Kilmarnock Junction: Stanier Black 5 4-6-0 no 44673 leaves Kilmarnock on 2 June 1954 with the 8.15 am express for Glasgow St Enoch.

Kilmarnock: One of Holbeck shed's Royal Scot 4-6-0s no 46109 'Royal Engineer' stands at the south end of Kilmarnock on 2 June 1954 with the 5.30pm ex-St Enoch on its way to Carlisle. Part of the Gothic tower of St Andrew's and St Marnock's Parish Church (1836) can be seen on the left.

Hurlford Signal Box: View south at Hurlford on 2 June 1956 with 2P 4-4-0 40665 about to join the main line with a train off the Darvel branch.

Greenlaw Junction: BR Standard Mogul 76099 photographed passing Greenlaw Goods, Paisley, on 2 June 1959 with a Glasgow - Kilmacolm service.
See query 2143

Wallneuk Junction: Fairburn tank 42191 approaching Wallneuk Junction on 2 June 1959 with the 5.40pm Ayr express. [Ref query 845]

Paisley Gilmour Street: 40689 brings a train for Kilmarnock via Dalry into Gilmour Street in June 1959.

Haymarket Shed [2nd]: Steam to the rescue! A4 Pacific no 60015 'Quicksilver' seen in the process of rescuing a failed BRCW Type 2 and its train, conveniently close to Haymarket shed, on 2nd June 1962.

Haymarket Central Junction: The Gateshead crew of A3 no 60060 'The Tetrarch' looking back from the footplate in June 1962 with the Haymarket coaling plant in the background. The Pacific was withdrawn from 52A in September the following year.

Little Benton South Signal Box: 60022 Mallard heading north near Little Benton Sidings, south of Benton Quarry Junction, on 2 June 1962. The train is the RCTS/SLS Aberdeen Flyer rail tour. 60022 had brought the special from Kings Cross and would hand over to classmate 60004 William Whitelaw at Waverley for the remainder of the journey to Aberdeen.

Hawick Shed: A Pacific stands silhouetted against a summer sky on Hawick shed in June 1963. The locomotive in question is Gresley A3 no 60098 Spion Kop, a visitor from 64A St Margarets.

Hawick Shed: Gresley A3 no 60098 'Spion Kop' photographed in the shed yard at Hawick on a bright and sunny summer afternoon in 1963. The Pacific was withdrawn from St Margarets shed in October that year see image [[59587]].

Hawick Shed: BR Standard Class 2 no 78047 stands alongside Hawick shed on 2 June 1963.

Hawick [2nd]: A3 Pacific no 60098 Spion Kop stands in the shed yard at Hawick in June 1963.

Hawick [2nd]: A pleasant summer's day at Hawick station in June 1963, with a relaxed-looking BR Standard class 2 no 78046 at the up platform. The 2-6-0 had been a Hawick locomotive since arriving new from Darlington Works in 1955.

Hawick North Signal Box: Gresley A3 no 60098 Spion Kop stands on Hawick shed on 2 June 1963. The Pacific would be withdrawn from St Margarets just over four months later.

Bishopton: A Gourock - Glasgow Central service at speed on the Bishopton Straight on 2 June 1964. The locomotive is Black 5 4-6-0 no 45309.

Kilmarnock: Holbeck Royal Scot 4-6-0 no 46109 Royal Engineer calls at Kilmarnock on 2 June 1964 with the 5.30pm St Enoch - Carlisle stopping train.

Bishopton: The 5.43pm Glasgow Central - Gourock at speed on the 'Bishopton Straight' on 2 June 1964. Locomotive is Fairburn 2-6-4T no 42265.

Pollokshaws West Goods: The 5.30pm Glasgow St Enoch - Carlisle runs through Pollokshaws West goods on 2 June 1965 behind Kingmoor Black 5 no 44911.

General Terminus Quay: MV 'Maid of Argyll' heading upriver past General Terminus Quay in June 1968. She is dressed overall, presumably about to take a charter sailing from Bridge Wharf.

Leith Docks: Parking problem in Leith Docks - Barclay DM shunter D2413 arrives from Leith Central depot with a 3-man crew in June 1970 to find the way blocked.

Dumfries Shed: The Kensington Olympia - Perth Motorail service heads north past the remaining shell of Dumfries shed in June 1971 behind a Brush Type 4.

Clapham Junction: A pair of class 47s led by no 1855 heading south west through Clapham Junction with a coal train in June 1973. The train has just passed below the distinctive (and much photographed) Clapham Junction 'A' signal box, which was eventually closed in 1989 see image [[37167]].

Clapham Junction: A BR class 73 Electro-Diesel locomotive approaching the carriage sidings at Clapham Junction with empty stock from Waterloo on 2 June 1973.

Persley: Looking north west towards Bucksburn and Dyce as an Aberdeen bound Swindon Cross Country DMU passes the former station at Persley in 1973.

Steinbach-Grosspertholz: 760mm gauge Engerth type 0-8+4T No. 399.02 leaves Steinbach-Grosspertholz in the Waldviertel area of Lower Austria on the 05.05 Gmünd to Gross Gerungs freight on 2 June 1977. The train is commencing the ascent of the 'Little Semmering', which might be something of an exaggeration but certainly involved a stiff climb over the European water-shed to reach the end of the line at Gross Gerungs. Sharp eyes might be able to pick out my Mini parked adjacent to the station building.

