This day in history 04 May

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Woodhill Road Halt: L&YR 2-4-2T 50651, with a 26D Bury shedplate on its smokebox, calls at the small Woodhill Road Halt on its way to Holcombe Brook on the last day of services. Conductor rails still in place alongside the line. (Does anyone have pictures of the electric trains on this branch?) I visited this site in December 2008 and found that not only has the station gone but also the embankment has made way for housing too, with the spoil apparently moved up the hill to fill in Brandlesholme Road cutting see image [[21238]], where houses were also being built. Print credited to N R Knight.

Bury and Tottington District Railway
W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 1952


Holcombe Brook: Although this print of 50651 and its push pull set has no details it is believed to have been taken on the last day of passenger services, just outside the Holcombe Brook terminus at the start of the 1:40 gradient down to Tottington, hence the wagon brakes notice. Unfortunately, this small collection of branch pictures does not contain any of Tottington or Greenmount stations in operation. Does anyone have any that they could supply to our editor to complete the set?.

Bury and Tottington District Railway
W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 1952


Woodhill Road Halt: Woodhill Road Halt was the first stop on the Holcombe Brook branch after leaving the East Lancashire line at Tottington Junction. Situated in a Bury suburb this view, back down the hill towards the main line, is undated but believed taken on the last day of passenger services after the dc electrics ceased and steam push pull trains had taken over for the last fifteen months of the branch passenger services. Print credited to N R Knight.

Bury and Tottington District Railway
W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 1952


Woolfold: L&YR 2-4-2T 50651 climbs away from Woolfold station with its last day push pull train from Bury Bolton St, next stop Sunnywood Halt, on its way to Holcombe Brook. This print had no location details but there was only one passing loop on the branch, the points for which can just be made out behind the rear coach. The line in the foreground is the shunting neck for the goods yard. The raised signal indicates the signal box was switched out on this occasion. Print credited to N R Knight. See image [[21839]] for a modern day 'Then and Now' comparison picture of the location.

Bury and Tottington District Railway
W A Camwell Collection (Courtesy Mark Bartlett) 1952


Earby: 'The Dalesman' railtour at Earby on 4 May 1963 with Gresley K4 no 3442 running round its train after visiting Barnoldswick see image [[32149]]. The special, which ran from Bradford Forster Square, was organised by the RCTS (West Riding Branch).

Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway
K A Gray 1963


Grassington and Threshfield: Preserved ex-LNER class K4 no 3442 The Great Marquess stands at the buffer stops at Grassington on 4 May 1963 shortly after arriving with the RCTS (West Riding Branch) 'Dalesman' railtour from Bradford Forster Square.

Yorkshire Dales Railway
K A Gray 1963


Arthington: No 3442 The Great Marquess at Arthington station on 4 May 1963 with The Dalesman railtour. The locomotive has just run round the triangle and recoupled to the rear of the train prior to working back west towards Embsay Junction and a visit to the Grassington branch.

Leeds and Thirsk Railway
K A Gray 1963


Embsay Junction: Gresley K4 2-6-0 no 3442 The Great Marquess at Embsay Junction on 4 May 1963 running round the RCTS (West Riding Branch) 'Dalesman' railtour, which had originated from Bradford Forster Square. See image [[31094]]

Ilkley Branch (Midland Railway)
K A Gray 1963


Earby: 3442 The Great Marquess stands at Earby, Lancs, between Colne and Skipton, with 'The Dalesman' railtour on 4 May 1963. The special, organised by the RCTS (West Riding Branch) was the first outing in preservation for no 3442.

Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway
K A Gray 1963


Bradford Forster Square: Gresley K4 2-6-0 no 3442 The Great Marquess about to leave Bradford Forster Square on 4 May 1963 with what is believed to be the locomotive's first outing in preservation. The train is The Dalesman, organised by the West Riding branch of the RCTS.

Leeds and Bradford Railway
K A Gray 1963


Kings Park: Simultaneous arrivals of football specials at Kings Park, one steam hauled and the other behind an EE Type 1. Carriage doors of course are being opened before the trains have come to a standstill. The occasion was the 1963 Cup Final at Hampden, between Rangers and Celtic, watched by a crowd of almost 130,000.

Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Brian Haslehust 1963


Barnoldswick: The first outing in preservation of no 3442 The Great Marquess took place on 4 May 1963. The RCTS Dalesman railtour ran from Bradford Forster Square and visited a number of branches in Lancashire and Yorkshire. One such visit was along the former Barnoldswick Railway, a short branch off the line between Nelson and Skipton. The K4 is seen here running round the special at Barnoldswick terminus late on that Saturday afternoon in 1963.

