Symington [2nd]: Ex-LMS Crab no 42737 stands at Symington station on 29 March 1964 with the SLS Scottish Rambler No 3. The train had recently returned from a trip along the SB&B branch, since when 42737 had run round prior to taking the special south to Beattock. At Beattock no 80118 waited to take charge for a visit to Moffat see image [[21122]].

Symington [2nd]: Ex-LMS Crab 2-6-0 42737 with Scottish Rambler No 3 at Symington on 29 March 1964 having just returned from a trip along the branch to Broughton. 42737 had run round and was now preparing to take the special on the next leg south to Beattock.

Broughton [2nd]: 42737 with the SLS Scottish Rambler No 3 railtour at Broughton on 29 March 1964. Following this stop the special returned along the branch to Symington See image [[22588]]

Larkhall East: Crab 42737 makes a photostop at Larkhall East on 29 March 1964 with the SLS Scottish Rambler no 3. The special was on its way from Glasgow Central to Swinhill see image [[6965]].

Beattock: Crab 2-6-0 no 42737 stands at the up platform in Beattock station on 29 March 1964 with the SLS 'Scottish Rambler No 3' railtour. At the other end of the train standard 2-6-4 tank 80118 is coupling up in readiness for the short trip to Moffat. See image [[30082]]

Moffat: The SLS Easter Railtour of 29 March 1964 heading for Moffat along the short branch from Beattock behind BR Standard class 4 80118. View is north towards Moffat along the A701. see image [[21122]].

Symington [2nd]: Ex-LMS Crab no 42737 running round 'Scottish Rambler No 3' at Symington station on 29 March 1964 following a trip along the Broughton branch.

Beattock: Crab 42737 stands quietly at Beattock station on 29 March 1964, waiting to return to Glasgow Central with Scottish Rambler no 3. The fuss in the background centres around Beattock shed's BR Standard class 4 no 80001, which is in the process of banking out the down Royal Scot.

Wilsontown: 42737 with 'Scottish Rambler no 3' at Wilsontown on 29 March 1964.

St Margarets Shed: Dundee's V2 No 60844 adds to St Margarets' notorious smoke problem on 29 March 1964, the problem having been exacerbated in 1963 when Edinburgh's other ex-LNER depot, Haymarket, became steam-free. Keeping it company is A3 No 60083 'Sir Hugo' from Gateshead.

Beattock: Crab 2-6-0 42737 makes a spirited start in fading light from Beattock station on 29 March 1964, with the time approaching 6pm. The train is the SLS Scottish Rambler No 3 on its way back to Glasgow Central following the final visit of the day to the Moffat branch.

Moffat: A neglected looking BR Standard class 4 2-6-4T no 80118 is about to leave Moffat on 29 March 1964 and head back along the branch to Beattock with the six coaches of the SLS 'Scottish Rambler No 3' Railtour.

Beattock: BR Standard class 4 2-6-4T no 80001 caught giving a helping hand to the 9.30am Manchester - Glasgow Central at Beattock North on 29 March 1964. See image [[31907]]

Larkhall East: The SLS Scottish Rambler No 3 railtour at Larkhall East on 29 March 1964. Locomotive in charge is Crab 2-6-0 42737. The special was on its way south to Swinhill.

Dalserf: Crab 2-6-0 42737 with Scottish Rambler No 3 at Dalserf on 29 March 1964. The special would continue on this leg of its journey as far as Swinhill before returning to Motherwell. The abandoned trackbed on the right was the southbound line of original route to Coalburn via Tillietudlem.

Swinehill Junction: Crab 42737 at Swinhill on 29 March 1964 with Scottish Rambler no 3. At this time Swinhill was the terminus of the former route south to Stonehouse.

Symington [2nd]: Scottish Rambler No 3 arrives at Symington on 29 March 1964 behind ex-LMS Crab 42737. The special was returning from a trip along the former Peebles branch as far as Broughton. The WCML is on the right with goods facilities between.

Moffat: SLS Scottish Rambler No 3 Railtour leaving Moffat on 29 March 1964 on the short journey back to Beattock behind BR Standard class 4 no 80118. Moffat station had closed to passenger traffic 10 years earlier.

Biggar: Scottish Rambler No 3 at Biggar on 29 March 1964 behind ex-LMS Crab no 42737. The special was on a trip from Symington along the Broughton branch. See image [[22588]]

Biggar: 42737 at Biggar with Scottish Rambler No 3 at Biggar on 29 March 1964. See image [[39040]]

Beattock Summit: Crab 2-6-0 no 42737 at Beattock Summit on 29 March 1964 with Scottish Rambler no 3. The railtour was on its way to Beattock station where it would hand over to 80118 for a visit to the Moffat branch. See image [[21122]]

Moffat: 80118 runs round Scottish Rambler no 3 at Moffat.

Symington [2nd]: The Scottish Rambler about to leave for Beattock. 42737 has run round the train on return from Broughton. see image [[21198]]

Beattock: Lonely looking McIntosh 3F 0-6-0 no 57568 stands alongside the west wall of Beattock shed in March 1964. The ex-Caledonian 1899 veteran had been officially withdrawn from 66B Motherwell at the end of 1963.

Haywood: Scottish Rambler no 3 passing Haywood station (1868-1951) on the Wilsontown Branch, South Lanarkshire, on 29 March 1964, the year the branch closed completely. Crab 2-6-0 42737 propelled the special along the branch on this section of the tour. [Ref query 6664]

Beattock: McIntosh ex-Caledonian 3F 0-6-0 no 57568 of 1899 looks like it has performed its last task, standing in one of the sidings at the rear of Beattock shed in 1964.

Beattock Summit: 42737 with Scottish Rambler No 3 at Beattock summit on 29 March 1964. On the left is the private platform and coach used by the Siege train which ran daily between the summit and Beattock station to enable families of railway workers living in cottages and hamlets along the way to do their shopping etc in Moffat. (The nickname derived from the Siege of Mafeking which was front page news in 1900 when the service started.) No date can been found for the official closure of the platform or withdrawal of the train, which was still running in 1965. One interesting bi-product of this service was that, in addition to the locomotive diagrammed to handle the train (invariably one of Beattock's bankers), any locomotive waiting to return to Beattock shed would be attached for the run back down the bank, so it was not uncommon for the southbound train to consist of 3 locomotives and 1 coach.

Beattock Summit: View from a carriage window on board Scottish Rambler No 3 approaching Beattock summit on 29 March 1964 behind ex-LMS Crab no 42737. Note the coach used by the 'siege train' standing alongside the private platform on the right see image [[21751]].

Beattock: 42737 has arrived from Broughton.

Larkhall East: The SLS Scottish Rambler No 3 railtour stands at Larkhall East on 29 March 1964 behind Crab 2-6-0 no 42737.

