonian Sleeper on 12 May.

Glasgow Central: 221123 and 221101 coupled together as they pull into Platform 2

Glasgow Central: Trespasser on the line! Magpie on the track at Platform 11

Glasgow Central: 37410 sitting at Platform 9 waiting to take away the empty Glasgow portion of the Caledonain Sleeper

Glasgow Central: 37410 on its way with the empty Caledonian Sleeper with 90018 bringing up the rear.

Glasgow Central: 156503 passes 334011 as it departs for Edinburgh Waverley.

Glasgow Central: 314209 departing Glasgow Central passes 37411 and a Cross Country Voyager and a GNER service all waiting their turn to leave.

Glasgow Central: 156510 departing Glasgow Central.

Glasgow Central: 91113 County of North Yorkshire propelling the 0800 Kings Cross service out of Glasgow Central.

Kinghorn Tunnel: The northbound Royal Scotsman approaches Kinghorn Tunnel behind 47 804 on 12 May 2008. Burntisland stands in the background.

Callander and Oban Junction: Just west of Callander, near Bridge of Keltie, an old rail over road bridge has been demolished, no doubt to allow large modern farm vehicles access to the adjacent fields.

Callander (Dreadnought): Looking west towards Strathyre, the old trackbed of the Callander and Oban Railway is now a cycle path.

Raith's Farm Sidings: First traffic at Raiths Farm? 11 loaded pipe wagons stand in the yard on 12 May 2009, having been dropped off empty earlier in the day.

Blackpool (Wilton Parade): Most of Blackpool's trams seem to be in garish advertising liveries these days so it was nice to see Balloon double deck car 723 in Corporation Green and Cream, albeit this is one of the modified trams with modern bus windows installed to replace the originals. It is seen here on driver training duty, complete with L plates, heading north from Blackpool passing the Imperial Hotel on the elevated stretch of promenade south of Gynn Square. A new tram stop was later constructed at this point as part of the refurbishment of the tramway. See image [[37614]]

Auchinleck: Platform gathering in the sunshine at Auchinleck on 12 May 2009 to mark the 25th anniversary (along with Kilmaurs) of the station's reopening. The planters have been supplied by the National Autistic Society's Daldorch House School and will be tended by Auchinleck Community Council.

Carleton Crossing: Between Blackpool and Poulton, just east of Layton station, is the block post signal box at Carleton, which also covers a very busy level crossing. The signals at Carleton Crossing are still semaphores, one of which can just be seen alongside 185129 working a Transpennine Blackpool North to Manchester Airport service.

Plates, signs, notices etc: Summer 2009 timetable information from First Insight newsletter issued May 2009.

Forteviot: A DRS class 66 with Stobart Rail Inverness empty containers passing south through Forteviot on 12 May 2009

Blackpool (Wilton Parade): Brush Railcar No. 630 passes the site of what would become a new Wilton Parade tram stop and heads towards Gynn Square with a service for Cleveleys in May 2009. After withdrawal this particular tram was purchased for use at the Crich National Tramway Museum. It has since lost this advertising livery and is operating in Blackpool Corporation green and cream.

Glasgow Central: A 334 sits in the new platforms at Glasgow Central.

Gatehouse of Fleet: The old station at Gatehouse of Fleet, Kirkcudbrightshire (closed 1965), on a spring afternoon in 2010. View is west towards Stranraer. [Ref query 17 May 2018]

Glasgow Central: A view looking to the buffer stop of the two new platforms in Glasgow Central.

Shrewsbury: Network Rail ERTMS fitted locomotive no 97301 moves off from overnight stabling in the loading dock siding opposite Platform 7 at Shrewsbury Station on 12 May 2010. Addendum This was originally platform 8, and was apparently only used for prisoners being transported to/from the nearby prison. The line to left of the loco is a through line giving access towards Wolverhampton, to rear right of view. The Dana footbridge crosses the station to give access to the riverside footpath, Howard Street station car park, and the prison.

Gatehouse of Fleet: The attractively refurbished station building at Gatehouse of Fleet, photographed looking north from the road on 12 May 2010. Even by the standards of railway station remoteness often found in this part of the country, nearly seven miles is a bit of a hike from the village!

Stroan Viaduct: The Stroan Viaduct on the Port Road between New Galloway and Loch Skerrow in May 2010. The line closed in 1965 and the route now forms part of a long distance walkway. Part of Loch Stroan is visible off to the right.
See query 2147

Gatehouse of Fleet: The overgrown platform at Gatehouse of Fleet on 12 May 2010. View is west towards Stanraer.

