Carlisle Upperby Shed: LMS Fowler 4P 2-6-4T no 42357 on Upperby shed in the summer of 1962.

Crewe Works: No 51412, an Aspinall rebuild of an original L&Y class 23 2F 0-6-0ST dating from 1895. Photographed in use as a service locomotive at Crewe Works on 24 June 1962, some 3 months before withdrawal.

Carlisle Kingmoor Shed: Resident Jinty 0-6-0T 47492 in the shed yard at Kingmoor on 24 June 1962.

Carlisle Canal Shed: Crab 2-6-0 no 42752 stands in the shed yard at Carlisle Canal on 24 June 1962, approximately 6 months before its eventual withdrawal.

Stafford: One of the ten ex-Crosti boilered BR class 9F 2-10-0s, 92022, is seen alongside 5C Stafford Shed on 24 June 1962. This particular example was eventually withdrawn from 6C Birkenhead in November 1967 and met its end in the yard at Campbells of Airdrie in April the following year, age 12 years 11 months.

Carlisle Kingmoor Shed: Locomotives in the shed yard at Kingmoor on 26 June 1962. Nearest the camera is ex-CR Pickersgill 0-6-0 no 57653.

Carlisle Canal Shed: J36 no 65312 photographed on Carlisle Canal shed in the summer of 1962. Having spent the entire BR period based at Canal, the 0-6-0 was finally withdrawn from here in November 1962 and cut up at Inverurie Works four months later.

Carlisle Kingmoor Shed: Jubilee 45724 Warspite in the shed yard at Kingmoor on 24 June 1962.

Carlisle Upperby Shed: LMS Jinty 47269 on Upperby shed in the summer of 1962.

Clarkston and Stamperland: Fairburn 2-6-4T 42128 passing Overlee Park, Clarkston, on 24 June 1962 with a morning commuter train from East Kilbride.

Glasgow Central: Standard class 5 4-6-0 no 73099 leaving Glasgow Central on 24 June 1962 with a party special bound for Blackpool.

Carlisle Canal Shed: Gresley V2 2-6-2 no 60873 Coldstreamer, photographed on Carlisle Canal shed in June 1962.

Carstairs: Polmadie's Standard class 5 4-6-0 no 73072 heads north through Carstairs station on 24 June 1962 with a down freight.

Carlisle Kingmoor Shed: Locomotive lineup at Kingmoor shed on 24 June 1962. In the centre is 46223 Princess Alice.

Carlisle Upperby Shed: The crowded shed yard at Carlisle Upperby, seen from the footbridge on 24 June 1962.

Carlisle Canal Shed: Carlisle Canal A3 Pacific 60068 Sir Visto stands on its home shed in June 1962.

Plaistow Shed: I worked in London for part of 1962, which allowed some visits to depots and stations there. The main shed for the LT&SR lines was Plaistow, which had closed by the time I visited on 24 June 1962, but 42519 and several other 3cyl tanks were dotted around. Two of its sisters, 42530 and 42535 were trialled from Ladyburn in 1951 between Glasgow Central and Gourock/ Wemyss Bay with a view to replacing the Fowler 2-6-4 tanks when the Fenchurch Street lines were electrified. This didn't take place for a further ten years, and so the cunning plan never happened!

Wellington (Salop): Collett 6400 class 2P 0-6-0PT no 6421 on 84H Wellington (Salop) Shed on 24 June 1962.

Carlisle Upperby Shed: The shed yard at Carlisle Upperby on Sunday 24 June 1962. Locomotives featured are Jubilee 45681 Aboukir and Black 5 45313.

Anstruther [2nd]: Anstruther station, photographed in 1964 from a departing eastbound DMU.

Leuchars Junction [2nd]: Leuchars, photographed in June 1964 from a departing northbound train. At that time it was still known as Leuchars Junction, for the line to St. Andrews, which finally closed in 1969, and the route north to Tayport, closed in 1956.

Kilconquhar: Kilconquhar station, photographed in June 1964 from a departing eastbound DMU. Post closure the building is still in use as a private residence [[16620]].

Kilmacolm: Standard 2-6-4T 80005 at Kilmacolm, with a service from Glasgow St Enoch.

Elie: Elie station, photographed in 1964 from a departing eastbound DMU. It closed the following year and the site is now built over.

Lundin Links: Lundin Links station, photographed in June 1964 from a departing eastbound DMU.

Lockerbie Junction: A Peak approaching Dumfries from the north in June 1972 with the up Thames-Clyde Express around the time the name was dropped from timetables.

