Cowlairs West Junction: A Perth - Glasgow Queen Street train photographed at Cowlairs West Junction approaching its destination on 22 July 1957. The locomotive is 'Director' class 4-4-0 no 62689 Maid of Lorn.

Possil: A terminating service from Dalmarnock arriving in the bay platform at Possil in the summer of 1957. Locomotive is Fairburn 2-6-4T 42208.

Hawick Shed: Class J35 0-6-0 no 64509 stands alongside Hawick shed in the summer of 1958. The old coach behind the locomotive is thought to have been the shed's tool van.

Lochboisdale Pier: The crew of the Puffer 'S S Glencloy' loading milled seaweed bags at Lochboisdale Pier, South Uist, on 22nd July 1960. Photo by G H Robin.

Newcastle Central: The unusual sight of BR Standard class 9F 2-10-0 no 92034 at Newcastle Central with a passenger train on the afternoon of Saturday 22 July 1961. The train in question is the 12.30pm ex Kings Cross.

Newcastle Central: York shed's B16 4-6-0 no 61459 waits out a signal check on the goods lines alongside Newcastle Central in the summer of 1961, two months prior to its withdrawal.

Newcastle Central: 61942 runs into Newcastle Central on 22 July 1961 with a summer Saturday arrival from Scarborough.

Newcastle Central: A summer Saturday arrival at Newcastle Central on 22 July 1961, featuring K3 2-6-0 no 61942 entering the station off the High Level Bridge with the 10.50am ex-Scarborough.

Newcastle Central: Hull Dairycoates based K3 2-6-0 no 61935 takes a train away from the west end of Newcastle Central in July 1961. The train in question is the summer Saturday 9.20am Glasgow Queen Street - Scarborough.

Newcastle Central: A3 Pacific no 60074 Harvester stands at Newcastle Central on 22 July 1961 after bringing in the summer Saturday 5.20am Leicester London Road - Craigendoran.

Newcastle Central: K3 2-6-0 no 61935 about to take a train out of Newcastle Central in July 1961. The train is the 9.20am ex-Glasgow Queen Street - ultimate destination Scarborough.

Tollcross: Motherwell based Fairburn 2-6-4T 42203 eastbound approaching Tollcross station in July 1961 with a Maryhill - Whifflet train. Tollcross Park is on the right while on the left are playing fields alongside the Macfarlane Lang Victoria Biscuit works, the tall chimney of which is obscured by the telegraph pole. [Ref query 5370]

Newcastle Central: V2 2-6-2 no 60911 with a returning South Shields - Annitsford party special on 22 July 1961, routed past Newcastle Central station via the goods lines. (Annitsford station, on the ECML between Killingworth and Cramlington, had officially closed to scheduled passenger services almost 3 years earlier.)

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: B1 4-6-0 no 61342 at the head of a special train at Queen Street in 1962, with the Queen of Scots pullman standing alongside.

Epinal: At Epinal, in the Vosges, on 22nd July 1967 the smartly dressed 'chef de gare' crosses the tracks back to the platform after a chat with the crew of a 140C 2-8-0, which will shortly depart with a local freight. Some 340 of these locomotives were built, and they were destined for long service, with the honour of being the last steam locomotives in operation when French steam ceased in 1975. Construction had begun just before World War I, but outsourcing to Britain then took place because of the French war effort, with 215 being built by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow, 20 by Nasmyth Wilson and 35 by the Vulcan Foundry. It would be nice to think that the locomotive in the photograph was a 'Scottish' one but, as I did not keep a note of its number, I cannot be sure!

Brockenhurst: 4TC set leads a service from Waterloo to Bournemouth into Brockenhurst on 22 July 1971. The 4TC will be going forward to Weymouth with a Class 33 loco on the front.

Tondu: Another great DMU tour from the 1970s recalled. This was the BLS 'Glamorgan Railtour'. Here we see the view at at a photo stop at Tondu.

Boat of Garten: 46464 leaves Boat of Garten on 22 July 1978 with the first public train on the preserved Strathspey Railway, driven by Eric Cooper. (I was the last man to drive her, a week before her failure).

Norwich: In the days before dedicated customer care, anxious passengers accost BR staff on the concourse at Norwich on 22nd July 1978. Train information used to be conveyed via an unreliable combination of chalked notices, randomly sited posters, small print departure boards (some near floor level), frequently incorrect DMU blinds and a garbled tannoy, so it was always advisable to ask anyone who looked 'official'. The four rail routes from Norwich radiated out north, east, south and west, so before the advent of on-train, and later mobile phones, a mistake could prove very stressful, both for the passenger and anyone waiting for them at their destination.

York: A 2-car DMU on Hull shuttle duty crossing over the pointwork just to the south of York station in the summer of 1980, with Holgate Road bridge forming the backdrop.

York: A Newcastle - Bristol train passing Dringhouses yard, just south of York station, in July 1980 behind 'Peak' 45072.

York: 47368 succeeds in obliterating most of York's Dringhouses Yard in July 1980 as it passes on the way south with an oil train.

Landing Lane Bridge Junction: 40122 leaving York yards for the north in July 1980.

Mirfield: The closure of the Woodhead route in July 1981 resulted in the South Yorkshire to Fiddler's Ferry power station MGR coal traffic being rerouted via Mirfield and Standedge. On a glorious evening almost exactly two years after Woodhead had closed, No. 56017 passes Heaton Lodge, just west of Mirfield, with a westbound loaded train.

Mirfield: Coal wagons of different vintages pass at Heaton Lodge to the west of Mirfield on a summer's evening in 1983. On the down slow line is an empty rake of HAA hoppers returning from Fiddler's Ferry PS to the Yorkshire coalfleld, while nearer the camera, EE Type 4 40024 Laconia takes a train of loaded vacuum braked HTV type hoppers westwards.

