This day in history 14 January

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Images



Arnott, Young and Co [Dalmuir]: Wagon plates from Arnott Young, breakers, Dalmuir with B928106 from 42T bogie timber stake wagon at whisky bond/timber yard siding Castlegreen Street, Dumbarton.

Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway
Alistair MacKenzie 1980


Forteviot: 60009 'Union of South Africa' approaches Forteviot with the northbound 'Fair Maid'. 14th January 1984.

Scottish Central Railway
Graeme Blair 1984


Shirebrook East Junction: Environs of Warsop Junction; a complicated location. The line to the right is the 1974 British Railways north (Shirebrook East Junction) to east (Warsop Junction) link between the former Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway and the Midland Railway's Worksop Branch. This completed a triangle of junctions. The Midland line is in a cutting running from left to right. On the left and running straight on (closed and lifted) is the mainline of the LD&ECR which crossed the Midland. A short portion of this line remains unused but in place connected by a Midland Railway curve to Shirebrook Junction. This portion serves the W.H. Davis Wagon Works (itself a stub of the GNR line to Mansfield) approached by a reversal at the former Langwith Junction. Out of shot far to the left is the still open east to south connection between the Midland and LD&ECR. The view looks west along the LD&ECR (later the Great Central) which formerly continued to west Chesterfield and north to Sheffield.

Shirebrook East Junction to Warsop Junction (British Rail)
Ewan Crawford 2005


Fledborough: Looking east towards Lincoln over the remains of Fledborough station. The two platforms remain at this very rural location - very rural save for the disused High Marnham powerstation which is out of shot to the right.

Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway
Ewan Crawford 2005


Shirebrook Junction: Looking south to Shirebrook (West) station at Shirebrook Junction. The line in the foreground is a chord build by the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway to connect the Midland Railway's Worksop Branch to its line running east to (today) High Marnham and (formerly) Lincoln.

Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway
Ewan Crawford 2005


High Marnham Power Station: Looking east over the lifted sidings at High Marnham power station. This yard was built by British Railways on a short branch off the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway. Out of shot: to the left is the closed Fledborough station and to the right is High Marnham powerstation.

High Marnham Powerstation (British Railways)
Ewan Crawford 2005


Wellbeck Colliery Junction: Looking west over Wellbeck Colliery Junction. The line west to Shirebrook is round to the left and the line to the right runs to the colliery. There is a loop on the branch just beyond the junction.

Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway
Ewan Crawford 2005


Thoresby Colliery Junction: Looking south at Thoresby Colliery Junction and signalbox. The line running east from here to the former High Marnham powerstation has been re-used as a rail vehicle development centre following closure of Ollerton Colliery siding, the Bevercotes Colliery branch and High Marnham powerstation and yard. The section includes a signalbox at Ollerton Colliery and sidings at Boughton Junction (junction for the Bevercotes Colliery branch).

Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway
Ewan Crawford 2005


High Marnham Power Station: High Marnham power station viewed from the west. At the time of the photograph (January 2005) the site was relatively intact - only the chimneys had been demolished. At present (July 2009) only the cooling towers remain. The railway sidings were located to the distant left.

High Marnham Powerstation (British Railways)
Ewan Crawford 2005


Thoresby Colliery: Thoresby Colliery viewed from the south west. This mine is served by a short branch from Thoresby Colliery Junction on the former Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway.

Thoresby Colliery Branch (London and North Eastern Railway)
Ewan Crawford 2005


High Marnham Power Station: Looking west to the shell of High Marnham signalbox in January 2005. This box controlled the approach to the powerstation sidings and junction with the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway. The LD&ECR is on the right hand side of this photograph. High Marnham is the end of the line from Shirebrook. Not far to the west the line crosses over the East Coast Mainline at the former Dukeries Junction but there is no connection. The former Tuxford north to west connecting curve was lifted in 1969 and the west to south curve lifted considerably earlier.

High Marnham Powerstation (British Railways)
Ewan Crawford 2005


Edinburgh Waverley: Changes underway at the east end of Waverley in January 2006. At the bottom left New Street bus depot is now boarded up ready for demolition, while across the road the new Edinburgh Council headquarters is under construction. In the background, work is in progress on the IECC extension to the Edinburgh signalling centre.