Dumfries: Tea up! The crew of a Holbeck 'Peak' takes a quick time-out after arriving 4 minutes early at Dumfries with the up Thames - Clyde Express on 24 June 1972.

Dumfries Shed: 47546 restarts a Glasgow - Birmingham train from Dumfries in 1972, with demolition work well underway on the former Dumfries locomotive shed. The shed, coded 68B for most of the post nationalisation period, spent its last 4 years as 67E before final closure by BR in May 1966. Dumfries and Galloway Police HQ now occupies the site see image [[2695]].

Ballinluig: 40032 passing through Ballinluig with the 0910 Edinburgh to Inverness service in 1979. The north signal box can be seen next to the level crossing on the left. The station was off to the right.

Eastfield MPD: 37027 was being painted for Glasgow Works open day at Eastfield in June 1981. It later became 37519 but was withdrawn in 1999 and cut up nine years later by Booths in Rotherham.

Horbury Bridge: Hunslet Barclay 20902 Lorna and 20905 Iona top and tail a weedkilling train stabled in Horbury Bridge goods yard on 24 June 1990.

Horbury Bridge: Hunslet Barclay 20902 and 20905 seen topping and tailing weed spraying stock whilst stabled over the week-end in Horbury Bridge Goods Yard in June 1990. The trackbed here is virtually weed free compared to the situation in 2014 See image [[47330]]

Aspatria: Aspatria, looking to Workington in 2001.

Douglas West: View east at Douglas West from the former eastbound platform. A part of the bing remains in the distant left. Portions remain of both station buildings, the goods shed and a loading bank. Close to the former level crossing is a stationmasters house (right background). The platforms were timber so not much remains of them except humps.

Bristol Pylle Hill: Site of the former goods and parcels depot at Bristol Pyle Hill looking west on 24 June 2003. Bristol Temple Meads station is off picture to the right.

Crail: The former Crail station in June 2005, following part demolition, part conversion and part extension to form a garden centre - view is south between the platforms.

Bridge of Allan: ScotRail 158733 draws to a halt at Bridge of Allan platform 1 on a fine summer afternoon in June 2005 with a Dunblane - Edinburgh service.

Bridge of Allan: Anyone for tennis? If so, this is your stop. A Dunblane - Edinburgh train calls at Bridge of Allan in June 2005.

Largs Pier: View from North Largs Foreshore, by the Roddsdale Water outfall into the Firth of Clyde, looking across to Largs Pier in June 2006, with the Calmac Ferry serving Great Cumbrae Island berthed at the outer harbour ferry terminal.

Dalmonach Print Works: At the south end of the rather long Dalmonach siding were these mills on east east bank of the Leven near Bonhill. Reached by a LC and now under demolition.

Alloa: Missed opportunity. Work continues on the new station at Alloa and the supermarket taking up what should have been a large park and ride carpark.

Alloa: Missed opportunity. Work continues on the new station at Alloa and the supermarket taking up what should have been a large park and ride carpark.

Blackgrange: Blackgrange LC looking east to Cambus. Note the welded rail on the right. This was the site of a short-lived station.

Stirling Forth Viaduct [SandD]: Work continues on the NBR Forth viaduct north of Stirling.

Stirling North Junction: End of the line ... the track stops abruptly north of Stirling station on the Alloa route.

Kincardine Junction: The replacement road overbridge for the Hilton Road level crossing takes shape just west of the former Kincardine Junction. View looks east.

Blackgrange: Looking west at Blackgrange level crossing. Welded rail lies to the right.

Stirling Forth Viaduct [SandD]: Forth Viaducts at Stirling. Left: SCR. Right: S&DR.

Stirling North Junction: The improver has no use for the past; semaphore signal SN 26 lies felled to the north of Stirling.

Hunterston Ore Terminal: View from near Largs, looking south along the Firth of Clyde, to the Hunterston Ore Terminal in June 2006.

Cardross: Sleeper heads east from Cardross on one of the longest days of the year with the lights of Greenock across the water.

Midge Hall: Looking northeast across the level crossing at Midge Hall towards Preston on 24 June 2008. The former station and goods shed stand on the left and the Preston bound platform can still be seen amongst the weeds and vegetation. The Liverpool bound platform was in the undergrowth to the right of the signal post. This former double track main line, once used by Liverpool - Glasgow/Edinburgh express services, has now been split in two, with a DMU operating a shuttle service over the single line between Preston and Ormskirk, where same-platform interchange takes place with Merseyrail electric services.

