This day in history 22 November
Images
Seafield Shed [CR]: Reid class J35 0-6-0 no 64479, complete with snowplough, stabled in the shed yard at Seafield in November 1959.
Seafield Shed [CR]: A busy shed yard at Seafield on 22 November 1959, with Reid J35 0-6-0 no 64489 centre stage.
Seafield Shed [CR]: A two-road shed, with coaling stage and associated sidings, was opened at Seafield by the Caledonian in 1902. Located on the north side of Leith South yard, it turned out to be part of the white elephant that was the Caledonian's Leith New Lines and saw limited use before being leased to the NB during WW1. It eventually became a sub-shed of 64A ,St Margarets, providing welcome accomodation for the overspill of some of its 200+ locomotives. Seafield shed is seen here in November 1959, with 64A based J37s nos 64607 and 64637 amongst the guests. Closure came in October 1962 and the building was demolished in 1966.
Seafield Shed [CR]: St Margarets J37 0-6-0 no 64582 stands in the shed yard at Seafield on 22 November 1959.
Seafield Shed [CR]: N15 0-6-2T no 69141 photographed in the shed yard at Seafield in November 1959 with the coaling stage in the background.
Newhailes Junction: Newhailes Junction signal box on 22 November 1970, still displaying its former name. The box stood near the point where the Musselburgh branch left the ECML. This area, including the station, had been renamed Newhailes from September 1938. Newhailes station was closed by BR in February 1950.
Portobello East Junction: Portobello East signalbox seen here from the west in November 1970 with the ECML disappearing straight ahead under the by then redundant plate girder bridge carrying the Lothian Lines. Beyond is the masonry arch under Brunstane Road at the west end of what had been Joppa Station. The former Waverley Route, devoid of passenger traffic in 1970 but still busy with freight to and from Millerhill Yard, diverges to the right behind the stone built base for the water tank.
Duddingston: The board on the west end wall of Duddingston and Craigmillar station (closed 1962) proclaims that it deals with goods and parcels traffic but the dilapidated condition of the building suggests otherwise. Photographed on Sunday 22nd November 1970.
Millerhill Yard: Private owner grain hopper No. 48 belonging to Scottish Grain Distillers of Windygates, Fife, photographed in Millerhill yard on 22nd November 1970
Niddrie North Junction: Niddrie North signal box on Sunday 22nd November 1970, showing its elevated position adjacent to the by then lifted Lothian Lines. The tracks visible on the lower level led to Niddrie West Junction see image [[33009]].
Kings Road Junction: Located on the branch from Portobello East to Leith South, just north of the bridge under Portobello Road, Kings Road Junction box controlled access to the sidings serving Portobello Power Station, part of which is visible in the left background. Photographed on 22 November 1970. See image [[33276]]
Niddrie West Junction: Niddrie West signal box on 22 November 1970.
Niddrie West Junction: Niddrie West signal box, photographed on Sunday 22nd November 1970 see image [[34323]].
Niddrie North Junction [Lothian Lines]: The signal box at Niddrie North photographed in the late autumn of 1970. Photographed from the 'upper level' trackbed of the former Lothian Lines. See image [[33008]]
Millerhill Yard: This immaculate passenger rated ex-GWR fruit van had obviously just enjoyed an overhaul and repaint prior to being photographed in Millerhill Yard on 22nd November 1970.
Portobello West Junction: On the south side of the ECML between Portobello Station and Craigentinny Sidings, in an elevated position above Baileyfield Road, stood Portobello West signal box, seen here in November 1970.
Kings Road Junction: This interesting pair of ground signals was situated almost opposite the former Kings Road Junction signal box see image [[33091]]. The photograph was taken in November 1970 looking towards Leith South. The left hand track would have given access to the power station sidings which were located south of Portobello Road and on the west side of the Leith South branch. Presumably there was a conveyor belt connection to the power station, which was separated from the sidings by Portobello High Street and Baileyfield Road.
Leith South Yard: These venerable wooden bodied vehicles were still being used in the early 1970s for the transport of grain between Leith Docks and the North British Distillery maltings at Gorgie see image [[29927]]. I notice that wagon No. 120 in the SRPS collection was built for the Leith General Warehousing Co. by Hurst Nelson & Co. of Motherwell in 1903, so presumably No. 99 (on the left) was even older. Photographed at Leith South on 22 November 1970.
Portobello East Junction: The signal box at Portobello East was a distinctive structure, spanning the ECML on the Edinburgh side of the junction with the Waverley Route (behind the photographer) and the branch to Leith South (visible immediately above the '20' speed restriction sign). Seen here late in the afternoon of Sunday 22nd November 1970.
Millerhill Yard: Looking just like the Airfix model which I had constructed a few years earlier, a Blue Circle cement branded Presflo basks in late autumn sunshine at Millerhill Yard in 1970.