Broughton [2nd]: 42737 at Broughton on 29 March 1964 with Scottish Rambler no 3. The Crab had brought the special from Symington to what was then the limit of the former route to Peebles (the line east having closed in 1954). This surviving section had been retained to serve a nearby meat processing facility. On the left is the old island platform built in 1896 to serve the Talla Railway see image [[6635]].

Beattock: Royal Scot 46118 Royal Welch Fusilier alongside Beattock North box picking up a banking locomotive on 29 March 1964. The train is the 9.30am Manchester - Glasgow Central. See image [[38881]]

Symington [2nd]: Scottish Rambler No 3 stands at Symington on 29 March 1964 behind ex-LMS Crab 42737. The train had just returned from Broughton and 42737 had run round prior to taking the train south to Beattock.

Elderslie: Looking west from the overbridge at Elderslie station, we observe a trainload of Hillman Imps passing their birthplace and heading towards Glasgow at dusk on 29 March 1965. Also to be seen is a DMU reaching the gantry controlled by the Elderslie No 2 box and signalled for the Kilmacolm line, followed by Standard 4MT 2-6-0 76024 on a Kilmarnock train (on the slow line) which is slowing down for the signals.

Langholm: A photograph taken with a Brownie 127 camera in March of 1965. It shows the local pick-up goods being propelled towards Langholm over the Broomholm Bridge, south of the terminus. The locomotive is Kingmoor's Ivatt 2-6-0 43049.

Bishopton: Fairburn 2-6-4T 42195, piloting Standard 5MT 73064, on a Gourock to Glasgow service near Bishopton on 29th March 1965,

Glasgow Central: Fairburn 2-6-4T 42195 awaits departure from Glasgow Central on the 12.08pm service to Gourock on 29th March 1965. The friendly crew kindly gave the photographer the treat of a footplate ride to Paisley Gilmour St. I am sorry to say I have not kept a record of their names.

Langholm: Ivatt 2-6-0 43049 takes a break from shunting activities at Langholm on 29 March 1965, having arrived from Kingmoor yard earlier with the branch pickup freight.

Polmadie Shed: Seen better days. Forlorn looking Royal Scot 46160 Queen Victoria's Rifleman, standing in the shed yard at Polmadie on 29 March 1965. The locomotive was withdrawn from Carlisle Kingmoor some 4 weeks later.

Bishopton: Fairburn 2-6-4T 42241, on the 10.10 Glasgow – Gourock, near Bishopton on 29th March 1965.

Roxburgh Viaduct: The Great Escape - Roxburgh Viaduct 1968. The last freight from Kelso on 29 March 1968 stops at the east end of Roxburgh Viaduct to drop off the agent from Kelso goods depot. He was being made redundant and had a final weeks holiday to take so decided to go fishing, hitching a lift to Roxburgh on the last freight. See image [[44237]]

Kelso: D3891 at Kelso goods depot carrying The Kelso Lad headboard made by Ian Fergusson to commemorate the last goods train over the branch on 29 March 1968 See image [[22937]]. The shunter is still displaying a St Margarets shed code although 64A had been officially closed 10 months previously and the locomotive reallocated to 64H Leith Central.

Tickets and labels: Brake van permit for the last freight from Galashiels to Kelso and return on 29 March 1968. See image [[6955]]

St Boswells: A cosy scene inside the Guards van on the way back to Galashiels from Kelso with the last freight on 29 March 1968. Who is that on the right of the picture? He joined us at St Boswells and had a pass for the freight. He wasnt local, and the name Craig seems to ring a bell.

Kelso: A view from the last freight to Kelso approaching Kelso station on 29 March 1968. [Ref query 144] See image [[22937]]

Maxton: D3891 with the last freight from Kelso about to run over Maxton level crossing on 29 March 1968. Note the unofficial headboard specially constructed for the occasion see image [[22937]].

Kelso: Another shot of D3891 on the last Kelso goods train on 29 March 1968. The small attachment on the cabside reads Borderer and had been unofficially 'stuck on for the day' - although it seems to have lasted longer than expected as the locomotive was seen in Edinburgh later in the year with the name still attached.

Kelso: The last freight coupling up at Kelso on 29 March 1968, being watched by 'Wink' Henry and local photographer David Welsh. D3891 is carrying the unofficial 'Kelso Lad' headboard. See image [[50190]]

Kelso Junction: The last freight from Kelso held at Kelso Junction on 29 March 1968 while a northbound train passes on the Waverley route. Locomotive D3891 is carrying the unofficial Kelso Lad headboard see image [[22937]].

Kelso: Ian Fergusson shines the headboard he made for the last Kelso freight on 29 March 1968.

Paddington: Bristol Bath Road Brush Type 4 no D1933 waits to be released from the platform road at Paddington on 29 March 1969 having brought in an earlier service on the GW main line. The locomotive will travel the short distance to Ranelagh Bridge servicing facility see image [[4555]] prior to working a westbound train back to its home city later in the day.

Paddington: Saturday morning at Paddington on 29 March 1969. Passengers are heading for the concourse off a train from Plymouth which has recently arrived at platform 6 behind D1007 Western Talisman. Meantime, alongside at platform 7, a Reading line DMU stopping service is slowly approaching the buffer stops.

Sheffield: 'Peak' no 178 waits to depart from Sheffield Midland on 29 March 1971 with the 10.15 Newcastle - Cardiff train.

Sheffield: Peak No. 93 prepares to depart northwards from Sheffield Midland on a bright early spring day in 1971. The train is thought to be the 10.05 St. Pancras to Leeds.

Plates, signs, notices etc: The Easter school holiday of 1980, and paid for out of my Saturday job I've freedom of the Scottish rails for £3.40 a day. Whether I worked on that Saturday I can't remember.

Middleton Towers: The line between King's Lynn and Dereham was closed on September 9th 1968, but freight activity continued on short sections at either end. Shown here is the King's Lynn end at Middleton Towers, the first station out. This section of the line was (and is) retained for sand traffic from British Industrial Sand's transfer sidings just beyond the station. On March 29th 1980, a DMU is paying a visit as part of a west Norfolk freight lines rail tour. Apart from the absence of a signal box and signals, a photo taken at the same place in 1968 during the last days of passenger service would be little different.

South Lynn: A DMU railtour visits the site of the former M & GN station at South Lynn on 29th March 1980, some 21 years after closure to passengers. A spur from the GE main line was then still open to serve a nearby sugar factory. View is west under Saddlebow road. Just out of sight to the right were the remains of the eastern tip of the main island platform, the rest buried by the filling in of the original road bridge and the creation of an elevated junction with the A47.

