Thornaby Shed: A8 4-6-2T no 69869 photographed on Thornaby shed in May 1960, just a month before official withdrawal.

Thornaby Shed: Q6 0-8-0 no 63373, sporting a burned smokebox door, stands amongst a band of brothers at Thornaby in May 1960.

Dee Viaduct: Class V2 60955 crossing Dee viaduct on 17.25 Aberdeen-Glasgow train. 1960

Thornaby Shed: WD Austerity 2-8-0 no 90072 stands in the shed yard at Thornaby in May 1960.

Thornaby Shed: A Sunday morning in the shed yard at Thornaby in May 1960. Resident J27 0-6-0 no 65787 is stabled for the weekend alongside several classmates.

Busby Junction: Black 5 no 44972 about to run south through Busby Junction on 29 May 1964. The train is the 5.38pm Glasgow St Enoch - Kilmarnock local.

Busby Junction: One of Kingmoor shed's Black 5 4-6-0s no 44899 heads south past Busby Junction on 29 May 1964 with a 'Radio Times' van train. See image [[44312]]

Busby Junction: Britannia Pacific 70002 Geoffrey Chaucer passing Busby Junction on 29 May 1964 with the 5.30pm Glasgow St Enoch - Carlisle.

Busby Junction: Driver of 80116 smokes his pipe at Busby Jct en route to East Kilbride.

Hairmyres: Standard Class 5 4-6-0 73106 climbing to Hairmyres on 29 May 1965 with empty stock for East Kilbride.

Craigendoran Pier: Steamers at Craigendoran Pier, believed to be on 29th May 1965. They are the 'Waverley', 'Caledonia' and 'Maid of Argyll'.

Hairmyres: 73106 climbs to Hairmyres with empty stock.

Loch Long: TS 'Duchess of Hamilton' makes a fine sight as she emerges from Loch Long on a charter sailing. The military installations at Coulport can be seen on the far side of the loch. The 'Cobbler', of unmistakable outline, and Beinn Narnain are clear in the distance on this fine early summer day. The date is not entirely certain but believed to be 29th May 1965.

Carlisle Kingmoor MPD: 29 May 1966 and the unique Black 5 with Stephenson valve gear is preparing to leave its home shed of Carlisle Kingmoor.

Carlisle Upperby Shed: The sun has caught push-pull fitted Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T 41222 as it sits on the turntable in the Carlisle Upperby roundhouse on 29 May 1966. Although it looks in good nick, its days were probably numbered, being withdrawn by the end of the year.

Belses: This shot of a Class 08 heading north through Belses station with a track recovery train is thought to have been taken during the period between the lifting of both tracks south of Belses on 29th May 1971 and north of Belses on 7th June 1971. Oliver Hudson, courtesy of Rae Montgomery. This photograph is from David Spaven's latest book Border Union Dream: the inside story of Britain's boldest railway preservation bid.

Greskine Signal Box: A northbound train climbing Beattock Bank in May 1972 hauled by a class 86 locomotive.

Stubbins: Last train of the day and the last week of operation on the Rawtenstall branch. The sun is setting on the Irwell Valley as a Cravens DMU heads north from the station at Stubbins and passes through the hamlet of Strongstry.

Norwich Victoria: Before the Norwich Victoria coal depot was closed in the 1980s and the site given over to a supermarket, this derelict signal box was to be found alongside the coal near the Southwell Road bridge. Its last use was probably in the 1960s when the Norwich Victoria General Goods Depot was in operation. This was the state of decay on 29th May 1976.

Norwich Victoria: The former branch to Norwich Victoria as viewed from Southwell Road bridge on 29th May 1976, looking towards Trowse Upper Junction. At that date, the line was still in use serving a coal depot on the other side of the bridge and a recent delivery of wagons awaiting the depot’s shunting loco can be seen See image [[26087]]. After closure of the depot in the 1980s, the industrial site on the right became a car park and then a housing estate, the trackbed a cycleway and footpath.

Bury St Edmonds: A Cravens/Gloucester hybrid DMU forming an Ipswich to Cambridge service calls at Bury St Edmunds on 29th May 1978. The wide gap between the platforms was the legacy of the original track layout by which, until the 1960s, both platforms were served by side loops off a central double tracked main line.

Wolferton: Formerly used by Royals when visting Sandringham, this suitably impressive station is pictured in May 1978 nine years after closure. It had been on an intermediate stop on the line between Kings Lynn and Hunstanton. After closure, the premises became a museum. Lined up on the platform edge under the canopy are the name boards from the other signal boxes on the route, a sign of more trusting times….. The view is south towards Kings Lynn.

Hadfield: 76027+76014 light engine at Hadfield in May 1981.

Rhiwfron Halt: When expertly handled, oil-firing should be virtually smoke-free, but fortunately for the photographer this is not always the case! No. 9 Prince of Wales clags its way out of the woods high above the River Rheidol near Rhiwfron Halt with the morning Aberystwyth - Devil's Bridge working on 29th May 1984.

Danby: The old station at Danby on the Esk Valley line. Photographed in May 1987 looking east towards Whitby.

Maryhill Park Junction [1st]: View west from the end of the (then) closed Maryhill station of the burned signal box and its replacement to the left.

Bedford: Preserved and refurbished class 306 EMU no 306017 on display at Bedford Open Day in May 1988. This sole survivor of the class is now part of the national collection. For a photograph showing the final 306 tour see image [[48405]].

