Lanark: 42162 entering Lanark with S.O. train from Ponfeigh.

Muirkirk [2nd]: Muirkirk Station. 2.6.4T 42162 in from Lanark.

Muirkirk [2nd]: Muirkirk Station. 2.6.4T 42162 leaving for Lanark.

Douglas: At Happendon. 42162 on Muirkirk Lanark train.

Inches: Fairburn tank 42162 approaching Inches station eastbound on 25 July 1953 with a Muirkirk - Lanark train. Just beyond the station the branch to the right crossed a bridge over the Douglas Water to reach Kennox Colliery. See image [[28600]]

Buchanan Street Tunnel West Signal Box: 45443 about to enter Buchanan Street station on 25 July 1955 with a train from Oban.

Buchanan Street Tunnel West Signal Box: The PW team stands aside at Buchanan Street on 25 July 1955 as the Saint Mungo arrives from Aberdeen. Locomotive carrying the headboard on this occasion is Perth based Standard class 5 4-6-0 no 73009.

Buchanan Street Tunnel West Signal Box: The 'Bon Accord' leaving Buchanan Street for Aberdeen on 25 July 1955. Locomotive is Perth based Standard class 5 4-6-0 no 73005.

Saughton: BR Standard class 4 no 76109 off Thornton Junction shed photographed with a Fife train from Edinburgh Waverley in the summer of 1959. The 2-6-0 has recently turned north at Saughton Junction and is now heading past Broomhall bound for the Forth Bridge and home.

Saughton: St Margarets B1 4-6-0 no 61351 runs through Broomhouse in Edinburgh's western suburbs in July 1959 with a mixed freight.

Kilmarnock: Metrovick Co-Bos D5706 and D5708 arrive at Kilmarnock with a train from Glasgow St Enoch to Carlisle on 25th July 1959.

Saughton: A V2 drifts down the bank towards Saughton Junction in July 1959 with a train for Waverley.

Joppa [2nd]: Gresley V3 2-6-2T no 67624 on a westbound train at Joppa in the summer of 1959.

Saughton: Long time Ferryhill resident V2 no 60888 heading home in the summer of 1959 as it takes a passenger train away from Edinburgh, having just turned north at Saughton Junction.

Saughton: A train for Fife heads north past the houses of Broomhall in July 1959 behind Gresley V3 2-6-2T no 67672.

Kilmarnock: D5706 and D5708 on a Glasgow St Enoch to Carlisle local train at Kilmarnock on 25th July 1959.

Saughton: The longest name? V2 no 60835 The Green Howard, Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment brings a freight down from the Forth Bridge towards Saughton Junction on 25 July 1959.

Eastfield Shed: C15 no 67460 stands in the yard at Eastfield on 25 July 1959. This was one of the push-pull locomotives used on the Craigendoran - Arrochar service for many years along with classmate 67474. See image [[24286]]

Saughton: An Edinburgh Princes Street - Stirling train passing through Broomhouse in Edinburgh's western suburbs in the summer of 1959. In charge is Black 5 no 45084 of 63B Stirling shed.

Joppa [2nd]: St Margarets J36 0-6-0 no 65329 heads west through Joppa with a freight in July 1959.

Saughton Junction: B1 4-6-0 no 61307 approaching Saughton Junction light engine from the Forth Bridge direction on 25 July 1959 past new housing developments at Broomhall.

Hawick [2nd]: B1 4-6-0 no 61395 off Canal shed climbs out of Hawick and heads for home with the 1225 service to Carlisle in July 1959.

Saughton Junction: Thornton B1 no 61403 heads south on the Forth Bridge line past new housing developments at Broomhall on the approach to Saughton Junction in July 1959.

Joppa [2nd]: V2 2-6-2 no 60913 about to run through Joppa station with a Waverley bound ECML service in the summer of 1959.

Hawick [2nd]: A1 Pacific no 60152 Holyrood takes the 0950 Edinburgh - Sheffield out of Hawick on 25 July 1959. The train, which had been extended to London on this occasion, is seen running past the livestock pens of Andrew Oliver's auction market. [Editor's note: Bruce McCartney tells me that today's equivalent photograph would be more or less standing at the front door of Morrisons supermarket looking west, with the livestock pens having made way for the customer car park. The spire in the centre is part of St Andrew's church, latterly a petrol station.] See image [[24768]]

Hawick [2nd]: Class D49 no 62705 Lanarkshire of Haymarket shed heads for home on July 1959 with the noon service from Hawick to Edinburgh Waverley. The locomotive was withdrawn from 64B at the end of 1959.

Saughton Junction: Haymarket V2 no 60816 runs past Broomhouse shortly after turning north at Saughton Junction in the summer of 1959 with a stopping train heading for the Forth Bridge.

Saughton: A3 60098 'Spion Kop' passing through Broomhall with a train in July 1959, shortly after turning north at Saughton Junction.

Saughton: Scene on the western edge of Edinburgh in the summer of 1959. St Margarets J37 0-6-0 no 64543 is passing new housing developments at Broomhall southbound on the Forth Bridge line with a freight heading towards Saughton Junction.

Saughton: July 25 1959 was probably not a good day to hang out washing in the gardens of Broombank Terrace on Edinburgh's west side. B1 4-6-0 no 61349 hurtles north belching smoke and ash on its way from Saughton Junction to the Forth Bridge with a Fife-bound train.

Joppa [2nd]: An admiring glance from the guard of a passing freight towards 60031 Golden Plover as the A4 coasts through Joppa station at the head of an up ECML service in July 1959. Photographed from the former pedestrian ramp near the footbridge on South Morton Street giving access to the westbound platform.

Saughton: 45486 brings an Edinburgh bound train through Broomhall towards Saughton Junction in July 1959. The Black 5 was allocated to Tay Bridge shed, Dundee (62B), at this time.

Joppa [2nd]: St Margarets J37 0-6-0 no 64562 about to run tender first through Joppa station with a coal train on a fine July day in 1959. The train is passing a DMU that has just left the eastbound platform.

Saughton: A2 Pacific no 60528 Tudor Minstrel passing Broomhall on the north western approach to Saughton Junction in the summer of 1959 heading for Waverley.

Saughton: An eight car DMU heading for Edinburgh Waverley on the run down from the Forth Bridge passes 1959 urban expansion taking place at Broomhall on the approach to Saughton Junction.

Saughton: Shortly after turning north at Saughton Junction in July 1959, A4 no 60024 Kingfisher runs parallel with the houses of Broombank Terrace as it makes its way towards the Forth Bridge with a train for Aberdeen.

Saughton: Thornton Junction B1 4-6-0 no 61358 brings a train from the north towards Saughton Junction on 25 July 1959.

Saughton: Gresley K3 2-6-0 no 61927 running south light engine past Broomhall towards Saughton Junction on 25 July 1959.

Cassillis: Black 5 45053 photographed north of Maybole near Cassillis on 25 July 1960 with an up Stranraer Boat Express.

Ayr: Scene at Ayr station on 25 July 1960. A Glasgow bound DMU calls at platform 3, while a Kilmarnock train waits in bay platform 1. The locomotive is Hurlford 2P 4-4-0 40642.

Alloway Junction: Black 5 no 45489 seen near Alloway Junction on 25 July 1960 with a down Stranraer boat express.

Ayr: A Crab 2-6-0 at the headshunts south of Ayr station on 25 July 1960 with a down freight.

Glasgow St Enoch: Polmadie's Coronation Pacific 46249 'City of Sheffield' leaves Glasgow St. Enoch with the 5.30pm to Carlisle on 25th July 1963.

Newton Street Tunnel: BR Standard tank 80109 exits the west end of the 2,100 yard Newton Street Tunnel on 25 July 1963 as it approaches Fort Matilda with a Glasgow Central - Gourock train.

