Eastfield Shed: Standard 4MT 4-6-0 75010 at Eastfield, after a visit to Cowlairs Works, on 30th December 1965. Another ex-works visitor from south of the border, Black 5 44838, sits outside the shed.

Corstorphine [2nd]: View from the last DMU leaving Corstorphine for Waverley on 30 December 1967, the final day of scheduled passenger services on the branch.

Corstorphine [2nd]: The 13.36 (SO) DMU for Edinburgh Waverley stands at the buffer stops at Corstorphine on a wet Saturday 30 December 1967. This was the final scheduled passenger service from the station, which had opened with the branch in 1902. On opening, the original 1842 Corstorphine station, located on the E&G main line approximately half a mile to the south, was renamed Saughton see image [[25903]].

Corstorphine [2nd]: Last day at Corstorphine on 30 December 1967, with a DMU preparing to leave for North Berwick.

Corstorphine [2nd]: Passengers board the last train at Corstorphine on Saturday 30 December 1967, the final day of passenger services on the branch. The journey time to Waverley will be 11 minutes.

Corstorphine [2nd]: The final DMU for Waverley stands at the buffer stops at Corstorphine on Saturday 30 December 1967. See image [[26522]]

Corstorphine [2nd]: Last day of passenger services at Corstorphine on 30 December 1967, although there still seems to be plenty of activity in the adjoining goods yard. On the right is the last train from Corstorphine, the 13.36 (SO) to Edinburgh Waverley, comprising 2 mixed-livery Metro-Cammell 2-car sets. This had arrived as the 13.06 (SO) from Waverley, the usual 2-car set having been strengthened with an additional set for the occasion. On the left is the last through train from Corstorphine to North Berwick, consisting of a Gloucester RC&W 2-car set timed to leave at 13.24.

Corstorphine [2nd]: The exterior of the building on Station Road Corstorphine, photographed on 30 December 1967, the last day of scheduled passenger services.

Edinburgh Waverley: Empty DMU standing at Waverley on 30 December 1967, having arrived with the last scheduled passenger service off the Corstorphine branch. See image [[23500]]

Corstorphine [2nd]: The buffer stops at Corstorphine on 30 December 1967. On the left is the 13.36 (SO) to Edinburgh Waverley (the final departure), while on the right is the 13.24 through service to North Berwick.

Loch Park Siding: EE Type 4 no D362 passes Loch Park permanent way depot, just south of Hawick station, on 30 December 1968 with the 9.52am Millerhill - Carlisle Kingmoor goods.

Loch Park Siding: Peak D89 Honourable Artillery Company takes the 09.30 Edinburgh - Carlisle/St Pancras past Loch Park depot on its way south out of Hawick on a murky Monday 30 December 1968.

Aviemore: Aviemore North SB, although by the time this photo was taken in December 1973 it was the only box. In the siding sits a suburban coach, which had been delivered to the Strathspey Railway, coupled to a Ruston 4wDM shunter.

Boat of Garten: The main station building at Boat of Garten in late December 1975 with the 4w DM Motor Rail (ex Aberdeen Gas Works No.1D) sat in Platform 1. Reconstruction of the footbridge had just started as can be seen on the left with the appearance of the first 'tower'.

Tolleshunt D'Arcy: Cheaply built light railways generally leave few traces after closure, and the Kelvedon and Tollesbury line was no exception. This photo, looking towards Tollesbury, shows all that remained at the site of Tolleshunt D'Arcy station on 30th December 1980, 29 years after closure to all traffic. The concrete platform edging (provided for a platform only 15 inches above the former rail level and necessitating carriages with wheels of no more than 33 inches in diameter) has endured, but the ruined structure in the background is a post closure addition and not a relic. The site was later cleared of all traces and became a small industrial area.

Haymarket MPD: Deltic 55021 Argyll and Sutherland Highlander standing alongside 20220 inside Haymarket shed on 30 December 1981.

Wakefield Kirkgate: 45006 Honourable Artillery Company at Wakefield Kirkgate on a snowy 30 December 1981 with the Heaton - Manchester Red Bank empty newspaper vans, whilst the first loco of the UK class 56 build, 56031, passes with eastbound MGR wagons. Track rationalising has since taken place with the westbound through road between the locos removed, and the former eastbound through road made bi-directional.

