Whitrope Siding: The Warwickshire Railway Society Waverley Railtour from Birmingham seen near The Golden Bridge on the approach to Whitrope on a snowy 11 December 1965. Peppercorn A2 Pacific no 60528 Tudor Minstrel is in charge, having taken over the train from Jubilee 45697 Achilles at Carlisle for the journey to Edinburgh.

Inchgreen Graving Dock: The Cunard liner 'Queen Elizabeth' on arrival at Inchgreen Graving Dock for overhaul in December 1965.

Inchgreen Graving Dock: Inchgreen Dry Dock, fairly recently in the news for reinstatement after a number of years out of use, is seen in the heyday of 1965, about to receive what was probably its most distinguished visitor, the Cunard liner 'Queen Elizabeth'. Another Cunarder, the 'QEII', was there a few years afterwards. Superb ship that the 'QEII' was, one would have to say that she did not quite surpass the earlier Queen in magnificence.

Inchgreen Graving Dock: A fair few Clyde tugs had to be in action as the Cunard liner 'Queen Elizabeth' was manoeuvred towards Inchgreen Graving Dock for overhaul in 1965.

Carlisle: The Warwickshire Railway Society Waverley Railtour from Birmingham at Carlisle on 11 December 1965. A2 Pacific no 60528 Tudor Minstrel is in charge, having just taken over the train from 45697 Achilles for the journey north to Edinburgh.

Middlesbrough: A Darlington - Saltburn DMU arrives at Middlesbrough station in December 1972.

Fenchurch Street: A cold winter morning greets commuters at Fenchurch Street in December 1984.

Duddingston: 26001 passes the former Duddingston and Craigmillar Station with a short freight on 11 December 1989.

Saughton Junction: A Glasgow - Edinburgh shuttle runs east at Saughton Junction in December 2002. In the right background a train is approaching on the Forth Bridge route.

Saughton Junction: Passing 158s at Saughton in December 2002. On the left a train from Dunblane approaches, while on the right a Fife Circle train turns north towards the Forth Bridge.

Edinburgh Waverley: Close-up of a ScotRail shuttle service for Glasgow Queen Street awaiting its departure time at Edinburgh Waverley platform 14 in December 2002.

Dolphinton [NBR]: The former locomotive shed at Dolphinton (NB), with the base of the old water tank to the left, photographed looking east from the A702 on 11 December 2003. The LL&D line south from Broomlee had closed completely in 1933. See image [[7427]] [Ref query 9304]

Neidpath Viaduct: The Caledonian Railway's Neidpath viaduct over the River Tweed west of Peebles on a bright December day in 2003. View is south east, with the entrance to Neidpath Tunnel hidden amongst the trees on the left.

Millerhill Yard Up Arrival Sidings: The north east corner of Millerhill up yard adapted to handle ballast. Seen here in December 2003 looking south from alongside the site entrance off Whitehill Road.

Tickets and labels: NBR wagon label for a consignment of whisky from Port Dundas to South Leith on 11 August 1922.

Fouldubs Junction: Fouldubs Junction signal box in December 2004.

Leadburn: The former Leadburn Station (now a picnic site) in December 2004 looking south towards the junction of the Peebles and Dolphinton routes. See image [[32009]].

Lamancha: Some 2 miles south west of Leadburn lies the hamlet of Lamancha, once served by a station on the LL&D route. The station closed along with the line in 1933, although the section north of Broomlee back to Leadburn was reopened in 1939 to service wartime RNAD facilities (the track was finally lifted at the end of 1960). View is west in 2004 from the former station entrance off the A701, with most of the platform now subsumed within the modern building, although a surviving section can be seen to the left.

Lamancha: Remains at Lamancha station, Peeblesshire, between Leadburn and Dolphinton, looking west from the A701 in December 2004. The station closed in 1933, although the section of the line between Leadburn and Broomlee [West Linton] was put to use by the Admiralty during WWII and survived until 1960. [Ref query 6467] See image [[15613]]

Leadburn: The junction station at Leadburn on the Peebles Loop, photographed on a dull day in December 2004 when the location was in use as a picnic site. A bay off picture to the left (long filled in) was once used by trains on the Dolphinton branch, on which the last passenger service ran in 1933. Leadburn lost its remaining passenger services in 1955, with the line closing to all traffic in 1962. View is north towards Hardengreen Junction.