Greenock Central: Looking west towards the platforms of Greenock Central station on 25 July 1963, as Fairburn 2-6-4T no 42171 restarts a Gourock to Glasgow stopping train.

Newton Street Tunnel: A Glasgow - Gourock train emerges from the west portal of Newton Street Tunnel on 25 July 1963. Locomotive in charge is Fairburn 2-6-4T no 42260.

Greenock Central: BR Standard class 5 4-6-0 no 73064 arriving at Greenock Central on 25 July 1963 with a Gourock - Glasgow train.

Carlisle: Peppercorn A2 no 60535 Hornet's Beauty brings the 7.00am from Glasgow Central into Carlisle in July 1964. The A2 had gone to Polmadie from St Margarets the previous year and continued in BR service until the Summer of 1965.

Carlisle: Peppercorn A1 Pacific no 60157 Great Eastern darkens the sky over Carlisle station in the summer of 1964 as it prepares to take forward the 1.40pm Stranraer Harbour - Newcastle Central.

Carlisle: 46241 City of Edinburgh stands on the centre road at Carlisle on 25 July 1964. The Pacific is waiting to relieve the incoming locomotive off the 9am Perth - Euston.

Carlisle: A busy Saturday morning scene at the south end of Carlisle station on 25 July 1964. Stanier Pacific 46241 City of Edinburgh is standing at platform 3 with the 0900 Perth - London Euston.

Carlisle: Patriot class 4-6-0 no 45526 Morecambe and Heysham takes the 2pm Glasgow Central - Manchester / Liverpool train out of Carlisle in the summer of 1964. The locomotive was eventually withdrawn from Carlisle Upperby shed towards the end of that year.

Carlisle: St Margarets A3 Pacific no 60052 Prince Palatine arrives at the north end of Carlisle on 25 July 1964 with the 9.50am Edinburgh Waverley - Leeds City. See image [[24718]]

Carlisle: A1 Pacific 60127 Wilson Worsdell stands at the north end of Carlsle's platform 4 on Saturday 25 July 1964.

Carlisle: Leeds based A1 Pacific no 60131 Osprey utilising the water column on Carlisle platform 1 on the afternoon of 25 July 1964. The train is the the 9.30am London St Pancras - Glasgow St Enoch.

Carlisle: Stanier Coronation Pacific no 46250 City of Lichfield, recently arrived at Carlisle on 25 July 1964 with a Saturday Birmingham New Street - Glasgow Central relief working.

Carlisle: A1 Pacific 60127 Wilson Worsdell standing on the centre road at Carlisle on Saturday 25 July 1964. In the background 'Jinty' 47326 is on station pilot duty.

Carlisle: The 1.40pm Stranraer Harbour - Newcastle leaves Carlisle on 25 July 1964 behind A1 Pacific no 60157 Great Eastern.

Larbert: A Black 5 is about to take a northbound train away from Larbert station in July 1966.

Buchanan Street: B1 4-6-0 no 61344 stands at Glasgow's Buchanan Street station on 25 July 1966 waiting to take out the 5.50pm service to Dunblane. The locomotive was withdrawn from Thornton Junction 2 months later.

Buchanan Street: Scene at the north end of Buchanan Street station on 25 July 1966. A2 Pacific no 60532 'Blue Peter' is heading for St Rollox shed having brought in the 1.30pm from Aberdeen earlier.

Stirling: 60532 Blue Peter arrives from the north at Stirling in the summer of 1966 with the 1.30pm Aberdeen - Glasgow Buchanan Street.

Buchanan Street: One of the St Rollox batch of Caprotti valve-geared BR Standard class 5s, no 73149, prepares to take a Dundee train away from Glasgow's Buchanan Street terminus in July 1966.

Larbert: Black 5 no 44796 slows past Larbert North signal box on the approach to the station with an arrival from the north on 25 July 1966. It will depart Larbert as the 6.43pm to Glasgow Buchanan Street.

Buchanan Street: 60532 Blue Peter backing out of Buchanan Street on 25 July 1966. The A2 is heading for St Rollox shed after bringing in the 1.30pm ex-Aberdeen train.

Stirling: A2 Pacific no 60532 Blue Peter waiting for the off at Stirling station on 25 July 1966 with the 1.30pm Aberdeen - Glasgow Buchanan Street train.

Carlisle Durranhill Shed: Ivatt 2-6-0 no 43049 heads out of Carlisle with a freight on the S&C route approaching Durranhill Junction in the 1960s. The Midland signal box is just off picture to the right while the box controlling the parallel NE route can be seen through the smoke. Off to the left of the picture stood the MR Durranhill shed, officially closed in November of 1959 and demolished in 1966.

Savenay: SNCF ex-Etat 2-8-2 141C82 brewing up before departure from Savenay on a local service to St Nazaire. The train is awaiting connection with a westbound express (see image [[79015]]). The photograph dates from the summer of 1969.

Savenay: Old and new SNCF motive power sharing the stage on a summer evening in 1969 at Savenay, west of Nantes. On the left is an express from Paris to Le Croisic, headed by the doyen of the recently introduced CC72000 express passenger diesels, number 72001. On the right is the connecting local service to St Nazaire, with ex-Etat 2-8-2 141C82, dating from the early nineteen twenties.

Nantes: SNCF 4-8-2 241P13 makes an imposing sight in the shed yard at Nantes Blottereau depot in July 1969.

Tynemouth: View towards Newcastle over the disused bays at the 1882 NER station at Tynemouth in July 1981 with signage relating to Tyne and Wear PTE Metro services in the foreground.

Newcastle Central: Looking over the east end bays at Newcastle Central on 25 July 1981. Class 101 DMUs in 3 different liveries flank Brush Type 2 31171 at the head of a summer Saturday train for Filey.

Tynemouth [N and B]: In 1847 the former Newcastle and North Shields Railway was extended by the Newcastle and Berwick Railway from North Shields to a new terminus at Tynemouth, seen here in July 1981. Despite losing its passenger service as long ago as 1882 with the opening of the current through station it went on to serve as Tynemouth goods depot well into the second half of the 20th century. Fortunately, the building survives, refurbished in residential use.

Tynemouth [N and B]: The former terminus of the Newcastle & Berwick Railway's extension of the North Shields line to Tynemouth seen from the west in July 1981, showing the part of the trackbed and the old hotel building on the right. There was also a connecting branch that ran from here down to the pier.

Thornton Yard: Ex-LMS coach converted to a 'dome car' for observation of pantograph/OHL. Stored in the sidings at Thornton yard in the summer of 1987. [Ref query 7904]

Brunstane: 08793 (in lined apple green livery) on its way from Millerhill depot to Leith South yard approaching the future site of Brunstane Station on 25 July 1989.

Seafield Level Crossing: 08793 awaiting the gates at Seafield level crossing on 25 July 1989 on its way from Millerhill depot to Leith South yard. See image [[50214]]

Pulvermühle Viaduct: A local service crosses the Pulvermühle Viaduct, just to the north east of Luxembourg station, in 1991. View looks east. This viaduct is to be duplicated by a second viaduct due to projected increased traffic from the Kirchberg and Oetrange lines.

Tan-y-Bwlch: Ffestiniog Railway 2-6-2T Mountaineer receives attention at Tan-Y-Bwlch on 25 July 1992.

Gilderdale: Bagnall 0-4-0ST Woto (2133 of 1924) at Gilderdale on the South Tynedale Railway in July 1993. Gilderdale was the northern terminus until 1996 and the station closed in 1999.

Alston: Visiting Quarry Hunslet from the West Lancashire Light Railway sits at the buffers at Alston Station on the South Tynedale Railway in July 1993. Compare this shot with See image [[7147]] and See image [[19590]], the former showing the original overall roof.

