Coalburn: The last train at Coalburn on 2 October 1965 see image [[47737]]. By this time the line had been cut back from Bankend and the level crossing gates removed.

Coalburn: The last train prepares to depart from Coalburn, South Lanarkshire, on 2 October 1965.

Woodburn: The 'Wansbeck Piper' ran from Newcastle Central to Woodburn via Morpeth on 2 October 1966 to mark the closure of the Wansbeck Valley line (which by then terminated at Woodburn). The train was double headed by Ivatt 2-6-0s 43063+43000. Here no 43063 is in the process of running round the 11 coach train at Woodburn, where the short headshunt required splitting the pair for the manoeuvre. See image [[21165]]

Woodburn: Ivatt 2-6-0 no 43063 running round the 11 coach 'Wansbeck Piper' at Woodburn on 2 October 1966. The train, which ran from Newcastle Central via Morpeth, was double headed throughout by 43063+43000 running tender to tender (although the run round manoeuvre seen here required the locomotives to be separated due to the short remaining head shunt). The special had been organised by Gosforth Round Table to mark the closure of the Wansbeck Valley line, which by then terminated at Woodburn. See image [[21165]]

Scotsgap: 43063 coupled tender to tender with 43000 stands at Scotsgap with The Wansbeck Piper on 2 October 1966. The 11 coach special, which ran Newcastle - Morpeth - Woodburn and return, was organised by Gosforth Round Table to mark the end of the Wansbeck Valley line.

Woodburn: 43000+43063 at Woodburn with The Wansbeck Piper on 2 October 1966. The pair had just completed a run round manoeuvre at what was then the end of the line and were preparing to take the special back to Newcastle via Morpeth.

Bowesfield Junction: A rake of what at first glance appears to be 16t mineral wagons passes Bowesfield box to the west of Thornaby in October 1970 behind class 37 No.  6898. On closer inspection it can be seen that they are actually iron ore tipplers, most likely conveying imported iron ore from South Bank to either Corby, Spring Vale (Wolverhampton) or Stanton Gate (Ilkeston), all of which were served from Teesside around that time. Interestingly there were also loaded back workings conveying ironstone from Northamptonshire to Hartlepool and Skinningrove. A number of ironstone quarries in the East Midlands were still operational in 1970, the last not ceasing production until 1980 when Corby steelworks closed.

Stockton: Class 37 No. 6755 brings a colliery trip working south through Stockton station, heading towards Tees Yard, late in the afternoon of 2nd October 1970.

Bowesfield Junction: Brush Type 4 D1795 has just passed Bowesfield signal box, standing at the eastern apex of the triangle of lines to the west of Tees Yard and south of Stockton. The train is a Teesport to Jarrow block oil working, photographed in October 1970.

Stockton: Brush Type 4 no D1790 passes through Stockton station on Friday 2nd October 1970 with the 16.35 block oil train from Port Clarence to Long Eaton.

Stockton: Class 25 No. 5163 approaches Stockton station from the south on 2 October 1970 with a motley collection of long and short wheelbase four wheelers forming northbound trip working 9P86.

Paris Gare de Lyon: A 1972 shot of the incomparable SNCF 'Mistral' express awaiting its 13.20 departure from Paris Gare de Lyon behind CC6503. Although TGV services now whizz south from Paris at far higher speed, I feel they don't quite match the glamour of fifteen luxurious stainless steel 'Mistral 69' carriages being powered along the PLM main line behind a magnificent 125 mph CC6500 electric. I cannot claim to have made use of the hairdressing salon, the secretarial services or the two restaurant cars on board, but the journey was worth every franc of the Trans Europ Express supplement.

Paris Gare de Lyon: The Riviera here we come. The legendary SNCF 'Mistral' about to set off for the south from Paris Gare de Lyon. The locomotive was CC6503, one of the superb 125 mph SNCF CC6500 class introduced in 1969. Although these locomotives have all now been retired from regular service, they were at the time of this 1972 photograph the epitome of power and style. They were also early examples of the famous Paul Arzens 'broken nose' front-end design, still widely seen half a century later across the SNCF network.

Garsdale: View north from the signal box (then out of use) at Garsdale in October 1986.

Montrose: There are several bygones in this view of an Aberdeen-bound GNER service passing Montrose South box in October 1998.

Carnforth Furness and Midland Junction: This bracket signal on the up approach (from the Barrow direction) to Carnforth F&M Junction was looking in dire need of a repaint on 2nd October 1998, but the signal box was abolished just a month later so I think we can safely say it never saw a paint brush again.

Montrose: A GNER service for London King's Cross pulls into Montrose in October 1998.

Lostock Hall: Thirty years after closure to steam, the site of Lostock Hall shed was just starting to turn into a nature reserve in 1998, complete demolition having taken place relatively recently following a number of years in use as a wagon repair facility.

Merchiston: Platform remains looking south west at the site of Merchiston station in 2002. The building on the right is the former Weston's biscuit factory.

Merchiston: Down platform remains at Merchiston station. Looking south west from below the bridge carrying Harrison Road in October 2002 see image [[3747]].

Rosslyn Castle: Scene at Rosslyn Castle station in October 2002. Trackbed, platform and station name embedded in the wall.

Gorebridge: The Station Building, the main line ran behind the building left to right.

Glasgow Central: 37417 hauls away the Caledonian Sleeper from Glasgow Central

Cardross: A lengthy Mossend - Fort William Junction Yard freight approaches Cardross.

Rosewell and Hawthornden: East end of Rosewell station,

Eskbank and Dalkeith: Eskbank & Dalkeith, now overgrown. Steps up to old footbridge from platform visible. This station closed with the entire Waverley route in 01.1969

Rosslynlee: Station house and waiting room which were on original platform. Level Crossing removed.

Glasgow Central: Having a camera on your phone comes in handy sometimes and this was too good an oppertunity to miss! 37417 hauling away the empty Caledonian Sleeper stock from Glasgow Central. A rare sight now as this service is normally done by Class 67 traction

Eskbank and Dalkeith: Station House, main line to the rear.

Whittingham: The old station building at Whittingham, seen here on 2 October 2007 looking north towards Wooler.

