Today's banner by Roger Geach: Once very much a Scottish loco, 37425 seen stabled at Doncaster on 25th June 2025. It was on a Network Rail test train with the old BREL works behind. 37425 was formerly 37292, sent to Scotland in May 1981 from South Wales. I found it a rare loco to see as 37292 worked off Motherwell. Later it was converted to 37425 at Crewe works 1986 and became an Eastfield loco for use on the West Highland route. Then of course far more common and still in use today with Colas Rail on test trains.

News in pictures


Puzzles



Latest photographs






On this day

1840  Preston and Wyre Railway, Dock and Harbour
Opened with a terminus at Preston Leighton Street (later Maudlands Goods), the line crossing the Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway on the level to the immediate west of the terminus.
1846  Deeside Railway
Act receives Royal assent. The railway is not built and power lapse.
1846  Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway
Act receives Royal assent. It was originally stipulated that the line was not allowed to compete with the Caledonian Railway for Glasgow to Carlisle traffic.
1846  Morayshire Railway
Act receives Royal assent. Authorised from Lossiemouth to Elgin [GNSR] and from Orton to Craigellachie.
1846  Kilmarnock and Troon Railway
Line leased to the Glasgow, Paisley Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway and re-gauged for locomotives.
1846  Leeds and Thirsk Railway
Act for extension from Northallerton to meet the Stockton and Hartlepool Railway at Stockton. Plan to buy Stockton and Hartlepool Railway falls through.
1846  Dublin, Dundrum and Rathfarnham Railway
Act passed, a re-work of the proposed Dublin, Dundrum and Enniskerry Railway.
1846  Leeds and Thirsk Railway
Second Leeds and Thirsk Act gives powers to open a line from Northallerton to Billingham on the Stockton and Hartlepool Railway, Eaglescliffe on the Stockton and Darlington Railway and Stockton on the Clarence Railway.
1846  Slamannan Railway
Act of Parliament gives permission to convert line to standard gauge.
1846  Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin Railway
Act passed. The Act allows the company to lease the Dublin and Kingstown Railway. The line is Great Western Railway (England) supported. (Known as the 'Three W's.)

More

This day in history

Caley ^Jumbo^ 57307 ambles through Patterton on Saturday 16 July 1949 with a short goods train.

Caley ^Jumbo^ 57307 ambles through Patterton on Saturday 16 July 1949 with a short goods train.

G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow (1949)

More

Notes and Queries

A Class 47 loco stabled near a junction in summer 1989 but where and what are those gantries for?
[Added 01 March 2023.]

Responses so far

Puzzles



Miscellany

Related to Dumfries.

Signalling Tower

Above Dumfries station, on high ground to the east, stood the 'signalling tower'. This was a highly distinctive brick built octagonal building with a window on each side topped with castellations. It was fitted with two flagpoles - a tall one to indicate points were set for the main line and a shorter for the branch. These were replaced in 1860 with signals. It was originally at the Castle Douglas junction, opened with the line, before moved higher up in anticipation of the opening of the Lockerbie route.

The tower was replaced with a signal box in 1883 and remained standing as a landmark afterwards. Demolished late 1970s/early 1980s.

More

Key events

December 2024Travel Safe team boosted. Cardiff-Edinburgh train, Lanark half-hourly in evenings, Gleneagles extra calls. Boxing Day trains to Leven, Dundee, Arbroath, Alloa. Traincrew cancellations hit Tweedbank and South Electrics (on an 'Auld Firm' Day). Lorry on line at Gretna, bus hit Cook Street bridge. Roseburn to Union Canal active travel route opens to the public.
November 2024150th anniversary plaque unveiled at Wick.
Glasgow Central new travel centre and lounge.
Troon restored station opened.
Dalwhinnie clock.
Consecutive cancellations at North Berwick on a rugby day.
Storm Bert - Oban suspended.
Inverness signalling centre twice evacuated owing to fuel spill.
October 2024Temporary timetable ended.
Accessible footbridge opened at Anniesland.
Tuckshop opened at North Berwick.
Greggs at Queen Street.
Track circuit failure at Finnieston.
Storm Ashley.
Poor unit availability in leaf-fall season.
Bomb alert at Dalmuir, power failure at Waverley both on 28 October.
September 2024Active travel route opened at Cameron Bridge.
Grab and Go opens at Falkirk Grahamston.
Temporary timetable introduced.
Royal Mail ceased using rail.
ScotRail's peak fare trial ended.
August 2024Accessible footbridges provided at Dumfries and Uddingston.
TPE 2300 Edinburgh-Newcastle for Edinburgh Festivals.
Temporary timetable and reduced ScotRail festival extras.
Kirkhill overhead line damage.
July 2024Stranraer trains resumed.
Troon rebuilt station opened in time for Open.
Railway Heritage Centre opened at Dumfries.
Lord Hendy appointed rail minister.
Temporary timetable introduced because of driver shortage.

More

Slideshows

Flying Scotsman[[images]]0 photos
Halbeath Sidings 12 photos
Brisbane 5 photos
Slamannan and Borrowstounness Railway 17 photos
Royal Deeside branch - after closure 19 photos
LU Northern Line + 1938 and 1995 stock, 1973-2022[[images]]0 photos

More


Books

Selected from Amazon's New Releases.


The Railways of Stirling

ASIN 1915069297
Publisher Lightmoor Press
Published 2023-09-20
Author(s) Peddie, Donald

View on Amazon

Class 08 Locomotives in Scotland (Class Locomotives)

ASIN 1398105600
Publisher Amberley Publishing
Published 2023-10-15
Author(s) Howat, Colin J.

View on Amazon

The Dundee & Arbroath Railway

ASIN 1915069173
Publisher Lightmoor Press
Published 2023-02-24
Author(s) Ferguson, Niall

View on Amazon

Edinburgh, Granton and Leith Railways

ASIN 1398108561
Publisher Amberley Publishing
Published 2023-04-15
Author(s) Williamson, Kenneth G.

View on Amazon

More new books

Articles

More

Book Reviews

More
Footer image