New Forest: New Forest agricultural tunnel below London Dorchester line North of Brockenhurst.

New Forest: New Forest bridge over London - Dorchester line.

New Forest: EMU North of Brockenhurst in the New Forest on the London - Dorchester line.

Sod Hall Crossing: Single unit 153359 on a Preston to Ormskirk working is seen at the amusingly named Sod Hall occupation crossing looking towards Midge Hall on 24 June 2008.

Midge Hall: 153359 on an Ormskirk to Preston service comes to a stand at Midge Hall SB as the signalman prepares to receive the token for the section from Rufford on 24 Jun 2008. A local group is lobbying for the reopening of Midge Hall station using the slogan Youve stopped the train, now let us get on. [When the station closed in 1961 there was a sparse population in the area. Since then major housing development has taken place with more in the offing on the nearby former Leyland Trucks vehicle test track.]

Rochefort: Originally capable of carrying nine motor cars, the Rochefort transporter bridge is now restricted to foot passengers and bicycles. It provides a useful link across the River Charente in summer months and the 140m trip across the river is well worth the 2 Euro return fare. See image [[24426]]

Rochefort: Similar in operation to, but 11 years older than, its Middlesbrough counterpart See image [[59948]] this is Rochefort transporter bridge over the River Charente. Built in 1900 it has been replaced by a motorway viaduct in recent years but still operated by the local government region as a preserved industrial monument.

La Chevalerie: Until 1935 France's second largest island, Ile d'Oleron, had a substantial narrow gauge railway system with around 46km of track and five steam locomotives. Little now remains but this former station still stands near the point where the road viaduct to the mainland starts. There is a narrow gauge tourist railway on Ile d'Oleron but that was built in the 1960s using army equipment removed from the Maginot line and does not follow the old railway formation.

London Euston: 87002 along with Wrexham and Shropshire's 67012 preparing to leave Euston on 24 June 2010 with the first leg of The Three Peaks Challenge. Between 24 and 26 June the train will visit Bangor, Ravenglass and Fort William with its passengers climbing Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis respectively - all in aid of 'The Railway Children' charity.

Interiors: Ishbel McFarlane entertaining passengers on one of the First ScotRail Edinburgh - Glasgow via Shotts services as part of The Arches 'On the Verge' festival.

Lancaster (Quayside): The much reduced abutments of the bridge that carried the Glasson Branch over Lune Road, Lancaster. This view looks north towards the river where flood defences have now been constructed. The embankment to the left now forms part of the boundary of Lancaster Cricket Ground. See image [[30071]] for a view of the bridge itself in 1983, just prior to demolition.

Port Sunlight: Port Sunlight station at platform level is basic and functional compared to the street level booking office See image [[34644]]. From the platforms, Spital station to the south and Bebington to the north can both be seen. Merseyrail EMU 508120 is heading for Liverpool.

Liverpool Lime Street: One of the two Lime Street trainsheds fronts directly on to the road outside, while the second is hidden behind a building. Refurbishment has given the station a light and airy feel as seen in this picture. Note the prominent double arrow symbol on the glass screen.

Port Sunlight: The rustic looking station at Port Sunlight, opened in 1925 in a style very much in keeping with the garden village that it serves. The booking office is still open and on weekdays there are six trains an hour to Liverpool, accessed through a subway to the high level platforms behind See image [[34643]].

Birkenhead Woodside: 'Hmmm... Railscot eh?' The late great Doddy, looking particularly mischievous, in front of tram no 762 standing at Birkenhead Woodside on 24 June 2011 following filming of a television programme The Golden Age of Trams. Further photographs proved impossible following application of the tickling stick.... Tatty-bye everybody.... Tatty-bye...

Anniesland: A train for Queen Street waits at Anniesland bay platform 3 on 24 June formed by unit 158868.

Hadlow Road: The restored station at Hadlow Road makes an interesting stop off point on the cycle path that links Hooton with West Kirby using the old railway line. The station closed in 1958 making this a real success story. View east towards Hooton from the old level crossing.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: General view over the concourse at Glasgow Queen Street on 24 June.

Birkenhead Hamilton Square: The huge hydraulic lift tower at Birkenhead Hamilton Square underground station is a landmark in the town. The 'Frequent Electric Trains' sign holds true with a minimum five minute interval Merseyrail service under the river to Liverpool throughout the day. Below ground is a modernised three platform station that is the junction of the Rock Ferry and West Kirkby/New Brighton lines.

