Blackford Hill: Back of the Edinburgh Suburban Circle pocket timetable for winter 1961-62. As in the table inside Abbeyhill, Piershill and Portobello are missing though circle trains served them too. Note the bureaucratic and unpoliceable conditions for younger people's fares. Also, why didn't they say '14 and 15' and '16 and 17'? It'd be shorter and less ambiguous.

Elderslie: 11 September 1963 and all is peaceful at sunset as a goods train (steam loco not identified) waits for the road at the gantry controlled by the Elderslie No 2 box. Visible are the four main lines between Elderslie Nos 1 and 2 boxes, and also the two lines leading into Elderslie goods yard. Sent from my iPad

Crow Road: Fairburn 2-6-4T 42126 has just passed the closed Crow Road station on 11th September 1963 with empty stock, and is about to enter the tunnel underneath Hyndland station. The points in the foreground mark the start of the spur from the headshunt of Partickhill Goods yard to the ex-Caledonian line.

Tighnabruaich Pier: 'PS Caledonia' at Tighnabruaich in 1965. This was the first season in which the hulls of steamers on the Clyde were painted in the new monastral blue livery.

Hillington East: The way it used to be... watching the trains go by at Hillington East in September 1965. A Fairburn runs through the station on the down fast line.

Tighnabruaich Pier: 'PS Caledonia' at Tighnabruaich in 1965.

Millerhill Yard Down Sorting Sidings: View south over the Northwest section of Millerhill yard in September 1971. The main lines are over on the left and Monktonhall Colliery stands in the right background beyond the down departure sidings. See image [[33633]]

Millerhill: BRCW Type 2 5303 brings a Bilston Glen Colliery - Cockenzie power station coal train off the Roslin branch at the south end of Millerhill yard in September 1971. The former Waverley route heads off to the left towards Eskbank.

Craven Arms: Although the up platform buildings at Craven Arms had been replaced by a shelter (a very sturdy looking one it has to be said), this September 1972 view north under the covered footbridge reveals that the carriage shed (left) and goods shed (right) were still extant, albeit no longer part of the active railway.

Camelford: The remains of Camelford station, North Cornwall, looking along the trackbed in the direction of Launceston in September 1972.

Gunnislake: The branch service from Plymouth stands at the old Gunnislake station in September 1972.

Gmuend: Although the border town of Gmuend in Lower Austria retained a large allocation of 2-8-2T locos until 1976, there was little in the way of standard gauge steam working in and out of the town itself (operations were centred on the sub-shed at Schwarzenau some 15 miles to the east), so that apart from a couple of workings on the narrow-gauge, the highlight of a morning spent there was the appearance of a transfer freight from Ceske Velenice on the Czech side of the border. This was normally worked by CSD No. 556 0506, a Skoda built 2-10-0 to a very advanced design, of which 510 examples were constructed between 1951 and 1958. It is seen here between the border and Gmuend station on 11th September 1975.

Bishops Nympton and Molland: A peculiar queue of abandoned caravans and cars stretches along the track bed of the former Taunton-Barnstaple line at Bishops Nympton and Molland station on 11th September 1976. It was as if holiday motorists had tried to use the disused railway as an alternative to the congested roads and come to grief. Substantial holiday traffic had indeed come this way in the past, but on rails until the line closed in 1966. [Ref query 1125]

Dulverton: The largest intermediate station on the Norton Fitzwarren to Barnstaple line, and terminus for services along the Exe Valley line until 1963, Dulverton station is pictured 10 years after final closure in 1966. Dulverton itself is nearly two miles away from this location.

Lickey Incline: 47307 lifts a heavy tank train up the Lickey Incline in 1980, with considerable assistance from two Class 37 banking engines See image [[49932]]. 47307, the former D1788, was a Tinsley loco at this time. It was finally withdrawn in 2002 and cut up at EMR Kingsbury in 2008.

Lickey Incline: Two Lickey bankers, EE Type 3s 37158 and 37204, giving much needed assistance to 47307 and its long train of tank wagons on the 1:37 Lickey Incline in 1980 see image [[49924]]. The summit at Blackwell is alongside the houses that can be seen above the tanks. There the bankers will drop off and return to Bromsgrove.

Southport: Driver's eye view from the cab of 40092 at Southport (Chapel St) in 1982. This wasn't as exciting as it might first seem as the Class 40 was a static exhibit at a Rail Festival in the station. A Cravens DMU can be seen in the carriage sidings beyond the now demolished signal box and some of the then new Class 507 EMU stock stabled to the right.

Southport Central: Southport, on the occasion of a 1982 open day at the Steamport preservation centre, with a Derby 108 DMU and Class 03 shunter being used on shuttles to and from Chapel St station which is just visible on the left of the picture. Moving across from left to right the still operational coal concentration depot can be seen and then the old steam shed, with BR Type 2 24081 visible. Above the DMU work has started on a supermarket on the site of the old Southport Central station. This had closed to passengers in 1901 but served as a goods depot until 1973 and had not long been demolished when this photograph was taken See image [[57567]]

Southport: This beats the docks. Birkenhead's Class 03 shunter 03189 performs shuttle duties with a Derby DMU, from the station to the shed, at a Steamport Southport Open Day. As it runs past the former excursion platforms the coal depot sidings, still open at this time, can also be seen. The shunter remained in BR service until 1986, has since been preserved and can be seen at the Ribble Steam Railway in Preston.

