This day in history 21 February

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Killin [2nd]: Report by Directors of the Killin Railway on the 1918 financial year for the AGM on 1st March 1919.

Killin Railway
Ian Dinmore 1919


Larbert: Ex-Caledonian 4-4-0 54503 with a train at Larbert on 21 February 1953.

Scottish Central Railway
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 1953


Larbert: A Stirling-Edinburgh Princes Street train arrives at Larbert on 21 February 1953. The locomotive is Pickersgill ex-Caledonian 4-4-0 no 54503.

Scottish Central Railway
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 1953


Upperby Junction: Black 5 45437 makes a brisk getaway from Carlisle in February 1966, with a short milk train for the south. Milk traffic was of course eventually lost from the railway but, looking back, it nevertheless feels like a rather more racy way of bringing dairy supplies to the big city than the modern-day road tankers that clutter the M6.

Lancaster and Carlisle Railway
Robin McGregor 1966


Carlisle Kingmoor Shed: Britannia Pacific 70023 'Venus' preferred anonymity when photographed at Carlisle Kingmoor in 1966, having neither nameplates nor smokebox numberplate. The shed pilot 'Jinty' alongside was 47641 and, as usual at Kingmoor, 'shed pet' Ivatt 4MT 2-6-0 43139 sneaked into the picture.

Caledonian Railway
Robin McGregor 1966


Carlisle Kingmoor MPD: Shed pilot 47641, an ex-LMS 'Jinty' 0-6-0T, at Carlisle Kingmoor in February 1966. At the shed door is Clan Pacific 72008 'Clan Macleod'.

Caledonian Railway
Robin McGregor 1966


Carlisle Kingmoor Shed: Portrait of one of Carlisle Kingmoor's 3F 0-6-0T Jinty shed pilots, number 47641, on shed at Kingmoor in February 1966. It was withdrawn from service at the end of December that year.

Caledonian Railway
Robin McGregor 1966


Carlisle Upperby Shed: Britannia 7MT 4-6-2 70011 'Hotspur', nicely turned out at Carlisle Upperby, ready to make a good impression at the head of a late afternoon football special to Preston. Two specials were run on 21st February 1966 to take local supporters to an evening cup tie between Carlisle United and Preston North End.

Lancaster and Carlisle Railway
Robin McGregor 1966


Carlisle Kingmoor Shed: Clan Pacific 72006 'Clan Mackenzie' on the turntable at Carlisle Kingmoor in 1966.

Caledonian Railway
Robin McGregor 1966


Galashiels [1st]: A Clayton with the Hawick trip freight passing through Galashiels station in February 1969. See image [[55433]]

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 1969


Hassendean: Clayton D8578 at Hassendean on 21 February 1969 with a northbound freight - thought to be the daily E 10 freight with redundant track added.

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 1969


Galashiels [1st]: The Hawick trip freight at Galashiels, thought to be 21 February 1969.

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 1969


Berwick-upon-Tweed: Deltic D9020 Nimbus approaches Berwick station with the up Flying Scotsman on Saturday 21 February 1970. Taken from the short platform just north of the overbridge.

North British Railway
Bill Jamieson 1970


Berwick-upon-Tweed: A pair of class 40s headed by no 270 comes off the Royal  Border  Bridge and into the down goods loop at Berwick on Tweed on 21 February 1970.

North British Railway
Bill Jamieson 1970


Berwick-upon-Tweed: Brush Type 4 no 1108 opens up as it approaches Berwick on Tweed station off the Royal Border Bridge with the 08.40 Leeds - Edinburgh in February 1970. This service bypassed Berwick but stopped at Dunbar.

North British Railway
Bill Jamieson 1970


Berwick-upon-Tweed: EE Type 4 no 256 stands at Berwick on Saturday 21 February 1970 with what is thought to be an excursion train.

North British Railway
Bill Jamieson 1970


Berwick-upon-Tweed: EE Type 4 no D285 runs off the Royal Border Bridge with a fitted freight, thought to be the 6S68 01.40 Whitemoor - Millerhill, on Saturday 21 February 1970.

North British Railway
Bill Jamieson 1970


Moffat Mills Junction: The Moffat Mills branch, east of Airdrie, survived to carry grain traffic to Inverhouse Distillery until the mid 1980s. View is east over the junction from the road bridge in February 1988, looking along the remains of the Airdrie - Bathgate line between Clarkston (Lanarks) and Plains with the trackbed of the Moffat Mills branch running off to the right. See image [[25408]]

New Monkland Line (Monkland Railways)
Bill Roberton 1988


Moffat Mills Junction: The truncated branch that once served Inverhouse distillery, seen looking back to Moffat Mills Junction on 21 February 1988. Running off to the right is the remains of the Airdrie - Bathgate line, which terminates just out of the picture. See image [[24624]]

New Monkland Line (Monkland Railways)
Bill Roberton 1988


Hawkeridge Junction: 37131 approaching Westbury station, on the Bath line, heading for Weymouth hauling a coal train from South Wales on 21 February 1990.

Wiltshire, Somerset and Weymouth Railway
Peter Todd 1990


Fairwood Junction: 33102 passing Fairwood Junction, Westbury, in February 1990 with a stone train from the Somerset quarries. The train is heading into the Westbury marshalling yards.

Frome Branch (Great Western Railway)
Peter Todd 1990


Heywood Road Junction: 37131 running into Westbury through Heywood Road Junction from the Bath direction in February 1990 with a loaded coal train.

Great Western Railway
Peter Todd 1990


Haymarket: A class 156 calls at Haymarket with a Glasgow Central stopper in February 1999. These were then only trains to be seen in SPT livery around these parts. Things at platform level have changed a fair bit since those days, though not quite so much as they have at street level.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
David Panton 1999


Niddrie West Junction: Westbound coal empties coming off the line from Millerhill yard at Niddrie West Junction on 21 February 2003 behind an unidentified EWS class 66 locomotive.

Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
John Furnevel 2003


Bridge End: Goliath cranes Samson and Goliath at the main Harland and Wolff shipyard. Near Bridge End station on the Bangor line.

Harland and Wolff
Ewan Crawford 2005


Edinburgh Waverley: View north across Market Street showing the dark and unwelcoming south entrance to Waverley station in February 2006. The building in the left background beyond the North Bridge is the former GPO headquarters on Waterloo Place, whose central sorting office was once linked directly with the station at a lower level via an overhead mailbag conveyor system (see image [[73684]]).

North British Railway
John Furnevel 2006


Stirling North Junction: The signal box at Stirling North, photographed in February 2006 looking west across the running lines.

Scottish Central Railway
John Furnevel 2006


Plates, signs, notices etc: An advertisement for The Caledonian Railway. Extract from Blacks Guide to The Trossachs, Loch Katrine and Loch Lomond for the year 1906.

Caledonian Railway
Alistair MacKenzie 2006


Wallyford: Northbound coal empties through Wallyford in February 2007.

North British Railway
John Furnevel 2007


Prestonpans: A low winter sun casts long shadows at Prestonpans in February 2007 as a GNER service speeds through on its way to Kings Cross.

North British Railway
John Furnevel 2007


Burntisland: Silverlink 158782 on hire to First ScotRail calls at Burntisland on 21 Feb with the 14.12 Edinburgh - Markinch.

Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Bill Roberton 2007


Woodacre Crossing: Virgin class 220 Voyager southbound at Woodacre, Lancs on 21 February 2007.

Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway
John McIntyre 2007


Kelvin Bridge: Looking to Kelvin Bridge from the west. This short section of open-air track is where the alignment of the line changes from north-south to run westwards under Great Western Road.

Glasgow Central Railway
Ewan Crawford 2007


Craiginches Yard: A container train being unloaded at the new facilities on the south side of Craiginches yard, Aberdeen on 21 February 2008. These replace the former container handling facilities at Guild Street, with other Guild Street traffic switching to Raiths Farm. On the north side of the main line is the Blue Circle cement terminal

Aberdeen Railway
Alan Cormack 2008


Standish: A Virgin Voyager set heads north on the WCML between the former stations at Standish and Coppull on 21 February 2009. Work is in progress thinning out the trees on the embankments which have taken hold over the past years. The work on the west side of the line is made much easier by the ability to access the site along the trackbed of the former slow lines.

North Union Railway
John McIntyre 2009


Standish: Framed by the overhead line equipment 156488 heads north from Standish with a service to Blackpool North on 21 February 2009.

North Union Railway
John McIntyre 2009


Standish: The overbridge that once carried the former WCML slow lines over the B5239 at Standish, with evidence of contact with a vehicle or vehicles. Photographed on 21 February 2009.

North Union Railway
John McIntyre 2009


Standish: Two bridges on a former 4-track section of the WCML over the B5239 at Standish, with the bricked up arch between once giving access to Standish station (closed 1949). What might appear at first glance to be graffiti plugging a new rock band has been put there to identify the bridge carrying rail traffic for reporting purposes in the event of a bridge strike. The other, out of use, bridge has some severe indentations, suggesting that the road vehicles involved may have needed major surgery! See image [[22604]]

North Union Railway
John McIntyre 2009


Grange-over-Sands: A small foot crossing just west of the station is one of the access points to Grange promenade. 156454, heading for Carlisle via the coast in February 2009, passes the former crossing keeper's cottage, now in private ownership.

Ulverston and Lancaster Railway
Mark Bartlett 2009


Yoker Depot: First ScotRail Fire & Emergency Evacuation Training coaches nos 10256 & 10260 stand on a plinth at Yoker depot on 21 February 2010. see image [[27811]]. [With thanks to First ScotRail].

Glasgow, Yoker and Clydebank Railway
Veronica Clibbery 2010


Yoker Depot: Mark III coaches 10256 & 10260 photographed at Yoker depot on 21 February 2010. The coaches stand isolated on a short length of rail mounted on a plinth and are used for training purposes. The coaches carry Virgin livery on one side and First ScotRail livery on the other see image [[27810]]. [With thanks to First ScotRail].

Glasgow, Yoker and Clydebank Railway
Veronica Clibbery 2010


Glasgow Museum of Transport: The Glasgow Subway as many of a certain age will remember it - although this was taken in Kelvin Hall Museum in 2010.

Glasgow City Council
Colin Miller 2010


Saughton [Tram]: Looking west along the former guided busway at Saughton on 21 February 2010, with track laying for the new tram system well underway.

Edinburgh Trams
Bill Roberton 2010


Saughton: 170402 on an Edinburgh-Glasgow Queen Street service on 21 February passes the abutments of the tramway bridge currently being built across the tracks at Saughton.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Bill Roberton 2010


Barnstaple: Having arrived with the 13.10 from Exmouth see image [[27927]], 143603 waits at Barnstaple to return there on Sunday 21st February 2010.

North Devon Railway and Dock
Michael Gibb 2010


Partick: The airport - like entrance to the new Partick station, seen on 21 February 2010 See image [[23501]]

Stobcross Railway
Colin Miller 2010


Merkland Street: The way it used to be - Glasgow District Subway - Merkland Street Station (the mock-up in the former Transport Museum). See image [[30665]]

Glasgow District Subway
Colin Miller 2010


Merkland Street: The 'fuhrerstand' in the old Glasgow Subway driving coach, photographed at Merkland Street (the transport museum version). The driver used to collect the tickets as this was the exit from the train. Little thin pieces of paper - 6d and 8d depending on the number of stations - about 1964, as I recall.

Glasgow District Subway
Colin Miller 2010


Exmouth: Pacer number 143603 waits departure from Exmouth with the 13.10 service to Barnstaple on Sunday 21st February 2010.

