Banff: McIntosh 2P 0-4-4T no 55185 approaching Banff on 5 August 1953 with a train from Tillynaught.

Philorth Bridge: A train from St Combs photographed approximately 2 miles south of Fraserburgh on 5 August 1953. Ivatt 2-6-0 46460 is crossing the bridge over the Water of Philorth shortly after restarting from Philorth Bridge Halt. See image [[48605]]

Fraserburgh Shed: Gresley K2 2-6-0 no 61779 on shed at Fraserburgh on 5 August 1954.

Lochgreen Junction: Approaching Lochgreen Junction on 5 August 1955 is one of Hurlford shed's class 2P 4-4-0s no 40687 at the head of a Glasgow St Enoch - Girvan train.

Yorkhill: V1 2-6-2T 67603 eastbound past the site of Yorkhill station on 5 August 1957. The train is a Hyndland - Shettleston working. Little trace remains of the former station, which closed in April 1921. [Ref query 6341]

Partick Central: C.R 0.6.0s crossing the River Kelvin at Partick Central. 57607 on Dalmuir to Rutherglen train.

Hawick [2nd]: A Hawick locomotive throughout its BR life, Holmes class J36 0-6-0 no 65317 stands at the south end of Hawick station in the summer of 1957.

Yorkhill: A Helensburgh Central - Bridgeton Central train passing the site of Yorkhill station (closed 1921) on 5 August 1957. Locomotive in charge is V1 2-6-2T 67623. [Ref query 19289]

Hawick North Signal Box: D30 Scott class 4-4-0 no 62428 The Talisman takes a northbound stopping train away from Hawick on the Waverley route in the summer of 1958. Having spent all its post-nationalisation years at Hawick shed, the locomotive was finally withdrawn from there some 4 months after this photograph was taken. See image [[24437]]

Sighthill Junction: 2.6.2T 67661 leaving Springburn for Jordanhill.

Maybole Junction [Station]: Scene at Dalrymple Junction on 5 August 1960. The line from Dalmellington is on the left, with the Stranraer line to the right, from which Black 5 45127 is approaching.

Carlisle: A general view south through Carlisle station on 5 August 1960. The locomotive on the left is class 2P 4-4-0 no 40623.

Carlisle: Waiting on the centre road at Carlisle on 5 August 1960 is A3 Pacific 60099 Call Boy. Named after the winner of the 1927 Epsom Derby, the locomotive spent its entire operational life based in Edinburgh, being eventually withdrawn from St Margarets shed in October 1963. Another historical reference worthy of mention is the advertisement in the right background for Carrs of Carlisle. The famous biscuit manufacturer, founded in the city in 1831, is now part of the United Biscuits group.

Carlisle Upperby Shed: The shed yard at Upperby on 5 August 1960, with Widnes based Stanier 8F 2-8-0 no 48139 one of the guests.

Carlisle: Jubilee 45654 Hood takes the 9am Glasgow St Enoch - London St Pancras south from Carlisle in August 1961.

Carlisle: Stanier Pacific no 46206 'Princess Marie Louise' makes a rousing start out of Carlisle platform 4 on 5 August 1961. The Crewe North Pacific has recently taken over the 10.5am Glasgow Central - Birmingham New Street for the next leg of the journey south.

Carlisle: A busy summer Saturday scene on the centre road at Carlisle on 5 August 1961. Nearest the camera is A3 Pacific no 60089 Felstead, a visitor from St Margarets.

Carlisle: Newton Heath based Jubilee 4-6-0 no 45635 Tobago pulls away from Carlisle on 5 August 1961 with the noon train from Glasgow Central to Manchester Victoria.

Spey Viaduct [Newtonmore]: Looking across country near Newtonmore on 5th August 1961, as a pair of Type 2 diesel locomotives pass southbound at the head of the 16-coach Royal Highlander for London Euston.

Carlisle: The 10.5am Glasgow Central - Birmingham New Street stands alongside Carlisle platform 4 on 5 August 1961. Ready to take the train forward following an engine change is Stanier Pacific no 46206 'Princess Marie Louise'.

Stranraer Shed: Class 2P 40638 at Stranraer's running shed in August 1962.

Stranraer Harbour: Stranraer Harbour signal box in the summer of 1962.

Stranraer Harbour: A DMU from Glasgow stands at Stranraer Harbour station on 5 August 1962. Berthed on the left is Caledonian Princess, recently arrived from Larne.

Stranraer Shed: Ex-Caledonian 4-4-0 no 54508 photographed by Stranraer shed's smithy on 5 August 1962. The locomotive had been stored awaiting disposal since its withdrawal at the end of 1959. It was finally cut up in the yard of Messrs McLellan, Langloan, in July 1964.

Stranraer Shed: The running shed at Stranraer on 5 August 1962. Nearest the camera is Corkerhill Crab 2-6-0 no 42915.

Achanalt: Achanalt station seen in 1965 with tablet catcher on the left. The train was on the loop, since lifted.

Carlisle: The Summer Saturday 9.13am Dundee - Blackpool North stands at Carlisle on 5 August 1967. Kingmoor Black 5 no 44802 has just taken charge of the train and is preparing to continue the journey south.

Carlisle: On 5 August 1967, some two months before its final withdrawal, Black 5 no 44775 is about to take out the 1.26pm Glasgow Central - Morecambe Promenade from Carlisle platform 4. The Kingmoor-based 4-6-0 had just taken over the summer Saturday service, which had arrived here via Kilmarnock.

Carlisle: Kingmoor Black 5 no 44775 stands at Carlisle on 5 August 1967. The locomotive has just taken over the summer Saturday 1.26pm Glasgow Central - Morecambe Promenade. The train had arrived from the north via Kilmarnock and Dumfries. 44775 was withdrawn from Kingmoor shed 8 weeks later.

