12 Images released on Friday 27/10/2023

Contact the news and picture editor.

Haltwhistle: A view of the entrance to the South Tyne Trail that runs south on the trackbed of the former Alston branch, from the former bridge location on Plenmeller Road which runs south off the A69 Haltwhistle by-pass. As can be seen the trail also forms part of NCN68, and has been surfaced to give a smooth walk or cycle ride. A section of the embankment beyond has been removed to allow the path to reach track level on a gentle slope.

Alston Branch (Newcastle and Carlisle Railway)
David Pesterfield [04/06/2021]


Holloway and Caledonian Road: View through the upstairs side windows of a HV type bus on route 91 to Crouch End crossing Caledonian Road bridge over the ECML, just north of Kings Cross, looking north on the afternoon of Wednesday, 30th August 2023. In the foreground is the site of the long-closed Holloway & Caledonian Road station, marked by the bushes, which closed as a First World War economy in 1915 but had lost most of its traffic when Caledonian Road Underground station, just across the road and now part of the Piccadilly Line, was opened in 1906.

Great Northern Railway
David Bosher [30/08/2023]


Blackburn King Street Depot: Built on the site of King Street Coal Concentration Depot, which closed in 1995 (See image [[21403]]), Northern's Traction Maintenance Depot in Blackburn opened in 2017 to service the 150s, 156s and 195s of their fleet. Six sidings can accommodate up to thirty coaches for light servicing, cleaning and refuelling but of course during the daytime there are rarely more than one or two units there.

Blackburn and Preston Railway
Mark Bartlett [13/09/2023]


Lostock Hall: Lostock Hall in February 1968. The shed yard (10D) is on the left with 44878 adjacent to the coaling tower. The shot is taken from the westbound platform. The station closed on 6th October 1969 but reopened on 14th May 1984 on a new site on the other side of Watkin Lane Bridge, which is behind the photographer. The shed lasted until the end of steam on 4th August 1968 although the area remained in BR use until the end of the 1970s.

Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway (East Lancashire Railway)
John Clark [17/02/1968]


Rumbling Bridge [2nd]: This view is looking east over the approach to Rumbling Bridge, which can be seen top left.

Devon Valley Railway
Ewan Crawford [17/08/2023]


Lymington Junction: Exchange of train staff at Lymington Junction in 1975.

Southampton and Dorchester Railway
Doug Nicholls [/05/1975]


Aberdeen: On the Scottish Region's epic 18-coach Grand Scottish Tour No 1 in 1967, diesel haulage replaced steam during the stop at Aberdeen, despite Sulzer D5070 doing its best to disguise the fact. The two diesels (the other being D5127) took the tour onwards to Aviemore, via Craigellachie and the Speyside line. At Aviemore a third Sulzer was added for the run over the Highland main line to Perth.

Denburn Valley Line (Great North of Scotland Railway)
Brian Haslehust [25/03/1967]


Ayr Station Hotel: Looks like the end of the line for the Station Hotel. Contractors commencing the 'making the building safe' in October 2023. 'Now there's an end tae an auld sang'.

Ayr and Dalmellington Railway
Colin Miller [23/10/2023]


Southport: Merseyrails class 507 & 508 EMUs, built by BREL at York Carriage Works, are in the twilight period of their 40+ years' careers, being replaced by the new class 777 EMU/BEMUs. In this 14 July view in the stabling sidings at Southport can be seen 507007, and beyond it 508128. Shortly after this view was taken 508128, along with 508111, were, for some unknown reason, hauled to Crewe South Yard where they were left. However, on 5 October, they set out on their final journey, being hauled to Sims Metals at Newport for scrapping.

Liverpool, Crosby and Southport Railway
David Pesterfield [14/07/2023]


Savernake: The signal box at Savernake, taken from a passing train in March 1969. The station (Low Level) had closed three years earlier.

Berks and Hants Extension Railway
Doug Nicholls [/03/1969]


Martholme Viaduct: Just to the south of Martholme Viaduct some sidings were opened in 1900 to serve nearby Martholme Colliery via a short branch. A signal box controlled access but the colliery closed around 1930 and the box was demolished a few years later. This view looks south along the trackbed greenway at the site of the sidings where an information board has been provided along with some benches.

North Lancashire Loop (Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway)
Mark Bartlett [13/09/2023]


Stow: 170412 enters Stow, with a service from Edinburgh, on 20 September 2023.

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Bill Roberton [20/09/2023]