Harthope Viaduct: A Class 87 races north over Harthope viaduct and the A74 dual carriageway at the end of May 1992 with a service for Glasgow Central.

Cardross: A Class 320 nears Ferry Road bridge, Cardross, with a service to Helensburgh Central in May 1993.

Wanton Walls Junction [2nd]: The connection between the Monktonhall to Niddrie West line and the new Millerhill 'S' was called Wanton Walls Junction, the name pinched (why?) from the original Wanton Walls a mile to the west. The later incarnation was lifted with the older line in 1984, but this sign was still there 11 years on. Thanks to Ewan Crawford for help with this one.

Wemyss Bay: 303 370 stands at Wemyss Bay in May 1999.

Carlisle: Royal Mail stock stabled alongside the west wall at Carlisle station on 29 May 2002. Locomotive is 90130 Fretconnection in modified BR RfD / SNCF livery.

Dunkeld and Birnam: View north over Dunkeld station in May 2003.

Dunkeld and Birnam: A southbound train leaves Dunkeld on an Inverness - Glasgow Queen Street service in May 2003 after a shower of rain.

Dunkeld and Birnam: An Inverness - Glasgow Queen Street service about to leave Dunkeld on a damp 29 May 2003.

Whittingham: Whittingham station and goods shed in May 2004 looking north towards Wooler.

Whittingham: Remarkably well preserved ticket windows at the long abandoned station at Whittingham, Northumberland, in May 2004. The last ticket was issued here in September 1930.

Whittingham: Scene at Whittingham station, Northumberland, on 29 May 2004. View is north along the island platform towards Wooler, with the old goods shed standing on the left. Whittingham station closed to passengers in September 1930.

Edlingham: View north over Edlingham Viaduct, Northumberland, in May 2004, half a century after closure of the line.

Edlingham: This section of the NER country branch line linking Alnwick and Coldstream that ran for 40 miles or so through central Northumberland closed in 1953, with the northern section as far as Wooler surviving until 1965. The first station out from Alnwick was Edlingham (closed 1930) where, just west of the station, the line crossed the Edlingham Burn on a tall viaduct near the ruins of Edlingham Castle, essentially a fortified manor house thought to date from 1295. The castle and viaduct are seen here looking east in May 2004. The meandering nature of this country byway is well illustrated by the fact that, while Coldsteam lies some 40 miles north west of Alnwick, the hamlet of Edlingham is just over 5 miles south west!

Whittingham: The down platform of Whittingham station, Northumberland, photographed looking south in May 2004. The station, on the Alnwick - Cornhill line, closed to passengers in 1930. See image [[22386]] [Ref Query 4213]

Larkhall Central: Larkhall during track laying.

Lochgelly: A deserted Lochgelly station on a warm and pleasant May afternoon in 2005. View is south west towards Cowdenbeath.

Cardenden: A Fife Circle DMU slows on the approach to Cardenden station from the north east. The train is on its way back to Waverley on a pleasant May afternoon in 2005.

Maxwelltown: View west over the site of the former Maxwelltown station on 29 May 2007. Part of the old up platform supports a garden fence with the refurbished station house on the right. Surviving track from the siding that once served the fuel distribution depot can be seen beyond the house. The old trackbed is now part of the Maxwelltown Railway Path.
See query 2271

Cardross: A Glasgow bound Class 334 crosses the causeway at Ardoch east of Cardross on 29 May 2007. The River Clyde is at the bottom of the embankment on the right.

Garroch Viaduct: KEEP OUT - DANGEROUS STRUCTURE. So reads the BRB(R) warning sign attached to the fenced off piers of Garroch Viaduct, located two miles west of Dumfries station on the former Port Road to Stranraer. While most of the route closed in 1965 the viaduct continued in use for a further 29 years as part of a short stub from Dumfries serving the ICI plant at Cargenbridge, off to the right (now Cargenbridge Business Park). The steps on the left lead up to the old trackbed, now part of the Maxwellton Railway Path. See image [[27186]]

Dalbeattie: Photograph taken in part of the large former goods yard at Dalbeattie in May 2007. View is north, showing the west end of the old down platform with its stepped access to the yard. All rail operations came to an end here in 1965 and much of the area is now occupied by housing.

Maxwelltown: View east from Terregles Road, Maxwelltown, looking towards Dumfries on 29 May 2007, following conversion of the old trackbed into what has now become the 'Maxwelltown Railway Path'. For the same view four years earlier see [[5364]].

Dalbeattie: Over the fence! View west along a surviving section of the up platform at Dalbeattie in May 2007. This inaccessible section of the old station site now appears to be part of private commercial premises. Photographed through a gap in the metal gate see image [[15413]].

Dalbeattie: View west from Station Road, Dalbeattie, between the truncated remains of the infilled platforms in May 2007. Part of what was the up (Dumfries bound) platform now lies behind the fence on the right see image [[15412]] with the site of the old goods yard over to the left.

Dalbeattie: Remains at Dalbeattie in May 2007 looking east towards Dumfries. Up ahead Station Road has been extended since closure and now runs through the infilled platforms. A large goods yard once stood off to the right, with steps at the western end of the platform providing a pedestrian access point (see [[66850]]). Part of the former station master's house can be seen beyond the trees in the right background.

