Drem: The 'non-stop' passing Drem. Gresley A4 Pacific no 60027 Merlin brings The Elizabethan through Drem and on towards Waverley in the summer of 1958.

Drem: During 1957/58 the morning Talisman was extended to Perth and re-dubbed The Fair Maid. The train is seen here shortly after passing through Drem on 30 June 1958 with A3 Pacific no 60098 'Spion Kop' in charge sporting the new headboard above the buffer beam.

Drem: A 2-car DMU bound for Corstorphine seen shortly after leaving Drem in the summer of 1958.

Corkerhill: Standard Mogul 76095 approaching Corkerhill on 30 June 1959 with an Ayr - Glasgow St Enoch train.

Corkerhill: Fowler class 2P 4-4-0 no 40641 runs alongside the White Cart Water shortly after leaving Corkerhill station on 30 June 1959 with a St Enoch - Paisley West local.
See query 2082

Mosspark West: Class 2P 4-4-0 no 40592 restarting from Mosspark West on 30 June 1959 with a train for Kilmarnock via Dalry. [Ref query 27 August 2018]

Shields Road [CGU]: Class J35 0-6-0 no 64507 passing through Shields Road station on the CGU route in June 1959 at the head of a westbound freight.
See query 2120

Annbank Junction: Ex-Caledonian 'Jumbo' 0-6-0 no 57364 runs through Annbank on 30 June 1959 with a coal train from Bank Junction destined for Ayr Harbour.

Corkerhill: Standard class 4 2-6-4T 80000 photographed at Corkerhill station on 30 June 1959 with a St Enoch - Largs train. 'Corkerhill railway village' and signal box can be seen in the background. See image [[19972]]

Newcastle Central: One of the smartly turned out Newcastle Central station pilots, NER J72 no 68723, is caught by the evening sun. Photographed from a passing train on 30 June 1961.

Southampton Central: 30 June 1962, and one of the last two 'King Arthur' 4-6-0s No.30770 'Sir Prianius' is taking water at Southampton Central with a train for Bournemouth. Note the interesting gantry.

Muirkirk [2nd]: Photostop at Muirkirk on 30 June 1963 for the RCTS (West Riding Branch) 'Three Summit Tour'. HR 103 + 57581 had taken over the special (which had originated from Leeds City) at Carstairs. The pair would hand over to 60004 at Auchinleck for the return south.

Carstairs Shed: Scene in the shed yard at Carstairs on 30 June 1963 where locomotives 103+57581 have been prepared to take over the RCTS (West Riding Branch) Three Summit Rail Tour from no 46255 City of Hereford. The pair will take the special on to Auchinleck via Lanark Junction and Muirkirk before handing over to no 60004 William Whitelaw for the start of the return journey south to Leeds City see image [[34626]].

Auchinleck: A4 at Auchinleck. 60004 William Whitelaw stands at Auchinleck on 30 June 1963 with the RCTS 'Three Summit Rail Tour'. The A4 had taken over from 103+57581 see image [[34245]] and was about to take the special south as far as Carlisle.

Carlisle: The RCTS (West Riding Branch) 'Three Summit Rail Tour' stands at Carlisle platform 4 on 30 June 1963 on its way home to Leeds City. A4 60023 Golden Eagle has taken over from classmate 60004 William Whitelaw, which had brought the special south from Auchinleck. The train returned to Leeds via the Low Gill - Sedbergh - Clapham route.

Carlisle: A4 no 60002 Sir Murrough Wilson heads south out of Carlisle on 30 June 1963 at the head of the 9.20am Glasgow St Enoch - London St Pancras. The Pacific will take the train as far as Leeds City.

Polmadie Shed: 30 June 1963, and the proportion of diesels at Polmadie continues to show an inexorable rise. The steam locos have their own side of the shed, as have the diesels, although the diesels (Classes 17, 20, 40 and 45) seem much more organised, mainly appearing as pairs.

Leeds City: 60023 Golden Eagle awaiting its departure time at Leeds City on 30 June 1963 with the 9.43am RCTS 'Three Summit Rail Tour'. The A4 took the special as far as Carlisle where it handed over to 46255 City of Hereford see image [[22675]].

Carlisle: Stanier Coronation Pacific no 46255 City of Hereford casts a giant shadow over Carlisle after emerging from below Victoria Viaduct soon after restarting the 10-coach RCTS Three Summit Tour on 30 June 1963. The locomotive took this leg of the special north as far as Carstairs having taken over the train at Carlisle from A4 no 60023 Golden Eagle. See image [[29438]]

Carlisle: The RCTS (West Riding Branch) Three Summit Tour from Leeds City arrives at Carlisle on 30 June 1963 behind A4 Pacific no 60023 Golden Eagle. The special was taken on from here to Carstairs by 46255 City of Hereford see image [[22675]].

Wellwood No 1 Pit Siding: The 10-coach RCTS (West Riding Branch) Three Summits Tour from Leeds City, photographed near Muirkirk on 30 June 1963. Locomotives 103+57581 had taken over the train from 46255 City of Hereford at Carstairs see image [[22675]] and hauled it as far as Auchinleck, where 60004 William Whitelaw took charge of the proceedings. The branch was singled in 1956, thus the apparent wrong line working. The location is on the approach to Wellwood.

Muirkirk [2nd]: HR 103 + 57581 stand at Muirkirk during a photostop on 30 June 1963 with the RCTS (West Riding Branch) 'Three Summit Tour', which ran from Leeds City and which the pair had taken over at Carstairs for the leg to Auchinleck.

Poniel Junction: HR 103+57581 with the RCTS (West Riding Branch) Three Summits Tour from Leeds City, approaching Poniel Junction on 30 June 1963 during the journey from Carstairs to Auchinleck. See image [[34626]] [Ref query 8093]

Upper Greenock: BR Standard Tank no 80118 arriving at Upper Greenock on 30 June 1964 with the 5.13pm Glasgow Central - Wemyss Bay.

Woodhall: 42260 passing through Woodhall station on 30 June 1964 with a Glasgow - Wemyss Bay express service.

Upper Greenock: The 5.13pm Glasgow Central - Wemyss Bay restarting from Upper Greenock on 30 June 1964. Locomotive in charge is BR Standard Tank no 80118.

Cartsdyke Junction: Fairburn 2-6-4T no 42277 photographed shortly after passing westbound through Cartsdyke Junction (see [[74342]]) on 30 June 1964. The train is the 5.43pm service from Glasgow Central to Gourock.

Cartsdyke Junction: 73098 passing Cartsdyke Junction on a semi-fast to [[Gourock]]. The view is to the east with the sidings of the [[Clyde Foundry and Engine Works]] to the left. This junction was west of [[Cartsdyke]] station and east of [[Greenock Central]].

Upper Greenock: Looking east from alongside the signal box at Upper Greenock back towards the station in the summer of 1964.

Berryards Junction: BR Standard tank no 80118 about to pass through Berryards Junction on the eastern approach to Upper Greenock station on 30 June 1964. The top of the signal box is visible above the first coach of the train, which in this case is the 5.13pm service from Glasgow Central to Wemyss Bay.

Langbank: Standard 5MT 73072 has just passed Langbank and is crossing the A8 with the 15.57 Glasgow - Gourock on 30th June 1966.

Bishopton Tunnel Signal Box: Black 5 44796 has an English Electric Type 1 as pilot on the 4.54pm Glasgow to Gourock on 30th June 1966, seen here alongside the Clyde at Bishopton Tunnel signal box. I failed to keep a note of the Type 1's number, no doubt being in a bit of a huff at having a diesel cluttering up the picture.