Gilderdale: A departure from the then northern limit of passenger working of the South Tynedalle Railway, Gilderdale, on 25 July 1993.

Gilderdale: Thomas Edmondson waits patiently at Gilderdale, then the northern passenger operating limit of the South Tynedale Railway between Alston and Kirkhaugh in July 1993 with a train about to return to the terminus.

Grafton East Junction: 4472 Flying Scotsman westbound at Crofton on the Berks & Hants line, in the summer of 1999. (Just in case anyone has forgotten what the poor thing looks like).

North Johnstone: Looking North, this the walls of the station partially demolished, along with part of the embankment partially stripped away. Now demolished and flattened, the site forms part of development for a supermarket.

North Johnstone: This view shows the old entrance/exit to North Johnstone station.

Johnstone North [2nd]: This view, looking South, shows part of the retaining wall for the embankment that made its way east to the Cart Junction.

Haymarket East Junction: The view west from Haymarket station in the summer of 2007. On the left a Virgin CrossCountry service heading for Manchester Piccadilly has just taken the left fork at Haymarket East Junction (the franchise had 3 months left to run at this time). In the background a ScotRail 170 DMU is approaching platform 3 with a Glasgow - Edinburgh shuttle. Meantime, over on the right, various units can be seen pottering about on Haymarket depot.

Bugle: Lots of houses have been built around Bugle station, on both sides of the railway, compared to how I recall the branch back in the 1970s. A borrowed Midland Main Line HST heads for Newquay on a very hot Saturday 25 July 2007.

Livingston North: View west from the road bridge over Livingston North station showing progress on 25 July 2008, with a Bathgate - Newcraighall service at the platform.

Garstang and Catterall: The impressive staircase at this house is the give away that it is the former station entrance. The house was once joined onto and is all that survives of a once large junction station that was swept away soon after closure in 1969. It used to be faced in red brick similar to the stairs and retaining wall. Map Ref SD 509439

Bathgate LMD: View west towards Bathgate on 25 July 2008.

Uphall: Work on the new platform and related infrastructure underway on the north side of the station at Uphall on 25 July 2008 as an eastbound 158 service arrives.

Livingston North: Looking west from the road bridge at Livingston North over ongoing development work on 25 July as a Bathgate - Newcraighall train prepares to leave.

Uphall: View east towards Edinburgh on 25 July 2008 showing the works currently underway on the new north side platform at Uphall station. Additional car parking facilities will also be constructed between the new platform and the M8.

Livingston North: A Bathgate - Newcraighall service runs into Livingston North station on 25 July 2008. Photographed from the unofficial path that currently leads from the south side car park up to Deans Road bridge.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The 1037 hrs Saturday morning service to Oban waits in Platform 3 at Glasgow Queen Street on 25 July 2009.

Comrie: A view of Comrie Station site in July 2009 from the west side of the bridge that carries the A85 into Comrie. The area is now a caravan site.

St Fillans Tunnel: About half a mile west of St Fillans is this tunnel. Both portals are now fenced off. July 2009.

Logierait Viaduct: The plaque on the east end of the Tay Viaduct, Logierait, near Ballinluig. July 2009.

Logierait Viaduct: The Tay Viaduct at Logierait near Ballinluig was built to take the railway to Aberfeldy. Seen here in July 2009, it is now used by road vehicles. See image [[24746]]

Dalchonzie Platform: Dalchonzie Halt today with the signal box now part of the house. Not a station as such in that if you wanted to alight here you had to notify the guard of the train at the previous station (ie Comrie or St Fillans).

Tynreoch Viaduct: West of Dalchonzie Halt this bow girder bridge carried the railway over the River Earn. The view is looking east towards Dalchonzie Halt in the distance. The trackbed from here almost to St Fillans looks to be in walkable condition.

Tynreoch Viaduct: The girder bridge over the River Earn east of St Fillans at Tynreoch is now used for farm and forestry access. The trackbed then passes under a bridge that carries the A85 into St Fillans. Between here and St Fillans the going can be rather wet and muddy.

St Fillans: The Crocodile Rock east of St Fillans Station was first painted by local youths over a hundred years ago and became a feature of the line for passengers to watch out for. It can still be seen from the A85 as you enter St Fillans from the east and appears to be in regular upkeep.

Edinchip Viaduct [LSFCR]: A view along the trackbed of the Edinchip Viaduct north of Balquhidder on the way to Lochearnhead. Being made of metal the original centre span was removed for scrap on closure. The substantial new centre span has given new life to the viaduct as part of a long distance path/cycleway. A plaque on the viaduct relates the unfortunate circumstances of how the funds were raised.

Edinchip Viaduct [LSFCR]: The plaque on Edinchip Viaduct outlining the tragic circumstances surrounding the funding of the replacement centre span.

Edinchip Viaduct [LSFCR]: A view from below Edinchip Viaduct showing the substantial replacement 80ft span allowing it to be used again by walkers and cyclists.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Turbostar domination at Glasgow Queen Street on 25 July 2009 wih 5 of the 6 platforms in the shot hosting a Turbostar unit.

Edinchip Viaduct [LSFCR]: Edinchip Viaduct carried the railway accross the Channdroma Burn and the valley either side. From the valley floor to the height of the trackbed is approx 56ft and this view looks towards Lochearnhead with the two northern 40ft spans hidden in the trees.

St Fillans: Approximately half a mile east of St Fillans the trackbed is in walkable condition and this access bridge is still extant. View looking east on 25 July 2009.

St Fillans: For about half a mile east of St Fillans the trackbed is more like a riverbed and wellies are the order of the day if you wish to walk it. Otherwise you will share my experience of a scramble along some steep embankments involving a lot of unintentional sitting down and clutching wildly at flimsy branches. This view shows one of the less waterlogged parts close to the station.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The Scottish Saltire has appeared in the ballast behind the buffers on platforms 2 to 7 at Glasgow Queen Street. On 25 July 2009, a pair of Class 170 Turbostars in First ScotRail livery look on.

Hampstead Heath: 47786 'Roy Castle OBE' in tow at the rear of a Brighton - Doncaster charter passing Hampstead Heath on 25th July 2009

Hampstead Heath: 87002 'Royal Sovereign' at the head of a Brighton-Doncaster charter through Hampstead Heath on 25th July 2009

Dumbarton Central: The 1037 hrs Saturdays only service from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban calls at Dumbarton Central on 25 July 2009.

Cardross: DBS 67020 with the ecs of the Northern Belle as it heads east through Cardross on its way to Edinburgh for stabling. The train had earlier travelled from London to Helensburgh Upper on 25 July 2009. The section of the platform next to the locomotive has now been raised to the usual height during work in November 2010.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Breaking the Turbostar monotony at Glasgow Queen Street on 25 July 2009 is a Class 156 in SPT livery over on platform 1 waiting to depart with a service for Anniesland.

Cardross: On 25 July 2009, the Northern Belle luxury tour train ran from London to Helensburgh Upper where the passengers detrained for a two night stop on the banks of Loch Lomond. The ecs is seen passing through Cardross later on Saturday evening on its way to Edinburgh to stable overnight.

Dumbarton Central: 320301 enters Dumbarton Central with a Glasgow bound service on 25 July 2009. When I think of Dumbarton Central back in the 60s, the sight looking west from the platform was one of factories and housing. The former has long gone but there is still housing to the left of the shot. The vegetation seems to be taking hold again on the north side of the station.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Sunshine breaks into the train shed at Glasgow Queen Street and illuminates SPT and First ScotRail liveried Turbostars on platform 5 on 25 July 2009. Another Turbostar hides in the shadows on platform 6.

Forrestfield: The western extremity of tracklaying on the Airdrie - Bathgate line on 25 July 2010. The south shore of Hillend reservoir, looking west, between Forrestfield and Caldercruix.