Hebden Bridge: A DMU for Manchester Victoria calls at Hebden Bridge on 22 November 1976.
Newcastle Central: Deltic 55003 Meld stands at the east end of Newcastle Central on 22 November 1980. Class 03 locomotive 03067 shunts in the background.
Longmorn Distillery: Part of the internal railway within the Longmorn distillery, south of Elgin, seen here in 1980. The system was used to transport materials around the site until late 1979, following which the track, locomotive and wagons were gifted to the Strathspey Railway. View towards buffer on the curve which connected the goods yard to Longmorn Distillery.
Longmorn: The former GNSR station at Longmorn viewed from the nearby distillery in late 1980. The internal distillery lines had been left in place when BR closed the Elgin - Rothes route and were well worn with rotten sleepers (I understand it was second hand GNSR rail from the 1880's.) The management eventually decided to scrap the rail, tarmac the trackbed and buy a lorry. They offered the whole internal system to the Strathspey Railway, rail, sleepers, points, loco and wagons. In consequence many of us spent some time on site readying materials for loading onto lorries. So far as I know much of it will still be at Boat of Garten.
Helsby: 40025, formerly named Lusitania, calls at Helsby with a North Wales to Manchester service in November 1980. Wisps of steam from the front end indicate the boiler is working. Beyond the loco a Park Royal Class 103 DMU can be seen waiting in the adjoining platform to make another shuttle run through Ellesmere Port to Hooton.
Rylstone: 37682 and a sister locomotive wait with a stone train for the level crossing gates to be opened at Rylstone on the former Grassington branch, on 22 November 1991.
Rylstone: This mobile crossing keeper arrived in a van at the crossing near Rylstone on the Grassington branch in November 1991. After operating the gates to allow passage of a stone train See image [[37131]] he drove away again, presumably to carry out further duties elsewhere on the local network.
Oakington: The former station at Oakington (closed 1970) on the Eastern Counties Railway between Huntingdon and Cambridge, photographed in November 1995 from the former level crossing.
Polmont: A morning train calls at Polmont westbound in November 2002.
Wester Hailes: A GNER Kings Cross - Glasgow Central train passing through Wester Hailes station on the west side of Edinburgh on 22 November 2002.
Wester Hailes: A Glasgow Central - Edinburgh Waverley via Shotts train crossing the B701 on the approach to Wester Hailes station in November 2002.
Polmont: Edinburgh - Glasgow trains passing at Polmont in November 2002.
Polmont: A crisp autumn morning at Polmont in November 2002, with trains for Edinburgh and Dunblane occupying the platforms.
Polmont Junction: An Edinburgh bound train on the line from Falkirk Grahamston about to run through Polmont Junction on 22 November 2002, prior to major modification of the junction.
Beauly: A Kyle of Lochalsh - Inverness train approaching Beauly from the north in November 2003.
Beauly: The mini-platform at Beauly in November 2003. The original 1862 station building and fenced off up platform can be seen on the left. The old station closed to passengers in June 1960 but reopened in April 2002 using the new short platform arrangement.
Kirkcudbright: The former Kirkcudbright station, looking north along the A711 Saint Mary Street in November 2005, some 40 years after closure. Housing now covers the site of the former platforms but the main station buildings still survive.
Knaresborough: Were there any other semi-detached signal boxes (barring those on station platforms) in the UK? - Knaresborough box seen from the east side of the Kirkgate level-crossing in November 2006.
Tickets and labels: A third class LNER Grandisons Workmens Walkerburn - Peebles return ticket issued on 11 February 1925.
Frutigen: A BLS unit terminates at Frutigen on a local service from Spiez.
Buchanan Street Tunnel: South Portal Of the former Buchanan Street Tunnel in November 2007.
Buchanan Street Tunnel: Closer view of the Tunnel Mouth... notice the rubbish starting to build up.
Buchanan Street Tunnel: Stairs leading down to a fence... notice the arched support for Queen Street Tunnel at the base of the steps.
Buchanan Street Tunnel: View inside the Rotunda building, believed to be part of the infilled North Portal of the tunnel on Pinkston Road, Glasgow. Notice the netting.
Buchanan Street Tunnel: Looking down from the decaying roof of the Rotunda building at the site of the infilled North Portal of the Tunnel... there looks to be some sort of circular metal (this contains the netting). Between this and the external wall lies what looks to be debris.
Buchanan Street Tunnel: This shows the extent of the land infill around the tunnel.
Buchanan Street Tunnel: Student Halls now standing on the site of the tunnel throat... goods lines once occupied this site.
Buchanan Street Tunnel: The M8 Motorway now runs above the southern portal of the tunnel.
Buchanan Street Tunnel: Another view of the Queen Street tunnel support arch.
