Thornton Shed [2nd]: Class J83 68459 stands on the stored locomotive line at Thornton Junction in 1959.

Thornton Shed [2nd]: Reid ex-NB class J88 0-6-0 68322 out of use at Thornton Junction in May 1959.

Thornton Shed [2nd]: Class D11 4-4-0 62677 Edie Ochiltree stands in the sidings at Thornton Junction on 19 May 1959.

Thornton Shed [2nd]: Gresley Ex-LNER class D49 4-4-0 62744 The Holderness in the stored locomotive sidings alongside Thornton Junction shed in May 1959. The locomotive was later reprieved and transferred to Hawick shed in April 1960, where it survived for a further 8 months see image [[24467]].

Dunfermline MPD: Class J38 0-6-0 65924 stands in front of the ash handling plant at Dunfermline shed in May 1959. Note the signal post in the background protruding above the roof of the cab. This signal is located on the embankment that carried the line to Dunfermline Upper station.

Thornton Shed [2nd]: McIntosh ex-Caledonian 2P 0-4-4T 55217 on shed at Thornton Junction in May 1959. The locomotive had been a regular on the Blairgowrie branch until its closure in 1955 see image [[7371]].

Craigendoran: Class C15 67460 propels the Arrochar push-pull train towards the West Highland platforms at Craigendoran on 19 May 1959. The line running off to the left is for the Pier platform, while the Helensburgh Central lines pass below the footbridge.

Stirling Shed [CR]: One of the beautiful McIntosh 2P 0-4-4 tanks stored alongside Stirling South shed in May 1959. The example in question is 55222, for many years the regular locomotive on the Killin branch.

Thornton Shed [2nd]: Gresley Ex-LNER D49 62716 Kincardineshire on the withdrawn line at Thornton Junction in 1959.

Helensburgh Central: V3 2-6-2T 67628 stands at Helensburgh Central platform 4 on 19 May 1959. What looks to be a classmate is at the head of a Glasgow bound train boarding at platform 3.

Craigendoran Junction: Standard Class 5 4-6-0 73078 pilots Black 5 44967 on a Glasgow bound West Highland Line train passing Craigendoran Junction in the spring of 1959.

Thornton Shed [2nd]: Lineup of locomotives at Thornton Junction shed, including class D11/2 no 62678 Luckie Mucklebackit. Photographed in 1959, the year of its withdrawal.

Stirling Shed [CR]: A dejected looking McIntosh 0-6-0T No 56365 stands with other stored locomotives alongside Stirling South shed in May 1959.

Dunfermline MPD: One of the diminutive class Y9 0-4-0ST locomotives No 68101, complete with dumb buffers and wooden tender, stands at Dunfermline shed in 1959 after completing a days work.

Craigendoran: Class C15 4-4-2T no 67460 leaves the pier platform at Craigendoran on 19 May 1959 with the Arrochar push-pull service. The train will shortly reverse before heading north on the West Highland Line, just visible upper right (see [[51758]]).

Eastfield Shed: The locomotives lined up behind St Margaret's B1 61357, at Glasgow's Eastfield depot in 1965, had mostly been withdrawn and were destined for the scrapyard. Although the B1 looked in quite decent shape, it was unfortunately also withdrawn a week or two later.

Eastfield Shed: B1 61099 inside Glasgow's Eastfield depot in May 1965.

Eastfield Shed: An unusual sight in the scrap line at Eastfield in May 1965 was Stanier two-cylinder 2-6-4T 42649.

Polmadie Shed: Britannia 70027 'Rising Star', a visitor from Carlisle Kingmoor, was the only engine in steam at Polmadie on 19th May 1967. The last of Polmadie's own allocation of steam locomotives had been withdrawn at the end of the previous month.

Polmadie Shed: A4 Pacific 4498 'Sir Nigel Gresley', beautifully restored to LNER Garter Blue livery, at Polmadie on 19th May 1967. To the right is Clayton Type 1 D8523 and an EE Type 1 can just be seen behind the A4's tender. 'Sir Nigel' was due to haul a special to Aberdeen the next day. Perhaps it was thought that the open air would be a better bet for keeping the A4 clean than the inside of the shed, but there probably wasn’t much to choose between the two, as Polmadie no longer had any steam locomotives on its allocation. The only live steam on shed was Kingmoor Britannia 70027 'Rising Star'.

Liverpool Lime Street: Lime Street station, Liverpool on 19 May 1970, with a class 86 locomotive standing idle between turns.

Longsight Depot: A BRCW DMU is prepared for moving off Longsight shed on 19 May 1970. The destination blind is showing Manchester London Road although that station had been renamed Manchester Piccadilly some 10 years earlier.

Longsight Depot: In BR Blue and pre TOPS number, D181 stands at Lonsight MPD between turns on 19 May 1970. The Class 46 Peak is sharing the shed with a variety of diesel and electric locomotives as well as a number of DMUs, one of which can just be seen on the right of the photograph.

Longsight Depot: E3117 is parked up on Longsight Depot on 19 May 1970. The loco was renumbered to 86227 in the 1970s and carried the name 'Sir Henry Johnson'. After service on the WCML it later operated on the London to Norwich services. It was withdrawn from Norwich Crown Point in October 2004 and cut up in July the following year.

Shawfield Junction: Only a couple of miles from their destination at Glasgow Central, Class 50s Nos. 404+405 are still travelling fast enough to beat the camera as they pass Shawfield, just south of Polmadie, on the 08.15 from Birmingham New Street.

Quintinshill Loops: The signal box at Quintinshill in 1970, seen from a passing southbound train.

Ordsall Junction: The view from the front of an eastbound DMU approaching Ordsall Junction, Manchester, on 19 May 1970. On the left are Granada Studios and Ordsall Junction signal box, while over on the right is the roof of Manchester Central station.

Longsight Depot: Class 25 no D5212 at Longsight MPD, Manchester, on 19 May 1970.

Dutch River Signal Box: Dutch River signal box, just south of Goole on the Doncaster line, photographed shortly after closure in May 1974.

