Doncaster: Bolton based 'Crab' 2-6-0 42708 waits to leave the platform at Doncaster on 31 May 1963, having just come off a terminated parcels train

Dalry Road Shed: McIntosh ex-Caledonian 0-4-4T no 55124 in a siding alongside Dalry Road shed in May 1963. Built at St Rollox in 1895, the locomotive had been withdrawn in September 1961 and was stored awaiting disposal. That finally took place in the yard of Messrs Arnott Young, Troon, some four months after this photograph was taken.

Doncaster: The 12.45pm Kings Cross - Newcastle about to run through Doncaster station on 31 May 1963. The locomotive is Gresley A3 Pacific no 60046 Diamond Jubilee.

Doncaster: The 7.51am Holloway sidings - Edinburgh Waverley Anglo Scottish Car Carrier runs north through Doncaster on 31 May 1963 behind A1 Pacific 60157 Great Eastern. Three years later the service would become part of the revamped and rebranded BR Motorail network. See image [[27437]]

Doncaster: A1 Pacific 60156 Great Central approaching Doncaster from the north on 31 May 1963. The train is the 12.39pm Leeds Central - Kings Cross.

Piershill: J37 0-6-0 64625 passing through Piershill Station with goods vans in 1963.

Doncaster: Jubilee 45565 Victoria, off Bradford Low Moor shed, passing Doncaster in May 1963 with an up parcels train.

Doncaster: Locally based class O4 2-8-0 63613 runs south through Doncaster on 31 May 1963 with a freight.

Haymarket Shed [2nd]: Locomotives on shed at Haymarket on 31 May 1963 include A4 Pacific no 60024 Kingfisher and B1 4-6-0 no 61245 Murray of Elibank.

Doncaster: Gresley A3 Pacific no 60065 Knight of Thistle stands alongside Doncaster North box on 31 May 1963, having recently brought in the 8.10am Kings Cross - Hull.

Doncaster: K1 2-6-0 62015 brings an up goods through Doncaster on 31 May 1963.

Dalry Road Shed: Ex-Caledonian 0-6-0 no 57634 in the shed yard at Edinburgh's Dalry Road in May 1963. The locomotive was withdrawn from 64C in August that year.

Doncaster: The 10.45am Kings Cross - Edinburgh Waverley about to run non-stop through Doncaster on 31 May 1963 behind an unidentified A4 Pacific. The Brush Type 4 standing on the left is one of the D1500-D1519 batch, the last of which entered BR service that month.

Doncaster: The south end of Doncaster on 31 May 1963, with Immingham B1 61056 at the head of a Cleethorpes – Sheffield Victoria relief service. In the background is EE Type 3 D6744, delivered new to Darnall shed just over a year earlier. 61056 was withdrawn from 40B the following May and cut up at the Central Wagon Works, Wigan, shortly thereafter. D6744 subsequently became 'Loadhaul' 37710 and was eventually obtained as a 'spares donor' by WCRC Carnforth in 2007 see image [[31684]].

Edinburgh Waverley: For a change the old Waverley with 80114 as station pilot in 1963.

Doncaster: A1 Pacific no 60157 Great Eastern coming out of the sun and about to run through Doncaster station on the centre road on 31 May 1963. The train is the 7.51am Holloway sidings - Edinburgh Waverley Anglo Scottish Car Carrier, which would later become part of the BR Motorail service launched in 1966.

Doncaster: Locally based O4 2-8-0 63858 runs south through Doncaster station on the centre road on 31 May 1963 hauling a rake of mineral wagons.

Doncaster: A3 Pacific no 60065 Knight of Thistle stands on the centre road at Doncaster station on 31 May 1963, having recently brought in the 8.10am Kings Cross - Hull.

Doncaster: Gresley V2 2-6-2 no 60870 photographed at Doncaster station on 31 May 1963 with an up special from Leeds Central to Folkestone Harbour.

Doncaster: A3 Pacific 60107 Royal Lancer takes the down fast line through Doncaster station on 31 May 1963 with the 3.10pm Kings Cross - Leeds Central. An EE Type 3 diesel is standing with a train at the up platform.

Corkerhill Shed: The shed yard at Corkerhill on 31 May 1964. Black 5s 45256 (Stockport Edgeley) and 45028 (Carlisle Kingmoor) have recently arrived on shed following a visit to Cowlairs Works.

Cumbernauld: The twice a week ICI Soda Ash block train from Larbert to Wallerscote climbs towards Cumbernauld behind Standard 9F 2-10-0 92223 on 31st May 1967. No Scottish-based steam locomotives remained active after the end of April 1967, but this was one of a small number of cross-border workings that continued for a few months, using locomotives working out of Carlisle Kingmoor.

Cumbernauld: Seen from behind as it passed by, the twice weekly ICI Soda Ash block train from Larbert to Wallerscote approaches Cumbernauld behind Standard 9F 2-10-0 92223 in May 1967. This was one of a small number of cross-border steam workings that continued for a few months after Scottish steam had finished, using locomotives working out of Carlisle Kingmoor. A Met-Cam DMU can just be seen in the siding on the right hand side of the picture.

Gourock: A ceremony taking place at Gourock on 31 May 1969 with the presentation of a model of a steamer from the Caledonian Steam Packet Company. In the background a Blue Train stands at the platform and behind the camera is TS Duchess of Hamilton on a charter to Brodick via the Kyles of Bute.

Wemyss Bay: Passing Wemyss Bay on a Clyde steamer on 31 May 1969 with the ferry Arran at the pier. In the centre is the entrance to the covered walkway leading up to the station concourse. The steamer was on a special excursion from Greenock calling at Gourock (where I joined), Kilmun, Dunoon, then through the Kyles of Bute to Brodick before returning via Ardrossan.

Brodick Pier: TS 'Duchess of Hamilton' at Brodick in 1969. A glance at the rocks in the foreground makes it plain that the 'Duchess' was on a Clyde River Steamer Club charter.

Brodick Pier: MV 'Glen Sannox' at Brodick on 31st May 1969. In the immediate background, TS 'Duchess of Hamilton' appears to be giving more than gentle hint that the 'Sannox' is outstaying her welcome and should get on with departure for Ardrossan.

Brodick Pier: TS Duchess of Hamilton in Brodick Bay on 31 May 1969 whilst returning to Brodick Pier to collect passengers on the Clyde River Steamer Club's 80th Anniversary of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company cruise.

Dumfries: The down Thames-Clyde Express restarts from Dumfries on 31 May 1971, with a Brush Type 4 in place of the usual Holbeck 'Peak' at the head of the train.

Ardrossan Montgomerie Pier: One of William Robertson Shipowners finest MV Amethyst (Gem Line of Glasgow) unloading Paper Pulp bales from Norway for a paper mill on to railway wagons

Wellingborough: Ex-works 47089 Amazon heads a train of empty 16T mineral wagons north through Wellingborough station on 31 May 1974. The locomotive was allocated to Old Oak Common at the time, suggesting that the train had originated in the London Division of the Western Region.

Great Yarmouth: Six years after it had become the sole remaining railway station in Great Yarmouth, Yarmouth (Vauxhall) still bore the signage intended to distinguish it from Yarmouth (South Town) and Yarmouth (Beach). This photo was taken on 31st May 1976, a time when the station yard was a major stabling point for coaching stock.

