Tunbridge Wells West: The scene at Tunbridge Wells West in November 1985, some 4 months after closure, with much of the old station having been badly burnt out by vandals. The former branch from Eridge is now in the hands of the Spa Valley Railway. See image [[44685]]

Dunfermline [3rd]: At a gloomy Dunfermline Lower (now Town) 37201 waits to be named Saint Margaret while 60066 passes with a coal train on 16 November 1993. 37201 was scrapped at Booths, Rotherham, in March 2009.

Innsbruck: An OBB class 1044 electric locomotive with a Salzburg train at Innsbruck in November 1994.

Bedwyn: LMS Stanier 4-6-2, 46229 'Duchess of Hamilton' westbound on the Berks and Hants through Little Bedwyn, passing a lock full of boats. 16th November 1996

Gedling and Carlton: The station building at Gedling on the northbound platform seen from the former southbound platform. This rump of the Derbyshire branch from Netherfield survived to serve Gedling Colliery which closed in 1991 (recycling of the tip continued until 2001).

Chorley: Northern Rail 156s call at Chorley on 16 November. On the right is a service to Buxton via Manchester while on the left is a service for Blackpool. The photograph is taken from the site of the former level crossing.

Chorley: FTPE 185 115 heading for Blackpool North at Rylands Crossing, Chorley, on 16 November 2008.

Chorley: Virgin Thunderbird rescue locomotive 57303 Alan Tracy on a Pendolino drag heading for Preston at Rylands Crossing on 16 November. View is south towards Chorley station.

Chorley: A First TransPennine class 185 looking even brighter than normal as it catches the low Autumn sun heads towards Chorley on 16 November 2008 with a service for Manchester Airport.

Cairneyhill: Looking east towards Dunfermline from Cairneyhill on 16 November. To the left is the former goods yard, recently vacated by a construction company and now awaiting commuters for the reopened station.....  in a few years perhaps?  Following the reopening of the Stirling - Alloa - Kincardine link and the rerouting of the Longannet coal trains this section currently sees very little traffic.

Longannet West Arrival: Looking south across the Forth as Freightliner 66605 approaches Longannet Power Station with a coal train on 16 November.

Stirling: View south on 16 November from the new pedestrian footbridge spanning Stirling station as 66043 crosses over to the Alloa line with a northbound coal train heading for Longannet Power Station.

Stirling: 170 477 at Stirling on 16 November, having arrived with a service from Alloa.

Glasgow Central: The first of the ScotRail class 334 units has now appeared in Saltire livery. Unit 334006 is seen approaching the platforms at Glasgow Central station on 16 November 2010.

Carnforth: Early morning at Carnforth sees a Barrow to Manchester Airport service approaching the station. 185147 is just clattering over the points for the Settle Junction line and about to pass the original stone signal box, replaced long ago by the still operational Carnforth Station Junction box that is hidden by the train. The long footbridge was the original pedestrian route to Carnforth shed but has not been accessible for many years.

Perth Carriage Sidings: Perth station changes - November 2010 #2 - see news item.

Glasgow Central: Standing at platform 10 of Glasgow Central station is ScotRail class 334 no 334006. Photographed on 16 October 2010, the unit is the first of its class to appear in Saltire livery. See image [[21672 for comparison]]

Perth Carriage Sidings: Perth station changes, November 2010 #3 - see news item.

Perth Carriage Sidings: Perth station changes, November 2010 #1 - see news item.

Treorchy: Looking south over Treorchy Station towards Pontypridd along the Treherbert branch in November 2011.

Carlisle: View south from Platform 6 at Carlisle Citadel with a 4-car Class 158 ready to depart with the 1404hrs service for Leeds via the Settle and Carlisle line.

Carlisle: At Platform 6, now designated as The Settle and Carlisle Line platform, 158850, with 158816, waits for departure time with the 1404 hrs service to Leeds on 16 November 2011. The impressive trainshed dominates the background

Carlisle: Pendolino 390018, newly arrived from Euston on a Glasgow service, stands in Platform 3 at Carlisle on 16 November. A Whitehaven service awaits its departure time in the bay alongside. The rear driving car is seen here from a Northern Class 158 in bay platform No.6.