Buchanan Street Tunnel: View into the tunnel... track bed looks amazingly dry. Notice the accumulated rubbish.
Buchanan Street Tunnel: Closer view of the supporting arch for Queen Street tunnel. Slippery stairs bottom left of photograph.
Hayes Knoll: Fowler diesel mechanical 4210137 of 1958 on the Swindon and Cricklade Railway on 22 November 2008.
Hayes Knoll: A class 207 Thumper DEMU repainted back into its original colours and with its old BR number stands at Hayes Knoll on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway on 22 November.
Alne: View over the former Easingwold Branch level crossing on Station Road at Alne Station in November 2009. View is towards the ECML with the raised crossing section of the road still in existance some 52 years after closure of the branch. The road ahead is rising and curving to run over the ECML overbridge. The entrance visible on the left at the start of the curve leads to a house adjacent to the location of the branch bay platform which was sited on the up side of the main line at the north end of the main line platform.
Alne: View across former Easingwold Branch level crossing on Station Road at Alne station looking towards the ECML running just beyond the farthest tree line. See image [[21801]] for view in opposite direction.
Morecambe: The Heysham Boat Train ambles down the branch to the Port. 144013 is allowed 15 minutes for the four mile journey from Morecambe so, even with the manual points change at the junction See image [[18085]] the pace is leisurely. This picture was taken looking north from Regent Rd bridge.
Cardross: Station Improvements? The Up platform at Cardross next to the booking office was always lower than today's normal platform height by quite a bit see image [[24085]]. It appears that in the name of progress this is being rectified and that new entrances are being given to the station building. The original GD&HR building will hopefully not lose its charm. The view on the evening of 22 November 2010 shows the new platform surface next to the station building.
Glasgow Central: Preparations are being completed in the cab of Pendolino 390016 at Glasgow Central on 22 November in readiness for the 2010 hrs departure to Crewe.
Partick: 334016 calls at Partick with the 1544 hrs service to Dalmuir on an overcast 22 November 2010.
Glasgow Central: 314212 stands at platform 9 of Glasgow Central station on 22 November 2010 awaiting the next tour of duty.
Glasgow Central: The 1950 hrs to York waits to set off from platform 2 at Glagow Central on 22 November 2010. DVT 82215 is the lead vehicle.
Cardross: Looking west between Dumbarton and Cardross over the Tail of the Bank and the Argyll Hills in November 2011 as a Class 334 is dwarfed by its surroundings as it heads towards Helensburgh.
Cardross: Helensburgh bound, 334003 crosses the short causeway at Ardoch between Dalreoch and Cardross on 22 November 2011. The River Clyde is on the right and at high tide reaches the causeway.
Dumbarton East: 320321 arrives at Dumbarton East with an eastbound service on 22 November 2011.
Dalreoch: 334030 calls at Dalreoch with a service to Helensburgh Central on 22 November 2011.
Leven Viaduct [Dumbarton]: View north east from the 'new' road bridge over the River Leven at Dumbarton on 22 November 2011 as a westbound Class 320 crosses the river on the approach to Dalreoch station.
Dumbarton East: 334040 pulls away from Dumbarton East on 22 November 2011 heading for Glasgow, just as 320308 leaves on a service to Balloch in the background.
Cardross: MPV DR98955, with water jets firing, returns east from Cardross on 22 November 2011.
Cardross: GBRf/Europorte locomotive no 66737 Lesia on the North Blyth to Fort William Alumina tanks on 22 November passing the 'sea defences' alongside the River Clyde to the east of Cardross.
Cardross: Helensburgh bound 334003 on the embankment alongside the River Clyde at Ardoch on the eastern approach to Cardross on 22 November 2011.
Cardross: 334022 heads east towards Dalreoch on 22 November 2011 shortly after leaving Cardross.
Östersund: Taken at half past noon with slightly more than an hour left till sunset, ASEA (the A in ABB) built Ma-class loco 827 of Netrail (a loco-hiring agency) and two Inlandsbanan Y1 railbusses see image [[54977]] sit in the loco sidings at Östersund in November 2013.
Erikslund: Alstom Coradia Nordic 4 car EMU X62. The X62 is a long-range variant of the X61. One of the major differences is the provision of a Family section which takes up about one third of the leading coach. The remainder of the seating is 2+2. Enough room for the kids and pets to move around and the adults can sprawl out and relax. En route from Sundsvall to Ã…re.
Reading: South West Trains unit 8023 in the company of RHTT No 98922 at Reading station on 22 November.
Didcot Parkway: 66194 creeps into the sidings at Didcot on 22 November with a lengthy freight.
Didcot Parkway: 67005 Queen's Messenger and 66167 in the sidings alongside Didcot station on 22 November.
