Hillington West: On a cold misty November morning in 1965, Standard 4MT 2-6-4T 80058 leaves a trail of smoke and steam following departure from Hillington West. The train is the 9.05am Glasgow - Gourock.

Hillington West: A Standard Class 5, thought to have been 73064, photographed on a frosty November morning with an eastbound service near Hillington West.

Kelvinside: Rear of Kelvinside station showing signs of fire damage. The front of the station, now beautifully restored and in use as a restaurant, faces Great Western Road. Sir J. J. Burnet - Architect.

Kelvinside: Kelvinside station on Great Western Road still showing fire damage prior to refurbishment and reopening as a restaurant. Sir J. J. Burnet - Architect. Gartnavel Hospital dominates the background. See photograph 15564.

Paisley Canal [1st]: Canal Street, Paisley goods shed.

Oban: A tour train (the Royal Scotsman?) in Oban station at night in 1992. The train was rather too long for the platform and ran from the buffers round the bend up to where the signalbox had been located. This view is from McCaig's Folly.

Glasgow Central: A BR InterCity service to London Kings Cross via Edinburgh stands at Glasgow Central in November 1995.

Glasgow Central: Glasgow Central, November 1995.

Innerleithen: View of Innerleithen from the north in November 2005.

Innerleithen: Looking along the eastbound platform at Innerleithen in November 2005 from the site of the level crossing.

Errol: A morning Dundee - Edinburgh Waverley service runs over the level crossing at Errol in November 2006.

Errol: A southbound train approaching the level crossing at Errol, midway between Dundee and Perth, in November 2006. The DMU has just cleared the platforms of the closed station (indicated by the footbridge in the background). Errol Station was opened by the Dundee and Perth Railway in 1847 in a hamlet located a mile and a quarter north of the village itself. It was closed by BR in 1985.

Colwick Yard: The largest pre-war yard in Europe reverts slowly to nature. Much of the yard is now an industrial estate and the GNRs route north is lifted beyond Gedling.

Errol: The former Errol station looking north from the level crossing in November 2006.

Errol: The signal box on the down side approaching Errol station, looking east from the level crossing in November 2006. The surviving station building and dodgy footbridge are visible in the left background.

Eastcroft Depot: To the right of the photograph is the old GNR Nottingham London Road Station and sidings.

Dalnacardoch Ground Frame: Close up of the works special passing Dalnacardoch on 15 November.

Dalnacardoch Ground Frame: A pair of 6 seater trolleys and tractor unit passing the former Dalnacardoch box on 15 November.

Friarton Junction: WHM Grangemouth - Aberdeen containers approaching Perth on 15 November behind DRS 66405.

Livingston North: Widening work on the Bathgate branch has almost reached Livingston North station, where a Bathgate - Edinburgh service is seen boarding on 15 November.

Perth New Yard: A deceptively busy looking scene at Perth New Yard on 15 November. The coal hoppers are in fact in storage here.

Bangour Junction: A Bathgate - Edinburgh service passes widening works near the former Bangour Junction in November 2007.

Edinburgh Gateway: An Edinburgh - Dundee service heads for the Forth Bridge at Gogar on 15 November 2007 past construction works in connection with the proposed interchange at which passengers will change from train to tram to reach Edinburgh Airport, the control tower of which can be seen in the left background. See image [[15749]]

Uphall: Waverley - Bathgate service arriving at Uphall on 15 November 2007, with the second track now laid through the station.

Livingston North: Redoubling work in progress between Uphall and Livingston North on 15 November 2007. View east as ScotRail 156462 approaches with a train for Bathgate.

Turnhouse: A train for Waverley heads south from the Forth Bridge past Edinburgh airport on 15 November 2007. The former Turnhouse station (closed 1930) was off to the right, while a new station is to be sited further south. This new station, which will provide train/tram interchange facilities, is to be called Edinburgh Gateway.

Hest Bank: The view of Morecambe Bay from the train opens out as a Manchester Airport TPE service, formed by 185124, approaches the level crossing at Hest Bank. This gives access to the foreshore area that can be seen above the signal box. The view from the footbridge is towards Bolton-le-Sands, where another level crossing is also controlled from Hest Bank.