New Galloway: The former New Galloway station on 12 May 2010 looking west along the down platform towards Lochskerrow. In the background the trackbed passes below the road bridge carrying the A762 (the top of which is visible) at which point it now becomes a walkway. See image [[29760]] [Ref query 5283]

Shrewsbury: Freightliner 66606 tails classmate 66601 Hope Valley through Shrewsbury Station working north during the evening of 12 May.

Lutterworth: This well preserved gangers' hut is just South of the A4304, West of Junction 20 on the M1. Going by the graffiti, it is now used by quite a different sort of gang.

New Galloway: View east along the trackbed of the Port Road in 2010. Beyond the bridge stood the former station of New Galloway, which is located in the hamlet of Mossdale, some 20 miles west of Dumfries and 5 miles south of the town whose name it carried. The station was acquired as a private residence following closure and the building and grounds have been much modified since that time. The platforms ran straight ahead beyond the hedge that now forces a diversion of the walkway to the left. For a view over the station from the road bridge up ahead see [[29120]].

Stroan Viaduct: View south over Loch Stroan towards the Stroan Viaduct, which carried the Dumfries - Stranraer line across the southern narrows of the Loch between New Galloway and Gatehouse of Fleet. Just beyond the viaduct the Black Water of Dee exits the Loch and runs south towards Kirkcudbright Bay and the Solway Firth. The line closed in 1965.

Stroan Viaduct: Part of the Stroan Viaduct crossing the southern edge of Loch Stroan on the former Port Road between New Galloway and Gatehouse of Fleet stations. View west towards Stranraer on 12 May at the point where the Black Water of Dee leaves the Loch on its way south to join the Solway Firth in Kirkcudbright Bay.

New Galloway: Standing between the remains of the platforms at New Galloway on 12 May. The view is west towards Stranraer with the converted station house in the left background see image [[29120]]. Beyond the road bridge the trackbed is now a walkway leading to Loch Skerrow and Gatehouse station.

Glasgow Central: An arrival through the dramatic arch into the new platforms at Glasgow Central.

New Galloway: The former New Galloway station looking east from the bridge towards Dumfries on 12 May 2010. The main building has been significantly modified and extended since the station closed in June 1965 and much of the site now forms part of a large garden, although sections of the once lengthy platforms remain beyond the hedge see image [[29119]]. The station is located in the hamlet of Mossdale, some 5 miles from New Galloway itself.

Stroan Viaduct: Standing alongside the Stroan Viaduct on 12 May 2010, with the expanse of Loch Stroan itself off to the right. View is west along the Port Road towards the next station on the line at Loch Skerrow.

Glasgow Central: The entry of to the two new platforms at Glasgow Central is through this dramatic archway. This archway was intended to have a line running through it but the station plans were altered during construction.

Stroan Viaduct: The Stroan Viaduct carried the Dumfries - Stranraer line across the southern narrows of Loch Stroan between New Galloway and Gatehouse of Fleet stations. Photographed looking south over the Loch on 12 May 2010. The old trackbed is now a walkway.

Stroan Viaduct: Looking west along the trackbed of the Port Road towards Stranraer over the Stroan Viaduct on 12 May 2010. See image [[28983]] [Ref query 3760]

Ipswich: Freightliner class 70 no 70001 stands at Ipswich in May 2010. This locomotive had been sidelined due to the automatic fire extinguisher going off - note the white powder stains on the outside bodywork.

Stroan Viaduct: Scene a mile west of New Galloway on the former Port Road heading for Stranraer in May 2010. Photograph taken standing alongside Loch Stroan, with the Stroan Viaduct now forming part of a long distance walking route. The main body of the Loch opens up off to the right, while the trackbed of the Port Road continues west towards the remains of the next station on the line at Loch Skerrow.

New Galloway: View east along the trackbed of The Port Road towards Dumfries from below the road bridge at the west end of the former New Galloway station. The line ran straight ahead through the shrubbery with the much modified station building (now a private residence) standing on the right. The remains of the platforms can still be seen looking back from the other end of the site beyond what is now a private garden. Photographed on 12 May 2010.

Wind River Canyon: A freight train with the leading BNSF locomotive lying in the Big Horn River on 12 May 2010, following a derailment in Wind River Canyon.