Barnoldswick Railway
K A Gray 1963


Arthington: K4 2-6-0 no 3442 The Great Marquess during a photostop with The Dalesman railtour on 4 May 1963. The train is standing at Arthington station, facing in the direction of Leeds, having just arrived from Bradford Forster Square. The Leeds to Harrogate line platforms can be seen on the extreme right. The tour was organised by the West Riding branch of the RCTS. See image [[33226]]

Leeds and Thirsk Railway
K A Gray 1963


Kings Park: Supporters heading for Hampden after the simultaneous arrival of two football specials at Kings Park on Cup Final day 1963. Rangers and Celtic were meeting in the final for the first time since the war, attracting a massive crowd of 129,643. The game ended in a draw and the replay eleven days later was also watched by a crowd of more than 120,000. No nonsense about penalty shoot-outs!

Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Brian Haslehust 1963


Barnoldswick: The Dalesman railtour of 4 May 1963 was organised by the RCTS West Riding branch and hauled throughout by 3442 The Great Marquess. Starting and finishing at Bradford Forster Square the special visited various branches in Yorkshire and Lancashire. 3442 is seen here running round at the terminus at Barnoldswick (colloq. Barlick) where, in the absence of on-train dining facilities, the opportunity to purchase one of the renowned Stanley's Crumpets was doubtless greatly appreciated by many of the participants.

Barnoldswick Railway
K A Gray 1963


Mount Florida: Supporters heading for Hampden on Cup Final day 1963, after the simultaneous arrival of two blue train specials at Mount Florida. Rangers and Celtic were meeting in the final for the first time since the war, attracting a massive crowd of 129,643. The game ended in a draw, with Rangers winning the replay eleven days later. There would no doubt also have been plenty of specials for the replay, as another huge crowd of more than 120,000 turned up for it.

Cathcart District Railway
Brian Haslehust 1963


Embsay Junction: The first post-preservation passenger outing of Gresley K4 2-6-0 no 3442 The Great Marquess took place on 4 May 1963 when the locomotive hauled the RCTS (West Riding Branch) 'Dalesman' railtour out of Bradford Forster Square. The train is seen here on the day shortly after passing Embsay Junction on the Grassington branch.

Ilkley Branch (Midland Railway)
K A Gray 1963


Holbeck Shed: Jubilee 45562 Alberta stands in the shed yard at Holbeck in May 1963.

Leeds Extension (North Midland Railway)
K A Gray 1963


Grassington and Threshfield: The RCTS Dalesman railtour at Grassington on 4 May 1963 behind Gresley K4 2-6-0 no 3442 'The Great Marquess'.

Yorkshire Dales Railway
K A Gray 1963


Plates, signs, notices etc: Closure notice, Inveresk, East Fortune and East Linton, 4 May 1964.

North British Railway
David Panton 1964


Glasgow St Enoch: 45124 and 80050 at St Enoch station bringing in stock for Kilmarnock and East Kilbride

City of Glasgow Union Railway
John Robin 1964


Tweedmouth: The remains of the straight shed at 52D Tweedmouth during demolition on 4th May 1968. The roundhouse in the right background still survives in 2013, albeit now derelict following a fire some years ago. See image [[40716]]

Newcastle and Berwick Railway
Bill Jamieson 1968


Tillynaught: A dreich day at Tillynaught Junction, just after 8pm on Saturday 4 May 1968, with the driver of the final coast train from Aberdeen to Elgin exchanging tokens with the Tillynaught signalman. Meantime, the last eastbound train (hauled by Birmingham Type 2 D5331) waits in the passing loop.

Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
David Spaven 1968


Elgin East: The last ever departure board at Elgin East on Saturday 4th May 1968, announcing the final trains to Aberdeen via the coast, as well as Cairnie Junction via the Craigellachie and Dufftown route. Note the board for 'rail bus to Aviemore' surviving three years after closure! Platforms 5 & 6 refer to the platforms of the adjacent ex-HR Elgin West station. See image [[26833]]

Morayshire Railway
David Spaven 1968


Tillynaught: D5331 with the final Moray Coast train from Elgin to Aberdeen waits to cross its westbound equivalent at Tillynaught Jct on 4 May 1968.

Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
David Spaven 1968


Elgin East: Suitable weather for a unique occasion in British Railways closure history at the ex-GNSR Elgin East station on 4th May 1968 - with the last trains for two different lines waiting side by side prior to departure. On the left at Platform 1 (the through road from ex-HR Elgin West station) is D5331 on the 19.09 (last Up) train to Aberdeen via Buckie, while at bay Platform 2 is a DMU forming the 19.07 (last Up) train via Craigellachie. (The EE Type 4 lurking in the background at the buffer end of Platform 4 is probably off the Scottish Malt Distillers Doncaster - Burghead/Muir of Ord block grain train.) See image [[26815]]

Morayshire Railway
David Spaven 1968


Teversall East: The SLS (Midland area) Farewell to GN Branch Lines in Derbys & Notts rail tour stands at the former GN station at Teversall East (Teversall until 1953) on 4 May 1968. In the background is the bridge carrying the Midland Railway route, while behind the camera the GN line ran on to serve two local collieries. The 6-car 101 DMU had arrived with the special from Birmingham New Street. The branch from Skegby Junction to Teversall East closed two days after the photograph was taken and the line from Kirkby-in-Ashfield to Shirebrook via Skegby some three weeks later.