Dalry: The 15.17 service for Largs runs into Dalry station on 25 July 2010. See image [[21618]] for the scene forty seven years earlier.

Forrestfield: Scene at Forrestfield, looking west towards Caldercruix on 25 July 2010.

Glengarnock: A Glasgow - bound EMU arrives at Glengarnock on 25 July 2010 see image [[25334 for the view from the same spot forty seven years earlier]].

Grangemouth Junction: The 14.04 Edinburgh Waverley - Dunblane DMU approaches Falkirk Grahamston on 25 July 2011. The train is about to pass DBS 66147, held at signals as it waits to run light engine to the W H Malcolm depot on the Grangemouth branch to pick up a freight. The hold-up is due to a train on the branch waiting to reverse back into Grahamston station with a return Queen Street via Cumbernauld service.

Buckshaw Parkway: Progress at the new Buckshaw Parkway station on 25 July 2011. The footbridge and lift towers are now in place and some of the concrete platform slabs have been laid. The FTPE service passing the site will split at Preston with the leading class 185 going on to Edinburgh and the rear unit to Barrow-in-Furness. See image [[33909]]

Falkirk Grahamston: The 14.28 Dunblane - Edinburgh Waverley leaves Falkirk Grahamston on 25 July 2011.

Falkirk Grahamston: Trains passing just west of Falkirk Grahamston on a summer afternoon in 2011. Accelerating away from the camera on the left is a service for Dunblane, while on the right is an incoming terminating service from Glasgow Queen Street via Cumbernauld.

Falkirk Grahamston: Scene at Falkirk Grahamston looking east from the station footbridge in the summer of 2007. Recently arrived at platform 1 is ScotRail DMU 156506 forming the 14.28 Dunblane - Edinburgh Waverley.

Falkirk Grahamston: The west end of Falkirk Grahamston station on 25 July 2011, with the 14.28 Dunblane - Edinburgh Waverley service slowing on its approach to platform 1.

Falkirk Grahamston: The 14.33 Edinburgh - Dunblane service stands at Falkirk Grahamston on 25 July 2011.

Falkirk Grahamston: The 15.28 Dunblane - Edinburgh Waverley arrives at Falkirk Grahamston on 25 July.

Grangemouth Junction: Hold up. Scene at Grangemouth Junction, looking east on 25 July 2011, with 66147 brought to a halt at signals awaiting entry to the Grangemouth branch.

Grangemouth Junction: View east from Grahams Road bridge, Falkirk, during a warm and pleasant afternoon on 25 July 2011, with the east end of the platforms of Grahamston station directly below the camera position. DBS 66147 has just arrived light engine bound for the Grangemouth branch and is currently held at the signal protecting Grangemouth Junction. The cause of the hold up has just appeared off the branch after a short layover and is about to cross over to run back into Grahamston's platform 2 where it will form the 14.42 service to Glasgow Queen Street via Cumbernauld.

Falkirk Grahamston: 'ALL CHANGE HERE PLEASE...' The 14.21 service ex-Glasgow Queen Street via Cumbernauld has just arrived at its final destination at Falkirk Grahamston on 25 July. The train will now head for the Grangemouth branch for a short layover after which it will run back into the westbound platform to form the return working see image [[35008]].

Falkirk Grahamston: Scene amongst the summer greenery 50 yards west of Grahamston station on 25 July as the departing 13.31 Edinburgh - Dunblane service meets the incoming 13.21 Glasgow Queen Street - Falkirk Grahamston.

Falkirk Grahamston: A Dunblane service arrives at Falkirk Grahamston platform 2 on 25 July 2011. The train is the 13.31 ex-Waverley, due into Dunblane at 14.35.

Glenesk Junction: Looking south from Glenesk Junction in the summer of 2012. The Waverley route continued from here to the bridge carrying the B6392. The approaching cyclists have passed under the bridge and will follow the surfaced pathway which veers east here to a junction with the Dalkeith route, before rejoining the trackbed to cross Glenesk Viaduct behind the camera. The remains standing on the site of Glenesk Colliery are (I was once told!) from a piggery built here following closure of the line. On the right is the base of the signal that once protected the junction with the Dalkeith branch - see [[30685]].

Krakow: One of the PKP locomotives painted in the national colours of the 16 teams competing in the UEFA 'EURO 2012' football championships, hosted jointly by Poland and Ukraine. EP 09 034, sporting England colours, was photographed on 25 July running light engine through Krakow Glowny station.

Barton and Broughton: Whilst the weather in London on 25 July was reported as 30C and sunny it was a different story in the North West as The Fellsman set out once again in mist and rain. LMS 8F 2-8-0 48151 is running at its maximum permitted 50mph, just north of Barton and Broughton, with twelve coaches for another fully booked trip to Carlisle via the S&C.

King's Gate Junction: Bikers southbound on the Waverley route at Kings Gate on 25 July 2012. The tarmac surface curving away to the left is part of the Penicuik to Dalkeith Walkway, leading to Old Dalkeith Road. Part of the Edinburgh City Bypass is visible in the background. Beyond the bikers the Waverley route curved north east through the trees to reach Millerhill station, while the new Borders route continues north towards the by-pass. For the same view 5 years later see [[59491]].

Sheriffhall [2nd]: A surviving 'Hallade Monument' in the six foot on the Waverley trackbed near Sheriffhall see image [[39712]] in July 2012. Part of a now obsolete system, named after a French engineer, used in surveying and checking track curvature. The notch marks the centrepoint from each outside edge while the figures on either side indicate the cant. The base figure is the recording number.

Crawford Viaduct: DRS 66430 photographed south of Crawford on 25 July 2012.

Crawford: EWS 66108 with a tank train passing Crawford on 25 July 2012.

Edinburgh Waverley: Deltic D9009 Alycidon leaves the west end of Edinburgh Waverley for Millerhill on 25 July 2012 with the ECS of 'The Elizabethan' railtour.

Marielund: This YP diesel railcar built in the 1950s is the 891mm gauge equivalent to the Y6 railcar now to be seen on the Nene Valley Railway see image [[64178]]. These can be coupled in multiples of up to six. Seen here on the passing loop at Marielund Station from the train known locally as Lennakatten which nowadays only runs between Uppsala Östra to Faringe. In the top left hand corner is visible the smoke from the steam loco hauling our train.

Sheriffhall [2nd]: Southern approach to the A6106 road bridge at Melville Gate in July 2012, more than 40 years after this section of the Waverley route had closed and with the first scheduled passenger services on the new Borders Railway still more than 3 years away. At this time the old railway route formed part of the Penicuik - Dalkeith Walkway, with the path beyond the bridge turning off to reach Old Dalkeith Road. Today trains on the Borders Line run through here, with Kings Gate Junction on the other side of the bridge. For the view north from the bridge itself on the same day see [[39712]].

Glenesk Viaduct: Crossing Glenesk Viaduct northbound on 25 July 2012 with the North Esk below. The arrival of the Borders Railway has raised the question of a 'bolt-on' cantilevered pedestrian crossing similar to that introduced on the Oykel Viaduct in 1999. See image [[3272]].

Crawford: A southbound Pendolino runs through Crawford on 25 July 2012.

Edinburgh Waverley: View from the Scott Monument on 25 July showing the west end of Waverley Station with a CrossCountry train approaching the platforms.

Crawford: A southbound Pendolino at speed near Crawford on 25 July 2012.

Dalkeith: The view east towards Dalkeith from Cemetery Road bridge in July 2013 see image [[39723]]. The trackbed has been obliterated from this point, with a car wash now located directly ahead, behind which are the premises of the local rugby club. Beyond that is the station site itself, currently being redeveloped as a supermarket. On the right a Lothian no 3 bus heads towards Dalkeith town centre, with the spire of St John's Church dominating the background.