Crigglestone: A low winter sun illuminates no 56030 near Crigglestone station as it heads for Woolley Tunnel en route to Woolley Colliery with coal empties on a cold December morning in 1987, around the time the colliery was officially closed. Bordering on the districts of Barnsley and Wakefield, Woolley was one of the largest pits in West Yorkshire, employing approximately 2,000 men in 1980.

Stratford-upon-Avon: Bulleid 'West Country' Pacific no 34027 Taw Valley with The William Shakespeare special at Stratford-upon-Avon on 30 December 1989.

Corrour: Corrour on a monumentally wet day in very late 1993.

Scotscalder: A northbound Sprinter approaches Scotscalder as the light begins to fail on the 30th of December 1994.

Wick: Despite the somewhat premature destination shown, this is an arrival at Wick in 1994. The junction for Lybster was just beyond this point at the end of the platform by the throat of the station.

Georgemas Junction: The signalbox at The Georgemas is not what it used to be. Hand signalling and a ground frame in operation at the junction in 1994.

Georgemas Junction: Trolley at Georgemas Junction in December 1994.

Thurso Shed: Thurso engine shed viewed from the end of the loading bank in 1994. The shed has since been demolished.

Altnabreac: Tablet catcher lying on the ground at Altnabreac station in 1994.

Altnabreac: Water column at the south end of Altnabreac in 1994.

Helensburgh Central: Last Blue Train about to leave Helensburgh Central to run empty to Yoker.

Helensburgh Central: Last Blue Train is piped before returning empty to Yoker.

Craigendoran Junction: 303 approaching Craigendoran Junction from the east. This was the last run of a Blue Train.

Craigendoran Junction: The last Blue Train passes Craigendoran Junction on its final passenger run.

Yoker Depot: Last Blue Train returns to Yoker after its final run. It will be taken to Immingham for scrapping within days.

Helensburgh Central: Last Blue Train heads east just east of Helensburgh Central.

Helensburgh Central: Last Blue train on arrival at Helensburgh Central. View looks west.

Helensburgh Central: View looking south at Helensburgh Central of the last Blue Train. The Helensburgh gasworks can be seen in the background.

Helensburgh Central: Last Blue Train waits in Helensburgh Central.

Helensburgh Central: Send off for the last Blue Train at Helensburgh Central.

Helensburgh Central: Ticket for the last Blue Train service. The train ran from Bellgrove west to Helensburgh Central and then ran empty to Yoker heading to Immingham a few days later for scrapping.

Hellifield: Okay, this is the bay, where's Pammie? Disappointed railtourers realize that even if La Anderson were to visit Lancashire, she wouldn't be wearing a bikini on a day like this. The occasion was the Pathfinder Railtours 'Cumbrian Choppers' tour, and this is Hellifield's former West bay, for traffic from the North. Let me repeat that....

Hellifield: In my book, it's always good to have a couple of 20's on the business end. These are 20305 and 20307 on the Pathfinder Tours Cumbrian Chopper at a rather cold Hellifield in December 2005. see image [[26892]]

Hellifield: This partly built shed was part of an ambitious plan to offer steam locomotive servicing at the South end of the S&C. It was completed and still stands, and has been used for railway work; but I have yet to hear of anything arriving by rail, let alone steam engines. View looks North, more or less, at the end of 2005.

Dent Head Viaduct: The advantage of owning a Benbo Trekker tripod is that you can take shots like this without sticking your head out of the window. Mind you, you have to start the set-up in Hellifield - or was it Blackburn? Notice the class 20 haulage.

Glasgow Central: 156434 waiting to depart to Whifflet

Glasgow Central: 90019 just after arrival at Glasgow Central to collect the Caledonian Sleeper ECS

Glasgow Central: 90039 at Glasgow Central with the Caledonian Sleeper.

Glasgow Central: First Scotrail branded 90019 at Glasgow Central.

Glasgow Central: 43095 at Glasgow Central with the late running 0800 service to Kings Cross.

Glasgow Central: The driver of 43116 The Black Dyke Band getting into his cab.

Glasgow Central: 43116 moving off from Platform 1, Glasgow Central.

Glasgow Central: 221113 Sir Walter Raleigh waiting to depart to Plymouth.

Glasgow Central: 90019 waiting to depart to Polmadie with the empty Caledonian Sleeper stock.

Holt: WD 2-10-0 90775 stands at the platform at Holt on the North Norfolk Railway in December 2005.

