Innellan: The ex-London and North Eastern Railway paddle steamer 'Waverley' pulls away from the pier at Innellan on the Firth of Clyde on Thursday 5 September 1957.

Glasgow Central: Stanier Coronation Pacific no 46244 King George VI pulls out of Glasgow Central on 5 September 1959 with the up Mid-day Scot for London Euston.

Glasgow Central: Having brought a 'Scottish Industries Exhibition' special into Glasgow Central on 5 September 1959, locomotives No 49 Gordon Highlander + GWR No 3440 City of Truro reverse out of the station on their way to Polmadie shed.

Glasgow Central: 4-4-0s GNSR 49 'Gordon_Highlander' and GWR 3440 'City of Truro' at Glasgow Central in September 1959.

Stirling: GNSR 49 GWR 3440 taking water at Stirling while working south on the 0830 Aberdeen-Glasgow special for the Scottish Industries Exhibition in 1959.

Glasgow Central: Brand new electric Blue Train stock open to the public as part of the Scottish Industries Exhibition at Glasgow Central station on 5 September 1959. See image [[26800]]

Glasgow Central: BRCW Type 2 no D5329 on display at Glasgow Central on 5 September 1959 during the Scottish Industries Exhibition. The locomotive had been delivered new to Haymarket some 3 months earlier, although it was destined to spend most of its life operating out of Inverness. It was eventually withdrawn from 60A in October 1988 (having been renumbered 26029) and was cut up at MC Metals, Springburn, in November the following year.

Hawick Shed: J36 no 65331 photographed on Hawick shed in September 1959.

Glasgow Central: CR 123 + NB 256 Glen Douglas arriving at Glasgow Central on 5 September 1959 with one of several specials run in connection with the Scottish Industries Exhibition.

Hawick [2nd]: 62471 Glen Falloch photographed on Hawick shed in September 1959, some 6 months before withdrawal by BR.

Glasgow Central: One of the new 'soon to be introduced' Blue Trains being displayed as part of the Scottish Industries Exhibition at platform 5 of Glasgow Central station on 5 September 1959. Also on display alongside the 3-car train is recently delivered Whickham railbus no SC 79969 see image [[26800]].

Glasgow Central: Whickham railbus Sc79969 is one of several exhibits at Glasgow Central on 5 September 1959 as part of the Scottish Industries Exhibition. [Editors note: The unit later moved on to make an exhibition of itself at a number of other locations...]

Glasgow Central: Having brought an Anglo-Scottish Express into Glasgow Central in September 1959, Stanier Coronation Pacific no 46223 Princess Alice is about to leave the platforms and undertake the short trip to Polmadie shed.

Glasgow Central: Class 8P 46244 at Glasgow Central on up Midday Scot in 1959.

Forfar [2nd]: Forfar with GNSR 49 'Gordon Highlander' and GWR 3440 'City of Truro' taking water at Forfar in 1959.

Glasgow Central: NB 256 Glen Douglas with CR 123 leading brings a Scottish Industries Exhibition special into Glasgow Central on 5 September 1959.

Glasgow Central: Class 8P 46244 at Glasgow Central on the up Midday Scot.

Glasgow Central: A recently delivered DMU leaving Glasgow Central on 5th September 1959.

Glasgow Central: A recently commissioned six-car DMU formation about to leave Glasgow Central on 5 September 1959.

Glasgow Central: Fairburn 2-6-4T no 42171 takes a break between station pilot duties at the south end of Glasgow Central station on 5 September 1959.

Glasgow Central: Fairburn 2-6-4T no 42203, recently arrived from Polmadie shed, reverses into Glasgow Central to pick up a local train on 5 September 1959. Meantime, in the left background, Stanier Pacific no 46244 King George VI gets into the right mood to take out the Mid-Day Scot for London Euston.

Glasgow Central: NB 256 Glen Douglas coupled to CR 123 backing out of Glasgow Central station on 5 September 1959. The pair had arrived earlier in the day with one of the specials arranged to bring visitors to the Scottish Industries Exhibition being staged in Glasgow at that time. See image [[32057]]

Glasgow Central: GNSR No 49 Gordon Highlander + GWR No 3440 City of Truro reversing out of Glasgow Central on 5 September 1959. The pair had recently arrived with a special in connection with the Scottish Industries Exhibition.

Glasgow Central: GNSR 49 'Gordon_Highlander' and GWR 3440 'City of Truro' at Glasgow Central 05/09/59.

Bridge of Orchy: Photograph taken from the window of a coach located towards the rear of the 5.10am Glasgow Queen Street - Mallaig on 5 September 1960, with locomotives 73077+44908 working hard immediately north of Bridge of Orchy. See image [[39382]]

Rannoch: 73077+44908 with the 5.10am Glasgow Queen Street - Mallaig, photographed north of Rannoch Viaduct on the West Highland line on 5 September 1960.

Newton Stewart: Black 5 45432 waiting to leave Newton Stewart with the 3.40 p.m. Stranraer-Dumfries train on 5 September 1961. The station staff are having trouble with the vacuum bag and this delayed departure by 13 mins. See image [[45799]] [Ref Query 8878]

Stranraer Town: A general view east over Stranraer Town station on 5 September 1961 with the yard and shed standing just beyond.

Newton Stewart: 45432 calls at Newton Stewart on 5 September 1961 with the 3.40pm Stranraer - Dumfries.

Dumfries: The north end of Dumfries station in September 1961 sees Jubilee 45621 Northern Rhodesia busy splitting up a recently arrived parcels train.