Garroch Viaduct: The cordoned off deck of Garroch Viaduct, 2 miles south west of Dumfries, seen looking through the security fence towards Stranraer in May 2007. The viaduct carried traffic on the Port Road until closure of the line as a through route in 1965, following which it continued for many years to serve the ICI plant that stood in the right background (much of the area is now a business park). Final closure of this remaining section came in 1994. The Maxwelltown Railway Path now occupies the old trackbed from a point just behind the camera back to Dumfries. (The western access to the path can be seen bottom right.) See image [[15525]].

Dalbeattie: Remains at Dalbeattie in May 2007 looking east towards Station Road. The infilled platforms are on the left of the picture, while the goods yard was to the right. 'Station House' can be seen through the trees on the other side of Station Road. See image [[15413]] [Ref query 1665]

Cardross: 334039 passes with a Helensburgh - Drumgelloch service on 29 May near Ardoch.

Maxwelltown: The former Maxwelltown station looking west towards Stranraer on 29 May 2007. The track has been lifted although the platforms and station building (now refurbished and occupied) can be seen behind the fence alongside what has now become the Maxwelltown Railway Path. A Scottish Oils depot occupies the site of the old goods yard. See image [[4422]].

Dalbeattie: The cut-back remains of Dalbeattie station looking north west from Station Road in the spring of 2007. View over part of the large goods yard once located to the south of the station. Dalbeattie closed in June 1965. See image [[15413]] [Ref query 31 October 2018]

Loch Tay: 43 years after final closure in 1965 several wooden sleepers still sit in the ash ballast trackbed that is now a footpath from Killin to Loch Tay. View towards Killin at approx Map Ref NN 580343

Loch Tay: Surviving telegraph pole alongside the trackbed and identical to that seen in picture 16399. Apart from occasional specials this section of track was only used to access the locoshed at Loch Tay after closure to passengers in 1939. View towards Killin at approx Map Ref NN 576339

Carmuirs West Junction: Alphaline liveried, but carrying First ScotRail branding. 158867 photographed passing Carmuirs West Junction signal box on 29 May 2008.

Killin [2nd]: Killin station itself is not the picturesque location it once was with a toilet block where the station building stood and a council depot in the goods yard. However, over forty years after closure in 1965, the trackbed towards Loch Tay still makes an excellent country walk. Map Ref NN 575333 See image [[23665]] for a 'Then and Now' comparison with the station in operation.

Dochart Viaduct: Crumbling refuge and parapet on Dochart Viaduct, now protected by a deer fence, with the view downstream towards Loch Tay. The refuges, built out slightly from the bridge, can be seen from below as in pictures 19271 and 19946.

Killin Viaduct: The railway bridge over the River Lochay looking towards Loch Tay. This bridge can just be seen in the 1963 picture No.6552 immediately beyond the goods yard points.

Alloa: Newly re-opened Alloa sees 170474 standing in the platform road while the freight only line to Longannet and beyond runs behind. At this early date it was projected that the new line would carry 155,000 passengers in its first year. In fact the trains were used by 400,000 poeple and frequencies and destinations were quickly increased - a real success story.

Stirling: 60031 comes off the Alloa line and runs light through Platform 9 at Stirling, presumably on a crew training run. The loco had followed the 1541 Alloa to Glasgow service along the new line.

Killin Viaduct: A view back over the River Lochay bridge towards Killin station site and up the hill towards the Dochart viaduct. The goods yard entrance (now the Council yard) was immediately beyond the bridge on the right and the station platform just a little further on from there.

Dochart Viaduct: A lot more trees have grown since my hero Derek Cross photographed the Killin branch train on the Dochart Viaduct but it is still possible to see this impressive structure from the river bank.

Dochart Viaduct: The trackbed over the Dochart viaduct viewed towards Killin station. Deer fencing has been fitted on both sides as the walls are very low. The line can be walked from here through the station and on to Loch Tay. Map Ref NN574327

Fleetwood Ferry [Tram]: Blackpool Balloon Car No. 712, dating from the 1930s and still in broadly original condition, pulls up at Fleetwood Ferry Terminal on a driver training run. The passenger ferry for Knott End, only a short distance away across the Wyre Estuary, is now operating regularly again and leaves from a jetty just through the arch by the tram stop.

Blantyre: Lanark bound 334 005 departs from Blantyre on 29 May.

Uddingston: Lanark bound 334 030 calls at Uddingston on 29 May 2009.

Uddingston: 318 262 about to pull away from the Uddingston stop on 29 May.

Burntisland: EWS 67 025 rolls into Burntisland on 29 May 2009 with the evening EWS-stocked Fife Outer Circle service.

Thornton-Cleveleys: The Fleetwood line slumbers on, ten years after the last goods train ran. This is School Road crossing, just south of Thornton Cleveleys station looking towards Poulton, showing the former crossing keeper's cottage.

Port Melbourne: Station Pier at Port Melbourne in May 2009. Opened in 1854, and originally known as Railway Pier, the 4.5km link from Melbourne's Flinders Street station was one of the first significant railways in Australia. The lines now stop short of the pier and today form part of Melbourne's large tram network. The pier is used by the Tasmania Ferry.

Port Melbourne: C class (Citadis) tram at Port Melbourne terminus on the site of the old heavy rail station on 29 May 2009. Trams run on former electrified heavy rail formations and then on to street running in the city centre.