Carlisle: Train 1S67, the 9.20am London St Pancras - Glasgow Central Saturday relief Thames-Clyde Express about to run into Carlisle on 5 August 1967. The locomotive is Holbeck 'Jubilee' no 45593 Kolhapur which has handled the journey north from Leeds via the S&C. 45593 was officially withdrawn by BR two months later and is now preserved.

Carlisle: Kingmoor Black 5 no 45279 seen here after taking over train 1S67, the Saturday down relief Thames-Clyde Express, at Carlisle platform 3 on 5 August 1967. The train had been worked in from Leeds by Jubilee 45593 Kolhapur. See image [[38593]]

Carlisle: 70014 Iron Duke waits on the centre road at Carlisle in August 1967. The Pacific is waiting to take forward the combined 2pm ex-Glasgow Central + 2.5pm ex-Edinburgh as the 1M38 for Manchester & Liverpool.

Carlisle Upperby Shed: View south from the footbridge at Upperby in the summer of 1967.

Carlisle Durranhill Goods [NER]: Looking west towards Petteril Bridge Junction on 5 August 1967 as Workington based Black 5 no 44715 is halted with a freight alongside Durranhill up goods. The train is about to be shunted into the yard. See image [[13848]]

Carlisle: Kingmoor Black 5 no 44802 warming up for the off at Carlisle in August 1967 with a summer Saturday Blackpool relief.

Carlisle: The combined early afternoon Glasgow/Edinburgh - Manchester service about to leave Carlisle on 5 August 1967 behind Britannia Pacific no 70014 Iron Duke.

Attadale: 26033 skirts Loch Carron near Attadale with an Inverness - Kyle service. 5th August 1978.

Camperdown Junction: An InterCity HST continues its journey north to Aberdeen following the Dundee stop on 5 August 1981. The train is seen here shortly after passing Camperdown Junction with the dock estate to the left and the A92 road running parallel with the line on the right.

Cranmore: 68005 at Cranmore on the East Somerset Railway in August 1983, shunting a PW train for Mendip Vale.

Muir of Ord: Station building on the down platform at Muir of Ord in 1985, now demolished.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: In August 1988, driver Norrie Evans of Perth walks past 26011 resting at platform 7. Beyond is a DBSO so the destination of Kings Cross is unlikely. Possibly an overnight failure at Perth taken on ECS to Dundee and then to Queen Street.

Thouars: A SNCF 25500 BB electric locomotive runs light through Thouars station in August 1994. By this date this pale green SNCF livery was becoming obsolete, replaced by a more striking white and orange scheme. This was one of a class of 194 locos but was the first of an upgraded sub class with improved cabs and a single large body side grill replacing a multitude of smaller ones (a bit like the BR Class 25?).

Wishaw: Despite appearances the mouldering station building on the Down side at Wishaw was still in use when this photograph was taken in August 1997, though was soon to be demolished. The paintwork looks more like Caledonian blue than BR Scottish Region blue, though even the latter was over 30 years out of date by then.

Usan Signal Box: A 1998 view of the signal box at Usan (pronounced as in ‘Susan’) at the south end of the single track section to Montrose. It was to survive a further 11 or 12 years until MAS was installed and Montrose North box took over responsibility. Montrose South box closed at the same time.

Edinburgh Waverley: The down 'Highland Chieftain' stands at platform 19 at Waverley in the summer of 2006. GNER power car 43108 carries the name Old Course St Andrews. Passengers heading there will need to disembark at Leuchars and complete the last 5 miles by road, although the campaign to have the town reconnected to the ECML continues.

Edinburgh Waverley: First ScotRail service arriving at Waverley in August 2006.

Haymarket East Junction: View West from Haymarket station on 5 August 2006 with Haymarket depot in the background. On the left a westbound GNER London Kings Cross - Glasgow Central service has just turned south towards Carstairs at Haymarket East Junction.

Edinburgh Waverley: An unusual vantage point at Waverley in August 2006, courtesy of the temporary bridge over platform 19 which provided a route between the station and Princes Mall. View is east showing work in progress on what would become the upgraded entrance from Waverley Steps, linking with the new escalators still to be installed on the western concourse. Running beyond the new bridge is the connection with the cross-station walkway leading to the south side platforms and the Market Street entrance. Up above is part of the justification for the subsequent roof panel replacement project see image [[36223]].

Haymarket East Junction: A morning GNER Kings Cross - Glasgow Central service pulls away from the Haymarket stop in August 2006 and immediately turns left onto the Carstairs line at Haymarket East Junction. The train will make one further call at Motherwell (to set down) before reaching its ultimate destination.

Haymarket: A Fife bound train arrives at Haymarket platform 2 on 5 August 2006. Behind the blue barrier on platform 1 work continues on construction of the new bay platform.

Edinburgh Waverley: Look - no wires! Waverley west end in the summer of 2006 looking remarkably uncluttered. First ScotRail 170396 has recently arrived from Glasgow Queen Street.

Haymarket: Haymarket looking west on 5 August 2006 showing the reason for one or two recent weekend line closures - the connection off to the right into the new bay platform 0 .

Edinburgh Waverley: Looking west along platform 19 at Waverley on 5 August 2006 with both tracks and crossover in place. The new bridge and walkway system is under construction and the temporary (green) bridge into Princes Mall lies beyond.

Edinburgh Waverley: Grab shot from a train leaving Waverley on 5 August 2006 showing a recently arrived excursion behind FM Rail 47832 Driver Tom Clark OBE at platform 19. The special is the Compass Tours 'Edinburgh Merseyman' from Liverpool South Parkway. 47703 was on the other end of the train.

Elderslie: Taken from a Glasgow train, this shows the former Elderslie goods yard. WH Malcolm now owns the site as its freight terminal, and is currently expanding and improving the site.