Edinburgh Waverley: Night shift still hard at work on the electrification of The Mound central tunnel and the remaining west end platforms at Waverley. View west from Waverley Bridge early on Sunday 30 December 2007.

Moy: DRS 66428 southbound near Moy with a train of 24 containers for Grangemouth on 30th December 2008.

Bay Horse: A very gloomy day for Ian Riley's second Black 5 no 44871, on its first outing, going from Manchester to Carlisle via Shap and returning via the S&C. It was on time to the minute coming north through Bay Horse in tandem with 45407 at 0915 on 30 December - but the sun had forgotten to get up this morning!

Carnforth: The Winter 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' from Manchester to Carlisle hauled by 44871 and 5690 climbing northwards at Yealand Steps between Carnforth and Oxenholme on 30 December 2010. The wreath and headboard are tributes to WCRC railwayman Paul Kane who died suddenly after being taken ill on the footplate of 60019 Bittern on a special between York and Kings Cross on 18 December 2010.

Manchester Liverpool Road: View from the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry yard along the running line towards the original Liverpool Road station building. In the foreground is sole surviving Barclay Class 06 0-4-0DM 06003 (resident here from 2011 to 2013) with a centre cab electric shunting locomotive in the middle distance.

Manchester Liverpool Road: Although the railway locomotives in the Power Hall at Manchester Museum of Science and Industry are all static exhibits there are numerous working stationary steam engines and so the smell of steam and hot oil gives the building a special atmosphere. Isle of Man Railway 2-4-0T No. 3 Pender was constructed by Beyer Peacock in 1873 at Gorton and is now a sectioned exhibit with other Manchester built locomotives behind.

Manchester Liverpool Road: Most of the locomotives at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry have a strong connection to the city so the arrival in 2011 of the last surviving Barclay Class 06 0-4-0DM shunter was a little surprising. 06003 was previously in the care of the Heritage Shunters Trust although I hadn't personally seen it since 1981 See image [[22416]]. The loco was moved away again to Peak Rail, Derbyshire in early 2013.

Manchester Liverpool Road: D2868, a Class 02 Yorkshire Engine Co. 0-4-0DH, arrived at Manchester Museum of Science and Industry in early 2011, along with Barclay 06003. The 02 was an appropriate exhibit as this class replaced the L&YR Pugs in the Manchester and Salford goods yards. It is seen here, outside one of the old warehouses, from a passing internal steam train service. D2868 itself was a Lostock Hall loco, See image [[25579]] being withdrawn from there in December 1969 and passing into industry and then preservation. It was moved away from MOSI to Peak Rail, Derbyshire in early 2013.

Manchester Liverpool Road: Gorton built EM2 Co-Co electric E27001 has been preserved at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry since withdrawal by Netherlands State Railways in 1986. It carries its NS livery but also has its BR Ariadne nameplate from its days as E27001 on Manchester-Sheffield Woodhead route duties. See image [[22507]]

Bitton: Ruston shunter D2994 - in excellent external condition - is in serious need of an umbrella at a streaming wet Bitton station on 30th December 2012. Notice the water tank on a concrete sleeper base; and the gap between engine and coach, allowing the barrow crossing to be used.

Avon Riverside: Anyone seen a fireman? The driver of no. 7564 seems to have mislaid something - or someone. See image [[41554]]. Notice the cab sheets, providing rudimentary weather protection on a pretty awful day. Little did we know at the time, that we would have snow three months later!

Avon Riverside: LNER 0-6-0 no 7564 (BR 65462) enjoys the stiff breeze (notice the horizontal plume of steam by the cab) at the Avon Valley Railway's recently built Avon Riverside halt. It was hauling a 4-coach Mince Pie and Sherry Special. (not neshesherrily in that order)

Bitton: The trouble with putting the cart before the horse, is that you have to find a horse first. This unusual relic is to be seen outside the Avon Valley Railway's Bitton station. The traces are, in my experience, even rarer than the cart.

Preston: The 0715 hrs Manchester Piccadilly to Glasgow Central (1S35) service on 30 December was operated by 350401 and 350403 which then formed the 1M96 return service departing from Central at 1109 hrs. The return service is seen having arrived at platform 4 at Preston with 350403 leading. See image [[45797]]

Glasgow Central: First TransPennine Express 350401/3 formed the 11.09 service from Glasgow Central to Manchester Piccadilly on 30 September 2013, having arrived as the 07.15 from Piccadilly. See image [[45792]]

Preston: The inaugural FTPE class 350 scheduled Anglo-Scottish service on the return journey from Glasgow to Manchester on 30 December 2013. The train is seen here leaving Preston platform 3 with 350403 leading 350401.