Krakow Glowny: The elegant booking hall at Krakow Glowny on 25 July 2012. All will be gone once the new station entrance is commissioned and this building becomes a gallery.

Musselburgh: Heading for London King's Cross, A1 Pacific no 60163 Tornado races along the East Coast Main Line near Musselburgh on 25 July 2012 hauling 'The Elizabethan' Diamond Jubilee Special.

Krakow Glowny: EN 77 emu awaits departure from Krakow Glowny on the 25th July 2012 forming the 12.26 to Zakopane in the High Tatras Mountains. The trains take about 4 hours - the bus about 2.

Crawford: EWS 66100 running light engine on the WCML south of Crawford on 25 July.

Glenesk Viaduct: An up bicycle about to cross Glenesk Viaduct on the Waverley route in July 2012. At the south end is the site of Glenesk Junction giving a choice of routes to either Dakeith (left) or Eskbank, both now being cycle paths/walkways. The steps in the left foreground lead to Ironmills Park. See image [[30685]]

Krakow Glowny: The former main signal box at Krakow Glowny station in July 2012, now replaced by a modern installation at the other end of the station. [With thanks to Dave Stewart]

Dalkeith: Close-up showing the infilled former railway bridge and partially infilled cutting just to the west of Dalkeith station. The bridge links Eskbank Road (off to the left) and Dalkeith Cemetery [[44428]]. Photographed looking west towards Eskbank in July 2012. Behind the camera the site of the former station is now occupied by a supermarket [[47542]], while the trackbed continues beyond the bridge as a public walkway.

Sheriffhall [2nd]: Looking south along the trackbed of the former Waverley route towards the bridge at Kings Gate in the summer of 2012. The North British line continued to curve north east behind the camera towards Millerhill, whereas today's Borders Railway runs north from the bridge along the 2014 deviation to Newcraighall via Shawfair. The original Edinburgh and Dalkeith took yet another alignment off to the right here. For the view north from the bridge at this time see [[39712]].

Troon: A building in Shore Street, Troon, still showing signs of its past as the Ca' d'Oro. The Barassie Works Club is still apparently thriving, despite the works itself having closed 40 years ago. Now under the auspices of the Railway Staff Association of Scotland.

Fushiebridge [1st]: View south at Fushiebridge on 25 July with preparatory work in progress for the new railway.

Newcraighall South Junction: View over Newcraighall turn-back siding on 25 July with much of the route south now cleared.

Sheriffhall City Bypass Overbridge: Looking south over a new cutting alongside the A6106 towards the Edinburgh City Bypass on 25 July, with work in hand to create a temporary diversion to allow breaching for the rail route.

Stow: Trackbed looking south towards Galashiels over the site of Stow station on 25 July 2013.

Heriot: View south through the former Heriot station from the level crossing on 25 July 2013.

Gorebridge: Progress at Gorebridge - view south from Station Road on 25 July 2013.

Gorebridge: Northern approach to Gorebridge on 25 July 2013 from Station Road.

Prestonpans: 66104 passes through Prestonpans station with the 6E30 Dalzell - Tees Yard steel empties on 25 July 2013.

Heriot: View north from the level crossing at Heriot on 25 July 2013.

Galabank Junction: View south towards Stow over the scraped trackbed of the Borders Railway on 25 July 2013.

Saughton [Tram]: A city bound Edinburgh Tram on the flyover crossing the E&G main line at Saughton on 25 July 2014.

Saughton [Tram]: Sunshine on Saughton. A city bound tram approaching the halfway point on its journey from Edinburgh Airport to York Place on a bright and sunny July afternoon in 2014. The tram is climbing towards the viaduct which will carry it north over the E&G main line.

Fushiebridge [1st]: Two presumed ex Waverley Route Hallade Monuments in use as bollards at Catcune Farm, Fushiebridge, one still with its figures shown in the inset.

Paddington: Heathrow Express 332010 in Vodaphone advertising livery at Paddington on 25 July.

Kemble: The redoubling of the Swindon to Kemble line is well underway and should be completed by 25 August 2014. View is south through the site of the former Purton station towards Swindon on 26 July. [Not quite on the scale of the Borders Railway or even the Airdrie - Bathgate project but round here it is looked upon as a minor miracle.]

Saughton: Shortly after leaving Balgreen on a sunny 25 July 2014 a westbound Edinburgh tram climbs to cross the Edinburgh - Glasgow main line on the approach to the flyover at Saughton.

Saughton: ScotRail services passing under the tram flyover at Saughton on 25 July 2014. The 13.30 Glasgow Queen Street - Edinburgh Waverley (nearest) is slowing for the Haymarket stop, while the 13.47 Newcraighall - Glenrothes will soon be turning north towards the Forth Bridge.

Saughton [Tram]: An eastbound tram passes a westbound bike on the flyover at Saughton on 25 July 2014.

Acton Main Line: First Great Western 166202 heads west through Acton Main Line on 25 July 2014.

London Bridge: London Bridge station forecourt, dominated by The Shard, on a wet 25 July 2014.

Saughton [Tram]: An airport bound tram crossing the E&G main line at Saughton in the summer of 2014. For a photograph showing trains passing below the flyover on the same day see image [[48135]].

Saughton: A 6-car class 334 EMU set eastbound between Edinburgh Park and Haymarket on a sunny summer afternoon in July 2014. The train is the 1323 Milngavie - Edinburgh Waverley and is just about to clear the bridge carrying the Edinburgh tram route over the E&G at Saughton.

London Victoria: View south from Ebury Bridge of the approaches to London Victoria on 25 July featuring classes 466, 455 and 377.

Belgrade: Old and new motive power at Belgrade in July 2015.

Clink Road Junction: Looking towards Taunton on 25 July 2015 as DBS 59202 leaves the GWR main line at Clink Road Junction to access the Frome loop with a train of empty hoppers for Whatley Quarry. Before reaching Frome station it will fork right again for the actual quarry branch. The line running straight ahead at this point is the 1933 built cut off which bypassed Frome.

Euxton Balshaw Lane: DBC 66054 heads to Kilmarnock with First Great Western coaches from Plymouth on 25 July 2015. Under the road bridge on the right is Euxton Balshaw Lane station.

Donyatt Halt: Donyatt Halt was situated just south of Ilminster on the Taunton to Chard line, closed in 1962. The station has been recreated as a feature on the trackbed bridleway. The small figure on the platform is Doreen, who was evacuated here during the war and later wrote about her experiences.

Dilton Marsh: 1588798 on a Warminster to Westbury service passes the southbound platform at Dilton Marsh, opened by the GWR in 1937. This view shows the full extent of the tiny halt and the northbound platform can just be seen beyond the rather superfluous Way Out sign.

Frome: The outstanding Frome station, with its wooden train shed still protecting passengers from the elements. View west along the surviving platform in July 2015. The associated buildings are in equally good condition See image [[51440]].

Goodrington Sands: GWR 2-8-0T 5239 starts the climb to Churston on 25 July running behind the beach huts at Goodrington. The seven coach Paigton to Kingswear train includes a Devon Belle observation car.

Clink Road Junction: Class 59 59202 and stone empties for Whatley Quarry approaching Clink Road Junction on 25th July 2015. Although clearly working hard it is just about to diverge right onto the Frome loop See image [[52140]] rather than take the cut off main line route towards Taunton.

Goodrington Sands: Although the station at Goodrington, just outside Paignton, seems to see little traffic in heritage line days. It is kept in good order although unstaffed. A regular service is provided by the steam railway and the still used Network Rail carriage sidings are opposite this platform. See image [[53622]]. The 'Round Robin' tickets, train to Kingswear, ferry to Dartmouth, river cruise to Totnes and open top bus to Paignton are heavily promoted, and rightly so. 25th July 2015.