Dumfries: 40670 about to remove the empty stock of the 3.40pm ex-Stranraer from a sunny Dumfries station on 5 September 1961. See image [[46460]]

Dalmellington: Park Royal railbus SC79974 stands at the buffer stops at Dalmellington station on 5 September 1961 with a service for Ayr.

Stranraer Town: 45432 prepares to leave Stranraer Town on 5 September 1961 with the 3.40pm train for Dumfries. [Ref query 2778]

Girvan: Looking across the south end bay at Girvan in September 1961 as a Swindon DMU calls with the 12.30pm St Enoch - Stranraer service.

Dumfries: 2P 4-4-0 no 40670 on station pilot duty at the north end of Dumfries on 5 September 1961. Note the signal boxes, ancient and modern, in the left background and the vans in the high level goods yard on the right.

Carlisle: One of Ayr shed's Black 5s no 45486 stands at Carlisle platform 4 on 5 September 1964 after bringing in the summer Saturday 8.5am holiday special from Heads of Ayr.

St Pancras: An afternoon arrival at St Pancras during a shower of rain in early September 1969 behind a Peak Type 4 locomotive.

St Pancras: Busy scene at the north end of St Pancras station in the autumn of 1969. Left to right, Peak D55 Royal Signals arrives with a train from Nottingham, D5227 is about to leave the station with empty stock and D96 is awaiting departure time with the down Thames-Clyde Express.

Kings Cross: EE Type 4 no 258 stands at the buffer stops at Kings Cross on 5 September 1969, shortly after arriving with a train from Newcastle.

St Pancras: A pair of 'Peaks' standing at the buffer stops at St Pancras during the afternoon of 5 September 1969, after bringing in trains off the Midland main line.

St Pancras: North end of St Pancras in 1969 with a 'Peak' arriving on a semi-fast from Nottingham. The ornate structure between the locomotive and the gasholders is one of 7 original Gothic style 'water-points' for steam locomotives, designed to complement the architecture of the station and the adjoining hotel. This last surviving example was saved with the help of Lottery funding - and two of the UK's largest mobile cranes. Nowadays it stands in an elevated position less than half a mile to the north alongside St Pancras Yacht Basin, between the main line and the Regents Canal.

Airdrie: The scrapyard of Messrs Henderson & Co on the north side of Airdrie station, photographed in September 1970. A number of withdrawn steam locomotives were broken up here (see image [[53112]]). Unfortunately the Clayton was just visiting.

Airdrie: The south side of Airdrie terminus in September 1970. View is east, with a recently arrived train in bay platform 1 and other units stabled in the adjacent sidings.

Nairn: Crossing at Nairn station on 5th September 1970 with the 14:35 Inverness - Aberdeen at the near platform alongside Scottish Grand Tour no 11 heading towards Inverness (with thanks to David Spaven).

Nairn: Scottish Grand Tour no 11 headed by D364 pauses at Nairn to  cross the 14.35 Inverness - Aberdeen (single unit leading) on 5th  September 1970 [with thanks to David Spaven].

Innellan Pier: PS 'Waverley' calling at Innellan on 5th September 1970. TS 'Duchess of Hamilton' approaches in the background, ready to call once 'Waverley' moves off.

Ardrishaig Pier: TS Duchess of Hamilton at Ardrishaig, on 5th September 1970.Hard to believe that this was her final month in service.

Ardrishaig Pier: TS Duchess of Hamilton visits Ardrishaig in September 1970. The sea lock of the Crinan Canal is in the foreground.

Innellan Pier: TS 'Duchess of Hamilton' calls at Innellan on 5th September 1970.

Rothiemay: Grand Scottish Tour no 11 stands at Rothiemay on 5 September 1970 behind EE Type 4 no D364. See image [[28562]]

Keppel Pier: Ex-Caledonian Steam Packet Co TS 'Duchess of Hamilton' leaving Keppel Pier, Cumbrae, for Ayr on 5th September 1970 during her final days prior to withdrawal.

Rothiemay: One of the scheduled stops made by 'Scottish Grand Tour no 11' on 5 September 1970 was at Rothiemay, notwithstanding that the station had been closed since 6th May 1968.

Betzdorf: Just after 10:30 on 5th September 1974 DB 3 cylinder 2-10-0 No. 044 592 has emerged from the roundhouse at Betzdorf and will take a freight out of the adjacent marshalling yard, which was located on the main line between Köln and Siegen.

Betzdorf: 053 009 was one of the last built examples of class 50 and emerged during WW2 incorporating many simplifications to the design as a transition towards the class 52 Kriegslok. It was photographed in the marshalling yard at Betzdorf on 5th September 1974. The bogie wagons carrying steel coils will have originated from the rolling mill at Kreuztal to the north of Siegen.

Betzdorf: Betzdorf shed, located on the Köln to Siegen line in the Sieg valley, only had a small allocation but was still busy in 1974 dealing with freight traffic from the surrounding heavy industry. The allocation comprised 2-10-0s of classes 44 and 50, all stabled here with their smokeboxes facing the outside wall of the roundhouse. The locos involved are (left to right) 044 592 (probably), 044 177, 050 904, 050 190 and 052 404.

Istanbul Sirkeci: Three E8000 Suburban EMUs are seen at the buffers at Istanbul Sirkeci in 1975. They were built by Alstom in 1955 and were used on the Marmaray 25kv line out to Halkali

Istanbul Sirkeci: TCDD Electric E4001, at Istanbul Sirkeci station, on arrival with the Direct Orient Express in September 1975. It was one of only three built in 1955 by AlstomJeumont, and was used on the overhead 25KV section out of Istanbul Sirekeci to Halkali on the Marmaray line.