Brock: A Virgin Pendolino runs south through Lancashire on 15 Nov 2008 near Brock, heading for Preston.

Prologis Park Coventry: The Pathfinder Tours Industrious Trader eases round the curve into the former Keresley Colliery, a little way North and West of Three Spires Junction. See image [[35643]]

Nateby: One of the few sections of the Garstang and Knott End Railway trackbed that can still be clearly seen is this stretch immediately to the west of the A6 main road. This view is towards Nateby Crossing Cottage See image [[18317]] taken from the former bridge over the line, which closed to passengers in 1930 and completely in 1963. To the east of this point the trackbed is built over until it emerges on the other side of Garstang near the river. Map Ref SD 485457. [2016 update: This short stretch of G&KER trackbed, the crossing cottage and surrounding land have been earmarked for housing and may well disappear].

Brock: 185124 hurries south between Lancaster and Preston at the head of a 6-car FTPE service bound for Manchester Airport on 15 November 2008.

Donibristle Platform: The only concrete reminder of the existence of the former Donibristle Halt, this fine period specimen stands on the overbridge that led from the main road to the down platform and may well have cast its last light almost 50 years ago when the halt closed. Located close to the modern day Dalgety Bay station, Donibristle Halt was intended primarily for the use of those employed at the nearby Royal Naval Air Station (1917-1959), originally HMS Merlin but renamed HMS Cochrane after World War 2. Donibristle Halt was closed in 1959 along with the air base, which is now the site of an industrial estate, although a few original buildings and sections of the former runway remain and one of the roads within the estate is now named Cochrane Way.

Buildwas Junction: Anyone seen a power station? The rather conspicuous cooling towers at Ironbridge of Ironbridge B Power Station, seen from a stationary train on 15 November 2008. The train is the Pathfinder Tours Industrious Trader, which was hauled by 37417 and 37401 - not necessarily in that order.

Coventry: The leading class 37 locomotive reflects on its arrival in Coventry with the Pathfinder Tours Industrious Trader. Platform view west on 15 November 2008.

Elderslie: Ballast train alongside the WHM freight depot at Elderslie during track replacement and upgrading work on 15 November. New track to the right is already in place and awaiting the attention of the tamper.

Plates, signs, notices etc: This Scottish Region 'Gentlemen' sign is placed on a gable of my house pour epater les voisins. It is an odd one because the colour is not quite right: heading towards powder blue compared with the usual, stronger Caledonian blue. It also doesn't use the mandatory Gill Sans lettering: the G is all wrong though the other letters are superficially similar to Gill Sans. I can only assume it was not made by the usual manufacturer and that they were given (or took) a little licence. Unlike abberant postage stamps this doesn't seem to make it much more valuable - either that or I got a real bargain!

Elderslie Tram Depot: The location of the tram depot in Main Road, Elderslie. Opened in 1904 by Paisley District Tramways, it was acquired by Glasgow City Transport in 1923. It was also used as as bus garage between 1932 and 1955 and eventually closed in 1957. The site has been unused for a number of years. Behind the advertising hoarding in the centre of shot is the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway, to the left is the Paisley Canal Line. The photograph is taken from Ferguslie Station on the Paisley and Barrhead District Railway

Avonmouth: Avonmouth looking to Bristol. Avonmouth has seen several stations over the years and this somewhat windswept version is the present one.

Severn Beach: Severn Beach looking to Avonmouth. You could be forgiven for thinking this station is closed given all this dereliction. To be fair there is a track still down the other side of the platform. Today it's a terminus as the line on to Pilning closed in 1968. The lifted lines to the left served the Severnside works (lines out of use by 2000).

Sharpness: Although clearly a farmer's store today this view looks north from the former Sharpness station (behind the camera) towards the Severn Bridge. The line followed a long sweeping curve on the right before crossing the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and the River Severn. The old houses on the left have a suspect railway look about them.