Thornton-Cleveleys: Still mothballed, it is hard to believe that the Fleetwood branch was formerly a double track main line carrying through express fish trains to London. Passenger trains finally petered out in 1970 but freight continued for many years to both Fleetwood Power Station and the ICI Hillhouse complex at Burn Naze. The last goods train ran in 1999. This view is to the north from School Road crossing and, before vegetation took hold, Thornton Cleveleys station would have been visible from here.

Broadwater: Millennium tram 709 on the level crossing at Broadwater heading for Fleetwood in 2009. Broadwater changed significantly during the tramway refurbishment see image [[38274]] but although 709 was one of a number of double deckers selected for modifications to allow them to operate regular services to the new tram stops the conversion wasn't carried out and it remains in the condition seen here but is stored and not in service.

Geilston Level Crossing: 320302 heads west from Cardross at Geilston LC on 29 May 2010. The site of the former crossing keepers cottage and garden can be seen to the right of the train.

Geilston Level Crossing: Looking west from Geilston level crossing near Cardross as 320321 approaches during the early evening of 29 May 2010 on a Helensburgh to Airdrie service.

Cardross: An eastbound Class 320 has just departed from Cardross on 29 May 2010 and is about to pass under the footbridge at the bottom of Peel Street.

Dalgety Bay: 47760 leads the SRPS North Berwick - Kyle of Lochalsh charter uphill from Dalgety Bay on 29 May 2010.  47826 was bringing up the rear of the train.

Cardross: 320321 heads west from Cardross on 29 May 2010 with a service to Helensburgh Central. Compare with the photograph taken from almost the same spot in the mid 1970s see image [[11104]]. The OHLE position and type of structure does help to position the shot. The entire goods yard has now been built on and the large green building in the sawmill blocks the view of the station footbridge.

Cardross Station Crossing: 320317 in SPTE carmine & cream, with a Glasgow bound service, approaches Cardross in May 2010.

Bainfield Level Crossing: 320317 crosses Bainfield level crossing on the approach to Cardross on 29 May with a service for Helensburgh Central.

Dunaskin Platform: NCB Ayrshire Area no.10 departs from Dunaskin platform propelling the ARPG brake van to the headshunt on 29 May 2011.

Dunaskin Platform: The Scottish Industrial Railway Museum is operated by the Ayshire Railway Preservation Group and on 29 May 2011 former NCB Ayrshire Area No.10, an Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST, operated brake van trips up the headshunt from their station at Dunaskin. The line nearest the camera is the former line to Dalmellington and the currently mothballed Scottish Coal track to the Chalmerston loading point.

Midsomer Norton South: The volunteers on this preserved station have worked wonders - including the rebuilding of this signal box from half way up the stonework, which was all that was left after demolition.

Midsomer Norton: Be careful asking for a 'wee dram' at this supermarket - you may need to get an extra-strong carrier bag. I counted seven suspiciously immaculate drams in various parts of Midsomer - I suspect someone is building new ones, purely for use as monuments to the area's coalmining past.

Wemyss Bay: 380008 waits on platform 2 at Wemyss Bay with the 1555 hrs departure to Glasgow Central on 29 May 2011.

Midsomer Norton South: Period transport in a very S&D colour outside the preserved station at Midsomer Norton. No-one could explain to me why an Austin Six is bigger than an Austin Seven.

York: The 08.30 East Coast service ex-Edinburgh Waverley arrives at York's platform 5 on 29 May 2011. The train is scheduled to leave here at 10.55 on a 1 hour 59 minute run to London Kings Cross.

Scottish Industrial Railway Centre: Scottish Grain Distillers of Windygates, Fife, wagon number 46, standing in the Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group sidings at Dunaskin on 29 May 2011. See image [[40579.]]

Scottish Industrial Railway Centre: Narrow gauge locomotive ex-NCB Killoch at ARPG Dunaskin in May 2011.

Bath Spa: A fairly typical selection of traditional railway arch businesses at Bath Spa - not looking particularly thriving in this case. View is towards Bristol on 29 May 2011.

Totnes (Littlehempston): 5526 at Totnes on 29 May waiting to propel the GWR Autocoaches for Buckfastleigh.

Wemyss Bay: 380008 waits at platform 2 Wemyss Bay on 29 May 2011 before returning to Glasgow Central. Viewed from near the buffer stops looking north.

Wemyss Bay: A view across the parking area for the car ferry at Wemyss Bay railway Station on 29 May 2011.

Bitton: Stop me if I'm missing something, but shouldn't the hut be built over the ground frame, to keep you dry while you're switching points? Scene at Bitton on the Avon Valley Railway in May 2011. The tarmac visible beyond the fence is the bikepath, which switches sides at this point, continuing towards Bath past Avon Riverside halt see image [[22957]].

Midsomer Norton South: Motive power on the nascent New S&D comprised this industrial shunter on 29th May 2011. The railway staff cheerfully admitted that its TOPS number was fictitious!

Newcraighall: Artist Kenny Munro, from Craigmillar Community Arts Centre, with his sculpture at Newcraighall station on 29 May 2012.

Newcraighall: ScotRail's external relations manager John Yellowlees, Bill Thomson and Neil Fraser from the Rotary Club of Portobello, and artist Kenny Munro, with the new sculpture at Newcraighall station.