Largs: Nice touch - Largs station, 30 December 2014.

Galashiels: UK Railtours' excursion from Kings Cross to Tweedbank passing Galashiels, looking back north, at 13.57 on 30th December 2015. The train is travelling behind 66003 and left London at 5.35 a.m. on a freezing cold morning. The new bus station is on the left, providing convenient interchanges to towns like Selkirk and Peebles.

Tweedbank: 66003, with UK Railtours' excursion to the Borders Railway, on 30th December 2015. This left Kings Cross before dawn on a freezing cold morning, and is seen newly arrived at Tweedbank.

Tweedbank: UK Railtours' excursion from Kings Cross to the Borders Railway arriving at Tweedbank station, that had opened three months earlier, at 14.03 (more than 8 hours after leaving London before dawn) on 30th December 2015. On the right is 158703 waiting to return north to Edinburgh.

Manors North: UK Railtours' excursion, behind 66003 from Kings Cross to Tweedbank on the new Borders Line, passing the shabby one-time junction station at Manors, just north of Newcastle, on 30th December 2015. Still open, despite appearances to the contrary.

Torwoodlee Tunnel: UK Railtours' excursion from Kings Cross to Tweedbank entering Torwoodlee Tunnel on the new Borders Railway, along 30 miles of the rebuilt former Waverley Route south from Edinburgh, on the afternoon of 30th December 2015. This tour left London before dawn.

Gorebridge: UK Railtours Borders excursion behind 66003, which left King's Cross before dawn, passing the reopened station at Gorebridge on 30th December 2015. Thirty miles of the old Waverley Route had reopened just over three months earlier on 6th September 2015, On the right is the former 1847 station building, boarded-up and derelict. Plans to turn this into a restaurant and bar have so far not materialised.

Eskbank and Dalkeith: Having left King's Cross before dawn on a freezing winter morning, a UK Railtours excursion behind 66003 to Tweedbank on the new Borders Line hurries south past the former Eskbank and Dalkeith station, on the afternoon of 30th December 2015. The station closed with the Waverley Route on 6th January 1969. Just over three months before this excursion, the first 30 miles of the old line south from Edinburgh were reopened on 6th September 2015 with a new station, called simply Eskbank, on a site south of this original. The campaign to continue rebuilding the line (which should never have closed in the first place) from Tweedbank towards Carlisle, and bring trains back to Hawick, continues.

Haymarket: A murky morning at Haymarket Yards on 30 December 2016, with Haymarket station just off picture to the left. From left to right are the 0839 from Glenrothes with Thornton, the 0616 ex-Manchester Victoria and a city-bound tram from Edinburgh Airport.

Haymarket [Tram]: Hogmanay Trams - FREE late night trams to get you home.

Polnish No 107 Tunnel: Suitably decorated Black 5 No.45407 hauling The Jacobite Christmas Express up the gradient at Polnish on 30 December 2016 heading for Mallaig.

Whiston: Northern Class 319s arrive and depart from Whiston as darkness falls on 30 December 2017. On the left a stopping service to Manchester Victoria heads east as a stopping service to Liverpool arrives on the adjacent platform.

Liverpool Lime Street: D9009 'Alycidon' 'on the blocks' at Liverpool Lime Street having arrived from York with the 'Trans-Pennine Deltic Lament' railtour on 30 December 2017. The amount of interest that the tour generated along the route was hardly surprising with an immaculate rail blue Deltic and a matching set of 11 Blue/Grey Mark 2 carriages.

Dyce: Dyce on the 30th December; the chip shop that was located in the old station Building and that burnt down has now finally been replaced with a brand new building. Perhaps in the not too distant future Dyce will become a junction again?

Huyton: The 'Trans-Pennine Deltic Lament' railtour with D9009 'Alycidon' heading a very smart rake of blue/grey carriages passes Huyton on 30 December 2017 whilst working the York to Liverpool leg of the tour.

Liverpool Lime Street: A pair of London & Northwestern Class 350 EMUs arrive at Liverpool Lime Street on 30 December 2017. On the right behind a barrier is track-less former platform 6 which is currently undergoing a rebuild.

Edinburgh Waverley: 385 113 about to depart from platform 14 with a service to Glasgow Queen Street. 30 December.