Yarmouth South Town: Still bearing its signage 6 years after closure to passengers in 1970, the former terminus of the East Suffolk railway at Yarmouth South Town survived another two years before demolition.

Yarmouth Beach: The holiday season is just about getting under way at the former Midland and Great Northern Yarmouth Beach station on May 31st 1976. Then serving out its twilight years as a car park and coach station, there is reasonable interest in the refreshment caravan and its seductive signboard reading 'Hot Dogs 15p'.

Yarmouth South Town: The last rails in situ at Yarmouth South Town station were those seen in this view from 31st May 1976. This is the east side of the station (closed 1970) and the tracks in question once gave access to a riverside goods yard that lay directly across the main road in front of the station. Latterly, tractors were the motive power for wagon movements along these lines.

Brundall: A Norwich-Yarmouth service leaves Brundall on 31st May 1976

Colchester Town (St Botolphs): During the evening rush hour of May 31st 1979 gridlock came to the Colchester to Clacton/Walton line when an EMU failed on the western curve of the Hythe triangular junction. Fortunately, loco 31192 was nearby at St Botolphs station preparing to remove an exhibition train that had been parked in the goods sidings. Through sets of rarely used points, the loco got behind the failed EMU and propelled it round to St Botolphs. Once there, in order to retrieve and run round the exhibition train, the loco crew had no choice but to dispose of the failed EMU in the goods sidings. This photo shows the last stage of the saga at the goods yard throat at around 8.15 pm. The exhibition train is on the left. In 2010, apart from the main electrified lines and gantry, the only remnant of this scene was the tall lighting pole on the right.

Dufftown: The SRPS railtour train hauled by 27010 has reached the end of the line at Dufftown. Members of the AURS had joined it at Aberdeen see image [[59130]]. On the return leg of the trip 2 or 3 of the passengers were invited to ride in the loco cab. Unexpectedly I ended up standing looking forward through the small central window-possibly the best view of any railtourer that day! When we reached Keith Junction we had to get out and sit in our seats for the remainder of the journey which was more comfortable but not as interesting.

Aberdeen: Lower quadrant signals on platform 6 (looking north) in 1980

Aberdeen South Signal Box: The beginning of the end for the famous signal gantries south of the Joint Station. The new colour light signals were being set up already in Spring 1980 although the power box did not take over until 1981. Aberdeen South Signal Box is in the centre of the photo. The train approaching is an SRPS railtour set destined for Dufftown hauled by 27010 see image [[59220]] Members of the Aberdeen University Railway Society joined the train here.

Dyce: SRPS Railtour returning from Dufftown waits on the mainline for the service train to pass it on the loop below Dyce Signal Box. The reason for this unusual move may have been that the railtour train was too long for the loop so it had to wait on the mainline. The track of the Buchan Line is visible to the left of and behind the box; this line is another candidate for reopening in the 2020s. The platforms were then still disused-the station re-opened 4 years later.

Embsay: No 22 (AB 2320/1952) running round its train at Embsay on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway on 31 May 1982.

Keighley: Midland 4F 0-6-0 no 43924 stands alongside the platform in Keighley Station on 31 May 1982.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: A typical concourse view at Glasgow Queen Street High Level station in May 1987. [Editor's note - apols for editorial typo re original date, am still hanging on to the job... just]

Trossachs Pier: [[SS Sir Walter Scott]] seen in May 1987, prior to alterations, at the [[Trossachs Pier]], Loch Katrine.

Greskine Signal Box: An Inter City WCML service heads north towards Beattock Summit with a Class 87 on the front and a DVT on the rear on 31 May 1991. The old A74 is in the bottom left of the photograph.

Aberystwyth: The Royal train stands at Aberystwyth on 31 May 1996 having conveyed the Prince of Wales on a visit to the University of Wales.

Exeter St Davids: 47767 brings a westbound train into Exeter St Davids platform 4 in May 2002.

Urr Viaduct: Surviving columns of the Urr Viaduct on the former Dumfries - Stranraer line stand alongside the River Urr just to the west of Dalbeattie in May 2002.

Penzance: A First Great Western HST for Paddington boarding at Penzance on a pleasant May afternoon in 2002.

Burntisland East Dock: Burntisland East Dock, looking west on 31 March 2002. Later that year the familiar Bulkhandling 5 no longer had a reason to visit the dock as the Burntisland alumina plant closed. Shortly after that the (clearly) redundant lines in the foreground were largely tarred over when the area became a temporary road. Next those anthropomorphic cranes were cut up in the summer of 2009 after several years as a de facto pigeon loft. Later in 2009 the junction from the main line to the docks was finally severed after years of disuse, bringing to an end the sound of clattering trains to Burntisland Links.

Plymouth: A class 47 hauled First Great Western service arrives at Plymouth in May 2002.

Plymouth: Royal Mail stock stabled in the bay at the east end of Plymouth station in May 2002. [Ref query 7 January 2017]

Plymouth: 150244 stabled in the bay at the west end of Plymouth station in May 2002. The glass fronted Plymouth Panel signal box is visible in the centre background.

Exeter St Davids: 47847 at Exeter St Davids on 31 May 2002 with the 0941 Plymouth - Edinburgh Virgin CrossCountry service.

Lockerbie: View north over Lockerbie station in May 2002.

Exeter St Davids: 47847 calls at Exeter St Davids platform 5 on 31 May 2002 with the 0941 Plymouth - Edinburgh. The locomotive is carrying dual nameplates - on this side 'Brian Morrison' with 'Railway World Magazine' on the other. In 2017 this loco is still main line registered, with the Rail Operations Group.

Broomhill: Broomhill on the opening day of the extension to Broomhill from Boat of Garten.

Broomhill: The first train in 37 years heads to Broomhill from Boat of Garten on the opening day of the line.

Exeter St Davids: Platform view north at Exeter St Davids on a fine May morning in 2002 as the First Great Western 0647 ex-Penzance HST prepares to continue on its journey to London Paddington.

Exeter St Davids: The Virgin CrossCountry 0941 Plymouth - Edinburgh calls at Exeter St Davids on 31 May 2002 behind 47847.

Broomhill Junction: When is a junction not a junction? The lines from Forres (left) and Speyside (right) ran parallel to Boat of Garten. Re-opening day of line.

Broomhill: Well turned out for the re-opening day. See image [[25179]]

Slateford: A westbound class 156 DMU in SPT livery about to pass through Slateford Junction before calling at the station on a fine May morning in 2005. The train is a stopping service to Glasgow Central via Shotts.

Slateford: A mid-morning Edinburgh Waverley - Glasgow Central via Shotts train about to make a stop at Slateford in May 2005.

Kandanga: The 'Valley Rattler' at Kandanga, Queensland, bound for Gympie on 31 May 2005 in the warm sunshine

Slateford: A Virgin Voyager heading for Waverley runs east through Slateford station on 31 May 2005.

Dalwhinnie: 66247 heads south through Dalwhinnie with wagons, some of which contain redundant track.

Nambour, Queensland: The southbound Sunlander runs into Nambour, Queensland, on 31 May 2005.

Arbroath: Heading North through Arbroath station on 31 May 2006 is Class 66/4 no 66 406 on a Grangemouth-Aberdeen container train.