Southport: The last Class 24 Skinhead in mainline service was 24081. Withdrawn in 1980, after a working life of just over 20 years, it has now been in preservation for over 30. Here it is at Steamport in Southport, its first home, at a special open day. Steamport was based in the old steam shed but later closed with operations being moved to the Ribble Steam Railway at Preston although 24081 now resides on the GWR at Toddington.

Southport: A mix of classic railway vehicles at Steamport, Southport, during an open day in 1982. BR Sulzer 24081, preserved for only two years at this time, was on static display, while 03189, still in BR service at Birkenhead, was shuttling passengers between Steamport and the main line station in a Derby Class 108 DMU. The yellow industrial shunter to the right was still in use in Southport's Coal Concentration Depot.

Kilmarnock: Brochure covering Kilmarnock Open Day on 11 September 1988 - part two. [The steam 4-6-0 was a Black 5. There was also a piece in the brochure about wonderful modern trains about to come into service called... Class 156s! Some 27 years on and they're still here...]

Kilmarnock: Brochure covering Kilmarnock Open Day on 11 September 1988 - part one. See image [[51611 for part two]].

Looe: OO... look at that! Some unofficial alterations at Looe, Cornwall, in September 1995.

March: A Mainline Freight liveried class 37 photographed standing alongside platform 1 at March station in September 1996.

Bridgeton: 314 209 seen at Bridgeton in September 1998 on a service to Coatbridge Central, as a bus passes the station entrance on London Road heading for the city centre.

Millerhill Yard: Loaded and empty coal trains hauled by EWS class 66 locomotives pass at the north end of Millerhill Yard in September 2000 on the busy coal route between the Edinburgh sub and the ECML. The loaded train is hauled by 66049, while classmate 66164 is approaching with the empties.

Document: Second call for the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway Shares 1841.

Gleneagles: Looking south through Gleneagles station in September 2004.

Gleneagles: Looking north at Gleneagles in September 2004. The main line through platforms are to the right with the disused Crieff branch platform on the left.

Gleneagles: The former Crieff branch platform and disused section of footbridge at Gleneagles in September 2004. View north with the operational platforms and footbridge off to the right see image [[1621]].

Edinburgh Waverley: Single-storey 3 x 7 bay flat-roofed building with round-headed openings between paired pilasters. Moulded sill course, bases of pilasters advanced. Plain entablature with moulded cornice. Arrangements of doors and windows altered when converted to wine bar 1988. (Historic Scotland Category A listed buildings description of the former booking and parcels office on Waverley Bridge - here posing as Jimmy Chungs Chinese Restaurant.) Photographed on a Sunday morning in September 2005 looking towards Princes Street.

Jenbach: Zillertalbahn Nos. 3 Tirol and 5 Gerlos come off shed at Jenbach to work the 10:47 steam service to Mayrhofen. During the peak season this train is composed of virtually all the railway's 'heritage' coaches and would normally be worked by the powerful ex-Bosnian 0-8-2 No. 83 076. If that loco is unavailable then two 0-6-2Ts have to deputise, as here on 11th September 2005

Rushcliffe Halt: The beautifully straight nature of the GCRs extension to London is obvious in this view looking north at the gypsum works at Rushcliffe Halt.

Invergowrie: A Glasgow - Dundee train skirts the north shore of the Firth of Tay in September 2006. The DMU is about to pass below the bridge carrying the A85 Riverside Avenue around a mile and a half from its destination. Ninewells Hospital stands on the hill in the background.

Invergowrie: Looking towards Dundee from Invergowrie station - September 2006.

Paisley Gilmour Street: 334006 at Paisley Gilmour Streets Platform 4 with an Ardrossan Town service

Greenock Central: Remains of a roof beam support buried in the wall at Greenock Central. The station had a glazed roof at one time, but it was allowed to deteriorate before finally being demolished by Railtrack as part of the so called refurbishment of the station.

Greenock Central: 334030 departing from Greenock Central on a service to Gourock on 11 September.

Greenock Central: Looking East from Greenock Central towards Port Glasgow.

Greenock Central: Lead flashing in the wall at Greenock Central showing where the former roof of the station met the wall.

Greenock Central: The bricked up entrance in the wall at Greenock Central to the right shows where a pedestrian bridge at one time crossed over the station, along with still intact bridge number and roof beam support.

Greenock Central: The tunnel at Greenock Central that was dug out to form part of the Gourock extension by the Caledonian Railway. Looking West.

Greenock Central: Terrace Road entrance at Greenock Central seen from the platform 2 stairway. This entrance was once covered, with the original doorway the nearer of the two openings.

Greenock Central: View North at Greenock Central showing the location of the bridge that once connected the two through platforms and where, along the north end of the car park, various buildings and offices were once located. These were all swept away during the station refurbishment.

Greenock Central: Entrance to Greenock Central Platform 2 from Terrace Road in September 2007.

Greenock Central: Looking east over the site of the former goods yard at Greenock Central. The yard ran as far as the camera position. Now empty, its most recent use was as a BT depot.

Whinhill: Just west of Whinhill lay the junction where the Overton branch once left the main Wemyss Bay line (just beyond the bridge). From here it ran to Overton paper mill.

Whinhill: Looking west from Whinhill towards Upper Greenock on 11 September.

Paisley Gilmour Street: 318265 departing Platform 1 with a Glasgow Central service

Whinhill: 318265 approaching Whinhill with a service for Glasgow Central

Paisley Gilmour Street: 66119 about to pass through Paisley Gilmour Street as it heads for Hunterston

Whitby and Pickering: Express Dairy milk tanker on North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Glasgow Central: 43285 heading the 0640 CrossCountry service from Dunbar to Glasgow Central

Whitby and Pickering: Southern Railways S15 No. 825 on North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Dalmeny: Coal train for Longannet approaching the Forth Bridge passing Dalmeny on 11 September. This traffic has now resumed after a summer break.