Edinburgh Waverley: View over platforms 5 and 6 at Waverley on 30 December 2018, with construction nearing completion. 92044 and 90041 are stabled in the Klondyke siding to the right.

Milltimber [2nd]: Milltimber, where the former Deeside line has been breached by the newly opened Western Peripheral Route. The line continued to the slightly to the right of the red car. There appears to be enough headroom for a new rail bridge of the line was to ever reopen. The path now crosses over the bridge to the right before continuing on the original alignment.

Broadway: Close up of BR Blue EE Type 3 37215, trailing engine to classmate D6948, heading back south from Broadway at the GWR 'Christmas Cracker' gala on 30th December 2018.

Perth Carriage Sidings: Perth Up Carriage Sidings in the dark in late December 2018.

Toddington: GWR Hall Class 4-6-0 7903 'Foremarke Hall' heading north out of Toddington during the GWR 'Christmas Cracker' gala on 30th December 2018. EE Type 1 D8137 was trailing.

Broadway: A very wide view of 37215 heading to Broadway with D6948 on the tail during the Christmas Cracker GWR gala on 30th December 2018.

Perth Carriage Sidings: Perth Up Carriage Sidings, seen from the north end on the evening of 30th December 2018.

Winchcombe: BR Blue liveried Peak 45149 departing Winchcombe during the GWR 'Christmas Cracker' gala on 30th December 2018.

Toddington: A close up of MN 4-6-2 35006 'P&O Line', trailing engine to Peak 45149 at the GWR 'Christmas Cracker' gala on 30th December 2018.

Winchcombe: BR Class 20 D8137, on the rear of a train headed by 7903 'Foremarke Hall,' in Winchcombe Station during the GWR 'Christmas Cracker' gala on 30th December 2018.

Broadway: A panoramic view of 4-6-0 7903 'Foremarke Hall' heading to Broadway, with D8137 trailing. during the GWR 'Christmas Cracker' gala on 30th December 2018.

Hayles Abbey Halt: Immaculate BR Green liveried D6948, passing south through the new Hayles Abbey Halt, during the GWR 'Christmas Cracker' gala on 30th December 2018.

Arnside: Viewed from the historic pier, a 3-car CAF DMU is nicely reflected in the River Kent as it crosses Arnside Viaduct with a Barrow to Manchester Airport service on 30th December 2019. What had started out as a very sunny day became quite dull and grey before mid-morning.

Kirknewton: 380116 nears Kirknewton with the 14.16 from Glasgow Central to Edinburgh on 30th December 2019.

Arnside: Northern CAF DMU 195112 passes under a temporary footbridge that was being erected at Arnside on 30th December 2019. The train was a Barrow to Manchester Airport service.

Morrison Street Goods: After decades as a car park the site of Morrison Street Goods has been awaiting development for a further few years. Since I took this photo new, flashy adverts for the proposed development have appeared on the hoardings so who knows. To get your bearings Ryrie's at Haymarket corner is straight ahead with the station out of sight behind that house.

Gilmerton: The site of Gilmerton station, seen looking towards Millerhill on 30th December 2019. Zilch remains of the platform, but the station house (where my auntie once lived) is up on Gilmerton Station Road, next to the larger former home of the colliery manager. Another website (no names) says the latter is often mistaken for the former; just to prove the point it does so itself in a photo caption

Edinburgh Waverley: TPE service for Liverpool Lime Street about to depart Waverley's Platform 5 on 30 December 2019. The lack of yellow flash (which I presume has been sanctioned) gives these sets a distinct 'foreign' look.

Arnside: A temporary footbridge has been erected at Arnside, with a view to the refurbishment of the existing structure. 195012 calls with a Manchester Airport to Barrow service on 30th December 2019. This was the first time I had seen a two-car CAF set on these services, which have been exclusively three-car units since the July 2019 introduction.

Bath Green Park [2nd]: A sundial has now been installed at the aptly named Bike Station at Green Park. When the band of sunlight hits the top of the red door, it is ten past twelve.

Largs Slip: Largs saw an unexpected visitor on 30/12/21. Hybrid ferry 'Catriona' is seen leaving for Cumbrae Slip. The usual vessel, 'Loch Shira' is out of service with a propulsion fault. The replacement is 'Loch Alainn', back from annual overhaul ... 'Loch Alainn' was moored at the pier, reason unknown.