Aviemore Shed: Ivatt 2-6-0 no 46464 stands outside the shed at Aviemore on the Strathspey Railway on 19 May 1979.

Aviemore Speyside: Ivatt 2-6-0 no 46464 on duty at Aviemore in May 1979.

Carlisle: A Kensington Olympia bound Motorail service on the bridge over the goods lines south of Carlisle station in May 1980.

Saughton: 47272 on the down Forth Bridge line approaching Saughton Junction in May 1982.

Saughton: A DBSO leads a hard working class 47 towards Saughton Junction in May 1982 with an Edinburgh - Glasgow push-pull set.

Savernake High Level: An abandoned steam locomotive water tank at Savernake Upper Station on 19 April 1986. There may have been a Savernake Lower Station, operated by the GWR. I understand, back in the 1930's when the GWR took over the MSWJR, rationalisation took place. The GWR branch to Marlborough was closed and the MSWJR line retained, running from Andover to Andoversford by way of Savernake Upper, Marlborough, Swindon, Cricklade and onto Cheltenham. The line was closed by BR in 1960.

Shieldhall Yard: Shieldhall Yard was lifted in April/May of 1987. A very short section was left behind, seen here. The view looks to the King George V Dock approach under the M8 in May 1987.

Shieldhall Goods: Under all the undergrowth the Shieldhall Goods Branch was still in place in 1987. This branch served several goods yards and the Alexander Stephens Shipyard at Linthouse. The branch was the genesis of the Glasgow and Renfrew District Railway which branched from it near Cardonald. The view looks to Cardonald from Renfrew Road bridge with part of the Govan sewage works on the left.

Furnace Sidings: Bagnall 0-6-0PT 'Brookfield' in action on the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway in May 1991.

Furnace Sidings: A photograph showing Bagnall 0-6-0T Brookfield in action on the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway in May 1991.

Denby: EWS liveried Brush built 60039 is seen during loading at the Denby disposal point in Derbyshire in 1998. This was sited on the rump of the former Ripley branch ending at the loading point headshunt end forward of the camera. The loco will draw further forward to complete loading, and then push the MGR rake back to clear the points before uncoupling and using the loop line on the left to run round the rake to couple up and then run down the branch to join the Sheffield to Derby line. As of 2022 60039 is one of the circa 25No of the class still active, and is now in DB Red livery and named 'Dove Holes'.

Denby: EWS 60039 draws its rake of covered 4 wheel MGR wagons through the overhead loading facility at Denby opencast loading point approaching the stop blocks in 1998. It will then push the wagons back through the loader to clear the points and allow the loco to run round and head back down the branch to the main line near Little Eaton.

Aberfeldy: Site of Aberfeldy station in 2003 see image [[38747]].

Ballinluig: Former railway bridge just west of Logierait Viaduct on the former Aberfeldy branch in May 2003 looking towards Balnaguard.

Ballinluig: Remains of the wooden Aberfeldy branch platform at Ballinluig - take 2 - 2003.

Ballinluig: A mile west of Ballinluig the Aberfeldy branch crossed the Balnamuir Burn. The old railway bridge is seen here in the spring of 2003 looking back towards the former junction with the Highland main line. The Aberfeldy branch closed in 1965.

Ballinluig: View from the trackbed of the Aberfeldy branch near Logierait Viaduct in May 2003.

Ballinluig: Remains of the wooden Aberfeldy branch platform at Ballinluig. May 2003.

Guard Bridge Viaduct: Surviving piers of the railway bridge that carried the line between Leuchars Junction and St Andrews over the River Eden. Seen here in May 2005 looking north west across the estuary back towards Leuchars.

Abernethy: The Royal Scotsman passing Abernethy on 19 May bound for Dalwhinnie.

Leuchars: Rear view of Leuchars signal box in May 2005. For the front view at the time see image [[52520]].

Leuchars: Leuchars signal box in May 2005, photographed looking north from the station platform.

Leuchars: A morning Edinburgh - Aberdeen DMU about to restart from platform 2 at Leuchars on 19 May 2005.

Leuchars: The 07.55 Aberdeen - London Kings Cross train approaching Leuchars in May 2005.

Leuchars: Formerly Leuchars Junction, the current Leuchars Station is seen looking north on 19 May 2005. The infilled bay was used by trains serving St Andrews and the Fife coast route. The St Andrews branch finally closed in 1969.

Leuchars: Leuchars Station looking west from the A919 road in May 2005. The cars in the picture are minicabs - a spacious free station customer car park is provided off to the right at the end of the footbridge.

Leuchars: A GNER Aberdeen - London train leaving Leuchars in May 2005. Note the filled in bay that once served branch trains on the Fife Coast route see image [[20581]].

Haymarket: A Friday afternoon Kings Cross - Glasgow Central GNER service pulls into Haymarket platform 4 on 19 May 2006.

Edinburgh Waverley: View over Waverley west end from Waverley Bridge on 19 May 2007, showing the space previously occupied by platforms 13 & 14.

Glasgow Central: Two Class 156s sitting at Glasgow Central awaitng their next duties

Glasgow Central: Collecting the Glasgow Central portion of the empty Caledonian Sleeper - locomotive 92002 H G Wells

Glasgow Central: A Class 156 and Class 314 approaching Glasgow Central in the driving rain.

Glasgow Central: DVT 82219 Duke of Edinburgh sitting at Platform 1 in the pouring rain

Glasgow Central: 156506 and 156507 sitting at Glasgow Central having just arrived

Glasgow Central: Coming through the rain, a Class 334 approaching Glasgow Central

Glasgow Central: 91114 St Mungo Cathedral sitting at Platform 2

Glasgow Central: Cross Country Voyagers 221116 & 221106 sitting at Platform 2 waiting to form a service to Plymouth

Johnstone: 31601 at the rear of 31602 and a Network Rail coach passing through Johnstone heading east on 19th May

Alloa: Monday 19 May 2008, the first day of public services at Alloa. A quick conversation during a change of ends.

Amsterdam Central: Wash me please! A rather dirty NS electric loco hauls some ECS out of Amsterdam Central station.