Carlisle Kingmoor MPD: Line up at Carlisle Kingmoor in June 1967. From left to right Black Fives 44677 and 44775, Ivatt Class 4 43139 and Britannia 70016 'Ariel'.

Shap: Britannia 70010 'Owen Glendower' has just set off from the sidings at Hardendale Quarry in June 1967 and is heading north through Shap station with a load of limestone, probably destined for Ravenscraig. The neat little station at Shap had a very sparse service by this time and, along with Tebay, closed exactly one year after this picture was taken. Hardendale, seen in the background, remains active and rail served to this day.

Clifton and Lowther: If a Standard 9F were to be seen today slogging along the northern slopes of Shap with a lengthy haul of low-sided wagons, one imagines that a long line of fellow railway photographers would be keeping company with the solitary photographer in the nearby field, rather than an assembly of cattle. Late on a summer evening in 1967, 92118 was making its way south near Great Strickland, just to the north of Clifton and Lowther.

Shap: Black 5 44802 heads north away from Hardendale Quarry sidings, one of two trainloads that afternoon (see [[77954]]). Hardendale, seen in the background, continues to do good rail-borne business to this day.

Rugby: Looking back from a class 86 hauled London - Glasgow train passing through Rugby in the summer of 1969. An outer suburban class 310 emu can just be seen on the far side of the station while a class 08 is duty station pilot.

Crewe: Scene at Crewe station in the summer of 1970, featuring a pair of class 50 locomotives recently arrived with a Glasgow - Euston train. These locomotives, built at the Vulcan Foundry in 1967/68, had been deployed to double head accelerated services operating north of Crewe pending completion of the Weaver Junction - Glasgow electrification. The pair will hand over to E3192, standing on the right, for the remainder of the journey to Euston.

Crewe: An up train of empty car flats approaching Crewe from the north in June 1970 behind Brush Type 4 no D1744. [Ref query 19 August 2018]

Aylsham South: The view west at Aylsham South (GE) on 30th June 1977. The line from Wroxham was then still in use as far as Lenwade via the Themelthorpe curve, but the track lifting was in connection with the station's recent closure to freight traffic. The station buildings survived until 1990 when, somewhat ironically, they were demolished to make way for the terminus of the narrow gauge Bure Valley Railway.

Acle: A summer Saturdays only working from the Midlands to Great Yarmouth waits at Acle to cross a Norwich bound DMU on 30th June 1979. The lad at the window behind 37034 is already in an ebullient holiday mood. Either that or he is a happy basher…

Woodbridge: The 11.54 Lowestoft-Ipswich DMU eases into Woodbridge on 30th June 1979. In the years ahead, the disused up platform facilities were removed, but happily the canopy was imaginatively renovated and preserved. The main station building eventually found use as a popular café, appropriately named 'The Whistle Stop', and by the 2020s Woodbridge passengers could travel in state of the art Stadler rolling stock. All a far cry from the station's prospects when the East Suffolk line was listed for closure in the Beeching report. There is always a price for such good fortune, however, and it is said that the late 1960s reprieve was at the cost of the Wymondham-Kings Lynn (via Dereham) line which Beeching did not list.

Haddiscoe: A Lowestoft to Norwich DMU calls at Haddiscoe (Low Level) on June 30th 1979. The platform lighting columns had been recycled from the former station at Yarmouth South Town - the name could be seen embossed on the lamp shades.

Edinburgh Waverley: 27204 loading parcels at Waverley on a June evening in 1980.

Edinburgh Waverley: HST power car 254011 comes face to face with a type 2 at Waverley platform 10/11 in June 1980. Note the sign for the Motorail Loading Bay see image [[27437]].

Shipley: 4472 Flying Scotsman struggles to round Shipley station west to south curve with the empty stock of The North Yorkshireman heading from Keighley to Bradford Forster Square Good Yard for servicing, and for turning on the Shipley Triangle ready to return north, in June 1981.

Skipton: 4472 Flying Scotsman approaches Skipton Station from the north, with The North Yorkshireman special working to Keighley, on 30 June 1981. See image [[24878]] for a later view at Shipley Station.

Edinburgh Waverley: The guards van of a Class 117 DMU seen at Waverley in June 1997. With parcels gone, guards vans were really a waste of seating space by then. It is hard to believe such antiquated fittings could still be seen into the 21st century.

Millerhill Yard: EWS 56117 heading north out of Millerhill yard with a coal train in the summer of 1998. This locomotive was withdrawn in 2010 and is one of a number of the class subsequently obtained by Hungarian freight operator Floyd for use in Europe.

Millerhill Yard Up Secondary Sorting Sidings: 37692 The Lass O' Ballochmyle in BR Coal Sector livery on the east side of Millerhill yard in June 1998. [Ref query 5091]

Stirling: A Dunblane service calls at Stirling in June 1999. As it is a Class 156 rather than a 150 it was more likely to have come from Glasgow than Edinburgh. Some years later the footbridge in the background was to be jacked up slightly to provide enough clearance for electrification.

Exeter St Davids: 153373 in Heart of Wessex livery stands in the sidings alongside Exeter St Davids in June 2002.

Exeter St Davids: Looking north along platform 6 on the west side of Exeter St Davids station on on the morning of 30 June 2002. DMU 150267 is stabled alongside awaiting its next duty.

Birmingham Moor Street: Looking along the out of use but renovated terminal platforms towards the open line at Birmingham Moor Street in June 2004.

Birmingham Curzon Street: The 1837 Birmingham station terminus at Curzon Street, built for the London and Birmingham Railway. The London Euston terminus had Doric columns whilst those at the Birmingham terminus were Ionic. While Euston has lost its Arch, Curzon Street has lost its station - replaced by New Street.

Alnwick: Alnwick Station viewed from former platform area. The building is now used as a bookshop.

Jamestown Viaduct [Inverkeithing]: 'It's a complete cover up...' Jamestown Viaduct during major refurbishment and strengthening work carried out during 2005/2006. [Image kindly supplied by Andy Hanson, Corus Engineering Services.]

Rome: The Italian Job - version of the TGV.

Copy Pit: York - Blackpool 158 service photographed on 30 June climbing towards Copy Pit between Todmorden and Burnley.

Rose Grove: 142037 on a Blackpool - Colne service calls at Rose Grove on 30 June.

Ramsbottom: D8020 about to leave Ramsbottom on the East Lancs on 30 June with a service for Rawtenstall. The locomotive has a 66A shed plate affixed below the cabside number.

Cockburnspath: Torness Nuclear Power Station dominates the background as a coal train rounds the curve north of Cockburspath on a fine day in the summer of 2007.

Glasgow Central: 221132 departing Glasgow Central with a service to Paignton

Glasgow Central: 390038 City Of London and 334038 at Platforms 10 & 11

Glasgow Central: A WPC of the British Transport Police doing checks on a Pendolino at Glasgow Central on 30 June 2007. This was the day after the car bombs had been left in London and the same day as the Glasgow Airport attack.

Glasgow Central: 91116 Strathclyde drawing into Platform 1

Glasgow Central: 221132 William Spiers Bruce waiting to depart to Paignton

Glasgow Central: Are we there yet? Driver of 92004 Jane Austen takes a peek put of his cab.

Glasgow Central: 334038 at Platform 11

Wilpshire: Clitheroe train near Wilpshire on the Blackburn - Hellifield line on 30 June in heavy rain.

Glasgow Central: 156467 pulling into Glasgow Central

Glasgow Central: Looking from Platform 1 across the gap where the old Clyde Viaduct arrived at Glasgow Central

Glasgow Central: Passengers making their way to 390003 Virgin Hope

Rose Grove: A name forever associated with the end of BR steam, Rose Grove near Burnley on 30 June. The shed stood in the area off to the left (north) of the station.