Dalwhinnie: 67007 going south through Dalwhinnie with four utility vans.The crossing in the foreground leads to the signal box which is hidden behind the old water tower base.31/05/06.

Parkhead Junction [CR]: Bridge support carrying the Switchback line across Duke Sreet, Glasgow.

Dunragit: Approaching Dunragit level crossing from the south on 31 May 2007. The rear of the signal box can be seen on the right with the former station building and platform on the left beyond the entrance to the old goods yard.

Stranraer Town: End of the line. Looking west from the platform at Stranraer Town in May 2007, with the former route through to Portpatrick disappearing into the undergrowth. In amongst the trees is the road bridge at the south end of Victoria Place.

Stranraer Town: Something missing? View south east from the end of Station Street on 31 May 2007 showing the large gap left by the recent demolition of the old Stranraer Town station building. See image [[3412]]

Kirkcowan: Entrance to the old goods yard at Kirkcowan, Wigtownshire, on 31 May 2007. View is west in the general direction of Stranraer, with the surviving sections of the station platforms over on the left (see image [[15427]]) and the crumbling loading bank to the right.

Glenluce Viaduct: View south along the Water of Luce on 31 May 2007 at the point where Glenluce Viaduct carried The Port Road across the valley just west of the town.

Girvan: The signal box at the southwest corner of Girvan station. May 2007.

Girvan: Looking south at Girvan in May 2007 with the abandoned bay platform on the left.

Girvan: The classic lines of the Art Deco building at Girvan in May 2007. [The bicycle lockers were subsequently relocated]

Glenluce Viaduct: Looking north along the old military road towards Glenluce Viaduct in the spring of 2007.

Newton Stewart: The old goods yard at Newton Stewart in May 2007, now part of a plant hire operation, with the former goods shed still performing a useful function 42 years after closure of the line.

Dunragit: The former Dunragit station in May 2007. View north over the crossing.

Maybole: Main sation approach and car park alongside Culzean Road, Maybole, on 31 May 2007, with the platform just off to the right. Pedestrian access is also provided via a footbridge from Cargill Road on the north side of the station.

Girvan: Station building and signal box at Girvan on 31 May 2007. Platform view looking south.

Dunragit: Approaching the level crossing at Dunragit from the north in the spring of 2007. The former station, six miles east of Stranraer Harbour, closed to passengers in 1965. The plaque alongside the back door reads 'Station House Dunragit'.
See query 2207

Maybole: A southbound train pulls away from a colourful Maybole station and heads for Girvan on the last day of May 2007.

Kirkcowan: The old station master's house at Kirkcowan, some 6 miles west of Newton Stewart on the former Port Road to Stranraer, photographed looking north east in 2007. The station site behind the camera is today bisected by the realigned B733 road which, in railway days, crossed the line via a tight double bend and overbridge (now demolished).

Maybole: Maybole station, platform side, view southeast in May 2007.

Newton Stewart: Former locomotive shed at Newton Stewart looking east in May 2007, some 43 years after official closure.

Church Stretton: Milford Haven - Manchester Piccadilly train arrives at Church Stretton on 31 May.

Castle Kennedy: Road approach to Castle Kennedy station in May 2007. Located some 3 miles east of Stranraer, passenger trains stopped calling here in June 1965. The former station building is now a much modified private residence.
See query 2196

Girvan: Forecourt at Girvan. View north towards the A77 in May 2007.

Kirkcowan: Railway remains at Kirkcowan in May 2007, looking south west between the infilled platforms towards Stranraer. Over on the right cattle now graze where they were once loaded into trucks. Photographed from the realigned road that now runs through the old station site.

Castle Kennedy: Looking east from the level crossing at Castle Kennedy on 31 May showing the platform remains and converted station building.

Castle Kennedy: Entrance to the former Castle Kennedy station - May 2007.

Kinclair Viaduct: Part of the 11-arch Kinclair Viaduct on the Ayr - Stranraer line, four miles south of Girvan. Photographed in the spring of 2007, looking east from a lay-by alongside the A714.
See query 2279

Kirkcowan: The old station house at Kikcowan looking north from the old trackbed (now the B733 road) on 31 May 2007. The road once crossed the station site on a bridge just to the right and continued on the north side of the line. Following closure of the railway in 1965 the bridge was demolished and the road straightened.

Stranraer Shed: The running shed at Stranraer, latterly BR code 68C, was officially closed at the end of October 1966. The site saw subsequent use as part of a scrapyard, during which time the running shed acquired a new roof. The building is seen here in May 2007, having been abandoned for a second time. See image [[45827]]

Glenluce Viaduct: The old railway viaduct to the west of the Wigtownshire village of Glenluce, between Newton Stewart and Stranraer, seen from the north in the spring of 2007. The line across the viaduct was closed to all traffic in 1965.
See query 2230

Dunragit: The signal box at Dunragit on 31 May 2007. View is south over the level crossing with the remains of the former station (closed June 1965) just off picture to the right.

Stranraer Town: View west from the end of the platforms at the former Stranraer Town on 31 May 2007. The station building has recently been demolished.

Barrhill: Southbound platform at Barrhill on 31 May 2007.

Newton Stewart: Rear view of the old goods shed at Newton Sewart on 31 May 2007. It definitely looks much better from the front! See image [[50646]]

Maybole: A Glasgow Central - Girvan service arriving at Maybole on 31 May 2007. The reason for the particularly badly litter-strewn trackbed that day is not known.

Stranraer Town: View east from Stranraer Town station in May 2007, some 41 years after closure. To the left stood a large goods yard and locomotive shed, the surviving building of which stands in the centre background behind the blue container. Beyond the shed a large scrapyard occupies the 'V' between this route and the Harbour branch, which turns north west just around the curve at Stranraer Harbour Junction. Behind the camera the line once continued to Portpatrick, the last remnants of this section having been closed in 1959 see image [[15539]].

Maybole: Maybole station frontage on 31 May 2007 looking northwest across Culzean Road.

Dunragit: The signal box at Dunragit, seen from the south side of the crossing in May 2007, looking east towards the site of Challoch Junction.

Stranraer Shed: Remains of the former running shed at Stranraer in May 2007. Located just to the north of Stranraer Town station, the shed was officially closed in October 1966. This building and part of the yard were subsequently used by a scrap merchant for several years, during which time the building received a new roof.

Inverkeithing Central Junction: 66227 brings Longannet empties south past Inverkeithing Central Jct on 31 May.

Newton Stewart: The old locomotive shed at Newton Stewart, looking as though its days could be numbered, seen through the surrounding mesh fence in May 2007. Latterly a sub shed of Stranraer it stood to the west of the station in the V of the junction between the lines to Stranraer and Whithorn. Note: The old shed was subsequently rescued see image [[59411]].

Stranraer Shed: Looking north over the abandoned sidings towards the rear of the running shed at Stranraer in May 2007. Stranraer shed (68C) had been officially closed in October 1966.

Stranraer Town: Part of the once extensive yards at Stranraer Town, seen here abandoned in May 2007. The building on the left is one of the former locomotive sheds, while in the right background is the main stand at Stair Park, home of Stranraer FC. View is east, with the remains of Stranraer Town station behind the camera see image [[15443]].

Barrhill: Small but perfectly formed ..the attractive SB at Barrhill on 31 May 2007.