Glasgow Central: Modified Class 318 318257 and Class 156 156512 stand at Platform 6 & 7 waiting their turn to depart.

Bridge Street: A Class 156 still in old ScotRail colours passes Bridge Street in the approach to Glasgow Central

Glasgow Central: A Class 156 sits at Glasgow Central. The unit is part of the programme by First to repaint all non SPT liveried stock into its corporate colours.

Edinburgh Waverley: EWS 90031 The Railway Children Partnership posing at Waverley east end in front of the new Edinburgh Council HQ on 5 August 2006. The locomotive was rostered for various Sleeper duties during that month. See image [[10219]]

Cupar: A 5-car Sunday Edinburgh - Dundee service pulls out of Cupar led by a 170 on 5 August.

Causeway: The Bushmill and Giants Causeway Railway has been relaid on the easternmost end of a tramway closed in 1949, using equipment from the Shanes Castle Railway. On my visit the loco in use was Shane, formerly Bord na Mona No.3, built by Andrew Barclay of Kilmarnock in 1949. View of the terminus with carriage and loco shed. 5 August 2008.

Kincardine: Remains of the westbound platform at Kincardine seen from the new level crossing in August 2008.

Silverdale: A Cumbrian Coast service, with 156444 on a through train from Maryport to Preston, calls at Silverdale. View past the former station building, now a private house, towards Arnside.

Kincardine: Level Crossing at Kincardine, the instructions are for the wise...

Silverdale: View towards Carnforth at Silverdale as 156444 leaves on the 0843 to Preston. This train starts its journey at Maryport at 0604. The old sandstone Furness Railway building still stands on the platform although a modern waiting shelter has now also been erected.

Bolton-le-Sands: All trace of Bolton-le-Sands station was swept away between closure in 1969 and electrification in 1974. Here a Pendolino passes the site of the old platforms and approaches the level crossing at speed from Carnforth on a southbound service. View north from the level crossing. Map Ref SD480683

Causeway: Shane (formerly Bord na Mona No 3, built by Andrew Barclay of Kilmarnock in 1949) stands at Causeway on the BGCR on 5 August.

Causeway: The last train of the day on the Bushmills and Giants Causeway Railway climbs towards Causeway station on 5 August behind locomotive no 3 Shane.

Crawford: Built in the 1920s on behalf of Lanarkshire County Council, the 3ft gauge Camps Reservoir Railway ran from a small yard alongside the WCML at Crawford to a remote construction site some 3 miles to the east. Work on the new reservoir was completed by 1930, following which the rail route was abandoned. The photograph shows the old trackbed in 2009 looking back towards Crawford. Note the bridge built to carry the narrow gauge line over the Clyde, plus the Euston bound Pendolino passing the site of the former yard.

Edinburgh Waverley: 67008 at Waverley with the returned Fife Circle evening commuter train on 5 August 2009.

Crawford Viaduct [Camps Reservoir Railway]: View across the Clyde at Crawford over the bridge that carried the Camps Railway. The 3 ft gauge line was built in the 1920s on behalf of Lanarkshire County Council in connection with the construction of Camps reservoir to the east. The line was lifted in the 1930s and the bridge is nowadays used by hill walkers and as a shortcut by villagers. The former yard and exchange sidings stood just behind the camera alongside the WCML.

Crawford: A northbound Pendolino approaching Crawford on the WCML in August 2009. The train is passing the site of the yard that once acted as an exchange point with the 3 ft gauge Camps Railway (built to facilitate the construction of Camps Reservoir). View is south towards the bridge which took the narrow gauge line across the River Clyde.

Preston: The second steam hauled train to depart from Preston on 5 August 2009 within a 20 minute period was The Fellsman railtour from Lancaster to Carlisle via Blackburn and the Settle & Carlisle line. 46115 Scots Guardsman makes a spirited departure out of platform 3 before crossing onto the Up Slow line so that it can access the East Lancs line at Farington Curve Junction.

Crawford Viaduct [Camps Reservoir Railway]: The bridge that once carried the narrow gauge Camps Railway across the River Clyde at Crawford, seen here on 5 August 2009. The 3 ft gauge line was built in the 1920s by Lanarkshire County Council to transport materials required in the construction of Camps reservoir, located amongst the hills in the middle distance. The supply yard and exchange sidings alongside the WCML stood off camera to the right.

Crawford Viaduct [Camps Reservoir Railway]: View south across the River Clyde at Crawford on 5 August 2009, showing the railway bridge that once carried the 3 ft gauge line built on behalf of Lanarkshire County Council in the 1920s in connection with the construction of Camps reservoir. By the time the reservoir was completed in 1930 the line had served its purpose and was lifted within 10 years. In the background a Freightliner class 66 is about to run past the site of the transshipment sidings with northbound coal empties and will shortly cross the Clyde via a much more renowned (and photographed) structure see image [[28957]].

Bamber Bridge: The Fellsman railtour arrives back at Bamber Bridge on 5 August 2009 to drop off passengers before continuing to Preston and Lancaster. The 10 coach train was rather longer than the platform could cope with and after the previous week, when evidently the level crossing was blocked during the station stop, the train pulled up clear of the crossing on this occasion.

Crawford Viaduct [Camps Reservoir Railway]: Looking north across the Clyde at Crawford in 2009 showing the bridge built by Lanarkshire County Council in the 1920s to carry the 3ft gauge Camps Reservoir Railway. The site of the former transshipment yard is directly behind the camera with the WCML beyond. For the view back from the far side of the river see image [[24923]].

Lamington Viaduct: EWS 92036 'Bertolt Brecht' crossing the Clyde at Lamington in August 2009 with a northbound freight.

Crawford: The 1400 Glasgow Central - Birmingham New Street Virgin Voyager heading south through the Clyde Valley on 5 August 2009 between Abington and Crawford.