Glenfinnan: Neither K1 No. 62005 running as LNER No. 2005 in apple green nor the rake of Mk 1 coaches in the LNER tourist livery was strictly authentic in appearance, but they did at least make a harmonious ensemble. Here the westbound 'Lochaber' is on the climb away from Glenfinnan on 2 June 1988, shortly before breasting the summit and starting the descent towards the south shore of Loch Eilt.

Glasgow Central: 101 691 pulls away from platform 10 at Glasgow Central with a service for Paisley Canal on 2 June 1997.

Glasgow Central: The driver appears to have left the house in a hurry that morning as he has clearly picked up his daughter's bag.  303 008 pulls out of platform 11 at Glasgow Central with a service for Gourock on 2 June 1997.

Glasgow Central: 303 025 at Glasgow Central in June 1997 with a Cathcart Lines service.

Pollokshaws West: 101 689 at Pollokshaws West on 2 June 1997 with a train for Barrhead.

Pollokshaws West: In June 1997 Regional Railways liveried 156500 calls at 'Shaws West with an East Kilbride service.

Liskeard: View east along a wet platform at Liskeard on 2 June 2002 with a train about to depart for Plymouth.

Falmouth Docks: A Wessex Trains DMU for Truro awaits its departure time at Falmouth Docks in the summer of 2002.

Liskeard: A westbound Virgin CrossCountry service approaching Liskeard in the summer of 2002. The link line to the Looe branch runs off to the left.

Liskeard: 158826 arriving at Liskeard on a rainy day in June 2002 with a Penzance - Plymouth service. [Ref query 1083]

Stonehenge Works: Kerr Stewart 0-4-0ST 'Pixie' (4260/1922) at Stonehenge Works on the 2 ft gauge Leighton Buzzard Light Railway in June 2002.

Edinburgh Waverley: Old West box, Waverley, June 2004. Surely a missed opportunity for an interesting combined coffee shop / heritage project in Princes Street Gardens?

Scotland Street Tunnel: Sign above a hole in the north wall at Waverley (formerly Canal Street) in 2004. The tunnel once took the EL&N through to Scotland Street see image [[14741]].

Edinburgh Waverley: A GNER Glasgow Central - London Kings Cross train arrives at Waverley in June 2004.

Halbeath: Remains of Halbeath station, Dunfermline, closed to passengers in 1930. View is west from the level crossing in June 2005 towards the sidings used for reversal by trains on the Hunterston-Longannet PS coal suppply route see image [[9818]].

Kincardine: Looking east towards Kincardine village in June 2005 over the level crossing at the southern exit from the yards of the former Kincardine power station.

Townhill Yard: Map showing area around Halbeath sidings, the reversal point for the Hunterston - Longannet coal trains, showing the position in June 2005.

Alloa West Junction: Scene at Alloa West level crossing looking east on 2 June 2005, with barriers erected and one or two site safety notices now in place.

Kincardine: The platform remains at Kincardine station in June 2005. View southeast over the level crossing, with the Kincardine Bridge in the right background. The crossing gave access (right) into the south yard of the now demolished Kincardine power station.

Townhill Yard: Looking west from Halbeath level crossing in June 2006 towards Queen Margaret station, the platforms of which can just be seen beyond the bridge in the distance. In the siding nearest is a loaded coal train from Hunterston, recently arrived via the Forth Bridge, with its class 66 locomotive having just completed a run-round manoeuvre. The train is now awaiting signals before departing for Longannet power station via Charlestown Junction. The empty train on the far right is on the reverse journey.

Caldercruix: Abandoned platforms at Caldercruix in June 2006 looking west.

Forrestfield: The abandoned and overgrown platform at Forrestfield station in June 2006, looking east towards Bathgate. The trackbed here is now part of a walkway/cycle path. The surviving brick building partially visible through the foliage is a former lamp room/store.

Forrestfield: The 1882 hotel/stagecoach inn at Forrestfield looking west along the A89 in June 2006. The railway station (1862-1930) stood just behind and to the east of the building.

Plains: Overgrown platform remains at the former Plains station in the summer of 2006, looking east towards Bathgate.

Caldercruix: Viaduct to the east of Caldercruix station - view looking north along the B825 in June 2006. The sculpture protruding above the parapet is called STEAM for some reason.

Methil Dock No 1: Methil number 1 dock looking to number 2 dock. The line from Kirkland yard to Methil and the Wemyss Private Railway were to the right and the docks had coaldrops.

Methil Dock No 1: Methil number 3 dock is to the right (partly infilled) and the line from Kirkland Yard to Methil is in the foreground. Methil powerstation (closed) provides a backdrop.

Stirling North Junction: Buffer stops which look placed to protect the mainline from wagons rolling off the Alloa line.

Glasgow Central: Unit 156433 The Kilmarnock Edition stands at Glasgow Central on 2 June 2007. The unit received a new Saltire livery during 2009, at which time the nameplates were removed. [Railscot note: The Kilmarnock Edition nameplate (together with a copy of this photograph) is now in the possession of the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway].

Builth Road Low Level: View over the former Cambrian station area at Builth Road from the end of the platform of the high level LNWR station. 020607.

Builth Road Low Level: Looking north along the trackbed of the Cambrian line at Builth Road with the LNWR crossing above. The former refreshment room on the right is now a pub. 020607.