Kirkham and Wesham: A Peak hauled Summer Saturday train returns from Blackpool North, with Class 46 No. 46039, along the former four track section east of Kirkham. Although the Blackpool line is still busy today these lengthy trains of holiday makers are long gone. 46039 itself had only three months of service left before withdrawal and was cut up at Swindon in 1985.

Tywyn Wharf: Talyllyn Railway 0-4-0WT no 6 Douglas standing alongside no 3 Sir Haydn at Tywyn shed in July 1992.

Nant Gwernol: Talyllyn Railway No 4 Edward Thomas stands at Nant Gwernol with a train in July 1992.

Tywyn Wharf: 0-4-2ST No 3 Sir Haydn at Tywyn Shed on the Talyllyn Railway in July 1992.

Newton-on-Ayr: 37255 in Transrail Livery passing Newton-on-Ayr on 22 July 1993

Newton Junction: 56124 in Railfreight Coal livery coming off the Ayr harbour branch with coal empties at Newton Junction on 22 July 1993

Springburn: A Class 320 in its original Strathclyde Red (orange, really) sits at Springburn with a Milngavie train in July 1997. Milngavie had been the unvarying destination since electrification in 1960, though the service pattern here has changed several times in more recent years. The through line is now electrified and better served.

Brunstane: The location which became Brunstane station in 2002, seen in 1997. The view looks north to Portobello.

Waterside Level Crossing: In July 1996 it was obviously some time since road traffic had been held up at Waterside level crossing in Causewayhead, Stirling. Happily though the usual fate was avoided; the Alloa line reopened to passengers in 2008. It has since been electrified. See image [[70227]].

Boat of Garten: 57566, alias 828, takes water alongside the gas house at Boat of Garten on 22 July 2000.

Lichfield Trent Valley Junction: SB at Lichfield Trent Valley Junction in July 2003.

Ardgay: Ardgay's main station building, on the northbound platform, seen in 2004.

Garve: Eastbound service leaves Garve.

Achanalt Viaduct: Heading east from Achanalt this Sprinter crosses a famous Bridge.

West Brompton: A Wimbledon - Barking District line train approaching West Brompton station on a warm and sunny afternoon in July 2005. West London Line platforms 3 & 4 stand to the right beyond the metal fence.

West Brompton: The 14.22 Brighton - Manchester Piccadilly Virgin CrossCountry service runs through platform 4 on the WLL side of West Brompton station in July 2005 as a District Line train on its way up the hill from Fulham Broadway approaches the adjacent London Underground platforms. The Voyager will call at Kensington Olympia on its way across west London. The chimneys in the background belong to Lots Road power station in Chelsea, which supplied electricity to the London Underground system until 2002.

Weybourne: On the footplate of City of Truro between Sheringham and Weybourne in the summer of 2005.

Stratford: A delayed arrival from Richmond recently terminated at the 'North London Line' platforms at Stratford in July 2005 with passengers boarding for the return journey. Behind the camera the line continues to North Woolwich, although this section was scheduled to close during 2006.

Richmond: Man in Bikini. The Waterloo bound platform at Richmond, on a July afternoon in July 2005.

Highbury and Islington: Looking east towards Highbury & Islington station NLL platforms in July 2005. A Richmond - North Woolwich 313 Silverlink service stands at the eastbound platform, while a westbound freight runs past the station. The interchange links provided here, serving passengers on the North London Line, Victoria Line and Northern City Line will be further extended when the station becomes the new northern terminus of phase one of the East London Line extension in 2010. The London Borough of Islington is currently considering redevelopment of the station, including building a large office/retail block over the current station site.

Highbury and Islington: Surprised? Just a bit!!! 6233 Duchess of Sutherland, in glorious crimson lake livery, passes west through Highbury and Islington station on the North London Line on 22 July 2005.

Kensington Olympia: 'Hmmm... one across, type of engine, noisy, smelly, 6 letters, D something....' Concentrating on the crossword at Kensington Olympia in July 2005 as a northbound freight appears under Kensington High Street. On the right a District Line shuttle service to Earls Court and High Street Kensington waits in the bay platform.

Mitre Bridge Junction: Good places not to have a points failure - No 43 Mitre Bridge Junction. Freightliner 66570, having brought a southbound container train around the spur from Willesden Junction High Level station in July 2005, completes the switch from the North London Line to the West London line at Mitre Bridge Junction, just prior to crossing the Grand Union Canal.

Richmond: The road approach to Richmond station on a wet Friday afternoon in July 2005. Note the Art Deco, Portland Stone frontage, with its distinctive square clock. The whole area between the station entrance and the bus stop on the far right has since been paved over and pedestrianised.

Mitre Bridge Junction: View west from Scrubs Lane towards Mitre Bridge over the Grand Union Canal in July 2005. The train is a Silverlink West London Line service from Clapham Junction to Willesden Junction which is about to bear left at Mitre Bridge Junction, following which it will cross over the WCML to reach the high level station see image [[5193]]. Beyond the wall on the left are the various yards and rail facilities located around Old Oak Common. (The geese on the left gave me a bit of a hard time getting past!)

Canning Town: The DLR platforms at Canning Town in July 2005. Built above the original station, the escalators lead down to the North London line, Jubilee line, bus interchange and station exit.

Heron Quays: A city bound train on the Docklands Light Railway emerges from the office blocks surrounding Heron Quays station in July 2005.

Richmond: View from the station concourse over the platform 7 buffer stops at Richmond on 22 July 2005, with a District Line train for Upminster awaiting its departure time.