Dunfermline Queen Margaret: As can be seen from this picture Dunfermline is a hilly town, and there's a sharp climb from Dunfermline Town station to Townhill Junction, a few hundred yards behind the camera.  The old Class 117 DMUs, finally replaced 10 years ago this month, seemed to make particularly heavy weather of this grade, and there was a sigh of relief in the carriage when Townhill Junction was reached and everything stopped vibrating.  Making less of a fuss here on Sunday 15 November is 170 416 with an Outer Circle working about to Call at Queen Margaret.

Sharpness Docks: In theory Sharpness Docks are still rail served, but I reckon a derailment would occur pretty swiftly after trying to use these rails. The lines to the left serve the docks (both ahead of and behind the camera) and that to the right is the approach from Berkley Road.

Elderslie: Work taking place at Elderslie on 15th November to upgrade track and extend the loop line. The new gantry incorporating signalling for the revised layout is now operational.

Sharpness Docks: The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal was a ship canal built in the railway age. Most quaysides are served by rail (albeit buried under tarmac). The swing bridge seen here carries rails which fan out at the right hand side. The left hand side runs back to the connection to Berkley Road. View looks south with the River Severn both behind the camera and to its right.

Avonmouth St Andrews Road: Looking north from Avonmouth St Andrews Road station to the northern sidings of the (Bristol) Avonmouth Bulk Handling Terminal, a loading point handling coal imported via Portbury for power stations. The left hand track serves the single platform station and continues north to Severn Beach while the track next to it (and yard) serve the coal depot (behind camera), various depots and continues to Bristol Parkway. Behind the camera the left hand line continues to Bristol via Avonmouth and Clifton Down while the others terminate in the coal depot.

Elderslie: 66047 at Elderslie East Junction waiting to proceed with a ballast train to the works site at Elderslie on 15th November where track upgrade and renewal work is taking place.

North Johnstone: Looking West towards the site of North Johnstone as the sun begins to set. The replica signal carries the words 'Railway Path', and is part of the new signage being erected by SUSTRANS on former railway trackbeds now used as cycle paths.

Panama: View over part of the Atlantic Ocean.. or is it the Pacific by now? One of the locks on the Panama Canal in November 2010 showing the rails running along both sides. Even allowing for the foreshortening effect of the lens, some of the gradients negotiated by the mules see image [[34054]] are obviously 'testing', even for locomotives utilising the rack system.

Panama: Mule locomotive no 181 assists the P&O liner 'Oceana' on its journey through the Panama Canal in November 2010. These rack mounted electric locomotives, fitted with powerful winches, are used for side-to-side and braking control on many of the larger vessels using the canal locks. Some of the biggest ships negotiating the locks (often leaving only a 2 ft clearance on each side) can require the combined assistance of 8 such mules. See image [[34074]]

Panama: Admiring the local countryside from a ship in the Panama Canal in November 2010 - with the inevitable containers passing by in the foreground, courtesy the Panama Canal Railway Co.

Barton and Broughton: DRS 66421 hustles the 4M44 Mossend to Daventry containers south towards the closed station at Barton and Broughton. On this gloomy November afternoon the dark blue livery appeared almost black.

Gogar Tram Depot: Tram 276 arrives at Gogar tram depot on 15 November 2011, with the cab unit to the fore and the centre car in the background.

Gogar Tram Depot: The 'head of steel' under the approach road at the east end of Gogar Tram Depot on 15 November 2011. The running lines are in the foreground.

Gogar Tram Depot: View east over Gogar tram depot on 15 November 2011, with the Airport line in the foreground.

Watherston Bridge: A variety of major earthworks were required to take the Waverley Route down the valley of the Gala Water, some not undertaken until well after its 1849 opening. This major brick-built reinforcement of a cutting one and a half miles north of Stow is seen looking north on 15th November 2012.

Torwoodlee North Viaduct: This fine overbridge, seen here looking north on 15th November 2012, carries an unclassified road over the Waverley Route from the A7 road to Torwoodlee Mains farm, just north of Galashiels.