North Queensferry Tunnel: To the north of North Queensferry station the railway passes through the North Queensferry Tunnel. This tunnel is, curiously, immediately below the cutting seen here. View looks south.
Were the sides of the cutting considered unstable?
From Neil Fairnie:
North Queensferry Tunnel was originally built as a cutting, but to keep the local landowner happy a tunnel roof was built to disguise the smoke or noise or both. I remember being told this when I worked as a Civil Engineer for BR back in the early 80's.

North Queensferry: Coal train coming off the Forth Bridge into North Queensferry on a slightly foggy night in December 2004.

Leadburn: All quiet at the former Leadburn station in December 2004, with the one time junction for the lines to Peebles and Dolphinton having been converted to an interesting picnic site. View is north west, back towards Edinburgh, with the island platform now shortened to provide a turning and parking area for vehicles, which enter from the A6094 at the other end of the site. Leadburn closed to passengers in 1955 and the last special called on 3 February 1962 see image [[48273]].

Pomathorn Halt: Site of Pomathorn level crossing - looking back towards the old station in December 2005 with the crossing gates now replaced by a fence. The sizeable goods yard stood beyond the station house. The former Pomathorn paper mill dominates the left background.

Pomathorn Halt: The former station approach and forecourt (now incorporating a walled garden) at Pomathorn, in December 2005. The rear of the platform is on the right and now supports a fence, while to the north of the station beyond the drive is part of the closed Pomathorn Mill.

Pomathorn Halt: The abandoned former goods yard at Pomathorn looking towards Peebles in December 2005. The station house stands in the centre background with the trackbed off to the left hidden by the undergrowth. Beyond the house is the site of the level crossing over the B6372. Pomathorn Mill is directly behind the camera.

Haymarket: Work on the erection of the canopy over the new platform 0 at Haymarket underway on 11 December 2006, as a returning Fife Circle DMU leaves platform 1 for Waverley.

Edinburgh Waverley Goods: Edinburgh signalling centre in December 2006. View looking west showing the original 1977 centre nearest the camera with the 2006 IECC extension building beyond.

Musselburgh: A mid-afternoon Edinburgh - London service about to run south through Musselburgh on 11 December 2007 led by DVT 82222. National Express East Coast had taken over the ECML franchise from GNER earlier that month and the train is carrying the interim livery of the new operator (essentially a white stripe replacing the GNER red, plus appropriate new lettering). The first set to be turned out in full NXEC colours was an HST, which made an appearance just over a week later see image [[17528]].

Musselburgh: The 14.00 Edinburgh Waverley - London Kings Cross NXEC service runs south through Musselburgh station on 11 December 2007. Monktonhall Junction is just visible in the distance.

Earn Viaduct [Forgandenny]: Late running 11.13 Perth to Glasgow passing the village of Forgandenny, approaching the Earn Viaduct and the closed station.

Musselburgh: The 08.03 Birmingham New Street - Edinburgh Waverley wastes no time passing Musselburgh on 11 December 2007. Some of the signage here now reads Musselburgh - for Queen Margaret University, following the recent opening of the new campus on the north side of the station.

Touch South Junction: 158 725 with a Fife Outer Circle service passes the site of Touch South Junction on 11 December 2008. This is the point where the direct line from the south branched off to the left to reach Dunfermline Upper station.

Derby: Network Rail liveried HST Power Car 43062 stands in Derby Station on the rear of the New Measurement Train on the evening of 11 December 2008. The loco was later named 'John Armitt', after the former Chief Exec of Railtrack from 2001 and then Network Rail from 2002-2007

Ben Alder Level Crossing: With snow on the hills, on a chilly but sunny winters day, DRS 66423 is pictured heading south from Dalwhinnie with the J G Russell container train.