Teversal and Silverhill Collieries Branch (Great Northern Railway)
K A Gray 1968


Plates, signs, notices etc: Overall the stock may have been more interesting in the early 1970s but in terms of moving people about (not unimportant) railways were surely at their nadir. Here there are only 6 trains a day between Kilmarnock and Glasgow during the week. Only 2 of them called at Stewarton and Dunlop and they were pick up only; the opposite applied in the evening so it was impossible to travel by train between those towns and Kilmarnock! The timetables then covered a whole year, in this case 4 May 1970 to 2 May 1971.

Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway
David Panton 1970


Fort William Headshunt: Grand Scottish Tour No.19 stands at Fort William after arrival from Edinburgh on 4 May 1974. All would be swept away the following year.

West Highland Railway
Bill Roberton 1974


Glenfinnan: A Mallaig bound excursion passes a BRCW Class 27 hauled service train at Glenfinnan on 4 May 1974.

Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway)
Bill Roberton 1974


Tulloch: A pair of Class 24 BR Type 2s near Tulloch, with an excursion to Fort William and Mallaig, on 4 May 1974.

West Highland Railway
Bill Roberton 1974


Motherwell: On Saturday 4th of May 1974, the last day of Class 50 hauled services to London Euston from Glasgow before the electric hauled Class 87s, 50045 is seen at Motherwell. A Central SMT Lodekka bus is on the overbridge ... and no, I didn't get the driver to adjust tops to suit me (IM)!

Clydesdale Junction Railway
Ian Millar 1974


Frances Colliery: No 29 with loaded wagons at the east end of the Frances Colliery site in May 1974. See image [[38712]]

Frances Colliery Railway (Earl of Rosslyn Collieries)
Bill Roberton 1974


Stirling: An unidentified type 2 takes a northbound train away from Stirling in May 1977.

Scottish Central Railway
John Furnevel 1977


Stirling: 27018+27103 leaving Stirling southbound on 4 May 1977 with a train from Inverness to Glasgow Queen Street.

Scottish Central Railway
John Furnevel 1977


Edinburgh Waverley: The SRPS preserved J36 no 673 Maude at Edinburgh Waverley 'sub' platforms with the 'Rainhill Commemorative' from Falkirk - Edinburgh - Inverkeithing and return on 4 May 1980, a rehearsal for her epic trip to Rainhill.

North British Railway
Bill Roberton 1980


Edinburgh Waverley: Lost Railfreight. J36 0-6-0 65243 'Maude' runs round its train (The SRPS Rainhill Commemorative) at Waverley station on 4 May 1980. On either side are vehicles for the carriage of parcels, a traffic lost - but about to be resurrected - to rail. #COP26

North British Railway
Bill Roberton 1980


Haymarket: NB 0-6-0 no 673 Maude passing through Haymarket on 4 May 1980 with an SRPS special see image [[32976]]. Approaching in the opposite direction along platform 2 is a class 40 running light engine having just left Haymarket Tunnel, presumably on its way to Haymarket MPD.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Jim Peebles 1980


Haymarket: NB 0-6-0 no 673 Maude photographed with her first railtour about to pass through Haymarket station on 4 May 1980. The special ran from Falkirk Grahamston and, although no headboard is being carried, the tour is logged on SBJ as The Rainhill Commemorative. [With thanks to Alan Young, SRPS]

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Jim Peebles 1980


Rotherham Masborough: View north from platform 4 at Rotherham Masborough on a scorching hot day in May 1981. Holbeck 'Peak' no 45073 has just run through platform 1 and passed below Midland Road bridge heading for Leeds with a train from Bristol.

North Midland Railway
John Furnevel 1981


Rotherham Masborough: 'Oil be seeing you...' crew change for a class 47 with a tank train at the south end of Rotherham Masborough station in May 1981. In the background an EE Type 4 waits for a path with another northbound freight.

North Midland Railway
John Furnevel 1981


Rotherham Masborough: A class 47 takes a freight south through Rotherham Masborough station in May 1981 on the Sheffield avoiding line. Held in the down loop is a class 40 with a ballast train.

