This day in history 16 October
Images
Leith North Goods: With D5308 in the rear, D368 eases the empty stock of the Royal Train into a temporary platform constructed near Leith North terminus on 16th October 1962, ready to convey King Olav of Norway on his state visit journey to Princes Street, where he was met by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. The fleet of Edinburgh Corporation Transport double-decker buses in the background had brought schoolchildren to the docks to act as a welcoming party for the King.
Leith North: Birmingham Sulzer Type 2 D5308 (with EE Type 4 D368 at the rear) with the empty stock of the Royal Train near Leith North (note the closed station approach to the left) on 16 October 1962 on the occasion of the State Visit by King Olav of Norway. A few hours later, with D368 leading, the Royal Train carried the King's party (which had earlier arrived by ship at Leith Docks) to Princes Street station to be met by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. The view is from Lindsay Road Bridge looking back towards Newhaven .....for the same view 47 years later see image [[22977]].
Gorgie East: Ex-GNSR 4-4-0 No 49 Gordon Highlander takes water at Gorgie East on 16 October 1965 during a stop with a Branch Line Society Railtour.
Carstairs: GNSR No. 49 'Gordon Highlander' pauses at Carstairs, on a Branch Line Society railtour.
Roslin: The Branch Line Society railtour of 16th October 1965 included a visit to Roslin, where GNSR No.49 'Gordon Highlander' was pictured running round the train. The railtour was the final outing for the 4-4-0 before retirement to museum life.
Newton: Black 5 no 44899 is about to run through the station at Newton, Lanarkshire, with a down cement train on 16 October 1965.
Lanark: GNSR no. 49 'Gordon Highlander' is seen at Lanark, in the course of a Branch Line Society railtour, on 16th October 1965.
Bellshill: A misty October morning at Bellshill in 1965, as GNSR no. 49 'Gordon Highlander' calls with a Branch Line Society railtour.
Ponfeigh: The Branch Line Society railtour of 16th October 1965 included a visit to Ponfeigh, where GNSR 4-4-0 49 'Gordon Highlander' is seen on the headshunt as it runs round the train. The route onwards to Muirkirk had closed a year earlier and, by the time of the railtour, the track had been lifted.
Gorgie East: GNSR 4-4-0 No.49 'Gordon Highlander' taking water at Gorgie East during a Branch Line Society railtour on 16th October 1965. The tour started in Glasgow and called at Bellshill, Law Junction, Ponfeigh, Lanark, Carstairs, Roslin and Loanhead. The return journey to Glasgow was via Bathgate.
Bathgate Upper: With an appropriately setting Sun, the Branch Line Society railtour of 16th October 1965 paused at the closed station of Bathgate Upper while returning to Glasgow. Here GNSR no. 49 Gordon Highlander was pictured during a short burst of early evening sunshine, after a day of mostly dull weather. This was the last outing for the locomotive before retirement to the Glasgow Transport Museum. 16/10/65
Lanark: Scene at Lanark on 16 October 1965 with ex-Great North of Scotland Railway 4-4-0 No 49 Gordon Highlander at the head of a Branch Line Society railtour. The old church behind the locomotive has since been demolished and replaced by a modern office block.
Bathgate Upper: Ex-Great North of Scotland Railway 4-4-0 No 49 Gordon Highlander pauses for refreshment at Bathgate with The Branch Line Society Railtour of 16 October 1965 prior to undertaking the final leg to St Enoch. [Ed note: It would appear that, somewhere between Auchengray and Bathgate on this tour, the third digit of the train reporting number 1Z49 has vanished!]
Ponfeigh: Ex-Great North of Scotland Railway 4-4-0 No 49 Gordon Highlander stands at Ponfeigh, Lanarkshire with a BLS railtour on 16 October 1965. View is north east towards Lanark, with the junction for the line to Douglas Colliery visible in the background. See image [[21104]]
Bathgate West Junction [2nd]: View east at Bathgate Upper on 16 October 1965 as No 49 Gordon Highlander prepares to depart with a Branch Line Society Railtour bound for St Enoch.
Ponfeigh: GNSR no. 49 'Gordon Highlander' runs round its train at Ponfeigh, in the course of a Branch Line Society railtour on 16th October 1965. During the run round, some extra shine is being applied to the boiler paintwork, a procedure that would no doubt fall foul of Health and Safety regulations nowadays. The line closed to passengers in 1964 and was cut back to Ponfeigh. Coal traffic to [[Douglas Colliery]] kept the remaining line open until 1968.
Law Junction: A Branch Line Society railtour from Glasgow Central on 16 October 1965 makes a photostop at Law Junction. In charge is ex-GNSR 4-4-0 no 49 Gordon Highlander.
Bathgate Upper: On its way back to Glasgow, the Branch Line Society railtour of 16th October 1965 paused at the closed station of Bathgate Upper, where GNSR 4-4-0 No.49 'Gordon Highlander' was pictured taking water.
Polmadie Shed: Highland Railway 103 approaches the turntable at Polmadie MPD on 16 October 1965, as part of its preparation for the Branch Line Society outing to Dumfriesshire on the following day.
Auchengray: A northbound Branch Line Society railtour photographed during a water stop at Auchengray on 16 October 1965 behind ex-GNSR 4-4-0 No 49 Gordon Highlander see image [[21418]].
Newton: GNSR 49 Gordon Highlander climbing from Carmyle to Newton on 16 October 1965 with a Branch Line Society railtour from Glasgow Central.
Ponfeigh: A Branch Line Society railtour at Ponfeigh, Lanarkshire, on 16 October 1965. Ex-GNSR No 49 Gordon Highlander has just run round its train and is about to head back to Lanark. Photograph taken looking south west towards Muirkirk, with the branch to Douglas Colliery passing to the left of the signal box.
Lanark Racecourse: Ex-Great North of Scotland Railway 4-4-0 No 49 Gordon Highlander at the head of a Branch Line Society Railtour at Lanark Racecourse Halt on 16 October 1965, a year after closure. The special, which ran from Glasgow Central, visited various locations across central Scotland before finishing the tour at St Enoch. See image [[37206]]
Newton: GNSR no 49 Gordon Highlander arrives at Newton on 16 October 1965 with the Branch Line Society railtour from Glasgow Central. The tour visited various locations across central Scotland. See image [[25530]]
Bellshill: Ex-GNSR 4-4-0 no 49 Gordon Highlander makes a photostop at Bellshill with a Branch Line Society railtour from Glasgow Central on 16 October 1965.
Roslin: No 49 running round the Branch Line Society rail tour at Roslin on 16 October 1965, with the Pentland Hills forming the backdrop. [Ref Query 10256] See image [[24338]]
Loanhead: Ex-GNSR 4-4-0 no 49 Gordon Highlander stands alongside the Ramsay Colliery, Loanhead, with the BLS railtour of 16 October 1965. The 3-coach railtour, hauled by no 49 throughout, ran from Glasgow Central and included a trip along the Roslin branch, incorporating this stop. The train returned to Glasgow via Bathgate to terminate at St Enoch. [Ref Query 3138]
Law Junction: GNSR 4-4-0 No.49 'Gordon Highlander' pauses at Law Junction, alongside an impressive lattice bracket signal, during a Branch Line Society rail tour on 16th October 1965.