Hither Green: East side exterior of Hither Green station in south-east London, on the main line to Tonbridge and Hastings and the junction for the Sidcup Loop, seen here on 11th December 2010. The Tonbridge line near here was the scene of an horrendous train crash in November 1967, resulting in fatalities. The late Robin Gibb, one of the singing Gibb brothers who formed that great pop group The Bee Gees in the 1960s and became even more famous in the 70s following the success of the film 'Saturday Night Fever', was on board that train but survived. He vowed he would never go on a train again after that - and he never did.
See query 2284

Alloa: Hunterston bound coal empties hauled by 66 062 pass a morning Alloa to Glasgow Queen Street service awaiting departure time at Alloa on 11th December 2010.

Hackney Central: 378213, with a London Overground service to Stratford, departing from Hackney Central station on 11th December 2010. This line and the original station here, known simply as Hackney, opened as part of the East & West India Docks & Birmingham Junction Railway in 1850 but the line's title was too much for 'the man in the street' and in 1853 it became the North London Railway, even though this section is in east London. Passenger services between Dalston Junction and Poplar ceased after heavy war damage in 1944 and the stations closed but in 1979 the section of line through Hackney was reopened, with services running to Stratford via the GER link from the former junction at Victoria Park. Hackney Central station opened in 1980 and is more or less on the site of the former Hackney station of which substantial remains of the entrance building are still in evidence. The line was incorporated into the London Overground network in 2007.

Hackney Central: View looking east from Hackney Central station, opened in 1980 and part of London Overground since 2007, with on the left the main entrance building to the original Hackney station, on 11th December 2010. This opened in 1850 and closed after devastating war damage in this part of east London in 1944, which led to the end of the Broad Street to Poplar service although the line stayed open for freight. On the right are remains of the platform (with wall) that was used by trains from Poplar to Dalston Junction and Broad Street. The 1980 platforms are set back slightly further west from the eastern ends of the original 1850 station's platforms and accessed from a new entrance on the eastbound side, behind where I was standing to take this photo.

Hackney Central: 66714 passing the remains of the original Hackney station (1850-1944), seen from the eastbound platform at Hackney Central, opened in 1980 and which partially occupies the site, on 11th December 2010.

Hackney Central: 378201, with a London Overground service from Stratford to Richmond, arriving at Hackney Central station on 11th December 2010. Behind the train are the remains of the former Broad Street bound platform and part of its wall of the original Hackney station (1850-1944) while, in the left background, is the original station's main building, now in commercial use. This is the first section of the line to open from Bow to Highbury & Islington on 26th September 1850 under the long-winded title East & West India Docks & Birmingham Junction Railway which was shortened to the simpler North London Railway in 1853, even though this section is in EAST London. Just to add to the confusion, much of what was known actually as the East London Railway and now forms part of the London Overground between Shoreditch and New Cross/New Cross Gate, is in SOUTH London!

Millburn Junction: No snow to be seen on 11 December as EWS-liveried 66140 indulges in a bit of shunting in Millburn Yard, Inverness, before heading south with the Stobart Rail containers.

Homerton: This partially demolished interior side wall is all that remains of the entrance to the original North London Railway's Homerton station, seen here on 11th December 2010. The line here was opened by the convolutedly-named East & West India Docks & Birmingham Junction Railway in 1850 but renamed to the simpler North London Railway in 1853. It was not until 1868 that the NLR opened Homerton station and it survived until 1944 when heavy war damage precipitated the end of the Broad Street to Poplar service. For 35 years after, this section through Hackney remained an important freight route (and still does) and was suddenly reopened to passengers in 1979 with trains running to Stratford via the link with the GER at the former Victoria Park station. New stations were opened at Hackney Central and Hackney Wick in 1980 and Dalston Kingsland and Homerton in 1985, from the eastbound platform of the latter this photo was taken. However, I first travelled on the line on a RCTS railtour in October 1967 when still in my teens and which also traversed the now abandoned and built-over section of the NLR through Old Ford while the Bow to Poplar section was revived for the Docklands Light Railway in 1987.