Ryston: A Cravens DMU cautiously crosses the A10 near the former Ryston station (behind camera) on 29th March 1980. The Fakenham and District Railway Society's 'West Norfolk Freight Lines Railtour' had just visited the former Abbey and West Dereham station, reversed and was heading back to Denver junction, from where it would go on to explore the lines around Kings Lynn. This line was the remaining section of the Stoke Ferry branch and was then in use for traffic originating from the Wissington sugar refinery, which had its own private railway. Both lines survived for another two years before complete closure.

Prestongrange Industrial Heritage Museum: Barclay 0-4-0ST NCB West Ayr Area no 21, photographed at Prestongrange Industrial Heritage Museum on 29 March 1981. The locomotive is now at the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange.

Prestongrange Industrial Heritage Museum: Barclay 0-4-0ST no 17 at Prestongrange Industrial Heritage Museum on 29 March 1981

Wakefield: A view no longer possible from Wakefield Kirkgate station (See image [[80412]]) sees an unidentified Railfreight liveried class 47 shunting a part rake of Greater Manchester Waste containers in the adjacent Witham Sidings. This was in March 1988, during the period when waste was being taken to the Welbeck landfill site near Normanton.

Whitrope Tunnel: Whitrope Tunnel in March 1997, before the fences went up! If you have a copy of 'Waverley : Portrait of a Famous Route' turn to photograph 92 and you'll find Ken Hale's photograph from 1965 that I was trying to copy, even standing in the same recess.

Alloa Goods [CR]: This was the site of the Caledonian Railway's goods yard in Alloa, photographed in 1997. The view is to the west. This location is now occupied by housing.

Alloa Goods [NBR]: The roadway, Glasshouse Loan, was once the approach to Alloa Harbour and the North British's goods yard from Alloa station. The Caledonian's goods yard was off to the right. The photograph was taken to compare with Geo. C O'Hara's (photograph 148 in Scottish Urban and Rural Branch Lines).

Arundel: View north through Arundel station in March 2002. [Ref query 13 April 2018]

Arundel: West side approach to Arundel station in March 2002. [Ref query 26 August 2017]

Arundel: Originally opened by the LB&SCR as New Arundel in 1863, this platform view on 29 March 2002 is south west towards Arundel Junction. [Ref query 8802]

Calder Viaduct [Ravenscraig]: The deck of the viaduct which once carried the Hot Metal Road in Ravenscraig on to the slag processing area.

Calder Viaduct [Ravenscraig]: View north of the double track slag processing road viaduct over the South Calder Water. It was demolished not long afterwards.

Dalzell Steel Works: Dalzell Steelworks, Motherwell, viewed over the West Coast mainline. This works has a long association with railways. By the time I knew it, in the late 1980s, it was served from Ravenscraig, the approach from the WCML having fallen out of use. Today it is a relaid WCML link which is used. View north on 29th of March, 2004.

New Cumnock: The signal box at the north end of New Cumnock station, photographed on a chilly 29 March 2006, with traces of a recent snowfall in evidence.

Driffield: Southbound 158 910 arrives at Driffield in March 2006 with a service to Hull.

Kirkconnel: A southbound coal train approaching Kirkconnel with fuel for Drax power station on a cold March morning in 2006. The ex-GSWR signal box dates from 1911.

Bridge of Weir [2nd]: Looking to Elderslie. The main station building was to the left. The bricked-up entry for a footbridge can be seen on right.

Driffield: 156436 departs from Driffield on 29 March 2006 heading for Bridlington. The interesting looking building in the background is a former sugar-beet processing mill.

Kirkconnel: View south along platform 1 at a deserted Kirkconnel station on a snowy morning in March 2006.

New Cumnock: Platform view south at New Cumnock in March 2006. On the left is the wooden ramp up to the A76.

New Cumnock: A southbound train arriving at New Cumnock on 29 March 2006, with coal stacks prominent alongside Crowbandgate loading pad in the right background.

Elderslie: Some drainage work in the depot and some little buildings have appeared.

Kilbarchan: Southern tunnel exit from Kilbarchan station. Just beyond two double track bridges cross the farm access road.

Kilbarchan: Come on up ... interior of the northern access tunnel to Kilbarchan. The station had an island platform which allowed companies to maintain only one set of staff rather than two.

Bridgeton Central Tunnel: Reaching the end of BCT the remains of Gallowgate Central Station start to appear.

Bridgeton Central Tunnel: Deep within the Tunnel the track bed remains.

Bridgeton Central Tunnel: Inside the 310 yard tunnel.. notice the tyre marks. Not sign of rail!!

Bridgeton Central Tunnel: Refuge with the number 9 beside it inside Bridgeton Central tunnel..

Bridgeton Central Tunnel: Entering the portal of Bridgeton Central tunnel... Those things hanging down had the Overhead Wires connected to them.

Bridgeton Central Tunnel: Entering the portal of Bridgeton Central tunnel.

Bridgeton Central Tunnel: Looking towards the cleared portal of Bridgeton Central tunnel.

Bridgeton [2nd]: A clear view of the throat of the old Bridgeton Central. Digger, Dumper truck and tyres stealing the show.

Gallowgate Central: Digger and Dumper truck use to clear the debris... tyres a plenty.

Gallowgate Central: Looking towards Gallowgate Central Junction from the trackbed of the station.

Gallowgate Central: Looking back towards Bridgeton Central Tunnel. Major clearance work has taken place here... pity it could not remove the soggyness underneath!!

Gallowgate Central: Entrance to the station was via a footbridge and waiting room at the now non-existent Anderson Street.

Gallowgate Central: What looks like some kind of canopy marking on the overbridge.

Bridgeton Central Tunnel: Cleared route looking back from the Tunnel Portal.

Gallowgate Tunnel: Exiting the Tunnel portal with the NBRs Glasgow City and District Railway running above... this was the furthest of my travels that day.

Gallowgate Tunnel: The NBR Glasgow City and District Railway is carried above on the rather rusty looking bridge above. At this point the trackbed begins to resemble its proper disused look.

Gallowgate Tunnel: I think this may have been a ventilation shaft ... it has a 3D effect if you stare long enough.

Gallowgate Tunnel: Cable support inside Ladywell Tunnel.

Gallowgate Central Junction: View from portal of the NBRs Bridgeton Cross Extension line.

Gallowgate Central Junction: St John Street Tunnel... Looking through a hole of the brick wall. I am not that tall...the bottom right brick was just the reight height!!!

Gallowgate Central Junction: St John Street Tunnel on the Bridgeton Cross Connecting Line.

Gallowgate Central Junction: Much clearance has taken place here. The signalbox was on the right hand side.

Gallowgate Central Junction: G&SWR Bridgeton Cross Connecting Line on the left..NBR Bridgeton Cross Extension Line on the right.