North British Railway
John Furnevel 2006


Edinburgh Waverley: Track lifting underway on the north side of Waverley in January 2006 in preparation for work on the new Balmoral platform. View from a Saturday morning City Tours bus parked on Waverley Bridge (the tour guide was between trips and kindly invited me to use his open top deck for the photograph - having obviously become more and more concerned at my failed attempts to find a foothold on the wall). View is over the west end of platform 19 towards The Mound tunnel.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
John Furnevel 2006


Edinburgh Waverley: Track alterations in progress at the west end of Waverley in January 2006 as part of the preparations for construction of the new northside through platform (codename Balmoral).

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
John Furnevel 2006


Edinburgh Waverley: The former booking office and later parcels office on Waverley Bridge, standing between the ramps running down to the station concourse. Recently refurbished and in use as a Chinese restaurant in January 2006.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
John Furnevel 2006


Edinburgh Waverley: Looking east along Waverley platform 2 on 14 January 2007 showing the link from Calton Road yard now fenced off. The location of the former gap in the new 'Balmoral' platform, which permitted access for plant and equipment at track level, can also be clearly seen see image [[10831]].

North British Railway
John Furnevel 2007


Perth: Take your pick from the liveries of these 170 turbostars.

Scottish Central Railway
Brian Forbes 2007


Perth: Leaking canopy on Perth Down Side. This has been like this for many months.

Scottish Central Railway
Brian Forbes 2007


Perth: The bay window of Perth station's down centre signal box, and the famous clock are ignored by an intending passenger anxiously looking at the timetable in January 2007.

Scottish Central Railway
Brian Forbes 2007


Perth: Different Scotrail liveries seen at Perth.

Scottish Central Railway
Brian Forbes 2007


Edinburgh Waverley: A GNER ECML service on Sunday 14 January running as far as Newark North Gate (due to engineering works) pulls into Waverley's platform 11.

North British Railway
John Furnevel 2007


Edinburgh Waverley: With more engineering work underway at the west end of Waverley, Glasgow shuttle services are seen here using the northside through platforms 19 and 20 on 14 January 2007.

North British Railway
John Furnevel 2007


Edinburgh Waverley: An Aberdeen - Kings Cross HST service arrives at Waverley platform 11 on 14 January 2007.

North British Railway
John Furnevel 2007


Perth Carriage Sidings: 158 super sprinters within Perth carriage sidings on 14 January.

Scottish Central Railway
Brian Forbes 2007


Perth: Gleaming after a clean up, 170s and 158s at Perth.

Scottish Central Railway
Brian Forbes 2007


Perth: Eight 158s are cleaned and fuelled here during a Sunday. This one sits in Platform 3 waiting its turn.158709

Scottish Central Railway
Brian Forbes 2007


Perth: The 1305 service to Glasgow leaves from Platform 1. The hoarding intrigues.

Scottish Central Railway
Brian Forbes 2007


Perth: Looking north at the bay window of the former Perth Down Centre signal box. The clock is very famous.

Scottish Central Railway
Brian Forbes 2007


Edinburgh Waverley: The Calton Road 'works entrance' to Waverley, previously used to bring in plant and equipment to the north side of the station, photographed on 14 January 2007. The route is no longer in use and the new Balmoral platform base is now complete. See image [[13184]]

North British Railway
John Furnevel 2007


Edinburgh Waverley: A Waverley - Newcraighall shuttle using the east end of the old 'sub' platform 9 in January 2007 during major works at the station.

North British Railway
John Furnevel 2007


Edinburgh Waverley: The finished doorways in the south wall which now provide a route between platform 10 and the cross - station walkway. See image [[13248]]

North British Railway
John Furnevel 2007


Edinburgh Waverley: View east on 14 January 2007 showing the extension added to through platform 2 from which a Voyager is just leaving for Plymouth.