Aberystwyth Cliff Railway Lower Station: Frontage of the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway lower base station which is located just off the north end of the esplanade by the rear of Aberystwyth University's large student quarters building.

Bendigo: Could be on the SVR or other 'heritage' line - it is in fact Bendigo North in May 2013. This is the end of TPWS from Melbourne which was installed when the Regional Fast Rail Project was undertaken by VR.

Llandudno Junction: An ATW Class 158 has just arrived with a service from Llandudno at the west facing bay platform at Llandudno Junction on 29 May 2013.

Britannia Bridge: About to cross the Britannia Bridge over the Menai Strait westbound on 29 May 2013. Originally a tubular bridge designed by Robert Stephenson, it was rebuilt after a major fire in 1970. A later addition was a road deck for the A55 trunk road. At each end of the bridge is a pair of limestone lions couchant, an example of which can be seen on the right.

Bangor: Bangor Signal Box sits in a cutting at the north-west side of the station. It is an LNW Type 5 box but dates from 1923.

Holyhead: An ATW service arrives at platform 2 at Holyhead on 29 May 2013. Platform 3 is to the right outside the train shed while platform 1 is on the other side of the access road to the left.

Conwy: A view from the train of the eastern portal of the Conwy tubular bridge on 29 May 2013. The white splash marks on the carriage were courtesy of the Dollands Moor to Irvine china clay train that had pulled up alongside us at Warrington Bank Quay!

Bendigo: View south over Bendigo station, Victoria, on 29 May 2013.

Preston (Ribble Branch): W&M Railbus E79960 will run on Ribble Steam Railway school holiday services every Wednesday from 31st July and throughout August. A £6 Adult ticket for unlimited trips on this 55 year old vehicle, and access to the museum and workshops, is good value. The railbus is seen here on Lockside Rd level crossing with a May 2013 Half Term service.

Bendigo: A good example of transport co-ordination, Bendigo Station with all its bus stances in May 2013. Bendigo was once the centre of a network of branches but buses have taken over. To find the actual station entrance, look above the red vehicle.

Strand Road Exchange Sidings: Class 60s still make occasional visits to Preston Docks with the Lindsey bitumen tanks and Tata Steel liveried 60099 is seen here running round at Strand Road exchange sidings having just arrived with the tanks seen on the left. Hidden behind the main line loco is a Ribble Rail Sentinel shunter waiting to haul the new arrivals to the Total terminal while 60099 will pick up the empties from the centre road for the run back to Lincolnshire.

Bangor: A Virgin Voyager stands on the up main line at Bangor on 29 May 2013 having arrived earlier with the 0810 from London Euston. It will soon move into the adjacent up platform and form the 1224 back to Euston.

Bendigo: The 07.42 Melbourne Southern Cross to Eaglehawk headed by N458 City of Maryborough awaits its departure time at Bendigo on 29 May 2013. At the other platform a VLocity dmu is about to leave ecs for the sidings.

Gaerwen: Passing Gaerwen SB, Anglesey, on a westbound train in May 2013. This was the junction of the branch to Amlwch and although the track is still in place on the branch, the old connection to the mainline (just beyond the SB) has been removed. Gaerwen station, closed in 1966, also stood here.

Blaenau Ffestiniog [FR]: A view over the Ffestiniog Railway platforms at Blaenau Ffestiniog, adjacent to the mainline station which is out of view on the left of the train.

Wigan Wallgate: The signal box at Wigan Wallgate, standing between the lines to Southport and Crosby just west of the WCML. Photographed in May 2013 from a passing Southport to Wigan train.

North Llanrwst: Having passed the Llandudno bound service train at North Llanrwst, a tour train enters the single line to Blaenau Ffestiniog on 29 May 2013. The step box on the platform reminded me of stations on the Highland Railway where platforms were similarly rather low compared to the doorway into the carriages.

Llandudno Junction: Llandudno Jct SB, seen from a passing westbound train on 29 May 2013. This box is a BR (LMR) Type 15 dating from 1985 but was refurbished and re-windowed in the first decade of the 21st century.

Rhyl: Rhyl No.1 signalbox, seen from a westbound train in May 2013.

Holyhead: A view south over Holyhead station from the Celtic Gateway Bridge in May 2013 with 47580 having arrived with a railtour from Southport.

Bendigo: The British style main signal box (plus sunshade) at Bendigo, Victoria, in May 2013. The box is out of use, with traffic now controlled centrally.

Oxenholme: Colas Rail 56094 approaching Oxenholme on 29 May with the Carlisle - Chirk 'logs'.

Carlisle: TransPennine 350403 pauses at Carlisle on 29 May with the 10.08 Edinburgh - Manchester Airport service.

Windermere: 185144 on the branch shuttle at Windermere on 29 May, with the former train shed in the background, now converted into a supermarket.

Oxenholme: A Glasgow - Euston Pendolino draws away from Oxenholme on 29 May 2014.

Oxenholme: TransPennine 185144 on the Windermere branch shuttle at Oxenholme on 29 May.

Carlisle: DRS 57307 Lady Penelope in bay platform 8 at the north end of Carlisle Station on 29 May 2014.