Exeter and Exmouth Railway
Michael Gibb 2010


Wolfclyde Viaduct: The remains of Wolfclyde Viaduct, photographed looking south west across the river in February 2011, with the former Coulter station just off picture to the left. The line across the viaduct was closed to all rail traffic in 1966 following the withdrawal of the remaining freight service between Broughton and Symington.

Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway
John Furnevel 2011


Lostock Hall Gas Works: On the west side of the former East Lancashire line between Preston Junction see image [[32975]] and Preston station were sidings serving the Lostock Hall Gas Works. The entrance to the sidings can be seen on the left of this photograph taken on 21 Februay 2011 where the track leads into the trees. On the right where the tarmaced path now runs was the line to Whitehouse South Junction and Preston station. Many clues to the former railway use an still be found including the base of a signal post, posts and pulleys for signal wires, posts to support multicore cables and even a lamp post. The former railway route has been converted into a bridleway and cycle path along almost the entire route.

Blackburn and Preston Railway
John McIntyre 2011


Chirk Viaduct: Viaducts in the morning mist. This view looks west to the Chirk Viaduct and beyond it the Chirk Aquaduct.

Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Chester Junction Railway
Ewan Crawford 2011


Straiton Sidings: View north along the trackbed of the Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway in February 2011 between Loanhead and Gilmerton. The substantial modern bridge spanning the abandoned route carries Edinburgh's A720 City Bypass and was brought into use with the new road in late 1988. Final closure of the railway route, latterly serving Bilston Glen Colliery, occurred 6 months later, following closure of the colliery itself. See image [[32922]]

Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway
John Furnevel 2011


Chirk: A northbound service approaches Chirk station in February 2011. The southern ends of the platforms are out of use. To the right was the former Glyn Valley Tramway's 1885 extension to Chirk and below (and to the right) is the Shropshire Union Canal's Llangollen Branch running through the Chirk Tunnel (the 'Darkie' Tunnel).

Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Chester Junction Railway
Ewan Crawford 2011


Straiton Sidings: View south along the Glencorse branch on 21 February with the bridge carrying the Edinburgh City Bypass behind the camera see image [[32891]]. On the left the 'main line' continued south past what is now Edgefield industrial estate towards Loanhead station and the site of the former Ramsay and later Bilston Glen Collieries. A mineral line on the right ran past Straiton Sidings (now a nature reserve) and on to provide links to the once thriving shale and limestone operations in the area, including oil works at Pentland and Straiton (the latter now a large retail park) and lime works at Burdiehouse.

Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway
John Furnevel 2011


Mossband Junction: Northbound 4S44 Daventry-Coatbridge heading north from the Esk Viaduct towards Mossband Junction. Above is the M74.

Caledonian Railway
Ewan Crawford 2011


Straiton Sidings: The trackbed of the mineral line running south from Straiton Sidings on the Glencorse branch see image [[32922]] now ends at the site of the level crossing over the B702 that once gave access to Straiton Oil Works. The oil works site is today occupied by a large retail park - which includes the inevitable McDonalds. View south on 21 February 2011.

Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway
John Furnevel 2011


Chirk Viaduct: Chirk Aquaduct (left) on the Llangollen branch of the Shropshire Union Canal was later paralleled by Chirk Viaduct (right) of the Shrewsbury Oswestry and Chester Junction Railway. The view looks south.

Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Chester Junction Railway
Ewan Crawford 2011


Straiton Sidings: View north over the site of the level crossing linking the mineral line that ran down from Straiton sidings (now a nature reserve) to access Straiton Oil Works (now a retail park) on 21 February 2011. (McDonalds stands immediately behind the camera.) see image [[32985]].

Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway
John Furnevel 2011


Preston Junction: Site of the 1852 Preston Junction station, renamed Todd Lane Junction in 1952 and eventually closed in October 1968. The view is north along the old East Lancs route towards Preston from where Todd Lane North road bridge once stood. To the left of the tarmac path was the island platform. Behind the camera was the junction itself, with lines going east towards Bamber Bridge and west towards Lostock Hall.

East Lancashire Railway
John McIntyre 2011


Blindwells Opencast Disposal Site: 380 101 passes Blindwells with the 11.27 from North Berwick to Edinburgh on 21 February.

North British Railway
Bill Roberton 2012


Gorebridge: Progress at Gorebridge on 21 February 2012. View north from Lady Brae road bridge towards Gorebridge Station with evidence of much tree clearance.

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Bill Roberton 2012


Gorebridge: View south from Station Road bridge along the trackbed of the Waverley Route on 21 February 2012. The foreground houses have been boarded up prior to demolition; just beyond is the former station house and Lady Brae road bridge. See image [[21520]]

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Bill Roberton 2012


Derby: This clock was one of the more attractive parts of the now-demolished second Derby station. Fortunately, they saw fit to relocate it to the far end of the car park. see image [[42250]]

North Midland Railway
Ken Strachan 2013


Spondon: View west at Spondon towards Derby on 21 February see image [[42222]] in an area full of history. The Derby-Nottingham canal survives as a path beyond the flats on the right; while the East entrance to Chaddesden yard was just beyond the road bridge (Raynesway) in the distance. The sidings on the left serve the Celanese works, which is under threat of 'lift and shift' to China. Finally, the grey gate on the left used to access a sizeable signalbox. The approaching DMU is heading for Nottingham.

Midland Railway
Ken Strachan 2013


Derby Friargate: There can't be many places in the UK where four platforms have survived closure by nearly 50 years, in a location a mere hundred yards from a busy commercial street. View looks North towards Ashbourne in February 2013.

Derbyshire Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Ken Strachan 2013


Derby Friargate: Turning left from the previous view of the Handyside bridge see image [[42175]], this underbridge allowed access to the Handyside foundry sidings [behind the photographer]. There were points to the left of the brick building seen through the arch; the chord to the GNR was approximately on the line of the second tarmac path seen on the left. The angle is deceptive - the path runs up the slope at about a 45 degree angle.