Abington: A Freightliner class 66 heading south on the WCML with a coal train on 5 August 2009. The train is seen here apptroaching Abington

Crawford Viaduct [Camps Reservoir Railway]: A Glasgow bound Virgin Pendolino at Crawford in August 2009. The train is passing the site of the trans-shipment yard that once served the narrow gauge Camps Reservoir Railway, built by Lanarkshire County Council in the 1920s to aid in the construction of the new reservoir some 5 miles to the east. On leaving the yard, the line crossed the bridge over the Clyde before curving east along the embankment from which the photograph was taken.

Preston: In a 20 minute period during the morning 'rush hour' at Preston on 5 August 2009 there were two steam hauled railtour departures. The first was The Welsh Mountaineer to Blaenau Ffestiniog which is seen here with 45231 at the helm as it approaches the Ribble Viaduct just south of Preston station.

Knock: The site of the goods yard at Knock station, given away by the distinctive railway gates. The goods loading bank is just behind with the remains of the passenger platform adjacent to the left. The location is now owned and well maintained by the Knockdhu distillery.

Haymarket: Freightliner 86614 runs through Haymarket platform 3 on 5 August 2010

Dundee: View east at Dundee station in August 2010. On the left a Glasgow Queen Street - Aberdeen service is preparing to restart its journey from platform 4, while on the right an Aberdeen - Kings Cross HST has just arrived at platform 1.

Dundee: A southbound HST calls at Dundee on 5 August 2010.

Portgordon: The site of Portgordon station, looking east towards Buckpool and Buckie, in August 2010. Half of the site is now occupied by the local bowling club. The line ran along the edge of the bowling green with the station building situated approximately at the far end of the green.

Bristol Temple Meads: Black 5 no 44932 arrives at Bristol Temple Meads on 5 August 2010 with The Cathedrals Express from London Waterloo.

Dundee: A Glasgow Queen Street - Aberdeen service runs downhill out of the sun towards Dundee station on 5 August, past the site of the old Dundee West signal box see image [[5942]].

Bristol Temple Meads: A DMU stands in the headshunt at Bristol Temple Meads on 5 August.

Knock: The remains of the passenger platform at Knock looking north towards Glenbarry, with the posts for the running in board still intact. Like so many station sites nowadays it is enveloped by mature tree growth.

Bristol Temple Meads: EWS liveried 67016 brings up the rear of the 1400 Cardiff Central - Taunton summer service as it runs into Bristol Temple Meads station on 5 August 2010. DBS 67018 Keith Heller was on the front of the train. See image [[30129]]

Bristol Temple Meads: DBS locomotive 67018 Keith Heller on the FGW 1400 Cardiff Central - Taunton summer service at Bristol Temple Meads on 5 August 2010. Sister locomotive no 67016 was on the rear of the train. See image [[30178]]

Stafford: Freightliner 66609 rumbles south through Stafford with Network Rail hoppers on 5 August. This would have been a less interesting picture, but for the angry-looking black cloud that came along at just the right time. The blue building just visible on the extreme right used to be the nearest pub to the station - its affiliation to the Titanic brewery was perhaps prophetic.

Johannesburg: Situated in a theme park called Gold Reef City,Johannesburg is this South African Railways Class 19D 4-8-2 no 3345. Built by the North British Locomotive Company in 1948 it lasted in service until 1986.

Split: Literally the end of the line at Split, Croatia, on 5 August 2012. Any further west and you are in the Adriatic. This is the station headshunt with the passenger terminus behind the camera. See image [[39971]]

Split: The terminus at Split on Croatia's Adriatic coast in August 2012. A headshunt runs behind the camera see image [[39957]].

Dundee: There is a railway in there somewhere. The ongoing redevelopment of Dundee Waterfront makes the city's railhead look even less enticing than usual on 5 August 2012. The proposed rebuild will hopefully improve the station's appearance and environment for passengers and photographers alike.

Preston (Ribble Branch): The Ribble Steam Railway hosted a visit from LMS 'Jinty' 0-6-0T no 47406 in August. During its stay it ran as 47472, the former Preston station pilot engine. The train is seen here passing the catch points sand drag protecting the swing bridge, heading towards Strand Road on the south side of the dock.

High Barnet: In case of delays, always carry a 'phone. At least one of these ladies is waiting patiently for a Northern line train into London at High Barnet platform 2 on 5th August.

High Barnet: The MMM (Morning Metro Mountain) builds up as the cleaners get to work at High Barnet station on the Northern Line, following the morning rush hour on 5 August.

High Barnet: Beyond the yellow brick wall: a DDA compliant ramp leads from the low level entrance and ticket hall at High Barnet to platform 1 see image [[45492]].

High Barnet: The yellow brick station building at High Barnet is pleasant, but the station garden is truly impressive - especially in a city location which is not clearly well protected against vandalism and theft. The white building in the background is a signalling centre.

High Barnet: Not quite as busy as it looks. Northern Line trains stand in platforms 1 and 2 at High Barnet as a third train leaves platform 3 at the end of the morning rush hour on 5 August 2013. Notice the signalling centre (grey building on far right).

High Barnet: The LU Northern Line terminus at High Barnet on 5 August 2013. Looking out from the buffers at platforms 1 and 2 (#3 being out of view to the left). The wooden frames surround a level access path for wheelchair and pushchair access - the station has no lifts.

Seafield Level Crossing: Death of a footbridge. View west along Seafield Road towards Leith on 5 August 2014, with the footbridge at Seafield Level Crossing now fenced off after being declared an unsafe structure. I had used the old bridge as a useful photographic vantage point on many occasions over the years, although I recall only once seeing anyone else use it; that occasion being in the summer of 2006 during the importing of coal supplies for Cockenzie power station through Leith Docks (see image [[57530]]).