Dalmeny: Bi-directional signalling at the south end of the Forth Bridge seen from Dalmeny footbridge as an Fife Circle departs over the bridge.

Uphall: View across a busy Motorway. Uphall station seen from the verge above the underpass on the other side of the M8 as a Waverley - Bathgate service calls on 11 September 2008. Work on construction of the second platform is well underway here. [Obtaining a shot without a passing vehicle in the picture proved quite challenging!]

Livingston North: A Waverley - Bathgate train approaching Livingston North on 11 September 2008 passes one of the remaining gaps on what is scheduled to become the new westbound line with effect from next month.

Dalmeny: Advenza 158 870 passes through Dalmeny on 11 September with an ECS stock move to Edinburgh for the rush hour. This set is one of several on long term hire from South West Trains.

Whitby and Pickering: Southern Railways stock on The North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Dalmeny: 1451 Aberdeen to London HST passing Dalmeny during a sunny break. Note that the silver power car has fleet number 43311 to the fore.

Haymarket: The new view from platform zero. Looking towards the cleared site of the Caledonian Ale House to the left of the station building at Haymarket on 11 September 2008. Demolition was required to make way for the new Edinburgh tramway.

Edinburgh Waverley: 43311 brings up the rear of an Aberdeen bound NXEC service at Edinburgh Waverley on 11 September, later photographed further north...

Livingston North: An eastbound 158 leaving the platform at Livingston North on 11 September with the 1255 Bathgate - Newcraighall Crossrail service. Note the major works that have been required in connection with the widening and strengthening of the cutting at this point.

Dalmeny: Two class 158 sets pass on the southern approach to the Forth Bridge between Dalmeny North Junction and Dalmeny station. On the left is an ECS move to Waverley, with the set on the right 1717 Edinburgh to Perth.

Whitby and Pickering: Water tank and LNER sign on North Yorkshire Moors Railway, but what is Prize Length.

Dalmeny: A National Express East Coast 125 HST heading south from Dalmeny towards Edinburgh on 11 September. The former GNER red stripe along the side of the train has now been changed to a white version.

Pickering: LMS brake van 732170 on North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Pickering: The Sherwood Forester - 4-6-2 No. 45231 on North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Pickering: The Sherwood Forester running round its train at Pickering on North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Pickering: Steam on the North Yorkshire Moors.

West Runton: Along the Bittern Line between Cromer and Sheringham in September 2008 - the first of the class 156 units to appear in the new National Express East Anglia livery.

Lancaster: With a bad wheel flat knocking loudly, two nuclear flasks trundle slowly down the bank towards Lancaster behind DRS 66428 and 66418. I had seen the train stopped at a signal on the main line just north of Oubeck and managed to get to this bridge in time to see it come through. Two days previously this Crewe to Sellafield service ran (silently) with two Class 37s and five flasks.

Forrestfield: Works area along the Airdrie-Bathgate route near Forrestfield on 11 September. View is west over Hillend reservoir with the trackbed skirting the south shore and the houses of Caldercruix standing in the middle distance.

Moffat Mills Junction: A walk in the woods on the eastern outskirts of Airdrie in September 2009 during work on reinstatement of the Airdrie - Bathgate line. Photograph taken looking east towards Caldercruix, with the site of the new Drumgelloch station 300m off to the left. The trackbed of the old Moffat Mills branch turns south on the other side of the bridge which carries Katherine Park Lane over the formation see image [[25408]].

Greenwood: CSX AC44CW's no 395 and 154 begin switching duties at the south-western end of Maxwell Yard in Greenwood, SC on Friday, 11 September, 2009.

East Midlands Parkway: East Midlands Parkway - change here for Ratcliffe on Soar power station. View looks East.

Bathgate Central Junction: On the inside looking out! A 158 service from Edinburgh turns into the platform line at Bathgate on 11 September 2009 as work continues apace in the background on the Airdrie - Bathgate link (which will eventually lead to the demise of the present single line terminus).

Drumlanrig Gorge: Framed by Andy Goldsworthy's sculpture Touchstone North, a Carlisle-Glasgow service threads though Drumlanrig Gorge near Ardoch farm.

Moffat Mills Junction: Looking east from Katherine Park Lane bridge on the eastern edge of Airdrie along the trackbed towards Bathgate on 11 September 2009. The route of the former Moffat Mills branch, latterly serving Inverhouse distillery, can be seen turning south where the oil drums now stand. See image [[24624]]

Bathgate Shed: Bathgate no more.... the demolition squad in the process of tearing down the former 64F shed on 11 September 2009.

Carstairs: DRS 66429 photographed following a signal check at the east end of Carstairs station with the Mossend - Tees Dock containers on the morning of 11 September 2009. The train is about to turn north towards Carstairs East Junction where it will join the former Caledonian route to Edinburgh.

Bathgate [4th]: Sunshine on Bathgate. A recent arrival at the 1986 single line terminus stands at the buffer stops on 11 September 2009.

Carstairs: DRS 66429 brings a Mossend Yard - Tees Dock container train south through Carstairs station on a bright and sunny September morning in 2009. The train will take the Edinburgh line via Carstairs East Junction.

Carstairs: The northern approach to Carstairs in September 2009, with an up container train about to run through the station.

Bathgate [4th]: A Waverley - Bathgate 158 service arrives at its destination on 11 September 2009.