Dalston Junction: 378153, in one of the two bay platforms at the new Dalston Junction station, on 11th December 2010, nine months after it opened. It is on the site of the original Dalston Junction that opened in 1865 with the North London Railway's City branch to its grand terminus at Broad Street but that line closed in 1986. I remember the old Dalston Junction, which was open to the sky, very well. It was redolent of decay with unrepaired war damage. All the old ravaged buildings were torn down by BR in the 1970s and replaced with, inevitably, ghastly bus stop style waiting shelters. Personally, I preferred the ruins. On the outside of the two bay platforms are the through platforms for trains from Highbury & Islington to Crystal Palace, West Croydon and Clapham Junction. All trains from New Cross, however, terminate at Dalston Junction.

Hackney: Remains of the former Broad Street bound platform at Hackney station (1850-1944), seen from Hackney Central station, opened in 1980 and set slightly back west from the original station, on 11th December 2010. Now served by London Overground trains to and from Stratford and Richmond or Clapham Junction. Connections exist at Canonbury and Highbury & Islington stations for the southward branches of the LO system to New Cross, Clapham Junction, Crystal Palace and West Croydon, at Gospel Oak for the GOBLIN line to Barking and at Willesden Junction for the London Euston to Watford Junction LO service.

St Pancras: The main entrance to the refurbished St Pancras hotel, looking suitably grand on the evening of 11th December 2011.

Beijing Nan: The vast Beijing Nan station was opened in 2008 replacing an earlier station some 500m away which had operated from 1897 to 2006. It has 24 platforms and is the second largest station in Asia after Shanghai Hongqiao.

Beijing Nan: The huge station at Beijing Nan was designed by the British architects Terry Farrell & Partners in collaboration with the Tianjin Design Institute and is the station used by high speed trains arriving and departing Beijing.

Beijing Nan: A CRH3C 16 car unit forming train G15 the 11.00 Beijing Nan to Shanghai Hongqiao on the Jinghu HSR. The line was designed for 380km/h running but has been slowed to 300km/h. The 11.00 with 2 intermediate stops at Jinan West and Nanjing South is timetabled to take 4h 55mins for the 1318km (819m) run and in the event was 2 mins early (av 168mph).

Orchy Viaduct: An eastbound Sprinter crosses the Orchy Viaduct under a perfect blue sky in December 2012.

Wakefield Kirkgate: Arriva Grand Central 185105 stands at Wakefield Kirkgate platform 3 on the new 15.12 service to Kings Cross. This is now the fourth, and final, southbound service following the recent timetable change, but leaves Bradford 75mins earlier than before. Whilst there is a 10min gain from Mirfield, this is off-set by being 6min slower to Pontefract, a further 17min on to Doncaster, and another 15mins on to London.

Wakefield Kirkgate: Looking across at the major works taking place on the main station building at Wakefield Kirkgate on 11 December 2013. The windows and roof have been removed completely on most sections during restoration of the building from a run down near derelict state.

Hest Bank: Despite the storms battering the UK on 11th December the Christmas mail was still getting through. DBS 90036 Driver Jack Mills was still bright and shiny following its naming ceremony at Crewe the previous week as it hauled a rake of cargo waggons through Hest Bank on the Shieldmuir to Warrington return trip that has supplemented the usual postals during December.

Leyland: TransPennine 350406 on a service from Manchester Airport to Glasgow Central, passes Leyland on 11 December 2014.

Farington Curve Junction: 60035, still in EWS livery, joins the WCML at Farington Curve Junction on 11 December 2014 with the 6M32 loaded tar tank wagons from Lindsey Refinery to Preston Docks.

Lostock Hall: Colas 60076 passes Lostock Hall on 11 December as the OZ94 Doncaster to Preston route learning trip. This is taking place in preparation for Colas taking over the Lindsey Oil Refinery to Preston Docks workings from DBS.

Farington Junction: DRS 57304 approaching Farington Junction on 11 December running light engine from Crewe to Preston.