Bilston Glen Viaduct: Standing at the north west corner of Bilston Glen Viaduct in October 2007 looking south towards Roslin. For the view from the other end of the viaduct see [[33123]].

Dirleton: The 10.37 Waverley - North Berwick service, having left the ECML at Drem Junction on 2 October 2007, approaches the former Dirleton station, now mostly hidden by trees and in use as a holiday bed and breakfast establishment.

Dirleton: '...you talking to me?' A curious young Buzzard lands on a catenary mast near the bridge at Dirleton on the North Berwick branch, eager to discover what the eejit with the camera is playing at. See image [[16764]]

Arbroath 'The Dens' Siding: Freightliner 66609 on a northbound Oxwellmains-Aberdeen cement train passing Arbroath on 2 October.

Weaverthorpe: One of the declining number of level crossings with gates still operated mechanically by wheel. The 1873 signal box and level crossing alongside the former station at Weaverthorpe on the York - Scarborough line, seen here looking north on 2 October 2008 with a regular user about to cross.

Larpool Viaduct: Part of Larpool Viaduct, looking west towards Ruswarp on the morning of 2 October 2008. The viaduct, built by the Scarborough and Whitby Railway and opened in 1885, once carried the Yorkshire coast line across the River Esk and into Whitby West Cliff station off to the right. The line closed in 1965 and the route is now a walkway. [Ref query 4 August 2018]

Weaverthorpe: Looking south over the level crossing at Weaverthorpe on the York - Scarborough line in October 2008 showing the signal box and former station house beyond. The station was closed to passenger traffic in 1930. Weaverthorpe is one of the few remaining signal boxes still controlling mechanical wheel-operated crossing gates.

Whitby: Looking west from the Langborne Road entrance across the car park at Whitby on 2 October 2008. The station (Whitby's second), dates from 1847 and the name has alternated several times between Whitby Town and plain Whitby. The arched portico over the main entrance carries the logo of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, whose staff now handle ticket sales for Northern Rail Esk Valley Line services to Middlesbrough as well as their own trains to Pickering.

Horwich Parkway: View towards Lostock and Bolton as a Manchester service departs from Horwich Parkway with 150150 coupled behind a 156 unit.

Sleights: Preserved NYMR S15 4-6-0 No 825 starts to pick up slack after passing over Sleights foot crossing with a through service returning from Whitby to Pickering on the morning of 2 October 2008.

Rillington: Site of the former Rillington station on the York - Scarborough line. View east in October 2008. Rillington closed to passengers in 1930. [Ref query 6576]

Whitby: Once a stately old railway station that doesn't seem quite sure what it wants to be any more... Whitby, looking out from the buffer stops on 2 October 2008. See image [[33155]]

Ruswarp: View east across High Street, Ruswarp, North Yorkshire, in October 2008. Opened in 1835, Ruswarp is the penultimate stop for trains on the Esk Valley line, standing just over a mile south west of the terminus at Whitby.

Whitby: While less familiar than the main entrance to Whitby station see image [[21107]], the northern entrance is marked by another attractive, albeit smaller arched portico. View south west in October 2008, looking towards Windsor Terrace.

Northallerton: Freightliner 66523 speeds south through Northallerton with loaded coal hoppers on 3 October 2008. The former goods sidings in the right background are now used by Network Rail.

Sleights: The operational platform at Sleights, North Yorkshire, in October 2008 looking north towards the original station buildings, now refurbished and in private ownership. Viewed from the abandoned down platform, whose former wooden building now adorns platform 3 at Grosmont station. Sleights is a scheduled stop on the Esk Valley Line between Middlesbrough and Whitby, being some 3 miles from the coast. The line is also used by NYMR through services running between Grosmont and Whitby.

Ganton: The surviving goods shed at Ganton, North Yorkshire, now used by the local farmer. View is west towards Malton, with the York - Scarborough line running past the goods shed and over the level crossing off picture to the right. The long demolished station, effectively closed in 1930, stood on the east side of the crossing.

Whitby West Cliff: Interesting choice of names for the current residential accomodation that was once the Whitby West Cliff station building. October 2008. See image [[21088]]

Whitby West Cliff: The impressive station building at Whitby West Cliff in 2008. View is south west from Station Avenue, with the station masters house on the right. The station stood at the northern end of Larpool viaduct which carried the Scarborough - Middlesbrough line across the Esk passing above the direct west to east route. Following closure of the line to the north, trains arriving at West Cliff from Scarborough bound for Whitby Town were involved in a long and steep reversal to reach Whitby Town terminus. West Cliff station was closed in June 1961.

Hawsker: Entrance to the former station at Hawsker on the coastal route between Whitby and Scarborough, closed in March 1965. Now a private residence and guest house as well as a walking centre and headquarters of Trailways cycle hire. View north towards Whitby on 2 October 2008.

Weaverthorpe: View east over the level crossing at Weaverthorpe on the York - Scarborough line in October 2008. The station here closed to passengers in 1930. See image [[21215]]

Ruswarp: A mid morning service on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, originating from Pickering, about to cross the bridge over the River Esk at Ruswarp in the autumn of 2008. The train is being hauled tender first by the NYMRs ex-SR class S15 4-6-0 No 825 and is currently less than 2 miles from its ultimate destination at Whitby.

Ruswarp: Ex-SR class S15 4-6-0 No 825 crossing the Esk at Ruswarp on 2 October 2008 with a through Pickering - Whitby service. The bridge once carried a double track railway as well as a parallel foot crossing, although the latter is now closed and is seen here with its deck removed.

Whitby West Cliff: Looking north west along the former trackbed through Whitby, West Cliff, in October 2008. The station closed completely in 1961 and was subsequently converted to private accommodation. The building at the end of the block on the right is the former station house, while the wide car port on the down side was once a covered waiting area. See image [[21088]] [Ref query 24 July 2018]

Heslerton: Midway between Malton and Seamer the York - Scarborough line passes through the old station at Heslerton. Closed to passengers in 1930 the building is now a well maintained private residence, with an impressive garden. View north east over Station Road in October 2008, with the AHB level crossing on the left.

Whitby: The arched portico over the main entrance to Whitby station, seen looking west from the car park on 2 October 2008. Opened in June 1847 as Whitby, the name was changed to Whitby Town in 1883. It reverted to plain Whitby in 1938 but was then changed back once again to Whitby Town in 1951. Since then it has been changed yet again to Whitby, the name by which it is officially known at the present time (Monday, 2.30pm).