Builth Road: The former LNWR goods shed at Builth Road on 02 June 2007.

Manor Powis: How are the mighty fallen. Felled signalpost at Manor Powis. From Stirling? Note neat and capped cable tray by the line. Colour lights will rule the line now.

Townhill Yard: Squeak! Scrunch! Coming out of the loops at Dunfermline Townhill. The wagons (with natty blue trim) making more noise than the locomotive. The former route to Dunfermline Upper and Stirling is to the left.

Thornton Yard Tower: The control tower at Thornton Yard continues to moulder away. Money down the drain.

Methil Power Station: Oh dear, oh dear. The lifted and rapidly reverting to nature sidings at Methil power station. Home to the locomotive 26040 belonging to Jeffray Wotherspoon for several years. See image [[27951]]

Culross [2nd]: On final approach to Longannet.

Lochty: Looking west to Leven at Lochty. The Lochty Light Railway closed in 1990.

Alloa: View looking west on the platform of the nearly complete Alloa (New) station.

Largoward: Looking west to Largoward freight station.

Alloa: SPT 170478 forming the 1318 service from Glasgow Queen Street terminating at Alloa.

Helensburgh Upper: Looking towards Garelochhead from the platform at Helensburgh Upper on 2 June 2008 showing the end of GSM-R radio coverage and the start of the RETB section.

Gretna [CR]: Southbound FTPE service to Manchester Airport passing Gretna on 2 June 2008.

Helensburgh Upper: Looking towards Craigendoran from Helensburgh Upper on 2 June showing the home signal for entering the Yoker signalling area and the end of the RETB section.

Gretna [CR]: Southbound coal train passing the former Gretna station on 2 June behind a Freightliner class 66.

Cambus: The 1441 Alloa to Glasgow train has passed Cambus Loop in the left background and is heading for the level crossing.

Arrochar and Tarbet: Looking north at Arrochar and Tarbet on 2 June 2009.

Dalreoch: The station and junction at Dalreoch, looking west on 2 June 2009. To the left is the route to Helensburgh and to the right the Balloch branch.

Cardross: 320 318 pulls into Cardross on a service for Drumgelloch on 2 June 2009. Most unusually for the SPT network the station building is original.

Anniesland: 320 306 with an Airdrie service at Anniesland on 2 June 2009.

Salwick: Next train in quite a while. The 1209 to Blackpool South, formed by 142013, stops at Salwick. The other westbound trans are at 0707, 0809 and 1609. The sparse Preston bound service comprises the 0713, 0813 and 1615 trains. Until the station became unstaffed in the early 70s Salwick was locally famous for its wishing well on the platform.

Salwick: 142013 pulls away from a stop at Salwick, past the disused western end of the platform. Although the station opened in the 1840s it has a distinctive L&YR island platform that I suspect was built when the Preston to Kirkham line was quadrupled.

Eckington: HST Power Car 43366, on a northbound CrossCountry service, crossing the River Avon near Eckington, Worcestershire on 2nd June 2009. Probably a South-West to North-East train.

Arrochar and Tarbet: Looking south from the end of the platform at Arrochar and Tarbet on 2 June 2009, showing running lines, sidings and headshunt.

Arrochar and Tarbet: The subway at Arrochar & Tarbet on 2 June 2009. Turn right and up the steps for the platforms, straight ahead for the forest walks.

Helensburgh Upper: Platform sign at Helensburgh Upper on 2 June 2009. [The Gaelic version omits the 'Upper'.]

Helensburgh Central: 320 322 is given the off for Drumgelloch at Helensburgh Central on 2 June, although there are more than 3 minutes to go before scheduled departure time.

Cardross: View east at Cardross on 2 June 2009. Not only is the original station building still standing here, but it has recently been given a fresh coat of paint.

Lancaster: Stanier 8F 2-8-0 no 48151 attacks the steep climb south of Lancaster station on 2 June hauling the 2010 pre-season Fellsman excursion from Lancaster to Carlisle via Preston and the S&C.

Uddingston: Partick bound 318 270, awaiting departure from Uddingston on 2 June 2010.

Slateford: A Glasgow Central - Edinburgh Waverley service slowly crosses the bridge over Slateford Road on the west side of Edinburgh on 2 June 2010 as it pulls into the eastbound platform of Slateford station.

Uddingston: Glasgow Central - Edinburgh Waverley service, formed by 156446, passing through Uddingston on 2 June 2010.

Bjorli: NSB Class 93 DMU at Bjorli station on the Rauma line on 2 June 2011. The train is awaiting busloads of tourists to return them to their cruise ship berthed at Andalsnes see image [[34404]].

Wakefield Westgate: A little used door alongside Westgate within the sole remaining up side original station sub-structure at Wakefield Westgate station, giving access to the undercroft, with the 1960s replacement tiled superstructure sitting atop. The window of the first class lounge can be seen in the newer building, and the bridge over Westgate at the south end of the station sits overhead.

Andalsnes: The picturesque station at Andalsnes, Norway, in June 2011. A train of NSB type 93 DMUs awaits tourists from the cruise ship for a trip on the Rauma Railway as far as Bjorli see image [[34414]].

Ashton Gate: 66085 light engine, on the Portbury line, passing through the disused Ashton Gate Station site on 2 June heading for Temple Meads.