Rose Grove: Colne - Blackpool South train arrives at Rose Grove on 30 June.

Blackford: 170430 passing through Blackford and under the A9 northbound.

Blackford: 170425 heading south towards Blackford, on a Glasgow express.

Dunblane: The 1614 to Glasgow awaits the buzzer, rigged out in the latest SPT colours. Unit No. 170471

Dunblane: 158716 in Scotrail livery due to depart with the 1556 for Edinburgh. The semaphore starting signal is off.

Dunblane: SPT 170 on the main line north of Dunblane awaiting the departure of an Edinburgh service. Then it will come through the crossover under the footbridge to reach Platform 1.

Blackford: An Aberdeen express rounds the long curve at Bardrill north east of Blackford as a Relay truck heads south on the A9 with a car and caravan.

Greenhill Upper Junction: A Stirling 158 appears round the curve from Greenhill Upper. Looks like there was a problem changing a bulb.

Cockburnspath: Just over 30 miles out of Edinburgh on a summer's afternoon in 2007 a GNER Waverley - Kings Cross service speeds through the sweeping curve at Cockburnspath.

Bathgate Yard: The 1055 departure from Bathgate on 30 June 2008, with the west end of the Bathgate car compound in the right background. The train has just passed a pile of rubble that is now all that remains of the former Rennies Bridge.

Dunfermline Queen Margaret: A pair of Fife Circle services formed by 170 453 and 158 739 crossing at Dunfermline Queen Margaret on 30 June.

Glasgow Central: 92036 Bertolt Brecht drawing out of Platform 1 with the empty Glasgow Central portion of the Caledonian Sleeper en route for Polmadie on 30th June

Bridge Street Junction: A pair of Class 156s take the long way round at Bridge Street Junction on 30th June with a service for Paisley Canal.

Wemyss Bay: Thirsty work. Friends of Wemyss Bay in action on 30 June 2010. First ScotRail's 'Adopt a Station' policy was recently recognised by way of a NR Community Engagement Award - see news item.

Trafford Bar [Tram]: The new junction for the Didsbury line can be seen immediately behind this Altrincham to Bury tram arriving at Trafford Bar. To maintain capacity however a diveunder has been created for Manchester bound trams rather than a plain junction. Being able to use the old MSJA OLE gantries must have saved a fortune when this line was converted to Metrolink in 1992.

Old Trafford: The Lancashire and Yorkshire Roses match is just about to conclude and the Metrolink staff are out in force to ensure travellers have tickets and also to cover the foot crossing that has replaced the subway that used to be here. This view towards Manchester shows the now staggered platforms at Old Trafford. See image [[21084 for a similar view just two years earlier.]]

Old Trafford: Significant recent changes to the station at Old Trafford have seen the platforms altered to a staggered arrangement and the subway replaced by a level crossing. There are now also barriered queueing areas on both platforms to cope with crowds from the nearby cricket ground. Metrolink tram 1007 leaves for Manchester passing the old scoreboard and its modern replacement. See image [[21085]] for a direct comparison with the same scene two years previously.

Wemyss Bay: Planting - Wemyss Bay - 30 June 2010 [See FoWB news item]

Connel Ferry: Scene west of Connel Ferry station in June 2010 showing the two bridges. The original is the single track on the right, the double track one being added with the opening of the Ballachulish Branch and the major alterations which came with that. The branch then used the original bridge and Oban line the double. The pair now only carry one track.

Old Trafford: The new Metrolink Trafford tram depot, as seen here looking north from the down platform at Old Trafford station prior to opening. This huge facility sits in the 'V' of the Altrincham and East Didsbury lines stretching almost to the next station at Trafford Bar. It houses part of the new fleet of 3000 series trams being introduced for the Metrolink extensions to Rochdale and Disdbury.

Wemyss Bay: Finished job - Wemyss Bay - 30 June 2010 [see FoWB news item]

Trafford Bar [Tram]: Trafford Bar was the original Old Trafford station, the name change only coming about in 1992 when Warwick Road, outside the cricket ground, was renamed Old Trafford. The original station booking hall still stands above the short tunnel. Two Altrincham services are seen passing here and the station, which enjoys a six minute frequency service, will become even busier when the Didsbury line opens.

Pickering: Preserved Worsdell J72 0-6-0T no 69023 attracts the crowds as it poses under the recently completed overall roof at Pickering station on 30 June 2011. D7628 is on the other end of the train.

Nairn: Nairn, looking towards Inverness in June 2011, as 158701 approaches on an Aberdeen service. The norm is reversed at Nairn in that the right hand (bi-directional) platform is used for all trains to Inverness and also those to Aberdeen that aren't crossing another service here. The left hand platform can only be used by Aberdeen bound trains. The buildings on both sides are used by a variety of local businesses, as well as housing the ticket office and signalling centre.

Inverurie: The traditionally styled and welcoming interior of Inverurie booking hall, recently restored to a very high standard.

Inverurie: View south from Inverurie's platform as 158736, on a short working, heads back to Dyce and Aberdeen. Inverurie, like most stations on this line, is still controlled by mechanical signalling and pointwork.

Inverurie: 158736, on a short working from Aberdeen, waits at Inverurie before returning there. View north from the road overbridge at the south end of the station.

Pickering: Nicely refurbished ex-LMS luggage cart 28388 on display alongside other railway memorabilia at Pickering in June 2011.

Pickering: Dream on... J72 no 69023 with the 'Flying Scotsman' (headboard!) running into Pickering on 30 June.

Blackford: 66414 heading south at Bardrill near Blackford, Perthshire, with the Stobart Empties on 30 June 2011.

Pickering: Veteran J72 0-6-0T no 69023 stands with a train under the overall roof at Pickering station on 30 June 2011.

Pickering: NYMR 08850 stabled on the turntable road alongside the entrance to the car park at Pickering on 30 June 2011.

Pickering: 08850 stabled on the turntable road at NYMR Pickering in June 2011.

Nairn: Services crossing at Nairn on the afternoon of 300611. 158702 on the left is heading for Inverness while 158719 is bound for Aberdeen. View east towards Forres.

Pickering: The 'Yorkshire Coast Express', bound for Whitby heads north over the level crossing shortly after leaving Pickering station on 30 June 2011. D7628 is at the head of the train.

Pickering: The new roof at Pickering station seen on 30 June 2011 looking south west from Castle Road.

Pickering: D7628 seen shortly after leaving Pickering station on 30 June with the 'Yorkshire Coast Express', destination Whitby.

Inchmagranachan Crossing: The East Coast Kings Cross - Inverness 'Highland Chieftain' HST heading north near Dunkeld on 30 June 2011.

Pickering: J72 no 69023 at Undercliff level crossing, Pickering, in June 2011. The 0-6-0 tank is at the rear of the Yorkshire Coast Express, bound for Whitby, hauled by D7628 see image [[34993]].

Durham: Tornado getting ready for the 'off' at Durham on 30 June 2012 with The Cathedrals Express - in damp conditions.

Durham: 60163 Tornado arriving at Durham on 30 June 2012 with The Cathedrals Express charter from London Kings Cross.

Durham: A Manchester Airport - Newcastle Central First TransPennine service crosses Durham viaduct on the approach to the station on 30 June 2012.

York: 37606 at the head of The Cheshire Cat special at York on 30 June 2012. See image [[44308]]

York: 37606+37611 with The Cheshire Cat at York on 30 June 2012. The special was on its way from Cardiff Central to Scarborough.

Durham: A southbound CrossCountry service approaching Durham station on 30 June 2012.

Durham: An East Coast service leaving Durham for Kings Cross on a sunny 30 June 2012.