North Midland Railway
John Furnevel 1981


Rotherham Masborough: A class 47 restarts a northbound tank train at Rotherham Masborough station in May 1981 following a stop for a crew change. See image [[29803]]

North Midland Railway
John Furnevel 1981


Rotherham Masborough: 'Good grief... there's a story here about the possibility of tilting trains in the future!' A couple of sceptics catch up with the latest news on the barrow crossing at Rotherham Masborough on a sunny afternoon in May 1981. Meantime, a York - Bristol express runs south through the station at speed behind 47445.

North Midland Railway
John Furnevel 1981


Rotherham Masborough: Bescot class 47 no 47386 brings a train of 100t oil tanks under Coronation Bridge and north through Rotherham Masborough station in May 1981. The station finally closed in October 1988.

North Midland Railway
John Furnevel 1981


Rotherham Masborough: A train of 100t tanks rumbles north through platform 3 at Rotherham Masborough in May 1981. The train is on the goods lines from Tapton Junction avoiding Sheffield. The main north east - south west lines which run through platforms 1 and 2 are just visible under Midland Road bridge in the background. See image [[39925]]

North Midland Railway
John Furnevel 1981


Rotherham Masborough: Thornaby shed's Brush Type 4 no 47052 approaching Rotherham Masborough from the north on a bright May morning in 1981 with a train of oil tanks from Teesside.

North Midland Railway
John Furnevel 1981


Motherwell MPD: Pictured opposite Motherwell shed on 4th May 1982 as far as I can recall. 20099 on a freight service, comprising steel rails by the looks of it.

Motherwell Deviation Line (Caledonian Railway)
Roger Geach 1982


Clydebank: A well kept Clydebank station on 4 May 1985 with an afternoon service for Dalmuir arriving.

Clydebank to Dalmuir (North British Railway)
Mark Dufton 1985


Willesden Junction High Level: The shape of things to come...! One of the first of the privately owned Foster Yeoman class 59 locomotives has just crossed the WCML with its aggregates train at Willesden Junction in May 1986. The freight is on the link from Acton Wells to Kensal Green Junctions taking it from the West London to the North London line. See image [[23123]]

Hampstead Junction Railway (London and North Western Railway)
John Furnevel 1986


Dundee: A class 47 brings an evening train from the south down the hill towards Dundee station in May 1987. The Tay Bridge can be seen in the left background, as can the maintenance control centre building standing on the site of the former Esplanade station.

Tay Bridge and Associated Lines (North British Railway)
John Furnevel 1987


Macclesfield: An up HST runs alongside the River Bollin in 1987. For a more modern view see image [[47609]].

North Staffordshire Railway
Ken Strachan 1987


Dundee: A class 47 hauling an evening Aberdeen - Glasgow Queen Street train climbs away from Dundee on 4 May 1987.

Tay Bridge and Associated Lines (North British Railway)
John Furnevel 1987


Llandudno Junction: 46229 Duchess of Hamilton makes an atmospheric restart from Llandudno Junction on 4 May 1991 with the west-bound Ynys Mon Express working to Holyhead, as a BR InterCity HST stops alongside heading east.

Chester and Holyhead Railway
David Pesterfield 1991


Llandudno Junction: 46229 Duchess of Hamilton makes a water stop at Llandudno Junction with the Holyhead bound Ynys Mon Express on 4 May 1991. Railfreight grey liveried 47107 can be seen stabled by the carriage siding to the right of view See image [[27784]]

Chester and Holyhead Railway
David Pesterfield 1991


Colwyn Bay: Stanier Coronation Class 46229 'Duchess of Hamilton' is seen running alongside the A55 expressway, between Colwyn Bay and Llandudno Junction, whilst working the Ynys Mons special to Holyhead on 4th May 1991.

Chester and Holyhead Railway
David Pesterfield 1991


Colwyn Bay: Stanier Pacific no 46229 Duchess of Hamilton runs alongside the A55 Expressway between Colwyn Bay and Llandudno Junction on 4 May 1991 bound for Holyhead with the Pathfinder Tours Ynys Mon Express.

Chester and Holyhead Railway
David Pesterfield 1991


Llandudno Junction: Stanier Coronation 7P Pacific 46229 Duchess of Hamilton being replenished with water at the east end of Llandudno Junction station on 4 May 1991 while working the return leg of the Ynys Mon special from Holyhead.

Chester and Holyhead Railway
David Pesterfield 1991


Llandudno Junction: A class 47 (now confirmed to be 47107) and a class 151 prototype 3-car Sprinter set, photographed at Llandudno Junction carriage shed in May 1991.

Chester and Holyhead Railway
David Pesterfield 1991


Ardmore Level Crossing: A Glasgow bound Class 303 approaches Ardmore East Level Crossing in May 1994 on a service from Helensburgh.

Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway
John McIntyre 1994


Redhill: A 12-car emu bound for London Bridge about to leave platform 2 at Redhill on 4 May 2002.