Birkenhead Woodside: No 762 at Birkenhead Woodside on 24 June 2011 after a trip from the Wirral Transport Museum in connection with a BBC documentary.

Bebington: Merseyrail EMU 508120 leaves Bebington for Liverpool. With six trains an hour in each direction it is easy to forget that this line was only electrified in 1986. Prior to that date the EMUs stopped at Rock Ferry in Birkenhead and passengers changed into a DMU for onward journeys towards Chester. In the foreground the two metal plates between the rails mark the subway from the attractive street level booking office See image [[34759]] to the down platform.

Liverpool Lime Street: Light and shade inside the Lime Street trainshed where on the south side two former platforms have been turned into a taxi rank. I'm sure passengers appreciate the opportunity to board their taxi out of the weather. This view looks towards the buffers and the fanlight with an EMT Class 158 on a Norwich service on the right behind the security fence.

Hadlow Road: Looking west along the platform at restored Hadlow Road station, part of the Wirral Country Park. This is a twelve mile long cycle track and footpath that uses the old Hooton to West Kirby line trackbed with this station a centre piece feature.

Liverpool Lime Street: One of the two trainsheds at Liverpool Lime St station, as seen from the Copperas Hill bridge that climbs over the platforms. The second trainshed can be glimpsed on the right.

Dereham: Preserved BR Class 101 DMU no L836 receives attention at Dereham on 24 June 2011 see image [[36181]].

Edinburgh Waverley: View over the ongoing re-glazing works at Waverley Station and along the Firth of Forth to the twin chimneys of rail served Cockenzie Power Station. The Edinburgh Council offices stand beyond the station.

Bebington: Like its neighbouring station of Port Sunlight, Bebington is a little non-descript at platform level See image [[34750]] but the street level booking office is an attractive building in keeping with the nearby Port Sunlight 'garden village' that it also serves. A subway leads from the booking office to the down platform.

Dunaskin Platform: NCB Ayr No. 10 (AB2244/1947) on the train rides duty at Dunaskin on 24 June 2012 see image [[1814]].

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport TGV: TGV Dasye Duplex set 715 arriving at Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport on a Marseille-St-Charles service

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport TGV: TGV Sud Est set 31 passing through the station at Charles De Gaulle Airport at the rear of a two unit set

Arkleston Junction: On 24 June the 12.25 Glasgow Central to Gourock passes Arkleston Junction on the down Gourock line. These tracks are now partially laid on the solum of the former Renfrew branch.

Greenlaw Goods: 380115 passing the site of the former Paisley Goods signal box on the up Ayr line on 24 June 2013. See image [[19863]]

Arkleston Junction: Looking east at Arkleston Junction in June 2013. The signal box stood in the centre of the picture on the left-hand side of the cutting and the pointwork was mostly in that area, starting under the Arkleston Road bridge in the distance - beyond which stood a large signal gantry. Nowadays the switches extend well beyond the bridge, culminating in a reduction from four tracks to three well on the way to Hillington West. I am not sure if you could class this as Arkleston Junction any longer.

Hopeman: A close up view of the former Hopeman Station building looking towards Burghead in June 2013, with the trackbed on the left fenced off from the platform. See image [[35161]]

Welsh's Bridge Junction: Privately owned class 08 shunter 08788 propels Caledonian Sleeper stock into sidings by Inverness Station on 24 June. View from Millburn Road along the entrance road to the Wm Morrison superstore.

Inverness MPD: 158703 stabled outside Inverness Depot on 24 June amidst much activity in the adjacent Stobart Rail facility as Tesco containers are unloaded.

Aberlour: A platform side view of the northern section of Aberlour station in June 2013, complete with its BR Scottish Region blue wooden running in board. The neo-Norman tower of Aberlour Parish Church rises beyond the station roof.

Hawkhead: The 11.12 from Glasgow Central comes round the curve through the site of the old Hawkhead station on 24 June 2013. This is as close to the 1960 shot of the Black 5 see image [[26660]] as I could get, given that the down line is gone and the tree growth has taken over.

Aberlour: A redundant water fountain in the platform wall of the former Aberlour Station building. The patented water fountain was produced at the Glenfield works of Thomas Kennedy, Kilmarnock, which is still a major manufacturer of large water valves under the Glenfield Valves brand.

London Street [Tram]: Prior to the system refurbishment the tram tracks in Fleetwood ran straight along Lord St but the new level access stops require the tracks to deviate into and out of the platforms. View over the shoulder of a Flexity driver heading for Fleetwood Ferry in June 2013.