Inverkeithing: Sparkling 158721 and a 170 unit enter Inverkeithing with the 13.57 Edinburgh - Inverness train on 30 June.

Halton [NWR]: The east end of the goods shed at Halton on 30 June 2013 showing that, unlike the west end, see image [[18185]] the door appears to be original. The shed and attached station building (closed to passengers in 1966) are in excellent condition with the covered doorways on the right side retained although not apparently in use.

Rottenbach Junction: Taken from the Fuehrerraum (driver's cab), a Schwartzatalbahn branch train from Katzhuette approaches the Rottenbach junction on the Saalfeld- Erfurt cross-country line on 30th June 2013. All passenger trains on the 'main line' are now operated under franchise (from the Thuringen state) by the private Erfurter Bahn company, which also runs a through service from Leipzig to Katzhuette at weekends.

Healey Mills Marshalling Yard: A likely candidate for the next national forest in the making. The east end of Healey Mills yard in June 2013, with only one track kept free of vegetation.

Kirklee: The abutments of the substantial bridge that carried the tracks and platforms of Kirklee station across Glasgow's Ford Road. Above - immediately behind the wall on the north side are the gardens of flats on the trackbed running up to Kirklee Road. Below - a heavily wooded area to the south which covers the trackbed until it disappears under the Botanic Gardens; it appears again at the subterranean former Botanic Gardens Station. The ford is long gone, but there is a footbridge over the Kelvin at the foot of the hill.

Halton [NWR]: The station building at Halton on the shortened eastbound platform at Halton on the on-time Midland line from [[Wennington Junction]] to [[Lancaster Green Ayre]]. The track bed is now a car park and the westbound platform has been levelled.

Weybridge: Weybridge station, Surrey, looking along the main lines towards Waterloo, on the fine afternoon of Sunday, 30th June 2013. It is also possible to travel to Waterloo leaving in the opposite direction from the bay platform on the left, via Addlestone and Chertsey, joining the Reading to Waterloo line at Virginia Water.

Leipzig: An ICE3 unit forming part of the 12.51 Intercity-Express departure to Dresden rests under Leipzig Hauptbahnhof's impressive train shed on 30th June 2013. To the right, passengers make cross-platform interchange from the 07.11 Munich-Berlin Intercity service.

Cursdorf: The standard-gauge 'level-track' section of the Oberweissbacher Bergbahn runs 2.5 kms from Lichtenhain funicular terminus to Cursdorf, seen here on 30th June 2013. The line is electrified at 600v DC and is operated by three Class 479 railcars dating from 1923. This line, the funicular and the connecting Schwartzatalbahn were completely refurbished and modernised between 2000 and 2002 at a cost of 15m Euros - and all are still operated by publicly-owned DB Regio.

Friarton Junction: DRS 66422 on the southern approaches to Perth on 30 June with the 4A13 Grangemouth - Aberdeen intermodal service.

Eastriggs MOD: A northbound EWS empty coal train passes the MoD exchange sidings at Eastriggs on 20 June 2014.

Galabank Bridge: Waverley trackbed north of Stow on 30 June looking towards Fountainhall, with refurbishment work in progress on Galabank Bridge.

Heriot: Looking north towards Heriot in June 2014, with the A7 on the far right and the Old Stage Road on the left. Running across the picture between the two in the middle distance is the rerouted section of the B709 being built a quarter of a mile south of the original alignment which ran via the former Heriot level crossing (see image [[46103]]). The second new bridge located nearer the camera to the right is shown in more detail at image [[74813]].

Eastriggs MOD: A rail level crossing at MoD Eastriggs on 30 June 2014. The 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway was used to move materials and supplies around the sites. The network, which had 125 miles of track, employed 34 engines. The Ministry of Supply began using Eastriggs in the 1930s for ammunition storage, with ammunition transported from storage bunkers within the site by the narrow-gauge system.

Fountainhall: Project control centre..? Part of the area within the compound at Fountainhall on 30 June looking east from the road see image [[47882]].

Heriot: A significant cost factor in preparations for the Borders Railway was the number of new bridges required. The particular example shown here near Hangingshaw Farm, just over half a mile south of Heriot, carries a single track road across the railway. The road runs for approximately 250 yards through fields linking the A7 (from which the photograph was taken in June 2014) and the Old Stage Road (beyond the wall).

Eastriggs MOD: The BR / MoD loco-working boundary as seen at Eastriggs on 30 June 2014. According to Wikipedia, HM Factory Gretna produced 800 tons of cordite per week during World War 1, more than all the other munitions plants in Britain combined. During WW1, the entire site stretched nine miles from Mossband near Longtown to Eastriggs

Galashiels: The rerouted Stirling Street, Galashiels, on 30 June 2014 looking north over the site once occupied by the town's bus station see image [[46841]]. Work is now underway on the new transport interchange. Arriving on the left is Perrymans bus service no 60, the 10.45 ex-Tweedmouth and Berwick.

Dunfermline Town: WCRC 37516+37685 charge the gradient north of Dunfermline Town station on 30 June 2014 with the Edinburgh - Keith Royal Scotsman.

Redbridge Viaduct: The 'facelift' in position on the Red Bridge over the River Tweed on 30 June 2014. View is south towards Tweedbank. See image [[47828]]

Redbridge Viaduct: The Red Bridge over the Tweed has now reopened to pedestrians following a lengthy closure. View is south towards Tweedbank on 30 June with work continuing on the trackbed on the other side of the fence. The equipment in use is a 'facelift' system, enabling access to the underside of the bridge using a suspended platform.

Redbridge Viaduct: The 'facelift' platform in operation on the Red Bridge on 30 June 2014. Photographed from the south bank of the River Tweed. See image [[47832]]

Redbridge Viaduct: Excuse me ...
... are you the feller who needed a 'facelift'?
Watch it...

See image [[47828]]

Eastriggs MOD: Multiple sidings splay out at the heart of the standard gauge network at MoD Eastriggs, as seen as on 30 June 2014.

Redbridge Viaduct: Getting there. The new bridge that will span the Borders Railway on Winston Road, Galashiels, looking north on 30 June 2014. Photographed from the recently reopened walkway linking Winston Road and the Red Bridge. See image [[42351]]

Watherston Bridge: Covered bridge works at Galabank between Fountainhall and Stow on 30 June 2014.

Galabank Junction: Work in progress north of Stow on 30 June 2014.

Fountainhall: Looking north from the site of the former level crossing at Fountainhall on 30 June 2014, with the new road into the village from the A7 spanning the trackbed. See image [[46978]]

Fountainhall: The changing face of Fountainhall. Looking north east from the hillside on 30 June, with the former station building in the centre. The current access road from the A7 passes in front of the building over the site of the old level crossing. The replacement road, under construction to the left, will cross the Borders Railway via the new bridge. See image [[47862]]

Fountainhall: Entrance to the large works compound at Fountainhall on 30 June. View south from the site of the old level crossing with the station house, together with the remains of the down platform and water tower, on the right. See image [[6220]]

Stow: Work in progress at Stow on 30 June, view south over the station site.

Tweedbank: End of the line. Scene at Tweedbank looking south on 30 June 2014.

Dalnaspidal: DRS liveried 37259 and 37610 'T S (Ted) Cassady 14.5.61-6.4.08', growl up the gradient south of Dalnaspidal on 30 June with a train of ten autoballasters for engineering works at Achnasheen.

Watherston Bridge: The Waverley trackbed on 30 June running alongside the Gala Water north of Stow.

Eastriggs Ground Frame: The gated entrance to the exchange sidings at the then MoD Eastriggs (now no longer an active MoD site), as seen looking east on 30 June 2014. This was during a consultancy visit as part of a study which examined Eastriggs as a potential component of the logistics chain for a proposed coking coal railhead near Quintinshill.