Girvan: Two views of the eastside stairway at Girvan in May 2007 - continuing the overall Art Deco theme.

Kinclair Viaduct: Looking east at Kinclair Viaduct, south of Girvan, on 31 May 2007.

Newton Stewart: The modified goods shed still standing at Newton Stewart in May 2007. The shed and part of the former goods yard have been put to use use by a plant hire company.

Helensburgh Central: 320 314 departs Helensbugh Central on 31 May.

Helensburgh Central: 334 and 320 units stand at Helensburgh Central on 31 May 2008.

Helensburgh Central: 320 314 leaving Helensburgh Central on 31 May 2008.

Cowdenbeath: 170 453 climbs away from Cowdenbeath with the 16.40 Fife inner circle service on 31 May 2008.

Cowdenbeath North Junction: 170 456 passes the site of Cowdenbeath North Junction with the 16.08 ex-Waverley train on the Fife inner circle. The line to Glenfarg and Perth branched off to the left where the trees have grown up.

Helensburgh Central: All platforms occupied at Helensburgh Central on Saturday 31 May 2008.

Largs: Entrance to Largs station on 31 May 2008, with 334 009 at the rear of a 6 car train to Glasgow Central standing at the buffer stops.

Forth Bridge: Arriva CrossCountry liveried Voyager photographed on the Forth Bridge on 31 May 2008.

Largs: The station building at Largs on 31 May, looking towards the station entrance and Main Street.

Forth Bridge: A southbound National Express HST crosses the Forth Bridge on 31 May 2009. The power cars had been rebranded at this stage but the rest of the stock had merely received a white stripe in place of the GNER red.

Fylde Junction: Hot in there mate? The driver of Northern Pacer 142053 has the window open as he waits in the cutting for signal PN156 to clear on a scorching Sunday. The train, from Blackpool South, is waiting to clear Fylde Junction and join the main line to run into Preston station on its way to Colne.

Bishopton: 314 209 on a Wemyss Bay service awaits departure from Bishopton on 31 May.

Forth Bridge: The Forth Bridge viewed from just west of the harbour at South Queensferry on 31 May 2009.

Forth Bridge: High above South Queensferry a double Turbostar set approaches the Forth Bridge from the south on 31 May 2009.

Ballater: The A93 overbridge where it crosses the stub of the Braemar extension just west of Ballater station, photographed on 31 May 2009. Access below the bridge is now blocked by a steel fence. The permanent way west of the bridge has been partly in-filled and there is now a foot-path in its place. See image [[37499]]

Perth: 170 421 pulls into Platform 2 at Perth on 31 May 2010 with a Glasgow to Aberdeen service.

Penar Junction: This is where the Pontypool to Neath line crossed Hall's Tramroad (later known as the Oakdale Colliery branch) on the level. For 25 years since my first visit, I had assumed that someone had half-inched the signal box ground floor on the way home from the pub, but apparently it was always this low; being built on the side of an embankment. It looked a lot better when the windows were visible: the cladding is to deter vandals.

Perth: 158 735 pulls out of Perth platform 5 with an Edinburgh semi-fast on 31 May 2010. Next to it Platform 6 does not seem to have regular departures and certainly has no information display.

Perth: Looking north east along the Dundee platforms at Perth station from St Leonards Bridge on 31 May 2010. 170 420 is restarting from platform 1 with an Aberdeen - Glasgow Queen Street service.

Bishops Lydeard: Churchward ex-GWR 2-8-0 no 3850 with a train at Bishops Lydeard on the West Somerset Railway on 31 May 2010.

Pontypridd: Going in through the way out - as you do. There used to be two rather grand staircases at this major Valleys junction; but even with the recent revival in traffic, one is quite enough these days.

Cymer Afan: A quiet village in the Welsh Valleys, Cymer Afan once had two railways running East-West plus this line to North Rhonnda. The viaduct, of composite stone and steel construction, is a little known relic. In May 2010 a recent grass fire allowed a well defined shadow of the girders down the North side of the valley. The viaduct provided a breath of fresh air for up engine crews, as it was just outside the tunnel from Caerau. see image [[49918 for a view about a mile West, of the line on the South side of the valley]]

Cwmparc: It's not every day you get an aerial view of a complete branch line. Cwmparc colliery buildings were just to the left of the large building at left side vertical centre; while the junction with the main line was in Treorchy, to the right. Treherbert nestles at the head of the valley, below the strip of trees running uphill; while Pontypridd is out of shot to the right. Picture taken from a lay-by alongside the A4061 in May 2010. Spot the sheepish looking sheep!

Worcester: The viaduct on the right, between Foregate Street and Malvern, is familiar enough; but by peering through the foliage on the left, you may discern a lower level. This is the current end of the former Racecourse branch, where racehorses were sometimes delivered one van at a time. At least the accountants knew who the primary user was. The branch closed in 1964; the racecourse survives.

Hafodyrynys Colliery: It Came From Another Planet... the sole remaining structure at the former Hafodyrynys colliery, which straddled the Pontypool-Neath line just East of Crumlin viaduct, is the former washery, seen here in May 2010. A local businessman asked for it to be left standing so that he could convert it into a restaurant. By the time he had found out that he couldn't get the curved glass needed for the windows, the demolition team had moved on.. the building still stands.

Aberkenfig: Miniature railway trains are slow and light, so line of sight operation is feasible, especially with one engine in steam. Nonetheless, the driver of the model traction engine waited to be sure that our train would stop before crossing.

Perth: After a briefer than usual tunaround time, caused by a late arrival, the unbranded 158 789 pulls out of bay Platform 5 at Perth on its return through Fife to Edinburgh on 31 May 2010.  The 15 mile section between Hilton Junction and Ladybank is single-track throughout.  It probably sees more passenger trains than it ever has, but has had no intermediate stations since 1955 when the line closed to passengers until 1975.  Could at least Newburgh and Bridge of Earn have enough potential traffic to warrant reopening?

Edinburgh Waverley: Deltic no 55022 Royal Scots Grey looking immaculate during a Retro railtour at Waverley on 31 May 2010.

Pontypridd Graig: All traces of Pontypridd Graig station are now swept away in favour of a hospital car park; but the North portal of the tunnel which opened off the station platforms is harder to hide. The BBC once produced a drama series set in Pontypridd Graig hospital circa 1900 - it must have had very good soundproofing, you never heard a steam train go by.

Worcester: This elegant curved viaduct carries the line from Worcester Foregate Street station over the River Severn to Malvern and Hereford. The metal spans in the background resonate nicely - I could hear trains crossing them from my house 1.5 miles away!

Perth: 170 428 pulls out of Perth platform 4 on 31 May with an Inverness to Glasgow service.

Cymer Afan: The stone-built station at Cymer - which saw DMU services until about 1970 - is now very well kept as a rather pleasant pub. There were some fascinating pictures of Hafodyrynys and other South Welsh coal mines on the walls when I visited. See image [[49912]]

Penar Junction: Rear of the box at Penar Junction see image [[33437]]. The roadway behind is some 20 feet above the original level. The box is clearly enjoying life as a large garden shed; notice the chimney for the signalman's stove. [Ref query 6609]

Barry Junction: The far two tracks were on the Brecon and Merthyr line between Machen (right) and Hengoed (left). The solution to extending the bridge to support the tracks of the converging Barry Railway from Llanbradach viaduct see image [[33471]] seems to have been to copy the existing brickwork. Some 46 years after closure of the B&M, and 73 years after the BR closure, the walls still support a water pipe. Off to the right the East end of Llanbradach viaduct has been demolished to make way for a quarry.