Canning Town: The elevated DLR platforms at Canning Town in July 2005. The North London line, Jubilee line and bus interchange are at ground level. Note passengers waiting at the North London Line platform, bottom left, with the busy bus station beyond. [The NLL route between Stratford and North Woolwich is due to close at the end of 2006 and will be replaced by the DLR's new Stratford International line] See image [[5174]].

Stratford: Gangway please!!! The driver of Silverlink 313111 about to attempt a quick change of ends at Stratford in 2005. Good luck with that. The NLL service from Richmond had arrived late due to engineering works around the station. View is north along low level platforms 1&2, with the route to North Woolwich (used on a reduced frequency by then) behind the camera. [Note: Since the photograph was taken the layout at Stratford has changed considerably. NLL services now operate from new high level platforms 1&2, while the platforms in the picture became 16&17 and are now used by DLR services.]

West Brompton: Train for Wimbledon arriving at West Brompton District Line platforms in the shadow of Earls Court Arena on a sunny afternoon in July 2005.

Richmond: Sandwiched between the LU District Line and the LSWR through lines at Richmond are the North London Line platforms. A photograph from July 2005 shows one of the NLL Silverlink class 313 dual voltage units at platform 4 preparing to leave on a service to North Woolwich. See image [[5176]]

Canary Wharf: The DLR station at Canary Wharf in July 2005, seen looking south from West India Quay.

Kensington Olympia: A Brighton - Watford Junction cross - London peak hour service operated by a Southern Trains class 377 EMU about to restart from Kensington Olympia on 22 July 2005.

Baker Street: Heavy police presence in and around Baker Street Underground station on Friday 22 July 2005, the day after the failed London bombing attempts. Meanwhile the tall gentleman standing in the background outside number 221b puffs on his pipe and quietly ponders the situation.

Canary Wharf [Jubilee]: Entrance to Canary Wharf station on the London Underground Jubilee Line extension, opened in 1999. View east on a pleasant summer afternoon in July 2005, with the former West India Dock behind the camera. See image [[5217]]

Highbury and Islington: Freightliner 57001 'Freightliner Pioneer' with an eastbound container train approaching Highbury and Islington NLL station on the afternoon of 22 July 2005. Note the mix of overhead and third rail electrification systems in use along this section of the route.

Kensington Olympia: '... complete with full matching accessories.' Hanson Aggregates Class 59 no 59104 takes the centre road through Kensington Olympia on the West London Line on 22 July 2005 with a company train heading north towards Willesden Junction. The station footbridge appears to be 'in transition' at this time.

West Brompton: The West London Line platforms at West Brompton looking south from Old Brompton Road on 22 July 2005. Passengers awaiting a Watford - Brighton train on platform 3 stand well back (apart from one eejit) as a 'eurostar' runs through empty on its way from North Pole depot to Waterloo.

Canary Wharf: A Docklands Light Railway service leaves Canary Wharf northbound on 22 July 2005.

Stratford: All 3 Jubilee line platforms occupied at Stratford terminus on the afternoon of 22 July 2005. View is south showing (from far left to right) platforms 15, 14 and 13.

West India Quay: One of the driverless trains on the London Docklands Light Railway automatically slows on the approach to West India Quay station on a sunny afternoon in July 2005. Leading unit no 67 is carrying an all-over advertisement for the London Docklands Jaguar motor dealership.

Stratford: Looking south west from the GE main line platforms at Stratford in 2005 with a commuter service leaving for Liverpool Street. On the right is Stratford Central Junction, which gives access to the North London Line see image [[49138]].

Mitre Bridge Junction: A Virgin CrossCountry Manchester - Birmingham - Brighton service about to cross the Grand Union Canal via Mitre Bridge on the West London Line in July 2005. The train has travelled from Birmingham via Oxford, Reading and the Great Western main line, and reached the southbound West London Line via Acton East Junction, Acton Wells Junction, West London Junction and Mitre Bridge Junction. Who needs railtours?

Baker Street: A trio of Metropolitan line trains at the north end of Baker Street station in the summer of 2005. A Moorgate - Uxbridge service is departing from platform 2, while bay platforms 1 and 4 are also occupied.

Canning Town: British Transport Police officers board a Docklands Light Railway service at Canning Town on 22 July 2005. This was part of a public reassurance exercise following the abortive bombing attempts in London the previous day.

West Brompton: Waiting for a train. A random selection of passengers on the southbound WLL platform at West Brompton on a hot day in July 2005.

Richmond: A pair of Silverlink class 313 dual voltage electric units standing side by side in the rain at Richmond's North London Line platforms 3 and 4 in July 2005. Platforms 5-7 beyond are used by District Line trains. This was the period when NLL services were running through to North Woolwich. see image [[5174]]

Heron Quays: Closure of the West India Docks in 1980 marked the end of an era on London's already run-down Isle of Dogs. Nowadays the name Docklands conjures up images of modern office blocks and highly priced waterside accommodation. Part of this transformation involved the provision of new and improved transport links, not least the opening of the Docklands Light Railway in 1987. View over the former West India Export Dock in 2005 as a DLR service for Bank leaves Heron Quays on its 250 yard hop across the gap to Canary Wharf.

Stratford: Platform view looking east at Stratford in July 2005, with a class 321 EMU for Liverpool Street arriving on the right and the Lea Valley lines turning off to the north on the left.

Kensington Olympia: Early morning at Kensington Olympia on 22 July 2005, with the rush hour not yet in full swing. An empty eurostar is passing through southbound en route from North Pole Depot to Waterloo International where it will form the 08.11 service to Paris Nord. In the bay platform over on the left a District Line train will soon leave on a slightly shorter journey with a shuttle service to Earl's Court and High Street Kensington.