Westbury: FGW local services meet at Westbury on Saturday 250715. 158798 on the right is on a Warminster to Great Malvern service, which is timetabled to wait for almost twenty minutes at Westbury. 158952 is newly arrived from Bristol and will now be stabled in the DMU sidings.

Garabit Viaduct, Cantal, France.: The 1884 single track Garabit Viaduct (or Eiffel Bridge) that crosses over the Tuyere river near Ruynes-en-Margeride, France, in the mountainous Massif Central region. Photographed looking west from the nearby Aire du Garabit rest area on the A75 La Meridienne auto-route in July 2015. There is a 10Kmh speed limit across the bridge following the appearance of cracks in 2009. The train service across the viaduct is now extremely sparse.

Westbury: DBS 66200 eases out of the stabling sidings in Westbury Yard on 25th July 2015. To the right, Colas 70810 stands at the head of a line of stabled Class 70 and Class 66 locos in this view taken from the station platform.

Dilton Marsh: FGW 158798, on a Warminster to Westbury working, slows for the stop at Dilton Marsh Halt. The platforms here are staggered either side of the road bridge and this view, taken from the bottom of the ramp, illustrates just how short they are. See image [[52174]]

Lancaster: 37409 Lord Hinton sits in Platform 5 at Lancaster prior to returning to Barrow on the rear of the SO service on 25th July 2015. This was the last day of top and tail operations with two Class 37s, both Cumbrian Coast sets going over to single Class 37/4 and DBSO from the following Monday.

Donyatt Halt: Looking over Donyatt Halt, on the Ilminster to Chard section of the Taunton to Chard line, which closed in 1962. The concrete structures on the lineside and trackbed are part of the Taunton Stop Line, built to impede any German forces advancing on Bristol from the west during WWII. [Ref query 36652]

Glasgow Central: Lion from Colourful Paisley at Glasgow Central. Proves that Central is Glasgow's mane station!

Rhubodach: MV Loch Dunvegan pulls away from the slipway at Rhubodach to cross the Kyle of Bute to Colintraive. The vessel was made redundant from its original route by the Skye Bridge. See image [[54270]] for an elevated view of the same location.

Wemyss Bay: Calmac MV Argyle, making its way from Wemyss Bay to Rothesay, as seen from the lounge of sister ship MV Bute, crossing the Firth of Clyde in the opposite direction on 25th July 2016.

Rothesay Pier: MV Maid of Glencoul, with its distinctive corner loading ramps, at Rothesay Pier on 25th July 2016. It was previously the main vessel on the Corran Ferry across Loch Linnhe but is just now the Reserve for MV Corran, which operates that crossing. See image [[55993]].

Uppsala Central: Arriving on Track 8 (whose platform was recently rebuilt to 'international standard' length of about 800m or half a mile long) is a Coradia X40 double decker EMU. It is heading south (away from the camera) to Stockholm forming the 14.06 departure. Built by Bombardier for SJ AB it is based on the SNCF Class Z 26500. They usually operate as 2 or 3 coach units and as 5 (2+3) or 6 (3+3) coaches in multiple. The upper deck windows not only give good views of the passing scenery but also extreme closeups of the OHLE. The bay platform on the right is used by local services to Sala and yes, the buildings in the background ARE meant to be leaning towards the station!

Uppsala Central: Oxbridge, eat your heart out! A small part of the cycle park, complete with trees and hedges, outside the station. The park designer states that there are 7,500 spaces but as there are many hundreds of bikes parked outwith the racks I would estimate there are in the order of 8,000 to 9,000 bicycles here on a bad day and maybe 10,000 on a good day! That would probably make Uppsala Central the biggest outdoor cycle park at a railway station in the world and second only to Utrecht for any station cycle park. see image [[56284]]

Uppsala Central: The south side of the station concourse is also full of bicycles. Whereas the Utrecht 12,500 space bicycle park is planned to be underground, in Uppsala the car park is underground and the bike park is green and seen all year round see image [[56273]]. The integrated bus station is also visible behind the trees; a yellow bus is just visible to the right of the trees in the centreground.

East Loch Tarbert Slip: Calmac MV Isle of Cumbrae starts to lower the ramp as it approaches the Tarbert slipway after yet another crossing from Portavadie on 25th July 2016. Celebrating its 40th birthday in 2016 this vessel is now the oldest in the fleet that is still in regular front line service.

Cheddleton: Progress on the water tower at Cheddleton on the North Staffordshire Railway. See image [[[[55197]]]].

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: A new poster, advertising the Queen Street reopening.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: At Glasgow Queen Street the new gateline is taking shape.

Uppsala Central: A street view of the main building at Uppsala Central now part of the Travel Centre incorporating a bus station and huge bicycle park [[56273]] with underground car park. The station building was opened in 1866 by King Charles XV and designed by the State Railway's (SJ) Architect A. W. Adelsvärd in what he called Dutch renaissance style. The façade is plaster-covered brickwork and the roof is of zinc plate painted with black linseed oil-based paint. The former circulating area inside the building is now used as shops and restaurants with outdoor seating. In the old days (pre-2011) before the Travel Centre was built it was very crammed when a train arrived and disgorged its load. Now there is a lot of circulating space underground and on the half-mile long platforms; I'm sure a lot of people will miss the blast of warm air and the waft of newly-baked cinnamon buns on entering through the platform-side door on a cold winter's day...

Moniaive: On my last (2010) visit to Moniaive I speculated that the old station building couldn't survive much longer but six years on it clings to life. However, the old goods shed that was in use as a farm building was destroyed in a fire in 2012 and all that remains of that is the tractor access ramp and a pile of rubble. See image [[6593]] from 2006.

Wemyss Bay: Wemyss Bay station on 25th July 2017, refurbishment completed in 2016, although the platforms on the far right are no longer in use.

Kilmarnock: 156504 with a service from Glasgow Central to Carlisle calling at Kilmarnock station on 25th July 2017. With no buildings on this platform, the station has a very lopsided appearance.

Ayr: 380 112 to Glasgow Central at Ayr station on 25th July 2017. The poor condition of the Station Hotel was already becoming apparent at this time.

Kilwinning: 380112, with a service from Ayr to Glasgow Central, calling at Kilwinning station on 25th July 2017. This is the junction for the branch to Largs that has separate platforms, out of view on the right.

Armathwaite: LMS 8F 2-8-0 48151 with the nortbound Fellsman passing through Armathwaite at 1250 hours on Tuesday 25 July 2017.

Glasgow Central: 156504, heading to Carlisle via the G&SWR route, awaiting departure from Glasgow Central on 25th July 2017.

Largs: 380014 at Largs station on 25th July 2017.

Ayr: 156 513 to Kilmarnock and 156 430 to Stranraer at Ayr station on 25th July 2017. Even at this date the protection of the station from the hotel overhangs the platform to the left.

Croy: 170408, with a second unit, on a service to Glasgow Queen Street calling at Croy on the evening of 25th July 2017.

Ayr: 156513 with a train to Kilmarnock at Ayr station on 25th July 2017.

Dumbarton Central: 320308 just arrived at Dumbarton Central, where it terminated and is now waiting to form a return service to Cumbernauld, on 25th July 2017.

Narvik: Locomotive Bifrost is preserved at Narvik Station see image [[60446]]. This plaque gives the loco's history.

Wemyss Bay: 314215 arriving at Wemyss Bay station on 25th July 2017. The December 2018 timetable change has seen a significant reduction in Class 314 workings as they near the end.

Kilmarnock: 156430 to Stranraer and 156456 to Glasgow Central, at Kilmarnock station around lunchtime on 25th July 2017. Two of my friends can be seen on the left in the background, patiently waiting for me to get my photos! We then boarded the Stranraer train that we travelled on as far as Ayr.