Whitby: Entrance to Whitby terminus from Station Square, 2 October 2008.

Sleights: A through NYMR service between Whitby and Pickering runs through Sleights station on 2 October 2008 behind ex-SR class S15 4-6-0 no 825. The train is about to pass below the A169 road bridge.

Heslerton: The former York and North Midland Railway station at Heslerton on 2 October 2008 looking south east over the level crossing. The 1845 station closed as long ago as 1930 although the station clock still survives... not that passengers on today's passing First TransPennine 185s running between York and Scarborough have much chance to notice it.

Whitby West Cliff: The former station master's house at Whitby West Cliff, adjoining the north end of the station building on the up side and seen here in October 2008. The station closed in 1961, following which it was converted into a number of private residential units, with the location renamed Beechings Mews... for some reason. See image [[21088]]
See query 2100

Ruswarp: Platform scene at Ruswarp on 2 October 2008 looking west towards Grosmont.

Ruswarp: The wooden entrance porch at the Whitby and Pickering Railway's 1835 station at Ruswarp. Photographed in October 2008 from the west side of the level crossing over the B1416 road looking towards Whitby.

Ruswarp: The bridge bringing the Whitby branch into Ruswarp, looking west along the River Esk in the general direction of Grosmont in October 2008.

Horwich Parkway: A brand new station opened in 1999 Horwich Parkway was originally unstaffed but this ticket office and waiting room was subsequently opened. Beyond the car park the Bolton Wanderers Reebok Stadium can be seen.

Sleights: The term 'Walkies!' takes on a whole new sense of urgency on the morning of 2 October 2008, as ex-SR class S15 4-6-0 No 825 puts in a sudden and unexpected appearance round the curve east of Sleights foot crossing with a through NYMR service from Whitby to Pickering.

Hawsker: The former station at Hawsker on the abandoned coastal route south from Whitby to Scarborough. The building is now a Trailways walking and cycling centre. View west on 2 October 2008.

Ruswarp: A through NYMR Pickering - Whitby service hauled by S15 4-6-0 No 825 about to run through the station at Ruswarp on 2 October 2008.

Knapton: View east towards Scarborough from the level crossing at Knapton in October 2008. The station closed to passengers in September 1930. [Ref query 12501]

Whitby: A slightly exotic-looking Whitby station. View towards the buffer stops in October 2008.

Strathcarron: Heavy rain continues to fall at Strathcarron on a grey and overcast 2 October 2009 as a ScotRail 158 is about to run over the A890 level crossing and into the stations eastbound platform. The train is the 1443 service from Kyle of Lochalsh bound for Inverness.

Achnashellach: View from Achnashellach station towards Kyle of Lochalsh on 2 October 2009, as a grey mist slowly rolls in from the west. The gate on the right stands at the end of the drive leading to the former station master's house (visible in the centre of the picture through the trees) where tea and coffee are available.

Strathcarron: A sudden change for the worse in the weather at Strathcarron as a westbound train approaches the station in October 2009, followed by a rapidly descending Highland mist.

Levisham: S15 no 825 runs into Levisham station from Grosmont on 2 October 2009 hauling the LNER teak coach set.

Strathcarron: Nice day for a walk... at least it was when we set out! A fine misty rain arrives from the west near Strathcarron in early October 2009. Passing by is the 11.01 ex-Inverness on its way to Kyle of Lochalsh.

Strathcarron: About to leave Strathcarron for Kyle of Lochalsh in October 2009.

Achnashellach: Photograph taken from the north side of the level crossing alongside Achnashellach station on 2 October 2009, with a late afternoon service from Kyle of Lochalsh about to call on its way to Inverness.

Blair Atholl: A Stobbart's container train comes to rest at Blair Atholl in very heavy rain. The train had a bit of a wait before the northbound passenger service passed it. The signalman gave the driver a wave which conveyed 'tough luck, you might as well turn off your engine'. (Meanwhile off to the left the Blair Atholl sidings forest continues to grow.)

Grosmont: Britannia Pacific no 70013 Oliver Cromwell, during a visit to the NYMR on 2 October 2009, slips on the 1 in 49 climb south from Grosmont with the 12.30 service to Pickering.

Killiecrankie: Site of Killiecrankie station looking south with 66422 leading a Stobart train south. The bridge this photograph is taken from crossed over the two platforms.

Strathcarron: West Highland rain and a fine mist covering the area around Strathcarron late one October morning in 2009. The ScotRail 158 is a service from Inverness, which has just left the station loop to take the single line westbound. The train has a further 7 miles to run before completing its journey at Kyle of Lochalsh.

Poulton-le-Fylde: West Coast diesels 37685 and 47760 swing left towards Layton and Blackpool at Poulton where the disused tracks of the Burn Naze and Fleetwood line can be seen on the right. The light engines were heading for Blackpool North behind a steam hauled (5690 Leander) special from Bridgnorth that was to be diesel hauled back to Kidderminster.

Poulton Curve Halt: Pictures of Poulton Curve Halt when open show a neat little station with a shelter on each platform. It closed in 1952 and 58 years later these are the remains of the shelter on the Blackpool bound platform looking north towards Fleetwood with the trackbed to the left of the picture. The old Fleetwood bound platform has degraded even further but still exists on the edge of a public park. Map Ref SD 345397.

Haymarket: A pair of passing Class 220s makes a welcome change from the usual diet of ScotRail units at Haymarket on 2 October 2010. There's a handy alliteration in 'Virgin Voyager', with Voyager being the name of the class and not a Virgin brand per se. The name therefore applies equally to the Cross Country set on the left.

Haymarket Tunnels: Haymarket North tunnel, mostly used by services on the Forth Bridge line, is currently closed at weekends to allow installation of overhead wires which the South tunnel has had for nearly 20 years. On Saturdays at least this means local services from Fife are terminating at Haymarket and there are some alterations to other services. This view is taken from Platform 1 at Haymarket looking towards Waverley. Not sure what the curtain is for; do the workers put on a show at the end of the day?