Seafield Level Crossing: The trackbed running south east from Seafield level crossing towards Porobello Junction on 5 August 2014, more than a year on from the decommissioning of Cockenzie power station. Leith South Yard stands behind the camera with the docks beyond. See image [[4256]]. [Ref query 6877]

Newcraighall South Junction: A new bridge being built over the Borders Railway route just beyond the turnback siding at Millerhill. The bridge will carry the road serving the recycling plant to be constructed on former railway land to the west of the current yard, with access from Whitehill Road. View south west towards Shawfair on 5 August 2014.

Paris, Eglise de Pantin: Some of the tunnels on the Paris Metro are wide enough to allow underground stabling of empty stock, as seen here at Eglise de Pantin on line 5 to Bobigny.

Paris: A disused industrial siding in the North Eastern Paris suburb of Pantin in August 2014. A turnout can just be seen in front of the approaching car. The cobblestones are laid out in an attractive pattern.

Craigentinny Depot: The 11.47 Newcraighall - Glenrothes with Thornton runs past the west end of Craigentinny depot on 5 August 2014. The train is less than 2 miles from its next stop at Waverley. The yard shunter in the background is WABTEC 08472.

Seafield Level Crossing: Looking north across Seafield Road towards the level crossing on 5 August 2014, with Marine Esplanade on the far side. Leith South yard lies beyond the trees with access to Leith Docks at its western end. The crossing appears to have seen little rail traffic since the end of the coal imports for Cockenzie power station, which was decommissioned last year. Track is overgrown, the crossing gates are adorned with local ads and the footbridge is now fenced off as a dangerous structure. See image [[5646]]

Paris: Paris Metro units await their next turn of duty at Bobigny depot on 5 August 2014. Passing shot looking away from Bobigny terminus, towards Gare du Nord and the city centre.

Millerhill Yard Up Arrival Sidings: The former up reception sidings at Millerhill, seen from Whitehill Road on 5 August 2014. Most of the track has long been lifted, although sidings in the background have since been used to handle ballast see image [[13620]]. On this occasion the area contained a large stockpile of concrete sleepers for use on the Borders Railway. Part of the yard to the south has been proposed as the location for a new ScotRail EMU depot.

Paris Gare du Nord: Bombardier multiple unit no. B82689 awaits its next turn of duty at Paris Gare du Nord on 5th August.

St Pancras: Return Of The Gas Holders - not a fifties B movie sci-fi, but the restoration of the listed structures which were removed during construction of HS1. Photograph taken on 5 August 2014 from a passing train.

Paris Gare du Nord: Reverse rake windscreens always remind me of Ford Anglias going backwards. They probably aren't very efficient aerodynamically; but may be rather good at reducing unwanted reflections. Locomotive 22346 is seen at platform 16 at Gare du Nord in August 2014.

St Pancras: Passengers from Paris disembark at St Pancras on 5th August. The work of art under the clock bears more than a passing resemblance to the Tetris computer game.

Paris Pantin: The French highway authorities seem to share our belief that the motoring public still recognize the symbol of a steam engine. Sign by road crossing at the TGV maintenance depot at Pantin on 5 August.

Paris Gare du Nord: In the absence of benches, family accommodation may be found on the buffer stops. Gare du Nord on 5 August 2014. The locomotive is 115062, the train is the 14.07 to Saint-Quentin. see image [[15463]]

Paris Gare du Nord: Full house at Gare du Nord on 5 August - I see three TGVs, a Thalys, and two Eurostars... just.

Craigentinny Depot: Wabtec 08472 at the west end of the yard at Craigentinny on 5 August 2014.

St-Jean-Pla-de-Corts: Looking east towards Le Boulou yard from the level crossing on Route de Vives, with St-Jean-Pla-de-Corts yard and the mothballed section running on to Ceret to rear of view, showing the rather weather worn sleepers on this rarely used section of line between the two yards; and also what appears to be a transition from bull head to flat bottom rail for the section through the level crossing. See image [[52696]] for view in opposite direction

Galashiels: ScotRail 158729 runs south through Galashiels on 5 August 2015 on a crew training run with work in progress on the station platform.

Wigan North Western: No, not a new station, but a rail arch bar in Queen Street on the south side of Wigan North Western. The bar comes complete with real ale, craft cider, a beer library and real-time information about train running at both North Western and Wallgate stations.

St-Jean-Pla-de-Corts: Looking west from Route de Vives level crossing along the rarely used but still operational section of line, after Le Boulou west yard electrified headshunt, towards St-Jean-Pla-de-Cort yard. A stabling siding is at each side of the through line, that is extant to Ceret but mothballed from some 500 metres beyond the far end of the yard, with a rake of piggyback wagons stabled on each siding, and a rake of flat wagons stabled on the through line after the yard. See image [[52933]] for view in opposite direction

Le Boulou: A RegioRail shunting loco hauls a rake of covered steel carriers out of the general transhipment yard, to the north of the east yard road to rail facility at Le Boulou, that is sited alongside the northbound access slip-road to the A9 E15 autoroute. SNCF Fret electric loco 427029 is seen at left of view See image [[52588]].

Lostock Hall Junction: Ex LMS 4-6-0 no 46115 Scots Guardsman with 'The Fellsman' railtour from Lancaster to Carlisle via Preston and Blackburn on 5 August 2015. The train is seen here at Lostock Hall Jct, having just passed through Lostock Hall Station on the line from Farington Curve Jct. The line to the left leads to Farington Jct.

Argeles Sur Mer: View south along the lengthy platforms at Argeles Sur Mer station as the long distance service from Cerbere to Avignon, consisting of a 4 coach 27500 class EMU, with driving vehicle 27866 leading, runs into the station on 5 August 2015.

Le Boulou: The former Le Boulou town centre station building, on the now freight only Elne to Ceret branch, is used by SNCF Fret as offices linked to their extensive operations in the large intermodal, automotive, piggyback and general freight yards sited either side of the A9 auto-route shortly before it crosses into Spain.