South Eastern Railway
Ian Dinmore 2002


Haywards Heath: Platform view south towards Brighton from Haywards Heath station in May 2002. [Ref query 1674]

London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
Ian Dinmore 2002


Worthing: A westbound train destined for Portsmouth Harbour about to leave platform 3 at Worthing in May 2002

London and Brighton Railway
Ian Dinmore 2002


Cowdenbeath: A fine May afternoon at Cowdenbeath station in 2005, with First ScotRail 170456 awaiting its departure time with a service to Edinburgh Waverley.

Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
John Furnevel 2005


Cowdenbeath: An afternoon service to Edinburgh Waverley about to leave the southbound platform of a particularly neat and tidy Cowdenbeath station in May 2005.

Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
John Furnevel 2005


Glenrothes with Thornton: View east over a deserted Glenrothes with Thornton station on a quiet Wednesday in May 2005.

Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
John Furnevel 2005


Ladybank: View south at Ladybank in May 2005 as an Edinburgh - Dundee train enters the station.

Edinburgh and Northern Railway
John Furnevel 2005


Ladybank: A train from Edinburgh about to leave Ladybank for Dundee on 4 May 2005.

Edinburgh and Northern Railway
John Furnevel 2005


Ladybank: Exterior view of Ladybank station, seen from the west in May 2005. Ladybank is claimed to be the oldest 'unaltered' station in Scotland (that presumably excludes the blue and white porch!)

Edinburgh and Northern Railway
John Furnevel 2005


Dalgety Bay: A ScotRail service heading for Edinburgh runs into platform 1 at Dalgety Bay on a pleasant May morning in 2005.

Aberdour Line (North British Railway)
John Furnevel 2005


Elderslie: 66410 at WH Malcolm, Elderslie to collect freight

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Graham Morgan 2007


Elderslie: 66410 at WH Malcolm in Elderslie to collect freight for transit to Grangemouth

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Graham Morgan 2007


Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, bridge below Beardmore Street bridge, looking W from double track tunnel.

Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway
Alistair MacKenzie 2007


Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, bridge below Beardmore Street bridge, LH tunnel double track.

Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway
Alistair MacKenzie 2007


Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, bridge below Beardmore Street bridge, RH tunnel single track, siding to sewage works, whisky plant and oil depot.

Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway
Alistair MacKenzie 2007


Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, bridge below Beardmore Street bridge, looking from W.

Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway
Alistair MacKenzie 2007


Dalmuir Riverside: The trackbed of the former Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, looking west from Beardmore Street bridge in May 2007.

Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway
Alistair MacKenzie 2007


Chivas Bros Siding [Dalmuir]: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, trackbed looking W at rear of Chivas Regal/Pernod/Ricard Plant.

Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway
Alistair MacKenzie 2007


Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, the Caley Bridge over Dumbarton Road.

Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway
Alistair MacKenzie 2007


Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, near Dumbarton Road, trackbed looking E.

Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway
Alistair MacKenzie 2007


Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, bridge over Agamemnon Street looking E.

Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway
Alistair MacKenzie 2007


Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line at Golden Jubilee Hospital, looking to site of Dalmuir Riverside Station.

Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway
Alistair MacKenzie 2007


Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, points lever still in place.

Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway
Alistair MacKenzie 2007


Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, looking W. Golden Jubilee Hospital to the left.

Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway
Alistair MacKenzie 2007


Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, bridge over Agamemnon Street.

Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway
Alistair MacKenzie 2007


Dalmuir Riverside: Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire line, bridge over Agamemnon Street, Dalmuir.

Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway
Alistair MacKenzie 2007


Elderslie: Driver of 66410 finds a use for his jacket as a sun screen. WH Malcolm, Elderslie

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Graham Morgan 2007


Elderslie: Container loader hard at work at the WH Malcolm Elderslie depot

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Graham Morgan 2007


Elderslie Fly Under: Fly Under at Elderslie West Junction where the track headed for Cart Junction

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Graham Morgan 2007


Cart Junction: Rail Bridge at Cart Junction that took the railway to Bridge of Weir and Kilmacolm. The trackbed here is now blocked by the A737

Bridge of Weir Railway
Graham Morgan 2007


Elderslie West Junction: Mile post or sign post marker at the fly under at Elderslie West Junction

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Graham Morgan 2007


Elderslie: Construction work continuing at the WH Malcolm Elderslie depot, here a water tanker is at work keeping the dust down

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Graham Morgan 2007


Canal Junction [Elderslie]: Looking to Elderslie East Junction, the trackbed now part of the cycle path network

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Graham Morgan 2007


Kilbarchan: Looking East, this view shows the rail bridges at the Western end of the Kilbarchan station. To the right was Platform 1, with the bridge to the left going to Platform 2

Kilbarchan Loop (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Graham Morgan 2007