Mitre Bridge Junction: A Virgin Voyager forming a Manchester - Birmingham - Brighton CrossCountry service photographed on the level crossing 50 yards north of Mitre Bridge Junction in July 2005. Immediately after passing through the junction the train will cross the Grand Union Canal see image [[4921]] and run south east to Clapham Junction on the West London Line, at which point it will turn south towards Brighton.

Kensington Olympia: Penny for them... Awaiting departure time at Kensington Olympia on 22 July 2005, the driver of D Stock unit 7121, forming a District Line service to High Street Kensington, studies his newspaper. This was the morning after the failed bombing attempts at Warren Street, Shepherds Bush and Oval stations.

Canary Wharf: View from the top of the escalators at the cavernous Canary Wharf Jubilee Line Underground station in July 2005. See image [[5220]]

Canary Wharf: The 'suicide doors' as they have been dubbed by some, alongside the Canary Wharf westbound Jubilee Line platform on 22 July 2005. See image [[5217]]

Stratford: Passengers heading for a Willesden Green Jubilee line train along Stratford's platform 13 on 22 July 2005.

West Brompton: West Brompton station in July 2005 showing the original District Line building with the newer West London Line construction to the right.

Canary Wharf: Trains coming and going at Canary Wharf station on the Docklands Light Railway among the various office buildings which now cover the area. Down below through the gap lies a small reminder of what once dominated this part of London.

Haymarket: Haymarket platform 0 - 22 July 2006.

Farington Curve Junction: A southbound Virgin Super Voyager passes Farrington Curve Junction on the Up Fast on 22 June 2006 in bright sunshine.

Leith Central: View east from the site of Leith Central station in July 2006 looking towards Easter Road. Note the surviving stonework on each side of what is now a car park serving a new supermarket built just behind the camera. Note also the tenements standing on the far side of Easter Road. The central section looks more modern, as well as being a five-storey building, whereas its neighbours only have four! The original middle section of the block was demolished in 1901 to make way for the line and bridge across Easter Road into the new station. Following closure of the station a replacement central section was built. See image [[4360]]

Leith Central: Looking west across Easter Road in 2006 at the remaining bridge abutment and north wall of Leith Central. Platform level was approx 20 feet above the pavement.

Leith Central: The Great Wall of Leith. The north wall of Leith Central station in 2006, now forming the boundary of the Co-op Supermarket car park. View northwest across Easter Road, with part of the western abutment of the railway bridge that once spanned the road still standing. The grey roof of the Co-op supermarket is visible on the extreme left of the picture, while just out of shot alongside is 'Leith Waterworld', a leisure facility which was also built on the site of the old station. See image [[11664]]

Forth Bridge: The Hamish Gilchrist memorial in South Queensferry to those killed during construction of the Forth Bridge - unveiled July 2007.

Kirkcaldy Harbour: Road entrance to Kirkcaldy harbour on a quiet Sunday morning in the summer of 2007, more than 23 years after the line from Harbour Branch Junction had been officially closed. On the right is part of Carr's flour mill, with the company transport compound on the left. The pipes crossing the road above the plate girder bridge in the background link the building on the right with mill premises on the west side of the A921 see image [[17545]]. The bridge itself once carried the line out onto the east pier.

Markinch: Construction work on the new interchange at Markinch in July 2007, photographed looking west over the site. At this stage the project was several months behind schedule, with the original planned opening date of May 2007 long past. The official opening finally took place in November of that year. The former HQ of John Haig & Co (now part of the Haig Business Park) dominates the left background.

Bournville: Cadbury No. 14 (Hudswell Clark 0-4-0DM D1012 of 1956), preserved at the Bournville factory, though it had not worked there, and seen in 2007.

Markinch: The under construction interchange at Markinch, photographed looking east across the forecourt on 22 July 2007, with the original station building standing top left. At this point in time the project was running approximately two months behind schedule see image [[13049]].

Markinch: Getting there. View south east over the Markinch interchange site on 22 July 2007. See image [[17092]]

Carrog: Train from Llangollen approaching the present terminus at Carrog in the summer of 2007.

Kirkcaldy Harbour: Remains of the railway bridge that once brought the branch into Kirkcaldy Harbour across the A921, now carrying pipelines linking buildings within the Carr's flour mill complex. View north east towards Dysart in July 2007.

Markinch: Old and new station buildings stand side by side at Markinch on 22 July 2007, as the GNER 0952 Aberdeen - Kings Cross HST runs south at speed.

Kirkland Yard: View west along the north bank of the River Leven from the Iron Brig in the summer of 2007. Behind the camera are Methil docks, while on the other side of the plate girder bridge lay Kirkland Yard, with East Fife Central Junction beyond.

Sinclairtown [2nd]: Site of the former Sinclairtown station on 22 July 2007 showing the remains of the booking office base and the line of the old stairway. Note also the blocked up doorway (top right) that once provided access from St Clair Street. View south towards Kirkcaldy town centre.

Kirkcaldy Harbour: View north over the harbour in July 2007 showing the former branch coming in behind the mill and running out onto the railway arches. On the left is some of the new housing built within the old harbour area.

Kirkcaldy Harbour: Traces of the former railway can still be found within what remains of the harbour although much of the area has now given way to new developments including roads and housing.

Kirkcaldy Harbour: Looking north on 22 July 2007 at the surviving former railway bridge within the Kirkcaldy harbour area. The pipes link the premises of Carr's flour mill located on either side of the A921 see image [[17545]], while the compound, crane and weighbridge also belong to the mill.