Auchengray: Ex-Great North of Scotland Railway 4-4-0 No 49 Gordon Highlander takes water on the northbound platform at Auchengray with a Branch Line Society railtour on 16 October 1965. On the right is the old bay platform that once served the former Wilsontown branch. The route shown on the ticket was Glasgow Central to Glasgow St Enoch via Ponfeigh, Roslin & Bathgate.
Polmadie Shed: Having had a wee trip to the turntable, the 'Jones Goods' 4-6-0 No.103 has now returned to the main part of Polmadie shed on 16 October 1965, probably to top up the water in its tender.
Lanark Racecourse: A Branch Line Society Railtour stops at Lanark Racecourse Halt on 16 October 1965 (a year after official closure) behind ex-Great North of Scotland Railway 4-4-0 No 49 Gordon Highlander. The locomotive is going towards Ponfeigh and the junction signals for Smyllum can be seen in the background.
Carstairs: GNSR 4-4-0 No.49 'Gordon Highlander' pauses at Carstairs on 16th October 1965, during its final outing before retirement to museum life. The Branch Line Society railtour had called at Bellshill, Law Junction, Ponfeigh and Lanark and continued to the Edinburgh area, visiting Roslin and Loanhead. The return journey to Glasgow was via Bathgate.
Musselburgh: 'Deltic' no 9011 'The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers' powers its way through Musselburgh between Newhailes and Monktonhall Junctions on 16 February 1970. The train is the 12.00 departure from Waverley for Kings Cross. Some 18 years later the current Musselburgh station was opened on the other side of the bridge carrying Whitehill Farm Road. See image [[17442]]
Wennington Junction: Preserved B1 No. (6)1306 and Black 5 No. 45407 crawl into Wennington station with the eastbound Pennine Dalesman railtour on 16th October 1976. The train was held for some minutes awaiting a preceding Morecambe - Leeds dmu service to clear the long section to Settle Junction.
Doncaster: A HST in the platform at Doncaster in October 1982 - note the train spotter on the wall. I took this picture after arriving back at the station after a very long walk to see the Deltics on the scrap line at Doncaster Works.
Carlisle: 47703 'The Queen Mother' seen at Carlisle in October 1998. At the time the lady herself was still around and I am sure she was suitably flattered.
Golspie: 158722 is twenty minutes down arriving at Golspie from the north.16/10/06
Golspie: Golspie goods shed still in use by the local coal merchant.16/10/06
Golspie: Golspie station old and new viewed from the road overbridge. 16/10/06
Golspie: A set of redundant Avery coal weighing scales at Golspie. 16/10/06
Ardgay: Ardgay at dusk on a foggy evening.The main building is a private house. 16/10/06
Ardgay: What is left of the goods yard at Ardgay. Overgrown platforms and rusty sidings. 16/10/06
Beauly: A stone thistle atop a gable of Beauly old station. 16/10/06
Brora: Brora station building boarded up and a bit rundown. 16/10/06
Dingwall: Dingwall looking south.The blue portacabin is used by Network Rail. 16/10/06
Dunrobin Castle: Dunrobin Castle Halt looking north. The building is now a railway museum. 16/10/06
Dunrobin Castle: Dunrobin Castle halt looking south. 16/10/06
Dunrobin Castle: Dunrobin Castle as seen from the station entrance. 16/10/06
Helmsdale: Helmsdale main buildings,all could do with a repaint but still in good condition. Behind the disused signal box are Network Rail portacabins. 16/10/06
Helmsdale: View from the footbridge towards the disused station building on the southbound platform at Helmsdale on 16 October 2006. A fine old building going to waste.
Helmsdale: The redundant signal box at Helmsdale. Network Rails portacabins, etc. behind it. 16/10/06
Muir of Ord: Muir of Ord, foggy day, looking south. 16/10/06
Rogart: Rogart old station buildings, now a private dwelling. An interesting visit can be made here as the owner has lots of railwayana on display. Please ask for permission before looking round. 16/10/06
Rogart: Rogart. The former signal box is now privately owned and is in good condition. 16/10/06
Rogart: Rogart. In the former goods yard the owner has installed some MK2 coaches and what looks like a DMU as hostel accomodation. 16/10/06
Elderslie: DRS Class 66 66410 at Elderslie collecting freight at WH Malcolms freight terminal for movement to Grangemouth.
Tain: Tain, entrance to what was once the goods yard. Now with rusty sidings and lots of weeds. 16/10/06
Elderslie: Collecting freight at WH Malcolms freight terminal at Elderslie for movement to Grangemouth. Here a 40 foot ISO box is being lowered onto a freight flatcar.
Elderslie: DRS Class 66 66410 collecting freight at WH Malcolms freight terminal at Elderslie for movement to Grangemouth.
Tain: Tain. The main building, redundant and boarded up. 16/10/06
Markinch: Turf-cutting ceremony at Markinch on 16 Oct 2006 marking the commencement of work on new interchange facilities.
Cardross: You wait for the Royal Scotsman and are rewarded with this foggy grey shape ...
Little Yellow Train, France.: Little Yellow Train. Gisclard suspension bridge viewed from the road to Mont Louis in October 2007.
Little Yellow Train, France.: LittleYellow Train. Double to single track control sign. ATTENTION Depart after authorisation of the Chief of the Line.
Little Yellow Train, France.: LittleYellow Train is a tourist train running from Villefranche-sur-Conflent to la Tour-de-Carol in the Pyrenees Oriental.
Little Yellow Train, France.: LittleYellow Train. Assorted stock. I am assured that the capstan things between the tracks are or were for manual movement of rail stock. I am told the same would be found at dokside rail locations.
Little Yellow Train, France.: LittleYellow Train. Transfer at Villefranche-sur-Conflent Station to Little Yellow Train.
Little Yellow Train, France.: Olette Station - request stop on the SNCF Little Yellow Train.
Little Yellow Train, France.: LittleYellow Train. Villefranche-sur-Conflent Station.
Little Yellow Train, France.: LittleYellow Train. Fontpedrouse Station - closed.
Little Yellow Train, France.: LittleYellow Train. View from the train whilst crosing The Gisclard suspension bridge.
Little Yellow Train, France.: LittleYellow Train. Crossing the N116 Perpignan to Andorra road.
Elliot Junction: 170 428 heads south past the site of Elliot Junction station on 16 October 2008 with an Aberdeen - Glasgow Queen Street service.
Fremantle Esplanade: The unused dual gauge station at Esplanade, Fremantle, in October 2008. The narrow gauge is not electrified so Transperth e.m.u.s terminate at the main Fremantle station see image [[36272]]. The shiny standard gauge is goods only.
Seamer: A Hull - Scarborough service calls at Seamer on an fine autumn morning in October 2009. The train will shortly depart on the last leg of its journey, with its ultimate destination less than 3 miles to the north.