Glasgow Central: A different view of a familiar place. This is the glazed canopy above the Gordon Street entry into Glasgow Central viewed from the Central Hotel.

Velodrome: Velodrome - one of several new Metrolink stations taking shape on the route from Manchester Piccadilly out to Ashton-under-Lyne. This station will serve Sport City which includes the National Cycling Centre and the Manchester City Football Ground. Evening view looking east towards Ashton.

Motherwell: East Coast Railways 07.00 King's Cross - Glasgow Central photographed at Motherwell on 12 May 2011.

Dumbarton Central: It's out with 'Strathclyde Red' and in with 'ScotRail Blue' for Dumbarton Central's canopies. It's all looking rather smart with the new paint and resurfaced platforms.

Macclesfield: A view showing the divergence of the Bollington line from the current main line to Manchester Piccadilly see image [[39173]]. The next section snaked around behind the town gasworks on a steel viaduct over the River Bollin; which I can remember being cut up in the 1970's.

Macclesfield: Macclesfield had two stations, this is the former Central station - rebuilt and renamed as plain Macclesfield since Hibel Road station closed in 1960. The services shown are the 08.19 to Stoke-on-Trent on the left, and the 08.19 to Manchester Piccadilly on the right - a very good service level for a Saturday morning. View south on 12 May 2012.

Macclesfield: Macclesfield was considered to be a very modern station when rebuilt in the 1960s see image [[38999]], but still has some pleasantly old fashioned features in 2012. The signal box is still operational, while the sand drag visible beyond it is the East end stub of the former secondary route to Manchester via Bollington, cut back to Rose Hill Marple in 1970.

Seattle King Street: Scene at Seattle's King Street station on 12 May 2012 with the 14:50 Amtrak Cascades service having arrived from Portland, Oregon. After a 30 minute stop the train will depart for Vancouver, BC, where it is scheduled to arrive at 22.50.

Trafford Park Freightliner Terminal: The Freightliner Terminal at Trafford Park seen from above with a view looking ESE. Trafford Park was reached by a Cheshire Lines Committee branch in 1894. The Manchester Ship Canal docks are out of shot just off to the left.

Macclesfield: A nice sign, but it doesn't give much of a clue as to where the Middlewood Way starts (clue: behind the MS&L line in the background)

Georgemas Junction: A Network Rail 'Go cart' at Georgemas Junction on 12 May 2015.

Poynton: The Brookside Miniature Railway is located in a garden centre on the outskirts of Poynton, Cheshire. This unusual view is taken from the pavement of the adjacent main road in May 2012, during a Railway Ramblers exploration of the area.

Higher Poynton: Several stations on the former 'back road' from Macclesfield see image [[39173]] to Marple via Bollington are now informal picnic areas. This view looks North-West through one of the many bridges which had to be strengthened with an additional central support. The bushes on the left are close to the divergence of a former colliery tramroad.

Poynton: How helpful, on this former colliery tramroad near Poynton, Cheshire, to have a sign (right) telling you not to ride your bike over a stile. Even more helpful to have another sign (centre) telling you to step over it.

Midge Hall: The 12.59 Preston to Ormskirk service approaches Pages level crossing, just south of Midge Hall, on 12 May 2012. Single car unit 153330 forms the train.

Falkland Yard: Scene at Falkland Yard on 12 May 2012 with the 11.13 Ayr - Glasgow Central passing through.

Melbourne Southern Cross: An emu for Williamstown runs into Platform 14 at Melbourne Southern Cross station on 12 May 2013.

Dinting: A view of the 'main line' platforms at Dinting looking east towards Hadfield on 12 May 2013. The electrification masts date from the 1500V DC era when this was the route between Manchester and Sheffield although the remaining sections to Hadfield and Glossop were converted to 25kV in 1984.

Dinting Viaduct: Looking west from Dinting station over Dinting Viaduct as a Manchester bound Class 323 crosses and a Glossop and Hadfield train can be seen on the other side waiting to cross on a miserable afternoon in May 2013.

Chinley: A Sheffield to Manchester service calls at Chinley on a wet 12 May 2013. The single, wide island platform is a significant reduction on what was once a large country station. See image [[32068]] for a view in the other direction from a little further west some 45 years earlier.

Murrayfield Stadium [Tram]: The impressive Murrayfield Stadium... and that's just the tram stop! View south east across Roseburn Street on 12 May 2013, with the stadium itself immediately behind the camera.