Präbichl: Austrian State Railways 0-6-2RT No. 97.205 (assisted by 97.209 out of sight at the rear) brings a rake of empty iron ore wagons into the summit station at Präbichl while on the right sister loco 97.207 waits with a loaded train to make the steep descent down to Vordernberg. Photographed early on the morning of 5th September 1975,

Graz: The standard gauge Graz-Koeflacher-Bahn (GKB) in Austria is something of a curiosity, being owned by the state but not forming part of the Österreichische Bundesbahnen - this probably came about because it had its origins as a coal railway. With steam operating well into the '70s, the GKB was the last refuge for an 1897 Karl Goelsdorf design of compound 2-8-0, although unfortunately by the time of my visit in September 1975 all the surviving examples were dumped out of use at Graz, replaced by Kriegloks obtained from the ÖBB. Spark arrester fitted 56 3115 was one of these and its survival almost twenty years after the type became extinct on the ÖBB was late enough for it to pass into preservation.

Healey Mills Marshalling Yard: The morning of Sunday 5th September 1976 finds a row of apparently dumped class 03 shunters at the east end of Healey Mills Yard. In fact No. 03 097 in the middle was the only one of this trio not to see further service - 03 047 on the left was only in store and would not be withdrawn until the middle of 1979, while 03 111 on the right was reinstated a couple of months later at Gateshead TMD and soldiered on into 1980.

Totnes: A view from the station footbridge (now replaced) looking North East shows the vast scale of this Broad Gauge 4-track layout designed by Brunel. The original train sheds would have covered the platform roads at this example of a siding station i.e. where the platforms are adjacent to the tracks forming the passing loops, a siding being the original term for what is now called a passing loop. The Signal Box and Atmospheric Engine House are just visible on the left beyond the Up platform roof. The Down platform building replaced a structure burned down in 1962.

Glenfinnan: Black 5 No. 44767 makes a nice broadside shot as it works uphill from Glenfinnan in September 1993. The condensing steam suggesting that there is still a chill in the air even though it is late morning.

Glenfinnan: The Stephenson valve gear Black 5, No. 44767, forges uphill west of Glenfinnan towards the watershed between Loch Shiel and Loch Eilt on 5th September 1993.

Gilmerton: In 1995 the Bilston Glen branch had been out of use for a few years. The track was to remain in place for a while yet, and the trackbed here did not open as a walkway until 2018. The view looks northeast towards Millerhill. Gilmerton station platform was on the left in the middle distance with Gilmerton pit to the right of the line.

Edinburgh Waverley: The recently arrived empty stock which will form the GNER 0900 service to Kings Cross stands at Waverley platform 21 early on a wet Sunday morning in September 2004. It would be another 8 years before work finally got underway on a replacement canopy for the 'sub' platforms see image [[43131]].

Strass im Zillertal: Ex Jugoslavian Railways 0-8-2 No. 83 076, rescued from Bosnia by the Austrian 'Club 760' and on long term hire to the Zillertalbahn as its No. 4, coasts through the station at Strass im Zillertal on the early evening of 5th September 2005 with the 17:18 steam service from Mayrhofen.

Strass im Zillertal: Against an impressive backdrop of the Rofangebirge, Zillertalbahn No. 4 rolls away from Strass im Zillertal towards Jenbach on the early afternoon steam working from Mayrhofen. At that time, two daily return services were being run during the peak season but this has now been reduced to one, rather limiting the photographic possibilities on the line. The remaining return working now takes place in the late afternoon so that the lighting is no longer optimal for this shot.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Looking out from the concourse at Glasgow Queen Street station in September 2005.

Perth New Yard: Control tower at Perth New Yard in September 2006.

Perth New Yard: Welcome to Perth New Yard. September 2006.

Perth New Yard: Perth New Yard - workshop/shed interior, Sept 2006.

Perth New Yard: Perth New Yard - amenity block in September 2006.

Perth New Yard: Closeup of the tower at Perth New Yard. September 2006

Perth New Yard: Perth New Yard. Internal accomodation. September 2006.

Alloa: Panorama showing significant progress at Alloa on 5 September 2006 with the new Asda superstore, petrol station and customer car park all now fully operational... alas nothing much to report on the railway front.

Alloa [1st]: Work underway at Alloa in heavy rain on 5 September 2006. View is west from the old wagonway bridge, looking over the site of the original S&D station (1850-1968). See image [[6473]]

Quedlinburg (Germany): Narrow gauge steam loco at Quedlinburg.

Quedlinburg (Germany): Modern mainline unit at Quedlinburg marketed as Harz Elbe Express (HEX).

Quedlinburg (Germany): Narrow gauge railcar at Quedlinburg.

Inverkeithing Central Junction: 08.20 Aberdeen - Birmingham New Street approaching Inverkeithing on 5 September. All change soon!

Johnstone: 66168 passing through Johnstone heading for Hunterston

Johnstone: 66149 at Johnstone with loaded coal bound for Longannet PS

Tay Bridge South Junction: 1500 Edinburgh - Aberdeen GNER HST approaches the Tay Bridge from the south.

Perth: 50049 on the rear of the <I>Autumn Highlander</I> at Perth on 5 September 2007. Two Locomotives and eleven coaches easily fit into platform 4 at Perth.

Johnstone: Network Rail stoneblower DR80303 at Johnstone station heading west on 5th September 2008

Johnstone: West Coast Railways 47804 at Johnstone station heading to Falkland Yard on 5th September 2008 with empty SRPS coaches for use on the Ayr to Mallaig excursion the following day

Johnstone: West Coast Railway 37248 at Johnstone station heading to Falkland Yard on 5th September 2008 on the rear of empty SRPS coaches for use on the Ayr to Mallaig excursion the following day. Up front is 47804.

