Ranelagh Road Crossing: The level crossing at Ranelagh Road, Ipswich, in December 1989, looking east along the branch serving Ipswich Docks see image [[32104]].

Ipswich Docks: 08775 crossing the Orwell bridge with the Branch Line Society 'Orwell Docker' brake van trip on 2 December 1989. The special toured Ipswich Docks and various associated lines in the area.

Ipswich Docks: 08775 with the BLS Orwell Docker III brake van tour of Ipswich Docks on 2 December 1989.

Newcraighall Junction: A train entering the reversing siding at the north end of Millerhill in December 2003 after terminating at Newcraighall station (platform just visible under bridge) with a service from Bathgate.

Newbattle Viaduct: View south on the A7 alongside Newbattle Viaduct on a cold and frosty 2 December 2003.

Millerhill Yard: View south at Millerhill on 2 December 2003 as EWS 66246 runs through with coal empties off the ECML heading for Hunterston via the sub.

Edinburgh Park: A Bathgate service restarts its journey west from Edinburgh Park in December 2003.

Newcraighall Junction: Coal empties leaving Millerhill in December 2003.

Carstairs: A trainload of empty tanks heading north through Carstairs station in December 2004 on the way back to Grangemouth. At the head of the train is EWS 60002.

Carstairs: A lengthy train of wet containers speeds south through a wet Carstairs past a wet photographer on a wet December day in 2004. The wet locomotive is Freightliner 90049.

Armathwaite: Armathwaite station buildings.

Armathwaite: Armathwaite box (before the steps were painted and hut provided) and shed. The box is closed.

Culgaith: Carlisle bound Sprinter approaching Culgaith level crossing.

Culgaith: A friendly wave from the driver of a southbound (for York) Sprinter passing the closed Culgaith station.

Carstairs: 47830 on standby duty alongside Carstairs station in December 2004.

Innerleithen: The former Innerleithen station looking east across Traquair Road in December 2004.

Carstairs: EWS 60002 gets the road north through Carstairs on 2 December 2004 with the returning Dalston - Grangemouth empties.

Carstairs: An up Freightliner container service speeds through Carstairs in December 2004.

March Street Mills: Remains of track running into March Street Mills, Peebles, in December 2005. View is north towards George Street, with the route of the old main line off to the right on the other side of the buildings.

March Street Mills: Track still in situ within the old March Street Mills, Peebles. Looking south in December 2005 with George Street behind the camera. The Peebles line closed in 1962.

Stobo: Old goods shed, Stobo, December 2005.

Kirkby Stephen: A southbound 60 among the stone hedges south of Kirkby Stephen.

Edinburgh Waverley: Colourful combination at the west end of Waverley in December 2006.

Raith's Farm Sidings: Looking northwest beyond the Raiths Farm development towards the end of the new loops on 2 December. The main line is now on the right.

Raith's Farm Sidings: View over the ongoing work at Raiths Farm, Dyce on 2 December where the various sidings and loops have not yet been brought into use. The main Aberdeen - Inverness line is now on the far right of the picture. see image [[30688]]

Crouch End: Crouch Hill bridge at Crouch End on the ex-GNR 'Northern Heights' line, which almost became part of the LUL Northern Line, looking towards Finsbury Park, on a snowy 2nd December 2010. Crossing the bridge is a TP type bus on route W7 from Finsbury Park to Muswell Hill Broadway which has been the only way the residents can reach the populous north London suburbs of Crouch End and Muswell Hill from Finsbury Park since the line closed in 1954. (Other bus routes are available but not on this corridor.) And notwithstanding that over £1 million was spent on the aborted electrification project before 1939, with conductor rails laid all the way to Alexandra Palace and station platforms reconstructed to adjust to tube train height. Money that was all totally wasted.

Crouch Hill: The former ticket office building at Crouch Hill station, now part of the GOBLIN section of the London Overground, which has been out of railway use for very many years, seen here on 2nd December 2010. I can, however, remember when it was open and staffed and buying a half price ticket here when I was a boy, only for the ticket clerk to bark: 'ow old are you, mate?' The exterior of the building was then adorned with British Railways London Midland Region signs all now vanished. The boundary between the London Midland and Eastern Regions was just to the east of here and all the stations from Harringay Stadium (now Harringay Green Lanes) to Barking had blue Eastern Region signs as opposed to the maroon of the London Midland as here at Crouch Hill and also Upper Holloway.