Ton Pentre: 150285 runs into Ton Pentre on the 13.36 service from Cardiff to Treherbert on 16 November 2011.

Treherbert: Dusk at Treherbert on 16 November, as 143623 waits to return to Cardiff on the rear of the 16.17 departure, with the floodlights highlighting the rails of the stabling sidings.

Settle: The main station building at Settle, on the Leeds platform, is in excellent condition and obviously well cared for if a little cluttered with signs, plaques and posters. Also mounted on the building is the mile post - 236 and a half miles from St Pancras. More quirkily, set in the alcoves on the gable ends of the building are two little figurines, one of Mickey and another of Minnie Mouse.

Cockfosters: The LUL Piccadilly Line terminus at Cockfosters, opened in 1933, seen here on 16th November 2012. Designed by Dr. Charles Holden (1875-1960), the London Underground's Chief Architect between the two world wars.

Wolferton: The impressive station approach and down-side buildings of the privately restored Wolferton station in Norfolk. The former 'Royal Station' is a short distance from Sandringham. Photographed on 16 November 2012 looking towards Hunstanton.

Southgate: The platform for Piccadilly Line trains to Heathrow and Uxbridge at Southgate station, north London, opened in 1933, looking north, on 16th November 2012. This is the only deep-level 'tube' station on the London Underground where it is possible to see light at the end of the tunnel but only from this platform, not that to Cockfosters which is on a slight curve.

Wolferton: Station Clock and up-side buildings at Wolferton on 16 November 2012. View north east towards Hunstanton.

Staveley: Just to the south of Staveley station is this well known level crossing. In earlier times the line was double track, the crossing manually controlled and the road was the main route from Kendal to Windermere. With the line singled, the crossing automated and the village bypassed the scene has changed but the railway cottage is still occupied as 185105 passes on its way to Oxenholme and Manchester Airport on a murky November afternoon.

Staveley: The 1402 Windermere to Manchester Airport only calls at Kendal on the branch and 185105 is seen here having just passed over Staveley level crossing at speed on 16 November. The formerly double track line now enjoys a basically hourly TPE service and far more trains than in steam days.

Murrayfield Junction [Tram]: Looking west from the deferred junction with the projected Line 1b of the Edinburgh tram network which would run through Craigleith to Granton. A ScotRail 170 unit stands at Haymarket Depot in the background, with Murrayfield Stadium beyond.

Russell Road Viaduct: A 22 bus crossing the converted railway viaduct over Russell Road in November 2013. The former Caledonian route from Dalry Middle Junction to Haymarket West Junction closed in 1964.

Dalry Middle Junction: The rebuilt rail bridge over Dalry Road near the former Dalry Middle Junction. View west on 16 November 2013 with a no 22 bus crossing. See image [[29911]]

Russell Road Bridge [Tram]: Underside of the Russell Road tramway bridge, photographed on 16 November 2013. The bridge is wider on the right in order to accommodate the projected junction with a possible line 1b to Granton.

Lady Victoria Colliery: Former NCB West Ayr Area Barclay 0-4-0T no 21 on display at Newtongrange Mining Museum (the former Lady Victoria Colliery) on 16 November 2014.

Media City UK: The Metrolink tram terminus at Media City UK, as seen from the Air Shard viewing platform at the Imperial War Museum on 16 November. A tram is arriving off the Eccles line, the triangular junction with which is just behind the large building on the right of this picture.

Chappel and Wakes Colne: A wet and miserable 16 November at the East Anglian Railway Museum, with a 2-car DMU set standing alongside on the Museum's tracks. On the right is the platform serving the Sudbury branch looking south towards Marks Tey.

Chappel and Wakes Colne: Platform scene at Chappel and Wakes Colne on 16 November showing Greater Anglia unit 153322 calling with the 10.26 Sudbury - Marks Tey service.