North British Railway
John Furnevel 2007


Paisley Gilmour Street: 66207 at Paisley Gilmour Street heading East with a coal train for Longannet PS

Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway
Graham Morgan 2008


Paisley Gilmour Street: 334013 departing Paisley Gilmour Street in the rain heading for Glasgow Central

Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway
Graham Morgan 2008


Paisley Gilmour Street: 66234 passing through Paisley Gilmour Street in the rain heading for Longannet PS

Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway
Graham Morgan 2008


Cartsdyke: Glasgow Central bound 334004 passing through Cartsdyke on 14th January

Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway
Graham Morgan 2008


Paisley Gilmour Street: 334020 sitting at Platform 3 of Paisley Gilmour Street on an evening service to Glasgow Central

Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway
Graham Morgan 2008


Sheringham: Buffer stops on the North Norfolk Railway at Sheringham being removed on Thursday 14 January 2010 in preparation for reconnection to the National Rail Network via the Bittern Line to Norwich. The first train to use the new crossing (which is due to be installed next month) will be a DRS class 37 and a Network Rail inspection saloon on 24th February. The formal opening will be on Thursday 11 March when a Railway Touring Company charter with 70013 Oliver Cromwell hauling The Broadsman, will arrive with a through train from London. This will be the the first public excursion to use the new crossing. See image [[26074]]

Cromer Branch (Eastern and Midlands Railway)
Peter Boggis 2010


Euston: Virgin Trains is currently using a Freightliner Class 90, no 90045, to power its loco hauled set (previously a DBS class 90). The loco is seen here at Euston on 14 January at the head of the 10.43 service to Birmingham New Street.

London and Birmingham Railway
Michael Gibb 2011


Kirkham and Wesham: A Class 156/142 double act heads west from the station stop at Kirkham and Wesham en-route to Blackpool North on 14 January 2012. The train is about to cross Kirkham North Jct where the line to Blackpool South diverges and, once upon a time, the direct line to Blackpool Central.

Preston and Wyre Railway, Dock and Harbour
John McIntyre 2012


Northallerton East Junction: Low Gates signalbox, Northallerton. Looking towards the town centre in January 2012.

Leeds and Thirsk Railway
David Pesterfield 2012


Northallerton: The late running 15.50 ex Middlesbrough TransPennine Express service to Manchester Airport rushes past Low Gates signalbox on 14 January as it approaches Northallerton Station.

Leeds Northern Railway
David Pesterfield 2012


Haymarket: The 10.00 Kings Cross - Aberdeen East Coast service departs Haymarket on 14 January. Above right is the 'hole in the wall' where the old footbridge exited the booking hall.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Bill Roberton 2013


Hounslow Central: The rising sun reflects off the leading car as a Heathrow-bound Piccadilly line service is seen at Hounslow Central through a hotel corridor window on 14 January.

Hounslow and Metropolitan Railway
Ken Strachan 2014


Morecambe: A more unusual combination on the Heysham flask train draws to a halt at Morecambe prior to reversing onto the branch. ETH fitted 37402 leads a single flask wagon with 57008 bringing up the rear.

North Western Railway
Mark Bartlett 2014


Haymarket [Tram]: Interchange between buses, trains and (in May) trams at Haymarket. View towards Princes Street on 14 January 2014.

Edinburgh Trams
Bill Roberton 2014


Haymarket: View west over Haymarket Station on 14 January 2014, with the old footbridge now removed.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Bill Roberton 2014


Gourock: A view of the brand-new 385102 parked at Gourock while stationed there for night-time testing in January 2017

Gourock Extension Railway (Caledonian Railway)
Jeffray Wotherspoon 2017


Newington [NBR]: A poster from the unofficial Newington ScotRail Poster Museum.

Edinburgh, Suburban and Southside Junction Railway
Ewan Crawford Collection 2017


Methil: Demolition of an adjacent building has opened up a view of the facade of Methil Station.

Leven Extension Railway (Wemyss and Buckhaven Railway)
Bill Roberton 2017


Auchtermuchty: Auchtermuchty station building, incorporated into a larger 'Sterling' Depot building.