Glasgow Central: First TransPennine 185108 awaits its departure time at Glasgow Central on the afternoon of 2 June with a service for Manchester Airport.

Wakefield Westgate: Ornate stone surround to a little used door alongside Wakefield Westgate station, photographed in June 2011. The door is part of the original up side sub-structure, giving access to the undercroft. The Fleur-de-Lys emblem of the City Of Wakefield is incorporated within the centre boss over the door.

Wakefield Westgate: The north end of Wakefield Westgate station on 2 June 2011. On the left 144005 stands in the down side layover siding, from which it will eventually move back into platform 2 to form the 08.39 service to Leeds via Huddersfield, Halifax & Bradford. On the right 321903 will arrive imminently at platform 1 and leave as the 08.32 all stations to Doncaster. Just visible by the lower left cab corner of 144005 is milepost 176 (from Kings Cross).

Ongar: Exterior of Ongar station, terminus of the Epping Ongar Railway but which was, for 37 years, the terminus of the Central Line, seen here on 2nd June 2012. It was opened by the GER with the extension of the line from Loughton on 24th April 1865. Under the London Transport 1935 'New Works' scheme, the whole line from Stratford was transferred to LT as part of the Central Line, linked by an extension from its 1912 terminus at Liverpool Street. Tube trains reached Epping on 25th September 1949 but a steam shuttle service continued to serve Ongar until 18th November 1957 when electrification was extended to the remote outer terminus. After several stays of execution, being latterly operated only at peak hours, LTE withdrew the service on 30th September 1994.

Biggar: The remains of the station and remarkably well-preserved signalbox at Biggar. Seen here in June 2012, now standing within a contractor's yard. See image [[6449]]

North Weald: GWR Hall Class 4-6-0 4953 'Pitchford Hall' arriving at North Weald on the Epping Ongar Railway on 2nd June 2012. Built at Swindon in August 1929, it was withdrawn in May 1963, finding its way to Woodham's scrapyard at Barry. It was purchased for preservation by a Dr. John Kennedy in 1984 and moved to Tyseley for restoration, eventually moving under its own steam again for the first time in just over 40 years in February 2004. It was sold to the Epping Ongar Railway in 2011, shortly before the line reopened. This station nowadays looks as if it might well be on a different planet to the days when LUL Central Line trains called here from 1957 to 1994.

Rushden: Work in progress on Barclay 0-4-0ST Edmunsons at Rushden Transport Museum, Northants on 2 June 2013.

Rushden: Coaches on display at the Rushden Transport Museum and Railway, Northants in June 2013. The coach on the left is used as a games room by the museum social club, and contains a pool table and dart board as well as seating accommodation.

Rushden: Exterior of Rushden Transport Museum, Northants, housed in the former Rushden station building and seen here in June 2013. Rushden closed to passengers in 1959.

Rushden: Nice place for a catnap on a warm and sunny afternoon. Rushden Transport Museum's cat enjoying forty winks on a convenient carriage step board.

Rushden: Exhibits at Rushden Transport Museum on 2 June 2013 with 31206 nearest the camera. See image [[43366]]

Northampton: Journeys end for service from London Euston at Northampton station on 2 June 2013.

Rushden: Former Blackpool tram 634 on display at the Rushden Transport Museum, Rushden, Northants in June 2013.

Rushden: Exhibits at Rushden Transport Museum, Rushden, Northants, in June 2013.

Rushden: Formerly Rushden Station - now Rushden Transport Museum, Northants. Photographed on 2 June 2013.

Maryborough: The impressive station building at Maryborough, Victoria, in 2013. Maryborough (pop c 7600) was described by Mark Twain as a railway station with a town attached. Passenger services ended in 1993 and the station became derelict, but was refurbished in 2006/2007 and in 2010 saw a limited passenger service reintroduced, basically one train morning and afternoon. The freight yard has remained open and operating. Needless to say, during this visit there were no signs of activity.

Sheriffhall City Bypass Overbridge: The 'tunnel' that will take the Borders Railway under the Edinburgh city by-pass, seen here on 2 June 2014. Work on restoring the original A720 road route is currently underway. See image [[43042]]

Eskbank and Dalkeith: Morning stroll south through Eskbank - scene on 2 June 2014.

Eskbank and Dalkeith: The Waverley route between Eskbank and Hardengreen looking south on 2 June 2014. Note the supports for the footbridge that will span the trackbed in the background at the site of the new Eskbank station.

Eskbank: Site of the new Eskbank station looking south towards Hardengreen roundabout on 2 June 2014, showing the considerable excavation work that has been carried out here see image [[45288]].

Dalkeith: Transformation almost complete at Dalkeith on 2 June 2014. See image [[39524]] for the scene in the early sixties.

Glenesk: The Borders Railway works base on the site of Glenesk Colliery on 2 June 2014, looking north towards Glenesk Junction and the Viaduct.

Kearsley: 156461 and 156491 run non stop past Kearsley station on 2nd June 2015, with a Manchester to Blackpool North service. Electrification of the line has taken place since this photo was taken and the basic facilities on the station have had a basic upgrade.

Brock: Classic traction on the evening flasks as 57004 and 37611 head south at Brock on 2nd June 2015. This working has gone over entirely to Class 68 and/or Class 88 power.