Gallowgate Central: The view from Gallowgate Tunnel toward the Station. The entrance was immediately above the tunnel exit.

Gallowgate Central: Looking back towards the tunnel at Bridgeton. Trees and rubbish are the only things adorning the platforms. This station cut deep into the surrounding land.

Gallowgate Tunnel: Overhead Wire support in tunnel.

Gallowgate Central Junction: View from portal of the NBRs Bridgeton Cross Extension line.

Gallowgate Tunnel: The trackbed looking the way it should... just minus some track.

Gallowgate Tunnel: Signal support inside Ladywell Tunnel. I suspect this protected the Junction ahead at Gallowgate Central.

Gallowgate Central Junction: St John Street Tunnel... why the missing bricks??

Gallowgate Central: More canopy markings... this time on the other platform.

Gallowgate Central: The view from Gallowgate Tunnel toward the Station in Black and White.

Bridge of Weir [1st]: Bridge of Weir Goods shed still in use as a coal depot. The former station site was behind the camera and the goods sidings ran off to the right to join the line. As seen on the 29th of March, 2007.

Gallowgate Central Junction: St John Street Tunnel on the Bridgeton Cross Connecting Line.. looks like this has been bricked up for a few years.

Gallowgate Central Junction: G&SWR Bridgeton Cross Connecting Line on the left. NBR Bridgeton Cross Extension Line on the right.

Houston: View of the restored station house at Houston and Crosslee in 2007. Bet maintaining that fence is an ongoing battle.

Houston: View looking to Greenock at Houston and Crosslee station in March 2007. The obliterated platform to the right was the last one in use.

Bridge of Weir [1st]: Not long for this world. Interior of the goods shed at Bridge of Weir. Owned by Sustrans, I am told.

Kilmacolm: Last DMU now long departed. View to Elderslie.

Kilmacolm: Looking towards Greenock from Kilmacolm in March 2007. The old station building is still there - note the pitched roof on the right.

Newbattle Viaduct: Looking south towards Newtongrange along the A7 in March 2007. On the right stands Newbattle Viaduct, the most significant engineering feature along the route to Tweedbank. (It is also often referred to as Newtongrange Viaduct and Lothian Viaduct.)

Mawcarse: View NE from Arlary Bridge. Mawcarse Junction site is still visible. This was a main junction to either Perth or Ladybank from Kinross and the south. Trains to both destinations ceased in the Beeching era, track lifted in 1971. The trackbed nearer the camera has returned to agriculture.

Bathgate Yard: The eastbound 1255 ex-Bathgate seen on 29 March 2008, shortly after passing under the doomed Rennies Bridge. See image [[19653]].

Glasgow Central: Class 156s, from right to left 477, 453 & 458, line up at Glasgow Central on 29th March

Friarton Junction: North portal of Moncrieffe Tunnel. The remains of turn out from Perth South Yard can be seen on the lower left.

Hall Royd Junction: Looking east as Northern Rail 158756 approaches Hall Royd Junction near Todmorden on a York to Blackpool North service on 29 March 2009. The 194 yard Castle Hill Tunnel can be seen in the background.

Westfield Paper Mill: Looking towards the junction with the Torbanehill and Bathgate Branch of the Slamannan Railway from the trackbed of the Westfield Paper Mill branch. View looks south. 29 March, 2009.

Westfield Loop: Looking to Bathgate on 29 March 2009 at the site of Westfield Loop, which was located east of the former Westfield station. The line to Westfield Mill dropped down to the left. There was a signalbox here called Westfield Paper Mill. See image [[23043]]

Rutherglen Central Junction: 334 010 comes east off the former 'Switchbank' and 'Argyle Line' at Rutherglen station. The current station is distant right (which will become almost a subterranean station under the M74 extension) and main line to Glasgow Central is on the left.

Todmorden: The Tin Bath railtour from Manchester Victoria to Sheffield on 29 March. The special ran out via the Hope Valley, and back via Penistone, Huddersfield, Halifax and Rochdale. The train is seen here approaching Todmorden with 76079 and 45407 looking immaculate and working hard having just exited Horsefall Tunnel.

Bathgate Shed: A service from Edinburgh appears to be entering the old shed at Bathgate. Land near the shed has been made into base camp for re-building the Airdrie-Bathgate link and electrification of Edinburgh-Bathgate-Airdrie/Drumgelloch.

Perth New Yard: View from the south of the lifted Perth New Yard on 29 March 2009 (one siding remains along the west side). The butchered turntable can be seen right of centre.

Todmorden: Wide shot of 76079 and 45407 approaching Todmorden on 29 March with The Tin Bath railtour. The rear of the train is just leaving Horsfall Tunnel.

Crosshill: An outer circle service leaves Crosshill amidst the tenements on the south side of Glasgow.

Glenbruar Viaduct: This bridge to the north of Crianlarich carries the Fort William line. Just after passing under this bridge the A85 road joins the A82 and then also goes under the Oban line before continuing to Tyndrum, by which point the Fort William line is much higher than the Oban line.

Paisley St James: There's no visible progress at Paisley St James on the GARL project as at the end of March 2009. The new line will cross Greenhill Road by a second bridge, beyond this one, before turning north over the playing fields and M8 motorway to approach the Airport. View looks north.

Stewarton: Looking south to Kilmarnock at Stewarton in March 2009 showing the new northbound line being laid.

Crianlarich: Crianlarich station, viewed from the adjacent A82 main road, on a sunny Sunday morning looking north towards the junction with the Oban line. The well known refreshment room occupies the central, white painted, building.

Dunlop: North of Dunlop looking to Barrhead. The line on the left is the new one. A replacement to the signal exists behind the camera.

Dunlop: Looking south over Dunlop station. There is a bit of a drainage problem on the right hand side with the new track and platform.

Dunlop: Looking down the ramp to the to-be southbound platform at Dunlop. Beyond a footbridge runs down to the new/reinstated northbound platform. A Network Rail sign proudly (if somewhat minimally) announces the improvements.

Westfield Paper Mill: Some vestiges of the old railway at the demolished Westfield Paper Mill near Bathgate. Westfield loop became the end of the line when the route on to Blackston Junction was cut back in 1964. Westfield loop and mill sidings closed in 1967 with the line being cut back to Easton Colliery. That last portion from Bathgate closed in 1973.

Polmadie Depot: Side by side: track replacement works on the West Coast Main Line next to the under construction M74 extension (right). Much of the Gushetfaulds Freightliner Terminal (not in view) has disappeared below the motorway works. The view looks west from Polmadie towards Larkfield Junction.

Larkfield Junction: Looking north over Larkfield Junction at the remains of Gushetfaulds Freightliner terminal. The site has been landscaped in preparation for the M74 extension. A useful diversionary east to north curve could be put in here ... if space is left.