Cymer Afan: Turning left from my previous shot see image [[49912]], this view looks West under the stone arch at the South end of the viaduct in the general direction of Port Talbot. Two levels can be seen on the right hand side of the valley. The upper line is a road, while the lower line is the SWMR. This branch closed in 1951 after a tunnel collapse. [Ref query 6885]

Penar Junction Halt: Turning left from the view of the signal box see image [[33437]], the platform wall on the right seems to be all that remains of Penar Junction Halt on the Pontypool to Neath line in May 2010. The trackbed is well kept some 50 years after closure. This must be one of the few accessible trackbeds in Wales which I have not covered!

Llanbradach Viaduct: If you need a house with a large external storage area, try Central Street in Ener'glyn, on the North side of Caerphilly. This dramatic arch, which dwarfs the 17-seat minibus below, is all that remains of the Barry Railway viaduct. The BR was known to staff of rival companies as 'the spoilt child of Parliament' - like the GCR, it arrived last and closed first, surviving for only 40-odd years during the peak of coal production in the Rhondda. So this viaduct was used for 45 years, but has been derelict for 73. Sad. The Valley line to Caerphilly passes to the left of this arch; there is a plan to build a new station here.

Cameron Bridge [1st]: Cameron Bridge looking west on 31 May 2010. Major construction work is being undertaken at the Diageo plant here and in Leven, with reopening of the railway to passengers and/or freight a possibility in the longer term.

Perth: Bay Platform 5 at Perth is mostly the preserve of the hourly service to Edinburgh and here 158 789 waits to return to the capital on 31 May having arrived, slightly late, only a few minutes earlier.  158 789 transferred to Scotland still in South West Trains livery but after a spell was repainted in ScotRail blue in preparation for full branding. This was over two years ago and it is still going about 'bald'.  No 158s have so far been given the 'Scotland's Railway' treatment; 156s, for some reason, are getting priority.

Aberkenfig: Straight as a die: looking West towards Margam in May 2010, the Western section of the 'Tondu loop' is very well kept for a line used only for occasional freight, and for passenger diversions. The Eastern section is used for passenger trains from Bridgend to Maesteg, see image [[32941]].

Cymer Afan: Zooming out at Cymer Afan see image [[50302]], we see the R&SB trackbed in excellent order for walking or cycling. A trip West on the R&SB, and back on the SWMR, makes a pleasant outing. The North portal of the tunnel from Caerau can be found to the left, but all traces of the spur to that line from the R&SB have gone.

Dalgety Bay: 67020 enters Dalgety Bay station with the 17.12 Edinburgh - Edinburgh Fife Circle commuter train on 31 May.

Ripple: The unusual 'twin' road and rail bridge over the M50, which was demolished in March 2012 see image [[38067]], seen from the Welsh side some two years earlier. So Malvern is to the left, Tewkesbury to the right, and this is the 'road side' of the bridge. But it was symmetrical, so you would see a similar view from the 'rail side' if you were driving towards Wales. Updated 2016: at least some of these spans were transported to Horsted Keynes to allow reinstatement of Sheriff Mill viaduct, which would allow re-connection of Ardingly to the Bluebell Railway. If this project succeeds, it will be the only instance I know of, where a steam railway has replaced a masonry viaduct with a steel bridge.

Perth: Summary of departures from Perth on the afternoon of 31 May 2010. Perth must see more trains now than at any time since before the Beeching closures. However the central trainshed housing Platforms 3 and 4 remains quiet like an empty cathedral for most of the day when the only figures to be seen are making their way across the footbridge to and from Platforms 5 and 7.

Perth: A new Travel Centre (are they still called that?) opened at Perth in 1970, a period when there was not much rail travel going on and services were sparse, but it was more conveniently placed for access to all platforms.  Like its bigger counterpart at King's Cross, of the same period, it has a 'grafted on' look to it, but then the rest of the exterior of Perth station is not much to write home about thanks to a hasty Victorian extension which hid the original exterior, now at Platform 4.  The interior of the 1970 graft is seen here on 31 May.

Edinburgh Park: View west through the windows of the station footbridge at Edinburgh Park on 31 May 2011. Following resolution of the ongoing contractual problems affecting progress on the Edinburgh Tram project work has now recommenced. The ramp climbing to cross the line via the flyover in the background will eventually carry the tram route north through the business park towards Gogar and its ultimate destination at Edinburgh Airport. Meantime the East Coast 07.55 Inverness - London Kings Cross 'Highland Chieftain' HST heads east through the station.

Ribbleton [1st]: Cromwell Road bridge in Ribbleton still spans the trackbed of the old Preston to Longridge branch line in 2011, but it is a much rebuilt and plainer structure these days. The trackbed is now a footpath/cycleway although proposals to relay tracks for a tram service continue to be aired. View towards Longridge. See image [[34401]] for the same location in 1966.

Pinkhill: Walking the dog, Pinkhill, May 2011. Photographed from under the rebuilt road bridge. The view is east along the trackbed of the former Corstorphine branch towards Balgreen and the Junction with the E&G main line.

Woodacre Crossing: 47739, at that time with Colas (now with GBRF), hauls a track tamping machine southbound over Grizedale Beck at Woodacre on 31 May 2011.

Pinkhill: The abandoned platforms of Pinkhill station looking east along the trackbed of the Corstorphine bramch in 2011. The original bridge carrying Pinkhhill Road, on which the old booking office stands, had recently been replaced with this modernist structure. The NB branch between Corstorphine and Balgreen closed in 1968 and the route is now a popular walkway.

Balgreen Halt: The site of Balgreen Halt on the old Corstorphine branch looking west on 31 May 2011. This is the planned location of Balgreen tram stop. The trackbed of the Corstorphine branch (now a walkway) curves away to the right towards Pinkhill and Corstorphine, while the new tram formation runs straight ahead alongside the E&G main line. See image [[48054]]

Edinburgh Park: An Edinburgh - Glasgow shuttle runs west through Edinburgh Park on 31 May 2011. The train is about to pass below the flyover built to carry trams over the E&G on the route to the airport.

Edinburgh Park Station [Tram]: View west through a window of the footbridge at Edinburgh Park station on 31 May 2011 showing the new tram flyover across the E&G main line.

Edinburgh Park: The 11.07 Edinburgh Waverley - Milngavie train about to pass under the tram flyover at Edinburgh Park on 31 May shortly after leaving the station.

Dunlop: The 11.05 for Kilmarnock runs into the station at Dunlop on 31 May 2011.

Wester Hailes: The 12.41 stopping service to Glasgow Central via Shotts leaving Wester Hailes on 31 May 2011. The train is just pulling away from the platform and is about to cross the underpass at the west end of the station.

Balgreen Halt: With Edinburgh Castle prominent on the horizon, the 10.58 Dunblane - Waverley DMU has just passed the site of Balgreen Halt and is approaching Haymarket West Junction on 31 May 2011. At this point the lines are parallel with the planned tram route from the airport, running straight ahead on the left towards Murrayfield.