Fushiebridge Junction: The points at the northern end of the double track Gorebridge - Tynehead section of the Borders Railway. Long lens view north from Fushiebridge on 29 May 2015, with Gorebridge station just beyond Lady Brae road bridge in the left background. Note the new footbridge (not yet open). The yellow notice reads 'STOP - points 532 - Contact BAM RLC before continuing'.

Heriot: The site of Heriot station (1848-1969), photographed looking north from the bridge carrying the new road giving access to the village from the A7. The former level crossing has been replaced by a pedestrian subway, the eastern entrance to which is visible on the right. The old station building which stood to the north of the level crossing has been demolished, as has the old up platform.

Fountainhall: A 'pick-up freight' calls at Fountainhall on 29 May 2015. Photograph taken looking south from the bridge carrying the new road from the A7. The old road now stops in front of the station house just short of the former level crossing on which the 'train' is standing. See image [[28512]]

Fushiebridge [2nd]: The station site at Fushiebridge in May 2015, with little now remaining to show a station ever existed here (given the transformation over the previous two years) see image [[42741]].

Ross-on-Wye: As well as the engine shed see image [[36367]] the Ross-on-Wye goods shed also survives next to the recycling centre. The trackbed west of here is now occupied by a Morrisons supermarket. The station site itself is an industrial estate - but a replica of the station building was built by the Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster. [Ref query 21633]

Hinderwell: Looking south from a by-passed section of the A174 coast road, showing the low embankment for the track of the former Whitby to Loftus line which previously crossed a bridge across the old section of coast road off view to right. See image [[55782]]. The line then ran to the rear of properties in Hinderwell village, passing over a level crossing across Browns Terrace, as in image [[55659]], to enter the station. It then re-crossed the A174, below a humped road overbridge, after leaving the station which was sited alongside the goods yard south of the village See image [[27126]].

Hinderwell: Looking north along a now blocked and by-passed section of the A174 coast road, where a rail overbridge crossed the road around midway between Hinderwell and Staithes stations. The now chamfered off end of the embankment running from Hinderwell, see image [[55506]], can be seen ending to the left of the road, with the present section of the A174 now crossing the former trackbed on the level just beyond the trees to the right.

Freshford: As the Germans say, the fascination is in the detail. This treadle is used to hold the gate open, or to release it to be closed, on the Northbound platform 1 at Freshford. Ironically, it is in perfect working order; but is never operated, as the gate is permanently open.

Freshford: Freshford in bloom [and in less of a rush than image 55150]; view looks South, towards the coast.

Hinderwell: The old crossing gate and gateposts are still extant on the north side of Browns Terrace, Hinderwell, and are complete with an intact latching mechanism on the closing post. View is north along the, now partially blocked, trackbed heading towards the next station at Staithes some 3Km beyond. See image [[55498]] for a view of the gate from the other side over 25 years earlier.

Chard Central: A somewhat unadopted section of the Chard branch trackbed (neither footpath nor road) but unfortunately behind a padlocked gate. View looks South towards the former GWR station.

Jinshanwei: Jinshanwei Station with two CRH2 units on this high speed commuter line linking with Shanghai. The station architecture is typically impressive and four platforms are provided for a three trains per hour service. On the right train C3659 has just arrived from Shanghai South while train C3066, the 13.21 Jinshanwei to Shanghai South, awaits departure on the adjacent platform.

Dysart: Failure of the booked 60056 in Aberdeen meant Colas had to dispatch 70802 from Grangemouth to bring the cement empties south. With a friendly wave from the driver, 70802 nears Dysart with 60056 just visible dead on the rear. 29 May.

Jinshanwei: Jinshan Railway. Jinshanwei Station. Two CRH2 units - on the right train C3659 has just arrived from Shanghai South while train C3066, the 13.21 Jinshanwei to Shanghai South awaits departure on the adjacent platform.

Corstorphine [2nd]: It would would be nice if this cafe, The Chocolate Station, were occupying the old station building at Corstorphine but unfortunately all trace of that and its platforms were swept away decades ago. The station was a little further south of this spot in Station Road. Good to know the cafe owner has some sense of heritage.

Carluke: 320311 calls at Carluke whilst working a Glasgow to Lanark service on the morning of 29 May 2017.

Xinqiao: Grab shot of a 16 car CRH2 train speeding south on the Shanghai-Hangzhou High Speed railway in the direction of Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province. Taken from train C3659 at Xinqiao Station heading from Shanghai South to Jinshanwei.

Lanark: The driver of 320416 looks back as the doors are closed on the 1151 hrs service from Lanark to Glasgow Central on 29 May 2017.

Lanark: 320314, waiting to depart from Lanark with a service to Glasgow as it approached midday on 29 May 2017.

Xinqiao: Jinshan Railway. Grab shot of US-style road-swicther at an engineer's siding near Xinqiao en route from Shanghai to Jinshanwei on train C3659.

Carluke: Class 320s at Carluke on 29 May 2017. On the left a Glasgow bound service arrives while on the right a Lanark bound service waits to depart.

Shanghai South Station: Train C3659, the 12.07 Shanghai South to Jinshanwei, awaits departure on platform 11. Line 3 Metro lies behind. Restrictions on platform access beyond this point prevented a shot down the length of the train. The Jinshan Railway is a high speed commuter line, built in 2012, running 56.4km between Shanghai and Jinshanwei. Although it uses CRH2A 8 car high speed train stock, speed is limited to 160km/h and it is treated as an extension of the metro so it is possible to use public transport cards on the line - the single fare is 10CNY - approximately �1.10 - which also enables you to sit in first class as the stock is declassified for this service. There are around 2-3 trains each hour and the service pattern is not regular interval. There is a mix of non-stop (32 minute); semi-fast (43 minute); and all stops (60 minute) services. Shanghai South is also the station for long distance conventional trains to southern China, for example, Shenzhen, and destinations in Hainan.