Reading: 150001 boarding at Reading station on 22 November 2013 with a service for Basingstoke.
Reading: 66003 eastbound through Reading on 22 November with a sand train.
Oldham Central [Tram]: Manchester Metrolink 3036 to Rochdale, approaching Oldham Central stop on 22nd November 2014. Trams had returned to the town for the first time since 1946 on 27th January 2014, taking over most of the Oldham Loop railway except in Oldham where they were diverted through the town centre, rejoining the line beyond the new Oldham Mumps tram stop. The railway stations in Oldham were abandoned and this once great mill town is now totally divorced from the UK rail network.
Oldham Werneth: The Oldham Loop rail line was mostly converted for use by Manchester Metrolink trams in January 2014, apart from the section through the town's stations although that was used by trams for a few months before the new town centre street section was opened. This view of the abandoned trackbed through the site of Werneth station, looking towards the tunnel, was taken from a Metrolink tram to Rochdale negotiating the sharp curve to the left that takes the trams onto reserved track before running 'on street' through Oldham town centre. They return to the former Loop line just beyond the replacement Oldham Mumps tram stop. Photograph taken on 22nd November 2014, 11 months after the new town centre tramway opened. See image [[46375]] taken from this spot ten months earlier.
Stow: Track-laying looking imminent at Stow station on 22 November 2014.
Galashiels: Progress on the Transport Interchange under construction at Galashiels on 22 November 2014.
Wyre Viaduct: A light load, of just one four wheeled container wagon, for DRS 37605 and 37059 as they cross the River Wyre at Scorton on 22nd November. This Saturday working from Sellafield to Crewe was routed via Maryport and Shap rather than the Furness line.
Oldham Central [Tram]: Manchester Metrolink no. 3043 to Rochdale departing from Oldham Central, on 22nd November 2014. On the right is Clegg Street where there was a station on the Oldham, Ashton & Guide Bridge Junction Railway that closed in May 1959.
Glasgow Queen Street Low Level: 334018 forms the rear set of a 6 car Helensburgh to Edinburgh service on 22 November 2015. The train has just departed from Glasgow Queen Street Low Level and is entering the High Street tunnel.
Glasgow Queen Street Low Level: A 6 car eastbound service with 334033 leading, enters Glasgow Queen Street station on 22 November 2015. See image [[13711]] for an almost matching shot from 41 years earlier.
Preston Maudlands: A Hazel Grove to Blackpool North stopping service, formed by 150132/138, approaches the Blackpool Road bridge on a gloomy 22nd November 2016. This scene is about to change with the imminent electrification of the Blackpool route.
Preston Maudlands: Running on the former four track section of line between Fylde Junction and Kirkham, 158908 forms a York to Blackpool North service seen leaving Preston on 22nd November 2016. The old Fast Lines are now occupied by the Tom Benson Way ring road at this point.
Inverness: 170416, devoid of branding, on arrival at Inverness at 1027 having formed the 0710 from Glasgow Queen Street. According to one of the rail forums 170416 collided with a large bull near Nairn back in October 2016. It then may have suffered further damage in a collision at the Broxden Roundabout while being taken by road for repairs, first at Shields and then at Kilmarnock. See image [[30516]] for a view of the unit in First livery.
Beijing Bei: Beijing Bei (North) Railway Station, exterior. Trains can be taken from here to the Great Wall at Badaling. The blue sky is further evidence of improving air quality in Beijing.
Huntly: High on the wall at the Junction of the Square and Duke Street in Huntly is this lovely Blue enamelled British Railways sign, pointing towards the station, conveniently situated over a mile away!
Swindon: 60009 'Union of South Africa' approaching Swindon passing through the eastern outskirts in November sunshine with a 'Cathedrals Express' heading for Cardiff. The train is neatly framed by the new electrification stanchions.
Sinnington: Two bridges were sited some 100 yards apart on the former section of line between Sinnington Station and Pickering. The imposing, now deckless, Spa Lane rail overbridge - HMY30 - lies to the east of tall road overbridge 'Riseborough Bridge' - HMY29. View is north along Spa Lane, with the Marton Road running across by the wheely bin in the distance.
Pickering: At Costa Beck, to the east of Pickering on the Helmsley line, there was both a level crossing and, just to the east of this, a bridge over the Costa Beck. The bridge over the beck has lost its deck but the original abutments appear to be in situ at both sides, possibly now faced with concrete, with an Environment Agency monitoring station now sited close to the west side abutment. View is in a north easterly direction to the site of the Costa Beck bridge by the weir. This is believed to have been bridge HMY34
Sinnington: Two substantial bridges were sited some 100 yards apart over the former section of line between Sinnington Station and Pickering. The imposing, now deckless, Spa Lane rail overbridge - HMY30 - lies to the east of 'Riseborough Bridge' - HMY29. View is east from the latter, a tall road overbridge, to the extant stone abutments of the Spa Lane bridge. There are also two extant farm / stream accommodation bridges under the trackbed seen in the distance, with a third having been demolished and a farm road cut through the embankment, in the relatively short section running to Aislaby Carr crossing.