Kirkcaldy Harbour: The surviving bridge abutments, embankment and arches are all part of the branch that once served Kirkcaldy Harbour (off picture to the left). View south along the A921 towards the Town Centre on 22 July 2007, with the former Nairns Linoleum factory in the background.

Dysart: Looking east across Windmill Road, Kirkcaldy on 22 July 2007 at the now sealed former entrance to Dysart station.

Lancaster: Northern end of Lancaster (Castle) station at 1700 hrs on 22 July. Voyager 221108, on the left, has just terminated on a service from London and will shortly go forward ECS to Carnforth for a short layover before returning to form a Euston service. 221109 is just pulling in on a service from Scotland to Birmingham New Street.

Lancaster: A sizeable complement of passengers waiting for the guard to open the doors of single car 153378 on a Millom service in Platform 1 at Lancaster. Alongside, in bay Platform 2, 156423 waits to leave for Morecambe.

Dalston: EWS 66100 heads empty tankers from the BP terminal at Dalston, Cumbria, on 22 July 2009, bound for the Grangemouth refinery. The train is seen here approaching Low Mill level crossing near the start of its journey north.

Dalston: 153304 leads an unusual 3-car combination on a Northern service from Carlisle to Whitehaven at Low Mill level crossing Dalston, Cumbria, on 22 July 2009. The unit would appear to have a problem with its lights.

Slochd Summit: A southbound service heads for the narrows at Slochd Summit loop.

Slochd Summit: A southbound empty cement train passing Slochd Summit on 22 July 2010 behind Freighliner 66609 on its way back to Oxwellmains.

Ben Alder Level Crossing: Southbound 4D47 Inverness-Mossend heads away from Dalwhinnie. The heat of the exhaust blurs the traffic on the nearby A9. View looks north.

Launceston: Quarry Hunslet 0-4-0ST Covertcoat on the narrow gauge Launceston Steam Railway on 22 July 2010.

Czestochowa: The main signal box at Czestochowa in July 2012.

Becconsall: Kerr Stuart 0-6-0T Joffre photographed on 22 July 2012 during a ceremony in the West Lancashire Light Railway's Becconsall yard. See image [[39686]]

Czestochowa: Smithy Lye, or whatever the Polish equivalent happens to be, photographed in July 2012. Lots of EN57 emus awaiting the call to duty see image [[12171]].

Becconsall: The renaming ceremony of Kerr Stuart 'Joffre' at the West Lancashire Light Railway on 22 July 2012 was undertaken by Steven Davies, Director of the NRM. He was wearing military uniform as he had earlier attended a ceremony at Preston Railway station where a plaque was unveiled to commemorate the 'Preston Pals'.

Becconsall: With nameplates still covered, Kerr Stuart 0-6-0T 'Joffre' shunts a recreated WW1 train on 22 July 2012 in the West Lancashire Light Railway's Becconsall yard. The locomotive was originally built for the French Government for use by French Artillery in 1915 and after WW1 was used in a limestone quarry in France. It was 'repatriated' in 1974 and, following a lengthy restoration by the West Lancashire Light Railway, has begun operating for the first time since leaving for foreign shores 97 years ago.

Dunblane Junction: DRS 66303 about to pass Dunblane signalbox on 22 July 2013 with the Inverness - Mossend intermodal service.

Glenfinnan Viaduct: Black 5 No.44871 tackles the 1 in 60 gradient up to Glenfinnan Viaduct on 22 July with the seven coach morning Jacobite service to Mallaig.

Bridge of Allan: 170478 calls at Bridge of Allan with a Dunblane service on 22 July 2013. This is believed to be one of only two 170 units still in SPT livery.

Grosmont: Preserved B1 4-6-0 no 61264, currently carrying the number 61034 and the name Chiru, stands in the sunshine at Grosmont station's platform 4 on 22 July 2014. See image [[44896]]

St James Deeping: This longshot was taken from the level crossing at St James Deeping in July 2014. The signal box here was dismantled brick-by-brick and placed in storage by Network Rail before being transferred to the St James Deeping Signal Box Group.

Pickering: Master of disguise 61264 brings a train into Pickering on 22 July 2014 masquerading as B1 61034 Chiru.

Glasgow Central: A London Midland 350 on loan to FTPE for Commonwealth Games strengthening at Glasgow Central on 22 July 2014.

Niddrie North Junction: DBS 67016 passing the former Niddrie North Junction with the stock for the evening Edinburgh - Fife commuter train on 22 July.

West Kilbride: The beautifully-kept gardens on the road approach to West Kilbride station in July 2014.

Millerhill South Junction: Looking north along the former south/east chord at the south end of Millerhill Yard on 22 July 2014. Coaching stock stands alongside the wagon repair shop top right, while groundwork is underway elsewhere. Part of the area once occupied by the down yard is earmarked to house a recycling centre for food and residual waste, with a new EGIP electric train servicing facility to be constructed on the up side. See image [[48305]]

Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal: To paraphrase the famous soft drink advert, made in Daventry - from girders. You can't beat playing with a full deck see image [[48046 for a similar view a few days earlier]]. The embankment behind the North pier is also taking shape.

St James Deeping: Approaching the level crossing at St James Deeping on the line between Peterborough and Spalding in July 2014 is East Midlands diesel railcar 153357.

West Kilbride: The approach side of West Kilbride station in July 2014. Usually hidden by a fence (over which this was taken) showing the west elevation. Sadly, Chu Chu's restaurant was the last occupant and the building is unused. See image [[40294]]

Lancaster: Bright July afternoon sunshine, but most of the cutting on Lancaster bank is still in shadow. A Colas Class 66 powers up the 1:82 with the Carlisle to Chirk log train.