Edinburgh Park: The flyover that will carry Edinburgh's trams over the main line at Edinburgh Park on their way to the airport. Photographed looking west from alongside the station on 12 May with rails on the left ready to be laid. On the right the 0931 Glasgow Queen Street - Edinburgh Waverley has just cleared the bridge carrying the City Bypass and is about to pass below the tram flyover before running through Edinburgh Park station heading for its next stop at Haymarket.

Edinburgh Park: The south passenger entrance to Edinburgh Park station on 12 May 2013, with two sets of tram rails now crossing the pedestrian pathway between the road and the station. (The tram stop is just off picture to the right see image [[43099]].) Standing at the eastbound platform is the 0755 Helensburgh Central - Edinburgh Waverley.

Balgreen [Tram]: Looking over the city bound platform at the partially completed Balgreen tram stop on 12 May 2013 as a Virgin Voyager approaches on the parallel E&G main line heading for Waverley. See image [[43018]]

Edinburgh Park Station [Tram]: The tram stop at Edinburgh Park on 12 May 2013. View east from the station entrance pathway see image [[43070]] towards the city centre. The LCD panels read 'Edinburgh Trams - Edinburgh Park Station - 10:04:34'

Balgreen [Tram]: Looking east towards Edinburgh over the platforms of Balgreen tram stop on 12 May with a Virgin Voyager passing on the right slowing on the approach to Haymarket. Murrayfield Stadium is visible on the far left with Edinburgh Castle standing on the horizon. The tram stop is on the site of the former Balgreen Halt station on the old Corstorphine branch. The station closed to passengers in 1967 with the branch itself closing completely the following year.

Chinley North Junction: TransPennine 185121 heads west passed Chinley North Junction and signal box with a train to Manchester Airport on a wet and miserable 12 May 2013.

Dinting: The tightly curved platform at Dinting station on the line to Glossop with a Manchester - Hadfield via Glossop service on 12 May 2013. Off picture left is the remaining platform on the line to Hadfield which once saw express passenger and heavy coal trains on the Woodhead route. In the trees on the right are the remains of the Manchester bound platform on the Glossop line.

Armathwaite: Waiting patiently at Low House level crossing on the Settle - Carlisle line just north of Armathwaite on 12 May 2014 as the 12.49 Leeds - Carlisle service, formed by 158872, passes northbound.

Mallaig: The first Jacobite of the 2014 season stands at Mallaig on 12 May behind 62005.

Brora: Having run round the empty stock of The Cathedrals Explorer, Black Five No. 44871 departs Brora for Dunrobin Castle on 12 May before heading back to Inverness.

Rogart: Black Five No.44871 racing along west of Rogart on 12 May with The Cathedrals Explorer on the way to Dunrobin Castle.

Dunrobin Castle: Black five No.44871 on its way to Brora on 12 May with the empty stock of The Cathedrals Explorer to run round ready for the return journey to Inverness. In the background on the left stands Dunrobin Castle.

Stow: 37604 on a NR Test Train running slowly through one of the platforms at the then unfinished Stow station heading north to Edinburgh over the then unopned Borders Rail on 12/5/15.

Latour-de-Carol-Enveitg: The station at Latour de Carol/Enveitg is notable (perhaps unique) for the presence of three conventional rail gauges and three power supplies in one station. Visible from the left are SNCF stock for a later service to Paris (1435mm/1500v DC overhead), a service for Barcelona with Renfe Class 447 (1665mm/3000v DC overhead) and SNCF Ligne de Cerdagne (1000mm/850v DC third rail).

Weymouth Quay: Looking west along Custom House Quay, Weymouth, on 12 May 2015. The single track of the disused former Weymouth Tramway is approaching St Edmunds Street overbridge (behind the camera) after rounding the curve from Commercial Road on its approach to the moribund Harbour Station.

Weymouth Quay: Looking along Custom House Quay from the junction with The Quay and Esplanade in May 2015, showing the check railed points on the disused Weymouth Tramway at the approach to the harbour station (behind the camera).

Gorebridge: 37604 on a NR Test Train running slowly through the then unfinished Gorebridge station heading north to Edinburgh over the then unopned Borders Rail on 12/5/15.

Bridport, West Bay: Looking seaward to the former West Bay station south of Bridport, showing the sleeper wall erected along the approach track-bed and the departure home signal that stands guard north of the station. West Bay saw its last rail passengers in September 1930.