Ardlui: A quiet Sunday morning at Ardlui, the next trains being due to cross here in around two hours time. This picture looks north from alongside the station's subway entrance.

Ramsbottom: BR Standard class 8 Pacific no 71000 Duke of Gloucester, photographed with a train at Ramsbottom on the East Lancs Railway on 29 March 2009.

Holcombe Brook: This is an attempt at a then and now shot of Holcombe Brook station see image [[21492]]. The links with the past are the Peel Tower on the hill, the small hexagonal roof on the left of the shot and the top of the retaining wall seen just in front of the parked cars. Most of the wall is now hidden by the new building, the roof of which occupies the area where the track and buffers once stood. The station building was roughly where the 3 right hand cars are now parked.

Wrexham: Final Countdown at the site of the former Croes Newydd shed (89C) with all trees and shrubbery now cleared in preparation for the construction of Wrexham's new Morrisons supermarket. See image [[25640 for earlier view]]

Rugby Central: Looking South from the road bridge at the former Rugby Central station in March 2011 we notice, left to right: the foot/cycle path; the edge of the old down platform; murky green stagnant water very similar to that at Lutterworth; and the former support wall for the station building.

Rugby: Almost fifty years after closure, the Midland Railway's viaduct on their Leicester line out of Rugby still strides purposefully across - Leicester Road. View south in March 2011.

Edinburgh Waverley: 'We have to stop meeting like this...' East Coast DVT 82215 and power car 91108 face up at Waverley with an empty stock working to London on 29 March. The DVT was defective, hence the 91 leading 'blunt end' first.

Edinburgh Waverley: Defective East Coast DVT 82215, coupled to power car 91108, preparing to leave Waverley ecs for London on 29 March 2011 see image [[33401]].

Rugby Central: 'And quite where Rugby Central is, does only Rugby know' ...according to Betjeman. Fans of consistent transport policy will be pleased to know that, more than 40 years after the end of rail services, you can still catch a bus at the site of Rugby Central. The station passenger entrance was by the lamppost; the houses are built on the former goods yard.

Didcot Parkway: 180 106, front end, on an Oxford - Paddington service at Didcot on 29 March 2012 displaying the newly painted First Great Western colour scheme.

Taynuilt: The Callander & Oban Railway crest from Taynuilt on display in the CalMac terminal at Oban on 29 March. See image [[12002]]

Milton Keynes Central: 350.232 seems to have a smile on its face, courtesy of the setting sun, as it arrives at Milton Keynes Central with the 18.32 service to Birmingham New Street.

Didcot Parkway: DBS liveried 60079 passing through Didcot on 29 March with a Theale - Robeston oil train.

Didcot Parkway: The rear of First Great Western unit 180 106 photographed passing through Didcot station on 29 March 2012. The set is being utilised for driver training purposes and is seen here on its way to Oxford.

Didcot Parkway: First Great Western 166 210 running into Didcot station on 29 March with an Oxford - Paddington service.

Didcot Parkway: Freightliner 66556 eastbound through Didcot towards London on 29 March with a freight from Avonmouth Docks.

Winchcombe: Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway single car DMU W55003 at Winchcombe on 29 March 2013. The unit spent much of the day running between steam hauled trains from Winchcombe to Laverton and back.

Bispham [Tram]: Easter 2013 saw the return of heritage trams to the Blackpool system and, for the first time since the system refurbishment, some heritage trams ran through to Fleetwood. Most reversed at Bispham however, including Bolton No.66 seen here crossing over to head south for Pleasure Beach passing a northbound Flexity.

Didbrook: Ex-GWR 2-8-0 no 2807 with a train at Didbrook on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on 29 March 2013.

Toddington: Ex-LMS (and ex-Turkish Railways) 8F no 8274, (North British 24648 of 1940) at Toddington on 29 March 2013.

Broadwater: Blackpool Centenary car 643 was repainted in a traditional Blackpool Transport green and cream livery for its role as the site reception office/shop at Broadwater caravan park. In this livery it fitted in to its surroundings much better than it did on arrival in 2012 See image [[40276]] but in early 2014 it was deemed surplus to requirements and removed from the site.

Winchcombe: Single Car DMU W55003 at Winchcombe on 29 March 2013.

Winchcombe: Stanier 8F no 8274 with a train near Winchcombe on 29 March 2013.

Winchcombe: GWR 2-8-0 no 2807 with a train near Winchcombe on 29 March.

Statfold Barn: Avonside Engine Co 0-4-0T Marchlyn (works no 2067 of 1933) photographed on 29 March 2014 operating on the Statfold Barn Railway.

Berlin Olympiastadion: View over Berlin Olympiastadion on 29th March 2014. Compare with the situation in 1992 see image [[34710]]. All platforms have now been brought back into use, although the terminating platforms appear to be used for stabling only.

Ribblehead Viaduct: With the regulator open after crossing Ribblehead viaduct, 46115 Scots Guardsman approaches Blea Moor on 29 March 2014 with a charter from Leicester to Carlisle.

Brownhills West: Ex-NCB Hollybane No 3, (Hunslet 0-6-0ST 3783/1953) inside the shed at Brownhills West on the Chasewater Railway on 29 March 2014.

Ribblehead: A Northern Carlisle to Leeds pair of 158 units calls at Ribblehead on 29 March 2014.

Statfold Barn: Minas de Aller (Corpet 439 of 1884) in action on the Statfold Barn Railway on 29 March. The locomotive was built in Paris during the 1880s.

North Blyth Alcan Terminal: Peering through a North Sea Fret towards the aluminium terminal at North Blyth from The Wansbeck 2014 steam tour which ran to the limit of Network Rail metals on this branch. B1 61264 was leading the train at this point with K1 62005 on the rear.

Ribblehead: DBS 66035 on the approach to Ribblehead viaduct with a loaded coal train on 29 March 2014, shortly after passing Blea Moor signal box. [Ref query 6626]

Blea Moor Tunnel: A Northern service from Carlisle to Leeds exits Blea Moor Tunnel on 29 March 2014. The course of the tunnel can be seen on the hillside with spoil heaps and air shafts providing the clues.

Statfold Barn: Locomotive Laukota No 11 at Statfold Barn on 29 March 2014. (Hudswell-Clarke 0-6-0 No 972/1913). Rescued from a Fijian sugar plantation. The owner is the man holding it upright!

Euxton Balshaw Lane: Heading back to Ayrshire from Fiddlers Ferry on 29 March 2014. Freightliner 66525 with a train of empty hoppers runs past Euxton Balshaw Lane station on the down fast line.

Bedlington: Bedlington North signalbox, level crossing and part of the disused platform as seen from The Wansbeck steam hauled railtour arriving here from Morpeth. The train continued south to Newsham before reversing to take the right hand line to travel to Marchey's House Junction and then the Blyth line.