Carstairs: The 0758 ex-North Berwick stands at Carstairs on 11 September 2009. The class 322 EMU will eventually depart as the 0917 service to Glasgow Central

Almond Viaduct: Looking south west at Turnhouse on 11 September 2009. The residue of a morning mist still hangs over the airport as a ScotRail five car 170+158 combination heads north across the River Almond with an Aberdeen train.

Clarkston (Lanark): Heavy plant occupying the trackbed of the Airdrie - Bathgate route at Drumgelloch on 11 September 2009 as work continues on demolition of Towers Road bridge. View north towards the junction of Towers Road and the A89, with the site of the original Clarkston (Lanarks) station (1862-1956) and the still to be built Drumgelloch (second) station on the other side of the bridge. Note the sections of the supporting structure for the new bridge already in place. For a view of the completed replacement bridge see image [[28847]].

Drumgelloch: View towards Glasgow along the trackbed of the Airdrie - Bathgate route on the eastern outskirts of Airdrie in September 2009. The site of the new (second) Drumgelloch station is just beyond the electricity substation visible on the other side of Towers Road bridge, seen here with demolition work in progress. For a later view over the new station from the replacement bridge see image [[31088]].

Buchanan Street [Subway]: The ticket hall of the Glasgow District Subway station at Buchanan Street, the busiest station on the system, photographed on 11 September 2010.

Bridgeton: Scotrail's programme of Gaelic education by station nameboard rolls on. I assume there's no serious suggestion here that Bridgeton was ever known as Baile na Drochaid.  This would be transliterated as Balnadrochit and means 'town of the bridge'.  The settlement was far more likely established when the area was English/Scots speaking, but there are plenty of real Gaelic-based names around such as the next two stations along the line: Dalmarnock and Rutherglen. 

Springburn: On 11 September 158 724 pulls into Springburn with a Falkirk Grahamston train. There is a half-hourly service on this line as far as Cumbernauld, with every other one going on to Falkirk. For some years there was no passenger service between Cumbernauld and Greenhill Lower Junction, apart from the odd diversion, but with a few exceptions all Grahamston trains now use this route. The return working will see the feathers on the left-hand signal lit, indicating the road is set for the Cowlairs Cord and Glasgow Queen Street.

Cowlairs South Junction: Against a backdrop of the high flats of Springburn 158 741 descends the Cowlairs incline on the last mile and a half to Queen Street on 11 September 2010.  Going off to the right is the cord, opened in 1993, which finally allowed through running from Queen Street to Buchanan Street's old line, 27 years after Buchanan Street closed.  Such were the consequences of Victorian competition in this part of the network. Though only 17 years old Cowlairs South Junction has already been renamed: it was initially called Pinkston Junction.

[Editor's note: The photograph serves as a reminder that this month marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the Class 158s, when, following a protracted testing period, 158701 was launched into service during a photocall at Blair Atholl station in September 1990]

-: Interior shot of a Glasgow Subway car, taken on 11 September. You don't have to be freakishly tall to find that you can only stand up straight in the central section. It has to be said that the subway map is not quite as interesting as even the LU Circle Line diagram. Even then it cheats a bit by showing the Inner and Outer Circles separately which, when you think about it, can't possibly be of help as there's only an even chance that the arrows show the correct direction of travel as you face the diagram. Don't give yourself a sore head thinking about this.

Glasgow Queen Street Low Level: I've noticed that line diagrams tend to contain a subtle mistake as if to keep us on our toes. The left hand of this pair at Glasgow Queen Street on 11 September shows a western connection between the Singer loop and the Milngavie branch which has never existed. If it had it would have to have been over a mile long to by-pass Drumchapel. Elsewhere mischievous fingers have scraped off strategic letters. This panel will have to be replaced in December when the eastbound line becomes a trifling 35 miles longer.

Arnside: Arnside sees 153359 call on a Cumbrian Coast service heading for Lancaster. In the background the signal box can be seen overlooking the Kent Estuary at high tide. I travelled on this service from Ulverston and it is amazing just how many people can be crammed into a bubble car but Northern really ought to consider using two car units on Saturdays!

Partick: 334 032 stands at Partick on 11 September with a Dalmuir to Springburn service.  Off-peak the hourly pattern this way is 2 Springburns, 4 Airdries, 2 High Streets, 2 Larkhalls, 2 Motherwells - one each way round the Hamilton Circle, and 2 Lanarks - one direct and one via Holytown.  With return workings that means 28 departures an hour from this 2-platform station, rising to over 30 at peak times.

Roy Bridge: The Fort William bound Caledonian Sleeper pulls away from Roy Bridge after a scheduled stop on 11 September 2010 as a group of maintenance staff waits to resume work at the station. [Photograph by Mark Edwards.] See image [[33127]]

Bridgeton: On 11 September, unit 318 266 emerges from Canning Street tunnel into Bridgeton station with a Lanark direct service.  Meanwhile, with a train at the opposite platform imminent, all passengers (except possibly the infant) are frantically phoning and texting before they lose the signal for several vital minutes.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: View from inside the Dundas Street entrance to Queen Street station on 11 September.  The customer is heading for the main line platforms while the Low Level platforms are downstairs to the right at the end of the corridor ahead.  Outside a poster advertises a musical called 'Sunshine on Leith'.  As a Leither I am surprised that such an everyday occurence is thought worthy of warbling about. See image [[4775]]

Roy Bridge: With radio signalling it is easier to have short term line posessions. This isn't new West Highland motive power but continuing maintenance work being carried out between trains at Roy Bridge station on 11th September. See image [[33122]] Photograph by Mark Edwards

Arnside: Arnside station is in a magnificent setting alongside the Kent estuary and yet close to the village centre. This view looks west, at high tide, with the famous viaduct just out of shot beyond the signalbox. The branch to Hincaster Junction on the WCML turned off by the signalbox and passed behind the station building to run alongside the estuary through Sandside. See image [[28623]]

Arnside: From the trackbed of the old Furness Railway line to Sandside and Hincaster, a Cumbrian Coast service is seen as it leaves the Kent Viaduct and rolls in to Arnside station. 156490 is just passing the old Furness Railway signalbox and the hills behind are on the far side of Kent Estuary.