Farnworth: Looking towards Farnworth station from above the tunnel portals on 2 June 2015 as a Hazel Grove to Preston service passes. On the right the excavator is removing soil from the new track alignment.

Dalgety Bay: A Network Rail Measurement Train climbs away from Dalgety Bay on a return trip from Edinburgh to Aberdeen on 2 June.

Farnworth: A Manchester Victoria to Clitheroe service exits the smaller Farnworth Tunnel and passes through the temporarily closed station on 2 June 2015. On my last visit the Up platform was being excavated to allow for realignment. The blockwork wall for the new alignment is now starting to appear on the left but the major change will be the removal of the road bridge in the background.

Euxton: Bringing a little colour to the scene, 86604 and 86613 haul the Coatbridge to Crewe (4M74) Freightliner service on the Up Slow line at Euxton on the evening of 2 June 2015.

Standish: The 1800 'Northern Electrics' Liverpool to Preston service heads north along the WCML to the north of the former Standish station site on 2 June 2015.

Euxton Balshaw Lane: DRS 57004 and 37611, with two flasks, pass Euxton on the up slow with the Sellafield to Crewe move on 2nd June 2015.

Brock: Freightliner 86604 and 86613 take the Coatbridge to Crewe containers under the footbridge at the site of Brock station on 2nd June 2015. Practically guaranteed to use a pair of 86s, this train is popular with photographers on summer evenings See image [[51533]].

Kearsley: Northern 156451 passes under the relatively new footbridge to the north of Kearsley station on 2 June 2015. The footbridge replaced the foot crossing, the remains of which are in the centre foreground (a wooden post from the wicket gate and the concrete ramp) in March 2015.

Farnworth Tunnel: Northern 150115 heads south from Farnworth Tunnel on 2 June as work continues in connection with electrification of the route. The Clitheroe to Manchester Victoria service is running wrong line due to current closure of the larger tunnel, normally used by up trains.

Maidens: Morriston bridge, north of Maidens, showing the construction of the deck - girders with brick arches between, the same method as used in the cut-and-cover Alloway Tunnel.

Cowlairs Incline: 66597 'Viridor' heads a works train up Cowlairs on the new up line on 2 June 2016.

Cowlairs Tunnel: Freightliner 66597 'Viridor' crawls out of Queen Street tunnel on the newly completed up line with a train of spent ballast.

Glenside: Morriston Overbridge south of Culzean, constructed in the same manner as Alloway Tunnel. View looks south.

Kyle of Lochalsh: As the PS Waverley tied up at the Railway Pier, Kyle on June 2 2016 there was a nowadays very rare opportunity to take the few steps between platform end and ship’s gangway. She has here just returned from a cruise advertised as being or Portree and Gairloch, but which got slightly 'blown off course’, turning back at Raasay for Eigg and Rum. With the added drama of an impromptu Coastguard Helicopter exercise off Rum, winching a man down onto the deck!

Hornberg: A southbound chemicals train hurries through Hornberg in the Black Forest on 2nd June, hauled by a DB Class 185 medium-powered electric freight loco . The red and white barrier on the barrow crossing in the foreground will be retracted once the train has passed - by the signaller in the (brown clad) control room on the platform - allowing passengers to reach the station's northbound platforms. [With thanks to Bill Jamieson for loco intelligence]

Gutach: A southbound Schwarzwaldbahn train passes through classic Black Forest scenery by the village of Gutach, en route from Karlsruhe to Konstanz, on 2nd June 2017. Gutach is the home of the Bollenhut, a traditional womens' hat topped with pom-poms, which is a symbol for the Black Forest as a whole.

Hornberg: A driving van trailer leads the Fridays and Saturdays only Intercity (IC) train across Hornberg viaduct on 2nd June 2017, having set out from distant Emden (on the North Sea coast) at 06.34. It would reach its destination at Konstanz on the Bodensee (Lake Constance) at 16.45. These two services - and balancing northbound workings on Saturdays and Sundays - are the only regular long-distance passenger services to operate over the Schwarzwaldbahn.

Dufftown: Class 140 Pacer prototype 140001 awaiting further restoration at Dufftown on 2nd June 2017.

Hornberg: Another view of the 2nd June 2017 Emden-Konstanz IC service at Hornberg, with the train's Class 101 loco pushing from the rear. Built between 1996 and 1999, Class 101s work IC and EC (Eurocity) all over Germany. [With thanks to Bill Jamieson for loco intelligence]

Bay Horse: Express power on the flasks. DRS 68024 Centaur and 68020 Reliance were turned out for the Crewe to Sellafield working on 2nd June 2017. This may become more common as DRS are reported to be storing/selling more Class 37s. A combined 7600hp seems to be on top of the job as the two flask train rolls through Bay Horse Right Time on a murky morning.

Hamilton Central: The Rail 74 Community Rail Partnership was launched today at Hamilton, this CRP covers the line from Hamilton Central to Rutherglen. (Why 74? The railway is an alternative to the M74 and went electric in 1974!) The CRP has a Facebook page.

Princes Street Gardens Cutting: A 4-car 158 takes a Fife service through Princes Street Gardens on 2nd June 2017.

Villa San Giovanni: Train ferry 'Scilla', being loaded with rail wagons for Sicily, at Villa San Giovanni in June 2018. This vessel appeared to have been relegated from passenger duties and was seen from the newer passenger train ferry 'Messina' arriving from Sicily with a train for Rome. See recently published Railscot article. Photo by Mike Burke.