North Johnstone: End of the line? The trackbed at North Johnstone comes to an abrupt halt, the site for the almost complete Morrison superstore taking its place. The original Johnstone North station was located where the pylon to the right stands

Kilbarchan Loop (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Graham Morgan 2007


Ferguslie Viaduct: Although now a railway embankment, it was at this point that that the Paisley & Barrhead District Railway passed under the main line to Ayr

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Graham Morgan 2007


Ferguslie Viaduct: 66080 approaches Elderslie East Junction with an empty coal train heading for Hunterston

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Graham Morgan 2007


Bristol Harbour: Peckett 0-6-0ST Portbury departs from the Cumberland Basin terminus of the Bristol Harbour Railway and Industrial Museum on 4 May.

Bristol Harbour Railway
Peter Todd 2008


Parson Street: Consolation photograph of a Voyager Cross Country service passing through Parson Street station, Bristol on 4 May 2008. (The expected star of the show, 71000 Duke of Gloucester, failed to arrive with a scheduled Bristol - Plymouth excursion following a mechanical problem.)

Bristol and Exeter Railway
Peter Todd 2008


Kinghorn: 67 003 pulls away from Kinghorn on 4 May 2009 with the returning EWS-stocked Outer Circle service.

Edinburgh and Northern Railway
David Panton 2009


North Berwick: 322 481 waits at North Berwick on 4 May 2009 with the next service to Edinburgh Waverley. Compare this with the photograph taken 25 years previously (from my pram) see image [[19087]]. Apart from the rails there is no single point of similarity. The buffers were moved slightly towards Edinburgh when the old station buildings were demolished.

North Berwick Branch (North British Railway)
David Panton 2009


Dalmeny: EWS 67003 brings a returning Fife Circle commuter train into Dalmeny on 4 May 2009

Forth Bridge Railway
Bill Roberton 2009


Bower Bridge: Bridge on the Waverley route around half a mile in the Heriot direction from Fountainhall station near Brockhouse Farm seen in May 2009.

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
John Steven 2009


Kinghorn: The evening EWS-stocked Outer Circle service pulls into Kinghorn on 4 May 2009 behind 67 003.

Edinburgh and Northern Railway
David Panton 2009


North Berwick: Buffer stops at North Berwick on 4 May 2009 with 322 481 ready to start the journey back to Waverley.

North Berwick Branch (North British Railway)
David Panton 2009


Ferniehirst Bridge: Waverley route bridge at Ferniehirst, between Stow and Bowland in May 2009.

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
John Steven 2009


North Berwick: Still there on the High Street 44 years on from the 1965 image change. Photographed at North Berwick on 4 May 2009.

North Berwick Branch (North British Railway)
David Panton 2009


Dalmeny: A 6-car 158 unusually employed on an off-peak service at Dalmeny on 4 May 2009.

Forth Bridge Railway
David Panton 2009


Carnforth: As work on the viaduct there continues, trains are still terminating at Arnside. TPE 185118 has collected a pilotman at Carnforth on 4 May and now crosses over to run wrong line through Silverdale to Arnside with a service from Manchester Airport. Passengers for stations from Grange-over-Sands to Barrow in Furness will have transferred to the bustitution service at Lancaster.

Ulverston and Lancaster Railway
Mark Bartlett 2011


Carnforth: The DRS Class 37s that have been in long term storage at Carnforth (37605/612/261) departed for Carlisle in April 2011 leaving only the six DRS Class 20s and BRCW Type 3 33030 on this road behind the station. However they have been joined by Brush Type 4 No. 47772 in faded RES red livery and a smart looking West Coast EE Type 3 No. 37214. At the other end of this long line, but less accessible for photographs, were Brush Type 4 No. 47768 in green undercoat and EE Type 3 No. 37668 in faded EWS livery.

Lancaster and Carlisle Railway
Mark Bartlett 2011


Abington: Ballast is drawn north to Abington's loops in 2012. The Clyde, Abington village, the motorway and services are in the background.

Caledonian Railway
Ewan Crawford 2012


Riccarton: The ruinous stationmaster's house at Riccarton as seen in 2012.

Border Union Railway (North British Railway)
Ewan Crawford 2012


Riccarton: The platform at Riccarton, seen partly restored in 2012. The viewpoint is just below the stationmaster's house near where the footbridge crossed over to the platform.

Border Union Railway (North British Railway)
Ewan Crawford 2012


Leyland: With Bradshaw in hand whilst filming in the North-West, Michael Portillo stands at Leyland on a rather dull Friday evening. The film crew had packed up and were about to move off when he kindly agreed to pose for one more photo after a long day on the road. He told me that he was making a programme on the railways around Manchester.