Adlington [Lancashire]: A Northern Rail Hazel Grove to Preston service passes Adlington station at speed on the afternoon of 16 October 2009. Standing behind the yellow line is not so easy at this station due to the narrowness of the platforms.
Standish: DRS 66413 is seen heading north from Standish towards Preston with the (4S44?) Daventry to Coatbridge container train on 16 October 2009.
Adlington [Lancashire]: Looking south from the road bridge at Adlington station on 16 October 2009. The narrowness of the platforms, especially at the south end, is quite unusual. To stand behind the yellow line involves keeping very close to the fence, something that is advisable with the speed of the trains that do not call here.
Pickering: Some of the preparations for what is now the annual 1940s Wartime Weekend at Pickering station on 16 October. The NYMR has now become a key part of what has turned into a major annual event, including the running of trains to Le Visham, a German-occupied French village to the north (just for the weekend of course).
Daejeon: KTX train 145, the 15.30 from Seoul to Dongdaegu, makes an ontime departure from Daejeon on 16 October 2009, following its 300km/h sprint from Seoul. Meantime a KTX bound for Seoul arrives on the adjacent track.
Pickering: Preparations for the Wartime Weekend at Pickering, Friday 16 October 2009. The arrival (and departure) of the military planning team....
Seamer: The 0947 Scarborough - Liverpool Lime Street First TransPennine service pulls into its first stop at Seamer on 16 October 2009.
Pickering: 'DON'T PANIC...' Scene at Pickering station on 16 October 2009 during one of the NYMR's 'Wartime Weekends'.
Daejeon: A southbound intermodal freight arrives at Daejeon on 16 October to join 2 other lengthy southbound freights awaiting paths.
Conder Green: 46 years after final closure of the Glasson Dock branch this fine bridge, over the tidal River Conder, still performs a useful role carrying a cycle track and footpath. Through the span Glasson Dock can be seen. It is still a busy small port with a regular freight service to the Isle of Man and a ship can just be seen moored at the outer quayside.
Standish: Looking south 'up' the WCML towards the site of Standish station (in the distance), just north of Wigan, as a Virgin Voyager from Birmingham New Street to Edinburgh tries to make up lost time on 16 October 2009.
Balshaw Lane Junction: Virgin Thunderbird loco 57305 'John Tracy' crosses Balshaw Lane Junction in the late afternoon sunshine with the Carlisle to Chirk log train on 16 October 2009.
Seamer: The former station house and booking office at Seamer, looking south towards the junction in October 2009. The road in the foreground is now a dead end following replacement of the original level crossing with the road overbridge from which the photograph was taken. One of the redundant crossing gates has since been put to use as part of the garden fence, complete with appropriate warning sign!
Seamer: A smile for the photographer as the 10.47 Scarborough - Liverpool Lime Street TransPennine service makes the first stop on its coast-to-coast journey at Seamer on 16 October 2009. The feathered junction signal in the background marks the divergence of the Yorkshire coast line to Hull.
Lowther Avenue: New platforms are appearing all along the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway, including these at Lowther Avenue on the Bispham cliffs. They are part of the wholesale system refurbishment and will provide level access into the trams. Tramcar 711 heads south past the illumination displays as it leaves the original tramstop and runs through the as yet unopened platforms.
Argyle Street: Argyle Street station opened along with the Argyle Line (a re-opening of the core section of the old Glasgow Central Railway) in 1979. It was a new build on an open site, so shops could be constructed over it. This was presumably deemed a more commercial option than reopening old Glasgow Cross station somewhat further east and also underground, despite the extra construction costs. It's rather close to Glasgow Central Low Level; in fact you can see your train at the platform of the other station. However even without Central's connections Argyle Street can still get very busy, especially with Saturday shoppers. The exterior in Argyle Street itself photographed on 16 October.
Carlisle: Ex-GWR Castle class 4-6-0 no 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe at Carlisle on 16 October 2010 ready to return south with The Pride of Swindon railtour from Tyseley which it had brought in earlier via the S&C from Hellifield. See image [[32563]].
Ibrox [Subway]: As can be imagined Ibrox Subway station can get rather busy at certain times, though all is quiet here on the morning of Saturday 16 October. It is situated on Copland Road, the name of the station before the network closed for refurbishment in the 1970s. Unfaced brick is not Glasgow's traditional choice of building material, but the station has found a building to blend in with.
Govan [Subway]: The surface level buildings at Govan Subway station are the most substantial on the line. This is operationally the 'main' station where all trains pause for a few minutes and where the last trains terminate at night (well, they've got to stop somewhere). It remains to be seen whether the architecture of the late 1970s will stand the test of time: to 2010 eyes it's certainly distinctive.
Manuel High Level: The 1045 from Bo'ness following arrival at Manuel on 16 October hauled by no 17 Braeriach.
Rossall School: With new platforms under construction in the foreground, tram 762 rumbles across the crossing at Rossall School. 762 is one of the Jubilee class of two trams that were rebuilt with East Lancs bodies and which seemed considerably larger than all the other trams in the fleet. After withdrawal in 2011 it moved to the National Tramway museum at Crich. The large waiting shelter at this tram stop was demolished when the new halt was completed. See image [[22575]] for the same view eighteen months earlier.
Carlisle: Front end of Castle class 4-6-0 no 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe at Carlisle on 16 October 2010. See image [[31103]].
Buchanan Street [Subway]: Of the 15 Glasgow Subway stations 9 have island platforms, 3 have standard facing platforms and 3 have a sort of compromise where a standard platform faces the glass wall on one side of an 'island' platform - easier seen than explained - as here at Buchanan Street, photographed on 16 October from the Inner Circle platform with the Outer visible through the glass. If the idea is to save space (you work it out) while having safer, separate platforms then it doesn't seem to have caught on elsewhere.
Bridge Street [Subway]: Bridge Street Subway station isn't in Bridge Street and had no interchange with the surface station of the same name. It does however have good connections with buses coming in from the South Side and has far more respectable ticket sales than next-door West Street, the quietest on the line. On 16 October the ticket hall at Bridge Street is looking pretty quiet too, but there's never much need to hang around these places and (deliberately?) the displays in front of the barriers don't tell you when the next train is due, unlike the ones on the platform.
Cabin [Tram]: Brush railcar 632, restored and back in service for the Blackpool and Fleetwood 125 year celebrations, reverses and crosses over to the southbound line at Cabin. Just off picture to the right is a pub known as.....Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Cessnock [Subway]: A slight nod to Mackintosh and the Glasgow Style is evident in this arch over the entrance to Cessnock subway, though the lettering is conventional. Below the subway sign can be seen one of the hundreds of remaining brackets which once held the cables which in turn supported the tram wires. In Glasgow little or no effort seems to have been made by the then Corporation in removing these, whereas in Edinburgh the effort was total as I've never seen any, only their 'shadows'.