Fife and Kinross Railway
John Yellowlees 2017


Kirkland Yard: Andrew Barclay 1890 of 1926 (ex-[[Granton Gasworks]], Edinburgh) inside the shed at the Kingdom of Fife Railway Preservation Society's Kirkland Yard site. It was restored to working order in 2016. 14 January. Thanks to Peter Westwater and the gang.

Kirkland Yard and Leven Dock to Methil Line Widening (North British Railway)
Bill Roberton 2017


Kirkland Yard: Ruston Hornsby 88DS 421415 of 1958 shunts former RAF Leuchars NBL 27421 of 1955 'River Eden' at Kirkland Yard, the KFRPS site.

Kirkland Yard and Leven Dock to Methil Line Widening (North British Railway)
Bill Roberton 2017


Kirkland Yard: Ruston Hornsby no.4 (ex-[[North British Distillery]], Edinburgh) shunts a 'shark' brake van at Kirkland Yard, the KFRPS site. All 14 January. Thanks to Peter Westwater and the gang.

Kirkland Yard and Leven Dock to Methil Line Widening (North British Railway)
Bill Roberton 2017


Newington [NBR]: This set of posters at Newington on the Edinburgh South Suburban are at least ten years old but Scotrail show no inclination to remove/update them. They include a Caledonian Sleeper poster offering bargain berths from £19 - I wish!

Edinburgh, Suburban and Southside Junction Railway
Ewan Crawford Collection 2017


Torside Reservoir: Here is the formation of the narrow gauge railway used to construct and maintain the Torside reservoir. View looking west. The Pennine way crosses at this point.

Longdendale Valley Waterworks (Manchester Corporation)
Alan Cormack 2018


Torside Reservoir: Here is the formation of the narrow gauge railway used to construct and maintain the Torside reservoir. The view looks east. The Pennine way crosses at this point.

Longdendale Valley Waterworks (Manchester Corporation)
Alan Cormack 2018


Croston: A new structure appeared on the disused former northbound platform during the second half of 2017, a greenhouse. Donated by a village resident to the Friends of Croston Station volunteers who maintain the flowerbeds and vegetable patch. Trains on the Ormskirk line will move from a ninety minute interval to an hourly service from May 2018.

Liverpool, Ormskirk and Preston Railway (East Lancashire Railway)
John McIntyre 2018


Balgonie Colliery Julian Pit: Looking west as a class 170 passes over the former branch line to Balgonie Colliery (Julian Pit), behind the camera, on 14th January 2020. The pit was located between the main line to Dundee and the Leven branch but was served by a line from Thornton Junction, to the south.

Balgonie Colliery Railway
Bill Roberton 2020


Earlseat Loading Pad: Looking east towards the former Earlseat Loading Pad which adjoined the Methil branch. The loop and points have been removed and the branch plain-lined, with the coal stocking area and loading area returned to agriculture. See image [[40284]] for the scene in 2012.

Leven Railway
Bill Roberton 2020


Gilderdale: During a few days based in Alston I ran along the South Tyne Trail, which shares the trackbed of the South Tynedale Railway. No trains were in service although there was some activity at the engine shed in Alston. This is the viaduct over the Gilderdale burn, which is also the border between Cumberland and Northumberland and has an attractive sign fixed to the railing.

Alston Branch (Newcastle and Carlisle Railway)
Alan Cormack 2022


Barton and Broughton: 87002, on a test run from Crewe to Carlisle on 14th January 2022, during a scheduled stop in the Barton and Broughton Down Loop. LSL crew members disembarked and examined the rake of MkIII 1st Class coaches and DVT during the stop. Various railtours with this loco and stock are advertised for 2022, including the 'Electric Scot' to Glasgow on 26th January and 'The Clansman' to Inverness on 26th/27th February. 195119 passes the scene with a Barrow to Manchester Airport service.

Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2022


Leyland: Inter City liveried 87002 leads the 5Z50 Crewe to Carlisle test run on 14 January 2022 with matching Mk 3 set and DVT. This was the second day of testing the set in preparation for 'The Electric Scot' railtour to Glasgow on 26 January 2022. The train is seen passing Leyland with slightly better lighting conditions than the day before.