Le Boulou: View west from the Chemin du Mas Llinas level crossing, along the electrified freight branch line running from Elne, towards Le Boulou East yard approx 1Km away, showing the trap points and short spur to deal with any runaways before they reach the level crossing. Axle counters can be seen on the left rail both before and beyond the point blade.

Argeles Sur Mer: View north at Argeles Sur Mer station as the long distance service from Cerbere to Avignon, consisting of a 4 coach 27500 class EMU with driving coach 27865 at the rear, stands in the station with the 13.50 departure on 5th August 2015.

Leyland: DRS 20305 and 20308 rumble south at Leyland with the Sellafield to Crewe nuclear flask train in an August evening in 2015.

Le Boulou: Consecutively numbered SNCF Fret Alstom Prima class 25KV AC electric locos 427029 & 427030 stand on adjacent tracks in Le Boulou east side road to rail transhipment yard in August 2015 attached to empty rakes of Lorry Rail piggyback wagons. A near fully loaded rake stands alongside the far loco.

Le Boulou: Looking west by Le Boulou east side yard along the branch line from Elne that continues to Ceret, albeit abandoned beyond the small yard at St-Jean-Pla-de-Cort some 4Km away. The line is electrified for a further 1.5Km to the end of the head shunt for the west side intermodal yard located on the far side of the Le Boulou A6 E15 autoroute payage point sited at the far end of the sidings to the right of view. See image [[52703]] for view in opposite direction.

St-Jean-Pla-de-Corts: An automatic level crossing, located just east of the still used small freight yard, runs across the minor road Route de Vives in the centre of St-Jean-Pla-de-Corts village. The yard western head shunt is now the limit of the non electrified operational section of the line, continuing west from Le Boulou west yard electrified head shunt, that is still extant through to Ceret Station.

Argeles Sur Mer: Unlike other stations on the coast line to Spain from Perpignan, which are old traditional buildings, Argeles Sur Mer is a recent build of modern open plan design, as seen in this view along the frontage in August 2015.

Haigh: All ready for the move into its permanent location the next day, with the heavy lift vehicle in position below it, is the fully fitted out new concrete bridge assembly that is to replace the present low stone arched Haigh Lane rail overbridge in a 52 hour weekend line closure.

Nuneaton: A track machine awaits departure from Nuneaton platform 1 on 5 August 2016. I had arrived on the platform through the glass door on the left, and saw red signals at both ends of the platform. I had to guess which way the machine would leave - as you can see from the tail light, my 50/50 chance went wrong.

Haigh: Friday evening before the line blockage starts at 23.30, all is in place ready for the demolition of the upper section of the stone arch bridge over Haigh Lane, and the rolling in of the replacement concrete bridge constructed off view to left See image [[56037]]. A 52 hour line possession is in place for the replacement works to be completed.

Anderston: Green liveried 320416 at Anderston station on Friday 5th August 2016.

Anderston: A green liveried 320 spotted at Anderston on Friday 5th August in the afternoon.

Huyton: 319374 in Northern livery at Huyton on 5 August 2016.

High Street: An Edinburgh service enters High Street on 5 August. The view looks west to Queen Street.

Whifflet: A terminating service from Dalmuir at Whifflet on 5 August. Confusingly for the uninitiated trains for Glasgow leave in both directions here. Not this one though as the driver had to explain to passengers on the platform, a touch peevishly.

Pyle: 60163 Tornado running through Pyle station enroute to Carmarthen with a Pathfinder Tour 'The Towi Tornado' from Eastleigh.

Andrews House: This unusually shaped footbridge crosses the Tanfield Railway just outside Andrews House station. It clearly needs a lick of varnish - just the thing to do in lockdown, if you have enough volunteers and varnish...view looks South.

Carntyne: An Edinburgh service pulls into Carntyne on 5 August.

Bellgrove: A Dalmuir to Cumbernauld service at Bellgrove on 5 August. There's not really such a place as Bellgrove; it's just the name of a Street here in Dennistoun (which might have been a more helpful name).

Duke Street: A Cumbernauld to Dumbarton Central calls at Duke Street during one of the day's frequent showers.

Tyne Marshalling Yard: The Network Measurement Train, which on this occasion was class 37-hauled at its Northern end, pauses by Tyne Yard in August 2017.

Scotstounhill: A through service crawls into Scotstounhill, a signal (nearly) stops fooling people into thinking that this is Dumbarton Central service indicated.

Briton Ferry: A rare visitor to South Wales - 60163 Tornado running through Briton Ferry station enroute to Carmarthen with a Pathfinder tour from Eastleigh.

Charing Cross [GC and DR]: A Helensburgh train pulls into Charing Cross on 5 August. Being substantially underground with trains coming to stop in the gloom at either end, this is a challenging location to photograph!

Marley Hill Shed: Pinky and Perky are Ruston 0-4-0 diesel shunters, formerly located on Sunderland South Docks. Mercifully, neither of them is painted pink.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Demolition of the former Scotrail Traincare building in progress in early August to make way for new staff accommodation buildings.

Glenfinnan: K1 at Glenfinnan on 5/8/17. (Note: taken in a position of safety, in possession of a valid Network Rail PTS and not involved in safety critical duties at the time.)

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The travel centre at Queen Street seen on its last day of operation, 5 August. The next day it moved to its new home in a former pub across the road in Dundas Street. There it will remain for the next 3 years or so when it will move back into a revamped Queen Street.

Andrews House: They're so posh on the Tanfield Railway, even the water tanks are double barreled. The coal store reminds me of the children stealing coal in the 'Railway Children' film.

Musselburgh: CrossCountry Trains 1708 Edinburgh Waverley - Birmingham New Street runs south through Musselburgh on 5 August 2017.