Alloa: All aboard for Stirling and Glasgow! About to leave Alloa on the first day of public operation, 19 May 2008.

Dalgety Bay: EWS 66161 coasts down to Dalgety Bay on 19 May with 6D71 Linkswood - Mossend empty tanks, not yet(?) diverted to run via Alloa.

Alloa: Bustle at Alloa. The driver leaves the cab on arrival at Alloa and heads for the other end.

Blackgrange: A light 66084 heads west at Blackgrange. This slotted in between the passenger trains on the first public day of service.

Cambus: Westbound at Cambus level crossing on the first day of public service.

Johnstone: 31602 passing through Johnstone heading east with a Network Rail coach and 31601 in tow on 19th May

Johnstone: 334030 and 334040 pass each other at Johnstone station on 19th May

Johnstone: 66561 thunders through Johnstone station as it heads for Hunterston from Holgate with empty coal hoppers

Alloa: A train from Glasgow via Stirling arrives at Alloa station on 19 May 2008, the first day of public service on the recently reopened line.

Cambus: Heading west at Cambus. There is nothing left of the old station here.

Glasgow Central: 334006 at Glasgow Central Low Level pausing whilst on a service to Motherwell on 19th May

Glasgow Central: The mock up of the new Class 380 train at Platform 11 of Glasgow Central showing the interior layout. The seating arrangement will be 2+2 and not 3+2 as in the Class 318 and Class 334, giving more space to move around.

Glasgow Central: 334023 at Platform 15 of Glasgow central waiting to depart on a working to Ayr on 19th May 2009. In the background in the now closed car park is the mock up of the new Siemens Class 380 Desiro which will be appearing from September 2010 onwards.

Crigglestone: Filled in remains of former entrance door and window to Crigglestone West station (1850-1965), photographed in May 2009. The footbridge ran behind the main bridge parapet on extended piers. Unfortunately the wall cappings were recently stolen.

Glasgow Central: 390025 at platform 2 of Glasgow Central on 19 May waiting to depart on a service to London Euston.

Boghead Junction: Progress looking toward Bathgate from Boghead Junction on 19 May 2010

Boghead Junction: Progress looking toward Armadale from Boghead Junction on 19 May 2010

Spean Bridge: The Caledonian Sleeper (Fort William portion) and 67007 at Spean bridge, the penultimate stop on the long journey from Euston. This view looks towards Fort William and also shows the disused remains of the Fort Augustus branch curving away to the right in front of the loco.

Strathpeffer [2nd]: Just beyond the platform end at Strathpeffer the old trackbed, closed to all rail traffic since 1951, is now partly used as an access road for local houses. This view looks down the old railway towards Dingwall.

Strathpeffer [2nd]: Springtime scene at Strathpeffer looking towards the end of the line. The shops and cafes in the old station building, closed to passengers in 1946, are popular on a warm day and deservedly so. This scene contrasts with John Gray's winter view from the same spot See image [[13580]].

Pitlochry: Southbound Stobart containers speed through Pitlochry station on 19 May 2010 behind 66115.

Spean Bridge: The Fort William portion of the Sleeper service from Euston rolls into its penultimate stop at Spean Bridge behind DBS 67007. View looking east from the overbridge on 19 May.

Spean Bridge: So near and yet so far. 67007 was on time to the minute at Spean Bridge, penultimate stop before Fort William, with the sleeper from Euston but then seemed reluctant to go any further. The driver revved the engine several times but the loco didn't move. Having photographed the train from the bridge I had time to walk down to the old Fort Augustus bay platform for a further picture. I wonder what the eventual delay was?

Tom-na-Faire Depot: Early morning steam raising at Fort William depot. 5MT 4-6-0, 45231, is being prepared for the Jacobite service to Mallaig while 45407, on the adjacent siding, is spare loco. View towards Fort William from the depot entrance gates.

Banavie: First train of the day, from Mallaig to Glasgow, on a misty overcast morning, calls at Banavie and is seen alongside the signalling centre. The guard rejoins 156456 before the train moves off for the next stop (and reversal) at Fort William.

Muir of Ord: The 0812 service from Wick to Inverness, formed by 158716, stops at Muir of Ord on 19 May, a few minutes ahead of its scheduled 1155 arrival time.

Pitlochry: A plate on a footbridge at Pitlochry station in May 2010. H D & W was a major engineering company building ships, engines, a variety of heavy machinery and structural ironwork - such as the roof of Waverley Station (source: 'Paisley, a History' by Sylvia Clark). See image [[15547]]

Lochaber Aluminium Smelter Ground Frame: The first train of the day for Glasgow leaves Fort William. 156456, which started its journey at Mallaig, is passing the junction with the line into the aluminium smelter See image [[26275]] still controlled by the semaphore signal and bracketed shunting disc.

Banavie Swing Bridge: The 0603 from Mallaig crosses the Caledonian Canal swing bridge at the regulation 5mph and rolls in to Banavie station on time at 0718. 156456 will reverse at Fort William and go forward to Glasgow Queen Street where it is scheduled to arrive at 1130am.

Carlisle: Scene at Carlisle on 19 May 2011 ...or was it...??

Glasgow Central: The 09.40 Pendolino for Euston leaves platform 2 of Glasgow Central on 19 May, while the 09.50 service to King's Cross awaits its departure time at platform 1. This view will no longer be possible after tomorrow with the cessation of through East Coast Glasgow - King's Cross services following introduction of the revised timetable.

Edinburgh Waverley: The web of scaffolding that has now been erected over Waverley platform 1 while work proceeds on the current re-roofing project. View east on 19 May 2011.

Carlisle: Cab view of 71000 Duke of Gloucester at the south end of Carlisle station on 19 May 2011. The Pacific had arrived earlier with the 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' having worked the special from York.

Carlisle: BR Standard Pacific no 71000 Duke of Gloucester stands at the north end of Carlisle station after arrival with the 1Z79 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' on 19 May 2011. The train was steam hauled from York to Carlisle via the S&C.