Shields Road [GPJ]: Shields Road main line station had no interchange with the Subway station of the same name, which is some way off in Scotland Street. There were platforms here on lines to the west from both Glasgow Central and St Enoch which met in the distance where a Class 322 is retreating to Shields depot. A short length of platform remains on the Glasgow and Paisley lines in September 2010 and can be seen behind the nearest gantry as 334 037 slows for Bridge Street Junction and Glasgow Central. See image [[16340]]

Shields Road [Subway]: Coming down the steps to the platform at Shields Road on 11 September.  It is usually steps on the Subway;  escalators can't be fitted in due to space restraints.  Those with nothing better to do can spend a few minutes comparing the current station list with the pre-modernisation one see image [[30571]] and work out which four stations have changed their names.

Cowlairs South Junction: 170 416 nears the end of its climb to Cowlairs with the 0915 to Edinburgh on 11 September. It is crossing the points at Cowlairs South, the junction for the cord to Sighthill West Junction used by services via Cumbernauld. Like other EGML junctions it had lighting installed last year. Railways had managed 180 years without 'street' lighting: let's see if it catches on.

Bellshill: Hourly semi-fast services on the Shotts line were introduced in the December 2009 timetable, the first such services since the 1960s.  This doubles the service to Shotts, Livingston South and West Calder, and the faster services must be a boon to commuters there who were used to all-station working.  Another beneficiary is Bellshill, which as well as giving the world Sheena Easton, now has an extra service to Glasgow every hour which is non-stop (handy for Sheena's 9 to 5 'baby' if you think of the lyrics).  On 11 September 156 496 arrives with a semi-fast for Edinburgh.

Dunbar: ECML services held up at Dunbar on 11 September 2011 due to a points failure north of the station. The problem resulted in delays of approximately 90 minutes.

Callerton Parkway: Having just left Newcastle Airport, this Tyne and Wear Metro train reaches its first stop in a matter of moments, crossing Callerton Lane on the level at the western approach to the station. Callerton Parkway opened as part of the extension to Newcastle Airport in 1991. Besides the station car park for Metro customers here, there are long-term parking facilities and hotel accommodation for Airport passengers.

Dunbar: A Kings Cross - Edinburgh 'East Coast' service held on the platform line at Dunbar on 11 September 2011 due to a points failure north of the station. Photograph taken from a northbound HST standing alongside.

Newcastle Central: A northbound 'East Coast' HST arrives at Newcastle Central on 11 September.

Treviso: An old and very ornate water crane, still looking largely intact, photographed at the end of platform 6 at Treviso Station in September 2012.

Treviso: The locomotive and EMU Depot adjacent to Treviso Station, NE Italy, in September 2012.

Milton Keynes Central: The latest thing in transport integration is this 2-level bike park outside Milton Keynes station. Well, I hadn't seen one before.

Barry: Former Eurostar electro diesel 73118 inside the former 88B Barry shed in September 2012, with the bulky Scharfenberg Coupler and large buffers detracting from a normally acceptable front end appearance.

Earlseat Loading Pad: The first train out of Earlseat Loading Point on the Methil branch ran on 22 August 2012. There are now two trains a week, on Tuesday and Thursday, to Hunterston. 66140 leaves the site on 11 September, with the former 'main line' to Methil (now used for loco release) to the left.

Pleasure Beach [Tram]: Heading for the southern terminus at Starr Gate Flexity No. 008 leaves the Pleasure Beach behind and runs along the refurbished tramway. This section of the Blackpool sea wall has a number of different scupltures, some of which can be seen in this view.

Forres [2nd]: 'Forres in Bloom' does a beautiful job in making the surviving platform at Forres extend a floral welcome for visitors to the Morayshire town. View east on 11 September 2012.

Thornton Junction: 158707 heads north at Thornton Junction on 11 September, passing 66140 lurking on the former Methil branch with a coal train from Earlseat to Hunterston. See image [[40284]]

Nuneaton North Chord: The Stoney Road bridge now has track across it, plus safety rails on the deck and 'wings'. Notice also, the tidied foreground see image [[40033]]. 23 days to traffic.... officially.

Forres [2nd]: View west at Forres on 11 September showing some of the impressive floral work carried out by 'Forres in Bloom'. See image [[40288]]

Blackpool (Rigby Road): Although many old trams have left Blackpool in the last year or so a sizeable number are still kept at Rigby Road Depot. Here, from right to left, are engineering vehicle 754, restored Balloon 717, rebuilt Balloon 724, Balloon 700 in the new white and purple livery (having been modified to supplement the new Flexity cars on ordinary services) and two illuminated vehicles.