Hopetown Junction: This junction North of North Road station was the first access (geographically) to the Stainmore line on leaving Darlington. Our exploration, from a strategically parked car, went: cold (tarmac footpath) to warm (earth with wooden sleepers) to BINGO! Rails under the fence! View looks South East.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The temporary Travel Shop opposite the Dandas Street entrance to the station is now signed and ready for action. If the queues become excessively long, there is a tempting waiting area off to the right.

Bishopbriggs: Glasgow (right) and Dunblane services cross at Bishopbriggs on 5 August.

Springburn: A Cumbernauld to Dumbarton Central service enters Springburn on 5 August, seconds after an opposite working using the nearer track (for Platform 2). Both trains will change ends as if this were a terminus. There are bays here, but they are very little used and indeed Platform 4 is roped off.

Marley Hill Shed: This incline cable wheel on the Northern Incline (towards the Tyne) on the Bowes Railway is in excellent condition, considering that it has not been used for several decades, and has never been covered by a roof.

Tyne Marshalling Yard: Bit of an emphasis on civil engineering here, as the NRMT (on this occasion being dragged by a class 37) keeps company with a self-discharging ballast train and more old-fashioned ballast wagons at Tyne Yard.

Glasgow Central Low Level: A Whifflet train calls at Central Low Level on 5 August. It's only 11am but already Celtic fans are making their way to Dalmarnock for Celtic Park.

Lochailort: Under an angry looking sky,Black 5 No.45212 hauls the afternoon Jacobite round the edge of, breeze ruffled, Loch Eilt on the way to Mallaig.

Borthwick Bank Signal Box: View from a Black 5 – 44871 battles up Borthwick Bank with the SRPS Railtour to Tweedbank on 5th August 2018, with 11 coaches behind, and 37516 pushing. (Cab ride courtesy of West Coast Railways).

Tweedbank: The driver of 44871 sitting at Tweedbank is Peter Walker, Operations Manager (North) of West Coast Railways. Back in 2012, when the Campaign for Borders Railway had been campaigning for 10 years for the platform roads at Tweedbank to be extended to accommodate 11-coach charter trains, it was Peter's inspired suggestion which led to a CBR-organised delegation of Borders tourism interests and politicians sampling charter operations on the Settle & Carlisle line. The subsequent political pressure ultimately led to a Ministerial decision to provide lengthened platform roads and platforms at Tweedbank and a lengthened platform at Gala, without which there would have been no prospect of viable charters on the Borders Railway.

Tweedbank: An overgrown schoolboy's dream as David Spaven fills the Secondman's seat on 37516 prior to its 15.11 departure from Tweedbank on the 5th August SRPS Railtour return to Edinburgh, Fife and Linlithgow. (Photo: Gordon Sellar)

Tweedbank: Viewed from a Class 37, an incoming ScotRail service pulls into Tweedbank immediately prior to the departure of the return leg of the SRPS Railtour on 5th August 2018.

Paterson's No 1 Siding: The imposing retaining wall immediately north of Gala station was built by the NBR following a major landslip in 1916, and is one of the photographer's abiding memories from his last journey on the Waverley Route on 2nd January 1969. Seen from 37516 on 5th August 2018.

Torwoodlee North Viaduct: One of the Borders Railway's most attractive overbridges, slightly marred by a crude (and unnecessary) heightened parapet, is at Torwoodlee north of Gala. Seen here from 37516 on 5th August 2018.

Bowshank Tunnel: Amazingly, Network Rail's engineers managed to squeeze double track with modern passenger train clearances through Bowshank Tunnel but any future container freight could only pass through here on very low platform wagons. Photo taken from 37516 on 5th August 2018.

Tynehead Junction: A green light at Overbridge 41 south of Tynehead, a notorious example of Transport Scotland's penny-wise, pound-foolish approach to the Borders Railway infrastructure. In 2009, following the intervention of a well informed, ex-railway, civil servant the planned length of double track on the route was extended from 9.5 to 16 miles, including the section from Tynehead to Falahill. However, the bean counters then took over, and the double track was scaled back. The consequences of this are seen in the sub optimal reliability of the Borders Railway and Transport Scotland refused even to make 'passive provision' for double track under this farm access road, making any future double-tracking unnecessarily expensive.

Tynehead Junction: A southbound ScotRail service waits for the return SRPS Railtour to clear Tynehead Junction on 5th August 2018, as seen from 37516.

Murrayfield Stadium [Tram]: As part of the Edinburgh Festivals there will be all night trams every Saturday during August 2018.

Galashiels [1st]: Station Brae bridge, immediately south of Gala station – seen here on 5th August – looks like it was built by Scottish Borders Council to accommodate piggyback lorries on rail wagons, but not of course a double-track railway!

Donibristle Platform: 44871, ably assisted (some would say too ably assisted) by 37516, climbs away from Donibristle with the first SRPS Fife Circle & Borders trip of the year on 5 August 2018.

Galashiels: Cameras everywhere – 44871 pulls into Galashiels with the SRPS Railtour on 5th August.

Oykel Viaduct: 37421 and 37612 top and tail a northbound Network Rail test train over the Oykel Viaduct on 5th August 2018. This 'A' listed structure, also known as the Shin or Invershin Viaduct, was built to carry the Sutherland Railway across the Kyle of Sutherland. The line opened in 1868. In the background is Carbisdale Castle.

Donibristle Platform: The exhaust of 37516 clearly indicates it is giving 44871 plenty of support as the Fife Circle and Borders excursion climbs away from Donibristle on 5th August 2018.

Pyle: A Scotrail 156 in South Wales. 156509, in Scotrail colours, passing through Pyle station, on route to Landore, having left Corkerhill Depot in the early hours of 5th August 2019. This looks like it is the first unit to arrive at Landore after the anouncement of the reopening of the depot for maintenance and overhauls. (See recent news item).