Media City UK: One of Manchester's shorter branch lines. Metrolink 3087 travels along the 360m spur off the Eccles line and approaches the two platform terminus at Media City UK. On most days the station is served by direct shuttles between here and Piccadilly but on Sundays the service is provided by the Eccles line trams that call here in both directions before reversing and rejoining their original route.

Media City UK: In the shadow of the BBC and ITV studios, Metrolink trams 3089 and 3087, both engaged on services to and from Eccles, pass at Media City on Sunday 16 November. Trams reverse here to rejoin the Eccles line proper and continue their journeys. Monday to Saturday this terminus of a very short branch is served by shuttle services from Piccadilly.

Maghull: Dusk at Maghull and 508125 pulls up alongside the L&YR canopy with an Ormskirk to Liverpool Central service on 16th November 2015. It has just been announced that a new station, known as Maghull North, is to be constructed during 2017.

Bidston: West Kirby bound 508138 has just passed the old Bidston West Junction where the chord to Bidston North Junction, now a short reversing stub, left the line to Birkenhead and Liverpool. The chord was used by the famous Bidston Dock to Shotton iron ore trains. This view, taken from the footbridge at Bidston station, looking eastwards in November 2015. See image [[53305]] for the view in the opposite direction from the same vantage point.

Birkenhead North: A Merseyrail service heading for Liverpool calls at Birkenhead North, where a number of original station buildings are still in use. Just beyond the bridge is Birkenhead North EMU Depot, and some of the buildings can be seen above the car park.

Green Lane: A deceptive station building. Although a railway line runs directly behind Green Lane station (see bridge on left of picture) those are the now closed tracks of the Chester to Birkenhead Woodside line. Green Lane's platforms are underground and accessed by lift or stairs See image [[53282]]. The station serves the ship building area of Birkenhead and, although not as busy as in its heyday, still has six trains an hour in each direction.

Sandhills: 507007, working a service from Ormskirk, terminates at the much rebuilt Sandhills station due to a track defect at its Liverpool Central destination. Passengers seen here joined a very full train coming in from Southport while the empty EMU used the reversing siding See image [[53343]] and then formed a service back to Ormskirk.

Green Lane: Green Lane, oozing with atmosphere, sees 507011 go into the tunnel heading for Liverpool with a service from the Chester line in November 2015. The vaulting that sits over the southbound platform, but does not cover that for city bound trains, can be clearly seen. Once very busy with shipyard workers, the station still serves nearby Cammel-Lairds but is now quiet for much of the day.

Bidston: Looking towards Birkenhead from the island platform at Bidston as 508136 heads towards Liverpool from the station on 16th November 2015.

Green Lane: Subterranean Green Lane, partially open to the elements, looking towards Rock Ferry. The brick vaulting between the girders appears to have once carried sidings on the Birkenhead and Chester lines. There is a long shelter only on the Liverpool platform, reflecting its open nature, and the steps of the station footbridge from which this image was taken are also only covered on the Liverpool side. All in all a very quirky location. 508112 rolls in from Chester heading for the tunnel under the Mersey.

Meols: When the West Kirby line was electrified in the 1930s the stations were rebuilt with distinctive art deco buildings and canopies that survive to this day. 507023 calls at Meols on a West Kirby to Liverpool service on 16th November 2015. The 35+ year old 507/508 EMUs are now in their last years as tenders have been invited for a replacement Merseyrail fleet.

Green Lane: A most remarkable location. Green Lane is on the Mersey Railway between Birkenhead Central and Rock Ferry. It is subterranean but partially open to the elements and daylight. The Rock Ferry platform, where 507010 is calling, has brick vaulting between the girders but the Liverpool platform is open, albeit a long shelter has recently been installed. The red sandstone walls add to the atmosphere.