Hawkhead: The 11.35 Paisley Canal - Glasgow Central calls at Hawkhead on 24 June 2013.

Blisworth: The 15.47 Liverpool Lime Street - London Euston Pendolino near Blisworth, Northants, on 24 June 2014.

Inverkeithing East Junction: Freightliner 66622 passes Inverkeithing East Junction with Aberdeen - Oxwellmains empties on 24 June. The two cargowaggons were used for bagged cement.

Blisworth: In the passing. London Midland and Virgin services pass at Gayton near Blisworth, Northants, in June 2014.

Aachen: Morning scene at Aachen depot on 24th June, with Euregiobahn units in the foreground and a variety of DB stock elsewhere on the site. Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) is just a few miles from Germany's borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, and is a key junction for inter-regional passenger services and international freight operations.

Bayerisch Eisenstein: In Cold War days the Iron Curtain between West Germany and Czechoslovakia ran right through the Bayerisch Eisenstein station building and across the tracks just where a Czech Railways loco is running round its train (to Pilsen) on 24th June.

Bay Horse: 37218 leads the 2C47 Preston to Barrow service north through Bay Horse on 24th June 2015. 37402 was bringing up the rear. The two loco hauled sets mainly shuttle between Barrow and Carlisle but one makes a return trip through to Preston each weekday morning.

Orselina: Funicular car No.2 standing in Orselina, the upper terminus of the Locarno Funicular. The scenic run down to the city centre passes through botanical gardens, over a high viaduct and through a tunnel.

Port Talbot Steel Works: Torpedo 43 containing 300T of molten Iron waiting to be poured in the BOS Plant.

Brugge: SNCB 7712 leaves Bruges Yard with empty car transporters for the docks on 24 June. NB The local Flemish spelling of Bruges is Brugge and the running-in boards have this spelling. All train announcements were in Flemish ...

Locarno: Veteran SBB electric 11244 departs from Locarno with the Wilhelm Tell Express to Lucerne in June 2016. This runs hourly via the scenic Gotthard Pass (Note the second coach is an observation car) and will continue until the Gotthard Base Tunnel opens to passenger trains in late 2016.

Locarno: The Centovalli (Hundred Valleys) line runs for 52 scenic kilometres between Domodossola in Italy and Locarno in Switzerland. Despite the intervening scenery See image [[56077]] the two terminals are underground. This is Locarno, beneath the SBB station, and when opened in 1990 the underground tracks replaced a street running section through the city. One of the new Panorama EMUs sits in the main platform while earlier units are stabled beyond.

Thuxton: 46100 Royal Scot photographed leaving Thuxton on 24 June 2016 during the Mid Norfolk Railway Steam Gala.

Wymondham: Arriving at Wymondham during the Mid Norfolk Railway Steam Gala on 24 June 2016 is Stanier Coronation Pacific no 46233 Duchess of Sutherland.

Newtyle [1st]: View of the original trainshed at the first Newtyle station seen from the south east. The building once extended to the right.

Seal Sands Branch Junction: The view looking south along the mothballed Seal Sands branch in June 2017, taken from the level crossing near the actual junction where trains reversed. See image [[59796]] for the (broadly similar!) view of the railway in this industrial landscape in the opposite direction.

Teesside Airport: Northern Pacer 142094, working from Saltburn to Bishop Auckland, runs through Teesside Airport (without stopping of course) on 24th June. In 2017 the only trains scheduled to call are the (Sundays only) 1116 to Hartlepool and the 1236 to Darlington.

Newtyle [1st]: The north end of the original Newtyle station showing the platform and building added to the right after conversion for goods. The building's gable end was also modified and offices on the east side demolished. View looks south.

Teesside Airport: The epitome of Parliamentary services, this is Teesside Airport station, which only has one train calling in each direction per week. Opened in 1971 it once had an hourly service but is some distance from the airport terminal and was little used. In 2016 only 98 passenger journeys were recorded and that was considerably more than many previous years. This view taken from the A67 but the station cannot be accessed from this road.