Woodacre Crossing: Christmas Post Special. As in 2014 additional mail trains ran between Shieldmuir and Warrington in December 2015. Scotrail liveried 90024 is seen taking a rake of vans south crossing a swollen Grizedale Brook at Woodacre.

Aviemore: 'Grab shot' taken at Aviemore from northbound train after a light 'dusting'.

Garry Viaduct: Snow covered 'Christmas' trees seen from the Garry Viaduct, immediately east of the former Struan station. The parapet to the right is of the second Garry Viaduct, the girder one, provided when the line was doubled. Here the line crosses both the River Garry and the B847.

Edinburgh Gateway: View from the top. Circulating area of the almost deserted Gateway station on opening day, Sunday 11/12/2016. The ticket machines at Waverley weren't ready for it and I had to buy a ticket from a human. The onboard announcements were ready, however, even if the name has been crowbarred in. Same actress, but I think her voice has aged ...

Edinburgh Gateway: A (very) few enthusiasts welcome this Edinburgh-bound arrival at Edinburgh Gateway on opening day, Sunday 11 December 2016. Nobody got on. I think someone got off though.

Edinburgh Gateway [Tram]: Edinburgh Gateway Tram poster.

Edinburgh Gateway: Edinburgh Gateway, first-day ticket.

Edinburgh Gateway: 170455 becomes the first train from Edinburgh, the 0915 to Aberdeen, to arrive at Edinburgh Gateway.

Edinburgh Gateway: Edinburgh Gateway public opening leaflet.

Edinburgh Gateway: Forth Bridge image in school artwork at Edinburgh Gateway.

Edinburgh Gateway: Informative station sign at Edinburgh Gateway

Shields Depot: ScotRail passengers travelling on the Edinburgh – North Berwick/Dunbar service are to benefit from more seats, improved accessibility, at-seat power points and better Wi-Fi. On 11 December, the first of 70 new Hitachi electric trains arrived in Scotland to begin overnight testing, ahead of trains entering service from autumn 2017. The Edinburgh – North Berwick / Dunbar service will see new trains during 2018 and will mean that there will be 40 per cent more seats on this line at peak times by December 2018.

Shields Depot: ScotRail passengers travelling on the Edinburgh – North Berwick/Dunbar service are to benefit from more seats, improved accessibility, at-seat power points and better Wi-Fi. On 11 December, the first of 70 new Hitachi electric trains arrived in Scotland to begin overnight testing, ahead of trains entering service from autumn 2017. The Edinburgh – North Berwick / Dunbar service will see new trains during 2018 and will mean that there will be 40 per cent more seats on this line at peak times by December 2018.

Nuneaton: It's behind you! There are ugly loco's all over in this pantomime season. Freightliner 70003 lurks in the gloom with train 487S from Trafford Park FLT to Southampton MCT, while an up Pendolino speeds past platform 4.

Baillieston: A slightly delayed 318267 leaves Bailleston for Motherwell in sub zero temperatures with a spectacular display of arcing from the pantograph on the icy wires. 11th December 2017

Broomhill: It is mid afternoon on 11th December 2017 and already the light is going as Caledonian Railway 0-6-0 No.828 approaches Broomhill with the second Santa Express of the day. In the background snow clouds gather and, on the left, light reflects off the River Spey.

Broomhill Junction: It is -7C and in the freezing air, steam and smoke combine to screen the coaches behind Caledonian Railway 0-6-0 No.828 as it trundles along past Fisherman's Crossing with the Santa Express for Broomhill.

Broomhill: The Strathspey Railway's Santa Express, hauled by Caledonian Railway 0-6-0 No.828, runs towards Broomhill on 11th December 2017. Part of the snow covered Cairngorms can be seen in the background and, yes, it was as cold as it looks!.

Bermuda Park: You shouldn't believe everything you read. The train is the 17.59 to Nuneaton, not Coventry; and although the 'London Midland City' lettering has been peeled off the sides of the carriage, it's a West Midlands service. Snow makes a welcome change in Nuneaton.

Bermuda Park: The coolest seats in the house - or on the platform. Bermuda Park on 11th December 2017.