Dalgety Bay: Freightliner 66605 coasts downhill towards Dalgety Bay with the Aberdeen - Oxwellmains cement empties on 30 June.

Bedworth: The timetable posters at Bedworth rather optimistically show stops at Bermuda Park and Coventry Arena from 17 May 2015 - although the latter will not open until September see image [[51817]], and the former is still not finished. Still, it's good to plan ahead.

Wallasey Grove Road: A New Brighton service calls at Wallasey Grove Road on 30/06/2016. The sharp-eyed will spot the platforms of Wallasey Village in the background. I was easily able to walk to it, write this caption then photograph the next 15 minute service!

Birkenhead North: A Liverpool Central service calls at Birkenhead North on 30/06/2016. Birkenhead is well supplied with stations, if nothing else.

Bidston: Bidston on the Wirral is a junction for the line to Wrexham General. I don't know what the word is for a mural on glass, but the waiting room has one of the station in the 1960s. The platform furniture may have changed but the building and trackwork remain.

Georgemas Junction: 'The Georgemas' underwent a transformation when much of the station - the island platform - became a loading point with a crane. The view looking towards the junction itself shows the new facility.

Conway Park: A New Brighton service calls at the very urban Conway Park, one of Birkenhead's many stations. It's in a gap between tunnels. Photographed on 30/06/2016.

Brora: The surviving Highland Railway goods shed at Brora seen from a northbound train.

Liverpool Lime Street: The Merseyrail network map. Whilst the green Wirral Line and the blue Northern Line unmistakably exist the red City Line doesn't seem to be much of a reality outside this diagram, having no noticeable branding and operating out of Lime Street mainline station on Northern Rail trains all bound for points beyond Merseyside. Am I missing something?

Georgemas Junction: Pipes at Georgemas.

Wigan Wallgate: Overview of Wigan Wallgate on 30/06/2016 with the rear of a Southport to Manchester combination at the far platform.

Birkenhead Park: A New Brighton service calls at Birkenhead Park on 30/06/2016. Let the sign tell you the claim to fame. This station was joint Seacombe, Hoylake and Deeside Railway and Mersey Railway.

Liverpool Lime Street: An East Midlands Trains service for Norwich stands at Liverpool Lime Street Platform 5 on 30/06/2016.

Wigan Wallgate: A Southport service calls at Wigan Wallgate on 30 June 2016. A 150 on one end and a Pacer on the other seems to be standard fare on this line.

Vattholma: Overnight train from Norwegian Arctic port of Narvik heading south for the last 3 of 26 stops at Uppsala Central, Arlanda Airport and finally Stockholm Central. This Rc6 loco and coaches are in the so called SSRT (possibly Swedish State Rail Transport) livery designed for north Norrland sleeper services run by SJ Norrlandståg. Compare with the SJ AB's own sleeper stock See image [[54203]].

Museum of Liverpool: The interior of a Liverpool Overhead Railway car in the excellent Museum of Liverpool. The LOR, which boasted a number of world firsts, ran 7 miles connecting the docks on the Mersey.

Uffington: 60039 heads westbound on the GWML near the village of Longcot. To the east of Swindon. This is the Theale to Robeston oil tanks. Passing time, 1455 hours.

Vattholma: Bombardier built X55 unit in service with SJ operates at 200km/hr on this double track section built in 1991. This is the 4 coach version of the X52 where 3 cars are powered and the fourth is a bistro coach. The seating is 2+2 unlike the X52 where it is 2+3. These trains both replace and supplement the famous tilting X2000 (X2) sets of 1990s vintage see image [[37839]].

Wallasey Village: A New Brighton service calls at Wallasey Village on 30/06/2016.

New Brighton: The range of services offered by New Brighton station. In my brief visit to New Brighton I didn't spot too many similarities with the old one, but they are both on the sea. Photographed 30/06/2016.

Edinburgh Park: Real time bus information at Edinburgh Park. Impressive eh?

Woodacre Crossing: 37403 Isle of Mull (ex D6607) powers towards Lancaster with the 2C47 Preston to Barrow service seen at Woodacre on 30th June 2017. The contract with DRS for provision of two Class 37/4 sets on Cumbrian Coast services expires in January 2019.

Quakers Yard High Level: There is always a new experience in trackbed walking - here is a tiled trackbed, south east of Quakers Yard High Level in June 2018. The next section, just beyond the bushes, is subsumed under a playing field; behind my back was a children's playground.

Bedlinog: Looking North towards Cwmbargoed at the station site in the remote village of Bedlinog in June 2018. Although locals told me that Cwmbargoed was closed, the rails were shiny. Ironically, there is a travel agent's office at the entrance to the former station yard. [Ref query 11 July 2018]

Longniddry: The mouldering remains of the buffer at the of the siding to the east of Longniddry station. It was formerly a far more exposed position. See image [[29823]] (seen at the extreme right of).

Longniddry: A North Berwick services eases out of Longniddry on a lovely 30 June 2018.

Merthyr Vale Colliery: On a steaming hot day, there was no shortage of water on the Merthyr Vale colliery branch line. This view looks South towards Cardiff - all trace of the branch line had been removed behind the camera. To the right of the safety fencing, two rows of colliery cottages stood abandoned - a sad sight, especially as they had been updated with mod con's like double glazing and satellite dishes. A protest graffiti, 'My town is not for sale', did not seem to have had the desired effect.

Oich Viaduct: Remains of the Oich Viaduct, on the long closed Fort Augustus railway, seen on 30th June 2018.

Johnstone: A busy scene at Johnstone at 1118hrs on Saturday 30th June 2018 as unit 380103, forming the 1104 Glasgow Central to Ayr ScotRail service, calls at the station.

Fort Augustus: Remains of the Fort Augustus pier branch crossing a stream just short of the missing road bridge. 30th June 2018.

Merthyr Vale: Its not hard to find the route on which Trevithick's locomotive hauled the first loco-hauled freight train back in 1804 (or so I am told). Just look above the station (just visible on the right) for Tram Road.

Quakers Yard: The Great Western Hotel is some distance North of Quakers Yard station see image [[65174]], but seems to be in rude health.

Merthyr Vale: Soon to be historic rolling stock: a down 143 heads for Cardiff as an up 142 heads for Merthyr (Valleys convention) at the loop at Merthyr Vale on 30th June 2019. The former colliery was to the right, and behind the photographer.

Longniddry: A North Berwick to Edinburgh service calls at Longniddry on 30 June. The branch was run with only three carriage sets that day, but being a Saturday the service is half-hourly instead of hourly. This scheduling is unusual (unique?) and inexplicable.

Windermere: Trains leaving Windermere climb for a short distance before dropping steadily down to Kendal. West Coast Railways 57316, on the last weekend of the special shuttle operations on the branch, has just passed the summit with the 1330hrs Windermere to Oxenholme service. 57316 was previously D1992/47290. It was rebuilt as a Virgin Thunderbird in 2004 and named FAB 1 but has run nameless with West Coast Railways. Overbridge map reference SD 432984. [Ref query 1 July 2018]

Burneside: West Coast 57316 leaves Burneside station and approaches the level crossing heading for Kendal and Oxenholme with a Windermere branch shuttle service on 30th June 2018, the last weekend of these special loco hauled operations.

Quakers Yard: The trees surrounding the former Low Level station have all grown up in the 30 years since I first visited this station. So many houses have been built on the site of the old High Level station that the only clue to its existence is a footpath between properties leading to its far side.