Messina Centrale: Grab shot of two Italian diesel shunters, stabled in a siding at Messina Centrale on Sicily in June 2018. The primary role of these locos is shunting passenger and freight stock on an off the train ferries operating between Messina and the Italian mainland.

Cowlairs Incline: 380 116 coasts down the Cowlairs incline.

Guide Bridge: TPE 185143 passes Guide Bridge in June 2018 with a service to Hull. Immediately after the station the train took the Stalybridge route, leaving the former Woodhead route. Note some of the original 1500v OHL structures still in use today but now supporting 25kv overheads, although only as far as Hadfield.

Guide Bridge: A Manchester to Hadfield service departs Guide Bridge on 02 June 2018 under OHL structures that formerly supported the Manchester to Sheffield and Wath 1500V DC catenary.

Buchanan Street Tunnel: This photo is of the mouth at the country end of the tunnel from Buchanan Street behind student flats off Dobbies Loan.

Ashburys: Network Rail 'Rail Operating Centre' next to Ashburys station in Manchester as seen on 02 June 2018. I am of a mind to call this a 21st Century signalbox because the shape of it certainly is box shaped. However, with the later phases of ETCS, there won't be many trackside signals to control.

Glasgow Queen Street Low Level: 37403 on the rear of the SRPS 'Routes and Branches' railtour heading east out of Glasgow Queen Street Low Level. 37025 was leading.

Ashburys: Passing Ashburys and heading to Piccadilly is a Northern Pacer unit on a service from Rose Hill Marple on 02 June 2018.

Messina Maritime: A view from the train deck of the ferry 'Messina' as it backs away from the dockside on 2nd June 2018. The nose door of the ship is starting to close and the connecting plate with locking pin has been raised to release the ship. The rail wagons in the background will all have arrived in Sicily by one of the train ferries. Note that the tracks start to diverge on the harbour side but there is a further set of points on the ship itself and four roads in total on the train deck.

Cadder Yard: Demonstration of attaching droppers to overhead line at Cadder Electrification Depot during a visit by the North British Railway Study Group, courtesy of Network Rail/EGIP.

Guide Bridge: A Class 323 EMU heads west from Guide Bridge heading for Piccadilly on 02 June 2018. The unit is passing Guide Bridge Station Jct which leads to Heaton Norris Jct via Denton and Reddish South, a line that sees just one scheduled passenger service per week and that is only northbound!

Manchester Piccadilly: The 1706 hrs departure to Middlesbrough gets away from Manchester Piccadilly on 02 June 2018 under the watchful eyes of two young travellers on the left.

Exeter St Davids: A pair of Great Western Class 143, Alexander bodied, Pacers heading for Barnstaple at Exeter St Davids on Saturday 2 June 2018.

Messina Maritime: The spotless train deck of the ferry Messina with coaches of a Sicily to Rome train occupying two of the four roads (All four would be used when conveying freight vehicles). Most passengers go up to visit the cafe bar or just enjoy the trip across the Strait of Messina but railway enthusiasts can also enjoy the novelty of exploring the train deck (See Railscot article). 2nd June 2018.

Guide Bridge: DBC 66024 passes Guide Bridge on 2nd June 2018 with empty stone hoppers. It is believed that it had come from Bredbury and was heading back to Peak Forest. Immediately after passing the station the train took the diverging route via Denton.

Almond Valley Viaduct: The Almond Viaduct with a class 380 crossing, seen from the trackbed of the Newliston Shale Mine branch.

Messina Maritime: There are four sidings on the train ferry Messina with buffers at the stern end. These also have a hook up for on board train services, as seen here in June 2018, so the lights and air conditioning continue to work while the train is on the ship. Five passenger trains a day make the crossing each way connecting Sicily with Naples and Rome.

Edinburgh Waverley: A Cross Country service for Bristol Temple Meads pulls out of Platform 4 on Saturday 2 June. The clutter on the left arises from the slowly-progressing Platforms 5 and 6 reinstatement.

Messina Centrale: Italian Bo-Bo-Bo electric 656-024, seen at Messina Centrale through the corridor connection of the coaches it had just brought in from Syracuse on 2nd June 2018. These coaches were being drawn back to join stock from Palermo and the combined train was then propelled to nearby Messina Maritime and onto the waiting train ferry to cross to the mainland.

Messina Maritime: View from the upper deck of the train ferry 'Messina' as it departs from the port of the same name for the five mile crossing to mainland Italy in June 2018. The coaches for Rome are safely stowed on the train deck below.

Ashburys: A TPE Class 185 crosses Ashburys West Jct on 02 June 2018 with the 1617 hrs Manchester Piccadilly to Leeds service. The platforms of Ashburys station can be seen this side of both signals.

Larbert: The 'Lochs and Glens Statesman' approaching Larbert on full power after a signal check at Carmuirs with 47826 and 57 314.

Edinburgh Waverley: A Virgin (for now) East Coast service clears Calton North tunnel to enter Waverley on 2 June. The rusty track in the foreground will lead to the new Platforms 5 and 6.

Messina Maritime: The view astern as the train ferry leaves the port of Messina, on the north east coast of Sicily, to cross to Villa San Giovanni in June 2018. At their narrowest point the Strait of Messina is two miles wide but the ferry crossing route is five miles long. The coaches heading for Rome can be seen below on the train deck. See Railscot article about this trip.