Birkenhead Central: The abandoned Mersey Railway carriage depot at Birkenhead Central (BC), as seen from the station platform in November 2015. The third rails have been removed from the depot tracks but the siding alongside is still live and appeared to be used occasionally. The depot sits in a deep hollow so redevelopment of the site may not be straightforward. EMU maintenance on the Wirral side of the Mersey is now concentrated at Birkenhead North (BD).

Rock Ferry: A view towards Birkenhead from the footbridge access to the Chester platform at Rock Ferry. On the far left are the bay platforms, now used for stabling. To the right of the platforms in use are the disused platforms on this former four track main line. Latterly freight only to Birkenhead Docks, it is clearly a long time since the tracks on the right were last used but the colour light signal is still lit.

Bidston: Arriva trains do not hang about on the third rail lines at Bidston. Almost as soon as this Borderlands Line Sprinter had pulled in to Platform 2 from Wrexham Central the signal was cleared for it to head south again. The DMUs provide an hourly interval service through Neston and Shotton, whereas EMUs to West Kirby run every fifteen minutes.

Ellesmere Port: Ellesmere Port station building is still staffed and there is a half hourly Merseyrail service via Hooton and Birkenhead to Liverpool. 507028 waits in the one platform with third rail as the other is only used for trains to Helsby. The passenger service through Stanlow & Thornton and Ince & Elton is pretty abysmal, comprising just two early morning and two mid afternoon trains although there are some freight services too.

Rock Ferry: Rock Ferry was the station where Mersey Railway services terminated, in two bay platforms, and passengers transferred to main line services to Chester. All this changed in 1985 when the line to Hooton was electrified and since then the bay platforms have been mainly used for stabling EMUs and the centre stabling road lifted. 507019 idles away the time between the rush hours on 16th November 2015.

Hooton: GWR Castle Class hauled expresses from Birkenhead to Paddington once called at Hooton's platforms. These days the 3rd rail motive power is humbler, but calls a lot more frequently. Merseyrail 507005 and 508123 pause underneath the new accessible footbridge in November 2015.

Hooton: Once a busy station on the four track main line to Birkenhead Woodside, Hooton later went into decline. However electrification in 1985, subsequently extended to Chester and Ellesmere Port has brought a revival and there are now six trains an hour direct to Liverpool for most of the day. The siding in the foreground however, used for a period by the Helsby DMU shuttle, is now redundant as the EMUs call at the other platforms but the station building is still staffed and in good repair.

Sandhills: 507007 emerges from the turnback siding at Sandhills to return to Ormskirk in November 2015. The EMU had been terminated here due to a track fault at Liverpool Central. Passengers transferred to a packed train from Southport to continue their journeys. See image [[44642]] for the more usual arrangements at this location.

Bidston: Arriva Sprinter 150227 comes off the Wrexham and Shotton line at Bidston Dee Junction. Until 1994 this junction was controlled by a mechanical signal box but now comes under the Merseyrail control centre. Trains from Wrexham can run through the station and wait in the reversing siding See image [[53437]] but the majority turn round quickly in Platform 2 as seen here so the through line is rusty.

Birkenhead Central: As the headquarters of the Mersey Railway Birkenhead Central was a key point on the line and some charming early buildings survive to the present day, including the station master's house which stands high above the Liverpool platform. 508122 calls on a service heading for Chester on 16th November 2015. The disused EMU depot can just be seen to the right of the platform.

Green Lane: View south through the short tunnel, from the Liverpool platform at Green Lane, as 507010 climbs the 1:35 gradient to take it up to the level of the old Chester and Birkenhead main line, which is above the wall on the left of the EMU. Next stop for the train is Rock Ferry on the way to Hooton and Chester.

New Brighton: Sitting under the long Art Deco canopy at New Brighton is Merseyrail EMU 508143, newly arrived from Liverpool. The 3.5 mile branch from Birkenhead North enjoys a 15 minute interval service Monday to Saturday (30 minutes on Sundays). Diesel services from Wrexham used to run through to New Brighton but now turn back at Bidston.