Rimington: Ex LMS Black 5 no. 45231 drifts through the site of Rimington station between Gisburn and Chatburn in the Ribble Valley on 22 July 2015. The loco was hauling the return leg of The Fellsman railtour from Carlisle to Lancaster. The remains of the platform are between about the second to the fifth carriage. The station house is to the right and is a private residence.

Lancaster: Black 5 45231 leaves Lancaster with The Fellsman on 22nd July 2015. The signal in the foreground of this image from Haverbreaks has the feather set for a train to use Platform 3.

Crewe Junction: An ATW class 175 DMU leaving Shrewsbury station for the north on 22 July 2015.

Braehead Viaduct: View of the west end of the new bridge in the evening sunshine on 22nd July. The trackbed on the approaches to the bridge has now been restored and the bridge itself is ballasted and awaiting track laying.

Headfield Junction: Freightliner 66615 in the Hope Construction cement depot at Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury, on a part rake of 4 wheel pressure discharged tanks being off-loaded one by one with the loco drawing forward after each one is emptied. See image [[56020]] The rakes are made up of a mix of parallel and dipped centre tanks. Once all are emptied the loco will return the empties back to the cement works sidings at Hope in Derbyshire.

Tain: 158704, working from Wick to Inverness, calls at Tain on 22nd July 2016. Through the gap in the trees the Dornoch Firth can be seen.

Headfield Junction: Looking across the former L&Y main line to the Hope Construction cement plant, with the off-loading of full tank wagons taking place in the background. Whilst there are two tracks through the building to allow two rakes to be off-loaded together, only the rake on the far line is being emptied one tank at the time. The second rake is stabled beyond the building and will eventually be pushed back and then drawn forward as unloading takes place. See image [[55995]]

Tain: 158710, on a service from Inverness to Ardgay, draws to a stand alongside the station building at Tain, now converted into the recently opened and excellent Platform 1864 restaurant that has won Railway Heritage awards for the tasteful building conversion.

Keoldale: The tiny Cape Wrath Ferry leaves the slipway at Keoldale with a full complement of passengers to cross the Kyle of Durness. However, it will have to make an additional trip for those left behind. On the far side of the Kyle the ferry connects with minibuses that take the passengers along the isolated twelve mile road to Cape Wrath lighthouse on the north west tip of mainland Scotland.

Headfield Junction: Shortly after passing Headfield Junction the branch line to Dewsbury Railway Street Goods Yard crossed three bridges in close proximity, with Mill Street East overbridge, seen here looking south east, lying between that over the Dewsbury branch of the Calder & Hebble Navigation Canal and that across the River Calder. The branch line is still extant over most of its length although the goods yard and surrounding area is now mostly retail and warehousing. In the early 1970s, shortly after passing out as an Electricity Board electrician, I was working off the depot to the immediate left of view, and regularly seeing some of the daily diesel shunter workings running from Healey Mills to the goods yard; but, regrettably, never taking any photographs.

Dewsbury : An investigatory visit along Railway Street and Goods Lane, where the old Railway Street Goods Yard previously stood, brought an unexpected view of the arched viaduct from the former GNR line that ran between Wakefield Westgate and Bradford Exchange via Ossett, Dewsbury Central and Batley. The view looking east shows the section running to the rear of a warehousing company yard, as seen through the boundary fencing alongside Goods Lane. Dewsbury Central station was sited some 400m off to the left.

Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury: View south east from the Headfield Road overbridge, over the former L&Y line to Wakefield Kirkgate, to the junction with Lock Street. This shows the south skew abutment of the lengthy angled bridge on the section of the former Midland Railway line, running from Notton Junction, that continued through to Mill Street West Goods Yard, and is sited beyond the spur that ran down and connected to the L&Y line.

Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury: There is an old saying... 'two's company, three's a crowd'. This could apply to the bridges over the initial section of the Dewsbury branch of the Calder & Hebble Navigation Canal at Thornhill Lees, where the two rail bridges, the original stone arch bridge and a later steel bridge, have kept close company with each other for many decades; only to have a new bridge carrying an high pressure gas pipeline placed up close and impersonal on the south side. The gas pipeline runs east to west along the solum of the redundant section of former four track trackbed and then turns north to run along the trackbed of the former Spen Valley line towards Cleckheaton.

Dundee: 170 433 to Aberdeen at Dundee station on 22nd July 2017.

Kirkcaldy: Only two passengers alighted from 170418, bound for Edinburgh Waverley, at Kirkcaldy. Looking back north on the evening of 22nd July 2017.

Alston: 'Barber', an 0-6-0ST built by Greens of Leeds (441/1908), photographed at Alston on the South Tynedale Railway on 22 July 2017. Note the new station roof, bought with the help of National Lottery funding. For a look at the original see image [[7147]].

Dundee: 170433 on a service to Aberdeen at Dundee station on 22nd July 2017.

Leuchars: Leuchars, looking south, seen from 170418 from Dundee to Edinburgh Waverley, on the evening of 22nd July 2017. Once the junction for the Fife Coast line via St. Andrews (which surely deserves to have its rail link restored) and the smaller but no less beautiful seaside towns of Crail, Anstruther and the delightfully-named Pittenweem.

Woodacre Crossing: 68004 Rapid heads an excursion from Bristol to Carlisle seen at Woodacre on 22nd July 2017. When the two ex-Anglia coaches are also repainted blue and grey this will make a splendid Inter-City set.

Osnabruck: Regional DMUs at Osnabruck.

Amsterdam Central: Smiley characters at Amsterdam Central!