Bay Horse: The second Fellsman excursion of 2017 was hauled by 8F 2-8-0 48151, seen here at Bay Horse heading for Preston with the outward leg on 25th July 2017.

Bay Horse: A southbound Pendolino hides most of a long Tesco train heading north at Bay Horse behind nearly new DRS electro-diesel 88005 Minerva on 25th July 2017.

Dumbarton Central: 334031 at Dumbarton Central on 25th July 2017.

Troon: Troon station, northbound platform, seen from 156430 from Kilmarnock to Stranraer arriving on 25th July 2017.

Port Glasgow: 380 109 to Glasgow Central arriving at Port Glasgow station on 25th July 2017

Helensburgh Central: Helensburgh Central station at dusk, on 25th July 2017.

Dumbarton Central: Dumbarton Central station looking towards Glasgow, on the evening of 25th July 2017. On the right in the background is 320 308 which terminated here and is now waiting to form a return service to Cumbernauld.

Ayr: 156430, seen at Ayr station before leaving for Stranraer on 25th July 2017.

Helensburgh Central: Helensburgh Central station, with 334 019 on right waiting to depart for Glasgow Central, on 25th July 2017.

Wemyss Bay: The magnificently refurbished interior of Wemyss Bay station, on 25th July 2017.

Gourock: 380001 at Gourock station waiting to depart for Glasgow Central on 25th July 2017.

Helensburgh Central: Helensburgh Central station at dusk on 25th July 2017.

Cowcaddens [Subway]: Glasgow Subway trains pass at Cowcaddens station on 25th July 2017.

Wemyss Bay: Panel detailing a major refurbishment of Wemyss Bay station which was completed in 1994, seen here on 25th July 2017.

Kilwinning: 380014, heading for Largs, arriving at Kilwinning station on 25th July 2017.

Wemyss Bay: Exterior of Wemyss Bay station, on 25th July 2017.

Perth: 43135 in the fuelling road at Perth station.

Perth: 43036 seen here with 43135 at the other end of the Perth fueling area.

Helensburgh Central: 334020 at Helensburgh Central station on 25th July 2017

Broomhill: The Strathspey Railway's Ivatt Class 2 leaves Broomhill for Aviemore. The engine has been renumbered 46464 to commemorate the railway's forty years of operating steam trains in the Highlands and the first engine to haul them.

Heysham Port: Demonstrating the flexibility of the new electro-diesels, 88002 Prometheus runs down the Heysham branch behind a single flask wagon and 68016 Fearless on 25th July 2018. 88002 had hauled the train from Sellafield to Morecambe. See image [[51800]] from the same vantage point three years earlier.

Fountainhall: The ScotRail 0851 Edinburgh - Tweedbank passes the former station at Fountainhall on a hot and humid 25 July 2019. Part of the village can be seen in the background. This train runs non-stop over the 21 miles between Gorebridge and Galashiels.

Rhu: A northbound 66 with only a few wagons heads north from Rhu for the Lochaber Smelter.

Oubeck Loops: 90019 'Multimodal' hauls the Up Postal EPUs from Shieldmuir to Willesden (via Chat Moss) past the Oubeck Loops on 25th July 2019.

Edinburgh Gateway [Tram]: You've come off the train, made your way downstairs to the tram stop and you are confronted with tram ticket machines and posters - and a screen showing rail departures. Its facing quite the wrong way for people changing to a train. Was this really a deliberate decision or did somebody boob? Incidentally, why is it always 'change here for onward rail connections'? What other sort are there?

Ã…re: The (green) ski slopes of Ã…reskutan tower over the specially designed station building, Station Ã…re, which also contains shops and the tourist office. The SJ loco-hauled train waits to depart for Stockholm in the 30 plus degree Celsius heat.

Åre: One of two daily SJ loco-hauled trains waits in the high summer weather to depart for Stockholm. Here the loco runs round this 5 coach train; otherwise the much longer sleeper at 10 to 15 coaches runs to the next station on the line Duved see image [[65526]]. Local trains operated by Norrtåg run 4 hourly to and from Sundsvall. On the platforms outside the modern station building, Station Åre, there is only minimal shelter from the temperature extremes of Summer +30 Celsius and winter -30 Celsius.

Oubeck Loops: An unexpected bonus at Oubeck. I had stopped here to photograph the southbound evening mail train but it was followed by these two ROG Class 47s, top and tailing two Arlington barrier vehicles. 47813 and 47815 were working from Skipton to Allerton on 25th July 2019. I understand they had delivered 331002 to Skipton for Aire Valley driver training duties.

Fountainhall: A southbound train on the Borders Railway about to pass over the remains of the old level crossing at Fountainhall in July 2019. The abandoned and boarded up former station house stands alongside. Photograph taken from the new road bridge that replaced the crossing in 2014.

Donibristle Platform: 43145, in 'facemask' livery, descending Donibristle bank with the 13.12 from Aberdeen to Edinburgh, led by 43129 on 25th July 2020.

Postland: View of Postland station up platform side seen from the B1166 Hull's Drove Road between Gedney Hill and Crowland in July 2020. The recessed area painted white had been enclosed for a period, but has now been restored to be open to the platform.

Spalding: The extant twin track railway bridge over the River Welland at Spalding, that formerly served the line running from March to Spalding, seen in a July 2020 view looking west. The bridge deck is substantially complete, only missing rails. The trackbed at either end of the bridge in now obliterated for a short distance by road or building works.

Postland: View of Postland signal box sited opposite Martins Road inside the sharp bend of the B1166 Hull's Drove running between Gedney Hill and Crowland. Part of the still extant lever frame and instrument shelf can be seen through the centre window. The road side of the box has now become far more overgrown compared to a John McIntyre view taken two years ago. See image [[63259]]

Spalding: At the east side of Cowbit Road, across from the end of the extant twin track railway bridge over the River Welland at Spalding, that formerly served the line running from March to Spalding, is the former Gatehouse for the level crossing on Cowbit Road. The trackbed at either end of the bridge in now obliterated for a distance by road or building works. 25th July 2020.

Edinburgh Waverley: On 25th July 2020 the 1500 to King's Cross in charge of an Azuma that is looking patriotic - at this end of the line anyway. It is displaying LNER tartan which is as authentic as any, I suppose. It's standing at Platform 5 which isn't behind a ticket barrier whereas neighbouring Platform 6 is. This doesn't seem to influence routing.

Postland: Alongside the junction of Dog Drove North and the B1166 Hulls Drove Road, at Holbeach Drove a few miles west of Gedney Hill, there is a well maintained grounded five compartment wooden coach body. It is lettered on the B1166 facing side as being former Great Eastern Railway coach 236 consisting of 1st & 3rd Class smoking and non smoking compartments separated by a central luggage area. (Postland station was 1.8 miles to the west and French Drove and Gedney Hill station 2 miles to the south.)

Postland: View of Postland station frontage, sited alongside Martins Road by the junction with the B1166 Hull's Drove, between Gedney Hill and Crowland. 25th July 2020.

Louth: 2020 view at Louth looking north towards Grimsby along the former trackbed, with a replica crossing gate in situ alongside the extant signal box, to right of view, that once controlled the numerous tracks crossing the road a short distance north of the station. See image [[75481]]. The level crossing sat between Newbridge Hill to left and Keddington Road to right. Land to the south of the crossing, towards the old station, has now been built over.

Postland: View of Postland station goods shed, with later lean to extension seen from the B1166 Hull's Drove road.

Spalding: The extant twin track railway bridge over the River Welland at Spalding, that formerly served the line running from March to Spalding, seen in a July 2020 view looking north. The bridge deck is substantially complete, only missing rails. The trackbed at either end of the bridge in now obliterated for a short distance by road or building works. My youngest son photobombed the view without being noticed until later.