Glasgow Central: Class 380s are now the norm for the majority of services on the Ayrshire and Inverclyde lines, and have displaced the Class 334s on these routes. The view along Platforms 11 and 12 at Glasgow Central on 31 May shows 380108 waiting to depart for Gourock from Platform 10 (with another Class 380 on a Largs service in behind it), 380014 at the head of a seven car train for Ayr at Platform 11 and 380012 at Platform 12 awaiting its next turn of duty.

Edinburgh Park: The 09.28 service from Milngavie slowing for stop no 16, Edinburgh Park, on 31 May 2011. The train will reach Waverley at 10.57. The pipes, notices, excavated soil etc in the foreground are leftovers from work on a recent gas leak.

Woodacre Crossing: Freightliner locomotive 66515 hauls a rake of 19 coal hoppers north past Woodacre on the WCML on 31 May 2011 heading back to Scotland for reloading.

Woodacre Crossing: 92019 heads a Mossend to Daventry intermodal service on 31 May 2011 at Woodacre Crossing. On the extreme right the road traffic rushes past on the M6 motorway.

Saughton Junction: A mid-morning Milngavie - Edinburgh Waverley train runs east at Saughton Junction on 31 May 2011 and will soon begin to slow for the stop at Haymarket.

Saughton Junction: The tram flyover at Saughton appears essentially complete on 31 May 2011 and even possesses its first graffiti. View is from the path up to the footbridge, looking east towards Haymarket, as a Fife bound DMU approaches. See image [[28409]]

Brock: A Manchester Airport - Edinburgh Waverley service operated by First TransPennine Express heads north along the WCML near Brock, between Preston and Lancaster, on 31 May 2011.

Edinburgh Park: A mid morning Glasgow - Edinburgh shuttle about to pass through Edinburgh Park station on 31 May 2011. The 6-car 170 combination has just cleared the newly constructed Edinburgh Tram flyover.

Pinkhill: A remarkable survivor on the long closed Corstorphine branch see image [[26510]] is the former station at Pinkhill. Although more concerned with the motor car nowadays, the building still straddles the trackbed (now a walkway) in May 2011, more than 43 years after closure.

Edinburgh Park: The east end of Edinburgh Park station on 31 May, with a Waverley bound DMU pulling away from the platform. The area between the pavement and the base of the embankment will eventually be occupied by the tram line to the airport, with the tram stop/interchange located off picture to the left see image [[34301]].

Pinkhill: The platforms at Pinkhill (closed January 1968) looking west towards Corstorphine on 31 May 2011. The road bridge appears to have been virtually rebuilt since my last visit 7 years ago see image [[4581]].

Lydbrook Junction: Look out below! The Wye Valley Railway between Kerne Bridge and Lydbrook Junction crossed the river to a tunnel through the Welsh Bicknor peninsula before crossing again to the left bank. Only the second bridge survives - as part of the Wye Valley Walk.

Kings Cross: Part of the new Kings Cross Concourse, May 2012.

Manchester Liverpool Road: Barclay 06 003 in the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry yard on 31 May alongside the original Liverpool Road station building.

Farington Curve Junction: Having been to Carlisle from Crewe via Shap earlier in the day with the Cathedrals Express, 60163 returned south to Preston via the Settle & Carlisle in the late afternoon of 31 May 2012. After handing over the train to 90018 for the return to London, 60163 is seen propelling it's support coach up and around the long curve from Farington Curve Jct to Lostock Hall so that it can face the correct direction for the move to Crewe.

Kings Cross: Kings Cross Concourse #2

Gourock: Surviving steam age style buffer stops at the new Gourock Station on 31 May 2012. Wonder what they would do to halt one of the ubiquitous 380 class emus? See image [[22184]]

Manchester Liverpool Road: Former CEGB 0-4-0 battery locomotive 'Bolton' (English Electric 1378/1944) in the yard at Manchester Museum of Science and Industry on 31 May 2012.

Manchester Liverpool Road: 'Planet' photographed at the Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester, in May 2012.

Kings Cross: The new Kings Cross Concourse - May 2012.

Johnstone: Royal locomotive 67006 Royal Sovereign on not-so-Royal duties passing through Johnstone on 31st May 2012 with train load of tanks heading for Dalry.

Kings Cross: View over part of the redeveloped concourse at Kings Cross on 31 May 2012. [See recent News Item]

Bristol Temple Meads: The class 153 may not be the prettiest train in the world but, compared to the wheeled water tank, it's a masterpiece. The train is the 17.48 Bristol Temple Meads - Weymouth.

Tynemouth: The double footbridge at Tynemouth in May 2013.

Tynemouth: Tynemouth station - detail - May 2013.

Riddells Creek: The wayside station of Riddells Creek on the Melbourne - Bendigo line, looking towards the city in May 2013. Currently this area is in a bushfire zone.

Bath Spa: The rather elegant waiting room on the up platform at Bath Spa has facilities for Ladies and Gents - as well as a rope for Santa to unhook as he comes down the chimney!

Tynemouth: A Metro service arrives at platform 2 of a refurbished Tynemouth station in May 2013.

Bath Spa: The sun was at just the right angle to highlight the colours of 43189 'Railway Heritage Trust' as it led the 18.13 to London Paddington into Bath on the 31st May. There is a pub terrace to the right of the bush on the platform, should you like a beer with your gricing - and a bus station just beyond, to get you home without driving!

Bath Spa: I don't know the lady in the red dress with the ice cream, but she sets off the blues on the HST nicely. Oh yes... the train boarding at Bath Spa is the 18.13 to Paddington see image [[43410]].

Southfields: LUL C stock train (now withdrawn) 5594, with a District Line service to Wimbledon at Southfields on 31st May 2014. This was the final year that three separate forms of LUL electric traction, C stock, D78 and S7, could all be seen on the Wimbledon branch of the District Line, now the S7s rule the rails.

Bainfield Level Crossing: The afternoon Glasgow Queen Street to Oban service formed by 156476 approaching Cardross on 31 May 2014.

Princes Street [Tram]: Looking back from westbound Tram 266 turning into Princes Street from South St Andrew Street on Saturday 31 May 2014, the first day of public services.

Russell Road Bridge [Tram]: Concrete foundations for a possible future triangular junction on the Russell Road bridge, seen from the front of eastbound Tram 261 on 31 May 2014. See image [[45338]]

Cardross: GBRf 66733 brings the North Blyth to Fort William alumina tank wagons through Cardross on a sunny Saturday afternoon on 31 May 2014.

Southfields: A scene at Southfields, on the Wimbledon branch of the District Line, that can now never be repeated, following the withdrawal of the C and D78 stock trains. On the left a C stock departs for Wimbledon while on the right a D78 stock arrives for Edgware Road on 31st May 2014.

Cardross: 334029 runs over the level crossing as it arrives at Cardross with an eastbound service on 31 May 2014.

Gyle Centre [Tram]: Crowds eagerly waiting to board trams at Gyle Centre around 10.30am on Saturday 31 May 2014, the first day of public services.

Cardross: Almost at the end of its journey, ScotRail 334033 on an Edinburgh Waverley to Helensburgh Central service calls at Cardross on 31 May 2014.