Messina Centrale: View through the corridor connection from the Syracuse portion of a Rome bound train as the coaches are shunted at Messina Centrale to join with those from Palermo. Having come from the road ahead they will now be propelled to the right and once joined the whole rake will continue forward the short distance to the ferry loading point at Messina Maritime. 2nd June 2018

Leyland: A pair of DRS Class 88s (both with their 'pans' up) head south at Leyland on 02 June 2018 with a Sellafield to Crewe flask working. Having run as far as Carnforth on their diesel engines, they switched to electric for the run along the WCML. Whilst possibly more efficient they don't have quite the same charm of a pair of 20s or 37s.

Messina Centrale: Grab shot from a train passing Messina Depot and showing the numerous Class 656 electrics stored there in June 2018. By coincidence our train was being hauled by one of these Bo-Bo-Bo articulated locomotives but they are declining and as we travelled north on the mainland we saw further examples in store at different locations.

Kintore: The new Kintore station is taking shape. This view looks south east over the site. The existing track will form the westbound line. The original station is in the distance.

Kinaldie: View west over the site of the former Kinaldie station. The platforms have been removed as part of the redoubling works.

Raith's Farm Sidings: PW trains and a considerable number of sleepers in storage at Raith's Farm in connection with the redoubling works.

Kinaldie: Freightliner 66565 with a permanent way train passing the former goods yard for Kinaldie station on 2nd June 2019 with the ongoing redoubling works obvious. The view looks to Aberdeen.

Inverurie: Inverurie box seen in June 2019. The box was set this far back as the bay platform lines and carriage sidings formerly occupied the area in front of the box.

Inverness: Michael Portillo's Scottish journey for the eleventh series of Great British Railway Journeys, to be shown in the New Year, began in the Borders and concluded at Inverness.

Boat of Kintore Level Crossing: Boat of Kintore Level Crossing seen from the north east. The road is closed during redoubling works.

Insch: In use telegraph poles near Insch station in June 2019.

Bowling [CR]: Looking west along what would have been the Up Line at Bowling (CR) or as the closure notice of February 1951 advised 'Bowling (LMS)' with alternative facilities available at 'Bowling (LNE)'.

Bowling: 334008, on an Edinburgh to Helensburgh service, approaches Bowling station with harbour behind and Erskine Bridge in the background in June 2019. Some 60 years beforehand, Mr Cuneo painted a westbound Blue Train near this spot, however it included an Ivatt 2-6-0 in the sidings to the left. Unfortunately I wasn't able to relay the sidings and borrow 43106!

Kennethmont: Kennethmont box seen from a passing train in June 2019.

Woodacre Crossing: 66516 and 66537 pass Woodacre with a Coatbridge to Basford Hall intermodal on the evening of Sunday 2nd June 2019. This train would normally be electric hauled but the 66s had worked north the previous day when Beattock was closed and their train had used the G&SW route. The Grizedale Brook on the left passes under the railway by the green footbridge and joins the River Wyre just behind the camera.

Northallerton: TPE 185128, heading south towards York, about to leave Northallerton Station on 2nd June 2019.

Bowling [CR]: Looking east towards Bowling (CR) station on 02 June 2019 along the trackbed of the L&D. This short tunnel has structure reference number 60 still visible on the east end portal some 55 years after the closure of the line.

Bowling: The combined 1010 hrs from Mallaig and the 1211 hrs from Oban pass Bowling on 02 June 2019 heading to Glasgow Queen Street. 156457 was the leading unit with 156445 nearest the camera.

Bowling: 320305 and 320417 arrive at Bowling with the 1525 hrs service to Motherwell on 02 June 2019.

Limpetness Loop: Rosyth Dockyard has been appearing in 'the system' since December 2022, which shows a return (as required) train movement between there and Inverkeithing Yard on weekdays although the branch is presently impassable due to tree growth. This was the view looking south towards Limpetness Loop on 2 June 2020.

Limpetness Loop: Awaiting a possible resumption of traffic, this is the Naval Base North ground frame at Limpetness Loop on the Rosyth Dockyard branch on 2 June 2020. Seen from the Fife Coastal Path.

Perth: An Inverness to Glasgow HST departs Perth's Platform 4 on 2 June 2021. They seem to be rewilding the trackbed.

Kirkland Yard: This base and stumps are all that remain of the long footbridge that used to span the tracks at Kirkland Yard, as seen in June 2021. Beyond is the Fife Heritage Railway's demonstration line. See image [[53242]] of the structure in 2008, prior to demolition.

Barnhill Signal Box: This rural looking scene is in fact only a few hundred yards from Perth city centre. It is also just a mile from Perth Signalling Centre, which opened in 1962. When you think of the cost of all those Barnhill signallers' shifts over 59 years you wonder why Perth SC has never reached out just a bit.

Kirkland Yard: Looking west along the cleared track through Kirkland Yard in June 2021.

Kirkland Yard: Looking over the surviving track at Kirkland Yard in June 2021. This served Methil Dock and Power Station and the Fife Heritage Railway depot can be seen in the background. Clearance of this old track is imminently expected, prior to relaying for the Leven branch reopening, and work is about to enter the 'things to see but limited access' phase..