North Union Railway
John McIntyre 2022


Old Street [CSLR]: View from pedestrian subway leading from the ex-GNCR platforms at Old Street station towards the Northern Line with the northbound platform visible in the background on 14th January 2022. These platforms opened as part of the City & South London Railway in 1901 with the extension from Moorgate Street (renamed Moorgate in 1924) to Angel. The GNCR platforms were opened in 1904.

City and South London Railway
David Bosher 2022


Crouch Hill: After standing derelict and boarded-up for more years than I care to remember, despite being still open to passengers, the former ticket office at Crouch Hill station (see image [[73301]]) on the London Overground GOBLIN section from Gospel Oak to Barking, has had a makeover and been transformed into a very nice coffee bar, as seen here on the afternoon of Friday, 14th January 2022.

Tottenham and Hampstead Junction Railway
David Bosher 2022


Borough: Temporary Northern Line closure. Southbound platform at Borough, Northern Line Bank branch, looking south on 14th January 2022. This station, and the Bank branch between Moorgate and Kennington, was temporarily closed the following day until May 2022 to allow extensive reconstruction work at Bank station. That should be ample time to give Borough, that opened with the first section of the City & South London Railway from King William Street (replaced by Bank in 1900) and Stockwell on 18th December 1890, some much needed cosmetic surgery too.

City and South London Railway
David Bosher 2022


Brock Water Troughs: 87002 'Royal Sovereign', on its second loaded test run to Carlisle in January 2022, heading north at Brock. Lineside trees prevented photos looking south from Badger Bridge for a long time but Network Rail has cleared the trackside opening things up. See image [[24032]] taken from this spot around sixty years earlier.

Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2022


Barton and Broughton: LSL Driving Van Trailer 82139, paused in Barton Down Loop during a test run from Crewe to Carlisle with the LSL 1st Class MkIIIs and 87002. One of the issues being tested during this run on 14th January (and the previous day) was the DVT operation when being propelled on the return legs. I had not previously noticed the subtle livery on the DVT to match the coaching stock.

Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2022


Elephant and Castle: LU 1972 stock, now the oldest trains on the Underground having finally achieved their 50 years of service, waiting to depart for Queen's Park from the Bakerloo Line's southern terminus at Elephant & Castle, on 14th January 2022. The Northern Line platforms at this station closed on the following day along with the section from Moorgate to Kennington, to allow for a massive rebuilding of Bank station, and which will not reopen until May 2022.

Baker Street and Waterloo Railway
David Bosher 2022


Lambeth North: LU 1972 stock, now 50 years old and the oldest trains on the London Underground, heading away from its penultimate stop at Lambeth North with a Bakerloo Line service to Elephant & Castle, on 14th January 2022. This station could also do with some refurbishment. It opened as Kennington Road on 10th March 1906, the temporary terminus of the Baker Street & Waterloo Railway. It was renamed Westminster Bridge Road on 5th August that year when the line was extended to Elephant & Castle and became Lambeth North on 15th April 1917.

Baker Street and Waterloo Railway
David Bosher 2022


West Hampstead: 66606 passing West Hampstead London Overground station towards Willesden Junction, on the afternoon of Friday, 14th January 2022. This line opened as the Hampstead Junction Railway in 1860 but this station did not open until 1888 as West End Lane. When part of the Broad Street to Richmond line, it was listed for closure by Beeching in 1963. Such was the outcry that the line was reprieved and in 1975 the station was renamed West Hampstead to bring it in line with the other two stations on the same thoroughfare. Rebuilding with a new entrance and the footbridge (with lifts), was completed in December 2019.

Hampstead Junction Railway (London and North Western Railway)
David Bosher 2022


Barton and Broughton: The last operational 87 in the UK, 87002 'Royal Sovereign', splendidly liveried in Inter-City Swallow colours and paused for stock inspection in Barton loop during a test run from Crewe to Carlisle on 14th January 2022. This was the second test run in two days, ahead of a railtour programme in 2022.

Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2022


Old Street [CSLR]: LU 1995 stock with a Northern Line service to Morden departing from Old Street on 14th January 2022. This was the last day, for five months, of through trains to Morden via the Bank branch with its temporary closure between Moorgate and Kennington for reconstruction of the platforms at Bank station.

City and South London Railway
David Bosher 2022


Barton and Broughton: 90019 and 90036 head through the site of Barton and Broughton station with containers from Mossend to Daventry on 14th January 2022. This location changed significantly with the demolition of the station in 2013. See image [[24852]] from 2009.

Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2022


Old Street [GNCR]: The atmospherically gloomy pedestrian subway, from the foot of the steps leading down from the ex-Great Northern & City Railway platforms at Old Street station, on 14th January 2022. Passengers interchanging with the LU Northern Line carry on going down but those who wish to head for the street find that, after descending a considerable distance, they then have to go back up again to the exit but at least at that point there is an escalator.

Great Northern and City Railway
David Bosher 2022


Events


Events from the chronology which occured on this day. This generally lists events before 1995, the creation of the website.

YearCompaniesDescription
1850Weardale Iron and Coal CompanyCharles Attwood gains lease of all ironstone and mineral fields at Wolsingham.
1850Fleetwood, Preston and West Riding Junction RailwayPartly opened.
1897North Eastern Railway North British RailwayNorth Eastern Railway locomotives cease to run through through over the North British Railway to Edinburgh Waverley.
1909Leven RailwayLine doubling begins.
1929South Queensferry Branch (Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway)1st_>South Queensferry 1st to Dalmeny Junction closed to passengers.
1944Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and HarboursFishguard Harbour to Waterford steamer service withdrawn. (See also Ireland_>Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Ireland .)
1985Midland Great Western RailwayMGWR_>Athlone MGWR closed with the re-opening of Athlone (Great Southern and Western Railway).
2004Scottish Central Railway158717 derails alongside the signal box at Dunblane during an empty stock move.
2008Glasgow and Paisley Joint RailwayOverrunning Glasgow Central re-signalling work at Shields Junction No 1 is completed.

News


These are old news items which which occured on this day. This generally lists events after 1995, the creation of the website.

YearCompaniesDescription
2002Strategic Rail Authority^s 10 year planThe Strategic Rail Authority has set out its priorities in Scotland for the next ten years.

Edinburgh Waverley is to be re-built with further through platforms at a cost of £400 million. This work will involve connecting the bay platforms 8&9 and 12&13, raising the glass roof and providing another platform to the south of the station. The work is required as the station will reach capacity in the next year.

Stirling to Alloa is to be re-opened to passengers within 5 years. It is also hoped that Stirling to Kincardine will also re-open to freight.

Hamilton to Larkhall is to be re-opened and a Milngavie to Larkhall service to be introduced within 5 years. This may also include the re-opening of the Anniesland to Maryhill curve.

Platforms will be extended on the Fife Circle which will allow longer trains to run, increasing passenger capacity.

Platforms will also be extended on the Glasgow to Ayr line.

Platforms will be extended on the East Kilbride Branch.

Platforms will be extended on the Bathgate Branch.

TPWS will be fully implemented by 2003.

Increased capacity will be provided between Glasgow and Paisley. This could be re-signalling or re-quadrupling the line.

Increased capacity will be provided between Glasgow and Kilmarnock. This will probably be through adding a new dynamic loop on the single track section between Barrhead and Kilmarnock which is currently only broken at Lugton.

140 stations are to be modernised.

Construction of new interchange stations or re-building of existing stations will include Gourock, Markinch and Partick.

Refurbishment for 318s and reliability improvements to 170s.

Extension of Sunday services on the Shotts and East Kilbride Lines.

A new national test track to be established.

As a result of various schemes 6 new stations will open; Alloa, Newcraighall, Brunstane, Gartcosh, Larkhall and Beauly.

Longer term plans include East Coast Main Line upgrading (to complete by 2010) and lines to Glasgow Airport and Edinburgh Airport.