Rutherglen [2nd]: Rutherglen Central Junction is where the Argyle Line, left, meets the main lines from Glasgow Central. 318 256 has left Rutherglen station (behind the camera) and is joining the Up Slow line to allow at Virgin service on the Up Main (second from right) to pass before itself joining the WCML at Rutherglen East. After Rutherglen East the overhead wires on the slow line disappear as it becomes the Whifflet line.
Glasgow Central: The Ayrshire lines platforms at the west side of Glasgow Central are set further back than Platforms 1 to 11 and passengers are funnelled along a stretch of the concourse also used by people on their way to and from the Low Level platforms and the Argyle Street entrance. It can therefore get rather busy, and going against the flow at peak times can be a challenge. Fairly quiet here though on 16 October.
Cessnock [Subway]: The endearingly modest entrance to Cessnock Subway station seen on 16 October. Were it not for the modern Subway sign out on Paisley Road West it wouldn't be obvious to the stranger what this was. It looks as if the tenements date from the same time as the station, 1896.
Cessnock [Subway]: A look along the full length of the platform at Cessnock station on 16 October. The Glasgow Subway is just like a real underground system only much smaller.
Shettleston: 320 320 approaches Shettleston station on 16 October with a Helensburgh Central service. It is on top of the points for the loop which can be seen in the background. This is mainly used for reversing short workings from the west see image [[19614]]. None of these is scheduled to terminate at or originate from Shettleston.
Springburn: Springburn Station seen on 16 October with a recently arrived 334 013 at Platform 3 and 170 411 about to leave on the final leg of a Cumbernauld to Queen Street service at Platform 1. The only point of similarity with a similar view taken in 1954 see image [[7156]] is the platform arrangement.
Argyle Street: A Lanark service just arrived at Argyle Street attracts mild interest from the benches. Most of the time Argyle Street sees the same trains at Glasgow Central Lower level, 6 an hour in each direction, but on Sunday it opens later and closes early. This photograph taken on 16 October looks east.
Kilmaurs: The 10.13 to Kilmarnock stands at Kilmaurs on 16 October 2010.
Maxwell Park: Maxwell Park station is neatly framed by roads. It is here photographed from the westerly bridge, looking east towards central Glasgow on 16 October. What kind of area is Maxwell Park? Let's just say you're more likely to see a waxed jacket and tweed cap or a headscarf on the platform here than you are at most other inner SPT stations you care to mention.
Shettleston: 320 321 leaves Shettleston heading for Airdrie on 16 October. /Baile Nighean Sheadna/ it says on the bilingual signs of a location one doesn't readily associate with the Gaels. In connection with these signs one blogger has made satirical references to the Shettleston clearances. Wicked. As a matter of total irrelevance Shettleston has the lowest life expectancy in the UK.
Cabin [Tram]: Restored Sheffield tram 513 is on long term loan to the Blackpool system from Beamish and is used with other preserved trams in ordinary service on busy days and special events. It was the last four wheeled design built in the UK but only lasted eight years in service before the Sheffield tram system closed in 1960. 513 is seen here running through the new platforms at Cabin.
Bridge Street: I'm standing south of the Clyde, a few hundred yards short of Glasgow Central; the running lines are behind that wall. The original Bridge Street terminus was to the right of all the building on the opposite side of the street. This station which predated Glasgow Central and the bridging of the Clyde. The original building's much larger extension has survived and dominates the picture. It had quite a short working life, closing in 1905 after Glasgow Central and its approaches were enlarged to accommodate all services. The upper storeys are occupied by flats, and windows at the back offer in-your-face rail comings and goings. The accompanying sounds must be a mixed blessing (or perhaps an unmixed curse) to residents for whom a train is a train.
Cabin [Tram]: Restored 1937 built Brush railcar 632, owned by the Lancastrian Transport Trust, is seen here operating in Blackpool again as part of the celebrations of the 125th aniversary of the tramway system. During its restoration it has been refitted with illuminated roof mounted advertising boxes, so much more attractive than the overall advertising liveries that have been a feature of recent years. The 73 year old tram is just about to reverse at Cabin and return to the Pleasure Beach and is seen here in the new platforms with the Cabin Lift behind.
Lowther Avenue: Boat Car No. 600, painstakingly restored for the Blackpool Tramway 125 celebrations, makes a fine sight as it leaves the stop at Lowther Avenue and heads along the cliffs to Bispham. Seven of these stylish open cars were built in 1934 to replace early open toastrack trams and must have been a real contrast to their predecessors. Three of them are still in regular service as part of Blackpool's heritage fleet.
Coatbridge Central: When the platform buildings at Coatbridge Central were demolished about 40 years ago this structure was somehow overlooked and has survived to be photographed on 16 October 2010. At platform level it looks like it might have been a toilet, but it reaches down to street level and toilets are not usually multi-storey... Meanwhile, round the corner, the disused 1889 station building, most recently a pub see image [[26255]], suffered a serious fire in July. There were already calls for its demolition by those who considered it an eyesore so it's future is uncertain to say the least.
Cleveleys: Rebuilt double-deck car 724 heads south from Cleveleys town centre on a service for Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The tracks here are on a reserved section in the middle of a dual carriageway but with several crossing points. See image [[22562]] for the same location some eighteen months earlier when the line was closed for refurbishment.
Coatbridge Sunnyside: 320 310 approaches Sunnyside from Airdrie with a Balloch service on 16 October. Facing the other way is a mysterious 'no aspect' signal. I'm guessing the short stretch of the Down Line from Sunnyside Junction see image [[13234]] is no longer bidirectional to this point, after the severing of the junction for the Gunnie branch, and that this fixed danger signal is now redundant. Either that or the bulb has gone.
Glasgow Central: It would be an odd crow which flew from Glasgow to North Berwick via Carstairs, but it's necessary to get Class 322 electrics from Shields Depot to the North Berwick branch. These twice-a-day workings (and two returns) keep the five units serviced in turn and provide Carstairs with some of its few services. Whether they'll survive when the more direct Airdrie-Bathgate route opens in December I don't know. This train, on 16 October was affected by engineering works and left 9 minutes earlier than scheduled and travelled to Motherwell via Queen's Park instead of the WCML. This means that it used the connection at Newton East Junction which has no scheduled passenger service. This made at least one passenger's day.
High Street: As with other cities the heart of Glasgow has moved a bit since medieval times, so the High Street isn't as central as the name suggests. Even so this view of High Street station makes it look hardly urban at all. An almost empty 334 037 approaches with a Bellgrove to Milngavie service on Saturday 16 October. It picked up only me, but will find custom for the more affluent western suburbs once it hits Queen Street and Charing Cross.
Cabin [Tram]: 'Millennium' car 724 leaves Cabin, heading towards Bispham, in October 2010. Rebuilt from a 'Balloon' car, 724 was further modified soon after this date to work on the rebuilt tramway but the reliability of the new 'Flexity' trams meant it was not required and it has been in store at Rigby Road depot since 2013.