Cardross: The 1124 hrs from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban & Mallaig passes Cardross on 22 November 2019. For a comparison of location and traction See image [[18458]] from 47 years ago.
Charing Cross [GC and DR]: 334023 arrives at Charing Cross with the 1339 departure to Dumbarton Central on a driech 22 November 2019. I remember using the original station building which used to stand above the tunnel (behind the camera) and which was swept away (along with many other buildings in the area) when the M8 motorway was being built. The roof of the replacement building (in ScotRail blue) can be seen above the concrete wall.
Pickering: At Costa Beck, to the east of Pickering on the Helmsley line, there was both a level crossing and just to the east of this a bridge over the Costa Beck. See image [[75561]]. This view is looking south east to the crossing keeper's cottage in November 2019. The line ran where the picnic table and chairs are sitting.
Glasgow Central: 314209 waits for another departure from Glasgow Central on 22 November 2019. The days are numbered for the class with only a few units left in service but this was the first member of the class that I photographed whilst undergoing testing on the North Clyde lines some 40 years ago See image [[16490]].
Aberdeen Waterloo: Colas 70803 at Aberdeen Waterloo on Sunday 22 November 2020. I have never seen so many tanks down in Waterloo before, and in the bottom right corner of the photo is the end of a another rake of around twelve tanks berthed up in the siding. No space left for any more.
Dalgety Bay: 70814 and 70816 near Dalgety Bay with a Montrose to Millerhill ballast working on Sunday 22 November 2020.
Capernwray Viaduct: Glimpsed from the towpath of the Lancaster Canal, 158909 accelerates away from Carnforth towards the viaduct at Capernwray with a Morecambe to Leeds service on 22nd November 2020. Warton Crag forms the backdrop but this is a deceptively peaceful view as the train is just about to pass under the M6, and the modern tunnel that takes the canal under the motorway is immediately behind the camera.
Brewers Barn Bridge 129A [LC]: The Lancaster Canal bridges were numbered from early days, if not the start of operations in 1797. Bridge 1 was in Preston and Bridge 188 in Kendal. Later bridges were given A and B numbers. Bridge 129B (almost a box tunnel really) from the 1960s takes the canal under the M6 just to the north of Junction 35. Going south the canal was diverted from its original route to pass under the M6 at right angles and then turn sharp left on a new section until the original route is reached.
Aberdeen Waterloo: The afternoon sun illuminates Colas 70803 and a yard full of tank wagons at Aberdeen Waterloo on 22nd January 2020. Perhaps there is an element of catch up following the recent line closure, even though some trains got through via the Inverness diversion.
Aberdeen Waterloo: Looking along the Aberdeen Waterloo branch on 22nd November 2020. Very unusually, in addition to the plant behind the camera being fully occupied with tank wagons, this rake also filled the siding alongside the branch.
Ayr: A visit to Ayr on 22nd November 2020 produced the usual diet of 380s and 156s. The 12.27 for Stranraer was loading and actually seemed to have some passengers, but the 12.15 to Central, seen here departing over the River Ayr viaduct, was seemingly almost empty.
Brewers Barn Bridge 129A [LC]: Bridge 129A at Carnforth is actually three separate structures over the Lancaster Canal. The most southerly dates from the 1960s when the M6, then a bypass of Lancaster, was constructed and is still in use taking traffic from the motorway onto the A601(M) to join the A6 a mile away. The centre bridge dates from the same time but quickly became redundant when the M6 was extended northwards and the bridge nearest the camera was installed to feed traffic from the A6 onto the Junction 35 roundabout. This view looks south along the canal on 22nd November 2020. The towpath from Carnforth to Lancaster provides a good walking surface throughout the year but north of Carnforth it is a different story.
Carnforth Bridge 128 [LC]: Bridge 128 carries Kellet Road over the Lancaster Canal in Carnforth. The original bridge was very narrow and later widened but the later arch is a different profile. This has still left a narrow roadway, controlled by traffic lights, and pedestrians cross the canal on an adjoining lattice steel footbridge.
Stainton Crossing Bridge [LC]: Bridge 172 at Stainton Crossing represents the present head of the watered section of the Lancaster Canal's 'Northern reaches'. This view looks northwards, and a part towpath, part footpath continues for almost six miles to Kendal itself. Lancaster Canal Trust volunteers are presently restoring the short section of canal between Bridges 172 and 173 so that it will hold water again.
Helensburgh Central: Helensburgh Central station as seen from above on 22 November 2021.