Tweedbank: 37604 on a NR Test Train sitting in one of the platforms at the then unfinished Tweedbank station prior to making the return journey north to Edinburgh over the then unopned Borders Rail on 12/5/15.

Sherborne: Looking west along the car park at Sherborne Station on 12 May, with the former goods shed at the far end. A large replica totem shows it is now called The Railway Shed and being used by a fibreglass fabricator.

Heriot: 37604 on a NR Test Train running slowly just south of Heriot heading north to Edinburgh on the then unopned Borders Rail on 12/5/15.

Henstridge: Looking north from Henstridge Station site along the grassed over former Somerset & Dorset line trackbed towards the A30 Shaftesbury Road over-bridge in May 2015. The route is blocked off just before the road bridge, with mature trees along the trackbed beyond.

Sherborne: SWT 159106 stands at Sherborne Station shortly after 10.00 on 12 May with the 09.32 arrival from London Waterloo heading for Exeter St. Davids. This unit started life as TransPennine Express 158809, before the 158s were displaced by the arrival of the class 185 DMUs.

Birmingham International: I've heard of a request stop, but never a request start. The chain-hauled pods between the NEC and Birmingham Airport now run on demand outside peak hours see image [[34994]]. Unfortunately, the pods themselves have been made more difficult to photograph as a multi-storey car park has been built just to the right of this boarding point.

Lancaster: Crossing the low bridge over Torrisholme Road in Lancaster on 12th May 2015 is ex-Thameslink 319366, on yet another Northern driver training run between Preston and Carnforth. The train has just crossed the River Lune and is now approaching the junction for the Morecambe branch.

National Exhibition Centre: This display of models of various scales by the China CNR Corporation Limited was part of a strong Chinese presence at this year's Railtex exhibition. The show was well attended - I spotted visitors from Japanese National Railways - East, and two motor industry engineers. see image [[45191 for a full sized Chinese express]]

Stalbridge: A single track still remains in situ across the road at a former level crossing on Station Road in Stalbridge, Dorset. Old maps show the route of the Somerset & Dorset main line to have crossed the road close to where the two joggers are, with this line being a post 1938 extension from the sidings to the rear of the station, sited to left of the crossing, to serve a later build stand alone building in what is now a building supplies premises. The track can also be seen continuing under the tarmac surface to their yard to the right.

Sherborne: View west along the down platform at Sherborne on 12 May, with anxious looks from passengers awaiting the 09.35 to Exeter (07.10 ex Waterloo). South West trains 159106 arrived shortly afterwards running 33 minutes late.

Henstridge: Looking east from Station Road towards Plott Lane across the former level crossing by Henstridge Station, with a set of hanging and closing gate posts on the right. The single platform station was located immediately to the left.

Bridport, West Bay: The former terminus station at West Bay, at the end of the short lived extension south from Bridport on the branch line from Maiden Newton, seen on the afternoon of 12 May 2015. The building now houses 'The Station Cafe' with tables also sited along the platform when the weather is good. A length of track runs alongside the platform over its full length.

Latour-de-Carol-Enveitg: Metre gauge EMU motor coach No 109 is at the terminus station of Latour de Carol/Enveitg on the Ligne de Cerdagne - also known as the Train Jaune. In reaching the station on its journey from Villefranche sur Conflent the train has climbed gradients as steep as 6% and passed through France's highest station at Bolqu�re Eyne (1592m).

Map: This schematic of the Valley Lines (on an NEC stand belonging to the Welsh inward investment trade body) shows Cwmgrach, Tower Colliery, Cwmbargoed, Machen, Ford Bridgend, and the freight line South-West of Tondu. Gwaun-cae-Gurwen is out of view to the West, while Uskmouth and Glascoed would be shown to the East. Notice also the recently opened stations at Energlyn and at Rogerstone - Ebbw Vale Town clearly wasn't opened quite soon enough.

Henstridge: View along the Somerset & Dorset trackbed over the north side gate of the former Station Road level crossing see image [[51335]] sited at Henstridge Station platform south end, with use still being made of the line solum to the south.

Henstridge: Not only are the south side gate posts extant at the former Henstridge Station level crossing see image [[51312]], but a matching pair can also be found on the north side. These come complete with a gate from decades past, as seen in this view on 12 May 2015.