Maxwell Park: Maxwell Park station won a preservation award 10 years ago. It's still looking extremely smart. In fact, the only thing that looks slightly weathered is the plaque commemorating the preservation award... This view is of the Inner Circle platform looking towards Glasgow Central on 16 October.
Rutherglen: The most unusual sight of a DMU on the Argyle Line, though it only travelled on it the few hundred yards between Strathclyde Junction (not nearly as important as it sounds) and Rutherglen Central Junction. 156 510 pulls into Rutherglen ECS to form a service to Whifflet during engineering work diversions on Saturday 16 October.
Carlisle: An immaculate 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe reversing off to turn at Carlisle Citadel after arrival with the Pride of Swindon railtour for Vintage Railtours on 16-10-10.
Carlisle: 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe reversing through Carlisle station on 16 October on its way to turn around for the homeward journey, after bringing in the Vintage Trains Pride of Swindon railtour.
Sighthill West Junction: 170 459 approaches Springburn station with a service from Glasgow Queen Street High Level on 16 October. It has just cleared the cord from Cowlairs South Junction which curves sharply to the left. Going off to the right (and heading north) are the lines to Cowlairs West Junction and the EGML. They have no passenger services though for a while, before the cord was laid in 1993, trains from Glasgow to Cumbernauld would reverse after clearing West Junction and use this line. It was either that or get an electric from Queen Street Low Level and change at Springburn to a DMU going in the opposite direction see image [[19961]]. I think we can agree the cord was a boon.
Fisherman's Walk [Tram]: Temporary tram terminus. During extensive refurbishments in Fleetwood town centre, and by the Ferry Terminal, trams are temporarily terminating at the Ash St stop at the end of Lord Street. Here a sizeable crowd of Saturday shoppers is waiting to catch a tram back towards Blackpool as double decker 707 reverses over the points.
Springburn: 318 252 pulls into Platform 3 at Springburn, journey's end, on 16 October 2010. The south-eastern end of Platform 2/3 was fenced off some years ago: the lighting hasn't been updated the and the surface is returning to nature. At some point Platform 1 where I'm standing has been cut back. However Platform 4, in the background, is intact. This is especially odd as it is hardly used.
Avon Viaduct: A 6-car 170 crossing the Avon Viaduct, Linlithgow, on 16 October.
Liverpool Lime Street: Doddy meets Bessie. Statues on the concourse at Lime Street station, Liverpool, in honour of the famous comedian and the late 'Battling' Bessie Braddock MP (1899-1970) former Member of Parliament for Liverpool Exchange.
Kaim Points: The former Glencorse branch on 16 October 2011. The left picture shows the view west from the A6106 towards Gilmerton along the last stub of track, with the remains of the branch having been lifted earlier this year see image [[32996]]. The picture on the right shows the view in the opposite direction towards the south end of Millerhill Yard. This area was latterly refurbished and resignalled in connection with rounding manoeuvres for a short-lived car service to/from Bathgate. The plan is for the Borders Railway to cross the former branch in this area. No need for a bridge then...
Birkenhead Woodside: Tram no 69 from Wirral Transport Museum stands at Birkenhead Woodside on 16 October 2011. The tramway operates two Hong Kong trams built in 1992. These are numbered 69 and 70 to follow on from the original Birkenhead Corporation Trams whose numbers went up to no 68. Note part of the Royal Liver Building visible across the Mersey in the left background. See image [[34706]]
Pitcaple: An Aberdeen bound Class 158 is seen just east of Pitcaple station site on 16 October 2012.
Wolferton: Part of the privately restored Wolferton station, looking towards Hunstanton, 16th October 2012.
Wolferton: The privately restored Wolferton station, looking towards Hunstanton, 16th October 2012.
Llansamlet: Looking along the down platform and through Bethel Road overbridge at the off-set up side platform at Llansamlet Station near Swansea.
Grampian Transport Museum: One of the two trams that linked the GNSR Cruden Bay Hotel and Cruden Bay station on display at the Grampian Transport Museum, Alford, in October 2012. Car No 2 is beautifully restored to a very high standard and is displayed in front of a large image of the hotel. Cruden Bay hotel closed in 1948 and was subsequently demolished.
Insch: A quiet moment at Insch on 16 October 2012 in a view west under the footbridge and across the level crossing on the double track section to Kennethmont.
Insch: View east from the level crossing at Insch on 16 October 2012 with the signalbox and water tower standing guard on either side of the track. A station totem has appeared on the west side of the water tower.
Insch: 'The train standing on platform 2 is not in service.....but is in bloom!' A tidy and well looked after station with an appropriate set of flower tubs. Platform scene at Insch on 16 October 2012.
Oyne: The level crossing at Oyne looking towards the station site on 16 October 2012. Although the telegraph poles are still standing the wires appear to have been removed in this area. At the next former station to the east, Pitcaple, 4 wires were still in place towards Inverurie. See image [[35899]]
Grampian Transport Museum: A GNSR Fire Engine on display amongst other railway items (and running in boards from the Deeside Line) at the Grampian Transport Museum, Alford in October 2012.
Alford: Alford station on the 2 foot gauge Alford Valley Railway on 16 October 2012. The static diesel and coaches in the foreground are part of a children's play area.
Insch: View west from the footbridge at Insch station on 16 October 2012.
Alford: Looking east at Alford in October 2012 from the vicinity of the turntable pit. Standard gauge replaced by narrow gauge but the station remains as does the loco shed (the former carriage shed), behind the camera [See image 12430].
Crossmyloof: Clipping from the Glasgow Evening News of 26 September 1933 concerning the appointment of Tom Steele as station master at Crossmyloof. See image [[22155]]
Carnforth: A late substitute for 45699 Galatea, 46115 Scots Guardsman, leaves Carnforth on 16 October with the northbound steam leg of a Cumbrian Mountain Express that had originated at Euston.
Kilmarnock: Summer lingers late in the planters and hanging baskets maintained by the Hurlford Gardening Club at Kilmarnock Station, as seen in this view on 16 October.
Kilmarnock: The 10.27 service to Glasgow Central stands in the bay at Kilmarnock station on 16 October behind another of the colourful planters maintained by the local Hurlford Gardening Club.
Stirling: At the 16 October launch in the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum of a new book by Faye McPherson and Jim MacIntosh published for the Caledonian Railway Association with Stirling Guildry and Rotary to mark Stirling Station's centenary in its present form, a Victorian luggage-barrow that into the 1990s featured in driver George Spence's floral arrangements was on display, having been presented by the Smith to the Rotary and restored for inclusion in their adoption of the station.
Hest Bank: A Virgin Super Voyager speeds south through patches of early morning mist at Hest Bank on 16 October with the 0550 Glasgow to Euston (via Birmingham) service.
Carnforth: 45690 Leander at Lancaster on 16 October. The Jubilee had left Carnforth just before midday on a test run, complete with support coach. The test involved a round trip to Hellifield, returning to Carnforth around 4 hours later.
Carnforth: 45690 Leander reverses into platform 2 at Carnforth on 16 October 2014 to get into position for a test run to Hellifield. Now in early BR lined black livery it will make an interesting comparison with 45699 Galatea.