Statfold Barn: Arnold Jung Mallet 0-4-4-0T no 4878 of 1930, originally built for the 24 inch gauge Jatibarang Brebes Sugar Mill Railway in Indonesia. The locomotive underwent a complete overhaul in 2011 and is seen here in operation on the Statfold Barn Railway on 29 March 2014.

Marcheys House Junction: Marcheys House Junction, showing the chord from Winning Junction which is little used since the closure of Alcan aluminium smelter in 2012. If the conversion of Lynemouth power station to biomass goes ahead then it is possible that there will be resurgence in rail traffic due to fuel being imported through Port of Blyth. See image [[46920]]

Blea Moor Tunnel: Looking up the hill on 29 March 2014 from what had been shaft 1 of Blea Moor tunnel towards shafts 2 and 3. The shafts are where the navvies brought rock from the tunnel to the surface and with great precision linked the excavations from one shaft to the next. Shaft 1 is not a ventilation shaft any longer and hence the green palisade fence on the right.

Newcastle East Junction: B1 61264 at Newcastle on 29 March, prior to taking out The Wansbeck railtour of the North East including the Blyth and Boulby branches.

Ribblehead Viaduct: Ex-LMS 4-6-0 46115 'Scots Guardsman' heads north with a railtour over Ribblehead Viaduct on 29th March 2014.

Blea Moor Tunnel: Blea Moor tunnel shaft 2 looking towards shaft 3 on 29 March 2014.

Statfold Barn: Hunslet 0-4-0ST Sybil Mary (HE 921 of 1906) in action at Statfold on 29 March.

Statfold Barn: Jack Lane (HE 3904 of 2005) operating on the Statfold Barn Railway on 29 March 2014.

Brownhills West: Scene at Brownhills West on the Chasewater Railway on 29 March 2014. The attractive saddle tank featured is Kent No 2 [Bagnall 0-4-0ST, 2842 of 1946]

Blea Moor Tunnel: Ventillation shaft no 3 above Blea Moor tunnel in March 2014 - topped off with a weather station.

Ribblehead: A Pair of Northern class 158s heading south past the down platform at Ribblehead station on 29 March 2014 with a Carlisle to Leeds service.

Blea Moor Signal Box: A Northern service from Leeds to Carlisle leaves the single line section from Ribblehead station and approaches Blea Moor signal box on 29 March 2014.

Marcheys House Junction: Fine double bracket signal at Marcheys House Junction on the line to Ashington. This view looking south towards the junction from The Wansbeck steam railtour that reversed here to take the left chord to Winning Junction and the Blyth Branch. On return the train took the direct route from Winning Junction to West Sleekburn Junction thus traversing all three sides of this triangle of freight only lines.

Horton-in-Ribblesdale: With the light rapidly fading, the return Statesman railtour from Carlisle to Newport passes through Horton-in-Ribblesdale on 29 March 2014, with WCRC 57314 leading and 57315 on the rear.

North Blyth Alcan Terminal: The Wansbeck steam railtour standing at North Blyth during a particularly foul spell of North Sea weather. This view looks north towards K1 62005 which was about to take the train back to Newcastle (and later the Boulby line) with B1 61264 bringing up the rear. See image [[46839]] for the view in the opposite direction at this point of the tour.

Statfold Barn: Davenport 0-4-0 tender locomotive, discovered tree bound at the Bihar State Sugar Factory and brought back to the UK - complete with tree stumps. Now awaiting attention on the Statfold Barn Railway.

Brownhills West: Chasewater Railway No 4 (RSH 0-6-0T 7684 of 1951) at Brownhills West on 29 March 2014.

Winning Junction: Winning Junction signal box, seen from The Wansbeck railtour on 29 March 2014. The right hand signals control the chord to Marcheys House Junction, where the train had just reversed. The left hand signals control the chord to West Sleekburn Junction, which the train would traverse on its return journey, before heading south to cover the Boulby line in North Yorkshire see image [[33493]].

Inverkeithing East Junction: GBRf 66730 leads a Longannet - Millerhill ballast train past Inverkeithing East Junction on 29 March.

Lumphinnans Central Junction: GBRf 66759 brings up the rear of a Longannet - Millerhill ballast train passing the former Lumphinnans Central Junction on 29 March.

Alloway Junction: Nibbling has now started on the old M&D embankment north of the Maybole Road in Ayr to allow a new roundabout on the A77. See image [[50406]].

Cowlairs Incline: Track renewal taking place between the Queen Street High Level Tunnel and Cowlairs South Junction during the period of closure of Queen Street High level station.

Cowlairs Incline: View south to the Fountainwells bridge as track renewal takes place during the period of closure of Queen Street High level.

Cowlairs Incline: This road bridge over the Cowlairs Incline on Gourlay Street is due to be closed in April 2016 and replaced with a service bridge. It is not clear if there are any plans to preserve the artwork on the parapets.

Stuttgart Hbf: A Colourful Ex Deutsch Reichsbahn (DR) Class 243 now Deutsch Bahn (DB) 112 108 waits in Stuttgart Hbf to depart with the 09.45 service to Neckarsulm on a lovely Spring day.

Roby: A close up of new DRS electro-diesel no.88002 as it waits at Roby for a path towards Edge Hill on 29 March 2017. This was one of several runs between Carlisle and Crewe, the outward run was direct up the WCML and the return north diverting via Edge Hill.

Bothwell Junction: View south east just past the site of Bothwell Junction. The line from Bothwell station ran through red brick building on the right and continued behind the camera towards Uddingston East. The line which forked off to run north east towards Whifflet curved round through the houses on the left. In between was a series of sidings. For a view in the opposite direction see image [[58572]].

Uddingston East: View north west over the site of the station today.

Uddingston East: View north west towards the site of the station taken from the roundabout on North British Road. The trackbed continues as a footpath behind the camera.

Leith Prince of Wales Dry Dock: Street art. Rails remain embedded in the cobbles at the Prince of Wales Dock at Leith.

Uddingston East: The former railway to Bothwell and beyond is commemorated in North British Road (Spindlehowe Road in railway days) where there was an overbridge from the site of which this view south east was taken.

Bad Friedrichshall: Trainload of brand new Audis straight from the factory for export waiting the right of way at Bad Friedrichshall

Cockenzie Power Station: The coal discharge shed here, south of the power station, was rather prominent on its embankment until it was demolished in 2017 a couple of years after the power station itself. The branch continued climbing sharply to the buffers (to the right). That spot would make a commanding viewpoint - if the whole embankment weren't fenced off. The yellow sign reads 'Power Station Coal Plant'.