North Union Railway
John McIntyre 2013


Dalgety Bay: A4 60009 Union of South Africa heading home to Thornton Depot after working an excursion from York to Edinburgh, nearing Dalgety Bay on 4 May.

Aberdour Line (North British Railway)
Bill Roberton 2013


Canonbie Colliery Signal Box: View north towards Canonbie station, Rowanburn, on the Langholm branch on 4 May 2013. The branch trackbed is on the left with the old route into Canonbie Colliery on the right.

Langholm Branch (North British Railway)
Bruce McCartney 2013


Liddel Viaduct: Looking across Riddings Viaduct, spanning the Liddel Water. View towards Riddings Junction on 4 May 2013.

Langholm Branch (North British Railway)
Bruce McCartney 2013


Cranmore: GWR 0-6-2T 5637 running round its train at Cranmore on 4 May 2013.

East Somerset Railway
Peter Todd 2013


Cranmore: Scene at Cranmore on the East Somerset Railway on 4 May 2013 with GWR 0-6-2T no 5637 in the process of running round its train.

East Somerset Railway
Peter Todd 2013


Barassie Junction: Deltic D9000 Royal Scots Grey with the 6Z54 Brodie Works to Glasgow Works EMU drag, seen leaving Barassie sidings with 334025 in tow shortly after running round.

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Ken Browne 2013


Barassie: D9000 Royal Scots Grey approaching Barassie sidings dragging EMU 334025 from Brodie Works, Kilmarnock. After running round in the sidings the train will continue north to Glasgow Works.

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Ken Browne 2013


Barassie Junction: Deltic D9000 Royal Scots Grey leaves Barassie sidings on 4 May 2013 with the Kilmarnock Works to Glasgow Works EMU drag transferring unit 334025.

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Ken Browne 2013


Thames Ditton: 4555750, departing from Thames Ditton in Surrey, with a service from Hampton Court to Waterloo, on 4th May 2013. Withdrawal of the Class 455s commenced in 2022, the 40th anniversary of their introduction into service.

Hampton Court Branch (London and South Western Railway)
David Bosher 2013


Nuneaton North Chord: It's not every day that you get the chance to photograph the first passenger train on a new line. This is the 'Llandudno Victorian Statesman', joining Nuneaton North Chord on 4th May. The next passenger train will be the UK Railtours 'Whitehouse Wanderer' on 25th May.

Network Rail
Ken Strachan 2013


Surbiton: 455 5701 from rear with a Hampton Court to London Waterloo service calling at Surbiton on 4th May 2013. Nearly ten years on from this image the first 455s are now being withdrawn.

London and Southampton Railway
David Bosher 2013


Surbiton: 450016, from Waterloo to Basingstoke, arriving at Surbiton on 4th May 2013. Surbiton, of course, was the setting for the popular 1970s sitcom 'The Good Life' starring Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal, Penelope Keith and Paul Eddington, although all the outdoor scenes were filmed at Northwood in Middlesex.

London and Southampton Railway
David Bosher 2013


Thames Ditton: The up platform at Thames Ditton, the only intermediate station on the short Hampton Court branch, during a short sharp downpour on 4th May 2013. The branch from the main line west of Surbiton to Hampton Court station (on the south side of the Thames, the Palace is on the north) opened in 1849 with Thames Ditton station being opened in 1851.

Hampton Court Branch (London and South Western Railway)
David Bosher 2013


Thames Ditton: Thames Ditton on the Hampton Court branch, looking towards Waterloo, on 4th May 2013. The short Hampton Court branch from just west of Surbiton on the LSWR main line was opened in 1849; the terminus station is situated on the south bank of the Thames in the village of East Molesey but was named after the famous palace across the bridge on the north side. Thames Ditton station was added to the line in 1851.

Hampton Court Branch (London and South Western Railway)
David Bosher 2013


Bo'ness: D49 62712 Morayshire with a Thomas special near the Bo'ness terminus on 4 May 2014 see image [[47234]].

Slamannan and Borrowstounness Railway
Bill Roberton 2014


Linlithgow: K1 2-6-0 no 62005 speeds through Linlithgow on 4 May, destined for Fort William and the start of the Jacobite season.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Bill Roberton 2014


Bo'ness: 26038 on an SRPS 'Thomas' special near the B'oness terminus on 4 May. 62712 Morayshire is on the other end of the train.

Slamannan and Borrowstounness Railway
Bill Roberton 2014


Elsecar and Wentworth: Something else that used to belong in Exeter see image [[50901]]. This guards van is now a resident of Yorkshire, seen here on the Elsecar Heritage Railway in May 2015. The engine to its right looks interesting - it's either a 3 cylinder unit, or one of its exhaust downpipes has gone missing.