Hampton-in-Arden: The original station at Hampton-in-Arden, was opened by the London & Birmingham Railway in 1838 as plain Hampton. It sat well back from the track and looked similar to a toll keeper's cottage on a turnpike road. It is several hundred yards from the current station, which replaced it in 1884. The old station building is seen here in May 2015 in use as offices. [Ref query 9917]

Latour-de-Carol-Enveitg: The local population of around 1000 would not normally warrant the provision of a station as impressive as that at Latour de Carol/Enveitg. Originally it was built to facilitate transfer between the French narrow gauge Ligne de Cerdagne and the standard gauge route from Toulouse with the Spanish broad gauge network. It is still served by passenger trains from Paris and Barcelona.

Hampton-in-Arden: This up Pendolino is accelerating away from a stop at Birmingham International on 12 May. It has just passed the original Hampton station see image [[51339]] and will now pass through Hampton-in-Arden non-stop.

Weymouth Quay: Looking east along Custom House Quay in May 2015, with the single track of the disused former Weymouth Tramway running under St. Edmunds Street overbridge on the approach to the moribund Harbour Station. See image [[48062]]

Sherborne: A view west through Sherborne Station from Gas House Hill level crossing on 12 May 2015. The main up side building stands beyond a now rare Southern Railway style fully roofed footbridge.

National Exhibition Centre: An a-track-tive exhibit: this length of track at Railtex, sponsored by Tata Steel, allowed several exhibitors to show off their products. I like the blue sleepers. see image [[51286]]

Mont Louis - La Cabanasse: With the likelihood of further snow remote, two 1909 built Bo-Bo locomotives of the Ligne de Cerdagne return to Villefranche from snow clearing duties on the section of the line high up within the Pyrenean ski areas.

Bridport, West Bay: Looking south towards the buffer stops along the former terminus at West Bay, at the end of the short lived extension south from Bridport on the branch line from Maiden Newton. In May 2015 the building houses 'The Station Cafe', with a length of track still running the full length of the platform.

Fountainhall: 37604 on a NR Test Train running slowly through the site of the former Fountainhall station & level-crossing heading north to Edinburgh on the then unopned Borders Rail on 12/5/15.

Sherborne: Looking west along the London bound platform at Sherborne in May 2015 showing the 1860 station building, complete with platform canopy. Part of the covered footbridge staircase stands on the right. My wife studies the information chart for the locality.

Silverdale: A pair of Class 153 single units cross a low bridge near Silverdale with a Barrow-in-Furness to Lancaster service on 12th May 2016. The watercourse in the foreground drains the nearby Leighton Moss RSPB reserve.

Kyle of Lochalsh: Some of the exhibits in the Friends of the Kyle Line museum at Kyle of Lochalsh Station.

Monk Fryston: DB Cargo operated EWS liveried 66096 proceeds across Hillam Gates level crossing on 12 May with a loaded biomass working from Hull or Immingham to Drax Power station, utilising Drax Power owned wagons.

Carnforth: Considerable weekend engineering work has taken place during Spring 2016 repairing the long low embankment to the north of Carnforth station. An 11 coach Pendolino heads north over the pristine structure on the evening of 12th May 2016.

Silverdale: Two DRS Class 57s look positively huge as they cross the very low bridge just to the east of Silverdale station with the evening flasks from Sellafield to Crewe on 12th May 2016. Several of the DRS 57 fleet have been stored during 2016 but 57003 (the former D1798/47317) and 57301 Goliath (formerly D1653/47638) are still in front line service.

Silverdale: The barriers on the New Road AHB level crossing at Silverdale are rising behind the train as 57003 and 57301 take the evening flasks from Sellafield to Crewe on 12th May 2016. The train is passing the RSPB Reserve at Leighton Moss heading towards Carnforth.

Bolton-le-Sands: 37401 Mary Queen of Scots, approaches the level crossing at Bolton-le-Sands with the 1004hrs Preston to Barrow service. During 2016 37401, 402, 409, 423 and 425 have all seen use on Cumbrian Coast services, the first two running in Large Logo livery.

Monk Fryston: EWS liveried 66096 approaches Hillam Gates level crossing from Milford Junction in May 2016. The train is a rake of loaded Drax Power biomass wagons heading south to Drax power station from either Hull or Immingham loading point.