Nuneaton: 'Get a move on!' Freightliner 66518 gets a fresh driver as it pauses in Platform 1 with a train from Southampton MCT to Hams Hall Parsec.

Alloa: Class 385 EMU at Alloa waiting to form the 1446hr departure to Queen Street on 11th December 2018.

Stirling: A 365 EMU runs into Stirling beneath one of the special catenary arms used in the station area. 11th December 2018.

Alloa: A 385 at Alloa. It's not quite as easy as it was to obtain a clear shot at Alloa.

Stirling: Class 385 EMUs, working Alloa services, pass beneath the temporary footbridge at Stirling on 11th December 2018.

Portobello Junction: 365513 joins the ECML at Portobello with a Millerhill - Eastfield transfer on 11th December 2018.

Edinburgh Waverley: A display on Waverley's platform, near the food court, seen on 11th December 2018.

Glasgow Central: A service for Newton via Maxwell Park about to depart Glasgow Central (with me on it) on 11 December. This is their final week of operation for Class 314s. Farewell specials will be run on Wednesday 18 December 2019. Such things are a great way to meet other enthusiasts; I'll be washing my hair.

Possilpark and Parkhouse: An Anniesland service calls at Possilpark on 11 December 2019. As it seems to be essential to have the Gaelic version of the name on signs 'Possilpark & Parkhouse' is squeezed into one line and is consequently in rather small lettering.

Bishopbriggs: A Stirling service pulls into Bishobriggs on 11 December. Six cars seem to be common if not usual on these trains. Changed days from a the two-car DMUs common just a year previously. The Crow Tavern was there before the railway. You can tell it’s a real old pub as it’s not got a silly, mock-old name.

Possilpark and Parkhouse: An Anniesland to Glasgow Queen Street picks up custom at the Possilpark and Parkhouse on 11 December.

Bishopbriggs: A six-car Stirling service draws to a halt at Bishopbriggs on 11 December 2019.

Bridgeton: A Dalmuir Service pulls into the onetime Bridgeton Cross on 11 December 2019.The spaced-out B-r-i-d-g-e-t-o-n with double arrow dates from the reopening of the station in 1979. It never looked very effective and is now rather dated, but I imagine it is thought too much bother to remove it.

Airbles: A service for Dalmuir pulls out of the clockwise platform at Airbles in 11 December 2019.

Glasgow Central Low Level: Platform scene at Glasgow Central Low Level on 11 December 2019. As so often here and elsewhere there are 'wet floor' cones on a perfectly dry platform, surely creating their own hazard.

Pollokshaws: BR Standard tank 80128 passing the yards at Pollokshaws on 9 August 1956 with a train from Beith.
See query 2213

Motherwell: A change of driver for this Edinburgh to Ayr service at Motherwell on 11 December 2019. A predecessor might have been clutching an enamel tea can rather than an insulated coffee mug.

Newton: Late running meant a quick turnaround for 314210 and I barely had time to get into position for this shot before it pulled out back to Glasgow Central on 11th December 2019. Class 314s are in their last week of operation, finally and more than 2 years since their imminent demise was notified by posters in trains.

New Mills Central: Looking east from New Mills Central station can be seen two tunnels. The one on the right is still in use and leads to New Mills South Junction. The one on the left (visible again for the first time in a number of years thanks to some vegetation clearance) was on the branch to Hayfield. In front of these two tunnels was New Mills Junction however the Hayfield branch closed in January 1970. A turnback siding remained for a few years longer although that was eventually lifted as well. That ended the junction at this location.

Paddington: Stanier Black 5 44871, dating from 1948, just arrived in platform 1 at Paddington with the return RTC railtour from Shrewsbury, 10 minutes late at 23.10 on 11th December 2021.