Bowshank North Bridge: View towards Edinburgh from above the northern portal of Bowshank Tunnel on 15th November 2012.

Torwoodlee North Viaduct: The gorge of the Gala Water at Torwoodlee just north of Galashiels. The river sweeps west and then back east, necessitating two railway bridges and a short tunnel on the route opened in 1849. This view south on 15th November 2012 shows the remaining piers of the most northerly bridge, with the tunnel mouth in the middle distance. Bridge reconstruction will be required, although at this point it will be single track.

Turnham Green: LUL 1973 Piccadilly Line stock with a service to Heathrow Terminals 4 and 1, 2 & 3 passing Turnham Green station on 15th November 2012. This station was originally opened by the LSWR in 1869 and first served by District Line trains in 1877 when a connection was established at Hammersmith. LSWR trains ceased in 1916 and it is still possible to see sections of the curved viaduct at Hammersmith, cut into by modern office blocks, that carried LSWR trains from Studland Road Junction (where the District met the LSWR) to a junction with the West London Line north of Kensington Addison Road, now Kensington (Olympia). This had two stations at Hammersmith (Grove Road), on the viaduct, and Shepherd's Bush in a cutting, both now demolished, although the ruins of Shepherd's Bush survived for many years and were not finally swept away until 1956, a full 40 years after closure.

Bowshank Tunnel: Looking north to the southern portal of Bowshank Tunnel on 15th November 2012. The portal seen here is a later addition to the original structure completed for the opening of the Edinburgh-Hawick line in 1849.

Ladybank: Ladybank Railway Station improvement project information brochure.

Gunnersbury: After dark at Gunnersbury station with 378 213 waiting to depart with a London Overground service from Richmond to Stratford and then heading away from the camera, on 15th November 2012. This station was opened by the LSWR as Brentford Road in 1869 and is also served by LUL District Line trains. Now rebuilt, the original station achieved notoriety in December 1954 when its roof was brought down during a freak tornado.

Ladybank: The Ladybank Primary School cheque presentation on 15 November.

Accrington: Just beyond the end of Acccington's Bury line platforms the 1:37 Baxenden bank started on a bridge over a mill reservoir. The trackbed greenway now runs between the columns of that demolished bridge as a feature of what is now this urban park.

Kirkham and Wesham: Bridge work is taking place along the Preston to Blackpool line ahead of electrification. The deck of the bridge at Kirkham station has been raised recently - seen here with 158860 passing beneath. The Movember embellished unit is on a Burnley Manchester Rd to Blackpool working, York services being operated in two halves between November and March due to the rebuilding of Holme Tunnel (See recent news item).

Accrington: Stand well back! An MPV on leaf clearance duties slowly negotiates the sharp curve into Accrington station on 15 November with the water jets in full flow.

Chatburn: The old goods shed still stands at Chatburn, seen here looking west from the road bridge, with the former station (closed in 1962) behind the camera. See image [[18761]] [Ref query 5543]

St Enoch [Subway]: The new arched canopy, reportedly inspired by the Kibble Palace in Glasgow's Botanic Gardens, being erected over the entrance to St Enoch Subway on 15th November 2014. See image [[49502]]

London Euston: BUO (Brake Unclassified Open) 9810 waits passengers at London Euston Platform 15 on 15th November 2015. Euston had two platforms long enough to accept the sleeper trains without the country end loco fouling signals and points, the other being platform 1.

Dalgety Bay: 66063 nears Dalgety Bay with a Cowdenbeath - Mossend spent ballast train on a wet 15 November 2015.

Galashiels: A view of Galashiels taking in the sign, platform, transport interchange and a train.

Preston (Ribble Branch): Then and Now comparison of Preston Corporation Locomotive Workshops, seen here on 15th November 2017. This fine structure was opened in 1985 to service the three resident Sentinel diesel shunters of the dock system when the surviving line was realigned to the south side of the dock See image [[56523]]. It replaced a workshop situated roughly where the exchange sidings are now located. Although still rail connected it isn't used by the Ribble Steam Railway and remains as a workshop facility with what is now Preston City Council.