Summer Lane Station: Arriva North three car Pacer 144017 runs west through the site of the former Summer Lane station, closed 1959, shortly after leaving Barnsley on the 14.36 service from Sheffield to Huddersfield on 12 May. The track was previously double and the station had two platforms, with that on the south side, alongside Station Road, containing a long station building. There were also extensive sidings to the west of the station. View from a basic footbridge that has replaced the one that also served the station platforms. [Ref query 2763]

Bay Horse: One time regulars, DRS 66431 and 66426 take the Tesco Express north through Bay Horse on 12th May 2016. Not long after this date the train moved over to regular Class 68 haulage with pairs of the new Warships employed.

Rosyth: The first SRPS 'The Forth Bridge & Scottish Borders' of August nears Rosyth behind Black Five 45407.

Princes Street Gardens Cutting: 68007 Valiant takes happy commuters home for the weekend on Friday 12/05/2017.

Toddington: Merchant Navy 4-6-2 35006 arriving at Toddington with a Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway service from Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse, on 12th May 2018. It was built at Eastleigh in December 1941 with the SR number 21C6. Spending its working life at Salisbury shed, it was withdrawn from service in August 1964 and found its way to Woodham's scrapyard at Barry where it languished until rescued in 1983. Restoration was a long drawn out affair and it was not until August 2015 that it could be steamed again, beginning passenger-carrying duties in May 2016 and is now one of the mainstays of this heritage line's fleet. The northern extension to Broadway had opened a few weeks prior to this view, even though the new Broadway station, built to the designs of the original closed in 1960 and demolished, was not fully complete.

Harmans Cross: Pigeons at Harmans Cross. The box is labelled 'Live Pigeons - handle with care'.

Drem: The limitations of the lens on my phone have left this rare survivor 'apparelled in celestial light'. What is it? A pole with bracket for a totem, complete with carved wooden finial. Such things were not common as there was usually some existing structure (or usually, lamppost) to attach the bracket to. See image [[27208]].

Finsbury Park: 67018, with UK Railtours excursion from Peterborough to Worcester Shrub Hill, arriving at Finsbury Park on 12th May 2018. While some passengers opted to spend the afternoon exploring the historic city of Worcester, not an unreasonable thing to do, most alighted at Evesham and joined a fleet of coaches taking them to Toddington to spend the afternoon at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway.

Perth: 158708 waits at Perth Platform 5, about to form a service to Edinburgh Waverley on 12th May 2018.

Markinch: The rear of 158728 departs Markinch with a service to Perth.

Perth: 37254 heads the network test train through Platform 7 at Perth on its way to Inverness, Milburn Yard on 12th May 2018. It was following an Edinburgh to Inverness service by a matter of minutes.

Perth: 158709 at Perth platform 3, about to form a service to Glasgow. As I was taking the picture the staff were attempting to detach 709 from another unit, though I missed the departure I believe it left still attached as a four car.

Drem: The lovely little station of Drem on an equally lovely spring day. It's hard to believe that the Down building (right) is a replica, the original (listed) building having been accidentally demolished in 1984 when the comma was omitted from the demolition order 'Retain Drem station, bridge ...'. You see, punctuation can matter. Never mind the West Lothian Question; what about the East Lothian Comma?

Drem: A six-car Class 380 pulls into Drem where it will fill the westbound platform. Note the unusual platform lighting: heritage-style Sugg Rochester lanterns on brackets presumably designed to keep clear of the cat's cradle of overhead live-lines, earths and support wires at this location.

Whalley: 35018 British India Line, having crossed Whalley viaduct, is now clear of the speed restriction and is making very good progress at the start of the long climb through Langho to the summit at Ramsgreave & Wilpshire. The loco was working the southbound leg of the Cumbrian Mountain Express on 12 May 2018 as far as Farington Jct where it handed over to 86259 Les Ross for the run back to Euston.

Beauly: The Steam Dreams railtour to Kyle of Lochalsh races past Beauly hauled by 61306 'Mayflower' on 12th May 2019.

Achnasheen: The 'Highlands & Islands Explorer' approaching Achnasheen, hauled by 61306 'Mayflower' on 12th May 2019. In the background, the River Bran, the ruins of Camashie and the peak is Sgurr a' Choire-rainich. .