There is an element of uncertainty as the ScotRail franchise is due for renewal and the future of Railtrack is not clear at this stage. The West Coast Main Line enhancements to allow 140mph running may not go ahead.
2002Cronberry Branch to re-open?Scottish Coal is expected to receive a freight facilities grant of £9.75m to re-build seven miles of the railway between Auchinleck and Cronberry (part of the former line to Muirkirk.) The line is to be re-opened in connection with the opencast mine at Cronberry and will replace an estimated 37m lorry loads over 11 years. Scottish Coal will find the extra £4m to complete the project which will provide coal for the rail served Longannet power station.

The track and trackbed are expected to cost $4m, additional structures £3.8m and the loading terminal at Cronberry £2m. Railtrack is not the preferred bidder for building the at this stage as it has a track record of having problems sourcing signalling.
2003Former Gretna station for SaleThe Former railway station at Gretna Junction is for sale. It is now called ^BARNSFORDE^.

It^s a large sandstone built station house approximately 100 yards on the English side of the Border.

Price: £110,000 Region

Graham Teasdale
Tel: 01461 338709 or (M) 07816669876
2004RPC meeting in FalkirkThe RPC meeting was held in Falkirk.
2006Scots fans want trains on track for rugby game [Scotsman]RUGBY fans today urged the game^s governing body, the SRU, to get together with railway counterparts to avoid scheduled disruptions on the main Edinburgh to Glasgow line just hours before France are due at Murrayfield next month.
2008Investigation continues over delays [Network Rail Article]
2008Shields Junction engineering works completed [Network Rail Article]
2010Doubts raised over train brakes [BBC News Article]Brakes on a train that derailed had not performed as well as they should have, an accident investigation finds.
2010You call this Normal [Bloomington Pantagraph]NORMAL -- The Normal Amtrak station had to temporarily close Thursday because of water damage from frozen pipes [Just for a change - Ed]
2011Main works begin on £170m upgrade of vital rail corridor [Network Rail]The Paisley Corridor Improvements (PCI) project will upgrade the track and signalling on the busy rail corridor between Shields junction in Glasgow and Paisley Gilmour St station.
2011Major maintenance and enhancement works for Dundee - Aberdeen [Network Rail]Network Rail is to undertake extensive track renewal and civil engineering works on the line between Dundee and Aberdeen over the next three weekends.
2011SNP urged not to cut Scottish rail freight fund [Scotsman]The Scottish Government is facing calls to maintain a £7 million grant aimed at supporting rail freight.
2011Kings Cross Renaissance on show [Network Rail]In just over a year, Network Rail’s dramatic new western concourse opens at King’s Cross station, marking a significant milestone in the area’s ongoing renaissance.
2012Aerial Photographs Of London’s Railway Stations [Londonist]Some aerial photographs, courtesy of Network Rail, showing the progress on the stations being upgraded for the Thameslink programme: Farringdon, Blackfriars and London Bridge.
2013Egypt train crash kills army recruits [Guardian]At least 19 people have died and more than 100 injured in a train derailment south of Cairo, according to officials. The official Mena news agency quoted health ministry officials who said 107 wounded were being treated in hospitals near the site of the accident in Giza^s Badrasheen neighbourhood over Monday night. They said the number of dead was expected to rise.
2014Storm-hit Carlisle to Barrow coastal rail line reopens [BBC News]A coastal rail line in Cumbria has reopened after its track was destroyed by heavy rain and storms. High tides and strong winds damaged sea defences and the track between Carlisle and Barrow two weeks ago. A bus replacement service has been in operation, but the line has now fully reopened and the track has been replaced, Network Rail confirmed. [From Mark Bartlett]
2015Beverley to get direct trains to London, with new First Hull Trains service [Hull Daily Mail]THE first direct rail service linking Beverley to London is set to be launched later this year. At present, passengers heading to the town have to change at Hull. But after a successful trial run yesterday, operator First Hull Trains has decided to offer a direct route. The aim is to speed up travel times for commuters and weekend visitors alike. [From Richard Buckby]