Derbyshire Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Ken Strachan 2013


Hassendean: Filming taking place at the former Hassendean station on 21 February. View is south from the footbridge. In the background is the road bridge from which a well-known Robin Barbour mystery photograph was taken many years earlier see image [[28700]].

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Bruce McCartney 2013


Derby Friargate: When they say it's a dangerous structure, they're not kidding. This loading alcove attached to the Bonded Goods Depot at Derby Friargate looks distinctly the worse for wear in February 2013.

Derbyshire Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Ken Strachan 2013


Derby Friargate: A well preserved station cheers the soul; Derby Friargate, however, is frankly depressing. The former station nameboard supports still stand on the centre platform, while the Bonded Goods Depot awaits refurbishment in the background see image [[42214]]. View south in February 2013.

Derbyshire Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Ken Strachan 2013


Melbourne Junction: View south at Melbourne Junction in February 2013, with the Voyager just over a mile short of Derby station. The tracks to the left used to run to Ashby-de-la-Zouch; and are still used to deliver jet fuel to the Rolls-Royce engine test beds. The vestigial passenger service to the Sinfin stations - which was met by RR security staff to let workers through the otherwise locked gates in the factory fences - finished about 20 years ago.

Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway
Ken Strachan 2013


Derby Friargate: This arched bridge over the River Derwent near Derby Friargate station see image [[42539]] was built only 200 yards downstream in the Handyside Foundry. View looks towards Nottingham, in a round about way.

Derbyshire Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Ken Strachan 2013


Hawick [1st]: No comment. Producer Esther Johnson and film crew at work on 21 February 2013 on the former goods platform alongside the site of Hawick station. The Teviotdale Leisure Centre now occupies the background. See image [[25301]]

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Bruce McCartney 2013


Derby Friargate: The two shallow arch viaducts built to carry four tracks of the GNR towards Nottingham are still elegant in 2013, but look a bit unfocussed; as they are covered in netting to stop bits of iron falling onto the street (Friargate) below. View looks north west away from the town centre towards Ashbourne.

Derbyshire Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Ken Strachan 2013


Derby Friargate: The Bonded Goods Depot at Derby Friargate was virtually derelict on my last visit in 1981; so for a brick building without much roof, and with extensive internal arson damage, it's doing well more than 30 years on. This is the East end of the building, which used to include an apartment for the depot manager. One way and another, you wouldn't want to live there now.

Derbyshire Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Ken Strachan 2013


Spondon: The Spondon station building (red brick) and station master's house (rendered, and complete with stopped clock) have both been converted to new uses in this view towards Nottingham in February 2013. The train is a Nottingham - Matlock service see image [[40786]].

Midland Railway
Ken Strachan 2013


Derby Friargate: Looking along the south wall of the old station towards the arched bridge over Friargate see image [[42203]]. This was a large station, with ample capacity for holiday makers to travel to Skegness. What is not clear from this angle is that behind the white rectangle on the upper wall, four arches' worth of platform collapsed in about 1980. This was well after the station closed; but quite alarming for the lady who had just put some teabags in the bins.

Derbyshire Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Ken Strachan 2013


Derby: If the strapping blokes who forged this coupling from red-hot iron had known it would end up being an ornament in a car park fence, they'd probably have been less than amused.

North Midland Railway
Ken Strachan 2013


Derby Friargate: Looking East across the Friargate viaduct see image [[42203]], it seems that all you would need to do to reopen this line is to put some rails down. But this is deceptive, as the arches beyond Friargate were demolished about 20 years ago (the white building in the background is on the trackbed).

Derbyshire Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Ken Strachan 2013


Cumbernauld: View from the platform at Cumbernauld on 21 February 2014 as a terminated service from Motherwell enters the refuge siding. Changed days.... with colour light signalling and electrification equipment now installed here see image [[10787]].

Caledonian Railway
Colin Harkins 2014


Cumbernauld: An updated Cumbernauld station on 21 February 2014, complete with new OLE equipment and a new footbridge. Note the extension to platform 1 to accommodate longer electric units. see image [[19133]]

Caledonian Railway
Colin Harkins 2014


Cumbernauld: Platform view north east at Cumbernauld on 21 February 2014, with the old footbridge now removed and overhead line equipment installed.

Caledonian Railway
Colin Harkins 2014


Ayr: The 10.30 ex Glasgow Central snakes across the layout at the north end of Ayr station from the down line into Platform 1.

Ayr and Dalmellington Railway
Colin Miller 2014


Grand Junction Canal Viaduct [Northampton]: This is the East chord from the Bedford and Peterborough lines to Northampton (formerly Castle) station. In this direction, the bridge crosses the Grand Union Canal, then the River Nene. Goods sidings to the right and left beyond the bridge have gone, as has the West chord. The trackbed from here to Brackmills see image [[34291]] has been bought by West Northamptonshire Development Corporation for £1.5m for conversion to a footpath and cycleway.

Bedford and Northampton Railway
Ken Strachan 2014


Northampton Bridge Street: The first Bridge Street loco shed was built in 1845, but blew down in 1852. The replacement was started in 1855 and extended in 1870. The building became a carriage shed in 1881 and is now used for storage by Network Rail. The Asda supermarket on the extreme left is on the far side of Bridge Street level crossing see image [[19770]].

London and Birmingham Railway
Ken Strachan 2014


Glasgow Queen Street High Level: EGIP consultation poster at Queen Street on 21 February 2014. [See recent news item]

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
John Yellowlees 2014


Cumbernauld: Carriage stop markers at platform 2, Cumbernauld. Overhead Line infrastructure in place. See Image [[24882]]

Caledonian Railway
Colin Harkins 2014


Alloway Junction: View towards Alloway Junction over the Maybole Road on 21 February 2015. The vegetation is cleared - and next probably the bulldozers will be in to remove the embankment. Apparently a new roundabout is being built at the junction of Maybole Road and the A77.