Morecambe Euston Road: DRS 68028 brings up the rear of the Sellafield to Heysham Power Station flasks on 29th March 2018. The train is passing the site of the LNWR Euston Road station, prior to reversal onto the Heysham branch. This loco is earmarked for Trans-Pennine passenger services.

Manchester Piccadilly: DB 66135 approaches through platform No.14 at Piccadilly with a London Gateway Port to Trafford Park intermodal on 29th March 2018.

Blindwells Opencast Disposal Site: The first steps in construction of the brownfield new town of Blindwells appear to be under way. The start of the long-severed NCB branch can be seen. A stranded MAS signal (once clearly visible from the ECML) survives among the vegetation round about where the distant orange jackets are in middle of the picture. I had meant to get a closer look, but I've left it too late as the site is now fenced off!

Haifa Central: I didn't expect an Eastern Med cruise to provide many railway opportunities but the ship berthed alongside the main line in Haifa where there is a very frequent passenger service and plenty of freight movement, except on the Sabbath. Israel Railways No.733 approaches Haifa Central with a push pull service for Tel-Aviv, formed of Swiss built double deck stock. The loco, one of a class of fifty eight, was built by Alstom in Valencia and the similarities with the EWS Class 67 were immediately apparent.

Haifa Central: The Port of Haifa was constructed in 1933, during the British Mandate in Palestine. These transfer sheds have a very British railway feel about them and contrast with the modern office block behind. An Israel Railways push-pull local passenger service approaches Haifa Central on the main line. 29th March 2019

Shettleston Junction: The twin bridges at Shettleston showing forewarning of a road closure for inspection. (But for which bridge?) The bridge carrying the Airdrie line and Shettleston loop has some cracks in the abutments so it might be that one again.

Angel Road: The barren wastes of Angel Road station on the Lea Valley Line, due to close on 19th May 2019, looking north on 29th March 2019.

Haifa Central: There is a programme of electrification of main lines in Israel and as part of this new Traxx electric locomotives are being delivered. In March 2019 two brand new 30xx series electrics were parked alongside the main line between Haifa East and Haifa Central, adjacent to the docks, awaiting final delivery. These will replace the diesel locomotives on the main line passenger services in due course. Also visible are four stabled EMD G12 diesels, used for local trip freight and shunting around Haifa. A local push pull service passes on the running lines.

Haifa Central: Israel Railways 1323, a Vossloh Euro 3000 Bo-Bo diesel, seen at Haifa Central with a double-deck push-pull set on 29th March 2019. This class of twenty four locos were introduced between 2011 and 2013 and are a modern development of the EWS Class 67. Israel Railways also operate the Euro 4000 Co-Co variant.

Meridian Water: View south from the noisy North Circular Road viaduct across the Lea Valley Line at Edmonton in north London, showing the new Meridian Water station under construction on 29th March 2019. On the left is the bay platform for the new shuttle service to Stratford that will begin concurrently with the station's opening in May 2019 - unless, like Crossrail, there are any delays that go on forever. The existing station at Angel Road, on the north side of the North Circular Road but not accessible from it, will then close.

Angel Road: 317 343 from London Liverpool Street, speeding past the soon-to-be-closed Angel Road station on the Lea Valley Line, on 29th March 2019.

Angel Road: 317 652 with the last northbound train of the morning to call at Angel Road station, the 0930 Stratford - Bishop's Stortford, seen departing, eight minutes late at 09.52 on 29th March 2019. There won't be anymore northbound trains calling until mid-afternoon and even the 09.52 southbound was five minutes late too. Soon there will be no trains calling at this station as closure has been set for 19th May and replacement with the still under construction Meridian Water station, just to the south. Surprisingly, two people actually alighted from this northbound train.

Meridian Water: 317 672 to either Bishop's Stortford or Hertford East passing the still under construction Meridian Water station on 29th March 2019. This line, commonly known as the Lea Valley Line, was opened by the Northern & Eastern Railway Company from Stratford to Broxbourne in 1840 with the Eastern Counties Railway providing the service and which Company was absorbed into the newly-formed Great Eastern Railway on its formation on 1st January 1862. The bay platform which will be used by the planned Stratford shuttle is on the left.

Haifa Central: The Dagon grain silo sits adjacent to Haifa Central railway station. It is huge, over 200' high with a capacity of 100,000 tons. It was built in 1953 and is visible all over the city of Haifa. Still in use today the grain arrives in ships, mainly from Russia and Ukraine, as seen here. Grain is distributed from Haifa by both road transport and rail and railway hopper wagons can be seen in the siding underneath. 29th March 2019.

Meridian Water: The new Meridian Water station, still under construction, seen from the south end of the doomed Angel Road station, on 29th March 2019. The station is due to open on 19th May 2019 when Angel Road will close. According to the latest edition of 'Today's Railways' magazine, Meridian Water will at first only be served by the same number of trains currently calling at Angel Road - which means that for most of the day, people wishing to visit the retail outlets for which the new station is ideally placed, will still have to make their way by bus, which is a bit ridiculous. The vast area of current wasteland on the west side of the line at this location is earmarked for new housing so, presumably, when that is completed, Meridian Water's service will be upgraded to all day. Also, the new shuttle service from the bay platform to Stratford that was supposed to start with the station's opening in May, is now not going to start until September 2019 as also indicated in the report in 'Today's Railways'. Will the station actually open in May - or will there be another delay, a la Crossrail?

Haifa Central: The majority of passenger trains I saw in Haifa were locomotive hauled push-pull sets but occasionally one of these DMUs passed through. They are ABB Scandia IC3 sets built in Denmark, of which 50 3-car articulated units were introduced in the 1990s. This pair of units is passing the cruise terminal and approaching Haifa Central from the north on 29th March 2019. The limited number of passenger doors is very noticeable.

Meridian Water: The new station at Meridian Water on the Lea Valley Line in the Edmonton district of North London, seen here under construction from the south-east, on 29th March 2019. It is due to open in May 2019 when the existing station at Angel Road, just to the north on the other side of the North Circular Road viaduct, will close.

Meridian Water: Meridian Water station, due to open in May 2019, seen here from the north-east on the beautiful spring-like morning of 29th March 2019. The current station at Angel Road, just to the north and the least-used in all London, will then close.

Meridian Water: 379 023 with a Stansted Express service from London Liverpool Street passing the still under construction Meridian Water station, due to open in May 2019, on 29th March 2019. Just where the name Meridian Water came from is, like Canary Wharf, anybody's guess. Perhaps suggestions were put into a hat and Meridian Water was the first one pulled out.