2016SNP ditches plan for Glasgow-Edinburgh high speed bullet train [Herald]AMBITIOUS plans to build a bullet train between Scotland^s two biggest cities have been dropped. The proposal for a high speed link between Glasgow and Edinburgh was announced by Nicola Sturgeon when she was infrastructure minister in 2012. But the scheme, which she claimed would cut journey times to less than 30 minutes, has been quietly abandoned. In a written parliamentary answer, transport minister Derek Mackay said it was ^not possible^ to progress the scheme until details of the proposed cross-border leg of HS2, high speed link from London to the north of England had been finalised.
2017Steam to run timetabled Northern trains on S&C [Rail]Steam trains formed of Mk 2 carriages will replace DMUs on timetabled trains over the Settle & Carlisle (S&C) route next month. A1 ‘Pacific’ 60163 Tornado, completed in 2008, will haul the Northern trains over the S&C between Skipton and Appleby on three consecutive days. The first timetabled ordinary main line passenger steam trains to run in England for 50 years are the result of a pioneering modern and heritage industry alliance, formed to help revive the economic fortunes of the beleaguered S&C as well as the towns and villages that it serves. The railway, opened in 1875, was severed by a major landslip last February and has been in limbo ever since. This alliance comprises Northern, Network Rail, DB Cargo, the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and Friends of the S&C, together with RAIL and Steam Railway from the Bauer Media magazine portfolio, who came up with the proposal two years ago. The historic community trains are being promoted under the banner ‘I LOVE S&C’.
2018Metro Central transport hub plans for Cardiff unveiled [BBC News]Plans for a £180m Metro Central transport hub around Cardiff Central station have been unveiled. The existing station would be revamped and expanded to cope with the millions of new rail passengers projected over the next 25 years. The project would also involve new Metro and coach stations, in addition to the new bus station already planned. It would need Welsh and UK government funding, as well as the private sector to add to £40m from the city deal.
201930 minutes at Glasgow Central... [ScotRail YouTube]A timelapse video of 30 minutes worth or departures and arrivals at Glasgow Central (high level).
2019Edinburgh Waverley station staff to go on strike [Scotsman]Railway staff at Edinburgh Waverley are going on strike after accusing a contractor of breaking promises about improving their “lousy” accommodation.
2019Here are the north-east trains ScotRail have cancelled or changed today [Evening Express]More ScotRail services have been cancelled today due to a shortage of crew.
2019Manchester city centre bridges to be restored to Victorian splendour [Network Rail]A project to refurbish three historic railway bridges over streets in Manchester city centre will begin this week.
2020Ferguson shipyard bosses blamed for ferries fiasco [BBC News]The head of the government agency which ordered the vessels rejects calls for the unfinished ferries to be scrapped.
2020The Godfather of trains: the Trans-Mongolian from Moscow to Beijing [Guardian]For the author of Around the World in 80 Trains this was a standout journey, full of captivating encounters that could only happen on a train.
2020Moo-ve out the way: ^Absolute unit^ cow causes rush-hour rail delays [ITV News]The animal was spotted on the line at Pollokshaws West, near Pollok Country Park, in Glasgow on Tuesday morning.
2020ScotRail ^window-shopping^ for trains [Dunfermline Press]ScotRail says it is ^window-shopping^ after putting out a tender for the supply of four daily train services between Fife and Edinburgh.
2020Least used railway station gets visitor boost [BBC News]Denton in Tameside and Stanlow and Thornton in Cheshire inherited the title from Redcar British Steel.
2020Caledonian Sleeper faults will take another two months to fix [Scotsman]Remaining faults on the troubled new Caledonian Sleeper fleet will take another two months to fix, transport secretary Michael Matheson told MSPs today.
2020Michael Matheson tackled over Caledonian Sleeper complaints [Press and Journal]Transport Secretary Michael Matheson yesterday declined to apologise for problems blighting the Caledonian Sleeper when challenged at Holyrood.
2020Waterloo retains top spot as Britains busiest station [ORR]Figures published today by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) confirm that Waterloo Station remains in top spot for the total number of passenger entries and exits with an incredible 94.2 million in a year. At the other end of the scale, there were three stations with fewer than 100 entries and exits. The least used stations were Denton and Stanlow & Thornton with each only having an estimated 46 entries and exits during the entire year while Reddish South had 60.