Maidens and Dunure Light Railway (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Colin Miller 2015


Blackpool (Wilton Parade): Blackpool Flexity 012 heads along the elevated north promenade at Blackpool. Below the promenade the collonades on the Middle Walk can be seen and also the more exposed Lower Walk.

Blackpool Tramroad and Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad
Mark Bartlett 2015


Blackpool (North Pier): High tide at Blackpool as Flexity 003 leaves North Pier heading for Starr Gate. 21st February 2015 saw the highest astronomical tides for around nineteen years but fine weather meant Blackpool promenade was unaffected and tram services ran normally.

Blackpool Tramroad and Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad
Mark Bartlett 2015


Pitsford and Brampton: With the society's class 31 having moved to Rushden, the resident main line diesel on the Northampton and Lamport Railway is now 47395 - and very smart it looks too. View south along the platform towards Northampton on 21 February 2015. See image [[3139]]

Northampton and Market Harborough Branch (London and North Western Railway)
Ken Strachan 2015


Blackpool (North Pier): Starr Gate bound Flexity 002 leaves the Blackpool coastline briefly to go behind the Metropole Hotel before calling at the North Pier tram stop. The long overhang at the front of the Bombardier trams is very noticeable in this side view. North Pier also had its own tramway, but only from 1991 to 2004 when it was unfortunately closed and then scrapped.

Blackpool Tramroad and Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad
Mark Bartlett 2015


Cardross: 73968 brings up the rear of the Polmadie to Oban run of the sleeper stock. This was en route to Oban as empty stock of the Oban-Euston service, diverted from Fort William due to permanent way works. Just no more visible above the locomotive is the new [[MV Lochinvar]] just launched at Ferguson's yard.

Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway
Ewan Crawford 2016


Brock: A weekend engineering train returning from Settle to Carlisle via the WCML, the second of two that day, passes through the site of long closed Brock station See image [[24407]] on Sunday 21st February 2016. Freightliner 66524 was in charge with 66544 bringing up the rear.

Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2016


Kilmarnock: DRS no 57307 drags Pendolino 390006 through Kilmarnock on a very wet and cold Sunday 21 February 2016

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Ken Browne 2016


Culross [2nd]: DBC 67028 on a Mossend - Townhill - Mossend route learning trip on 21 February. Passing Culross with the closed Longannet Power Station in the background.

Kincardine Line (North British Railway)
Bill Roberton 2017


Torryburn: DBC 67028 on a Mossend - Townhill - Mossend route learning trip on 21 February. Nearing Newmills with Torryburn in the background.

Kincardine Line (North British Railway)
Bill Roberton 2017


Carlisle: Colas 60087 passes through Carlisle with a very heavy Kingmoor - Chirk logs train that was routed over the Settle & Carlisle line. 21st February 2018.

Caledonian Railway
Bill Roberton 2018


Carlisle: Freightliner 90042 and 90047 pause for a crew change in Citadel station with a Daventry - Coatbridge intermodal service. 21st February 2018.

Caledonian Railway
Bill Roberton 2018


Hilgay: A London to Kings Lynn service approaches Hilgay LC in the late afternoon sunshine of 21 February 2018. There had been a station here until 1963 but no trace was found.

Lynn and Ely Railway
John McIntyre 2018


Outwell Village: There is very little to see of the former Wisbech and Upwell Tramway which finally closed in 1966. Beside the canal at Outwell where the tramway had a small yard, local historian and author Mr William Smith stands beside a monument he designed and had erected so that the tramway is not forgotten. The top of the monument is an old signpost which had been found buried after it had been taken down during WW2. The arms of the signpost have been adapted to include some facts about the tramway. The rest of the construction includes a trolley wheel, a piece of 80 lb/yd bullhead rail sat in a chair and attached to a short length of sleeper. The lower part of the post has been adorned with views of the tramway when it was working. Note the connection to Toby the Tram engine!

Wisbech and Upwell Tramway
John McIntyre 2018


Lanark: Display panels at Lanark station in February 2018.

Lanark Branch (Caledonian Railway)
John Yellowlees 2018


Downham Market: What surprised me most about the station at Downham Market was the fact that it seemed to be in a time warp from the late 80s or early 90s. The station signage has retained the Network South East branding over 20 years after privatisation. The view looks south towards Cambridge.

Lynn and Ely Railway
John McIntyre 2018


Downham Market: Looking north over the LC at Downham Market in February 2018 with the SB on the left and station buildings beyond. The main station is on the up platform on the right.

Lynn and Ely Railway
John McIntyre 2018


Denver [Norfolk]: The station at Denver closed in 1930 but the platform is still present and the station building is now in residential use. The view is north towards Downham Market on 21 November 2018. This was the start of a branch to Stoke Ferry but that also closed to passengers in 1930 but part of it survived for freight until the early 1980s.

Lynn and Ely Railway
John McIntyre 2018


Downham Market: Looking south through Downham Market station from Fairfield Rd crossing on 21st February 2018. With the station retaining the Network South East branding and paint scheme, the tall lines of platform lights do add some colour on a rather dull day.

Lynn and Ely Railway
John McIntyre 2018


Lanark: Two Class 320 EMUs at Lanark on 21st February 2018. On the right an original Scottish set and on the left one of the refurbished ex-London Midland sets.

Lanark Branch (Caledonian Railway)
John Yellowlees 2018


Carlisle: Very enjoyable and productive day out in Carlisle, including three class 37s in half an hour! Owned by the Scottish 37 Group, 37025 has been returned to mainline service and propels a Network Rail test train from Mossend to Derby south from Carlisle on 21st February 2018.