Carlisle: London Midland liveried 153366 bringing up the rear of 2H10, the 08.49 Leeds - Carlisle service, standing in platform 6 shortly after arrival on 19 May 2011.

Carstairs: Freightliner 70011 pulls out of down goods loop at Carstairs on 19 May 2011. Taken from the 09.50 Glasgow Central - Kings Cross train. The side view conveys the considerable overall length of these locomotives.

Inverkeithing: On a dull and overcast 19 May 2011, the 09.52 East Coast Aberdeen - Kings Cross HST runs into Inverkeithing station with power car 43314 leading.

Inverkeithing: 158702 'BBC Scotland 75 Years' southbound at Inverkeithing on 19 May 2011.

Glasgow Central: A 7 car 380 leaves Platform 9 at Glasgow Central on 19 May on what is thought to be an empty stock movement. 380006 is leading the train.

Edinburgh Waverley: The glamour end of railroading? The 14.26 all stations (except poor old Breich) service to Glasgow Central via Shotts stands at Waverley on 19 May 2011. The conductor asked if we knew this would take until 4 o'clock. We told him we were taking the scenic route.

Walthamstow Queens Road: 172006 with a London Overground GOBLIN service to Gospel Oak arriving at Walthamstow Queen's Road station, on 19th May 2012. This station was known simply as Walthamstow until the opening of the LUL Victoria Line to the nearby Hoe Street station in 1968, which was renamed Walthamstow Central at the same time.

Dalgety Bay: A4 Pacific no 4464 'Bittern' speeds away from Dalgety Bay on 19 May with the northbound Cathedrals Explorer.

Luncarty: 60163 Tornado passing Luncarty on the way to Inverness.

Perth: A1 No. 60163 Tornado prepares to take water at Perth prior to backing onto an Inverness bound railtour.

St Leonards Bridge Junction: A4 Bittern approaching Perth with a railtour.

Dalgety Bay: 60163 Tornado and support coach leaving Dalgety Bay on 19 May on its way to Perth to take over haulage of the 'Cathedrals Explorer'.

St Leonards Bridge Junction: Blue LNER A4 no 4462 Bittern brings the 'Cathedrals Explorer' into Perth from the south on 19th May 2012.

Dalgety Bay: A4 4464 Bittern speeds away from Dalgety Bay on 19 May with the 'Cathedrals Explorer' from Durham to Inverness, banked by 67025... not what it looks like!

West End - Princes Street [Tram]: View east over the tramworks along Shandwick Place, Edinburgh, towards Princes Street on 19 May 2012.

Stirling: DRS class 37s nos 37404+37406 arrive at Stirling on 19 May with train 1Z66, a 'Retro Rail' day trip from the West Midlands.

Birmingham New Street: This superb installation at Birmingham New Street must surely be on loan from one of the top London galleries. Oh ...hang on ..it's just the emergency exits on the new pedestrian bridge. Nice paintwork.

Hillside: Still displaying the original LMS title from its 1926 opening, this is a street level view of the station building at Hillside on the Merseyrail Southport line in May 2013.

Birkdale: A Merseyrail service to Southport calls at Birkdale on 19 May 2013.

Bristol Temple Meads: Three generations at Temple Meads on a spring Sunday afternoon in 2013. The HST (1970s) is heading for Paddington with 43029 leading, while the 37 (1950s) and the 66 (2000s) are stabled in the siding see image [[43161]]. That derelict sorting office keeps turning up in the background!

Hillside: A Liverpool bound Merseyrail service prepares to depart from Hillside on the Northern line on 19 May 2013.

Birmingham New Street: Now let's see - my map app tells me there's a ticket office round here - I wonder where it is? A young passenger finding his way around the new New Street on 19th May. Notice how WHSmith always blends in see image [[42033]].

Birkdale: A Liverpool bound EMU arrives at Birkdale station on 19 May 2013.

Bristol Temple Meads: To paraphrase a certain female singer, 'I used to live in a room full of mirrors, all I could see was 37194 and 66511 reflected in an HST carriage window'. Doesn't scan very well, but you get the idea.

Mossbridge: Looking south-east from the road bridge over the former CLC line from Southport to Liverpool at the site of Mossbridge station in May 2013. Nothing remains of the station which closed to passengers as long ago as January 1917, although the line itself survived until 1952. The trackbed is now used as the Cheshire Lines Path for cyclists and walkers.

Bristol Temple Meads: A more conventional view see image [[43153]] of 37194 and 66511, laid over at Temple Meads on 19th May. The derelict building in the background is a former mail sorting office - notice the bridge from the platforms.

Hillside: A Merseyrail Class 508 EMU calls at Hillside on 19 May 2013. Hillside is advertised as the station for the Royal Birkdale golf course and was opened by the LMS in 1926.

Birmingham New Street: Everything you could possibly need to know: lists of destinations for the next train on every platform at Birmingham New Street on 19th May.

Birmingham New Street: Now hold on - are we in an airport, or a railway station? This off-platform seating area is far more plush than any similar facilities in the 'old' New Street - including the pub on the overbridge.

Bristol Temple Meads: 43029 edged closer to the site of Bath Road depot, eager to know more. Was it really an archaeological dig, or was someone growing vegetables in polytunnels? See image [[13126]]

Haddington: Part of the last LNER timetable 6 October 1947 showing the North Berwick and (last) Haddington branch tables.

Whittingham: A view north over the Whittingham station site on 19 May 2014 - looking as if it's being renovated after 80 odd years out of use. See image [[22386]]

Winchburgh Tunnel: The western portal of Winchburgh tunnel on 19th May 2015, photographed through the chainlink fencing. Work is due to start here shortly. [See recent news item]

Berlin Hauptbahnhof: The impressive Berlin Hauptbahnhof on 19 May 2015, seen from boat on the River Spree.

Friedrichstrasse : 'Guten Tag!' An S-Bahn driver during a stop at Friedrichstrasse on 19 May 2015 has a quick glance across at the tourist boats on the River Spree.