New Brighton: New Brighton station, as seen from the road that leads down to the promenade. From this angle it looks more like a primary school but there is a spacious booking hall See image [[43591]] and beyond that the platform with its typical Wirral Line art deco canopy.

Moreton (Merseyside): The street level 1930s art deco booking office at Moreton, and the associated concrete footbridge, are seen to good effect as EMU 508110 pulls away on a Wirral Line service heading for West Kirby in November 2015.

Neath Riverside: 66106, with a Margam to Onllwyn Washery train of empties, approaches Neath N&B Junction as a Cardiff to Swansea train passes over on the Great Western Main Line. The freight is slowing to collect the token for the single line to the washery, from the signalman who can be seen hanging out of the box window. The platform of Neath Riverside station is still clearly visible 55 years after closure. 16th November 2017.

Edinburgh Waverley: The 0910 ex-Glenrothes with Thornton about to enter platform 16 at Waverley on 16 November 2017. Note the red 'STOP' ground signal at the entrance to platform 12 where extension work is currently taking place.

Neath: The 0645 Paddington to Swansea departing from Neath on 16th November 2017. A 10 coach Class 800 set is too long for the platform here and passengers in the back two coaches have to move forward to exit the train. There appeared to be extra crew training taking place to assist with this and teething issues, like the doors of one coach not working.

Camelon: A Dunblane to Edinburgh service calls at Camelon on 16 November 2017. The OHLE masts are up either side, but the trickier task of masting up the station has not yet started.

Machynlleth: 158835 and 158823 arrive at Machynlleth at 1443hrs on 16th November 2017. The train (from Birmingham International) splits here with the front half for Aberystwyth and the rear for Pwllheli.

Neath Riverside: 66106, with a train from Margam to Onllwyn Washery, approaches Neath N&B Jct from Swansea Burrows on 16th November 2017.

Drigg: The siding at the Low Level Waste Repository facilities at Drigg. This lies a short distance north of Drigg station and is seen here from a train heading north along the Cumbrian Coast in November 2017. Occasional nuclear loads for the Drigg repository originate a short distance north of here at Sellafield.

Falkirk Grahamston: A 156 from Glasgow Queen Street has arrived at its final stop and is signalled to enter the Grangemouth branch to change ends. The branch is already wired up and it would be nice to think this is in anticipation of the reopening of Grangemouth station. Unfortunately there's no sign of this happening soon. 16th November 2017.

Falkirk Grahamston: An Edinburgh to Dunblane service pulls out of Falkirk Grahamston on 16 November 2017. Note that we have masts, but no wires yet.

Baillieston: Preparations under way for the temporary reopening of the original bridge at Baillieston station. The bridge will close again in February for demolition and replacement. The plastic barrier sections will require filling with water to ensure they don’t find their way on to the track underneath as has happened recently.

Neath: The 1029 Swansea to London Paddington service, formed by new Class 800 electro-diesel sets 800011 and 800013, seen approaching Neath on 16th November 2017.

Port Talbot Parkway: Interior of a standard class coach of a new GWR Class 800 train, travelling between Port Talbot and Neath on 16th November 2017.

Port Talbot Parkway: GWR Class 800 Electro-diesel set 800011 on the rear of the 1029 Swansea to London Paddington service departing Port Talbot on 16th November 2017

Quorn and Woodhouse: 45305 'Alderman Draper', wreathed in steam, heads south out of Quorn and Woodhouse on 16th November 2019.

Loughborough Central: Wheels and chassis from NRM owned 70013 'Oliver Cromwell', seen under repair in the shed at Loughborough on 16th November 2019.

Loughborough Central: The boiler of NRM owned 70013, receiving attention outside the shed at Loughborough (GCR), in November 2019. The chassis, wheels and tender were undergoing overhaul inside the shed.

Winchmore Hill: The typically Great Northern Railway station entrance to Winchmore Hill, north London, on 16th November 2019. This was opened by the GNR in 1871 with their branch from the main line at Wood Green (now Alexandra Palace) to Enfield, which was extended in the second decade of the 20th Century back to the main line at Stevenage to form the Hertford North Loop.