Hairmyres: Winter scene near Hairmyres on the morning of December 2nd 2010 as 156439 heads towards Thorntonhall.

East Kilbride: Careful now - mind you don't slip.. Passengers tentatively disembarking from a Glasgow Central arrival at a snowy East Kilbride station during the late morning on 2 December 2010

East Kilbride: 156442 with a morning Glasgow Central - East Kilbride service approaching its destination on 2 December 2010.

Johnstone Junction: 334035 passing through Elderslie on 2nd December slowing as it approaches Johnstone station

Elderslie: 156506 running through Elderslie on 2nd December 2010 on a service to Stranraer

Elderslie Junction: 334036 passing through Elderslie on 2nd December as it slows on it's approach to Johnstone station

Crouch Hill: 172008, from Gospel Oak to Barking, approaching Crouch Hill station with a London Overground GOBLIN service on a snowy 2nd December 2010. The line was electrified in 2019.

Crouch End: View north along the ex-GNR 'Northern Heights' line from Crouch Hill bridge at Crouch End, on a snowy 2nd December 2010. The building on the left was intended to be an electrical substation for the conversion of the line into a branch of the London Underground Northern Line on which over £1 million was spent before 1939. WWII halted its progress and the works were not resumed after 1945 and the line closed instead in 1954 but stayed open for freight until 1964 and for empty stock workings until 1970. The building is now a community centre and the trackbed part of two separate sections of the Parkland Walk footpath.

Hairmyres: Glasgow bound 156439 calls at Hairmyres during the late morning on 2 December 2010.

Dinorwic Quarry: A curious rail vehicle to say the least. The Malwoden Lwyd or Grey Snail, an eight seater velocipede with hand crank power at every seat. Used for transporting Dinorwic Quarry workers along the 4' gauge Padarn Railway and now preserved at the National Slate Museum of Wales, which is in the old quarry workshops. Behind are a number of very old, double flanged trucks formerly used in various parts of the local quarry system.

Kelvin Bridge: Looking from what used to be the eastbound platform of the Glasgow Central Railway's Kelvin Bridge station standing above the River on 2 December 2011. A notable reduction in graffiti compared with previous occasions see image [[4695]].

Kelvin Bridge: Looking west along the River Kelvin from Great Western Road on 2 December 2011. In the middle distance is the bridge that carried the Glasgow Central Railway over the river and on which the platforms of Kelvin Bridge station once stood. To the right of the bridge the line passed below Caledonian Crescent, then ran in the open for about 100 yards, before entering the long tunnel running below Great Western Road, eventually emerging at Botanic Gardens station see image [[10426]].

Glasgow Central: Class 380s on the west side of Glasgow Central on 2 December 2011. 009 is arriving on the left (platform 14), 113 waits to depart with the 1130 to Ayr from platform 13 and 010 is on the right at no 12 platform.

Edinburgh Waverley: Evening view over Waverley Station and the Gardens on Friday 2 December from the Christmas Big Wheel alongside Princes Street.

Dinorwic Quarry: The former quarry railway and machinery workshops at Dinorwic now house the National Slate Museum of Wales and a wealth of interesting machinery and narrow gauge railway vehicles. This is the view into the workshops yard from the main entrance.

Edinburgh Waverley: The 13.26 ex-North Berwick seen on 2 December shortly after arrival at Waverley.

Glasgow Central: 156477 awaits its departure time alongside platform 3 at Glasgow Central on 2 December 2011. On the left platform 1 is out of use and cordoned off whilst the platform edge is renewed.

South Gyle: The 10.00 ex-Waverley shortly after arrival at South Gyle station on 2 December 2011.

Dinorwic Quarry: The famous Dinorwic Quarry engines operated at various 'levels' in the huge slate quarry, with the different sections each having their own tiny engine sheds and servicing points. The levels were linked by this series of inclined planes. The lowest one has had track reinstated and some slate wagons are on static display mounted on the lift wagons as seen here. In the foreground are the tracks of the Llanberis Lake Railway, which follows part of the route of the old 4' gauge Padarn Railway.