Newtyle [1st]: This building is often detailed as 'The Original station at Newtyle.' I am inclined to agree that the location of the 'Old' station is on the original site of the Dundee and Newtyle Railway at its northern terminus in Strathmore. If it is the original building, it does appear to have been very heavily modified. Some years ago I discovered on-line an illustration of an engraving which depicts the 'Railway Station at Newtyle.' This illustration was included in FORFARSHIRE ILLUSTRATED … a volume which was published by Gershom Cumming in Dundee in 1843. In this engraving the location, railway alignment and adjacent buildings are as we would expect them to be - the adjacent building still exist today. However the station building illustrated in the engraving appears to predate that which we know today suggesting the structure was either remodelled or re-built before the mid 19th century. John R Hume's, The Industrial Archaeology of Scotland : vol 2 [B.T.Batsford, London 1977] quotes the station to have been rebuilt - c 1836. Perhaps the Gershom Cumming engraving shows the terminus in its original state? The image is to be found here - Getty Images. [Editor's note - it may have been re-built around the time of conversion to a goods shed, but can anyone shed any further light on this?]

Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge: Middlesbrough's famous transporter bridge on 24th June 2017, when it was unfortunately out of service awaiting repairs. By one of those strange coincidences my first visit to this location was eight years to the day that I had visited its sister bridge at Rochefort in France See image [[24425]]. The sturdy cables dropping vertically from the ends of the bridge are anchored deep underground to hold the cantilevered deck in tension.

Par: A Penzance to London HST service arrives at Par on 24th June 2017. The Newquay branch diverges away to the right.

Newtyle [1st]: The original Newtyle station trainshed, viewed from the south west.

Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge: There is a visitor centre at the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge from where there are site tours. Operations in the winding room are explained and there is an opportunity to travel to the top of the bridge in a lift and walk on the deck. The bridge is now operated by computer and the cab on top of the gondola is effectively redundant.

Cranmore: Over the last two years, the East Somerset Railway has carried out the restoration from Barry scrapyard condition to full working order of 41313. Today was its introduction back into service. Crewe built to an Ivatt design in 1952. It came out of Barry many years ago and went to the Buckinghamshire Rly. Centre, Quainton. Eventually an agreement was struck whereby 41298, 41313 and 46447 went to the Isle of Wight. The latter two were restored by the ESR and 41298 restored by the IOWRly. Here they are in action on the ESR. Admired by two coach loads of IOWRly supporters.

Hartlepool: GBRf 66710 Phil Packer BRIT takes a Blyth to Doncaster train of bogie hoppers through Hartlepool station and over the level crossing on 24th June 2017. The train is on the Up Line, which is effectively freight only at this point as the old Up Platform is disused and southbound passenger trains cross to the Down Line to call at the station.

Newtyle [1st]: The western elevation of the original Newtyle station.

Newtyle [1st]: The trainshed of the original Newtyle station, viewed from the south, the direction of the original line approaching from [[Dundee Wards Road]]. The building later became a goods shed with the access to the platform inside to the left and tracks to the right.

Blennerville: The Tralee & Dingle Railway was a narrow gauge line in County Kerry, in the far south-west of Ireland, running for 32 miles between the two towns of its title through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Sadly, it closed to passengers in 1939 and to freight in 1953. Forty years later, two miles of line from a new station by the Aquadrome in Tralee (the rest of the line to the original terminus had been lost under redevelopments) to Blennerville, with its famous windmill, were reopened as a heritage steam railway. Sadly, by 2013 this had closed. A consortium in 2015 looked at its possible reopening but so far this has not come to fruition. This view shows the overgrown platform and tracks at Blennerville, with the windmill in the background, on 24th June 2017.

Seal Sands Branch Junction: Looking north at the currently disused Seal Sands Branch Junction in Teesside on 24th June 2017. Trains reversed in the sidings ahead to access the branch proper, which only opened in 1971 and can just be seen running in from the right. [Ref query 1084]

Blennerville: Looking towards Tralee from the overgrown platform and tracks at Blennerville on the former narrow gauge Tralee & Dingle Railway in County Kerry, Republic of Ireland, on 24th June 2017. This line originally closed to passengers in 1939 and to freight in 1953 but, in 1993, two miles were relaid and operated as a heritage steam railway from here to the outskirts of Tralee until 2013 when it sadly closed. Despite an attempt to get the line reopened, so far this has not happened.

Hartlepool: 142018 squeals on the sharp curve as it leaves Hartlepool with a Nunthorpe to Newcastle service on 24th June 2017. On the left is the freight only Up Line and disused platform.

Blennerville: Grass-grown tracks still in position, over which a short revived section of the former narrow gauge Tralee & Dingle Railway (originally closed to passengers in 1939 and to freight in 1953) operated from 1993 to 2013. Looking east towards Tralee from the end of the overgrown platform at Blennerville on 24th June 2017.