Quinton: This sylvan scene (carefully photographed before the trees block out the view) is deceptive - the tree-lined embankment on the horizon carries the M1 and, on this occasion, a 40 mile northbound traffic jam. I'm sure the S&MJ (here looking west between Ravenstone Wood Junction and Towcester) was never that busy.

Larbert: 6233 Duchess of Sutherland hurries through Larbert on 2 October with the 1Z69 Stafford - Stirling Royal Scot special.

Poulton Curve Halt: Poulton west to north curve opened in 1899 to provide a double track direct link from Blackpool to Fleetwood between Poulton Junction No.4 and No.5. In 1908 a station was opened, and officially named Poulton Curve Halt. It closed in 1952, although passenger trains passed through for a further 12 years. 58 years after closure these are the remains of the east side platform looking south along the old trackbed towards Blackpool. Map Ref SD 345397.

Haymarket: Platform 0 was constructed to allow locals to originate from Haymarket during the year-long work at Waverley in 2006. Since then it is used as stabling for Haymarket depot, though it has seen ad hoc workings during service disruptions. At present it is in regular Saturday use for Fife locals, unable to use Waverley because of the closure of Haymarket North Tunnel for electrification work. There are also platform zeros at King's Cross and Cardiff Central, though at humbler Anniesland, when a new platform was constructed which was 'before' Platform 1 it was numbered 3. 158712 stands with a Cowdenbeath service on 2 October.

Haymarket: Electrification work underway in Haymarket North Tunnel on Saturday 2 October 2010 resulted in platforms 1 and 2 being used as bays. At Platform 1, 170 454 is about to head off north, 170 431 having cleared the points, while seldom used bay platform 0 is also occupied on the far left.

Cap Roux: Two TGV sets cross near Pointe de Cap Roux on the line which skirts the Corniche d'Esterel, Cote d'Azur and is dominated by the distinctive red porphyry rocks more reminiscent of the scenery found in Wyoming. [Photo by Sue Chattwood.]

Frejus: A Class 66 locomotive heads a train of empty car transporters through Fréjus towards Toulon. This busy stretch of line is dominated by electric traction including a variety of freight, TGV units, push-pull sets & conventional locomotive hauled coaching stock and this was the only diesel powered train that I saw during my time there.

Wandel Mill Signal Box: 6233 Duchess of Sutherland approaching Wandel, hauling West Coast Railways Royal Scot from Stafford to Stirling on 2nd October 2010. 6233 hauled the train from Carlisle to Stirling, then back to Carnforth. Scheduled to depart Abington at 10:25 and pass Carstairs at 10:42, she was probably 30 minutes late already.

Wandel Mill Signal Box: 6233 Duchess of Sutherland hauling West Coast Railways Royal Scot from Stafford to Stirling see image [[57818]] on the 2nd of October 2010. Perhaps at least 12 coaches were partly due to her being at least 30 minutes down at this point.

Wandel Mill Signal Box: 6233 Duchess of Sutherland hauling West Coast Railways Royal Scot from Stafford to Stirling see image [[57818]] on the 2nd of October 2010. At that time 6233 carried LMS lined black livery, before re-appearing as 46233 in BR Brunswick green the following year.

Poulton-le-Fylde: Poulton rarely sees anything other than DMUs these days but West Coast locos 37685 and 47760 are seen here running light engine following directly behind 5690 Leander and the Severn Valley Limited excursion See image [[30890]]. At Blackpool North the diesels released the steam loco and later hauled the eleven coach train back to Kidderminster while 5690 made its way to the East Lancashire Railway.

Poulton-le-Fylde: The view along what remains of the island platform at Poulton-le-Fylde as 158755 calls on a Blackpool North to York service. The junction semaphore is also 'off' for the Blackpool line, with the signalbox visible under the bridge, but the enthusiasts on the platform are not stirring as Leander is not due yet See image [[30890]].

Poulton-le-Fylde: Steam to Blackpool. 5690 Leander hauls the eleven coach Severn Valley Limited through Poulton on its way from Bridgnorth to Blackpool. The train is passing the recently removed section of the island platform and also a long disused section of rail that is a reminder that Poulton once had four tracks.

Stirling: DRS 66420 passing through Stirling on 2 October with a Grangemouth - Aberdeen intermodal.

Stirling Middle Junction: 6233 gets the road from the siding at Stirling Middle box on 2 October 2010 to go south to Greenhill Upper in order to turn. The Pacific had arrived with the 1Z69 Stafford - Stirling Royal Scot special.

Euxton Balshaw Lane: Creating quite a smokescreen as it travels north on the WCML just north of Euxton Balshaw Lane on 2 October, ex-LMS Jubilee no 5690 Leander heads the Severn Valley Limited railtour from Bridgnorth to Blackpool.

Quinton: A delightful woodland scene, but distinctly mushy underfoot. View along the SMJ trackbed in October 2010, looking east towards Ravenstone Wood Junction.

Stirling Middle Junction: Stanier Pacific 6233 Duchess of Sutherland shunts back into the loop at Stirling on 2 October after arriving from Bristol with the 1Z69 Stafford - Stirling Royal Scot special.

Preston (Ribble Branch): The control desk and cab of newly restored D9539 is as pristine as the exterior of the locomotive and the 650hp diesel hydraulic has also undergone a thorough mechanical overhaul. This interior image was taken at the 2011 Ribble Steam Railway Diesel Weekend.

Preston (Ribble Branch): Newly restored Class 14 0-6-0DH D9539 was the star of the Ribble Steam Railway's 2011 Diesel Weekend. Here the locomotive, in immaculate BR two-tone green livery, is seen leaving the museum on the rear of a Class 03 hauled train heading for the exchange sidings. The wet weather on Day 2 of the event was in marked contrast to the scorching temperatures of the previous day.

Prestonpans: The new mural by Adele Conn was officially inaugurated at Prestonpans station on 2 October 2011 by Councillor Willie Innes. The photograph shows Councillor Innes with Adele Conn in front of the completed work (refer previous news item dated 18 September 2011). See image [[34627]].

Preston (Ribble Branch): The driver of D2595 changes gear and accelerates past the platform with two industrial shunters in tow at the RSR 2011 Diesel Gala. The industrials were being positioned for use later in the day. D2595, a Hunslet Class 05 0-6-0DM, is one of only four survivors of this class. Behind the shunters a long train of bitumen tankers is ready to be tripped down to the exchange sidings on the following morning to return across the Pennines to Lindsey Oil Refinery.