Angel Road: Blink and you'll miss it. The unobtrusive 'entrance' to Angel Road station on the Lea Valley Line in north London takes some finding as there are no directions to it whatsoever from surrounding streets and it was only by sheer perseverance that I found it. I did ask a gentleman if he knew the way but he looked at me as if I was speaking Swahili so he was no use. And even when you've found this entrance, there are tons of steep steps to go down and then a walk alongside the line for several hundred yards until you reach the station itself. No wonder its been London's least-used station for many years but its all set to end on 19th May 2019 when the station is closed and replaced by the new Meridian Water station, just to the south, assuming there are no delays a la Crossrail. This view is on 29th March 2019.

Angel Road: The soon to be closed Angel Road station on the Lea Valley Line, on 29th March 2019. This station was opened as Edmonton by the Northern & Eastern Railway on their line from Stratford to Broxbourne on 15th September 1840 and was renamed Water Lane on 1st March 1849 when the Eastern Counties Railway, to which the N & E was leased, opened a branch north-west to Enfield Town and which had a better-sited station at Edmonton. These lines became part of the Great Eastern Railway on 1st January 1862 and it was the GER who renamed the station Angel Road on 1st January 1864. The route to Enfield via the N & E line from Stratford was extremely circuitous and in 1872 the GER opened their 'cut-off' lines to Enfield and Chingford as well as the Lea Valley Line from a new junction at Bethnal Green, east of Liverpool Street. A new high level station at Edmonton was provided (later Lower Edmonton and now Edmonton Green) for Enfield trains with just a shuttle between Angel Road and Edmonton surviving until withdrawn by the LNER on 7th September 1939 which saw the closure of the low level 1849 station at Edmonton. The line remained open for freight and diversions but was eventually abandoned on 7th September 1964 and part of the route is now a footpath while the low level station at Edmonton is now lost to a massive road roundabout.

Angel Road: 317 661 to London Liverpool Street speeding past the little-used - and soon to be never used at all - Angel Road station on the Lea Valley Line in north London, on 29th March 2019. Its closure is set for 19th May 2019 when its replacement station at Meridian Water, just to the south, will open. (NB: continued delays meant that Meridian Water did not open until Monday, 3rd June 2019 with Angel Road finally closing for good the previous Friday, 31st May.)

Haymarket MPD: Two ScotRail HST power cars stand at the east end of Haymarket Depot on 29 March 2021. A 4-car 158 pretends to be the carriages of the one on the left, while the one on the right (with the beard net) has a 170 right behind it. Space must be short.

Buckshaw Parkway: Exactly a week after Black 5 44871 moved from the ELR to Carnforth, 45407 completed the same move ahead of continuing to Fort William the following day. On 29 March 2022 45407 is seen with support coach approaching Buckshaw Parkway, the locos smokebox numberplate and shedplate backed in BR (ScR) blue and carrying a 'Jcobite' headboard..

Cogie Hill: One of the last surviving G&KER buildings, the crossing keeper's cottage at Cogie Hill, was recently damaged in a road accident and needs substantial structural repairs. This was the view towards Garstang on 23rd March 2022 from the point where (until 1963) the single track crossed the road at a shallow angle (See [[60670]]).

Bradkirk Junction: The exposed bricks in this field at Bradkirk reveal that this wasn't always the rural location it is now. The brickworks that operated here had buildings on either side of the siding. The siding linked in to the Bradkirk to Wrea Green line that followed the line of trees through the filled in cutting. The brickworks appears to have closed around the time of WWII. The operational line to Blackpool North, and Bradkirk footbridge, are just behind the camera. c1900 map insert reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland http://maps.nls.uk/index.html

Kirkham North Junction: Blackpool South services pass at Kirkham on 29th March 2022. 156455 has just left the branch and briefly run 'wrong line' before crossing to the Up Line. 156429 has just left the station and is heading for the branch, running on the non-electrified line towards the divergence behind the camera. The old railway goods shed is still commercially used, more than fifty years after the last train left. Although not a particularly scenic location there is a very pleasant aroma from Fox's biscuits factory on the left.

Bradkirk Junction: Bradkirk Junction opened as a triangle in 1846 and was the start of the Lytham branch, now part of the Blackpool South line. In 1874 a cut off line was opened from Kirkham North Junction to Wrea Green, in conjunction with the doubling of the line to Lytham, and the sharp east to south curve here closed. However, the single line Bradkirk to Wrea Green link remained and was used for transferring light engines and empty stock between depots and sidings around Blackpool North and Blackpool South/Central. It appears to have been disused after around 1950 but wasn't officially closed until 1967. Most of the long cutting has been filled in but remains are visible at the Bradkirk end. This is the view from the old line towards the extant Blackpool North line in March 2022, with the south to west curve clearly visible. The shallow cutting in the field marks the line of the siding for the brick works that was once here. Bradkirk footbridge was rebuilt for electrification and is no longer the vantage point it once was.

Wrea Green: 156429 has just passed through the site of Wrea Green station (beyond the bridge) on 29th March 2022 and is on the 1874 link to Kirkham North Junction, which replaced the old line to Bradkirk. The signal protects the main line but also allows trains to run into Platform 1 at Kirkham if the Blackpool South line was operating as an isolated shuttle. In practice all branch trains run through to Preston and this unit is on a diagram that also includes trips to Colne and Ormskirk. The long lens has accentuated the slight gradients on what is a fairly level stretch of railway line.

Kirkham and Wesham: It is a few years since 'The Railway' pub at Kirkham closed and was converted into flats, so it is a nice touch (or an oversight) that the roof sign has been left in place. 331011 leaves the station heading for Blackpool North with a service from Manchester Airport on 29th March 2022.

Bradkirk Junction: Rails from the old direct line to Blackpool Central, latterly a civil engineers siding, are still in place at Bradkirk to the west of Kirkham. Having run parralel to the surviving line for some distance the start of a divergence can be seen in this eastwards view, which led to a long removed Up Line flyover to gain the line on to Preston. The more sharply curved formation on the far right was the old link to Wrea Green on the Blackpool South line. 331024, heading for Liverpool Lime St, passes the scene on 29th March 2022.

Kirkham and Wesham: 390002 slides through Kirkham and Wesham with the morning service from Birmingham New St to Blackpool North on 29th March 2022. Compared to many Pendolino diagrams that are around the 1100 mile mark, this one is quite leisurely. Oxley, New St, Blackpool, Euston, Edinburgh and Polmadie amounts to a mere 800 miles for the day.

Kirkham North Junction: Catenary now clutters the views from this footbridge, to the west of Kirkham station. See image [[62067]] from 2017. 195111 passes the junction with the Blackpool South branch on a service to York on 29th March 2022.

Kirkham North Junction: 156452 joins the single line branch to Blackpool South at Kirkham North Junction on 29th March 2022. This view is from the Tarnbrick bridge carrying the A583 Preston Blackpool main road. The branch was singled many years ago but there are recurring attempts to reinstate a passing loop at St. Annes to allow the service frequency to be increased beyond the present limit of one train per hour.