Craigendoran: Craigendoran from above. The WHL can be seen on the left, the station in the centre, the junction in the centre background, the remains of the piers on the right. Prior to the pier being built the original GD&HR line ran in an almost straight line from around the junction towards the road bridge in the bottom left of the photo. There is still a bridge over a burn in the back garden of a house near to the bowling green from the original route.
Glasgow Central: 156495 and 156511, at Glasgow Central's platform 8, with the 12.17 to East Kilbride on 22nd November 2021.
East Kilbride: 156495 and 156511, on arrival at East Kilbride, with the 12.17 departure from Glasgow Central. Flats occupy the former goods yard.
Gourock: A view of Gourock station and pier from above on 22 November 2021.
East Kilbride: 156511 and 156495 at East Kilbride, about to form the 12.57 to Glasgow Central, on 22nd November 2021.
Greenock Container Port: November 2021 aerial view of the Greenock Containerbase. This occupies the area where Greenock Princes Pier G&SWR station was previously. The specialist cruise vessel 'Hebridean Princess' is moored a little further upstream.
Wemyss Bay: Wemyss Bay station and pier, seen from above on 22 November 2021.
Ettrick Bay [Tram]: Ettrick Bay with the western terminus of Rothesay Tramways. The terminus was in the upper centre of the photo and the course of the Tramway still lies alongside the road from there running left to right.
Port Bannatyne [Tram]: The Rothesay Tramway initially operated to Port Bannatyne. It was later extended to Ettrick Bay on the west side of the Isle of Bute. In this view of Port Bannatyne the tramway arrived from the right and initially terminated on the sea front. The later extension (the course of which is along the tree lined track marked with the red line) headed from the sea front to the west.
Events
Events from the chronology which occured on this day. This generally lists events before 1995, the creation of the website.
| Year | Companies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1877 | Glasgow Central Station (Caledonian Railway) | Approval for locomotive shed, Eglinton Street Shed, at Eglinton Street. |
| 1936 | Midland Great Western Railway Drumcondra and North Dublin Link Railway | New link installed at Glasnevin reversing the previous connection. This allows access to North Strand Junction from the Liffey Junction direction. |
| 1954 | Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway | Closed to through freight. |
| 1954 | London and North Western Railway South Wales | Freight services transferred to Great Western Railway routes. |
| 1981 | Caledonian Railway | Midcalder Junction box closed. |
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 | Bid to increase rural railway use [BBC News] | The government launches a pilot project aiming to encourage more people on to rural rail services. |
| 2007 | Railscot Quiz Solution | Thanks for all the responses to the recent Railscot Quiz - and congratulations to Messrs Wallace, Neill, Martin, Crawford and Roberton who all correctly identified image 17246 as the entrance to the southbound platform at Cupar. BF |
| 2008 | New Winter timetable [First ScotRail] | The new winter 2008/9 Winter timetable sees the first major changes to Edinburgh - Fife - Aberdeen services for many years. To sum up: There will now be a twice-hourly service between Edinburgh and Dundee: a semi-fast to Dundee and an express to Aberdeen or beyond which will run non-stop between Haymarket and Leuchars, so Inverkeithing, Kirkcaldy, Markinch, (Ladybank) and Cupar lose their direct Scotrail services to Aberdeen. Leuchars doubles its service during the day. There^ll be an hourly semi-fast Edinburgh to Perth. The hourly Edinburgh to Markinch is cut back to Kirkcaldy. Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline Fife circle services start at Newcraighall which loses its existing Dunblane/Bathgate crossrail links. [From David Panton] |
| 2010 | Piece of Railway Memorabilia set to fetch £18,000 [Swindon Advertiser] | A NAMEPLATE from a 1930s Great Western Railway steam locomotive is set to fetch up to £18,000 at auction. Torquay Manor was built at the Swindon Works in about 1937. |
| 2011 | Blackpool heritage trams call [Blackpool Gazette] | CALLS have been made for Blackpool Council to step in and save under-threat heritage trams. Coun Tony Williams, deputy leader of the Conservatives on the council, fears some of the resort’s history could be lost forever. He warned if the vehicles were lost “we might as well pull The Tower down”. It comes after Blackpool Transport told the Lancastrian Transport Trust it has until the end of this month to move 13 of its trams out of the Rigby Road depot. [From Mark Bartlett] |
| 2011 | Next! £2m fleet closer to launch [Blackpool Gazette] | THE second of Blackpool’s fleet of 16 new trams has arrived in the resort. Engineers took delivery of the £2m Flexity2 tram at the Starr Gate depot yesterday. [From Mark Bartlett] Another two trams are due to arrive from manufacturer Bombardier’s factory in Germany before Christmas as the service gears up to re-launch next Easter using the new vehicles. |