Gregson Lane: 46233 Duchess of Sutherland passing Gregson Lane on 22 July 2017 while working the Crewe to Carlisle via Liverpool Cumbrian Mountain Express. The loco was working hard on the climb to Hoghton as it would do to get over several other summits on the way to Carlisle.

Eskbank and Dalkeith: A train for Tweedbank on the Borders Railway runs south through the remains of Eskbank and Dalkeith station on 22 July 2018. The impressive former station building still stands top right see image [[2244]].

Eskbank: The ScotRail 0945 (Sunday) Tweedbank - Edinburgh Waverley, photographed shortly after restarting from Eskbank station (visible in the background) on 22 July 2018.

Edinburgh Park: An eastbound Class 385 calls at Edinburgh Park on 22 July 2019. A delay in opening the doors causes one gentleman consternation and gives me a chance to rush back and grab a picture.

Edinburgh Park: An Edinburgh service calls at Edinburgh Park on 22 July 2019. This station sees eight trains an hour each way with another four passing through. Its a station for commuting to rather than from as absolutely nobody lives near here. There are a couple of hotels nearby, but I don't think even retired majors live in hotels any more (not Premier Inns, certainly).

Gogar: An Edinburgh service passes the site of Gogar station as it slows down for a stop at Edinburgh Park on 22 July 2019. Despite its proximity to the city proper this area is still quite rural, probably thanks to the green belt. Spoiling things a little is the fact that the station site is between a scrapyard on one side of the tracks and chicken sheds on the other, so at least two senses are assaulted. Can I just point out that this is only RailScot second picture of this not terribly obscure or inaccessible location - and that I took the other one.

Haymarket: An incoming service from Fife approaches Haymarket on 22 July 2019. Its pretty much diesel on Platforms 1 and 2, electrics on 3 and 4 and cock-ups on Platform 0.

Woodacre Crossing: A bright red loco on a bright red train. Remodelling of Acton Grange Junction has forced a closure of the WCML through Warrington for two weeks in July/August 2019 and many trains are being diverted via the Chat Moss line, Piccadilly and Wilmslow. The Class 325 EPUs cannot work over Chat Moss under their own power and so are being dragged by Class 90s. DBS 90018 'The Pride of Bellshill' heads south at Woodacre on the evening of 22nd July with a Shieldmuir to Willesden mail train.

Edinburgh Park: A westbound service approaches Edinburgh Park on 22 July 2019 with the kenspeckle bulk of Arthur's Seat in the background. Surrounded by an industrial estate, a retail park, a business park and absolutely no houses Edinburgh Park is a station you travel to, not from. Yes, I said kenspeckle. Shoot me now before I say 'anent' or 'clanjamfrie' and start writing letters to The Scotsman.

Euxton Balshaw Lane: 90018 hauls three Class 325 Royal Mail sets on a Shieldmuir to Warrington service just north of Euxton Balshaw Lane in the evening of 22nd July 2019.

Barton and Broughton: Nearly new 195129 heads north from Preston with a Manchester Airport to Barrow-in-Furness service on 22nd July 2020. As this unit accelerated effortlessly through the long cutting at Lightfoot Lane it contrasted with another Barrow service using different traction at this location in 2015. See image [[52942]].

Barton and Broughton: 397008 passes under the Lightfoot Lane bridge as it heads towards Preston and Manchester Airport on 22nd July 2020. Increasing the TPE fleet to twelve 397 units from ten 350s has allowed the introduction of services to Liverpool as well as Manchester.

Barton and Broughton: 195127 passes under the M55 motorway, as it hurries towards Preston, with a Barrow to Manchester Airport service on 22nd July 2020. The wide spacing here is a reminder that, prior to the 1974 electrification, this was a four track stretch of railway line.

Didcot Parkway: A pair of DB 66s, 66068 and 66034, parked in the sidings at Didcot, along with quite a lot of temporarily out of use car carriers, on 22nd July 2020.

Didcot Railway Centre: GWR 5322, a Churchward 2-6-0 in WWI ROD livery, was static in the entrance to Didcot Railway Centre on 22nd July 2020. The loco is presently out of service and awaiting an overhaul.

Oxford: A pair of joined X-Country sets in Oxford's Platform 3 on 22nd July 2020. 221127 and 220002 crawled out of the northern storage sidings and promptly failed, blocking all southbound passenger traffic from using the platform. All north and south bound passenger trains had to make use of Platform 4, with delays ensuing.

Oxford: GBRf 'Maritime' liveried 66727, northbound with a fast freight through Oxford on 22nd July 2020.

Charing: LMS 'Jubilee' Class 4-6-0 no. 45596 'Bahamas' receiving attention during a water and photo stop at Charing station, on the Maidstone East line, while in charge of The Railway Touring Company's 'The Kentish Belle' excursion from London Victoria to Faversham via Canterbury West, on 22nd July 2021. These locomotives were designed by Sir William Stanier specifically for passenger duties and 191 were constructed between 1934 and 1936 at the North British Locomotive Company's works in Glasgow and this was one of the first from 1934, originally numbered 5596 and named 'Bahamas' in 1935. Renumbered 45596 at Nationalisation in 1948. The unique double chimney was fitted in 1961 but she was withdrawn from service in 1966 and purchased from BR by the Bahamas Locomotive Society in the following year.

Dalgety Bay: A1 60163 'Tornado' speeds through Dalgety Bay with 'The Aberdonian' on 22 July 2021.

Gourdon: A northbound goods train in a park on the outskirts of Gourdon on 22 July 2021. One of the most impressive such installations I've seen. The branchline footpath runs alongside.