Chard Central: Chard had two stations - the LSWR station has gone, but the GWR station has a new life as a shop. Notice how the arches which were originally on an outside wall of the train shed are now openings into a shop extension. View looks North.

Siracusa: Trenitalia electric locomotive 464-150 stands near the buffers at Syracuse prior to propelling a push pull service up the east coast of Sicily to Catania and Messina on 29th May 2018. Syracuse is a terminal station for the electrified line from Messina and also for diesel services from rural southern Sicily.

Siracusa: At the rear of the main station in Syracuse is a disused branch line to the old Stazione al Porto harbour station. The rails are in place, although partially covered in tarmac where it runs through the city bus station. Italian 2-8-0 740-452 stands on the stub end of this old branch, ostensibly preserved but not particularly well cared for although it is intact including cab gauges.

Pulvermühle Viaduct: Viaduct in Luxembourg on 29/5/18. Compare with see image [[30442]].

Perth: Trees have been completely cleared beyond Platform 7, the west side of Perth station, to reveal Glover Street beyond and some long disused track. 29th May 2019.

Euxton Balshaw Lane: BR pacific no. 70000 'Britannia' hurries north at Euxton Balshaw Lane on 29 May 2019 with the first 'Fellsman' railtour of the season. 2019 has seen Saphos Trains taking over the running of this tour and it now runs from Crewe, rather than Lancaster, to Carlisle over the S&C.

Perth: An Inverness to Glasgow service pulls into Perth's nice long Platform 4 on 29 May 2019. The train was announced as skip-stopping Gleneagles, Dunblane and Bridge of Allan. ScotRail recently put its poor punctuality down to having to avoid this practice. It didn't seem to get the scorn it deserved for effectively blaming delays on having to stop for passengers.

Farington Junction: It is a long time since regular through passenger services ran between Liverpool and Glasgow but they are returning and the May 2019 timetable has some new paths. TPE 397003 was training/testing between Lime Street and Carlisle when seen passing Farington Junction on the Down Slow on 29th May 2019.

Farington Junction: 70000 'Britannia' snakes across the four WCML tracks at Farington Junction to take the East Lancashire line with a 'Fellsman' excursion from Crewe to Carlisle on 29th May 2019.

Perth: Perth station in 2019 showing tree cutting to the west of the station. Glover Street is off to the left and the view looks north.

Pitlochry: The Kingdom of HSTs has not yet cometh to the Highland Main Line with two Up and two Down trains in succession formed of 170s. The 1224 departures are seen at Pitlochry on 29 May 2019 looking north. The station has suddenly moved into the 21st century and is bristling with LED lights, CCTV, multi-mode information screens and saturation PA.

Perth: Travelines. Since January this year, Perth Station has a second refreshment counter, on Platform 4.

Perth: A Glasgow to Inverness 170 makes the slow approach to Perth on 29 May 2019. Notice the bothy with its fancy chimney; like much of the station it seems to belong to another age. Wouldn't you just love to be holed up there on a freezing day in front of a blazing grate? OK, maybe not.

Farington Junction: 47501 (D1944) 'Craftsman,' working light engine from Crewe to Carlisle in support of the 'Fellsman' steam excursion, passing Farington Junction on 29th May 2019. The following train was a brand new TPE Class 397 EMU - quite a contrast.

Perth Holding Sidings: The results of a recent 'chainsaw massacre' have opened up this view of Perth from the west. This area was latterly the holding sidings and before that the down carriage shed and goods bypass.

Pitlochry: The platforms at Pitlochry may have been transformed recently, but the old lattice footbridge (the sort with the alarmingly low parapet) has been allowed to stay. It gives me this view of the 1224 to Inverness pulling in to while simultaneous southbound departure approaches behind me. I'm guessing that the 'SJP' signal designator is Stanley Junction to Pitlochry even though the (for now) manually signalled Dunkeld is in between.

Perth: Trains waiting to depart both Platforms 5 and 6 at Perth? Not quite; the next Edinburgh service was slated to depart Platform 6 (left) but changed to the more usual 5 and the set apparently abandoned without changing to tail lights. The listed status of Perth station seems also to apply to the paintwork which surely goes back to the days of steam.

Stratton: Hitachi 800-321, with an eastbound Paddington service, passing Stratton near Swindon on 29th May 2020.

Pilton Junction East: Photograph of an information board on the former CR Leith North branch. As well as gripping stuff about esparto grass at Granton Harbour it shows an aerial photo of the rail-served Bruce Peebles plant a little further east, beyond East Pilton Halt. As you can see the place came to a rather dramatic end in 1999 and the area was developed for housing.

Granton Gasworks [Station]: The building over the workers' platform (not a station building in the usual sense) was supposed to have been brought within the Waterfront development but that seems to have ground to a halt several years ago. The site is looking increasingly forlorn and vegetation-choked. This view looks south. The platform line went through the building; the arches were bricked up when the line was lifted and the building was used for many more years.