| 2011 | ScotRail row threatens Sunday rail shutdown [Evening Times] | SCOTRAIL could be “shut down” on Sundays as a dispute over train driver shortages escalates. Aslef – the union which represents nearly 1000 ScotRail drivers – said it expected to ballot for industrial action amid mounting frustration with the way the company had handled an ongoing row which, it says, has left staff having to work around 10 additional shifts a year. Kevin Lindsay, the union’s officer for Scotland, said that, if members voted in favour, drivers could refuse to work Sunday shifts as early as mid-January, leading to widespread train cancellations. Mr Lindsay said the action was being considered to try to force ScotRail back round the table. The union last week announced that drivers were refusing to work additional shifts, an action which saw dozens of trains cancelled on Sunday. If there was a ballot, it would mean drivers not doing any Sunday shifts “At the moment drivers are not volunteering to work additional Sundays. But if there was a ballot, it would mean drivers not doing any Sunday shifts. It would see ScotRail shut down on a Sunday. It’s not the route we want to go down. We want to talk to them,” Mr Lindsay said. “I anticipate that, following tonight’s meeting, a ballot will be put in place and ScotRail will be given formal notice of that in December. That would mean any industrial action taking place by mid-January or early February.” However, the company reacted angrily to the claims, insisting an offer of talks to the union 10 days ago had not been received no response, and that phone calls to union officials had also brought no reply. A spokesman said the “door was open” for talks. The dispute centres on a deal struck in 2008 which increased the number of days off for train drivers, who are paid £37,700 a year, effectively ensuring they work a four-day week, plus one in every three Sundays. Aslef claims this left ScotRail, which is operated by First Group, with around 50 fewer drivers than it needed and that the company had been relying on “institutionalised overtime” to make up the shortfall. The claims have been rejected by ScotRail, which says it has only 27 current vacancies and is training 77 drivers. A spokesman said: “It is disappointing that Aslef has withdrawn from a rest day working agreement. “It is also disappointing that the union has not even responded to our letter of a week ago or answered our telephone calls – yet took unofficial action on Sunday. “We are at a loss as to why we are in this position.” |
| 2011 | George Bennie ^Railplane^ commemorated at Milngavie station [Railscot] | A poster commemorating the ‘Bennie Railplane’ is to go on permanent display at Milngavie Station. The extraordinary contraption even ran in Milngavie for several months in the 1930s, but failed to secure funding for further development. George Bennie’s railplane was a form of rail transport – albeit powered by propellers. His prototype ran over a 120-metre line in Milngavie which was demolished for scrap in the 1950s. Despite its appearance, the Railplane was not a monorail as it used both an overhead running line and a guide rail below. ScotRail, the train operator, is putting the famous poster on display. It had been presented to Milngavie in Bloom by the Milngavie Book & Arts Festival. The image captures the futuristic elegance of Bennie’s creation which was intended to run above conventional railways. John Yellowlees, ScotRail’s external relations manager, said: “It is sad that George Bennie, who died in 1957, was not able to deliver his vision. “But I think he would be mightily impressed that Milngavie now has a half-hourly direct service to Edinburgh.” Rona Miller, of the Milngavie Book & Arts Festival, said “The image on the poster promoted this year’s festival. We are delighted that it will have permanent home at Milngavie Station.” |
| 2011 | Join our campaign to Save Our Trains [Inverness Courier] | THE Inverness Courier is stepping up its campaign to save direct train services between Inverness and London by launching an on-line petition to be handed to Scottish ministers. Both the Highland Chieftain, which provides a daily daytime service, and the overnight Highland Sleeper face an uncertain future under a review of Scotland’s rail services. |
| 2014 | CILT: The Stranraer to Ayr Line Support Association [Richard Carr, SAYLSA Development Manager] | SAYLSA was formed in 2007 to be Scotland^s first Community Rail Partnership with a view to enabling the Ayr-Stranraer line to diversify into new markets on Stena Line^s relocation to Cairnryan. That took place in 2011, and development manager Richard Carr will explain how the Association has gone about promoting walking and cycling guides and station-specific timetables, running a shop on Girvan Station, seeking recognition for its efforts while keeping an eye to the challenges that the line faces in the context of ScotRail refranchising. *** The above event will take place on Tuesday 9 December 2014 (1730 for 1800) at First ScotRail, Atrium Court, 50, Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 6HQ. There is no charge for this event. A light buffet will be provided. |
| 2014 | Novel design to decorate Borders Railway [Border Telegraph] | DESIGNS inspired by renowned author Sir Walter Scott will decorate stations along the Borders Railway when it opens next year - including Waverley, the only station in the world named after a novel. Twenty-three-year-old Jane Fleming will create a permanent art installation for the Borders Railway after winning a competition run by Transport Scotland. |