Darlington Works: Hard to believe that the Brick Train in Darlington was built in 1997. By coincidence it had celebrated its 20th birthday the day before my visit on 24th June 2017. Impressive from all angles it is a shame that it is rather hidden away behind hedges and a business park but it would take some moving.

Cranmore: First day back in service for 2MT 2-6-2T No. 41313, restored to full working order by the East Somerset Railway. BR Crewe built to an Ivatt LMS design in 1952 and rescued from Barry in typical scrapyard condition it was initially kept at Quainton Rd. It is planned to eventually operate it on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, whose supporters were present to see the inauguration.

Edinburgh Princes Street: The western end of the station site has been comprehensively built on. The platforms ended in the right middle distance, and the carriage sidings were straight ahead, and passed that electricity substation painted in the one-time colours of Scottish Power.

Bressingham: '662 Martello' a LBSCR Terrier 0-6-0T, newly restored and working the 0.25 mile standard gauge line.

Eskbank: Bit of a scorcher. The information screen shows the train arriving at Eskbank to be the 0930 ScotRail service to Tweedbank (0911 ex-Waverley) on an exceptionally warm Sunday morning on 24 June 2018.

Dalry Junction [Edinburgh]: The trackbed of the Caledonian's approach to Princes Street station has been the West (not Western - common mistake) Approach Road since 1974. This view looks west from the Grove Street bridge. The course of the main line comes to sudden stop straight ahead, with the road continuing a bit further to the right on the course of the Leith branch. The rail junction though was a bit nearer the camera.

Hardengreen Viaduct: ScotRail 170405 comes off Hardengreen Viaduct northbound through the heat haze during record high temperatures on 24 June 2018. The train is the 0845 Tweedbank - Edinburgh Waverley.

Ramsgate: A Southeastern lineup of Class 375s and 465s 'on shed' at Ramsgate on 24 June 2018.

Trouble House Halt: This delightful footpath is on the former approach to Trouble House Halt - named after the pub which it served. The halt was opened in 1958 and closed in 1962, along with the rest of the Tetbury branch - the terminus being a few miles to the right of this picture see image [[53815]]

Kaim Points: The first station on the Glencorse branch was Gilmerton, about a mile ahead of this spot near, as the sign says, Danderhall. This late-flowering mining village never had a station on the not unreasonable grounds that it barely existed when the line closed to passengers.

The Balmoral Hotel: It had been 6.25 on the Balmoral clock more or less since the start of lockdown when it stopped and couldn't be maintained. It is now moving again so punters no longer have an excuse for missing the trains they are not allowed to travel on. Walter Scott remains stony-faced.

Barking Riverside: The new London Overground station at Barking Riverside, due to open in 2022, seen here under construction on 24th June 2021. A brief idea for the line to continue across the Thames to Abbey Wood via Thamesmead (the latter has never had a station) seems to have been scuppered by the fact that this station has been quite clearly designed as a dead-end terminus.

Barking: 710 London Overground unit just arrived at Barking with a service from Gospel Oak on 24th June 2021. London Overground services are to be extended from here to Barking Riverside, which is currently under construction. When open, trains will need to cross the Barking Flyover to get to the Riverside line and will no longer serve this bay platform, dating from the station's reconstruction between 1959 and 1962.

Helensburgh Central: 334039 departs platform 2 at Helensburgh Central on 21 June 2021, with the 1554 service to Edinburgh.

Upminster Bridge: LUL S7 stock a few minutes into its long District Line journey from Upminster in Essex to Richmond in Surrey, calling at all stations, departing from its first call at Upminster Bridge on 24th June 2021. On the left are the fast tracks on the C2C Shoeburyness to Fenchurch Street National Rail line. This station differs in two ways from the other island platform stations between Barking and Upminster; whereas Upney, Dagenham Heathway and Elm Park were all opened with the quadrupling of the line by the LMSR in 1932, and are approached by ramps down from their street level ticket halls that span the tracks, Upminster Bridge was a slightly later addition opening in 1934 and is on an embankment with stairs down to the street level entrance. All the stations between Bromley (now Bromley-by-Bow) and Upminster remained in BR Eastern Region ownership until 1969 when London Transport took over (except for Barking and Upminster) and replaced the Eastern Region running-in boards and totem signs at all the effected stations with LU roundels.

Barking Riverside: The new London Overground viaduct, immediately outside Barking Riverside station, under construction in June 2021 ahead of opening in July 2022.