Preston (Ribble Branch): Class 03 cab view of D2148 at the RSR 2011 Diesel Gala. The maximum speeds in each gear can be seen with close ratios up to 15mph in fourth but then 5th being something of an overdrive at 28mph. Being a single cab shunter key controls are of course duplicated so the loco can be driven from either side of the footplate. See image [[40593]] for a cab view of Class 05 stablemate D2595.

Holyhead: View across the A55 roundabout on the approach to Holyhead Port looking to the Arriva Trains Wales Holyhead depot in October 2012. To the left of the lengthy signal box, controlling the station and its approaches, is the depot's two road TMD servicing shed. See image [[40339]] and [[40349]]

Edinburgh Park Station [Tram]: View east along the tram route from Edinburgh Park with a 170 unit passing on the parallel E&G.

Weybourne: A long distance shot of the 1330 ex-Sheringham between there and Weybourne on 2 October 2012. The locomotive is former LNER B12 4-6-0 no 8572.

Slateford Viaduct: GBRf 66735 accelerates away from a signal check at Slateford Junction on 2 October and crosses the Water of Leith viaduct with the 6S45 North Blyth - Fort William Alcan service.

Edinburgh Gateway [Tram]: The new tram tunnel under the A8 as seen from the north west corner of the Gyle Shopping Centre car park on 2 October 2012. Gogar interchange ('Edinburgh Gateway') will stand on the other side of the tunnel. See image [[40193]].

Kaltenbach: The summer steam service on the Zillertalbahn in 2013 comprised a 10:30 departure from Jenbach to Mayrhofen, returning from the latter at 16:34. In between it was advertised as doing a short return to Aschau but in practice the service was extended a couple of stops further to Kaltenbach where No. 5 Gerlos is seen in the process of running round prior to departing at 15:02 for Mayrhofen.

Luton: Bus on the then brand new Luton & Dunstable Guided Busway, on the trackbed of the former GNR Dunstable North to Welwyn Garden City branch, closed to passengers in 1965, approaching Stanton Road for Luton & Dunstable Hospital stop in Luton, on 2nd October 2013. Reports at this time stated that most Dunstable residents, one of the largest towns in England without a rail service, would have preferred to have seen the line restored instead.

Rome Termini: A Pendolino at Rome Termini on 2 October 2013.

Chaul End Lane [Guided Busway]: Bus on guided busway between Dunstable and Luton, that runs along the course of the former railway line between the two towns, closed in 1965, on 2nd October 2013.

Stafford: Surrounded by friends. The guard and two enthusiasts keep a Southbound Virgin Voyager company as it waits to depart from platform 6 at Stafford station on 2nd October.

Luton: 319215, heading for Bedford, at Luton station on 2nd October 2013. This was previously known as Luton Midland Road.

Aschau: No. 5 Gerlos approaches Aschau station with the morning Jenbach to Mayrhofen steam working on 2nd October 2013. This 760mm gauge 0-6-2T was built by Krauss of Linz in 1930 as the only one of its type delivered to the ZB and is identical to ÖBB class 498, of which five out of the eight built also survive.

Angererbach: Scene on the Zillertalbahn on the afternoon of 3rd October 2013 as 83076 heads up the valley with the 15:02 Kaltenbach - Mayrhofen.

Clifton Road [Guided Busway]: New use for an old railway as a bus approaches Clifton Road stop on the Luton to Dunstable guided busway, part of the old Welwyn Garden City to Dunstable North line that closed to passengers in 1965, on 2nd October 2013. There was never a station at this location prior to the closure of the line.

Stafford: The 11.25 to Bournemouth, comprising a single Voyager set, pulls out of Stafford (platform 1) on 2nd October.

Stafford: Stafford 150 yards - funny name for a signal box. This box at the North end of the station is still in railway use in 2013 - unlike the former steam shed see image [[44835]].

Luton: Entrance to Luton station, as rebuilt in 1939, on 2nd October 2013. This station was opened by the Midland Railway in 1868 and was known as Luton Midland Road to distinguish it from the adjacent Luton Bute Street station on the GNR's Welwyn Garden City to Dunstable North line that closed to passengers in 1965. Part of this between Luton and Dunstable is now a guided busway. Bute Street station has been demolished and Midland Road station is now known simply as Luton.

Stafford: A new design of lightweight wooden sleeper is being trialled at Stafford. To be fair to Network Rail, it is on a stub line, with about six feet of rail from a buffer stop on the left to a dead end on the right.

Dunstable North: Bus on the then new Luton & Dunstable Guided Busway at White Lion stop in Dunstable on 2nd October 2013. This opened on the trackbed of the former railway line closed to passengers in 1965 and to cement trains in 1989. Closure left the large town of Dunstable totally divorced from the rail network. The busway has since proved to be something of a white elephant. Reports state that most Dunstable residents would have preferred to have their trains back.

Stafford: Supporting infrastructure. Many stations on the West Coast Main Line now have 2 storey car parks. Stafford has 5 storeys - and they're all full!

Wigan North Western: A pair of Voyagers heading south between Boar's Head Junction and Wigan North Western on 2 October 2013.

Boar's Head Junction: DRS 66427 heads a southbound container train past the site of Boar's Head Junction on 2 October 2013. The junction was to the right of the locomotive and ran via Red Rock to join the Preston - Bolton line at Adlington. The line was lifted in the early 1970s.

Stafford: Stafford's former steam shed (5C) was split into industrial units after closure in July 1965, but has now become Stafford College Technology Centre. Various signs saying 'Private Property' discouraged me from taking a closer look.

Standish: A loaded coal train from Hunterston to Fiddler's Ferry Power Station hauled by Freightliner 66603 seen on 2 October 2013 towards the end of its journey near Standish in Lancashire.

Angererbach: Zillertalbahn No. 5 Gerlos is nicely lit by the sun on a clear Alpine afternoon as it approaches Angererbach halt shortly after leaving Kaltenbach with the 15:02 steam service to Mayrhofen. The River Ziller, after which the valley (and the railway) takes its name, is just on the other side of the trees immediately behind the train.