Inverbervie: Looking south along the former Inverbervie branch to Gourdon on 22nd July 2021.

Fetteresso Viaduct: 60163 'Tornado' leaving Stonehaven behind and passing Kirktown of Fetteresso on its way back south on 22nd July 2021.

Inverbervie: Looking north to the site of Inverbervie station on 22ndJuly 2021. The path to the left follows the course of the platform line while that to the right heads for the goods yard.

Canterbury West: Canterbury West, seen from the Railway Touring Company's return The Kentish Belle excursion on the evening of 22nd July 2021, was opened by the South Eastern Railway as Canterbury on 6th February 1846, a temporary terminus of the line from Ashford before extension to Ramsgate on 13th April 1846. The Canterbury North Lane terminus of the Canterbury & Whitstable Railway of 1830 closed the same day and its trains thence used the SER station. On 1st July 1889, the Elham Valley Line south to Folkestone made a junction here with the station that became Canterbury West on the same day. The historic Canterbury & Whitstable Railway was sadly closed to passengers after 100 years on 1st January 1931 (but survived for goods until 1953) and the Elham Valley Line closed on 25th October 1940. Electrification reached here on 18th June 1962 and the station became a Grade II Listed Building on 7th September 1973.

London Victoria: Journey's End for the time being as LMS 'Jubilee' Class 4-6-0 no. 45596 'Bahamas' comes to rest at London Victoria with the return 'The Kentish Belle' excursion from Faversham, having also picked up at Herne Bay, Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate and Canterbury West, on the evening of 22nd July 2021.

Portobello Junction: 47813 is owned by something called the Rail Operations Group which I hope is more interesting than its name. It is stabled here at the eastern end of the Leith Docks branch with the Craigentinny wheel lathe behind it. The loco has been left fouling the loop which shows the low expectation of anything else coming along on this moribund line.

Charing: Exterior of Charing station, Kent, on 22nd July 2021.

Charing: Exterior of the delightful Charing station, on the Maidstone East line in Kent, on the fine summer morning of 22nd July 2021. This station was opened by the London, Chatham & Dover Railway on 1st July 1884 with the extension of the line from Maidstone East to Ashford West, although that station closed on 1st January 1899 when services were transferred to the ex-South Eastern Railway station (now Ashford International). The line was electrified in 1961.

Glencarse: A1 60163 'Tornado' nears St Madoes Road bridge, a little to the west of Glencarse, with 'The Aberdonian' on 22 July 2021.

Montrose North Junction: 60163 'Tornado' speeds away from Montrose North with 'The Aberdonian' on 22 July 2021.

Camps Viaduct: Looking along the country trail across the Camps Viaduct in July 2022. This once carried the mineral line that ran from Drumshoreland to Broxburn and Camps.

Barking Riverside: 710256 about to depart from the new London Overground GOBLIN terminus at Barking Riverside with the 12.03 service to Gospel Oak, on Friday, 22nd July 2022 which thankfully was nowhere near as hot as the stultifying 40.6C heatwave that wrecked the station's Grand Opening four days earlier. Only a handful of trains ran before the station shut up shop due to problems with the track and overhead wires caused by the heat.

Barking Riverside: After calling at Barking, the extended London Overground GOBLIN service runs parallel with the C2C Tilbury Loop for a considerable distance before rising on to a sinuous viaduct to cross the loop line and make its way to the new terminus at Barking Riverside. Despite the state of the windows, this is a grab shot from 710273 that is now on the extension proper, looking towards Barking Riverside, on 22nd July 2022.

Barking Riverside: Interior of 710273, with a London Overground GOBLIN service from Gospel Oak, displaying the new destination of Barking Riverside on 22nd July 2022.

Barking Riverside: 710273 at Barking Riverside, terminus of the new London Overground GOBLIN extension from Barking, waiting to depart with the 12.18 service to Gospel Oak, on Friday, 22nd July 2022.

Barking Riverside: Barking Riverside station, now fully operational on 22nd July 2022 after its opening day four days earlier was wrecked by the unprecedented 40.6C heatwave. In the background is 710273 waiting to depart with the 12.18 London Overground GOBLIN service to Gospel Oak when the temperature was a more reasonable and welcome 23C.

Picardy Place [Tram]: Looking from the closed York Place tram stop to the replacement at Picardy Place on 22 July 2022. Rails are installed and shuttering for the island platform is in place.

Barking Riverside: Forget the Northern Line's Battersea Power Station branch and the delayed Elizabeth Line, this is London's newest station, Barking Riverside, terminus of the extended London Overground GOBLIN line from Barking that opened ahead of schedule on Monday, 18th July 2022. It then saw almost its entire service of trains that day wiped out due to the excessive 40.6C heatwave, which prevented me from getting there on its First Day. This view is at lunchtime on Friday, 22nd July 2022 with 710256 on left waiting to depart with the 12.03 service to Gospel Oak and 710273 on right waiting with the following Gospel Oak service at 12.18. The latter train I travelled on back to my local station at Crouch Hill.

Barking Riverside: Zoom lens view of 710258, with a London Overground GOBLIN service, arriving at its pristine new terminus at Barking Riverside, just after mid-day on Friday, 22nd July 2022. It will then form the return 12.33 departure to Gospel Oak.

Barking Riverside: Exterior of the new London Overground GOBLIN terminus at Barking Riverside with, at platform level, 710273 waiting to depart with the 12.18 service to Gospel Oak, on Friday, 22nd July 2022.

Crouch Hill: 710273, with a London Overground GOBLIN service from Gospel Oak to the extended line's new terminus at Barking Riverside, arriving at Crouch Hill (my local station) at 11.30 on Friday, 22nd July 2022.