Barking Riverside: Seen through a zoom lens (and a wire fence), the new London Overground station at Barking Riverside taking shape on 24th June 2021. This will be served by an extension of the London Overground GOBLIN service from its present terminus at Barking and will necessitate trains being diverted away from their present bay platform at Barking and crossing the 1959 flyover to serve the station before travelling along a short section of the Tilbury Loop to the new junction from which the Riverside line diverges,

Upminster: 357020, with a C2C service from Fenchurch Street to Southend Central via Ockendon, heading away from the camera as it departs from Upminster on 24th June 2021. This station is also the far eastern terminus of the LUL District Line and the short single track branch to Romford that became an isolated part of the London Overground in May 2015.

Becontree: LUL S7 stock, with a District Line service to Upminster, heading away from Becontree on 24th June 2021.

Becontree: Becontree, looking west towards London, on 24th June 2021. This replaced the LTSR Gale Street Halt that had been opened in 1926 and is the only four-platform station built when the LMS provided two extra tracks alongside the LTSR tracks from Barking to Upminster in 1932 for the exclusive use of District Line trains. These were eventually transferred to London Transport in 1969. Main line trains from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness, however, had ceased to call in 1962 when the line was electrified, resulting in the platforms on those tracks becoming disused. These are visible on the left and now fenced off from the surviving District Line platforms. The dark maroon colour scheme of the canopies is a nice touch, as it acts as a memorial to the London, Midland & Scottish Railway who originally opened the station nearly 90 years ago.

Elm Park: LU S7 stock on a District Line service to Upminster, on the left, departing from Elm Park station, in that part of Essex now within Greater east London, on 24th June 2021. On the right, another S7 train waits to leave with a District Line service to Ealing Broadway. Travelling east from Barking, this is the third island platform after Upney and Dagenham Heathway opened with the quadrupling of the line between Barking and Upminster by the LMSR but for the exclusive use of District Line trains, on 12th September 1932. A fourth island platform at Upminster Bridge was opened in 1934 while the LMSR stations at Dagenham (now Dagenham East) and Hornchurch received extra platforms while a brand new station at Becontree replaced the LMSR's Gale Street Halt. A service of District trains all the way from Ealing Broadway to Southend Central, with District electric locomotives being changed to LMS steam ones at Barking, ceased at the start of World War Two and was not reinstated after 1945. Finally, in 1962 concurrent with the electrification of the ex-Tilbury & Southend Line, these trains ceased to call at Becontree, Dagenham East and Hornchurch stations leaving these with two disused platforms but all the stations between Barking and Upminster (with the exception of the latter two) remained in British Rail Eastern Region ownership until 1969 when they were transferred to London Transport and BR totem signs were replaced by the famous LU roundels. Beyond on the far right, are the fast tracks on what is now the C2C line between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness.

Dagenham Heathway: LU S7 stock on a District Line service from Upminster to Richmond heading away from the camera as it departs from Dagenham Heathway on 24th June 2021. Travelling from Barking, this is the second island platform station after Upney provided by the LMSR when it quadrupled the ex-LTSR line between Barking and Upminster, opening as simply Heathway on 12th September 1932. It was renamed Dagenham Heathway in 1949 at the same time as Dagenham station, the next stop east, was renamed Dagenham East. On the left is the C2C line from Shoeburyness to Fenchurch Street. (For further details of this eastern section of the District Line, see my photo of Elm Park station, image no. 80553).

Helensburgh Upper: GBRF 66736 restarts from Helensburgh Upper, with the North Blyth to Fort William loaded alumina tanks, on a wet 24 June 2021.

Riverside Museum: This Class 397 mock up EMU cab is an exhibit in the Riverside Museum but the Class 380 mock up has been removed.

Woodacre Crossing: Chiltern Railways 68013 'Peter Wrenford-Bush' was an unusual sighting passing Woodacre on 24th June 2022. Presumably following repair or heavy exam it was running light engine from Kingmoor to Crewe Gresty Bridge.

Horrocksford Junction: 150224 has just paused at Horrocksford Junction prior to reversing to cross over and run ecs down to Clitheroe to form a service to Rochdale. Colas 70811, working logs from Carlisle to Chirk, passes the scene having worked over the Settle and Carlisle line on 24th June 2022.

Galgate: After a sunny few days it was a grey morning as 195117, working Barrow to Manchester Airport on 24th June 2022, emerged from the cutting to the south of Oubeck Loops and onto the embankment that bisects the village of Galgate. There was formerly a boarded foot crossing at the end of the cutting, replaced by the footbridge from which this was taken during the 125mph upgrade of the line.