Perth: The Platform 4 Up starter at Perth with its various accesories. The old-tech theatre box (showing 'M' for main) surely dates from the 1962 installation of the power box. There is talk of an upgrade to the signalling and trackwork to speed up the southern approach to the station

Hedgeley: The abutments of a bridge near Hedgeley station, on the Coldstream to Wooler line, with the A697 in background

Kirkland Yard: Looking east along Kirkland Yard on 2nd June 2021. Foliage clearance has revealed that someone had already made a start on unofficially removing old track materials. Contractors will continue with that removal and new materials are likely to be stockpiled here in the near future, ready for the relaying process.

Edinburgh Waverley: The Up Highland Chieftain has departed from its usual Platform 19 and is seen accelerating past Platform 2 on 2 June 2021. The train from Tweebank on Platform 1 has just disgorged an alarming number of people given the Covid measures. Is continuing with half the number of trains during the day on this line a good idea, I wonder?

Nuneaton: I am accustomed to freight trains passing this way through platform 7 at Nuneaton to reach the North Chord, but this unit for Birmingham took me by surprise. The train dispatcher told me that the 9.09 often went that way to avoid freight trains; which didn't make a lot of sense on this occasion, as a Leicester train was due in platform 6. But the Abbey Street crossover to regain right line was a nice bit of rare track to start my day.

Starbeck: York bound 170459 calls at Starbeck on 2nd June 2022. Until quite recently this was a Scotrail unit (See image [[47583]]) but several 170s have transferred to Northern and operate almost all Leeds Harrogate York services.

Harrogate: 170461 pauses under the double bridge in Platform 3 at Harrogate working from York to Leeds on 2nd June 2022. This view looks in the direction of Leeds through the long bridges at the southern station approach.

Belmont Junction [Harrogate]: The little gate box at Belmont, just east of Starbeck station, is an elderly survivor that also has a claim to fame, in that it featured in Alan Plater's Beiderbecke Affair comedy drama series in the 1980s. Briefly, Big Al spoke to his 'brother', the signalman, who dropped the barriers to foil Sgt Hobbs' pursuit of Trevor Chaplin's little yellow van (which I hope is an encouragement to find the series on DVD or YouTube). The Beiderbecke trilogy programmes are a favourite of mine so this was something of a cultural pilgrimage on 2nd June 2022.

Pannal: For many years Harrogate line services largely used Pacer trains but are now almost exclusively operated by former Scotrail Class 170 3-car units. Two of these pass at Pannal on 2nd June 2022, where the former station building now serves as a Co-op supermarket.

Crimple Junction [Station]: As southbound trains leave the Crimple Viaduct they negotiate a 20mph curve round towards Pannal. This is the point where the Harrogate to Wetherby and Church Fenton line went straight ahead, and almost immediately into a tunnel. That line closed in 1964 but the junction was also the site of short lived Crimple station, which closed in May 1869 after only eighteen months. A house now occupies the site but is screened by trees and the tunnel portal is hidden. This view from a Leeds bound train on 2nd June 2022.

Starbeck: 170459 slows to call at Starbeck with a York to Leeds service on 2nd June 2022. From December 2021 there is now a half hourly York Harrogate Leeds service in each direction and the time honoured reversal of alternate services from Leeds at Knaresborough has been almost entirely eliminated.

Coventry: The Warwick Road entrance to Coventry station used to be a footpath just wide enough for two people. Its capacity has recently been considerably enhanced - lets hope there are enough passengers to fill it. There is a major safety advance, in that the steps down from street level are now under cover - I predict less slips and trips.

Pannal Junction: Looking southwards from a train on the lofty Crimple Viaduct in June 2022, the old direct Pannal Junction to Starbeck trackbed can be seen. This closed in 1951. The surviving Pannal Loop drops down from Crimple Junction through the trees to join the old route just north of Pannal station.

Shrewsbury: The 14.51 to 10b (Tenby) stops at platform 7b. 175107 obviously didn't want to assist any escaping prisoners from the Jail on the right, so it hid behind the wall. Nonetheless, there could have been a lag in departure.

Starbeck: The brick signal box at Starbeck still controls the level crossing on this busy road, protected by a mixture of colour light and semaphore signals. A subway allows pedestrians to pass under the line and affords access to both platforms. This view looking west on 2nd June 2022.

Wolverhampton: Volverhampton - change here for Wolverhampton. The new tram tracks can be seen curving sharply to the new terminus stop (left) as jovial passengers approach the new station entrance. A site worker told me trams would call from about the start of August, then begged me not to share this information. So don't tell anyone, OK?

Belmont Junction [Harrogate]: 170461 curves round from Starbeck and passes Belmont level crossing with a Leeds to York service on 2nd June 2022. Until 1900 this was also a junction where a spur formed a triangle with the direct Pannal to Starbeck line.

Dalmeny: Work to lay foundations that will pave the way for the electrification of the Fife Circle is about to get underway. The £55million Scottish Government investment in the line between Haymarket and Dalmeny will see the railway transformed to accommodate quieter, more environmentally friendly electric trains.

Crewe: Its not every day you see a Voyager (left, coming in from North Wales), the APT (in the Heritage Centre, centre), and a Pendolino (18.02 to Euston, right) in the same picture. Crewe station was actually very quiet on the Platinum Jubilee holiday.