Johnstone: First Engineering Tamper DR 73914 Robert McAlpine passing west through Johnstone station on 5th September 2008

Ebbw Vale: Ebbw Vale Steelworks Yard looking north. The works has been completely demolished and the site is now being redeveloped. Spoil from the new earthworks has been dumped into the yard site. Has someone forgotten about the projected northwards extension of the line? Day of severe flooding in South Wales.

Rhymney: New track layout at Rhymney. The disused island platform has been removed and train maintenance sidings relaid.

Ashchurch for Tewkesbury: A colourful pair pass at Ashchurch with the view looking north. Ashchurch is a superb location as trains can be seen approaching from several miles away in each direction. Often photographers equipped with binoculars can be found here. This was formerly an important junction on the Midland's Birmingham to Gloucester line with the old Midland line to Tewkesbury and Malvern running off to the left and that to Evesham and Barnt Green to the right (now cut back to some MOD sidings in the Ashchurch area).

Bodsberry Level Crossing: Southbound train at Bodsbury Level Crossing, just south of Elvanfoot.

Honeybourne: Looking to Oxford at Honeybourne. The line to the left serves the nearby MOD establishment. The line to the right is the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway. There was a signalbox on the right serving the junction, now gone.

Honeybourne: A First Great Western service pauses on its way west at Honeybourne and the guard takes the air. The view looks towards Oxford. The arch crosses over the original OWW and to its left is a girder over the later connecting line to the Stratford-upon-Avon to Cheltenham line.

Shap Summit: A Voyager speeds north at Shap Summit, the view looks north. The tracks in the foreground serve the Shap Summit Quarry loading pad (behind camera) with the leftmost lifted beyond the boundary fence gate. A line used to run south from near here to Shap Pink Granite Quarry.

Honeybourne: Honeybourne looking to Worcester. The disused island platform divides the OWW on the left from the connection to the GWR route from Cheltenham to Birmingham. The latter route is retained as a stub here serving an MOD establishment at Long Marston with a connection behind the camera operated by ground frame.

Shap Summit: This is the view over a gate at Shap Summit looking south in 2009. The sidings serve the loading pad for the quarry here. The track to the right is a short stub.

Newburgh [2nd]: Photo taken from the goods shed looking south at the goods loading bank and beyond the passenger station building. The goods yard is now used by a timber comapny and a great burger bar called 'Newburgher'.

Dalmally: View east at Dalmally station on 5 September 2010 with a road/rail vehicle standing beyond the platform.

Coventry: A view east over Coventry station. See image [[18520]] for the same view in 1983.

Combe Down Tunnel: This view shows the southern portal of Combe Down Tunnel - still awaiting restoration in September 2011! See image [[43820]]

Midford: This is as near as I could remember to where I took my previous photograph see image [[25899]] many years ago. The trackbed has been adopted by Sustrans for their 'Two Tunnels' scheme. There is already a cycle track to here from Radstock and on to Tucking Mill viaduct.

Thury-Harcourt: The site of Thury-Harcourt station, on the defunct line from Caen to Flers, following the River Orne. Apparently the SNCF cannot legally dismantle such old lines. See image [[35647]]

Thury-Harcourt: View south at Thury-Harcourt on 5 September 2011. See image [[35638]]

Thury-Harcourt: The station buildings at Thury-Harcourt, seen here on 5 September 2011, are now privately owned. Probably used as a cafe at some point, but now a home from home.

Point of Ayr Colliery: Some track still in place on the branch to the former Point of Ayr colliery, Flintshire, closed in 1996. View from a train on the North Wales Coast line near Prestatyn in Sept 2012.

Bangor: Bangor signal box sits balanced atop a recess in a brick faced retaining wall beyond the west end of the station up side. It is a lengthy box as seen in this view looking east in September 2012.

Gourock: Annabel Goldie MSP inaugurating the large photomontage by Alastair Alexander at Gourock on 5 September.

Holyhead: 67001 with DVT 82307 stabled in the sidings opposite platform 1 at Holyhead Station on 5 September 2012. The combination had recently arrived back from a driver route learning trip.

Holyhead: Redundant sidings at the west end of the ecs stabling area at Holyhead in September 2012. Alongside on the left is the longer wash plant run through line. The new footbridge links the Stena terminal and west end of platform 1 with the town's main shopping area. See image [[48261]]

Gourock: In addition to the Alastair Alexander photomontage, also now on permanent display along the covered walkway to the present pier at Gourock are nine posters showing collages of ships sailing down the Clyde. These were put together from illustrations supplied by Ian McCrorie, seen here at Gourock alongside one of the posters on 5 September. [See adjacent news item].

Holyhead: A view of the east end HST fuelling point at Holyhead TMD in September 2012. The servicing shed is to the rear right of the shot. See image [[40339]]

Holyhead: 67003 idles overnight in platform 3 at Holyhead after running round stock following arrival on the 16.15 ex Cardiff Central. The combination will eventually form the 05.32 departure back to Cardiff.

Preston: A northbound Voyager and a Class 142 crossing the River Ribble bridge together on the southern approach to Preston station on 5 September 2012. Between them in the distance is a southbound Pendolino making for its next port of call at Wigan North Western.

Preston: Having just arrived at platform 3c at the south end of Preston station, Northern 150132 is already preparing to make the return journey to Ormskirk on 5 September 2012.

Holyhead: 67003 in the short headshunt to platform 3 at Holyhead on 5 September 2012. The locomotive is running round after arrival with the 16.15 ex Cardiff Central.