Stanton Road [Guided Busway]: Stanton Road bus stop, looking towards Dunstable on the Luton to Dunstable guided busway, part of the old GNR's Welwyn Garden City to Dunstable North line that closed to passengers in 1965, on 2nd October 2013. This section stayed open for freight until 1989 (there was never a station at this location) and, according to a poll, many Dunstable residents would have preferred the reinstatement of the railway. A simple connection to the Midland Main Line at Luton and this large and important town would now perhaps be enjoying electric services to London. As it is, Dunstable's residents continue to use buses and join trains at Luton, which are already full with passengers from stations south of Bedford, as they have had to do for more than half a century.

Luton Bute Street: Bus to Dunstable, soon after departure from Luton Bus Station, ascending the new incline onto the also new Luton & Dunstable Guided Busway, on 2nd October 2013. This runs along the course of the former GNR Dunstable North to Welwyn Garden City branch, closed to passengers in 1965. At this location the line previously continued on an embankment that took the line over the road in the background on a bridge and into the now demolished Luton Bute Street station. The embankment here was bulldozed to allow construction of the rather steep incline to take buses up from the bus station to the level of the remaining embankment along which the busway runs for a short distance on its way towards Dunstable.

Melbourne: Two Metro emus passing on the 90 degree curve between Melbourne's Flinders Street Station (off to lower right) and Southern Cross (off to upper right). View from The Skydeck of the nearby Eureka Tower in October 2014.

Lea Road: Darkinson Lane bridge near Lea Road (closed 1938) is one of many rebuilt and raised prior to electrification of the Blackpool line. A steel girder bridge previously stood here. Sprinter 156427 passes under the new bridge on a Blackpool to Huddersfield working on 2nd October 2014. [Ref query 420] The cottage on the right is part of a terrace of old railway houses.

Crowcombe Heathfield: In immaculate maroon livery, Western Region auto - coach, propelled by ex - GWR 0-4-2 tank 1450, prepares to depart from Crowcombe Heathfield for Bishops Lydeard on 2nd October 2014.

Lea Road: Rebuilding the Blackpool line bridges for electrification has created some new (but probably temporary) vantage points, including this one at Darkinson Lane near Lea Road. 142047 heads west on a Manchester Victoria to Blackpool North service on 2nd October. The white structure beyond the trees is part of the nuclear fuel complex at Salwick.

Cupar: Currently the UK's longest scheduled end-to-end railway journey. A CrossCountry Voyager pauses at Cupar on 2 October with the 0820 Aberdeen - Penzance. The train is scheduled to complete its 722 mile, 13 hour 23 minute journey at 2143.

Mount Vernon: Electric Multiple Unit 318266 on a driver training run at Mount Vernon on 2 October.

Leicester North: D49 62712 Morayshire at Leicester North station on the Great Central Railway on 2 October 2014.

Mount Vernon: EMU 318266 Strathclyder draws up at at Mount Vernon on 2 October 2014 during a driver training run.

Baillieston: EMU 318266 on driver training at Baillieston, seen from the platform at Mount Vernon through the OHLE on 2 October. The railings on the upper left guard the abutments of the redundant overbridge which was removed to enable electrification. See image [[45923]] for pre-electrification view.

Loughborough Central: Gleaming BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 no 92214 stands in Loughborough shed yard on 2 October 2014.

Loughborough Central: GBRf electro-diesel no 73961 (ex-73209, 73120, E6026) converted to Class 73/9 by Brush Traction during 2014, standing in the GCR sidings at Loughborough on 2 October. The locomotive is currently undergoing a running-in test programme on the Great Central.

Loughborough Central: An interior view of the GCR's Loughborough shed on 2 October 2014.

Rothley: Scene on the GCR at Rothley on 2 October 2014, featuring Standard class 4 2-6-0 no 76084.

Loughborough Central: D49 62712 Morayshire preparing to take a train out of Loughborough Central on 2 October 2014.

Salwick: Rebuilding of bridges on the Blackpool line has opened up some new vantage points but they may be short lived as the catenary wires will be installed before long. 142030, on a Colne to Blackpool South working, has just passed under the bridge at Lea Town on 2 October. The bridge once had high plate girder sides but now has brick parapets. The train is passing the nuclear fuel complex with Salwick station visible in the distance.

Quorn and Woodhouse: Preserved class D49 4-4-0 no 62712 Morayshire approaching Quorn & Woodhouse station on 2 October 2014 with a GCR service from Loughborough Central to Leicester North.

Teignbridge Level Crossing: A DMU special approaching Teignbridge Level Crossing on the freight only Heathfield Branch, north west of Newton Abbott, on 2 October 2015. [Ref query 1026]

Port Talbot Parkway: Ongoing work in connection with the upgrade of Port Talbot station, looking west from the level crossing on 2 October 2015. The large crane has recently lifted the first section of the new footbridge into place.

Teignbridge Level Crossing: The gates of Teignbridge Level Crossing, just over a mile north west of Newton Abbott, looking towards the former station at Teigngrace (closed 1959). Reviving the closed Teign Valley line north from here to Exeter was one of the options considered as a way of avoiding ongoing difficulties on the coastal route via Dawlish. [Ref query 982]

Croston: A Preston to Ormskirk service departs from Croston on the evening of 2 October 2015.

Plymouth: Side of the Cornish Riviera Express at Plymouth.

Leyland: Leyland - Colas Railfreight have again started using Class 70 locos for the Carlisle to Chirk log trains. On 02 October 2015, the third day of running, 70805 heads south at Leyland in the afternoon sunshine.

Rothley: 6990 'Witherslack Hall' arrives at Rothley. Earlier in the day, it was judged a failure due to a hotbox on the rear driving axle, but appear it did.

Rothley: 6990 arriving from the north at Rothley viewed from the Station Road overbridge at the start of the Great Central Railway Gala.

Quorn and Woodhouse: 47406 with a demonstration freight at Quorn and Woodhouse.

Okehampton: Community Rail Train at Okehampton in October 2015. The large refurbished former goods shed on the far right is now a YHA youth hostel.