Caledonian Railway
Bill Roberton 2018


Bay Horse: 37424 Avro Vulcan XH558, propelling the Carlisle to Preston service at Bay Horse, meets the northbound Tesco, powered by electro-diesel 88007 Electra. 21st February 2018.

Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Carlisle: GBRf 92028 and 66720 approach Carlisle with the Wembley - Irvine china clay train on 21st February 2018. The 92 would be detatched at Kingmoor and return to the station for stabling.

Caledonian Railway
Bill Roberton 2018


Denver [Norfolk]: A service from Kings Lynn passes the former station at Denver in Norfolk on 21 February 2018 heading towards Cambridge.

East Anglian Railway
John McIntyre 2018


Carlisle: DRS 37218 opens up after a signal check, on its way from Kingmoor to Crewe, one of three Class 37s seen in the station in a 30 minute period on 21st February 2018.

Caledonian Railway
Bill Roberton 2018


Carlisle: DBS 66111 passes Platform 3 at Carlisle Citadel with a ballast from Kingmoor to Tyne Yard on 21st February 2018.

Caledonian Railway
Bill Roberton 2018


Denver [Norfolk]: A Class 387 EMU heads towards Cambridge having just crossed the LC at Denver on 21 February 2018.. The former station building is to the right.

Lynn and Ely Railway
John McIntyre 2018


Carlisle: DRS 37401 propels the 14.35 from Carlisle to Barrow-in-Furness out of Platform 1 on 21st February 2018.

Caledonian Railway
Bill Roberton 2018


Glasgow Queen Street Low Level: Another stage of the refurbishment of Glasgow Queen Street is announced on posters which appeared in mid February 2019 near the Low Level lifts and stairs.

Glasgow City and District Railway
Colin McDonald 2019


Easterhouse: An Edinburgh to Helensburgh service calls at Easterhouse on 21 February 2019. The diet of 334s on this line seems to be unvarying. The station is overlooked by the M8 which you can see in the background.

Glasgow and Coatbridge Branch (North British Railway)
David Panton 2019


Kilmarnock: A Sprinter from Glasgow Central approaches journey's end at Kilmarnock's Platform 2 on 21 February 2019.

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
David Panton 2019


Kilmarnock: A Glasgow service waits to depart from its usual Platform 2 at Kilmarnock on 21 February 2019. As far as I can see electrification of this line is no more than a vague aspiration. Will the 156s wear out first?

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
David Panton 2019


Kilmarnock: All is retro in this view along the Platform buildings at Kilmarnock on 21 February 2019 - except, mercifully, for the coffee. Note the 'G&SWRCo' roundels on the canopy brackets (take my word for it that it is all there).

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
David Panton 2019


Blackfriars [CCR]: Blue plaque outside the former Blackfriars station on the Charing Cross Railway of 1864 which only lasted five years, being replaced by Waterloo Junction station in 1869 (which was renamed Waterloo in 1935 and Waterloo East in 1977).

Charing Cross Railway
David Bosher 2019


Bonnybridge High: North side of under bridge UB 75 at Bonnybridge High on 21st February 2019, with remains of the Station building base to the left.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Douglas McPherson 2019


Stewarton: A Glasgow to Carlisle service calls at Stewarton on 21 February 2019. In the early 1970s this station, along with Dunlop, was down to two trains a day and even with those you weren't allowed to travel to or from Kilmarnock. Today there are two trains an hour. You can also easily get to Kilmarnock, so its not all good.

Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway
David Panton 2019


Bonnybridge High: South side of the under bridge at Bonnybridge High on 21st February 2019. South side station foundations to the right and bridge abutment for the separate bridge access to James Dougall and sons Bonnyside brickworks (Now RHI industries).

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Douglas McPherson 2019


Birchington-on-Sea: A Ramsgate to St Pancras via Faversham Southeastern Javelin service heads west between Birchington-on-Sea and Herne Bay on 21 February 2019. The location is actually near to the village of Minnis Bay (the houses in the background) however the location has not gained a station during its growth and relies on Birchington-on-Sea approximately a mile to the east.

Kent Coast Railway
John McIntyre 2019


Dunlop: A Glasgow to Carlisle service calls at the pleasant village of Dunlop on 21 February 2019. Like many such places, it seems to be completely devoid of humans during working hours but things have certainly improved at the station in recent years. See image [[25829]] from 1987.

Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway
David Panton 2019


Bay Horse: 68034 Victorious (but nameplates not yet fitted) and 68018 Vigilant take three flasks from Crewe to Sellafield through Bay Horse on 21st February 2019.

Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2019


Northampton: On 21st February 2020, I tried the latest timetable for my Nuneaton to Milton Keynes commute. A later start at 0650 is balanced by the need to change twice, at Rugby and Northampton. This photograph shows the risk in this procedure: having watched my connection depart as I arrived, I had time to photograph 66951 heading train 464Z from Garston to London Gateway. The white stuff on the platform is rock salt, not frost.

Northampton Loop (London and North Western Railway)
Ken Strachan 2020


Coventry: Coventry station is smaller than Nuneaton station (4 platforms instead of 7), and has shorter sightlines off the platforms; so you have to keep your wits about you to shoot freight trains. Here is train 447b from Birmingham Lawley Street to Southampton.

London and Birmingham Railway
Ken Strachan 2020


Coventry: The train for Birmingham is welcome to Coventry. As a resident of Nuneaton, I am not so sure about myself, as I live in the rival town. Sad, but true.

London and Birmingham Railway
Ken Strachan 2020


Dalguise Viaduct: Flooding of the River Tay at the Dalguise Viaduct, north of Dunkeld, on the Highland Main Line.

Inverness and Perth Junction Railway
Network Rail 2021


Leyland: Network Rail were busy in Leyland in February 2021, with weekend rail replacement and some resleepering taking place on the Down Fast. All traffic was on the Slow lines. In this view, from the road bridge at the north end of the station, an RRV moves south on the Up Fast line with some new sleepers.