Barry: A rather sorry looking heavily stripped and rusted Churchward 2-8-0 no 2861 stands in a siding running along the east side of the former 88C Barry Shed in September 2012. The locomotive had been withdrawn from Severn Tunnel Junction by BR almost 50 years earlier. The loco is owned by the Great Western Society and was subsequently moved to Llangollen and dismantled for some parts to be used on other rebuild and new build projects. The frames were then cut and disposed of in mid 2014. The front pony truck, a wheelset, plus axle boxes and ties are to be used on the GWS 4700 2-8-0 and County 4-4-0 projects.

Nuneaton North Chord: At least at this (south) end, the track laying on the North Chord appears to be complete. Note the flashing red STOP signal near the junction as well as the tidied foreground. Officially just another 23 days to the opening of the new route.

Pleasure Beach [Tram]: Another temporary static illuminations exhibit, alongside the tramway in Blackpool, is Brush Railcar 627. This has been specially repainted for the Jubilee and positioned on a temporary piece of track in the middle of the Pleasure Beach turning circle. It is good to see Blackpool valuing these old vehicles although the amount of fencing around the old tram seemed excessive. A modern day successor passes by in the background.

Pleasure Beach [Tram]: Blackpool never does ordinary and among the sculptures alongside the tramway on the sea wall is The World's largest glitterball. Flexity 012 heads for Little Bispham past the revolving ball, which is a year round feature and not just for the illuminations.

Treviso: A train for Trieste runs through Treviso station, north-east Italy on 11th Sept 2012.

Barry Island: Barry Island station looking east in 2012, now comprising a single bay platform. A crossover bridge has been created to give access to Barry Steam Railway's Plymouth Road station, seen in the left background. Barry Island station building is now used by Cambrian Transport, the new operators of Barry Steam Railway.

Carlisle: The Settle and Carlisle Express stands alongside a damp platform 3 at Carlisle on 11 September 2013. Locomotive in charge is DRS 47805 John Scott.

Zermatt (GGB): Having descended over 5000' from the summit station, Gornergrat rack units 3084 and 3083 run alongside the Zermatt (GGB) depot and approach the terminus near the centre of town. Like most Swiss lines this one is unfenced, people being generally trusted not to go on the railway.

Kipferwald: Climbing one of the Zermatt branch rack sections, where speed is limited to 25mph, is MGB No.4 Taschhorn on a train from Brig. The HGe 4/4 II 2590hp electric, dating from 1990, is one of a class of 21 that handle most MGB loco hauled services.

Zermatt (MGB): The modern Zermatt station is effectively a large avalanche shelter spanning all platforms. In this view station pilot MGB 72 is shunting Glacier Express stock with a push pull local train alongside. Zermatt is traffic free apart from small electric vehicles and receives all its supplies by rail. The wagons of the branch goods train are being unloaded in the sidings to the left of the picture.

Skin Works Siding: A southbound ScotRail 158 running between Kilnknowe Junction and Ladhope Tunnel on the northern approach to Galashiels on 11 September 2018. The train is the 1024 ex-Edinburgh Waverley.

Carmyle: A clutter of catenary at Carmyle on 11 September as 156477 continues on its journey from Glasgow Central to Whifflet. Electrification of the route is scheduled for completion by the end of 2014.

Troon: The 11.52 to Kilmarnock leaving Troon on 11 September 2014. This service started as the 10.10 from Stranraer.

Culloden Viaduct: 68004 Rapid failed on the way north to Inverness on 11 September with the 4D47 container train. 66425 was sent as a replacement and the train, including the broken down Class 68, arrived very late in Inverness. The return working left Inverness at 19:15 and is pictured just off Culloden Viaduct.

Mount Vernon: 156478 leaves Mount Vernon Station for Glasgow Central High level on a sunny 11th September 2014, with the OHLE wiring installation now complete.

Morecambe South Junction: DRS 66301 with a lightly loaded Coatbridge-Daventry container train at Morecambe South Junction on 11 September 2014. The train is passing between the supports for the M6-Heysham Link Road bridge that opened in October 2016 as the Bay Gateway. [Ref query 7165]

Lancaster: With their enthusiastic following, all the Class 37s used on Cumbrian Coast passenger services could be classed as celebrities. However, 37401 Mary Queen of Scots, in its West Highland livery, is a bit special and made a fine sight in Lancaster on 11th September 2015 with the weekday 1004 Preston to Barrow-in-Furness service.

St Pancras: There are three iconic artworks in St Pancras, all visible in this track level image. In the foreground Sir John Betjeman is doing what most visitors to the station do. Behind is the 9m high Meeting Place statue, otherwise known as The Lovers, and above that is the Dent Clock, with its black replica known as One More Time hanging in front of it.

St Pancras: Although most of the frontage is in shadow the low sun is still illuminating the St Pancras clock tower on 11th September 2015.

Anniesland: Looking north from Anniesland station on 11 September 2015, with preparations underway for the reinstatement of the junction linking the eastbound and westbound routes. See image [[4689]]

Chorley: A view north towards Chorley station on 11 September 2016 as an RRV with trailer returns to the station site having unloaded some spoil. The new down platform face is still under construction but now has a yellow barrier fence attached to it.

Newbattle Viaduct: The Sunday morning Edinburgh - Tweedbank ScotRail 'Borders Line Steam Special' crosses Newbattle Viaduct on 11 September 2016 behind 46100 Royal Scot.

Farington Junction: The temporary servicing point for Northern DMUs that is being constructed in the sidings next to the WCML at Farington Jct is taking shape. The new track is in place with 3 sidings. On the approach from the main line there is a carriage washing plant. It was recently reported locally that a 'test run' on each road with some units has been completed

Vantage: Looking north along the course of the Fordell Railway at Vantage. The hill in the background is actually spoil at Muir Dean opencast site, now closed.