| 2015 | Fire destroys chip shop and school club in Dyce [BBC News] | [RailScot note: this building was the last remaining station building at Dyce station, being the up platform building for the Buchan line.] A fish and chip shop and an after school club have both been destroyed in a fire in Dyce. Fire crews were called to Station Road shortly after 04:00 on Sunday. As a result of the blaze, the nearby Dyce Railway Station is closed. Five fire vehicles were involved in tackling the flames. Nobody was injured in the incident and Police Scotland, along with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, is carrying out an investigation. |
| 2016 | Majority of Irish Rail network threatened with closure due to funding shortfall [Rail News] | Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) may have to close the majority of its rail network if no extra government funding is forthcoming over the next few years. In their Rail Review 2016 Report, Irish Rail and the National Transport Authority said a continued lack of investment had created a significant operational funding gap. [From Richard Buckby] |
| 2016 | Humza Yousaf ^out of touch with reality^ after he denies ScotRail is providing a poor service [Telegraph] | Scotland’s beleaguered Transport Minister has denied ScotRail is providing a poor service as thousands of commuters were again hit with delays to their train services. Humza Yousaf admitted there were problems with the country’s rail network but argued they had to be “put into perspectiveâ€, with the vast majority of services running on time. In the latest stage of a tit-for-tat battle with ScotRail’s Dutch operators over who is responsible, he said the company would be to blame and he would not have failed if promised improvements are not delivered. But Holyrood’s opposition parties said his denials would “astound†tens of thousands of travellers who are fed up with the ScotRail “shambles†and compared him to one of his predecessors, who was forced to quit in 2010. Stewart Stevenson went on TV at the time to declare that the Scottish Government’s efforts to clear snow from the road network had been “first class†even while thousands of motorists were trapped in freezing cars on motorways. |
| 2017 | Landslip closes train line between Inverness and Dingwall [BBC News] | The train line between Inverness and Dingwall has been closed following a landslip in the area. The incident happened on Tuesday evening, affecting Inverness to Wick and Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh services.ScotRail expect the line to be closed on Wednesday with a full inspection to be carried out in daylight with the track team assembling kit and materials required to start repairs. Meanwhile, ScotRails integrated control team are working on a temporary timetable for Dingwall to Wick/Kyle of Lochalsh. |
| 2017 | Tram Inquiry: Princes Street row was used to bring city to its knees [Scotsman] | EDINBURGH would have been the laughing stock of Scotland, if not the world had a dispute over the Princes Street tram works - in which workers downed tools for months - not been resolved. Former TIE chairman David Mackay told the tram inquiry he had no doubt that a row over work on Princes Street was used by the construction consortium as a tactic to bring the city to its knees. |
| 2017 | ScotRail punctuality down for third month in a row [Scotsman] | The ScotRail Alliances punctuality has slipped for the third month in a row, increasing the prospect of further potential remedial action. The deterioration in performance comes as ScotRail continues to implement a performance improvement plan (PIP) ordered by Scottish ministers a year ago. |
| 2018 | Trains to skip stop IBM station to curb anti-social and criminal behaviour [Scotsman] | All trains are to stop calling at IBM station in Inverclyde to prevent yobs alighting to cause trouble at the halt beside the demolished factory site, The Scotsman has learned. Hourly services to the station on the Glasgow-Wemyss Bay line will be suspended from 9 December. Fewer than 800 passengers a year around two a day use the station, with the number falling significantly since the IBM plant in the former Spango Valley closed in 2016. ScotRail said the station was becoming a centre for antisocial and criminal behaviour. |
| 2018 | Goole factory to go ahead as Siemens signs £1.5bn Tube deal [BBC News] | A £1.5bn contract to build new London Underground trains in East Yorkshire has been signed by Siemens. The firm was awarded the contract in June, but a month later competitors Bombardier and Hitchachi launched a legal challenge in the High Court. The High Court later ruled that the deal could go ahead. A new £200m factory in Goole, which has not yet been built, will now manufacture 94 trains for the Piccadilly line. The new trains are part of London Underground^s ^Deep Tube^ upgrade programme to modernise the Piccadilly, Bakerloo, Central and Waterloo and City lines. |
| 2018 | Passengers reminded of vital Highland main line upgrade work [Network Rail] | Network Rail is delivering a multi-million-pound programme of enhancement and maintenance projects that will affect services on the Highland main line this weekend. |
| 2019 | TransPennine Express Launches new £500m fleet [BBC News] | A new £500m fleet of trains promising to increase capacity by 80% on routes in the north of England and Scotland has been launched. |
| 2019 | ScotRail train operated with buckets to catch water from leaky roof [The Scotsman] | Passengers had to share a carriage with buckets to catch water leaks from the roof of one of ScotRail^s 40-year-old trains today, The Scotsman has learned. |