Stratton: Freightliner 66522, eastbound on the GWR main line, passing Stratton on the eastern edge of Swindon at 1130 hours (45 minutes early) on 29th May 2020. The train is the Wentloog to Felixstowe intermodal (Wentloog is a Freightliner depot located between Cardiff and Newport).
See query 2294

Crew Junction: Site of the small yard at Crew Junction, looking south from the buffers. The yard once boasted a turntable which, like the signal box, was located between where those menacing towers were later placed to glare at each other. They are disused, but they were something to do with radar testing (or so we are told) ...

Stratton: Hitachi 800-035, westbound for Swansea, passing Stratton near Swindon on 29th May 2020.

Liverpool Street: Liverpool Street, partially opened by the GER in 1875 and fully in 1876, and rebuilt in the mid-1980s, seen on 29th May 2021. After a big drop in passenger numbers since March 2020 due to covid, from the look of things people seem to be getting the hang of travelling by train again, even though restrictions had only been partially eased at this date.

Millerhill: I think there may be some of the original Millerhill station building under there, but it's a bit of a ship of Theseus. The Borders Railway makes its own way south a few hundred yards to the west of here, leaving this fragment of the Waverley Route well on the way to oblivion.

Bodmin General: On shed at the Bodmin and Wenford Railway depot on 29th May 2021 was resident Brush Type 4, 47306 'The Sapper' (formerly D1787), with a GWR prairie tank boiler for company.

Bond Street [LTB]: Stratford-bound platform at Bond Street, in the heart of London's West End, on 29th May 2021. This section of the Jubilee Line opened in 1979 and is an interchange with the Central Line that had opened here 79 years earlier. Eventually, and goodness knows when, Bond Street will also become a Crossrail station but, even when that opens, there are mutterings that its Bond Street station will still not be ready on opening day and may have to open later.

Leaderfoot Viaduct: The powers that be certainly do not want you to access the Leaderfoot Viaduct. In addition to the substantial palisade gate and fence there is razor wire and anti-climb paint. However it has been the scene of several tragedies so it is perhaps understandable. I was on a £17 ticket to Tweedbank and had a nice nine mile walk in a loop back to the station.

Shawfair: An Edinburgh service calls at Shawfair to pick up the usual hordes on 29 May 2021. When the station first opened the name signs had a lot of white space under the 'Shawfair' as if ready for an 'Alight here for . .' message to be added later. These were soon replaced with the current ones. What were they expecting and why did they stop expecting it?

Edinburgh Waverley: LNER Azumas 801103 and 800202 get intimate at platform 5 in Waverley as they form the 12.00 to Kings Cross on 29th May 2021.

Windermere: 195131 has recently arrived at Windermere from Oxenholme in the early afternoon of 29 May 2021. All passengers were having their tickets checked before leaving the station, however I quickly took some photos and rejoined the train (heading to Manchester Airport) to return to Preston. In the last 15 years I have now seen Class 175s, 185s and now a 195 at this Lake District station. What a pity that it hasn't included a Class 331 EMU as the planned electrification from Oxenholme was shelved.

North Berwick: 385020 at North Berwick, with the 12.12 from Edinburgh, about to return at 12.50 on 29th May 2021. Services were well patronised, the busiest trains I have seen in fifteen months.

Shawfair: The list of nearby(!) attractions at Shawfair seems to be shrinking. I sneak myself towards the suspicion that the site for the station was chosen because the land for the car park and approach road was cheap; it is the site of a pithead. A few hundred metres further south and it would be nearer both the current villages and planned development.

Oxenholme Lake District: LMS Stanier pacific 6201 'Princess Elizabeth' hauls the Carnforth to Carlisle leg of a Northern Belle railtour from York. The train is seen working hard, approaching Oxenholme on 29 May 2021.

Holland Park: LUL 1992 stock on an eastbound Central Line short working to Loughton arriving at Holland Park on 29th May 2021. This station serves the park of that name, and the rather affluent west London neighbourhood of the same name, and opened in 1900 with the first stage of the Central London Railway from Shepherds Bush to Bank.

Oxenholme Lake District: The Daventry to Mossend Tesco Express passes Oxenholme on 29 May 2021 with DRS 88001 providing the traction.

Gorey Pier [Jersey]: A 29th May 2021 view of the site of Gorey Pier station, the former eastern terminus of the standard-gauge Jersey Eastern Railway. The 5 mile line from St Helier (Snow Hill) even offered through tickets to Paris via the Gorey-Carteret (Normandy) ferry and onward French train services! The railway closed completely in 1929, but was re-opened as a narrow-gauge line for transport of sand by the occupying German forces in 1942. No trace of the railway is left at the Gorey Pier site, but it now serves as an important stop on the island's excellent, extensive bus service network. For more information on the Jersey Eastern Railway, see: http://disused-stations.org.uk/g/gorey_pier/index.shtml

Liverpool Street [EL]: Not yet ready and still waiting for its first passengers, promised in December 2018, the new Crossrail station at Liverpool Street stands unopened in this view, on 29th May 2021. The ghastly glass office building on the left in the background stands on the site of the North London Railway's late lamented Broad Street terminus, opened in 1865, closed in 1986 and which should have had a Grade listing by English Heritage but was subsequently and sadly demolished with no regard whatsoever for its history nor architectural merit.