Chorley: Weekend reconstruction work on Chorley station is continuing with both lines now relaid and the down platform face still being rebuilt. On 11 September 2016 it was also noticed that the up platform (on the right) has been worked on and now has a temporary surface following the track replacement.

Blackburn King Street Goods: A view south across the former King Street coal yard in Blackburn on 11 September 2016. The site is being cleared and the new Blackburn Train Maintenance Depot will be constructed in the coming months.

Carlisle: Having brought in The Waverley special from York via Hexham on Sunday 11th September, 60103 Flying Scotsman sat in platform 1 at Carlisle for well over half an hour, giving ample opportunity for photography. Here it is moving forward with the support coach prior to reversing down to Upperby to turn.

Newbattle Viaduct: 46100 Royal Scot runs out onto Newbattle Viaduct during a glorious Sunday morning on 11 September 2016. The train is the 0946 Edinburgh Waverley - Tweedbank 'Borders Line Steam Special', the first of two such specials arranged for that day. Bringing up the rear of the train on this occasion is EWS 67008.

Tweedbank: Proper bus-rail integration at Tweedbank is explored by ScotRail's John Yellowlees on 11th September 2016.

Edinburgh Waverley: Classic logo on Royal Scot at Edinburgh Waverley on 11th September 2016.

Edinburgh Waverley: ScotRail's John Yellowlees admires Royal Scot at Edinburgh Waverley on its return from Tweedbank on 11th September 2016.

Edinburgh Waverley: Mons Meg, 86401, at Waverley.

Örnsköldsvik Central: In this view looking north one sees a position label Ök 132 for the ECTS signalling system on a post at the end of the platform with an arrow indicating the position of the S&C. There are two Eurobalises on each mainline track. Across the junction on the left is a short branch line which has the standard Swedish ATC (Automatic Train Control) signalling with four balises. Note also the lighting on top of the OHLE masts over the junction. The line then proceeds in tunnel under part of the town; the tunnel portal is just visible on the right behind a brick wall.

Örnsköldsvik Central: Is this a high speed station with its own ski jump or is it a ski jump with its own HS station? When the 250km/h Bothnia line was completed in 2010 the station had been relocated to a higher location directly over the runout area of the ski jump. Note the two ETCS Level 2 Eurobalises. The maximum permitted line speed on the Botniabanan is 250km/h however passenger trains currently run at 200km/h.

Aviemore Shed: The 1898 Highland Railway locomotive shed at Aviemore, now part of the Strathspey Railway, photographed from the adjacent roadway on the afternoon of 11 September 2017.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The parapet on the north side of the Cathedral Street bridge has now acquired clear plastic panels to bring the height up to the required standard above the recently energised OHLE in the station below.

Hornsea: The old station building at Hornsea, closed in 1964, and now residential accommodation. This view looks towards where the buffer stops would have been, with the road to the beach beyond. 11th September 2017.

Kilmarnock: The South West Scotland Community Rail Partnership was launched today at Kilmarnock.

From the website: 'The South West Scotland Community Rail Partnership is a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation which aims to engage people in their local railway across Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway - from Stranraer in the far south-west, to Ayr and Kilmarnock in the north and south to Dumfries and east to Gretna Green on the Anglo-Scottish Border.'

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The first of the new buildings in the old car park area at Queen Street begins to take shape. See image [[59772]] for an earlier photo of its curious foundations.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The forlorn looking Consort House (at the southwest corner of Glasgow Queen Street station site) which has now been internally stripped and has had most of its windows removed. The scaffolding will be extended to enable floor by floor demolition.

Ryehill and Burstwick: The old station at Ryehill & Burstwick, mid-way along the Withernsea branch. The station closed with the line from Hull in 1964 but lives on as a private residence alongside the trackbed footpath. This view towards Withernsea in September 2017 [Ref query 12 September 2017].

Preston: Platform scene at Preston on 11th September 2017 as a former Thameslink EMU arrives from Liverpool Lime Street. From the new 2018 timetable these workings will probably go through to Blackpool North under the new wires.

Colinton Tunnel: Interior of Colinton Tunnel on the former Balerno branch in Edinburgh, now an official footpath, looking north on 11th September 2017. This line was opened on 1st August 1874 with the last passenger train running on 1st November 1943 although official closure to passengers was not until 1st June 1949. Freight trains continued (with some enthusiasts' specials also occasionally traversing the line) until complete closure on 4th December 1967.

Preston: Pacer 142060 calling at Platform 1 at Preston in September 2017. The old parcels platform can also be seen.

Skipton: GBRf 66723, Chinook, which now carries an RAF style bodyside number ZA723, seen stabled in the sidings at Skipton station on 11th September, 2017. Across the main line tracks the start of the Grassington branch, where GBRf operates a number of trains to the quarry, can be seen.

Preston: 158797 at Preston heading from Blackpool North to York on 11th September 2017.

Buxton Shed (LNWR): Beyond the Buxton to Whaley Bridge line a new piece of the railway network is under construction on 11th September 2018, albeit only a 430m extension to the existing Up Relief Sidings at Buxton. The sidings are effectively a loop and currently allow locomotives to run round their trains to and from the Hindlow Branch and also to allow charter trains to access the station when arriving from Peak Forest. The extension will increase the capacity of the loop from 18 to 26 wagons.

Grangemouth: Colas 70805 nears its destination with the Dalston - Grangemouth Ineos empty tanks on 11 September 2018. Electrification work looked to be complete by this time.