Pickering: BR Class 9F 2-10-0 no 92214 Cock O' The North. NYMR's newest steam locomotive both in terms of its building, in 1959, and arrival at the NYMR in 2010. Had a very short career with BR having been built at the same time as many diesel and electric units, rescued from Barry scrap yard and restored at Butterley before going to the NYMR. Photographed on a sunny 5th September afternoon, approaching the platforms at Pickering with a train from Whitby.

Holyhead: View south towards Holyhead TMD from the bridge parapet opposite the station access road in September 2012. The HST fuelling point is nearest the camera with the two road servicing shed beyond. The RH road is not used at present. The signal box stands on the banking alongside the depot. See image [[40291]] and [[40349]]

Bangor: Bangor signal box sits balanced atop a recess in a brick faced retaining wall, beyond the west end of the station up side. It is a lengthy box as seen in this view looking west in September 2012.

Preston: Virgin Voyager bound for Edinburgh approaches platform 3 at Preston on 5th September 2012 while Northern 142032 approaches platform 1 with a service to Blackpool South.

Holyhead: Holyhead Signal Box operating floor level structure sits atop the embankment adjacent to the TMD, with the running lines and the locking frame section of the box at a lower level.

Gourock: Alastair Alexander stands alongside his photomontage at Gourock on 5 September.

Troon Harbour: The former G&SWR powerhouse at Troon Harbour in September 2013 see image [[43778]].

Quainton Road: Castle Class 4-6-0 no 5080 Defiant at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road, on 5 September 2013.

Troon: Entrance to the RSAS Barassie Works Club in Shore Street, Troon, on 5 September 2013. See image [[43927]]

Quainton Road: Sixty years on. A product of the North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow, in 1953 - South African Railways class 25NC 4-8-4 No 3405 stands at Quainton Road on the Aylesbury and Buckingham Railway in September 2013.

Quainton Road: Hudswell-Clarke 0-4-0ST Millom at Quainton Road on 5 September. Built for the Ministry of Supply in 1946 (no 1742) the locomotive arrived at Quainton in March 1970.

Arbroath Harbour Junction: ScotRail Turbostar 170416 forms the 16.21 departure to Aberdeen ex Glasgow, having just passed the corresponding southbound service. The latter is entering the station in the background as the 16.24 to Queen Street. Seen from the footbridge at Wellgate level crossing, with Arbroath North signal box on the left.

Grayrigg: A London bound Pendolino hurries south through Grayrigg on 5 September. Immediately behind the train the points where the Up Loop rejoins the main line can be seen. Long closed Grayrigg station and the still used loops are behind the camera. Often photographed in steam days, Grayrigg station is now a mass of catenary and gantries surrounded by trees and no longer accessible.

Dillicar Watertroughs: The Lune Gorge, with a Virgin Super Voyager heading north on a Euston to Glasgow (via Birmingham) service on 5 September. The train is passing Dillicar Common, although the famous Dillicar water troughs were some way north of this point. The M6, running on two levels, is close by the line here and the Tebay to Kendal road can be seen climbing across the hillside.

Dillicar Watertroughs: High above the River Lune a Super Voyager rounds the bend into the Lune Gorge and passes Dillicar Common as it heads north on what is, despite the adjacent M6 Motorway, one of the most scenic stretches of the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway.

Edinburgh Waverley: The weekend market on the east concourse at Waverley is having a Borders Railway theme. I was somehow hoping for a rail relics stall, but tragically had to content myself with one selling beer from the borders.

Edinburgh Waverley: A few minutes prior to the 12.55 return departure from Waverley on 5th September, the three daughters of the late Reverend Brydon Maben (who led the community protest and line blockage at Newcastleton on 5th / 6th January 1969) pose beside the Golden Ticket train with a photo of their father from that fateful night.

Buckfastleigh: The delightful exterior of Buckfastleigh station, South Devon Railway, on 5th September 2015. Opened on 1st May 1872, it closed to passengers on 3rd November 1958 and to goods on 7th September 1962. On 5th April 1969, the Totnes to Buckfastleigh section reopened as a heritage railway but the original intention to go to the ultimate terminus at Ashburton was thwarted by the trackbed on that section being utilised for a road widening scheme. This robbed the delightful market town of hundreds of tourists the railway would have brought in, contributing enormously to Ashburton's economy.

Edinburgh Waverley: The first 'public' train from Tweedbank to Edinburgh – the Golden Ticket special from Tweedbank pulls into Waverley bang on time at 12.29 on Saturday 5th September, closely watched by a fim crew and (far left) rail campaigner and Railscot contributor Bill Jamieson.

Helensburgh Central: Passengers disembark at Helensburgh Central from 334036 which has just arrived on the 07:48 working from Edinburgh Waverley on 5 September. 334001 is just visible on the right, stabled in Platform 3.

Leith Engine Works: Leith is not normally associated with loco works as the industry here was early and short-lived. The works were here on the south bank of the Water of Leith at Junction Bridge, where these modern flats now stand. Strangely it was not rail-served and locos would have been despatched by wharf. Fife's first locos left from here and crossed the Forth To Pettycur. The works were bought over by Hawthorn of Newcastle in 1846 for construction of 'kit' engines and I've seen it referred to as 'Hawthorn's Yard'.

Ealing Broadway: 66118 passing Ealing Broadway with a westbound freight, with LUL 1992 Central Line train on left, on 5th September 2015.