North Union Railway
John McIntyre 2021


Thornton North Junction: Sleepers laid out on the Levenmouth branch at Thornton North Junction, in preparation for new track being laid, on 21st February 2022.

Leven Railway
John Yellowlees 2022


Aberdeen: NWT liveried GBRf 66747, with Caledonian Sleeper 73967 out of sight behind, pushing the sleeper stock back to Clayhills sidings on a very wet 21st February 2022.

Aberdeen Joint (Caledonian Railway)
Duncan Ross 2022


Events


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

YearCompaniesDescription
1804Penydarren TramwayRichard Trevithick^s locomotive tested on the line, having been tested at Penydarren Iron Works. The locomotive drew a train of 5 wagons from Penydarren to Abercynon.
1842Edinburgh and Glasgow RailwayService starts between Glasgow Queen Street (then simply 'Glasgow') and Haymarket ('Edinburgh').
1860Swansea Vale RailwayExtended from Glais to Pontardawe and opened to passengers. The station in Swansea was Swansea St Thomas.
1862Keith and Dufftown RailwayKeith to Dufftown opened. Stations at Earlsmill, Botriphinie and Drummuir.
1981Belfast and Ballymena RailwayRegular passenger trains using Bleach Green Junction to Antrim withdrawn.
2005Pontefract and Methley Junction Line (Wakefield, Pontefract and Goole Railway)Glasshoughton station opened.