Carnforth: Preserved Jubilee 4-6-0 no 45690 Leander takes the Hellifield line as it sets off past Carnforth Station Junction signal box on 16 October 2014 during a test run.
Hest Bank: The morning Crewe - Sellafield nuclear flask train runs alongside Morecambe Bay at Hest Bank on 16 October behind DRS 37602 and 37610.
Bentham: Jubilee 45690 Leander running tender first with a support coach on the return test run from Hellifield to Carnforth on 16 October 2014. The train is seen here approaching a sunny Bentham.
Clapham: Once a junction but on a smaller scale than its southerly namesake, Clapham in North Yorkshire is rather quieter and in a more rural setting. A Northern DMU is seen departing with a Morecambe to Leeds service in October 2014.
Bentham: A Leeds to Morecambe service calls at Bentham on 16 October 2014.
Giggleswick: With the autumn colours appearing in the trees a Northern service from Morecambe to Leeds departing from Giggleswick towards Settle Jct late in the afternoon of 16 October 2014.
Hardengreen Viaduct: An overcast Autumn morning over much of Midlothian in October 2015, due not least to light rain combined with the remnants of a dawn mist. Meantime the first northbound Sunday service of the day on the Borders Railway comes off Hardengreen Viaduct. The ScotRail 0848 Tweedbank - Edinburgh is currently approaching its next scheduled stop at Eskbank.
Truro: HST power car 43131, on the rear of a Penzance to Paddington service, departs from Truro in the late afternoon of 16 October 2015.
St Ives [Cornwall]: FGW 150120 arrives at St Ives with the shuttle service from St Erth on 16 October 2015. After a few minutes the train was off again back to the junction station.
Whitwick: This eerie view looks towards Loughborough. The trackbed on either side of the station see image [[48830]] is a promising-looking tarmacked path; but is interrupted by a road on the Nuneaton side and by private property on the Loughborough side. So this section can be walked for about a mile. The sodium-lit footpath leads to an old church on the left and to housing on the right. The solum runs along the top of the elongated abutment on the left.
Cerbere [France]: This Spanish fruit wagon is displayed on a car park in Cerbere, dwarfed by the arches that carry the main line railway and SNCF station above. Its an Iberian (broad) gauge wagon and the short length of track it stands on is mixed gauge.
Whitwick: Hard to imagine this section of line at Whitwick full of clanking coal trains. View looks towards Coalville in October 2015.
St Erth: A FGW Class 150 arrives at St Erth whilst working from Penzance to Plymouth on 16 October 2015.
St Erth: A St Ives branch train departs from the bay platform at the east end of St Erth in October 2015. The GW mainline is on the right.
Falmouth Town: A Truro to Falmouth Docks service calls at Falmouth Town station on 16 October 2015.
St Erth: The shuttle service to St Ives departs from the branch platform at St Erth on 16 October 2015. The mainline on the left leads to Penzance.
St Ives [Cornwall]: The driver of the St Erth to St Ives shuttle service changes ends at St Ives to prepare for the return on 16 October 2015. In the sky above the unit a parachutist drifts down.
St Erth: A Penzance to Plymouth stopping service arrives at St Erth on 16 October 2015.
Whitwick: The old station at Whitwick is not quite as salubrious at track level as at road level see image [[48830]]. Some of the spray painting on the building may not be graffiti, as it depicts coal miners and a steam locomotive. [Ref query 29607]
St Erth: A Paddington to Penzance HST with power car 43131 leading, arrives at St Erth in October 2015.
Edinburgh Waverley: 92032 IMechE Railway Division on Sleeper duty at Waverley.
Edinburgh Waverley: 92032 IMechE Railway Division on Sleeper duty at Waverley.
Newcraighall South Junction: The 0845 ex-Tweedbank approaching Newcraighall on Sunday 16 October 2016. In the background work is ongoing in connection with the provision of EGIP maintenance and stabling facilities for EMUs scheduled to become operational next year. Note the demolition and clearance of the former locomotive servicing facilities is almost complete. See image [[6349]]
Millerhill EGIP Depot: More plant and equipment arriving at the new EMU depot construction site at Millerhill early on 16 October 2016. View is east along Whitehill Road with a new arrival waiting for the access gates to be opened.
Ceret: The abandoned station and yard at Ceret, present end of the line which formerly reached Arles sur Tech and which was closed by storm damage in 1939. 16 October.
Parkhill: This picture, looking south towards Dyce, is of the new bridge being constructed for the Aberdeen bypass as it crosses the Buchan line at Goval just north of Dyce. The bridge is being constructed with enough room for reinstatement of a single track, hopefully.
Croston: An unusual working captured on camera at Croston heading towards Preston on 16 October 2016. The Network Rail team were cutting down lineside vegetation during a T3 possession and their self propelled (although not a true RRV) shredding machine was very effective and converting plant material into a light mulch or chip.
Newcraighall North Junction: Autumn colours abound at Newcraighall North Junction on 16 October 2016 as ScotRail 158734 turns south west towards Shawfair with a morning Borders Railway service to Tweedbank shortly after leaving Newcraighall station.
Accrington: From a fairly humble access, at a point where the railway line originally crossed Nuttall Street on a bridge, the Hyndburn Greenway forms a rural bridleway that leads two miles up the 1:38 incline to Baxenden. Oh to have seen and heard a Stanier 2-6-4T or Cravens twin power car DMU making the ascent prior to the 1966 closure. 16th October 2017.
Llanrwst: The sylvan setting of Llanrwst station seen in October 2017. The line had reopened that day after hurricane Ophelia had caused flooding and damage to the Ffestiniog Tunnel. In the left foreground can be seen part of a large branch from an ancient tree broken off by the wind which had been blocking the path earlier. Some time before a train was due, a group of local youths could be seen gathered in the shelter but my suspicions were entirely wrong - they formed a team to lift the heavy obstacle to the side and clear of the station approach.
Llanrwst: The apparently rural setting of Llanrwst station is actually close to the town centre. The station opened in 1989 and is seen here on 16th October 2017, the day after hurricane Ophelia had caused flooding and damage to the Ffestiniog Tunnel through which 150242 will be passing on its way to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Huncoat: Something missing here. Preston Power Box took over the East Lancashire line signalling in 1972 but Huncoat signalbox remained to cover the level crossing until 2014. It was a tall and impressive structure See image [[18971]] but sadly is no more. 158850 speeds past the box site with a York service on 16th October 2017.
Baxenden: Half way up the 1:38 from Accrington to Baxenden was a signal box, known as Baxenden Shoe Mill, and a five arch viaduct. The signal box closed in 1962, four years before the line itself. The viaduct lasted until demolition in 1981 but eleven years later a new bridge, at a much lower level, was installed and the Hyndburn Greenway now forms a bridleway along the trackbed all the way to Baxenden. Very few railway artefacts remain but this signal base is still alongside the line opposite the site of the box. 16th October 2017.
Dunbar: An Edinburgh bound train calls at Dunbar. A useful way of returning west having cycled the John Muir Way.