Deanshanger: The Summer 2019 timetable for a midibus service between Deanshanger and Wolverton (and onto Milton Keynes) on the former route of the steam tramway. Trams ran on the Deanshanger extension of the Wolverton to Stony Stratford Tramway only in the years 1888-1890. Local buses still use the road built over part of the old tramway formation between Deanshanger and Old Stratford. More details about the history of this tramway can be seen here: https://quavid.wordpress.com/about/the-wolverton-stony-stratford-tramway/

York: York station, seen from UK Railtours' excursion from London King's Cross to Shildon and Stanhope, calling over an hour late at York station, on Saturday, 11th May 2019. A crew change was originally scheduled to take place at Doncaster, but because of the late running, caused by substituting 66 002 for a failed class 67 and level crossing problems south of York, the change was made here instead.

Broughty Ferry: The raised platform at Broughty Ferry. The lower level portion in front of the renovated station building is no longer in use. Note the covered subway on the left by the level crossing.

Garve: 61306 'Mayflower' hauls 'The Highlands and Islands Explorer' past Loch Garve on the way to Kyle of Lochalsh on 12th May 2019. The number of Wacky Racers on the road to Kyle of Lochalsh was unreal.

Slateford: A withdrawn ScotRail classic HST poking out of the birch scrub at Slateford on 12th May 2020, with a TPE Class 397 passing on a train from Manchester Airport. The power car, believed to be 43183, arrived the day before but moved on to Doncaster Works ten days later. More are set to follow, and they will be stored at Slateford until the time comes for them to go for component recovery. The sidings at Slateford were improved for carriage stabling during work in 2006 to create additional platforms which reduced overnight capacity at Waverley and Haymarket, but local residents objected to continuance of such activity, and the last use of which I am aware was to receive Class 158s which came on sublease from Northern to allow commencement of the enhanced Edinburgh-Fife-Aberdeen timetable in December 2008.

Beattock Bank Ballast Quarry: Extract of OS map showing 'Old Quarry', a side cutting, adjacent to Beattock Bank rockfill embankment on the Caledonian Railway mainline between Greskine and Harthope. A side-cutting was an excavation of the ground beside the route of a railway where extra material was wrought to create an embankment when insufficient material could economically be brought from the nearest cutting excavation. This quarry most likely also supplied the earlies ballast for the permanent way in which case it needed to be broken down into smaller pieces by hand using sledgehammers. Added by Charlie Niven. With permission from the National Library of Scotland maps.nls.uk/copyright.html

Murtle: OS 25” First Edition map extract 1865 Murtle Station showing 'Gravel Pit' within railway boundary. With permission from the National Library of Scotland. maps.nls.uk/copyright.html At a Deeside Railway Company Board meeting in 1861 the Directors allowed Mr Whyte, himself a Director, to take “sand” from the “ballast bank” near Murtle Station for building a house on his land and encouraged others to do likewise! The Murtle ballast pit had closed by the end of the century as the ballasting along the part of the Deeside Line between Aberdeen and Culter had been converted to stone ballast in earlier years probably at the time the line was doubled. Added by Charlie Niven.

Mains Ballast Quarry: In the Resident Engineer's report books, kept at the National Records of Scotland, there are descriptions of the planning and setting up of temporary quarries which were used to supply broken rock for ballasting the permanent way. This Ordnance Survey 6” map shows the location of one such quarry. Added by Charlie Niven. Used with permission of the National Library of Scotland. maps.nls.uk/copyright.html

Gorgie Cattle Market [NB]: This street-name recalls the sidings for Gorgie Cattle Market.

Cadder Yard: Scotland's Railway's new purpose-built engineering depot at Cadder was visited by Minister for Transport, Jenny Gilruth MSP and Amy Callaghan MP today (Thursday 12 May). During her visit, Ms Gilruth unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the official opening of the depot and guests had the opportunity to see some of the operations of the yard. These include: three new service platforms, train cleaning facilities, refuelling unit, night-time accommodation for up to six High-Speed Trains (HSTs), a new modular building with capacity to accommodate up to 250 support staff.

Cadder Yard: Scotland's Railway's new purpose-built engineering depot at Cadder was visited by Minister for Transport, Jenny Gilruth MSP and Amy Callaghan MP today (Thursday 12 May). During her visit, Ms Gilruth unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the official opening of the depot and guests had the opportunity to see some of the operations of the yard.

Cadder Yard: HST passing Cadder Depot at speed. The new facility will support nighttime cleaning, servicing and maintenance of the HST fleet that operates from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Inverness. Cadder was quickly identified as the ideal location to accommodate HSTs due to its accessibility to Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley stations, where more than 80% of ScotRail’s Inter7City services start or finish.