Buckfastleigh: South Devon Railway train arriving at Buckfastleigh on 5th September 2015. The locomotive is GWR Class 2251 no. 3205, designed by C. B. Collett and entered service from Swindon Works in 1946. It is the only survivor of the last design of 0-6-0 tender engines to be built in the UK. Withdrawn in 1965, it was later discovered on a farm where it had suffered the indignity of being used as a chicken coop. Rescued and restored, it spent time at the Severn Valley and West Somerset Railways before taking up permanent residence at the South Devon Railway in 1998. Overhauled between 2006 and 2010, it was repainted in 2014 in the 1960s livery of British Rail Western Region so that it now looks as it did just prior to its withdrawal.

Nappers Halt: South Devon Railway train from Buckfastleigh, behind GWR Class 2251 no. 3205, passing Nappers Halt between Staverton and Totnes Littlehempston, on 5th September 2015. This halt, which is only open on 'Special Events' days, did not exist prior to the closure of the line and was built and opened by the preservation company on 20th March 1999, almost 30 years after the reopening of the line. (See my photo of this locomotive arriving at Buckfastleigh station for details of its history.)

Ealing Broadway: 360203, with a Heathrow Connect service to London Paddington, at Ealing Broadway early on the morning of 5th September 2015. On the right is a Central Line train. The five Class 360/2 EMUs were bought by Rail Operations Group in Feb 2021 and are now stored pending possible use on high speed freight and parcels operations.

Newbury : Newbury station, up platform, seen from westbound excursion to the South Devon and Torbay & Dartmouth Railways on 5th September 2015. The scene here looks quite different now with overhead wires that were energised in January 2019.

Paignton: 143612 at Paignton, on the rear of a service to Exmouth, reversing at Exeter St. Davids, on 5th September 2015. Following withdrawal, this particular Pacer is reportedly bound for the Vale of Berkeley Railway through the Sharpness Diesel Group.

Ealing Common: View from LUL S7 stock on a District Line train to Ealing Broadway, calling at its penultimate stop at Ealing Common on 5th September 2015. The lack of passengers proves that this is a VERY early morning service.

Leyland: 33207 leads a WCRC light engine move from Southall to Carnforth as it passes Leyland on 5 September 2016 with 33025 on the rear and 37685 as the meat in the sandwich. Whilst very nice to see a BRCW Type 3 at work on the mainline in the 21st Century, it is a shame that there isn't a Type 2 version on the network as well.

Brock: Very unexpected. West Coast Railway's BRCW Type 3 33207 Jim Martin takes 37685 Loch Arkaig and 33025 on a movement from Southall to Carnforth on 5th September 2016. This may be part of the clear out from Southall following Network Rail's termination of the lease on that depot. The convoy is seen running alongside the Lancaster Canal at Brock on the final leg of the journey.

Baillieston: Vegetation clearance under way on the embankment east of the Muirhead Road overbridge. A temporary pedestrian and services bridge will be installed at this location during the works to replace the bridge deck.

Baillieston: Setting up the contractor's compound at Bailleston where work to replace the deck of the overbridge has now started.

Bolton: Northern services between Blackpool and Manchester via Bolton have been replaced by buses for engineering work at Bolton station since 12 August and should have returned to normal on 28 August 2017. Unfortunately a burst water main at Moses Gate damaged an overbridge and surrounding earthworks delaying the re-opening. On 05 September 2017 Northern were able to operate a limited shuttle service between Blackpool and Bolton prior to the line being re-opened throughout on 06 September 2017. In this view southwards, a pair of Class 150s wait to head back to Blackpool from platform 4. On the right behind the barrier, the 'new' platform 5 continues to take shape with track and signalling in place.

Bridge of Allan [1st]: A Glasgow-bound service passes the previous Bridge of Allan station, on the other side of the A9 from the current one. Note that OHLE masts have reached this far north though, on 5 September 2018, remain unstrung.

Bispham [Tram]: Flexity 003, one of two pink liveried sets on the Blackpool system, slows to call at Bispham while heading south on 5th September 2018. The arch over the road marks the start of the illuminations.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Street level view of a concrete pour in progress as preparations for the construction of the new station building proceed on 5th September 2018.

Dunblane: A service from Edinburgh has just arrived at Dunblane Platform 3 on 5 September 2018. It would be convenient if it could return from the same platform, but there's no crossover to the Up line so trains have to advance then reverse onto Platform 1.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: All that remains of the former station buildings above the Dundas Street entrance in early September 2018.

Stirling: A transfer is applied to a sign at Stirling station in September 2018. As this has always been the way to the exit and ticket office I do wonder what it said before.

Bispham [Tram]: Blackpool Flexity trams 003 and 016 have recently had a new advertising livery applied and the results are striking. Both are now in an overall pink, which also features multiple unicorns. Up to now the Flexities have mainly just had cant rail slogans or individual panels with adverts whilst retaining the basic purple and white colours but this is a significant change. 003 is seen passing the Sandhurst Avenue stop near Bispham on 5th September 2018.

Stirling: A Glasgow express pulls out of Stirling on 5 September 2018. OHLE masts are going up all around. The structure on the right is the rather OTT temporary footbridge between Platforms 6 and 9.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: A birds eye view of a concrete pour in progress as preparations for the construction of the new station building proceed on 5th September 2018.

Orchardbank Signal Box: D49 4-4-0 62719 Peeblesshire leaving Perth with a Dundee local on 16 April 1955.
See query 2154

Kendal: A view of the former station building and station approach at Kendal on 05 September 2019. The building appears in excellent condition and is used as a medical centre.

Burneside: A view across the fields to Burneside station with Windermere to the left and Kendal to the right. A country station in a beautiful setting.

Burneside: A Manchester Airport to Windermere Class 195 service departs from Burneside on 5th September 2019.