Linlithgow: Bases and masts now in evidence on the Edinburgh & Glasgow route just over a mile east of Linlithgow on 19th May 2015 as a mid-afternoon Edinburgh - Glasgow Queen Street service approaches.

Blackburn: The surviving main station building at Blackburn, fronting on to The Boulevard. The forecourt canopy and the building itself are in very good condition. To the left the much newer platform canopy can be seen, a replacement for the huge train shed that was demolished some years ago.

Blackburn: Sprinter 150146 calls at Blackburn with a service from Blackpool South to Colne in May 2015. From a low point in the 1970s when Blackburn only saw Preston to Colne and Manchester to Blackburn trains it now has frequent regular services on the Clitheroe to Manchester via Bolton route, Blackpool South to Colne, Blackpool North to York and the new services that run from here to Manchester via Burnley and Todmorden.

Lancaster: Life in the fast lane. DRS 66421 takes the Up Fast Line through Lancaster (Castle), ensuring a flying start to the climb of the bank that lies south of the station. The train is the 429P 0428 Coatbridge to Daventry container service.

Buchanan Street Tunnel: Sneaky look inside the access chamber at the North portal of Buchanan street tunnel.

Fylde Junction: Northern Sprinter 150110 swings west at Fylde Junction with a Hazel Grove to Blackpool North stopping service on 19th May 2016. The Lancaster lines can be seen behind the train.

Margam Halt: 60039 emerging from the new over bridge constructed for the Port Talbot relief road with empties returning to Margam Knuckle Yard from Trostre.

Margam Halt: 60039 taking the crossover to Margam Knuckle Yard. The bridge is the original footbridge of Margam Halt opened in 1948 for the Steel Works. It was two island platforms as can be seen from the track alignment.Margam Halt closed 1964. Looking South towards Pyle.

Monk Fryston: View over the embankment on the east side across lines to the closed signal box near Milford South Junction. The box formerly controlled the south to east freight spur connecting to the Leeds Selby line and sidings alongside the outside of the curve, plus a small yard used for wagon maintenance. Just how many sets of points it dealt with is anyones guess, as there are numerous crossovers where the lines from York and the south to east spur run alongside the box to become the Castleford and Pontefract lines. Through workings between York and Sheffield have to move across two tracks at reduced speed.

Haigh: The low and narrow rail overbridge across Haigh Lane, near the former Haigh Station, between Horbury Junction and Barnsley is being prepared for replacement in a 52 hour possession over the Bank Holiday weekend. The land to right has been cleared, and scaffold erected along the far side of the bridge to carry rerouted S&T cabling during the works. A large area on the left has been taken over by Balfour Beatty as a works site, and a pad for construction of the new deck structure. The deck should be moved into final position atop a multi wheel remote control heavy lift unit.

Margam Halt: 150 passing the site of Margam Halt with a Newport to Fishguard Harbour train.

Haigh: Looking over the concrete pad being created by Balfour Beatty on a works site near the former Haigh Station, standing in the centre background. The pad will provide a solid base to facilitate construction of a new bridge deck to replace the 3.4m high and single lane arched skew bridge, off picture to right, over Haigh Lane; and provide around 300mm of extra headroom.

Cowlairs Tunnel: The first of the new slab track peeps out of the Northern portal of the Queen Street tunnel.

Sherburn-in-Elmet: Now withdrawn Pacer 142035 is seen departing from Sherburn in Elmet in May 2016 with the early morning return working to Sheffield from York, which uses the Swinton & Knottingley route. There are only two or three return workings a day along this line, although it would be a useful route to take some of the loading pressure off workings going through Leeds if a regular service was provided. This unit was not scrapped and is now based on the Wensleydale Railway, although its owner's future plans for it are not yet known.

Sherburn-in-Elmet: A view looking north along Sherburn in Elmet station in May 2016. This rural station is used by services between York and Hull, which turn onto the spur leading to the Leeds to Hull line a short distance south of the station, and also the infrequent workings between Sheffield and York that are routed over the Swinton & Knottingley line.

Salford Central: A Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Lime Street stopping service passes Salford Central on 19 May 2017 with Northern Electrics liveried 319386. The EMU is on the lines that lead to Ordsall Jct which at the moment do not have platforms at Salford Central although there have been suggestions that they may be restored.

Deansgate-Castlefield: A Metrolink tram calls at Deansgate-Castlefield whilst working to Manchester Airport on 19 May 2017. Deansgate railway station is to the right and the roof of the former Manchester Central station is in the left background.

Salford Central: A Liverpool to Manchester Victoria stopping service passes Salford Central on the newly re-aligned track through what may become platform 3. Until a few weeks ago these lines between Ordsall Jct and Deal St Jct ran to the right where the digger is located.

Trafford Bar [Tram]: The former MSJ&A street level station building at Trafford Bar in May 2017 looking in need of more than a little TLC. Access to the platforms is via ramps on (the outside) either side of the building.

Trafford Bar [Tram]: One out, one in at Trafford Bar in May 2017 both heading out of town, the first to Manchester Airport and the second to Altrincham. The advantage of 'drive on sight' on tramways!

Navigation Road [Tram]: Metrolink tram 3004 departs from Navigation Road heading to the Etihad Campus in May 2017. On the left is the national rail network platform used by Northern services between Manchester and Chester. On the right is the LMRCA Railway Club with the bowling green in use.

Manchester Victoria: Northern Class 158 waits in one of the two bay platforms at the east end of Manchester Victoria on the afternoon of 19 May 2017. The unit has been internally refurbished and is in the new Northern livery, about to depart to Leeds.

Eskbridge: The substantial skew bridge carrying a minor road over the trackbed of the Penicuik Railway near the site of Eskbridge station (located some 150m further on). Photographed looking south towards the long closed Penicuik terminus on 19 May 2017, with the River North Esk just off picture to the right.

Bolton: A view south along what will become platform 5 at Bolton with work progressing with renewing the coping stones. The remainder of the station is to the left of the photo.

Altrincham: A Metrolink tram has just arrived from Manchester at Altrincham in May 2017. The tram operates from Cornbrook over the former MSJ&A Railway before going onto street running after Deansgate. The platforms on the right are still part of the national rail network serving trains to Chester.