Cardross: The 'Leaf Train' soldiers on under ominous skies as Hurricane Ophelia draws ever closer...
Llanrwst: The commemorative slate plaque at the entrance to the (new) station at Llanrwst, which opened near the town centre in 1989.
Huncoat: Sprinter 150201, working from Kirkby to Blackburn via Manchester and Todmorden, almost made an unscheduled stop at Huncoat station on 16th October 2017 but the colour light protecting the crossing cleared just in time. This view looks south from the bridge that used to be the access point for Huncoat Colliery, which closed in 1968.
Edinburgh Waverley: Looking east along the formative platforms 5 and 6 at Waverley on 16 October 2018. Precast concrete platform facings are being advanced, having been delivered by rail from Leith South Yard.
York Place [Tram]: Edinburgh Trams is a line rather than a network and so the only busy points are at the termini. The one at York Place seems to give particular trouble; I live nearby and saw men here on 3 days in the week of this photograph alone. Insert your own 'looking into it' joke here.
Curriehill Foot Crossing: No, not the station but nearly a mile further west. The sign would have served to identify the ground switch panel here controlling a crossover which can never have seen much use; it was removed some years ago. There's a foot crossing about 30 yards away which may be why the sign was left.
Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Light and space at Queen Street following the reopening of the extended platforms 4 and 5. 16th October 2019.
Juniper Green: They did a pretty thorough job of removing all traces of stations on the Balerno branch. All we are left with here at Juniper Green is what appears to be the base of the ground frame for the goods sidings, just discernible in the left foreground. The sidings fanned out to the right of the picture with the passenger platform between them and the line. View looks west on 16 October 2019.
Haymarket Goods: Looking east across the site of Haymarket goods on 16 October 2019. This is pretty close to my view in January 1998 see image [[29758]] taken before the area was redeveloped. A bit of a survivor is the old yard lamp on the extreme right of the picture which no-one thought it worthwhile to remove. Lighting fans (just me then) will recognise a Slonetrics Benjamin Duoflex or 'shovel' lamp.
Curriehill Foot Crossing: I wouldn't imagine that the (temporary?) closure of this crossing will affect too many people. This spot is a mile west of Curriehill station, but is in fact the location of the original place called Curriehill. The CR adopted the name when it had to rename its first Currie station.
Kennacraig: The Paps of Jura dominate the skyline as MV Finlaggan prepares to pass Ardpatrick Point at the mouth of West Loch Tarbert on 16 October 2020. On this sailing the vessel will turn towards Port Askaig which is the more northerly of the two Islay ports served daily by Calmac from Kennacraig in Kintyre.
Malton: TransPennine Express liveried DRS 68021 is seen at Malton Station early evening on 16 October 2020, at the rear of the 16.54 ex Liverpool Lime Street Nova 3 coaching set working to Scarborough. The red glow on the side is from the platform west end colour starter signal just to its rear. 68021 was one of the loco's sent to the Velim test track in the Czech Republic to ensure compatibility with the rake of CAF built coaches. 68019 was the other.
Northallerton: A slightly premature view of Colas Rail 70801 as it accelerates from Longlands Junction, after waiting for the two line section north to clear, with the return Hunslet East Yard to Oxwellmains empty bogie cement tanks working. It had been near 25mins early passing York, but had been held at Tollerton Junction until right time.
Bay Horse: With the sudden extreme rise in electricity prices in October 2021 some rail freight companies were quick to switch train haulage from electric to diesel. This Daventry to Mossend service, seen in the cutting at Forton, would usually use a single Class 88 but on 16th October employed 68018 'Vigilant' and 68006 'Daring', the latter still carrying the remnants of its former Saltire livery.
Preston: 86401 'Mons Meg' sits on the rear of the Carlisle to Crewe Northern Belle at Preston on 16 October 2021, having replaced 60163 'Tornado' which had worked the train from Carlisle via the S&C. The Class 86 had worked the Crewe to Carnforth leg of the tour in the morning, and later in the evening the ecs back to Carnforth.
Woodacre Crossing: Despite the well reported shift from electric locos to diesels on freight trains in October 2021, West Coast Railways continued to use its sole AC loco 86401 'Mons Meg' on occasional excursion duties. Here the loco, still carrying Caledonian Sleeper logos, runs light from Carnforth to Preston at Woodacre to take over from 60163 'Tornado' and run to Crewe before returning with the ECS to Carnforth. Earlier in the day it had brought the train north from Crewe.
Bay Horse: DRS 66425 at the head of a Mossend to Daventry intermodal, which would normally be hauled by a Class 88 electric, passing through the cutting at Forton on 16th October 2021.
Ramsbottom: East Lancashire Railway Autumn Steam Gala with a LYR Theme. LYR Pug No 19 (as 51241), 51456, Ironclad 52044 and A Class 52322 quadruple head the 16:50 Heywood to Ramsbottom to bring the curtain down on an excellent Gala.
Ayr Station Hotel: The <I>gift-wrap</I> on the hotel building adjacent to Ayr station has recently been damaged.
Gorebridge: 'Follow me'.The ScotRail 1016 terminating service from Tweedbank stands at Gorebridge on Sunday 16 October 2022 as passengers are led to the connecting bus replacement service for the onward journey to Waverley... (see image [[83028]])
Ayr: The 14.45 to Glasgow (4+3 380), and the 15.06 (usual 2 coach 156) to Stranraer, await time at Ayr on 16th October 2022.
Gorebridge: 'Shouldn't be long now.' Passengers off the 1016 arrival from Tweedbank await their bus replacement connection to Waverley alongside the entrance to Gorebridge station on Sunday 16 October 2022... (see image [[83016]]).
Bury Castlecroft Goods: East Lancashire Railway Autumn Steam Gala with a LYR Theme. LYR Pug No. 19 (as 51241) shunts a demonstration goods train in Castlecroft Yard. The cab of 51218 can be seen in the background and A Class 52322 can be seen on the left.