News


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

YearCompaniesDescription
2001Rail Passengers Committee meeting in Dunfermline- Highland sleeper to restart between London and Inverness on 1/3/01
- Markinch bus interchange to open
- Edinburgh Crossrail to open in February 2002
- New trains for North Berwick by May
2006City link train delays cut [Scotsman]FIRST ScotRail has reduced delays on express train services from Edinburgh to Glasgow by 38 per cent, according to January figures.
2006ScotRail^s Dickson takes top honours [Scotsman]FIRST ScotRail managing director Mary Dickson^s work to improve Scotland^s train service was recognised by the Institute of Directors yesterday, which named her Scottish director of the year.
2007Air leak causes trains misery [Scotsman]RAIL passengers faced fresh delays when a Glasgow- Edinburgh train broke down.
2007^Harry Potter^ rail-line passengers will enjoy a magical £3m revamp [Scotsman]TOURISTS on one of Scotland^s most scenic railway lines will be travelling in more comfort this summer, thanks to a £3 million train upgrade.
2007Rail works to improve performance [BBC News]An £85m scheme of improvements to Glasgow^s Central Station will boost the reliability of trains, Network Rail says.
2008South sub rail bid books return to Holyrood [Evening News]Campaign to reopen Edinburgh south suburban rail link to passenger traffic returns to Scottish Parliament.
2009Contract row derails tram project [BBC News]Tram work on Edinburgh^s Princes Street has been put on hold just a day before it was due to begin, following a row over the contract.
2009Tebay victims remembered [The Visitor]THE fifth anniversary of a rail crash in which two Carnforth men and a Morecambe man were killed was marked with a memorial ceremony at noon on Sunday. [From Mark Bartlett]
2010RMT agrees to talks with bosses [BBC News]Talks will be held next week in an effort to end a dispute which has resulted in rail workers in Scotland striking.
2010Aberdeen station murals unveiled [First ScotRail]Three attractive murals were unveiled today (20 February 2010) at Aberdeen station. The murals depict Gaelic placenames and phrases and landmarks of Aberdeen. The Gaelic Art Project (Aberdeen) is a voluntary project run by Lindsay Milligan, Ashley Powell, and Project manager Paula Sledzinska. Bòrd na Gàidhlig, The Gaelic Language Board, funded this opportunity for young speakers at Gilcomstoun Primary and Hazlehead Academy to create art work based with Gaelic. The University of Aberdeen also contributed to the project. The three murals were created, using different levels of Gaelic from both learners and native speakers.
2010Eurostar breaks down again leaving passengers stranded [Telegraph]Eurostar faced fresh embarrassment last night after a packed commuter train from Paris was left stranded due to an electrical fault.
2011Protests see Scottish freight grant restored [Rail Professional]Public funding to support new rail freight schemes won a last-minute reprieve as MSPs agreed Scotland’s budget for next year. The minority SNP government had planned to freeze the freight facilities grant (FFG), which is designed to help curb lorry movements. [From Richard Buckby]
2012Borders Railway likely to be delayed until 2015 [Scotsman] THE troubled Borders Railway project will be delayed by another year because of the Scottish Government’s U-turn over how it will be built, industry experts have told The Scotsman. One insider said there was “not a hope in hell” the line would be completed by the end of 2014 as planned – and trains would now not run until 2015 at the earliest. Construction work on the Edinburgh-Tweedbank line is not expected to start until at least this autumn – a year late. This came despite transport minister Keith Brown insisting the project was on course when he viewed preliminary work in Galashiels yesterday.
2012Barry the Barrel arrives at Exhibition Centre [Railscot]A colourful new train – known as Barry the Barrel – has rolled into Glasgow’s Exhibition Centre station. It’s a train-shaped floral planter - made from old whisky barrels, and filled with spring flowers to welcome visitors to the ScotRail station. The work was carried out by The Rotary Club of Charing Cross, whose members volunteered to brighten and maintain the station environment as part of ScotRail’s Adopt a Station scheme. John Yellowlees, ScotRail external relations manager, said: “We believe that the Rotary Club of Charing Cross^s adoption of Exhibition Centre will ‘lift the spirits’ of the many thousands who use or pass through the station.” Barry the Barrel train’s arrival comes just in time for the Model Rail Scotland 2012 exhibition, which organisers say will be the biggest model railway exhibition ever held in Scotland. More than 15,000 rail enthusiasts from across the UK are expected to attend the event from 24-26 February at the SECC. Trevor Graham, of the Rotary Club of Charing Cross, said: “We are delighted to adopt Exhibition Centre station, and hope that Barry the Barrel train will extend a seasonal welcome to visitors at Model Rail Scotland 2012 and other exhibitions at the SECC.” The Rotary Club of Charing Cross has also installed other planters and a flower bed at Exhibition Centre station.
2013Network Rail facing £30million fine as performance levels deteriorate further [Telegraph]Services have fallen victim to poor management and ^basic operational planning mistakes^ in recent months, The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) said. Punctuality is ^well adrift of funded targets^ and performance levels are “deteriorating”. But despite being given an ultimatum to improve services or face a substantial fine, Network Rail has now issued grim forecast that it will be unable to keep its promises on punctuality. [From Mark Bartlett]
2014Train passengers ^in dark^ over delay compensation [Telegraph]Train passengers are foregoing more than £100 million in compensation for delays and cancellations because they are kept in the dark by rail companies, a new report suggests. Three quarters of rail passengers are unaware of their rights while just one in ten regularly makes a claim when entitled and almost seven in ten have never done so. Simply putting information about refunds online in a long-winded “Passengers’ Charter” or supplying it only on request are “not sufficient to help consumers be aware of or exercise their rights,” the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) said. The watchdog, which is drawing up a code of practice for train operators on ticketing information, also criticised the fact most companies issue refunds as vouchers which can usually only be redeemed in person at a ticket office and not online. The latest available data on compensation paid to customers shows that in 2010-11, £10.2 million was claimed by passengers from just 11 train companies who provided figures – about half of those operating in the UK. [From Mark Bartlett]
2014Shildon railway museum locomotives attract 70,000 visitors [BBC News]More than 70,000 people have visited a County Durham railway museum to see the last six surviving A4 class steam locomotives. Visitors from as far as America and China have visited the free exhibition at Locomotion: National Rail Museum in Shildon.
2015All change as Swindon^s 1960s signal box departs for museum [BBC News]A signal box, which has kept trains in the West of England on track for the past 50 years, is to be preserved as a piece of railway history. The panel, at Swindon railway station, controls trains over more than 200 miles of track. But from the end of May, a computer in Didcot will take over and the panel will head to a transport museum.
2016New Street tram extension on course for spring opening [Rail News]An extension of the Midland Metro tram system in Birmingham to the city’s New Street station is due to open this spring. Transport authority Centro announced that it had secured permission from Network Rail to complete a period of night testing – a key phase in the commissioning of the £128 million project. Centro said the system is now on course to open in the spring after receiving early confirmation from Network Rail. The testing, which will commence on April 23, will ensure that none of the new systems associated with the tram network interfere with train management systems at New Street station. [From Richard Buckby]
2017Ordsall Chord bridge lifted in [Rail News]The largest crane in the UK was used to hoist a 600-tonne bridge into place on the Ordsall Chord today. The scheme will link all three of Manchesters main railway stations Piccadilly, Oxford Road and Victoria for the first time. [From Richard Buckby]
2018First Elizabeth line trains run from Paddington for testing ahead of Crossrail launch [Evening Standard]The first Elizabeth line trains have started running from Paddington ahead of the launch of Crossrail later this year. On Monday night, a brand new Class 345 train ran into the London terminus for the first time and testing will now take place as far as Reading and Maidenhead. The line, named in honour of the Queen, is expected to open in phases just before Christmas with passengers set to use 10 new state of the art stations across London and the south east.
2019Stirling station canopy in line for restoration as part of redevelopment project [Daily Record]The gateway to Stirlings railway station looks set to take a step back in time with plans to restore its distinctive entrance canopy. Scotrail and its partners want to restore the canopy known as a porte-cochere as part of its plans to redevelop the station forecourt, making it less accessible for vehicles and more pedestrian and cycle friendly. The current station is the second on the site and was designed by architect James Miller of Glasgow, who designed around 70 stations in Scotland over the course of his career. A listed building application has been submitted to alter the canopy and restore it to its original size and form at the station in Goosecroft Road.
2020Hydrogen-powered train to be tested in Scotland as fuel of future [Scotsman]A hydrogen-powered train is to be built and tested in Scotland as ministers prepare to banish diesel from passenger rail services within 15 years. The experimental train will be created by converting ScotRail carriages retired in December. [A Class 314.] It is likely to be tested on a heritage line in Scotland like the [[Bo^ness and Kinneil Railway]], which has been used for trials of battery trains.
2020Professor calls for radical rethink on Gourock ferry route [Greenock Telegraph]A proposed solution to ferries problems highlighted by the Ferguson^s fiasco has been passed to the Holyrood committee probing the debacle.
2020Tiree ferry terminal closure delayed to allow supplies to be brought in following storms [Press and Journal]The recent storms have delayed plans to replace the linkspan at Tiree^s Ferry Terminal.
2020Battersea Power Station Tube signs unveiled at first new Northern Line stop in more than 90 years [Evening Standard]More than 100 Tube signs have been installed at the soon-to-be opened Battersea Power Station hub. The new station, due to be opened in 2021, marks part of the first major London Underground expansion in 20 years. A total of 113 of the iconic round signs, known as roundels, were placed on the walls of the south London stop. The stop will be the first addition to the Northern Line in more than 90 years, after Morden opened in 1926, and will coincide with the opening of Nine Elms next autumn.
2020Rail commuters face month of chaos due to landslip repairs [Daily Record]Rail chiefs say there will be a further four weeks of work following the collapse of an embankment between [[Thornhill]] and [[Holywood]].
2020CalMac cancel raft of services amid Storm Dennis chaos [Evening Times]Ferries to Arran have been cancelled in the second week of chaotic storms across Scotland.
2020Perth rail passengers told by ScotRail to expect delays and cancellations after flooding [Daily Record]Line flooded at [[Mill o^Keir Viaduct]] between [[Perth]] and [[Stirling]].