Quorn and Woodhouse: 'Modified Hall' 6990 'Witherslack Hall' seen leaving Quorn and Woodhouse station at the 'Last Hurrah of 2019' GCR gala on 16th November.

Loughborough Central: D8098 was effectively the token diesel at the GCR 'Last Hurrah of 2019' gala on 16th November 2019, although a DMU pottered about somewhere during the event. The Class 20 is seen running round its train at Loughborough Central.

Winchmore Hill: Winchmore Hill station, north London, on the Hertford North Loop, looking south with the back of the original 1871 station building on the bridge and the replacement canopies dating from the 1970s on the platforms, on 16th November 2019.

Falkland Yard: View looking south, in November 2019, across the desolation that was until recently Falkland Yard. 

Bay Horse: From this spot, at the site of Bay Horse station, there is the sound of constant running water coming from the far staircase. Until 1960 this formed an access to the Up Platform from the still open subway under the line and which the water runs in to. TPE 350402 runs south on an Edinburgh to Manchester Airport service on 16th November 2019. The stair and subway have certainly deteriorated in recent years, See image [[19844]] from 2008, although the lighting has been improved.

Ayr MPD: I went to see the remains - there are none - of 67C Ayr MPD. This view looks north on 16th November 2019.

Winchmore Hill: Notice to passengers below running-in board at Winchmore Hill station, on 16th November 2019. While some trains do run through to Stevenage at weekends, several still terminate at Watton-at-Stone which is not made clear from the notice.

Quorn and Woodhouse: A trip to the Great Central Railway on 16th November 2019, the theme being the 'Last Hurrah of 2019'. Eight engines rattling around, some proved harder to photograph than others. Standard 5MT 73156 heading a freight south through Quorn at 1500 hours.

Loughborough Central: Spaceship 92214 'Leicester City' running round its train in Loughborough during the GCR 'Last Hurrah of 2019' gala. This saw eight engines rattling around although some proved harder to photograph than others.

Spen Lane Signal Box: 331025 leads a Manchester Airport to Blackpool North service, running past the site of Spen Lane box, between Salwick and Kirkham, on 16th November 2020. Traction was a little more exotic on my previous visit to this footbridge [[19198]].

Salwick: 331005 pass the island platform at Salwick with an eastbound service on 16th November 2020. See image [[19186]] from the same vantage point in 1982. The risk assessment has clearly shown that the ramp parapet would be too tempting.

Salwick: 331027 heads east through Salwick on 16th November 2020. The obligatory 'keep your distance' signs have appeared on the approach ramp - possibly a little superfluous at Salwick which averages less than five passengers per day.

Kirkham and Wesham: 331024 and 331031 head east at Spen Lane, between Kirkham and Salwick, with a stopping service for Hazel Grove on 16th November 2020. In 1982, my last visit to this location, the trains passing the bridge were a little more audible - see image [[20392]].

Spen Lane Signal Box: 158817, on the Blackpool South, East Lancs and Ormskirk roster, crosses the bridge at Spen Lane near Kirkham on 16th November 2020. This long and low blue brick structure used to carry four tracks and there was also a signal box a little to the east of here, one of twenty four between Preston and Blackpool Talbot Road at the height of services to the resort.

Kirkham and Wesham: This Preston and Wyre Railway boundary post between Kirkham and Salwick has survived the electrification rebuild of the bridge behind, and the recent installation of palisade fencing. Probably dating from the 1840 opening of the line this is a remarkable artefact.

Edinburgh Airport [Tram]: I hadn't seen this very realistic looking Tram Information Lounge at Edinburgh Airport before a visit on 16th November 2021 but it has been in place for several years after serving as a pre-tramway mock-up.

Inverness Airport: Progress on the early development of the new Inverness Airport station is shown in a series of Network Rail images. [View east to the former Dalcross station, Nairn and Aberdeen. The airport is off to the left. -RS]