Pockley Gates: Looking west towards Helmsley from the site of Pockley Gates level crossing on Rape Lane, with the former crossing keepers houses seen to the right. Much of the trackbed to Helmsley is still extant. See image [[56496]]

Pockley Gates: Looking east from Pockley Gates level crossing towards Nawton station, along the intensely used former trackbed now serving Beadlam Grange Farm seen in the left distance. A leaning concrete gate post can be seen by the notice, and concrete fence posts further along, seemingly from when the line was operational.

West Calder: A new lift tower is under construction at West Calder.

Salwick: The scene at Salwick on 15th November 2017, five days into the Blackpool line closure. This has been an electrification work site for some time now. The signal box is still in place, although it will be demolished in due course, and the masts have now been erected. See image [[45862]] for an earlier view of the same location.

Accrington: Pacer 142031, working from Colne to Preston, runs under Penny House Lane bridge as it approaches Accrington viaduct on 15th November 2018. Older maps of this area show this as a footbridge, which is probably why the replacement is made of local Accrington brick with a steel deck rather than the usual stone. [Ref query 20 November 2018]

Accrington: Sprinter 150224 comes off the speed restricted Accrington viaduct and begins to accelerate through the reverse curves heading for the next station at Huncoat with a service for Colne on 15th November 2018.

Bedworth: This blocked off level crossing at Heath Road, about a third of a mile from the site of the Bedworth Colliery sidings, doesn't look like a good place to start gricing a disused trackbed. But notice the hole in the metal fence, which actually leads to a workable footpath under the A444 and across to Black Bank on Coventry Road.

Hollowforth Aqueduct 38 [LC]: Bridge 38 on the Lancaster Canal is the Hollowforth Aqueduct over the Barton Brook. This comprises three elliptical stone tubes to take the brook under the canal. One of these also has an elevated gangway for a public footpath (when the watercourse is not in flood). This view looks west and there is a small weir on the downstream side of the aqueduct. This unusual structure is not really visible from the towpath, but the public footpath allows it to be fully appreciated.

Dalgety Bay: Freightliner 66513, with 66514 on the rear, nears Dalgety Bay with a Montrose - Millerhill ballast on 15 November 2020.

Undersåker: The station in Undersåker has a long island platform. The track on the north side which is used constantly by stopping and passing trains has stone top ballast. The track on the south side is shown in this view; here, by contrast, the ballast consists of sand and gravel which was used on this line and is still in use on Inlandsbanan. This track does not have much use as trains tend to pass at other stations. This is how many tracks in the north of Scotland would have looked before the introduction of stone ballast in the early to mid twentieth century. This material persisted in use at some stations into the late 1950s; see for example image [[63418]] where the track under the BMU is ballasted with gravel while two other tracks are stone ballasted. One disadvantage of this type of ballast is that it makes quite a good growing medium for unwanted vegetation.

Oxheys: 397006, working from Edinburgh to Manchester Airport, crosses the Sharoe Brook on the run down towards the Preston stop on 15th November 2021. This view would have been impossible before trackside tree clearance by Network Rail.

Oxheys: Tree and vegetation clearance of the WCML cutting north of Oxheys by Network Rail has opened up some vantage points around the Sharoe Brook Bridge, although these may not be around for long looking at the new growth. TPE 802204 crosses the brook with a TPE training run from Preston to Carlisle on 15th November 2021. This stretch of line had four tracks up to around the time of electrification.

Granton Hotel: HMS Claverhouse was originally a hotel opened by the Duke of Buccleuch on Granton Square for the Granton - Burntisland ferry service. It was requisitioned for the Royal Navy in 1939.

Oxheys: 195118 crosses the Sharoe Brook Bridge as it heads out of Preston with a Northern service from Manchester Airport to Barrow on 15th November 2021. Several popular local paths converge at the rail bridge, which also spans the stream.

Granton Hotel: The entrance to the former Granton Hotel on 15th November 2021. Note the just unveiled 'Red Wheel'.