Kettering: Still life with HST at Kettering - heading for Sheffield on 2 December 2012.

Kettering: The 16.45 to Corby stands at Kettering on 2 December 2012. The 4-car class 222 should have enough seats.

Tynemouth: View north from one of the former excursion bay platforms at Tynemouth in December 2012, with a Metro service to St James via Wallsend calling. The refurbished roof is impressive to say the least and the weekend markets on the concourse are very popular. See image [[38227]].

Kettering: Kettering station looks welcoming on a cold Sunday afternoon. It's rare to see the largely-original facade not obscured by taxis and other vehicles; and always a pleasure to find efficient, modern facilities within a traditional exterior. The awnings are especially attractive.

Whitley Bay: The imposing exterior of Whitley Bay station, once a busy station on the North Tyneside loop which dealt with both commuter traffic and holiday excursions. It is still busy today but now only handles Metro light rail traffic.

Benchill: The brand new tram line to Manchester Airport opened in November 2014, over a year early. The line involves a mixture of reserved and street running sections. One month after opening, Metrolink 3063 swings round the 15mph curve just to the north of Benchill tram stop heading for Manchester.

Falahill Summit: An empty ballast train consisting of 30 vehicles trundles back to base over Falahill at around 2.30pm on 2 December 2014. Freightliner 66605 was on the north end of the train with 66603 bringing up the rear.

Manchester Exchange: Wires getting nearer to Manchester Victoria in December 2014 as 156491 departs west past the site of Manchester Exchange, closed in 1969 and now being redeveloped. On the left is a small remaining section of Platform 3, which linked Victoria and Exchange from 1924 until closure. At 2194' in length it was Britain's longest platform. See image [[31084]] taken from Platform 3 inside Exchange station in 1969. Postscript: Once the electrification was completed the parapets on the footbridge were raised and another handy railway vantage point was effectively removed.

St Werburgh's Rd: Driver's view of the now connected and operational junction for the new Manchester Airport tram line at St Werburgh's Rd. The tram is about to diverge from the old railway formation onto brand new tracks and a Metrolink service from East Didsbury is being held while the Airport service crosses the Up line. See image [[44201]] for the same location in 2013.

Bolton: MPV approaching Bolton from Lostock Junction on a full day's RHTT diagram from Wigan (Springs Branch) on 2 December. The diagram included out and back trips to Southport and Kirkby and then the Standedge, Calder Valley, Copy Pit and East Lancashire lines.

Salford Central: Northern 142037, on a Wigan to Manchester Victoria local service, pulls away from its penultimate stop at Salford Central on 2nd December. Electrification masts are starting to appear around Salford and the Pacers should be the first units to go when the EMUs arrive.

Manchester Airport: The new Metrolink platforms at Manchester Airport from the buffer stops. When opened in 1993 the station had two platforms but has been greatly expanded since 2008. Of the most recent platforms only No.6 was in use on 2 December with Tram 3089 waiting to return to Cornbrook. The new main line platform 4 to the right was nearing completion, with TPE 185121 waiting at platform 3 on a Blackpool North service.

Manchester Victoria: An Altrincham bound double tram picks its way carefully through the Manchester Victoria re-building site on 2nd December 2014. In January Metrolink announced that Victoria would re-open to trams on 18th February 2015. Although further work will still be required to complete the station project fully passengers will be able to catch trams from here again instead of having to walk to Shudehill.

Wythenshawe Town Centre: Wythenshawe Town Centre is one of fourteen intermediate stops on the Metrolink line to Manchester Airport, which opened in November 2014. The line was originally planned as a loop that would have also served Wythenshawe Hospital but funding for that is not yet in place and an out and back branch service operates. M5000 3072 calls at the new stop on its way to Cornbrook.

Salford Central: Looking down the disused roads at Salford Central on 2 December, standing by the new lift to the surviving westbound platform. An MPV on RHTT duties is passing under the new gantries on the Ordsall line. The station concourse is on the main road directly below the three rail bridges See image [[32857]].

Manchester Victoria: Almost like the old days. 2014 saw the return of the Liverpool Newcastle services to Manchester Victoria after many years of running through Piccadilly. TPE 185101 approaches the west end of Platform 3 at Victoria. This is the truncated platform that used to continue all the way through to Manchester Exchange until 1969. The train will climb Platting bank before turning right to pick up the Standedge route through Ashton-under-Lyne.