Shrewsbury Abbey: The former Shrewsbury Abbey station and platform, seen here on the afternoon of Saturday, 11th December 2021. A delightful surprise as I had no idea there were any remains, indeed I had gone to look at the Abbey itself. Opened by the Potteries, Shrewsbury & North Wales Railway in August 1866, it reached neither the Potteries nor North Wales but ran from here to Llanymynech on the Cambrian Railway's main line south of Oswestry, with a branch from Kinnerley to Criggion stone quarries but the line went bankrupt and closed in 1881. It lay derelict until Col. Holman F. Stephens rebuilt it under the Light Railways Act of 1896 and it reopened in April 1911 as The Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Light Railway. Stephens died in 1931 and passenger services ceased in 1933 although Criggion stone traffic continued. In 1941, the line was taken over by the War Department to serve new ammunition depots in the area. Public passenger services were not re-introduced but workmen's trains ran to the depots and the line was the busiest it had ever been. After WWII, however, the depots began to close and stone traffic from Criggion ceased in December 1959. Dismantling of the line began in 1960 although a link from the Welsh Marches line was put in to Shrewsbury Abbey goods yard, which became an oil depot. Surprisingly, this remained open until 1988 when the last remnant of the S & MLR was abandoned. The building is now a railway bookshop and the platform is used as a footpath to surrounding housing estates but the tracks and the yards have now disappeared beneath a vast car park.

Paddington: Merry Christmas everyone at Railscot! Paddington station's Christmas Tree, just after 6 a.m. on Saturday, 11th December 2021 while I was waiting for the Railway Touring Company's railtour to Shrewsbury behind Stanier Black 5 no. 44871.

Birmingham Curzon Street: The vast site in the centre of Birmingham at Curzon Street, being prepared for the now truncated HS2, seen from a Railway Touring Company steam excursion from Paddington to Shrewsbury, behind Stanier Black 5 no. 44871, approaching Birmingham New Street at 11.37 on Saturday, 11th December 2021. Unfortunately, the historic and iconic London & Birmingham Railway terminus building was swathed in scaffolding and plastic sheeting so not worth taking a photo.

New Mills Central: Northern Sprinter 150111 has just re-entered platform 2 at New Mills Central from the turnback siding at the west end of the station. The unit had earlier arrived on a terminating service from Manchester Piccadilly and was about to form the 1134 return service. Four hours later I caught the same unit back to Manchester!

Paddington [Met]: Praed Street entrance to Paddington Underground station - Bakerloo, Circle, District and Hammersmith & City Lines - before dawn at 6.03 a.m. on Saturday, 11th December 2021.

Paddington: Paddington station concourse at 06.00 on Saturday, 11th December 2021, while waiting for the Railway Touring Company's excursion to Shrewsbury behind Stanier Black 5 no. 44871 that departed at 07.06.

Shrewsbury: The grand mock Tudor frontage of Shrewsbury station, seen here in pouring rain at 1 p.m. on Saturday, 11th December 2021, just after the arrival of a RTC steam-hauled railtour from London Paddington behind Stanier Black 5 no. 44871. This station was opened in October 1848 by the Shrewsbury, Oswestry & Chester Junction Railway and enlarged between 1899 and 1903 with the platforms extended over the River Severn. Until 1967, it was served by the Paddington to Birkenhead Woodside service that ran via Birmingham Snow Hill, the withdrawal of which also saw the closure of Birkenhead Woodside station while the route between Birmingham and Priestfield, just short of Wolverhampton, is now served by the West Midlands Metro trams. Shrewsbury still has two through services a day to London, but to Euston not Paddington, and the station has been a Grade II Listed structure by English Heritage since May 1969.

Tyseley: 170397 standing Not in Service in Tyseley depot, seen from the RTC's steam excursion from Paddington to Shrewsbury behind Stanier Black 5 no. 44871, re-starting after a water stop, on 11th December 2021.

Shrewsbury Abbey: The former Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Light Railway Shrewsbury Abbey terminus, closed to passengers in 1933, looking towards where the buffers once were, on the cold and damp afternoon of Saturday, 11th December 2021. This is now a bookshop selling secondhand railway books for one pound each, three of which I purchased. Part of the Abbey itself can be seen in the left background; a main road runs between the two. (For brief details of the history of this line and station, see my photo: image no. 79431).