Kendal: An Oxenholme to Windermere service calls at Kendal on 05 September 2019. The photo is taken from where the former up platform was located, the area now used as a car park.

Newtongrange [Village]: The former headquarters of the Lothian Coal Company still stands on the east side of the A7 opposite the entrance to what is now the National Mining Museum. The building now houses the museum's offices, library and archive.

Edinburgh Waverley: Azuma 802204 waits to depart Waverley on the return journey to Newcastle after a training run on 5th September 2019.

Lingerwood Road Level Crossing: Looking north over Lingerwood Road, Newtongrange, in September 2019, with the houses of Lothian Terrace on the right. A level crossing existed here with the line from Lady Victoria and Lingerwood pits running between the the old brick gateposts (topped with the black ball finials) and on through the site currently occupied by the garage. The old trackbed beyond is today occupied by gardens and farmland, before becoming recognisable once more between Sixth and Eighth Streets. The parallel Easthouses Tramway passed below the same road some 50 yards off to the right [[72194]].

Edinburgh Waverley: A TPE service from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh arrives at its destination on 5th September 2019.

Oxenholme: A Windermere service departs from Oxenholme on 5th September 2019. 195120 is descending to Kendal while on the right the WCML continues to climb northwards to Grayrigg.

Newton Grange Level Crossing: The site of the level crossing at the top of main Street, Newtongrange, once used by the line into the Lothian Brick & Tile Works. The works seems to have closed prior to 1900, around the time a new brickworks appeared further south alongside Lingerwood Pit. A Gasworks later occupied the site until closure in the mid 1950s. Today a large garage / vehicle hire operation stands nearest the road with playing fields beyond. A second level crossing stood just to the left, taking the branch on to the old exchange sidings. One legacy of these twin level crossings is the strange double roundabout that continues to confuse drivers using the road junction today (not just me!).

Lady Victoria Colliery: The main entrance to the National Mining Museum on 5 September 2019. When the Lady Victoria was under construction before 1895, there was a temporary way on the right which crossed the A7 on the level behind the camera. Beyond the main gate is the winding engine house, with the pit headgear above. The building on the right topped by the tall chimney is the power station block. This incorporated the lamp room on its upper level, from which the overhead walkway provided a link with the pithead baths on the other side of the A7.

Burneside: 195120, on the 1306 hrs Windermere to Manchester Airport service, creeps over the Burneside Lower AOCL to the west of Burneside station on 5th September 2019.

Helmsley: You may wonder how the Edinburgh Woollen Mill store in Helmsley relates to railways. Firstly their head office is Waverley Mill in Langholm, which sits alongside the former terminus of the Langholm branch running from the Waverley route, but secondly, and more pertinent, is that the stone arch over their Helmsley store entrance was created from the stone recovered from the demolished narrow humped overbridge HMY7 that gave access, across the Gilling to Pickering line, to Rye House Farm near Harome. See image [[74246]]

Carron Water Bridge [West Carmont]: Excavators and dump trucks in use at the Carmont crash site on 5th September 2020.

Carron Water Bridge [West Carmont]: Another 3 mile (each way) hike into Fetteresso forest on 5th September 2020 but not much change at the Carmont crash site from my last visit. However, the jib parts were lying beside the yellow Ainscough mobile crane and a crawler track on a trailer. The trailer next to it has 3.2 Tonne weights on it and I assume Ainscough will be supplying the heavy lift crane which to be assembled somewhere within the photo's site, before it crawls over to the crash site.

Burton and Holme: This splendid road sign at the start of Station Lane in Burton in Kendal points the way to Burton & Holme station, but without reference to the distance of 3/4 of a mile, or the hill in between. Westmorland County Council was dissolved in 1974 when Cumbria came into being and of course the station itself closed in 1950, although the building still stands alongside the WCML.

Burton and Holme: An Avanti Pendolino runs south at Burton and Holme on 5th September 2020, seen from the elevated towpath of the old Lancaster Canal. Old maps show a long siding (or short branch) running alongside the lane in the foreground, on the opposite side of the wall, from Burton and Holme station to Holme Mills.

Murhill Quarry Quay: In theory, the prominent weed in the foreground should ruin this picture. But I think it just adds to the atmosphere of no rush, no fuss. View looks towards Bath, in a round about way, in September 2021. (The quarry quay was on the opposite bank.)

Pendleton [2nd]: This is the view towards Manchester, from the bridge above the disused platforms at Pendleton Broad Street, on 5th September 2021. This direct line from Wigan joins that from Bolton, which runs in front of the factory shown, just around the bend near to Salford Crescent station.

Chilcompton Tunnel: The view from a train looking North from just outside Chilcompton Tunnel was not available from 1966 to 2021. Fortunately, thanks to those nice chaps at Midsomer Norton South, it can be enjoyed once more.

Ongar: Class 117 diesel unit at Ongar, waiting to depart with an Epping Ongar Railway train to Epping Forest, on a gloriously warm and sunny Sunday, 5th September 2021. There are no boarding nor alighting facilities at Epping Forest which is about 200 yards short of the Central Line station, to which the EOR wants to extend nearer with a new platform to provide an interchange connection.

Chilcompton Tunnel: Now if only we could get through that hill - the revived Somerset and Dorset Railway runs South from Midsomer Norton, but is now facing a serious obstacle.

Balshaw Lane Junction: On the last day of the GB Railfreight charity charter 'This Time Its Personal', 50049, 50044 and 50007 bring the Preston to Bescot leg of the tour south at Balshaw Lane Junction. Double headed Class 50s were quite common on the WCML in the early 70s but this was the first time I had seen three, all appearing to be working.