Deansgate-Castlefield: Deansgate-Castlefield is the new name for the tram stop formerly known as G-Mex. It is currently being rebuilt and the previously staggered platform has been moved alongside its counterpart. A third platform is also being built in connection with the new second city crossing line. 3007 rolls in with a Piccadilly service from Media City UK on 2nd December.

Manchester Airport: TPE 350402 pulls in to Manchester Airport Platform 2 on a service from Glasgow on 2nd December. It will quickly be serviced before heading north again to Edinburgh. Alongside in Platform 1, TPE 185125 waits to depart for Cleethorpes.

Lostock Junction: A 156/142 combination, forming a Northern service to Southport, are signalled for the Westhoughton and Wigan line at Lostock Junction. The large steel bridge in the background carries the A58 Bolton ring road over the line from Bolton.

Wigan North Western: Freightliner 66506 heads north through Wigan North Western on 2 December 2014 with a rake of coal empties from Fiddlers Ferry. Over on Platform 5 a Northern Sprinter waits to return to Liverpool Lime St via St. Helens, a route that went over to EMU operation during 2015.

Rugby: Baby no longer on board: two ladies lead their young charge away from a Birmingham-bound 350 at Rugby on 2 December. I had abandoned my car and used the train, as a crucial part of the M1 was closed that morning, and the A5 resembled a linear car park.

Glasgow Central: A banner above WH Smith advertises Glasgow Central Tour vouchers, the perfect Christmas gift. Glasgow Central Tours.

Kilmarnock: The painter is putting the finishing touches today to the spectacularly refurbished underpass linking Kilmarnock Station with the new Ayrshire College on the former Johnny Walker site. The official opening will be on 7 December.

Kilmarnock: Detail of one of the panels in the Kilmarnock station underpass. Local railways are among the historical themes commemorated in the new look underpass.

Rome (Fiumicino Airport): Fiumicino Airport Rome with the recently arrived 0805 Leonardo Express from Rome Termini while the 0853 return jouney awaits its departure. On the right a local stopping train waits to leave from Platform 3. (02/12/17)

Rome Termini: A Leonardo Express waiting to depart Rome Termini station for Fiumicino Airport Rome. Trains leave every 15 minutes and run non-stop to the airport taking 32mins. It cost 14 euros for a single and there is only first class accommodation. (02/12/17)

Clapham: A fine example of motoring history stands at the junction of two minor roads outside Clapham station. The sign appears to have been installed by the West Riding Council and the location on the roundel is Clapham Station. In the background Clapham viaduct can be seen on 2nd December 2017.

Edinburgh Waverley: A Virgin Trains Pendolino stands at Waverley platform 8 on 2 December 2017 with the Saturday 1052 service to London Euston.

Clapham: External view of Clapham Station in December 2017. The rustic station house is now a private residence but there is still a daily service of five trains each way.

Bentham: 3-car Pacer 144014, on a Leeds to Morecambe service, clatters along jointed track at Greystonegill Bridge in the Wenning Valley near Bentham on 2nd December 2017.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The well-appointed but still temporary area which is serving as the Station Manager's office overlooks Platform 7 at the east side of the station. 2nd December 2017.

Leith Docks: The NBR line to North Leith and its goods station continued across Commercial Street (running left-right in front of the houses) to enter the Docks at this point. Tracks remain in place in the foreground, though those crossing the road and into the Old Dock have long gone. The NBR station building is still there, hidden by the former Highland Queen whisky bond on the extreme left. The houses occupy the site of the goods station.

Leith Docks: These lines served the East and West Old Docks (left) and the warehouses on the right. These buildings front on to the unashamedly-named Commercial Street. The palatial building on the extreme left is the main office of the Scottish Government at Victoria Quay. I don't know whether the tracks have been retained for heritage reasons, or because it would entail too much work to remove them and seemlessly replace them with setts (cobbles to you).

Lancaster: I wondered why my northbound Pendolino was diverted into Platform 4 at Lancaster and was pleasantly surprised that this was the reason. 35018 British India Line had just brought the first 2018 Santa Special back from Carlisle on 2nd December. The headlamp has already been switched to red for the short diesel drag to Carnforth.