Quorn and Woodhouse: Green 9F 92214 approaching Quorn and Woodhouse station during the Great Central 2015 gala weekend on 2nd October. The 2-10-0 has been performing at various locations around the UK during 2015 See image [[50674]]

Quorn and Woodhouse: In between its main line forays Black 5 45305 is a regular performer on the GCR where it is based. It is seen here leaving Quorn and Woodhouse for Leicester North with a passenger service during the 2015 Autumn Steam Gala.

Quorn and Woodhouse: Another GCR based LMS loco kept busy during the 2015 Autumn Gala was Jinty 47406, seen here approaching Quorn and Woodhouse from Loughborough. The 3F 0-6-0T has sometimes gone on tour and appeared at other railways and in other guises See image [[41549]]

Quorn and Woodhouse: There was something of an LMS flavour to the GCR 2015 autumn gala and resident 8F 48624 was one of the locos in service. The Ashford built 2-8-0 is seen here leaving Quorn and Woodhouse.

Swannington: Not every pub sign is as realistic as that at Wingate see image [[52304]]. This small station between Leicester and Burton never had a stone road bridge next to it, and certainly never had a signal box called St. Denys. Maybe the painter hailed from Southampton?

Tay Bridge: Hardly enough room for the sign!

Clayhills Yard: ScotRail HST at Clayhills on 02/10/2017.

Port Dundas Swing Bridge: I've walked past this signal post stump at the Port Dundas swing bridge 6 times a week for nearly 2 years without spotting it until last week! A Canmore image appears to show the lamp post but no signal so it must have been removed a long time ago?

Port Dundas Swing Bridge: The railway Swing Bridge at Port Dundas Basin and the base of a signal post which once controlled the approach.

East Kilbride: 156462 just arrived at the terminus at East Kilbride from Glasgow Central, on the evening of 2nd October 2018. This is the only non-electrified line on the Glasgow suburban network. However, an item in issue 926 (March 2021) of RAIL magazine states that work to electrify the line is due to begin 'imminently', including the upgrading of East Kilbride station and relocation of Hairmyres station 600 metres (whatever that is in good old-fashioned yards) to the west.

Preston: The bright and welcoming interior of refurbished Northern 158759, newly arrived in Preston on 2nd October 2018. The white panelling compares well with the much gloomier unrefurbished sets.

Edinburgh Waverley: Sleeper locos 90043 and 47749 'CITY OF TRURO' stabled in the Klondyke siding at Waverley on 2nd October 2018.

Prestonpans: DRS Electro-diesel 88009 Diana leads a Torness - Kingmoor freight past Prestonpans on 2nd October 2018. 88008 Ariadne was on the rear.

Preston: Autumn colours are starting to appear in Preston as a Sprinter 150/156 combination approaches from the Blackpool line on 2nd October 2018. This elevated view from County Hall looks towards Fylde Junction where the Blackpool and Lancaster lines split in front of St. Walburge's Church. The Class 150 appears to be a recently debranded ex-GWR unit.

Prestonpans: 380108 leaves Prestonpans with a North Berwick service in October 2018. 385006 and 007 wait in the Up Loop with a return empty stock working to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Waverley: View east along the platform 5/6 worksite at Waverley with some ballast wagons in the distance. Sleeper locos 90043 and 47749 are stabled in the Klondyke siding. 2nd October 2018.

Edinburgh Waverley: Progress on platforms 5 and 6 at Waverley with ballast wagons in attendance on 2nd October 2018.

Preston: Elevated view (from County Hall) of the northern approaches to Preston station on 2nd October 2018. A Northern Class 319 EMU is heading for Blackpool passing the Power Box with the 309' spire of St. Walburge's Church, third tallest in the UK, dominating the scene.

Prestonpans: 385006 and 007 pass Prestonpans with a return empty stock working to Edinburgh on 2nd October 2018.

Orton Junction: Opened in 1858, Closed in 1866 and lifted in 1907, this is the trackbed of the Orton to Rothes line. Once the direct Elgin to Rothes line opened in 1862, the line via Orton was surplus to requirements. It had been problematic, relationship wise, since the start with Morayshire Railway and the Inverness Junction and Aberdeen Railway, who's line was used between Elgin and Orton - not getting on at all. Behind the trees in the background is the Aberdeen to Inverness line, this point being 50 or so metres to the west of the single tracked Spey Viaduct.

Hutcheon Street: The rather neat little station building of Hutcheon Street (closed 1937) looks a little out of place among the ubiquitous granite of Aberdeen. Space seems to have been at a premium when the station was built. Note the circle where the station clock used to be. This inner suburb is called Rosemount but that name had been bagged by a station on the Blairgowrie branch.

Inverurie: An Inverness service calls at Inverurie on 2 October 2019. As a soft southerner (from Edinburgh) I am never quite prepared for the Aberdeenshire climate and I could find nowhere to get warm after a journey in a 158.

Montrose: A Glasgow Queen Street service enters Montrose on 2 October 2019, obviously not in the form of the expected HST. We have a communications mast towering over the station rather than the tall starter signal of yesteryear, but a couple of 'low-level' semaphores survive in the vicinity of Montrose North box.

Berryden Junction: The start of the 'Aberdeen' to Dyce redoubling seems considered to be Kittybrewster but the points are in fact much nearer the former Hutcheon Street station, further south in the Rosemount area. This view from Hutcheon Street itself looks north and the remains of the platforms can be seen. A southbound train was due but I couldn't be bothered waiting on it. They all look the same anyway.

Muchalls Viaduct: So there I am, waiting patiently in a good location, which is at Pheppie Burn (Muchalls) viaduct, to get a photo of the COLAS China Clay train with a good background and along comes the 12:39 HST out of GLQ at the same time. Almost spoiled my shot it did.

Inverurie: Unwontedly (but not unwantedly) this Inverness to Aberdeen service was formed by an HST rather than an overcrowded 158. The conductor blamed late running on the extra time needed to sort out the manual doors and she certainly was thorough. Pictured at Inverurie on 2 October 2019.

Aberdeen: Hourly Aberdeen to Montrose stopping services seem to have sneaked into the timetable when I wasn't looking. They give Portlethen and Laurencekirk a regular service, but this train anyway was rather empty. The scene is Aberdeen's Platform 4 on 2 October 2019.