Musselburgh: A North Berwick to Edinburgh service at Musselburgh on the afternoon of 30 June. It was really too late to go shopping in Edinburgh and too early to be leaving for a night out, so custom was fairly light. The station may not be close to the town centre (it's on Musselburgh's most far flung edge) but a 6/7 minute journey time to Edinburgh ensures good business.

Alloa: A hot and sunny summer’s day in Alloa in June 2018. Remarkable enough perhaps, but there is more. Closer inspection of the rolling stock reveals it to be a rare combination of a Class 156 and a Class 170 dmu (156 456 and 170 429).

Musselburgh: A North Berwick service calls at Musselburgh on 30th June 2018.

Cymmer Afan: I have no idea whether this type of engine ever steamed through the Welsh Valleys, but it is a nice image - on a nice pub. See image [[49980]].

Merthyr Tydfil: I believe this was the tunnel heading into the grounds of Cyfartha Castle on the Pen-y-Darren Tramway. Unfortunately the two gents in the picture could not confirm this. Nice costumes, mind.

Uppsala Östra: Uppsala Central, on the left, has 8 platforms whilst Uppsala Östra, on the right, has 2 platforms. When the station was redeveloped to become Resecentrum, Östra station was moved into the same location; it used to be west of Central. The name Östra (east) seems to refer to the direction to and from which trains travelled rather than the location of the station. The line used to run from Uppsala towards the east coast at Norrtälje. The shot shows a standard gauge double decker train and a narrow gauge (891mm) steam-hauled special wedding train with two brake vans at the front of 3rd Class coaches. The steam loco is Långshyttan from 1897 built at Motala Verskstad.

Quakers Yard High Level: The Pontypool and Neath railway is often hard to trace. Quakers Yard High Level station is completely gone, but this bridge abutment on the Nelson side is A Big Clue. The trackbed to the left is part of somebody's lawn!

Cranmore: GWR 0-6-2T 5637 working the East Somerset Railway services, seen at Cranmore on 30th June 2018.

Windermere: West Coast Brush Type 4 47245 on the rear of a Windermere branch shuttle as it runs downhill towards Staveley with an Oxenholme bound service on 30th June 2018. This view taken from a minor road overbridge at SD 432984.

Cranmore: After over 60 years the other platform is being rebuilt in Cranmore Station thanks to Heritage Lottery Funding. Seen here on 30th June 2018 with work in progress.

Cranmore: LMS Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 46447 at rest at Cranmore on 30th June 2018.

Burneside: West Coast 47245, the one time D1922, is on the rear of a Windermere to Oxenholme service as it leaves Burneside heading for Kendal and Oxenholme on 30th June 2018. This was the last weekend of the special loco hauled branch services with Northern DMUs scheduled to resume on 2nd July.

Cymmer Afan: The effectiveness of this earnest advice on the wall of the former Cymmer Afan station [see image 49980] is somewhat reduced by the absence of a bridge anywhere in the former station area. Nor are there any tracks, but let's not quibble.

Woodacre Crossing: 92014 crosses the Grizedale Brook at Woodacre running light engine from Wembley to Polmadie on Sunday 30th June 2019. This was the second Caledonian Sleeper loco to pass this point in an hour, in possible reciprocal workings See image [[69383]].

Raith's Farm Sidings: Raith's Farm sidings are a hive of activity on 30th June 2019 with four Freightliner Class 66s visible in this one photo.

Kittybrewster Junction: Kittybrewster on 30th June 2019. No sign of any track realignment or replacement here as yet.

Raith's Farm Sidings: Spoil and ballast wagon trains as far as the eye can see. I don't know if any of these trains were coupled together, but by what I could see they did seem to be buffer to buffer on Sunday 30th June 2019.

Perth Carriage Sidings: 170395 in the carriage sidings at Perth on 30th June 2019. A Scotrail HST can be seen inside the shed, to the right.

Leyland: Stanier pacific no. 6201 'Princess Elizabeth' with support coach head north approaching Leyland on the evening of 30 June 2019. The loco had earlier worked a private charter for 'Rolex' from Crewe to Holyhead and this was the return working from Holyhead back to Carnforth, the charter having been worked back to Crewe by diesel.

Leyland: DB Cargo 66100 is seen north of Leyland station on the Seaforth to Mossend container service on 30 June 2019.

Woodacre Crossing: 92010 hauled eight of the new Caledonian Sleeper coaches from Polmadie to Wembley on Sunday 30th June 2019. The Class 92s and sleeper trains usually pass through Lancashire in the night of course so this ECS working was an unusual photo opportunity.

Perth: Power car 43130 brings up the rear of the 13.33 from Inverness to Edinburgh as it passes the fuelling point at Perth on Sunday 30th June 2019.

Raith's Farm Sidings: By the time you have read all the Safety notices at Raith's Farm there's a good chance you will have missed your train! The younger generation must look at the sign below the {5} and wonder “What’s that?'

Skibbereen: Ilen River Bridge, Skibbereen with the former station (north) to the left and the line to Baltimore (south) to the right. Although the bridge has been retained it is now a bridge to nowhere and has not been incorporated into any walkway ending abruptly in the face of an hotel building on the right. The line to Baltimore opened in 1893 and closed in 1961.

Ballydehob Viaduct: A view of the impressive 12 arch Ballydehob Viaduct with Schull westwards to the right and Ballydehob station just at the eastern end of the viaduct.

Ballinascarthy: Level crossing immediately to the south of the Ballinascarthy station site, looking north towards the station on 30th June 2020. Although the route has been blocked, there is evidence of a pedestrian gate at the crossing to the left. The adjacent house is called 'Railway Cottage'.

Timoleague: Timoleague station site, looking in the direction of Ballinascarthy on 30th June 2020. The single platform ran approximately where the pavement is now located. The line to Timoleague was built by the Ballinascarthy and Timoleague Junction Light Railway and opened in 1890 with the remaining section to Courtmacsherry being constructed by the Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Extension Light Railway in 1891. The line never formed part of the CB&SCR but did become part of Great Southern Railways in 1925. Regular passenger services ended in 1947 but excursions and freight traffic continued until final closure in 1961.

Hollyhill: The surviving, although ruined, station building at Hollyhill between Skibbereen and Ballydehob on the Schull and Skibbereen Railway which opened in 1886 and was formally closed in 1952 although services had been suspended since January 1947.

Courtmacsherry: Replica Courtmacsherry station sign at the western edge of the village, well away from the actual station site, on 30th June 2020.

Courtmacsherry: Information plaque next to the replica Courtmacsherry station sign, providing details about the Light Railway. The closure date given of January 1962 appears to be incorrect, since all operations bar track lifting ceased at the end of March 1961. 30th June 2020.

Ballydehob: The surviving although much modified station building, now a private house, at Ballydehob looking westwards in the direction of Ballydehob Viaduct and Schull. This was the largest intermediate station on the Schull and Skibbereen Railway which opened in 1886. Formal closure came in September 1952 although services had been suspended since January 1947.

Inchy Bridge Level Crossing: The former level crossing and crossing keeper's house at Inchy Bridge looking towards Ballinascarthy in June 2020. On arriving here on the way to Timoleague my first instinct was that this had been a level crossing. However, the road crosses the Argideen River on the eponymous Inchy Bridge immediately to the right and there is a spare arch on this side of the river which looked like the railway might have passed through it. However, I subsequently found a photograph of an excursion train on the level crossing which confirmed the former route. Despite this being the only village on the route between Ballinascarthy and Timoleague there was no station here, even though there was space for one beside the crossing keeper's house. Rather, the nearest station was at Skeaf (no remains survive) some 2km to the northwest in the direction of Ballinascarthy where, aside from nearby farm, there is no habitation at all. A strange decision which will not have helped the economics of the light railway. The Ballinascarthy to Timoleague section opened in 1890 and closed to regular passenger traffic in 1947. However, excursion passenger and goods services continued until 31 March 1961 when closure of the whole West Cork system took place.