Pyle: 156509 passing through Pyle on 5th August 2019 heading for Landore for refurbishment following the reopening of that facility by Chrysalis Rail (See recent news item). 156s, in any livery, are not usually seen in this part of the rail network.

Bo'ness: CR 419 brings a train from Manuel into Bo'ness Station on 5th August 2019. The absence of the footbridge span (for repairs) gives an unobstructed view of the semaphore signals.

Bo'ness: CR 0-4-4T No.419 pauses at the Bo'ness platform end on 5th August 2019. 60163 'Tornado' is in the shed yard.

Bo'ness: CR 0-4-4T No.419 waits to depart Bo'ness with the 14.10 to Manuel on 5th August 2019.

Stirling: Stirling's Platform 10 is little used and doesn't have a departures screen. However the bloom of rust was knocked off the track on 5th August 2020 when flooding to the north meant that Stirling became a temporary terminus. This six-car service was too long for the other southern bays, 7 and 8.

Stirling: An Alloa to Glasgow service pulls into Stirling's Platform 9 on 5 August 2020.

Edinburgh Park: A Helensburgh Central service calls at Edinburgh Park on 5th August 2020. Notice the artfully mismatched platform paving.

Laurencekirk: Scotrail HST about to run over the Laurencekirk foot crossing on 5th August 2020.

Stirling: Stirling-Alloa is the only route in the country to enjoy a better service than before the pandemic. These are the times of the additional Alloa trains :
Arriving Alloa 09.06, 10.06, 11.06, 13.06, 16.07, 19.05, 20.06, 23.07
Departing Alloa 09.12, 10.13, 11.13, 13.13, 16.13, 19.13, 20.11, 23.17

Larbert: A Glasgow to Alloa service pulls out of Larbert on 5th August 2020.

Stirling: This post-apocalyptic scene at Stirling is not down to the pandemic (or not just down to it); the mainline platforms were out of use because of flooding to the north. The edge of the old Platform 1 can be seen in the foreground. I can remember this platform which seemed to be a permanent home to a forlorn oil tanker.

Edinburgh Park: An incoming service from the Bathgate line pulls up at Edinburgh Park on 5th August 2020. Class 334s have held complete sway on the Airdrie-Bathgate line since the start (or restart) 10 years ago. Meanwhile all other electrified lines have seen a variety of stock

Georgemas Junction: Loaded timber train at Georgemas Junction during the Victa Railfreight trial workings in August 2020. West Coast Cass 37s provided the motive power for these trains.

Kirkcaldy: 170451 enters Kirkcaldy, with a Fife Circle - Edinburgh service, on 5 August 2021.

Edinburgh Waverley: On 5 August 2021 A TPE service from Manchester Airport makes its way past Waverley's Platform 8w to terminate at 8e. I feel a bit sorry for Anglo-Scottish services arriving at the Sub platforms as there's not the same sense of occasion as arriving in the main station. Note the gloom of the former goods area under Market Street

Burntisland: The sharp curve at Burntisland is very noticeable in this view along the Up platform as a pair of 158s, working a clockwise Fife Circle service, call on 5th August 2021.

Burntisland [1st]: I had seen various Railscot pictures of the two Burntisland stations but it took a visit to realise how close the old terminus is to the current through station (See image [[77913]]). In this August 2021 view the terminus building is in the foreground, with platform buildings beyond, and behind and above those the Up Platform of the current station. The serious weathering of the corner pillar, compared to all the others, was very noticeable, but what a remarkable survivor this building is.

Kirkland Yard: The contractors' base at Kirkland Yard is becoming established and was very busy on 5th August 2021. What appeared to be some sort of 8WD logging machine arrived off the Levenmouth branch trackbed with a load of recovered 30' rail sections, which were then unloaded by the road-rail machine and stacked in the yard.

Cameron Bridge [1st]: I was grateful to the Railscot Fife Correspondent for a guided tour of his patch on 5th August 2021, and impressed that our brief visit to Cameron Bridge coincided with this track recovery train arriving. The crew unhooked four trucks in the platform area and then headed off 'light engine' to Kirkland Yard where the main operations base is being established.

Kinghorn: Trains passing at the fine coastal station of Kinghorn on 5th August 2021. 158730 is travelling towards Kirkcaldy, while 170471 approaches with an Edinburgh bound stopping service.

Raskelf: GBRf 66790 heads south near Raskelf with the 6H70 12.19 Tyne Coal Terminal - Drax Power Station biomass working on 5 Aug 2021. This is one of three Eurospec class 66 locos that previously operated in Sweden, and imported to the UK in 2020 by Beacon Rail leasing to augment the GBRf fleet.

Markinch: I'm told that the road bridge at Markinch was once a fine vantage point to the south but the new station footbridge has put paid to that somewhat. 170411, heading for Edinburgh, calls on 5th August 2021.

Kinghorn: A view from the footbridge towards the station building at Kinghorn in August 2021. 170471 has called on an Edinburgh bound service.

Markinch: 158704 leaves Markinch with a service for Perth on 5th August 2021. Above, the original station building is under repair.

Rumbling Bridge [2nd]: The old platform at Rumbling Bridge continues to be well maintained as a surviving remnant of the two platform station. This August 2022 view is from the A823 road. See image [[17444]] from the same spot in 1964, when the line closed.

Dollar: It is nearly sixty years since the last passenger train left Dollar but the platform is still in place alongside the Devon Way trail. This view looks west towards Tillicoultry in August 2022. See image [[27868]] from 1964, when there was a lot less vegetation.

Dollar: Dollar station on 5th August 2022. This view looks east towards Rumbling Bridge. The ramp and steps allow access from Station Road to the Devon Way trail that runs through the site.

Crook of Devon: This modern housing development now occupies the site of Crook of Devon station, which closed in 1964, seen here looking west towards Rumbling Bridge in August 2022.