North Weald: Busy scene at North Weald, Epping Ongar Railway, from the footbridge looking towards Epping, on Sunday, 5th September 2021. On the left, a train behind 4953 'Pitchford Hall' from Ongar is terminating while, on the right, is class 117 diesel unit, dating from 1960, waiting to depart for Ongar with a service from Epping Forest.

Pendleton [2nd]: Pendleton Broad Street had four platforms, and was a busy station for many years, but passenger numbers reduced dramatically after Salford Crescent opened in 1987. I was on a train that called at the right hand platforms around 1988, then took the Brindle Heath to Agecroft link to rejoin the Bolton line. This short line closed soon after and Broad Street continued to decline. In 1994 an arson attack on the station led to temporary closure, which was made permanent four years later. 158794, heading for Southport, passes through the old platforms on 5th September 2021.

North Weald: 31438 on siding at North Weald, seen from passing DMU from Ongar to Epping Forest, on 5th September 2021. This locomotive, originally D5557, was built at Brush Works, Loughborough and entered service on 15th October 1959, initially working from Ipswich Loco Shed. As 31139, she was mothballed in 1981 before being selected to have Electric Train Heating fitted, which was completed on 23rd April 1984 and subsequently renumbered 31438 before moving to the EOR in October 2011.

South Woodford: LU roundel at South Woodford, east London, seen from a Central Line service from Epping to West Ruislip on the evening of Sunday, 5th September 2021. This station was opened as George Lane by the Eastern Counties Railway in 1856 and renamed South Woodford (George Lane) by the LNER in 1937. It was first served by Underground trains when electrification was extended from Leytonstone to Woodford on 14th December 1947. According to Alan A. Jackson and Desmond F. Croome in their excellent tome 'Rails Through the Clay', the station lost the George Lane suffix in 1948 but some roundels, like this one, are still bearing the legend over seventy years later. When I still lived with my parents and first started work, I went through this station every day on my daily commute between Loughton and Holborn.

Epping Forest: The current limit of Epping Ongar Railway working at Epping Forest, a few hundred yards from Epping Central Line station, seen through the cab of class 117 DMU with a train from Ongar, on the afternoon of Sunday, 5th September 2021. There are no boarding nor alighting facilities here but hopefully a platform for EOR trains will be constructed opposite the LU station to allow interchange in the future.

Midsomer Norton South: Although the Sentinel vertical boiler engine has a handy step for topping up water (see image [[78413]]) it seems that the best way to stoke it is to stand on an adjacent platform. Bit of a bum steer, really.

Ongar: GWR 4900 Class 4-6-0 4953 Pitchford Hall [[75726]] running round at Ongar, Epping Ongar Railway, on the morning of Sunday, 5th September 2021.

Church and Oswaldtwistle: 195106, from York to Blackpool on 5th September 2022, crosses the Leeds and Liverpool Canal for the second time after passing through nearby Church and Oswaldtwistle station. This is the Aspen Bridge, the two railway bridges being about a quarter of a mile apart, but the canal travels double that distance following the contour line. This new bridge was installed in February 2020, one of two on the East Lancashire line, necessitating a two-week full closure (See image [[72228]]).

Church and Oswaldtwistle: 150120, on a Colne to Preston stopper, accelerates away from Church and Oswaldtwistle and crosses the Leeds and Liverpool Canal near the site of Aspen Colliery (closed c1930). The colliery was canal served and there is a disused basin to the left of the towpath at this point. This view looks east on 5th September 2022.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The George Square entrance to the revamped Glasgow Queen Street station, on the evening of Monday, 5th September 2022.

Dunkenhalgh Aqueduct: The Dunkenalgh Aqueduct was an early 1980s construction to take the Leeds and Liverpool Canal over the then new M65 Motorway [[82367]]. This meant a slight diversion from the original route, which has now left a winding hole where boats can turn. This view, in the general direction of Blackburn, on 5th September 2022.

Church Kirk Bridge 112 [LLC]: As the Leeds and Liverpool Canal leaves Church, heading towards Burnley, the towpath changes sides as far as Clayton-le-Moors. This is reputed to be because the owners of the Dunkenhalgh estate did not want the 'riff raff' to be able to access their land easily. The legacy of that is this nice change line bridge (No.112), known as Church Kirk, although steps have replaced the steep ramps that the horses negotiated. View east in September 2022.

Rishton: 156461 crosses the M65 near Rishton, while working from Colne to Preston on 5th September 2022. This picture taken from the Dunkenhalgh Aqueduct that carries the Leeds Liverpool Canal over the motorway just a little further east, and slightly lower, than the railway bridge shown. They were both constructed just prior to this stretch of motorway opening in 1984.

Bridge Street: This fine building is the only surviving part of Bridge Street station, which was Glasgow's first custom-built passenger terminus, situated just to the south of the Clyde. It opened in 1841, superseding a wooden structure of 1839. The line was extended in 1890 to a new terminus on the north side of the river called Glasgow Central but Bridge Street remained open until 1905 when Central was extended to provide extra platforms. [Note: the building shown here is James Miller's late addition to Bridge Street.] There is still an operational Bridge Street station, on the Glasgow Subway, which opened in 1896. This photo was taken from the ex-12.10 Avanti West Coast service from London Euston about to cross the Clyde into Glasgow Central, on the evening of Friday, 5th September 2022 where it arrived 10 minutes late at 17.21.

Wigan North Western: The unusual octagonal shelter at Wigan North Western, up side serving platforms 1, 3 and 4, seen from the ex-12.10 Euston to Glasgow Central Avanti service calling on Monday, 5th September 2022.