Paterson's No 2 Siding: A 158 emerges from Ladhope Tunnel, shortly after leaving Galashiels station with a mid-morning Tweedbank - Edinburgh service on 11 September 2018.

Glenury Viaduct: A drone can be very useful! Leeds-Aberdeen HST nears the end of its journey as it crosses the Glenury Viaduct just north of Stonehaven Station.The lead power car is 43299.

Gore Glen Bridge: The 1229 Tweedbank - Edinburgh 158 has just cleared Gore Glen bridge over the A7 on 11 September 2018. The train is on the long sweeping curve north between Gorebridge and Newtongrange.

Dingwall: Dingwall 11 September 2018.

Selkirk Junction: The 0955 Edinburgh - Tweedbank has just run through the site of Selkirk Junction and passed below the Galafoot Lane footbridge on 11 September 2018. ScotRail 158710 is less than two minutes from its ultimate destination.

Fountainhall: A mid-morning train on the Borders Railway runs north past the site of Fountainhall station on 11 September 2018 heading for its next scheduled stop at Gorebridge.

Redbridge Viaduct: The 1059 ScotRail service to Edinburgh seen shortly after commencing its journey from Tweedbank on 11 September 2018. The train has just crossed the Red Bridge over the Tweed heading north towards its first stop at Galashiels, passing pedestrians about to cross the river in the opposite direction using the shared crossing.

Kilnknowe Junction: Approaching Galashiels from the north on 11 September 2018 is 170428, forming the 1054 Edinburgh - Tweedbank. The train is passing the point where the Peebles Loop once turned off to the west away from the Waverley route.

Easthouses Extension Pit: Looking west over the site of the Easthouses Extension Pit in September 2019. Closed down in 1969, the location has since become Easthouses Industrial Estate. The tall building was constructed by the NCB as part of the modernisation programme in 1953. It contained the water tank, boilers etc supplying the new pithead baths.

Edinburgh Airport [Tram]: If a tram doesn't cross the scissors to arrive at the airport then it has to do so to depart. A city-bound tram does the latter on 11 September 2019.

Edinburgh Waverley: I can't help feeling there is something lacking in this departure information seen at Waverley on 11 September 2019. It is an improvement on the 'No Signal' it had been showing for weeks in that at least we've now got a clock

Easthouses Extension Pit: View north at Easthouses in 2019. The car is heading towards Dalkeith on the B6482 over a bridge that once spanned the Easthouses tramway. The Easthouses Extension Pit that it served was located beyond the trees and to the right. The tramway originally passed below a bridge carrying Mayfield Road (now infilled) from which the photograph was taken, with the route in the background part of a later road improvement scheme.

Gogarburn [Tram]: An Airport tram halts at Gogarburn amid bowling green smoothness. The stop is mainly used by staff at the Gogarburn headquarters of RBS. It used to be plastered with RBS branding but it has all been removed which is mystifying as banks are so popular. The building in the background is Edinburgh Gateway station and tramstop which the zoom lens has brought deceptively close.

Plates, signs, notices etc: This huge advert contains a pun as it is indeed a train on a block in Princes Street. The inches high small print reads ‘Launching alongside existing LNER trains’ which I suppose is a necessary disclaimer as they are still very much the exception. The train appears to be either running wrong-line or, far more likely, is based on a photograph of the back of a train. Of course to all right-thinking people photographing the back of a train is cheating.

Easthouses Extension Pit: The underpass below the B6482 at Easthouses (currently closed off) seen from the north in September 2019. This is the route of the Easthouses Tramway, a 3ft 6in gauge 'tub road' used to convey coal from Easthouses drift mine behind the camera to the Lothian Coal Company's central washing, screening and disposal facilities at Lady Victoria, one and a half miles to the south. Originally operated using an 'endless rope' haulage system the task was taken over by narrow gauge diesel locomotives during the NCB era. Easthouses ceased production in 1969.

Dresden: Dresden freight-tram, one of two introduced to carry Volkswagen car parts 4km across the city between a logistics centre and a VW factory. A slightly fuzzy photo in the evening gloom but a very interesting, and possibly unique, tram service.

Leith Walk [CR]: Leith Walk (CR), or at least the abutment of the lattice girder bridge over Leith Walk, with track in place on the Newhaven Tram Extension on 11th September 2021.

The Shore [Tram]: Looking across the Bernard Street/Baltic Street intersection from The Shore tram stop on Constitution Street on 11 September 2021. Rails have been installed over the 'level crossing'.

Dalgety Bay: 60163 'Tornado' about to pass through Dalgety Bay with 'The Aberdonian' on 11 September 2021.

Tarbolton: Telephoto view of the 'Galloway Fifties' railtour, hauled by 50034 and 50049, approaching Tarbolton station between Mauchline and Annbank. The station itself was about a mile and a half from the village it served and closed to passengers on 4th January 1943. The line was once double track but is now single and sees very little traffic. The station building on the eastbound side survives as a butcher's shop according to the sign at the entrance.

Balfour Street [Tram]: A crossover being assembled near the Balfour Street stop. View north along Leith Walk on 11th September 2021.

Dalgety Bay: 170412 forming the 08.32 from Edinburgh to Inverness nears Dalgety Bay on 11 September 2021. Proposed timetable changes will have this particular service routed through Dunfermline but not, unfortunately, the former route which would have taken it through Kinross! (Many Inverness to Edinburgh services will run via Stirling which will increase the journey time.)

Sheriffhall [2nd]: A northbound DMU on the Borders Railway approaching the double track section at Kings Gate on 11 September 2022 with the 0950 ex-Tweedbabnk.