Manchester Exchange Square: The second city crossing of Manchester by Metrolink trams takes passengers from Victoria station to St Peter's Square. Here in front of the Corn Exchange is a tram to East Didsbury at the Exchange Square stop on 19 May 2017. To the right of the photo is the Arndale shopping centre; an interesting contrast of old and new architecture.

Navigation Road: Tram and train both with their next stop at Altrincham, call at Navigation Road on 19 May 2017. The Metrolink tram will terminate there but the Northern Class 150/2 is heading to Chester.

Ordsall Chord: Looking south west from near Salford Central station on 19 May 2017 across the site of the new Ordsall Chord. Since my last visit the large brown girders are now almost complete over Trinity Way with only a short section to be fitted before reaching the new bridge over the River Irwell. See image [[56746]] for a view from the same location 8 months earlier.

Exchange Square [Tram]: A Manchester Metrolink tram to Rochdale arrives at Exchange Square tram stop on 19 May 2017.

Altrincham: Heavy rail and tram meet at Altrincham. Looking west with the line to Chester on the left and the terminus platforms of the Metrolink trams on the right See image [[50065]].

Antigua: In Antigua, we visited a wee museum that had been created at a place called Betty's Hope, an old sugar plantation, but what really caught my eye was the wee 'train' of wagons arranged in a shallow arc in the grass alongside a restored windmill (no track present). Obviously narrow gauge (approx. 2'-0' I reckon), there were no identifying marks on the wagons, only the word 'Gregg' cast into the axlebox covers and the wagon couplings. Some of the wagons had been 'modified' at some point, as indicated by welding (very poor at that) at various locations thereon.

Deansgate Junction: Looking from the front of a Manchester bound tram at Deansgate Jct with the MSJ&A line straight ahead, now used by Metrolink. The track on the right turns right towards Skelton Jct and then at Northenden Jct splits to either head to Stockport or to Hazel Grove High Level Jct.

Drumry: A Dalmuir to Larkhall service calls at Drumry on 19 May. The station opened in 1953 to serve Glasgow Corporation housing on a greenfield site - neighbouring Drumchapel was developed too, but had an existence beforehand as a village.

Greenfaulds: 318 252 pulls into Greenfaulds for the last (brief) leg of the journey to Cumbernauld. Greenfaulds is a community of Cumbernauld.

Lancaster: Viewed from the station footbridge, 37402 waits in Platform 5 at Lancaster with the last scheduled Northern loco-hauled service to Barrow on Saturday 19th May 2018. A Euston bound Pendolino is pulling in to Platform 4.

Easterhouse: A Balloch to Airdrie service calls at Easterhouse on 19 May. The name is rather freighted, but the troubled public housing estate is some distance away and not even visible from the station which is situated in the (untroubled) community of Swinton. The village of Easterhouse unfortunately got in the way of the M8, but the pub remains (wouldn't you know).

Hest Bank: The final run. The driver strikes a nonchalant pose with his arm on the window of 37402 as it takes the last Northern loco hauled train from Lancaster back to Barrow on 19th May 2018. The 1731 (SO) service is seen passing Hest Bank on a glorious afternoon. All good things must come to an end but it has been a wonderful three years. See image [[51329]]

Glasgow Queen Street Low Level: A Dumbarton Central service is caught in the brief gap between tunnels at the east end of Queen Street Low Level. I have been trying to take this shot for years so you can at least be pleased for me. You can see that the usable platforms once extended further east than they now do.

Dunfermline Tram Depot: Stagecoach celebrated 100 years of Dunfermline Tram/Bus Depot with an open day on 19 May 2018. A Bristol Lodekka was among vintage buses operating on the route of the tramway between Dunfermline and Rosyth Dockyard, seen here at St Leonard's. The hedge to the left marks the course of the line, running along the central reservation of the dual carriageway.

Partick: An Edinburgh service calls at busy Partick on Saturday 19 May. Trains are pretty much nose-to-tail here, as at Hyndland which sees exactly the same trains before the lines split again.

Dunfermline Tram Depot: Stagecoach celebrated 100 years of Dunfermline Tram/Bus Depot on 19 May 2018 with an open day. This is the original tram depot, much extended by the bus shed alongside.

Kings Park: A Newton service formed of a brace of doomed Class 314s calls at Kings Park on 19 May. Saturday services would not normally warrant this doubling up, but this was the day of the Scottish FA cup final at Hampden. The scrapping of the 314s (whenever exactly this happens) will see the end of the carmine and cream livery, which has been obsolescent almost as long as it was current.

Dumbarton Central: I was changing trains at Dumbarton and came across this gem, the spectacular restored dome of the former gents toilet at Dumbarton Central, now a military heritage museum which is part of the ex servicemans charity next door. Now that Dumbarton has an Earl again with an interest in the military, perhaps the station will enjoy a Royal visit.

Kings Park: A Newton to Glasgow service, beefed up to six coaches for the Scottish FA cup final, arrives at Kings Park on 19 May before disgorging its load of Motherwell and Celtic fans. The train was going via Maxwell Park and so would not be calling at Mount Florida, the nearest station to Hampden. The front end is unusually mucky - some of the muck being squashed flies on this warm day.

Blunsdon: BR 73/0 E6003 in Blunsdon Station along side the only working BR Class 119 DMU. A Gloucester Cross Country two car set.

High Street: A six-coach Balloch to Airdrie service calls at High Street on Saturday 19 May. The station is becoming increasingly surrounded by student housing; surely no bad thing as it was for so long in the middle of a large gap site.

Dunfermline Tram Depot: Stagecoach celebrated 100 years of Dunfermline Tram/Bus Depot on 19 May2018 by holding an open day. A modern day bus is seen inside the tram depot.

Hayes Knoll: The Swindon and Cricklade Rly held a Diesel Gala weekend on Saturday the 19th May. 09 D3668 departing Hayes Knoll Station.