Events
Events from the chronology which occured on this day. This generally lists events before 1995, the creation of the website.
| Year | Companies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1891 | Dingwall and Skye Railway | Strome Ferry station train shed burns down |
| 1893 | Fochabers Branch (Highland Railway) | Line opened. |
| 1923 | Great Southern and Western Railway | New Mallow Viaduct opened. |
| 2010 | Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway | 4th_>Bathgate 4th closed, replaced by Bathgate two days later. |
| 2010 | Green Line (LUAS) | Tram route extended to Tram_>Bride^s Glen Tram (Cherrywood), some on the course of the former Dublin and Wicklow Railway. |
| 2017 | Hitachi Rail Europe | First Class 800 enters service with Great Western Railway. |
News
These are old news items which which occured on this day. This generally lists events after 1995, the creation of the website.
| Year | Companies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | New ScotRail operator faces tough new quality targets [Scotsman] | PASSENGER watchdogs have warned ScotRail^s new operator that it faces an "enormous challenge" to meet tough new performance targets after it takes over the firm tomorrow. |
| 2006 | GNER owner makes Chapter 11 move [BBC News] | GNER^s owner, Sea Containers Bermuda, files for bankruptcy protection but says there will be no impact on rail services. |
| 2006 | Work begins at Cowlairs | Work begins on the new maintenance depot and the new signaling centre at Cowlairs. |
| 2007 | Virgin trains end on best punctuality | Train operator Virgin has recorded its best punctuality performance on the Cross Country Network just weeks before it hands over the railway franchise. The routes, which include a number of services to and from Edinburgh, were given over to Arriva in July, having been in Virgin^s hands for the last decade. The handover takes place on November 11 and the new franchise deal runs until 2016. In the 4 weeks ending October 13, Virgin said 90.6 percent of trains arrived on time, beating the previous record of 90.5 percent set in April 2006. [Evening News]. |
| 2009 | Planning Permission Sought For Gogar Interchange [Network Rail Article] | Network Rail has submitted plans for the new interchange station at Gogar to the City of Edinburgh Council planning authority following a wide-ranging pre-application consultation into the proposed interchange facility. |
| 2010 | Swiss complete world^s longest tunnel [BBC] | Engineers have drilled through the last remaining rock to complete the world^s longest tunnel, under the Swiss Alps. |
| 2010 | Railway to get passenger rise [Scotsman] | Rail passenger numbers in Edinburgh are expected to soar in the next two decades, according to a Network Rail report. |
| 2013 | Is the royal train grinding to a halt? [Telegraph] | Despite decades in service, the royal train has yet to reach the end of the line – at least according to those who built it. [From Mark Bartlett] |
| 2014 | Swanage to Wareham rail reconnection works begin [BBC News] | Work has started to reconnect a Dorset heritage railway with the mainline network to allow passenger services to run for the first time in four decades. The boundary between Swanage Railway and the old Network Rail line was removed earlier, marking the start of a year-long restoration project. [From Mark Bartlett] |
| 2015 | Thameslink Three Bridges depot opens its doors [Global Rail News] | Thameslink’s Three Bridges depot has opened and is set to begin maintaining Britain’s modern Class 700 fleet. Around £300 million has been invested in Three Bridges and another brand new depot in Hornsey, both built by VolkerFitzpatrick, which will maintain GTR’s new 12 and eight-car trains. [From Richard Buckby] |
| 2015 | Aberdeen to Inverness rail improvements contractor appointed [BBC News] | The principal contractor for the £170m upgrade of the Aberdeen to Inverness rail line has been appointed. BAM will carry out the work, the first phase of which is due for completion in 2019. A half-hourly commuter service between Aberdeen and Inverurie will be introduced, along with additional peak services between Inverness and Elgin. Infrastructure will be installed to allow new stations to be built at Dalcross and Kintore. |
| 2016 | Transport Minister Humza Yousaf warns Abellio to improve Scotrail service or face losing £7billion contract [Sunday Mail] | THE Dutch company operating Scotland’s trains have been warned they could be stripped of their contract within months. Transport Minister Humza Yousaf has vowed to terminate Abellio’s deal to run ScotRail if train delays and cancellations get worse. |
| 2016 | Plaque for railway pioneer Sir Nigel Gresley [BBC News] | A blue plaque commemorating the man who designed the Flying Scotsman steam locomotive is to be placed at a Lancashire railway station. The tribute to Sir Nigel Gresley, who helped modernise the rail network in the early 20th Century, will be installed at St Annes Station. It celebrates his connection to the town in which he met and married his wife, Ethel Frances Fullagar in 1901. Sir Nigel had worked for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company. He designed the Flying Scotsman and the Mallard steam locomotives Sir Nigel was an apprentice at The Horwich ^Loco^ works and later became a locomotive foreman in Blackpool. He was knighted in 1936. |
| 2017 | Signs of the times: Trove from golden age Britains railways to be auctioned [Yorkshire Post] | The ghosts of the golden age of British railways will go under the hammer with the sale of one of the most remarkable collections of railway heritage. Hundreds of rare railway signs, including many from stations that disappeared in the 1960s and 1970s, are to be auctioned following the death of their owner. Included is a sign from Dilton Marsh Halt in Wiltshire, the station whose threatened closure in 1969 prompted poet John Betjeman to pen his famous poem named after the station in its defence. The station survived the threat of closure but was renamed Dilton Marsh. The sale includes over 250 signs and many other items from railways, London Underground and London Transport dating from the early years of the 20th century up to the 1970s. |
| 2017 | Fault delays new high-speed train^s first journey from Bristol to London [BBC News] | Broken air conditioning and a 41-minute delay have overshadowed the launch of the UK^s new fleet of high-speed trains. The Hitachi 800 engine will be faster and carry more passengers and will run on GWR for the next 27 years. But passengers on the first Bristol to London service arrived late and some had to dodge drips as water leaked from an air conditioning unit. |
| 2018 | Artwork to be installed ahead of new north-east train station’s opening [Evening Express] | Artwork is due to be installed at a new railway station, anticipated to be open next year. |
| 2018 | Calmac launch probe after £43 million ferry crashes into pier [Press and Journal] | CalMac has launched a probe after its £43million flagship ferry with more than 250 people onboard collided with a pier. |
| 2018 | Cleland Station accessibility improvements in site [Network Rail] | Work is now underway on a six-month programme at Cleland station to deliver a £3m investment to improve accessibility. |
| 2018 | Find out more about plans to protect vital railway artery to the South West [Network Rail] | Network Rail is holding a series of community drop-in sessions this autumn to update residents and the local community on its ongoing work to improve resilience of the railway between Dawlish and Teignmouth in Devon. |
| 2018 | Future of legendary locomotives in balance after Fife Council rejects plans for major railway visitor centre and open farm [Courier] | Owner John Cameron had hoped to put Union of South Africa and The Great Marquess on display in a visitor centre at Balbuthie Farm near Kilconquhar. However Fife Council has rejected a blueprint from the Cameron Railway Trust, saying it would be unacceptable in the countryside. Planners said the scheme would result in the loss of prime agricultural land and was not in keeping with the surrounding area. |
| 2019 | Community launches bid to get Alford Valley Railway back on track [Press and Journal] | Volunteers are moving full-steam ahead with plans to bring a popular railway tourist attraction in Aberdeenshire back into use. |
| 2019 | Northern rail could be nationalised [BBC News] | The government is considering whether the management of the train service should be taken into public hands. |
| 2019 | Craigellachie heritage project on track [Grampian Online] | The story of Craigellachie^s railway heritage has been brought to life at the village^s Fiddich Park |
| 2019 | Plan to replace railway house with retail units hits the buffers [Barrhead News] | AN application to turn a former railway station master^s house into retail units has been refused. Developers behind the proposed development, in Busby Road, Clarkston, hoped to demolish the property after describing it as ^beyond repair.^ However, residents claimed replacing it with four retail outlets would ^tip the balance^ between the East Renfrewshire suburb remaining a ^desirable residential area^ to being ^polluted and noisy.^ |