Montrose North Junction: Montrose North box on 2 October 2019. Somewhere between a few years ago and some years ago this box subsumed Usan and Montrose South boxes yet retained semaphores on its own former patch. I'm sure there is a reason for this - probably financial - but at least it looks quaint.

Montrose: A terminating service from Aberdeen prepares to run into the siding at Montrose to turn back on 2 October 2019. I would have said it disgorged but there was hardly anyone on it all the way. However I dare say these hourly stopping services are not always so quiet. STOP PRESS: a local tells me they are.

Alfreton: 156416 with 158874 to Liverpool Lime Street, arriving at Alfreton (formerly Alfreton & Mansfield Parkway), in pouring rain on the evening of Saturday, 2nd October 2021. Taken after a visit to Crich Tramway Village while waiting for UK Railtours' return excursion to King's Cross to arrive from Chesterfield with those day trippers who had opted to visit Chatsworth House.

Alfreton: 67007, with UK Railtours' return excursion to Kings Cross, arriving at Alfreton from Chesterfield, on time at 17.23 on 2nd October 2021. That morning, the train had diverged from the ECML at Peterborough and travelled via Stamford, Oakham and Melton Mowbray but on the way home ran via Nottingham, Newark, Lincoln and Spalding before rejoining the ECML at Peterborough. So, while ostensibly returning south, for a while the train was actually heading north-east between Nottingham and Lincoln and by the time we got to the latter it was pitch dark.

Alfreton: Exterior of Alfreton, Derbyshire, in pouring rain on the evening of Saturday, 2nd October 2021. The original station was opened by the Midland Railway as Alfreton on 1st May 1862 and renamed Alfreton & South Normanton on 7th November 1891. It was closed on 2nd January 1967 (and subsequently demolished) when local passenger services on the Erewash Valley Line were withdrawn. However, on 7th May 1973, a new station opened on the same site named Alfreton & Mansfield Parkway as Mansfield, across the border in Nottinghamshire, was the largest town in England at that time without a station, also lost under the Beeching cuts in 1965. It took 30 years for this to be rectified when the line serving Mansfield was reopened in 1995 and this station lost its Parkway status and was renamed as simply Alfreton.

Crich Tramway Museum: Liverpool 'Green Goddess' No.869 from 1936 about to negotiate the short section of interlaced track under the Bowes-Lyon Bridge after setting off from Town End for Glory Mine at Crich Tramway Village, in pouring non-stop rain on the afternoon of Saturday, 2nd October 2021. This tram was sold to Glasgow Corporation in 1954, three years before the abandonment of the Liverpool system in 1957 and ran there until the closure of the Glasgow system, the last of the great original city tram systems, in 1962.

Crich Tramway Museum: Restored and rebuilt 100 years old Leeds tram No.345 passing The Red Lion pub on the approach to Town End terminus at Crich Tramway Village, in heavy incessant rain on the afternoon of Saturday, 2nd October 2021. The pub, originally in Stoke-on-Trent, was dismantled and reassembled brick-by-brick at Crich to add to the recreated atmosphere of a town tram landscape of yesteryear. It was very busy too, due to the inclement weather.

Kings Cross: A rather faded 67007 has just brought the stock of UK Railtours' excursion to Chesterfield into Kings Cross, early on the morning of Saturday, 2nd October 2018. This locomotive went with the train (with 67013 at the head) and hauled it back to London in the evening. The tour finished at Chesterfield with passengers alighting there, having chosen the option to transfer by coach for a visit to Chatsworth House, but most passengers alighted at Alfreton where a fleet of 6 coaches were waiting to take them, myself included, to Crich Tramway Village, on what turned out to be an exceptionally wet afternoon with heavy incessant rain.

Moy: 47854 'Diamond Jubilee' leads the SRPS Railtour from Dunbar to Kyle of Lochalsh, 47813 in blue livery on the rear. Pictured at Moy, near Inverness, on 2nd October 2021.

Crich Tramway Museum: Even the heavy rain cannot disguise the sleek beauty of Sheffield tram No.510, seen here 'Not in Service' at Crich on 2nd October 2021. Built in 1950, it entered traffic two years later and only ran in the city for eight years when, despite its modernity, the Sheffield system closed in 1960. Displayed as Sheffield's Last Tram, it took part in the Last Tram Week although labelling it as such proved to be somewhat premature as trams, of course, were brought back to the city in the 1990s with modern articulated light rail vehicles.

Preston: The old Vicars Bridge at Preston has been replaced by this new construction, still spanning the site of the tracks at the southern throat of the ELR side of Preston station. See image [[53688]] for a 1964 view from the old bridge down to the EL platforms. The bridge is the access to the old railway hotel, later council offices and now empty but reported to be returning to hotel use in due course.

Kings Cross: 91111 'For the Fallen' at Kings Cross at 07.52 on Saturday, 2nd October 2021, waiting to depart with the 08.33 to Leeds. Out of view on the right stood UK Railtours' excursion to Chesterfield, departing at 08.15 and on which I travelled as far as Alfreton from where those like myself who had chosen the option to visit Crich Tramway Village, transferred to a fleet of waiting coaches. And what an horrendously wet and cold visit it was.

Hammerton Hall Bridge 111 [LC]: This bridge carries the Bay Gateway link road across the Lancaster Canal and was completed around 2016. If it were maintained by the Canal and River Trust it would be Bridge 111A but it is the responsibility of the Highways Agency. A short distance to the west the road also crosses the WCML on another new structure [[59524]].

Market Bosworth: Economy is obviously important at the Battlefield Railway. Perhaps they are in readiness for a visit by Lord Tebbit, who notoriously advised the unemployed to get on their bikes? - assuming of course, that they could afford bikes...

Market Bosworth: D2867 plays the waiting game at Market Bosworth. View south from the pedestrian crossing, towards Shenton, in October 2022. The former BR Class 02 was sold into industry from BR in 1970, allowing it to survive into the preservation era.

Market Bosworth: You could argue that this TPO carriage at Market Bosworth should now be emblazoned with C III R - but then it wouldn't be a museum piece, would it?

Market Bosworth: Fifty years after this, we got the class 70s. Such is progress. 20110, also known as D8110, shows its clean lines at the reopened (in 2011) Market Bosworth station. This engine was resident on the South Devon Railway until 2013.