Longniddry: A North Berwick to Edinburgh service pulls into Longniddry on 25th July 2020. Until the 1920s Longniddry was nothing but a 'clachan', as it was described, and the John Menzies on the station was the only shop it had. It perhaps only got a station in the first place because it was a junction; it became a commuter magnet later on.

Knott End: Sign of the times. The Wyre Ferry was suspended for several months during the initial Covid lockdown but is now operating again. This view looks down the Knott End slipway on 25th July 2020, towards Fleetwood across the estuary.

Postland: View of the much dilapidated Postland signal box, sited within the sharp bend of the B1166 Hull's Drove running between Gedney Hill and Crowland, as seen in July 2020. The box sits opposite the junction with Martins Road, with Postland Station to right of view facing Martins Road. See image [[73869]]

Louth: 2020 view in a northerly direction of the former Louth signal box, that controlled the numerous tracks crossing the road a short distance north of the station, and a replica crossing gate. The level crossing sat between Newbridge Hill to left and Keddington Road to right. Land to the south of the crossing, towards the old station, has now been built over. See image [[44523]]

Postland: Alongside the junction of Dog Drove North and the B1166 Hulls Drove Road, at Holbeach Drove a few miles west of Gedney Hill, there is a well maintained grounded 5 compartment wooden coach body. It is lettered on the B1166 facing side as being former Great Eastern Railway coach 236 consisting of 1st & 3rd Class smoking and non smoking compartments separated by a central luggage area. (Postland station was 1.8 miles to the west and French Drove and Gedney Hill station 2 miles to the south.)

Longniddry: A Down Azuma had just ripped through Longniddry station (the warning is still on the board) when the 1400 from Waverley to King's Cross had its turn to disturb the peace. Fun fact: in Scotland platform 1 usually means the Edinburgh or Glasgow direction whether that is Up or Down. Not so on this stretch of the ECML. Well, it was fairly fun.

Haltwhistle: This class 158 unit is focussed on the task ahead as it leaves Haltwhistle heading for Carlisle on 25th July 2021.

Spey Viaduct [Broomhill]: During a spell of hot, dry weather the Strathspey Railway had a lineside fire and had to go over to diesel operation and suspend the use of steam engines on their trains. Pictured in the distance is the first train of the day on 25th July 2021 heading for Broomhill, hauled by Class 31 No.D5862. The trackbed in the foreground was the Great North of Scotland Railway's line to Craigellachie and the pillars of the Spey Viaduct are clearly visible.

Preston: 195126 about to head for York at Preston. I haven't lived in the North of England for 46 years, but they seem to be looking after it.

Preston: The East Lancashire Railway platforms may have gone, but looking South on platform 7, the curve at the end is a bit of a giveaway.

Kempston Hardwick: They operate to fine tolerances on the Marston Vale line. At Kempston Hardwick, one of the intermediate stations between Bedford and Bletchley, I noticed these two platform stop signs. One is for a 1-car train and the other for a 2-car, but barely a metre apart.

Luton Airport Parkway: Viewed from the station footbridge, 360113 is at the head of an eight-car EMR service from Corby to St. Pancras, calling at Luton Airport Parkway on 25th July 2022.

Luton Airport Parkway: Thameslink 700101 rolls round the curve on the Down Slow and slows to call at Luton Airport Parkway with a service for Bedford on 25th July 2022. The enclosed station footbridge has numerous windows overlooking the four tracks here.

Fenny Stratford: This presently disused bridge carries the link from Fenny Stratford Junction, on the Bedford Bletchley line, to the Bletchley Flyover as it climbs from the WCML. The single line track is still in place and the chord will come into use as the new East West Railway progresses eastwards. Viewed from a passing Marston Vale Class 230 on 25th July 2022.

Bedford: East Midlands Railway Class 222s pass at Bedford on 25th August 2022. 222013 is hurrying past Platform 4 heading north while 222023 is on the Up Through line heading for St. Pancras.

Bedford: 66617 waited outside Bedford for a while until it was time to proceed through the station with this hopper train for nearby Elstow Redland Siding. This was a service from Crewe Basford Hall on 25th July 2022. Although the 66 was waiting on the same line as Thameslink 700121 in Platform 1, the flexible layout at Bedford meant it could be switched to Platform 2 to pass through and then revert to the Up Slow.

Harlington: 700151 calls at Harlington with a Brighton to Bedford service on 25th July 2022. These relatively small Midland Main Line stations are very well served with a twelve coach Thameslink Class 700 every fifteen minutes to and from London.

Harlington: At the end of an enjoyable 25th July 2022 exploring railways around Bedford, 66761 'Wensleydale Railway Association 25 Years 1990-2015', (the name nearly longer than the train) appeared on the Down Slow at Harlington heading north with empty box wagons from the terminal at Luton returning to Mountsorrel.

Bedford: The driving cab of a Vivarail 230 unit, converted from Underground stock, is not the roomiest but everything seems ergonomically close to hand. This is 230003 at Bedford, whilst engaged on Marston Vale services to Bletchley in July 2022.

Luton Bute Street: Luton bus station, directly outside the main railway station, occupies the site of the old GNR Luton Bute Street station. In this view looking north from the railway footbridge the Guided Busway to Dunstable can be seen leaving town in the distance, following the old railway for much of its length.

Bletchley Flyover: New platforms are taking shape on the refurbished Bletchley Flyover, seen here from the steps to Bletchley's Platform 6 on 25th July 2022. This is part of the ongoing work to reinstate services from Oxford, which will initially run from there to Milton Keynes. In the longer term, as part of the East West Rail project, it is hoped to reach Bedford and eventually Cambridge although the latter aim is proving challenging (See recent news item).

Luton Airport Parkway: East Midlands 222012 passing Luton Airport Parkway on the fast lines on 25th July 2022.

Flitwick: 360101 hurries through Flitwick with an EMR service for Corby on 25th July 2022. Most services calling here use Platforms 3 and 4 on the Slow lines but 1 and 2 are available if required.

Bedford: Thameslink 700137, and EMR 360106, using Platforms 4 and 3 respectively at Bedford on 25th July 2022. Thameslink services turn back towards London at this station but EMR trains continue northwards.

Bedford: These EMU stabling sidings, alongside the old Midland Railway Goods Depot, are part of Bedford Cauldwell Walk Traction Maintenance Depot. This view on 25th July 2022 was taken from a Marston Vale train arriving from Bletchley, on the single line that runs between the two main parts of the depot and sidings. The Thameslink Class 700 EMUs seen here will have worked morning rush hour trains to the capital but not been required in the middle part of the day.

Bletchley: Several new sections have been fitted to the Bletchley Flyover as part of its refurbishment for East West Rail duties. This view looks south from Platform 3 as former TPE set 350405 leaves Platform 4 on the rear of a LNR service for Euston on 25th July 2022.

Bletchley: 350243, in the previous London Midland livery, leaves Platform 4 at Bletchley heading for Euston on 25th July 2022. In the background, the additional platforms (7 & 8?) on the flyover are taking shape ready for the first stage of East West Rail, Oxford to Milton Keynes.

Bletchley: LNR Vivarail DEMU 230003 in Platform 5 at Bletchley, ready to make another run to Bedford on the Marston Vale service. There are three of these units based at Bletchley, with two usually maintaining an hourly service in each direction and the third on the depot as spare.

Bedford: The 12-coach Thameslink 700s are a huge train, and the LNR 230 2-car unit in bay platform 1a seemed very small in comparison to 700148. 230005 was on the Marston Vale line service that can operate in and out of this bay without interfering with the fifteen minute interval Thameslink services.