Courtmacsherry: The Courtmacsherry engine shed of the Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Extension Light Railway, just to the west of the station, survives in good condition nearly sixty years after closure in 1961. 30th June 2020.

Easingwold: A surprising number of railway relics were noted when visiting a farm in the Easingwold area. These included a box van with sliding door each side, with end interior panelling almost as new, and what looks to be a demountable livestock container. More surprisingly, when looking upwards in an open pole barn, the wooden side frames from a NE 10T wagon were noted being used as roof purlins; as can be seen in this view. See image [[74178]] for a closer view.

Ballydehob: The former goods shed to the east of the station site at Ballydehob, now in use as a part of a builders yard. Formal closure was in September 1952 although services had been suspended since January 1947.

Courtmacsherry: Courtmacsherry on 30th June 2020. While the gate is new, the sign might be an original from a railway somewhere and the gate certainly spans what was the trackbed leading to the station, which is to the right.

Easingwold: A surprising number of railway relics were noted when visiting a farm in the Easingwold area. These included a box van with sliding door each side, with end interior panelling almost as new, what looks to be a demountable livestock container, and, when looking upwards in an open pole barn, the wooden side frames from a NE 10T wagon used as roof purlins. This view is of the demountable container which has a lower drop down door and two side swinging doors above at each end. A similar type of railway container has just been sited by one of the Mid Norfolk Railway stations.

Timoleague: Timoleague Station, looking in the direction of Courtmacsherry, on 30th June 2020. This was the goods yard and there was a single road engine shed on the left beside the wall of Timoleague Friary. The railway had been planned as a 3ft gauge light railway but ended up being built as an Irish standard gauge line. The section from Timoleague to Courtmacsherry was largely tramway and running on the road commenced at the end of the yard, with the line passing to the left of the green building in the distance. .

Schull: The former Schull station building and platform, with an extension under construction. View is from the west where the 3ft gauge line from Skibbereen terminated except for a goods only extension down to Schull Pier. The line opened in 1886. Services were suspended between April 1944 and December 1945 due to coal shortages and again from January 1947. Service was never resumed thereafter and formal closure came in September 1952. The railway was formally known as the West Carberry Tramways and Light Railways Co Ltd but more commonly known as the Schull and Skibbereen Tramway and Light Railway or just the Schull and Skibbereen Railway.

Timoleague: Looking north across the causeway to Timoleague, which was formerly shared by the road and the Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Extension Light Railway. The railway passed to the right of the green building in the distant centre right of the picture before entering Timoleague station. 30th June 2020.

Courtmacsherry: Courtmacsherry Station in June 2020. The neat blue station building is now a private house.

Ballydehob Viaduct: A view along the southern side of Ballydehob Viaduct looking westwards in the direction of Schull. The viaduct crosses Roaringwater Bay.

Courtmacsherry: Embankment carrying the trackbed of the Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Extension Light Railway eastwards into the seaside village of Courtmacsherry. 30th June 2020.

Courtmacsherry: Courtmacsherry station building is now known as Lobster Cottage, but carries this plaque to commemorate its former railway life. The plaque notes final closure in 1961 but passenger services had finished in 1947. 30th June 2020.

Ballydehob Viaduct: A view westwards in the direction of Schull along the deck of the former Ballydehob Viaduct, now part of a short walkway. Ballydehob station sits behind the photographer.

Drimoleague: Drimoleague station site, looking east towards Cork, in June 2020. Drimoleague was the junction of the lines to Bantry and Skibbereen. The station site is now a car park and sports facility although the station building itself is disused and in a run-down condition. The overbridge immediately to the east of the station has been filled in.

Schull: View westwards of the former Schull station site looking at the station building and platform with former goods shed to the left of the car. The building is still called the Station House. From the sign holder it appears it might have been a bed and breakfast in recent years. The skip and caravan are indicators of construction going on and an extension to the western side of station house building was under construction at the time of my visit.

Dunmanway: Remarkably, an intact water column survives at what would have been the western end of the down platform at Dunmanway. Although somewhat enclosed by vegetation, the water column has recently been painted and appears in good condition, nearly 60 years after closure in 1961.

Easingwold: A surprising number of railway relics were noted when visiting a farm in the Easingwold area. These included a box van with sliding door each side, and with interior panelling almost as new, what looked to be a demountable livestock container, and, when looking upwards in an open pole barn, the wooden side frames from a NE 10T wagon used as roof purlins. See image [[74212]] for the box van interior.

Drimoleague: A replica station sign at Drimoleague, junction of the CB&SCR lines to Bantry and Skibbereen. The line to Skibbereen opened through Drimoleague in 1877 as part of the Ilen Valley Railway which subsequently became part of the CB&SCR system. The original station at Drimoleague was relocated slightly to the east in 1899 a few years after the line to Bantry was opened between 1881 and 1892. The sign stands around where the original station was sited. Drimoleague closed in 1961.

Drimoleague: View over former level crossing where line to Skibbereen crossed R586 Bantry road just west of Drimoleague station. View looks south west in direction of Skibbereen. The line to Skibbereen was opened in 1877 and extended to Baltimore in 1893. Closure came at the beginning of April 1961.

Drimoleague: Surviving pedestrian gate beside former level crossing of line to Skibbereen and Baltimore over R586 Bantry road just west of Drimoleague station. This gave access to the station. The bent rails are a distinctive feature of most gates on the CB&SCR system and sometimes provide the only clue as to the existence of the former line. The colours seem to be CIE colours from the time of closure in 1961 although given other similar gates are normally rusty, these appear to have been repainted.

Easingwold: A surprising number of railway relics were noted when visiting a farm in the Easingwold area. These included a box van with sliding door each side, with end interior panelling almost as new, what looks to be a demountable livestock container, and, when looking upwards in an open pole barn, the wooden side frames from a NE 10T wagon used as roof purlins.

Drimoleague: Drimoleague Station site, looking west in June 2020. Beyond the platforms the line to Skibbereen and on to Baltimore diverged left and the line to Bantry continued straight on. The platform on the right was originally an island platform and a small turntable was located in the bottom right of the picture. Taken from the site of a now filled in overbridge.

Bantry: The former station site at Bantry is now covered by a road and a Supervalu supermarket. However, remarkably, the ruined former single road engine shed survives in the supermarket car park. I can only presume that the remains are a protected structure although I have been unable to establish this. A small turntable stood directly in front of the shed. The line to Bantry was opened in stages, first to Hill Top station from 1881 and then to the final Bantry station site which was behind photographer in 1892.

Bantry: A view westwards into the ruined former single road engine shed at Bantry which has somehow managed to survive the redevelopment of the former station site and stands forlornly in a supermarket car park. The steel girders over the shed entrance supported a water tank. The line to Bantry closed in 1961.

Easingwold: A surprising number of railway relics were noted when visiting a farm in the Easingwold area. These included a box van with sliding door each side, with end interior panelling almost as new, what looks to be a demountable livestock container, and, when looking upwards in an open pole barn, the wooden side frames from a NE 10T wagon used as roof purlins.

Ballinascarthy: Ballinascarthy (also spelled Ballinascarty) station. This was the junction of the Cork, Bandon & South Coast Railway Clonakilty branch with the standard Irish gauge Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Light Railway. There was an island platform with the CB&SCR branch using the western side and the TCLR trains the eastern side. This is a view of the eastern face of what I believe is the remains of the island platform where branch trains from Courtmacsherry would have terminated. View looks in the direction of Clonakilty Junction. The main N71 road now occupies the route of the CB&SCR line. Ballinascarthy opened in 1886 along with the rest of the Clonakilty Branch. The Light Railway to Courtmacsherry was opened between 1890 and 1891. The whole system closed on 31st March 1961. Ballinascarthy is known for being the birthplace of Henry Ford's father and grandfather before their emigration to Detriot. A Model T sculpture in the village commemorates the Ford connection. 30th June 2020.