Edinburgh Gateway [Tram]: View from the front of westbound Tram 266 about to turn west at the Gogar Depot junction after passing below the A8 on 31 May 2014. Edinburgh Gateway interchange is planned to open here by the end of 2016, with the tram stop round to the left and the railway station on the embankment to the right. See image [[46620]]

Cardross: 334033 departs from Cardross with a service to Edinburgh on 31 May 2014.

Cardross: Heading towards Dumbarton, 334033 crosses Bainfield foot crossing as it leaves Cardross with a service to Edinburgh on 31 May 2014.

Putney Bridge: Putney Bridge station, LUL District Line, looking south on 31st May 2014. It opened on 1st March 1880 as the terminus of the line with its extension from West Brompton that had been reached in 1869. On 3rd June 1889, trains were extended further south across the Thames to a connection with the LSWR's Wimbledon & Putney Line at East Putney with District trains having running powers over the LSWR to Wimbledon. Southern trains were withdrawn in 1941 but the line from East Putney to Wimbledon remained in BR ownership until 1994. Since this photo was taken, the far side of the island platform where a train of now withdrawn D78 stock can be seen calling on its way to Wimbledon has been abandoned and fenced off, all southbound trains now using the former terminus platform converted into a through one.

Southfields: LU S7 stock with a District Line service from Wimbledon to Edgware Road arriving at Southfields on 31st May 2014. This station was opened by the London & South Western Railway in 1889 and remained in BR ownership until 1994, even though regular Southern Railway trains from Waterloo to Wimbledon via East Putney had been withdrawn in 1941.

Lubeck: A DB Bahnbau Gruppe tamper standing alongside the platform at Lubeck on 31 May 2014.

Putney Bridge: Now withdrawn LUL D78 stock with a District Line service to Wimbledon calling at Putney Bridge station, on 31st May 2014. The platform the train is standing at has now been abandoned and all southbound trains use the side of the island platform nearest to the camera. The station opened on 1st March 1880 as Putney Bridge & Fulham, was renamed Putney Bridge & Hurlingham on 1st September 1902 and became simply Putney Bridge on an unspecified date in 1932.

Parsons Green: Now withdrawn LUL D78 stock train with a District Line service to Wimbledon arriving at Parsons Green in south-west London, on 31st May 2014.

Dalgety Bay: DBS 66084 climbs away from Dalgety Bay with the Mossend - Aberdeen Waterloo clay tanks, diverted through Fife because of engineering work in the Larbert area on 31 May.

Southfields: A wave from the driver as this train of LUL D78 stock (now withdrawn) arrives at Southfields, two stops into its long journey from Wimbledon in south-west London to Upminster in Essex, on 31st May 2014. This station and the line between Wimbledon and East Putney was also served by Southern Railway trains from Wimbledon to Waterloo and even after these were withdrawn on 5th May 1941, the line remained in main line ownership and passed into British Railways Southern Region at Nationalisation in 1948. The stations at East Putney, Southfields and Wimbledon Park were adorned with BR running in boards even though their trains never called. Not until 1994 was the line finally handed over to London Transport and the running in boards replaced by standard LT roundels. It is still used by some National Rail trains today, mainly on diversion - notably at the time of the Clapham Junction disaster in 1988 - and occasionally visited by rail enthusiasts' specials.

Carlisle: WW1 songs being enjoyed by an appreciative audience at Carlisle station on 31 May 2014. The performers are Centre Stage, a youth group based in Langholm.

Dalgety Bay: 66075 coasts downhill towards Dalgety Bay on 31 May with a Dalmeny Junction - Millerhill (via the Fife Circle) empty ballast train, in connection with the EGIP project.

Bermuda Park: The former Bermuda Park viewpoint - the brick shed just visible within the excavator's arm - has now been fenced off, so it's back to Northbound views at this new station on a Nuneaton industrial estate on 31 May 2015. Useful progress has been made over the past three months see image [[50694]].

Cardross: A Helensburgh Central - Edinburgh Waverley service arrives at Cardross on 31 May 2015.

Bainfield Level Crossing: ScotRail 334003 slowing for the stop at Cardross on 31 May 2015 with a service for Helensburgh Central. Photographed looking west from Bainfield foot crossing.

Haymarket: This Virgin CrossCountry service to Penzance still has most of its long journey to go. Don't you wish you could just jump aboard? No?

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The newly erected signal gantry at the north end of the extended platforms. Platforms 3,4 and 7 will actually extend past the gantry.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: This view over the works at the north end of Queen Street on the evening 31st May shows an RRV excavator on its tracks removing old ballast from the now lifted platform 7 road, while under the bridge alongside platform 1 another pair of RRVs are digging out spoil which is as black as coal. Out of shot at the bottom of the photograph is the newly built signal gantry.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The signal gantry which has been erected at the north end of the recently extended platforms is seen a couple of days after the span was fitted. Meanwhile what could easily pass for a coal waggon (it isn't) collects spoil from excavation work alongside the platform 1 road under the Cathedral Street bridge.

Dundee Central Junction: An Glasgow-bound service wisely avoids the Tay Bridge lines (in the foreground) on 31/05/2016. Cranes in the background promise big changes to the station and Riverside area, but you tell me.

Dundee: This is currently the sole, fairly modest access to Dundee station after the demolition of the 1980s add-on. A nearby artist's impression of the riverside area shows an impressive new surface building, but this is part of a long term development and I don't notice any difference from my last visit 12 months ago. A fairly long-term 'temporary' entrance then.

Tay Bridge: The Tay Bridge on a fine 31 May 2016, looking south from the Matthew Building of Dundee University.

Dundee: Since the demolition of the 1980s surface-level building passengers are no longer channelled through this waiting area and it is easily overlooked (so nice and quiet). The Tay Bar, behind the coffee shop, has now closed, apparently for good. It was hardly lively: an occasional customer with half an eye on Take the High Road, waiting for death (or an Aberdeen train). In later years being behind the ticket barrier can't have helped trade.

Dundee Central Junction: A service from Edinburgh approaches journey's end while in the distance an opposite number climbs for the bridge. Behind is Buckingham Junction where the link to Dundee (Tay Bridge) station left Perth line on the approach to the Dundee West terminus.

Murraygate Dundee [Tram]: Brisk business for Dundee's vintage Tram on a lovely 31/05/2016. OK, it's a coffee kiosk, but admit it it's pretty well done and you were temporarily fooled. Dundonians are fiercely proud of their heritage, as observed by native James Cameron (the WW2 reporter, not the Hollywood film producer) and will be banging on about their trams long after the last passenger has died.

Dundee East: This ultimately unnecessary terminus of the D&A Joint railway was a couple of hundred yards from Camperdowm Junction where the D&A was joined by the NBR line from Dundee (Tay Bridge). After demolition there were some wilderness years before this prominent branch of a car dealership neatly took over the site. There is still a narrow strip of railway land between the dealership and the retaining wall of the NBR's line, at the east end of Dock Street tunnel below. Camperdown sidings are however long out of use and Camperdown is just the name of an LC.

Sao Bento: Quite possible the most highly decorated station building entrance hall I have ever seen. Sao Bento Station.