Shrewsbury: A splendid looking BR Standard 7MT 4-6-2 70000 'Britannia' at Shrewsbury with the 'Welsh Borders Explorer' railtour on 2nd December 2018. This was a circular trip from Crewe that visited Oxley and Chester.

Lancaster: 35018 'British India Line' stands well clear of Platform 3 at Lancaster waiting to leave with a thirteen coach Santa Special to Carlisle on 2nd December 2018.

Lancaster: View north from the end of Platform 3 at Lancaster on 2nd December 2018. MN Pacific 35018 'British India Line' is at the head of a thirteen coach Santa Special heading for Carlisle and awaiting the 1100hrs departure time. This was the second of four scheduled on consecutive Saturdays. Behind the camera, in addition to a multitude of excited families, there appeared to be an average of three elves per coach.

Lancaster: A busy scene at Lancaster on 2nd December 2018. As a Pacer 144 departs for Leeds, and a 350 EMU arrives on a Manchester Airport service, Merchant Navy 35018 waits in Platform 3 with a 13-coach Santa special for Carlisle.

Lancaster: 47760 brings the stock of a Santa Special into Platform 3 at Lancaster on 2nd December 2018. The Brush 4 had brought the 13 coaches, and steam loco 35018, from Carnforth and went with the train to Carlisle to assist with turning there.

Crookston: A plaque was unveiled at Crookston today by the South Cardonald and Crookston Community Council at Crookston Station in memory of the late Alistair Watson. The plaque reads: 'In memory of Alistair Chalmers Watson. ScotRail employee 1976-2003. Ward 4 Councillor 1995-2017. In recognition of his service to our community and his campaigning to make transport more accessible for all.'

Crew South Junction: This view looks north from the site of the buffers at Crew Yard and maintains the fine RailScot tradition of pictures of random vegetation. Crew Junction box was at the centre of the picture in the distance, where the (just visible) tower now stands. The branch went straight on at the right of the picture. For a 'before' picture see image [[74724]].

Silloth: The view east towards Abbeytown, from the B5300 bridge over the station throat at Silloth, in December 2021. The line closed in 1964 and the bridge is now the main reminder of the railways existence in the town. It was a different scene in 1951 as image [[9325]] shows.

Brayton Junction: Just beyond Brayton Junction the route of the old Solway Junction Railway is clearly visible nearly ninety years after the last train passed through. It was built to convey iron ore traffic to Lanarkshire, by-passing Carlisle via the Solway Viaduct, but the traffic dwindled and the viaduct itself proved prohibitively expensive to maintain. Any remaining traffic was easily diverted by the LMS through Carlisle and this short link on to the Silloth branch was closed in 1933. This view looks across the Solway with the hills around Dumfries visible in the distance.

Settle Junction: Colas 70814 working 6J37 Carlisle New Yard to Chirk (Kronospan) 'The Logs' passing Settle Junction.

Silloth: A view of Silloth station and yard in 2021, fifty seven years after closure. A rugby pitch now dominates the foreground but there were once extensive sidings all round the port. The station building was sited where the modern terrace of houses now sits but the long passenger platform reached all the way to the B5300 bridge from which this photo was taken. See image [[9324]] from a similar vantage point in 1951.

Hellifield: 66001 heads the 10:44 New Biggin British Gypsum to Tees Dock with a short load approaching Hellifield on 2nd December 2021. At first glance this is unremarkable as this train runs several times a week and has done for over a decade now. However, the sun had set a good 20 minutes beforehand and it was becoming rather desperate for the exposure. Another 5 minutes and darkness was across the fields so I was pleased with the timing and result.

Bromfield: Nearly ninety years after the last train passed beneath this stone bridge still carries access traffic over the Solway Junction line trackbed at Bromfield. This December 2021 picture looks towards the coast with the site of Bromfield station off to the left.

Bromfield: Bromfield today is still a tiny Cumbrian hamlet. Its station, on the Solway Junction line, closed in 1917, reopened briefly in 1920 but closed completely the following year. Dwindling freight movements continued until 1933 but the line's fortunes were closely tied to those of the Solway Viaduct. This view, in the centenary year of Bromfield's closure, looks along the line from a surviving overbridge towards the station site, where the distant white building now sits.