Blunsdon: A double header departing Blunsdon Station, Ruston PWM 651 & BR 03 D2152

Hayes Knoll: 'Woodbine' a Fowler 0-4-0DM from 1933. Running footplate trips north from Hayes Knoll Station, in between the regular passenger services.

Gleneagles: Welcome to Gleneagles Special Time Zone, in which the attractive vintage clocks are right twice a day. An apologetic note off to the side explains the situation: 'ScotRail apologise for the above clocks being disconnected. This decision was made for safety reasons surrounding the ongoing maintenance of the clocks. Customers are advised to check the Customer Information Screens throughout the Station for time information.'

Penistone: Many changes have taken place around Penistone Station and surrounding railway environs, as seen in the attached view looking west, along the recently cleared of trees trackbed and island platform, of the Sheffield bound platform for the former Manchester to Sheffield and Wath via Woodhead Tunnel electrified line. See image [[49594]] for the comparable view 4 years earlier.

Penistone: The nearest it was possible to get to recreate my photo of 30 years earlier showing the limit of remaining track heading west from Penistone Station, on the former Manchester to Sheffield & Wath via Woodhead Tunnel electrified line, as it awaited lifting after closure of the line. Some catenary support gantries had already been removed See image [[28990]]

Cumbernauld: A Class 318 advances slowly out of Cumbernauld station towards the refuge on a lovely 19 May 2018.

Broomhouse: Looking north along the trackbed at the site of Broomhouse station in May 2018. See image [[49390]] for a similar view before work on the housing development started.

Blackford: A Grangemouth to Aberdeen working heads north on the approach to Blackford Level Crossing.

Penistone: Many changes have taken place around Penistone Station and surrounding railway environs, as seen in the attached view of the location of the former goods shed that was until recently sited alongside the trackbed for the former Manchester to Sheffield and Wath via Woodhead Tunnel electrified line, to left of view, which is now part of the Trans Pennine Trail See image [[49433]] for the comparable view 4 years earlier

Bellshill: The station building at Bellshill dates from the Strathclyde Transport orange era and appears to have an orange roof. However I believe the roof was originally red and has simply faded. Anyway, a child of its time (c1990).

Coatbridge Sunnyside: A sunny Sunnyside on 19 May with a Balloch to Airdrie service. Despite not being very central the station is well-served, with 6 trains a hour each way including all Edinburgh to Helensburgh or Milngavie services.

Bellshill: The 1503 Glasgow Central to Edinburgh semi-fast is normally a two-coach service, but today, 19 May, has been beefed up, probably for the Scottish FA cup final. Both units have recently been refurbished (again). They do look good; a recent correspondent to Metro praised the 'new trains' on the East Kilbride line. They could well be older than the writer ...

Rutherglen: A Whifflet service calls at Rutherglen on 19 May. I've never quite got used to the M74 appearing above the station some years ago, but it has to be said there is surprisingly little traffic noise.

Penistone: A closer view, looking west along the Trans Pennine Trail created along the trackbed of the former Manchester to Sheffield and Wath via Woodhead Tunnel electrified line, of the over bridge, marked as 1/84, as seen in my 30 years earlier view from February 1988 See image [[28990]]

Lancaster: The last scheduled Northern loco hauled service to Lancaster arrives in Platform 5 after the journey from Carlisle on 19th May 2018. Following an eighty minute layover 37402 returned to Barrow-in-Furness.

Balshaw Lane Junction: Northern Class 319 crosses the Down Fast as it makes its way south at Balshaw Lane Jct whilst working a Preston to Liverpool service on 19 May 2018.

Penistone: Many changes have taken place around Penistone Station and surrounding railway environs, as seen in the attached view looking east along the old Sheffield bound platform for the former Manchester to Sheffield and Wath via Woodhead Tunnel electrified main line. Trees have been removed from the trackbed and island platform in recent time See image [[49623]] for the comparable view 4 years earlier.

Cumbernauld: A Glasgow Queen Street to Falkirk Grahamston calls at Cumbernauld on 19 May 2018. These services are due to be electrified soon, and the plan is (or was) to extend at least some of them to Edinburgh. The building in the background was part of the small community which built up around the station in pre-new town days when the station was over two miles from the village of Cumbernauld itself.

Dumbarton Central: 334 012 waits time before forming the 2V64 all stops service to Cumbernauld.

Lancaster: Large logo 37402, in Platform 5 at Lancaster station, waiting to form the last loco hauled service to Barrow-in-Furness on 19th May 2018 - the End of an Era, or at least an Indian Summer, of classic diesel haulage.

Greenfaulds: Access point information signs at Greenfaulds. The choice of locations for directions seems pretty random, and it doesn't say in which direction the (surprising?) gradient rises.

Hamilton Junction: A Motherwell to Milngavie service approaches Newton station on Saturday 19 May. I hope I can be forgiven for getting an insulator slightly in the way but I couldn't really see what I was doing! The single track to the left of the 40 sign allows access to the main line and therefore east side of the Hamilton Circle, but despite what the ScotRail route map tells you has no scheduled service. The track immediately behind it is the reversing stub for the Cathcart Lines trains - when required.

Lancaster: Melancholy Moment. DRS 37402 'Stephen Middlemore 23.12.54 - 8.6.2013' stands in Platform 5 at Lancaster (Castle) station waiting to form the last loco hauled service to Barrow-in-Furness on 19th May 2018. The three years of loco hauled trains to Lancaster in the Sprinter era was a great time but all good things must come to an end. After this date the 37s were confined to the Barrow to Carlisle section and those services ended in January 2019.

Cumbernauld: After spending time in the refuge waiting for a Grahamston train to pass, 318 263 makes its way to the westbound line to form a Dumbarton Central service. While in the siding the driver had climbed up to clean his window. Nice and shiny. For pre-electric days see image [[32668]].

Gleneagles: A Glasgow to Aberdeen service passing at speed through Gleneagles.

Donibristle Platform: 60103 'Flying Scotsman' at Donibristle with the first SRPS 'Forth Circle' of the day on 19th May 2019.