Skibbereen: Skibbereen station building, seen from the rear (Drimoleague north to the left, Baltimore south to the right), in June 2020. The building has been extended towards the north since closure and now forms part of a garage complex. I am standing in what would have been the approach road. The line opened to Skibbereen in 1877 and closed in 1961. The station also served the 3ft gauge Schull and Skibbereen Railway during its life from 1886 to 1947. The Schull and Skibbereen terminated at a platform on this side of the station, but departures to Schull required reversal out of the station towards my position and then a forward move to the far left towards Schull.

Timoleague: Former railway causeway, just south of Timoleague, on the Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Extension Light Railway. This is one of the few sections on the tramway between Timoleague and Courtmacsherry which is not either on or adjacent to the Courtmacsherry Road. 30th June 2020.

Skibbereen: The CB&SCR platform side of Skibbereen station building is on the left of this picture - with the plant growing out of it. The nearer building is a post-closure addition and both now form part of a garage. View looks south towards Baltimore with the trackbed built over in the distance. Some 60 years ago the photographer would have been standing in the loop line at this station which was open from 1877 to 1961. At the rear of the station building was the platform for the narrow gauge Schull and Skibbereen Railway which operated between 1886 and 1947.

Courtmacsherry: Courtmacsherry station on 30th June 2020. The station building survives in good condition as a private house. The car is roughly on the trackbed of the platform line, which continued to the harbour immediately beyond. The Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Extension Light Railway opened from Timoleague in 1891, and while regular passenger services ceased in February 1947, goods services and passenger excursions to this popular seaside resort continued until closure on 31st March 1961.

Ballinascarthy: Old level crossing immediately to the south of the Ballinascarthy station site looking south towards Timoleague where the Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Light Railway crossed a minor road. 30th June 2020.

Tom-na-Faire Depot: Black 5 4-6-0 45407 passing Tom na Faire depot, Fort William, with the morning Jacobite service to Mallaig on 30th June 2021.

Bay Horse: 57002 brings up the rear of a classic traction convoy as it is towed from Gresty Bridge to Kingmoor behind 37423 and 37038. The DRS trio are seen in the cutting at Forton heading towards Lancaster on 30th June 2021. In January 2022, DRS announced it was selling a further six Class 57 locos and three Class 37s, (See News Item) although these three are not on the list.

Carlisle: The late running 17.03 to Edinburgh Avanti West Coast Pendolino showing the full branding arrives at Carlisles platform 3 at 17.22

Bay Horse: An interesting DRS light engine move from Crewe to Carlisle on 30th June 2021 comprised 37423 hauling 37038 and 57002. The trio are seen approaching Cleveley Bank bridge over the cutting at Forton with yet more green-field house building taking place alongside the line.

Loch Eilt: Black 5 No. 45407 rounds the curve at the west end of Loch Eilt with The Jacobite service for Mallaig on 30th June 2021.

Craigag No 62 Tunnel: Something that usually only happens by special arrangement is 'The Jacobite' steam engine running tender first to Mallaig. Here we have Black 5 44871 doing just that at Torr Linne Dhughaill, at the start of the long climb to Glenfinnan, on 30th June 2021. It was very warm, so not much in the way of smoke and steam from the engine, although it was working hard. [Note that No 62 Tunnel is the nearest location in our database, to the west of this point.]

Glenfinnan Viaduct: The evening return working of 'The Jacobite' on 30th June 2021, with the scarce opportunity to photograph the train engine running chimney first to Fort William. Black 5 No.44871 on Glenfinnan Viaduct.

Sellafield Works: Glimpsed from a passing train, two new CBD80 Diesel Hybrid locomotives at Sellafield Nuclear Decommissioning plant. These two 80 tonne Bo-Bo Hybrid plus locomotives have been built by a name from the past, namely Clayton, and feature both battery drive for emission free operation as well as a diesel engine.

Gogar: An Edinburgh to Helensburgh service is still accelerating from the Edinburgh Park stop as it passes the site of Gogar station, once serving the many houses and farms called Gogar something-or-other, but nowhere substantial. The charming view of the scrapyard on one side of the line is enhanced by the aroma of the chicken houses on the other.

Workington: Workington (formerly Workington Main), taken from the 11.07 Carlisle to Barrow Sprinter 156451 on 30th June 2021. This was supposed to be a jolly tour from Glasgow with my brother-in-law round the Cumbrian Coast at the second attempt, which never happened as the next train from Barrow to Manchester Airport was cancelled due to lack of drivers. Thank goodness for the great customer service representative at Barrow; she is a 'Gem'.

Barrow-in-Furness Carriage Sidings: Train to nowhere! Points set for Northern Rail CAF dmu 195112, for the 13.52 service to Manchester Airport on 30th June 2021, but this was cancelled due to no driver. We were supposed to travel on this to Lancaster and catch an Avanti West Coast service to Glasgow Central but had to return to Carlisle via Whitehaven to catch an alternative connection. This was our Second attempt at the Cumbrian Coast, nice day out though!

Carlisle: TPE 'pocket rocket', CAF Civity Nova 2 397007, arriving in Carlisle's platform 4 at 17.51 with the late running Edinburgh to Manchester Airport (17.34 timed ) service on 30th June 2021.

Stirling: Here is NHRA chair Theo Steel with representatives of Network Rail and Story Contracting at this morning's presentation of two separate plaques for the 2020 awards for the footbridge and canopy.

Fort William Junction Yard: An aerial view of the junction, yard and turntable at Fort William.

Pendlebury: Pendlebury station, on the Salford to Wigan direct route through Atherton, closed in 1960 but the rails still curve round the spot where the island platform stood before removal in the 1970s. The former goods lines were to the right but these were removed around 1968 when this four track main line was reduced to two. The station building was on the main road to the right with a footbridge crossing three tracks to access the platform. This picture, taken from above Pendlebury Tunnel east portal, shows 158754 on a Leeds to Wigan service passing the station site on 30th June 2021.

Barrow-in-Furness: Barrow in Furness Signal Box, at the north end of the station, in June 2021.

Tom-na-Faire Depot: Tom na Faire depot, Fort William, on 30th June 2021. Present are two Class 37s, a Class 57, two Black 5s and the K1.

Townsend Fold Level Crossing: East Lancashire 2022 Summer Diesel Gala. The first time a Class 68 has graced ELR metals, 68031 'Felix' passes Townsend Fold to the delight of various admirers with the 17:00 Rawtenstall to Bury on the first day of the Gala, 30th June.

Edinburgh Waverley: The 19.58 LUMO service ready to depart from Waverley platform 8 for Kings Cross. This 803001 is one of the new Hitachi AT300 built emus for First Group on the Edinburgh to London Route which has cheaper fares than any of the other companies on this route. I have heard that the seats are quite uncomfortable.

Summerseat Viaduct: East Lancashire Railway Summer Diesel Gala 2022. Visiting Locomotive D8096 heads the 11:00 Rawtenstall to Heywood across Brooksbottom Viaduct in Summerseat on the first day of the Gala

Irwell Vale: East Lancashire Railway Summer Diesel Gala 2022. Visiting locomotive 60046 'William Wilberforce' leaves Irwell Vale with the 12:30 Heywood to Rawtenstall on 30th June, the first day of the Gala.