Dundee: The east end of Platform 1 and the Down loop. Work in association with redevelopment of the area means that the approach to Dock Street tunnel is slightly less gloomy than hitherto. There was once a signal box in the murk beyond the platforms. See image [[32027]]

Kings Cross: The old Great Northern hotel, next to Kings Cross station with the St. Pancras trainshed also visible in the background. The hotel restaurant is called the Plum + Spilt Milk.

Kirkham North Junction: A Manchester Victoria to Blackpool North service is seen at the significantly reduced Kirkham North Jct on 31 May 2017. The former fast lines on the right have been lifted, as have the engineers sidings on the left. In front of the DMUs the line to South Shore can be seen curving to the left. The former route to Blackpool Central was straight ahead of the train, latterly used as the CE tip.

Kirkham and Wesham: A Blackpool North to Manchester Airport service approaches Kirkham and Wesham on 31 May 2017. The Up and Down Fast lines to the left have been lifted in preparation for a new third platform being built. This is part of the electrification works that are underway between Preston and Blackpool.

Hest Bank: 37403 'Isle of Mull' runs north through Hest Bank with the 1004hrs Preston to Barrow-in-Furness on 31st May 2017.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Nothing goes to waste around here – the former Queen Street Recycling Centre itself in the recycling skip as work progresses on the new staff accommodation block at Queen Street on 31st May 2017.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Work on foundations in progress on 31st May 2017. This is just north of the passageway from the low level platforms to the North Hanover Street exit.

Hornberg: Seen from the top of the local Schloss (castle), a northbound Schwarzwaldbahn (Black Forest railway) train from Konstanz to Karlsruhe pauses at Hornberg station on 31st May 2017. The train is a Regional Express (RE) electric-hauled double-decker push-pull set. The Schwarzwaldbahn runs over a distance of 149 km from Offenburg (on the Karlsruhe-Basel main line) to Singen, close to the Swiss border.

Salwick: A pair of Class 156 DMUs with 153331 on the rear pass Salwick heading west to Blackpool North on 31 May 2017.

Hornberg: A northbound Schwarzwaldbahn train (see 4206) from Konstanz to Karlsruhe accelerates away from Hornberg station across the town's imposing viaduct on 31st May. Tourists staying in the Black Forest pay a small nightly visitor tax, in return for which you benefit - inter alia -from free public transport throughout the region by bus and local / regional train services.

Stow: 158871 disturbs the peace at Stow with a Tweedbank service on 31st May 2017.

Niddrie West Junction: Scene at Niddrie West Junction on 31 May 2018 following a major subsidence problem linked to old mine workings in the area. View is west towards the junction from the footbridge, with the main works taking place behind the camera (see image [[64285]]). Notice all three lines are closed at this stage. The last of the work at the site had been completed by mid July, including the installation of trackbed monitoring equipment to aid detection of any future movement (see image [[65968]]).

Roscoff: Irish Ferries 'MV Oscar Wilde' arriving Roscoff from Cork on 31 May 2018 taken from Brittany Ferries 'MV Armorique'.

Ayr: 'On the left or port side, ladies and gentlemen, you can see the Hanging Gardens of Ayr, the eighth wonder of the world'. The 11.00 ex Girvan rolls in.

Taormina-Giardini: Two Trenitalia EMUs, operating on the scenic Sicilian coastal route between Messina and Syracuse, meet at Taormina-Giardini on 31st May 2019.

Taormina-Giardini: Taormina-Giardini station sits on the coast, well below the cliff top town of Taormina. These modern EMUs are used on stopping services on the coastal line between Syracuse and Messina. 31st May 2018.

HMS Quebec: A short section of narrow gauge track from a military railway remains in situ in a minor road near Inveraray on 31st May 2018. This is the site of HMS Quebec, No. 1 Combined Training Centre, Inveraray where around 250,000 service personnel from the Allied Nations passed through between 1940 to 1944. Up to 15,000 personnel were billeted in the area at any one time.

Niddrie West Junction: A section of the works site at Niddrie West Junction on 31 May 2018, where work is underway behind the camera to remedy a subsidence problem see image [[64285]]. Note the recently constructed level crossing, with the main access to the site beyond the storage units and portable accommodation now located off to the right. The red sign on the barrier reads Exclusion Zone.

Niddrie West Junction: Line closure at Niddrie West on 31 May 2018. View east from the footbridge along the route to Niddrie South and Millerhill, with work underway on a subsidence problem linked to old mine workings. Main entrance to the site is on the west side of the footbridge behind the camera. The area on the right was previously occupied by Newcraighall (Klondyke) Colliery. See image [[1071]]

Carnforth Bottom End Sidings: The launch of the CAF Civity trains into Northern passenger service has been further delayed but driver training is taking place now on the line to Barrow-in-Furness. 2-car 195001 is seen at Warton passing under the old tramroad heading for Arnside on 31st May 2019.

Clayhills Yard: An Azuma in the Clayhill sidings, south of Aberdeen station, on 31st May 2019.

Etal: My first train journey in over a year! 'Bunty' heading for Etal on the Heatherslaw Light Railway with the 1300hrs departure from Heatherslaw on 31 May 2021. The train was pretty busy but socially distanced.

Bishop's Lydeard: GWR/BR 9351 at Bishop's Lydeard, West Somerset Rly, waiting to take the first train of the day out to Watchet and then return later. This engine started life as a GWR 'Large Prairie' 2-6-2T 5193 but about 15 years ago was rebuilt as a 2-6-0 tender engine, as Swindon surely would have redesigned it. 31 May 2021.

Chippenham: When I saw David Panton's image [[76633]] of a stone bridge in Craigleith with houses beyond, it reminded me of this bridge to the west of Chippenham station, with houses beyond, and a driveway before it on the right. It doesn't look all that similar, but I never said I was perfekt.

Bishop's Lydeard: GWR/BR 2-6-0 9351 at Bishops Lydeard, West Somerset Railway, waiting to take the first train of the day out to Watchet and then return later. 31 May 2021.

Inverkeithing Tunnel: Caledonian Sleeper 73971 passes the local allotments as it drops down towards Inverkeithing Tunnel, with an Edinburgh - Aberdeen Clayhills light engine movement, on 31 May 2021.

St Helier Weighbridge [Jersey]: A 31st May 2021 view of the former eastern terminus of the latterly narrow-gauge Jersey Railway at The Weighbridge (now Liberation Square) in St Helier. The 7.5 mile line from St Helier to Corbiere on the west coast of the island was an early victim of bus competition, closing completely in 1936. It was, however, largely re-opened for goods traffic by the occupying German forces in 1942, transporting sand for construction of heavy fortifications along the south west coast. The track was quickly removed following the liberation of Jersey in May 1945, but the station building at St Helier survives as a shopping centre adjacent to the town's well-appointed busstation. For more information on the Jersey Railway, see: http://disused-stations.org.uk/s/st_helier/index.shtml

Bay Horse: The green liveried Brush 4, and the MkI Pullmans in brown and cream behind it, had a very retro feel as this West Coast ecs working from Carnforth to Southall entered the cutting at Forton on 31st May 2022. 47815 'Great Western' was in charge of the train with blue liveried 47812 on the rear.

Loch Long: PS Waverley returning south after turning near the head of Loch Long, the closest that can be managed to a call at Arrochar Pier today (the route with which she started in 1947). The Cobber is top right and the Brack top left.