Dalgety Bay: 60103 'Flying Scotsman' climbs away from Dalgety Bay with the second 'Forth Circle' trip of the 19th May 2019.

Donibristle Platform: 66743 with a private 'Royal Scotsman' charter coasts downhill at Donibristile on 19th May 2019.

St Monance: Evidence of the Fife coastal route along the Forth is sparse where agriculture has reclaimed the trackbed in many places. This is evident just west of St Monance where the bridge over the St Monans Burn provides a notable reference point for walkers on the high tide route of the Fife Coastal Path.

Breich: Colin Maclean at the rebuilt, electrified and open Breich station on the 19th of May.

Donibristle Platform: 70813 passes Donibristle with empty cement tanks from Aberdeen Craiginches to Oxwellmains on 19th May 2020. The usual two or three trains a week are reduced to two or three a month during the Corona emergency. Photographed incidental to my daily exercise permitted under emergency coronavirus legislation.

York Place [Tram]: The Sherlock Holmes statue having been removed, Conan Doyle's birthplace is to be occupied by a new tramstop called Picardy Place which will replace the York Place one behind me. That pub may not be unique in being named after a teetotaller but is surely the only one called after a teetotaller who believed in fairies. Photographed incidental to my daily exercise permitted under emergency coronavirus legislation.

Crathes Gravel Pit: OS 2nd Edition 6' map from 1904 showing the extent of the gravel ballast pit at Crathes. This pit location was probably established at the time of construction 1852-53; the station arrived in January 1863 having moved from Mills of Drum. The recommendation to install a siding was first made in a letter to the Deeside Railway Co. Board of Directors by their Resident Engineer, John Willett C.E.:“Aberdeen 26th November 1862 We are in want of Ballast on some parts of the Extension, and before we can do anything it will be necessary to put a siding into the ballast pit at Crathes.” National Records of Scotland BR/DEE/1/3. By the time of the 1863-64 survey for the First Edition OS map it seems to have been removed. The points would most likely have faced the Down direction. By 1904 a large area was being exploited and, as shown, had a siding whose points faced the Up direction west of the station. Large amounts of material were taken from this pit; however the points were removed in June 1914 and this area was closed. By the time of survey for the Third Edition OS map in 1922 the ground was covered by trees. Added by Charlie Niven. With permission of the National Library of Scotland: maps.nls.uk/copyright.html

Didcot Parkway: The Class 769 FLEX units are finally coming into service. GWR 769943, a Bi-Mode MU, rolls into Didcot on 19th May 2021. Originally a BR built 1987-90, Class 319 EMU converted by Brush to operate in either diesel or electric modes. The GWR sets are primarily intended for the Oxford - Reading - Gatwick route and can operate from the overhead and third rail as well as the new on board diesel engines.

North Queensferry: A Fife local bound for Edinburgh calls at North Queensferry on 19 May 2021. It is a considerable climb from near sea level at Inverkeithing to the height of the Forth Bridge here; I've read of a train slipping backwards in the tunnel in steam days with the driver being unaware until he re-emerged from the same tunnel mouth!

Didcot Railway Centre: Great Western Society King 4-6-0 6023 'King Edward II'. The 0-4-0ST in front is an ex-Cardiff Railway, GWR 1338, built by Kitson of Leeds No.3799 of 1898

Didcot Railway Centre: GWR 1340 'Trojan', an Avonside of Bristol 0-4-0ST, No.1386 of 1897. Seen working the Didcot Railway Centre's main line passenger service on 19th May 2021.

Didcot Railway Centre: A nice rake of restored, unfitted GWR freight wagons on display in the Didcot Railway Centre in May 2021.

Didcot Railway Centre: Despite associating the Great Western with green livery, as displayed by 0-4-0ST 1340 'Trojan', the GWR locos seen behind at Didcot sport different paintwork. The Collett 2884 2-8-0 No.3822 is in wartime black and single-chimney 'King' 6023 is in short-lived early BR Blue.

Didcot Parkway: Colas 67023 and 67027 pass through Didcot with a Network Rail track monitoring train on 19th May 2021.

Edinburgh Waverley: A morning Tweedbank to South Gyle snakes its 5 coaches from Platform 1 to the Platform 19 line as it departs Waverley on 19 May 2021. Not surprisingly, it seemed a bit short of the usual commuters for offices around the Gyle area. Meanwhile a rather dusty looking Pikachu peeks at you.

Didcot Parkway: Celebrity Class 37 D6851 (see image [[76905]]) suddenly appeared in Didcot Parkway on 19th May 2021, idled for an hour then headed back north.

Inverkeithing: A class 170 for Edinburgh from the Dunfermline line calls at Inverkeithing on 19 May 2021. The HST seemed to be held up for an unnecessary amount of time to let it into the station, but I'm sure they knew what they were doing.

Great Yarmouth: Foot passengers in Great Yarmouth now have this fine bridge to themselves, but presumably it once carried freight to and from the docks.

Fushiebridge [2nd]: A Sunday morning service on the Borders Railway heads south through Fushiebridge on 19 May 2022.

Reston: The 'ribbon footbridge' of Reston station seen from the south.

Fushiebridge [1st]: A northbound DMU about to run through the site of Fushiebridge station on a fine Sunday morning in the late spring of 2022. ScotRail 158707, forming the 0921 ex-Tweedbank, is half a mile from the Gorebridge stop.

Fushiebridge [1st]: Looking north from Fushiebridge on a fine and sunny 19 May 2022 as a the ScotRail 0921 Tweedbank - Edinburgh approaches its next scheduled stop at Gorebridge. The 158 has just passed signal EMB 275 which controls entry to the 5 mile single line section to Kings Gate. The high point in the left background is the overgrown colliery waste bing (no 1) of the former Emily Pit.

Great Yarmouth: An interesting blue plaque at Great Yarmouth station, formerly Yarmouth Vauxhall, seen in May 2022.

Cowdenbeath North Junction: Freightliner 66570 passes the former Cowdenbeath North Junction with the Thornton Yard - Ravenstruther (for loading) - Millerhill working on 19 May 2022.