Elsecar Heritage Railway
Ken Strachan 2015


Elsecar and Wentworth: Steam ('Birkenhead') meets diesel ('Louise') in the former mine yard at Elsecar on 4 May 2015. see image [[51231]] Mercifully, there was no locomotive called Thelma - nor any 'Thunderbirds'.

Elsecar Heritage Railway
Ken Strachan 2015


Paterson's No 1 Siding: Driver's-eye equivalent view of the approach to Galashiels station. Scene on 4 May 2015 with a roadrail machine standing alongside the platform, work in progress on the Transport Interchange opposite, 2-way traffic reinstated on the A7 Ladhope Vale - all being closely observed by one of the Eildon Hills to the south.

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
John Furnevel 2015


Slateford: DRS 68006 having come off the 'sub' at Craiglockhart Junction runs through Slateford with an Edinburgh - Motherwell empty stock working (off a Fife service) on 4 May 2015.

Caledonian Railway
Bill Roberton 2015


Craiglockhart: DBS 66004 passes through the closed Craiglockhart Station on the Edinburgh 'sub' on 4 May 2015 with the 6S58 Lackenby - Dalzell 'slabs'.

Edinburgh, Suburban and Southside Junction Railway
Bill Roberton 2015


Galashiels: Work continuing at the new Galashiels station on 4 May 2015. The exit ramp down to road level and the pedestrian crossing is just to the left of the roadrail machine.

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
John Furnevel 2015


Tweedbank: The Borders Railway terminus at Tweedbank on Bank Holiday Monday 2015. Much going on, including work on the car parking area and various landscaping/planting activities. The blue-cladded structure is referred to on the BR website as the 'Train Operators Building'.

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
John Furnevel 2015


Tweedbank: Looking south from the east side of the line at Tweedbank on 4 May 2015, showing the area covered by the new station and its associated infrastructure.

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
John Furnevel 2015


Elsecar: 'Would all passengers please lean to the right...' 144023 breezes into Elsecar with a Sheffield service on 4 May. The 1897 former station building is out of sight to the right.

Elsecar to Mexborough Line (South Yorkshire, Doncaster and Goole Railway)
Ken Strachan 2015


Kilnknowe Junction: View south from Kilnknowe Street bridge showing the rail approach to Galashiels on 4 May 2015. A much tidier scene generally, with the Plumtreehall Brae footbridge now in place over the line in the background. See image [[47225]]

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
John Furnevel 2015


Tweedbank: Extract showing modified/updated layout at Tweedbank station - May 2015 see image [[13769]].

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Network Rail 2015


Redbridge Viaduct: View south from the new road bridge carrying Winston Road, Galashiels, looking towards Tweedbank on 4 May 2015, with construction work essentially complete and a general clean-up well underway. See image [[46467]]

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
John Furnevel 2015


Lydney Town: Lydney Town level crossing with, in the background, the replacement 2001 station for the original opened in 1875 and closed in 1960, Dean Forest Railway, seen from one of the coaches taking UK Railtours' day-trippers back to Bristol Temple Meads for the return excursion train to London, on the evening of a very warm and sunny Saturday, 4th May 2015.

Severn and Wye Railway
David Bosher 2015


Redbridge Viaduct: The re-excavated cutting at Langlee, seen from Winston Road, looking north west towards Galashiels on 4 May 2015 with Galafoot Lane footbridge in the distance. At this stage permanent way preparation work on the Borders Railway was nearing completion, as was much of the landscaping and fencing activity. Crew training turns over the new route began running between Newcraighall and Tweedbank the following month. For the view back from the footbridge prior to commencementt of the re-excavation work see image [[71790]].

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
John Furnevel 2015


Elsecar and Wentworth: 'I'm sure there was an awning up there before I blew off steam.' Saddle tank 'Birkenhead' looking guilty at Elsecar Heritage Centre on 4th May. The red engine in the background is called 'Earl Fitzwilliam'. A mobile sweetshop operating from a vintage van can just be seen on the left.

Elsecar Heritage Railway
Ken Strachan 2015


Derby: A down CrossCountry Voyager meets an up East Midlands Meridian at Derby on 4 May, while a Nottingham service approaches Etches Park in the background. [Accidental duplicate image.]

North Midland Railway
Ken Strachan 2015


Derby: 2b or not 2b - a Northbound Voyager slows at Derby to pick up passengers distracted by Shakespearian debate. 4th May 2015.

Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway
Ken Strachan 2015


Tweedbank: Warm work at Tweedbank station on 4 May 2015, with planting and landscaping being undertaken along the eastern perimeter of the site. View is west across the car park towards the station entrance.

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
John Furnevel 2015


Lydney Junction: This could be a scene from seventy summers ago but is actually 4th July 2015, a very warm and sunny Saturday, with ex-GWR class 4500 2-6-2T 5541, built at Swindon in 1928, just arrived at Lydney Junction with a Dean Forest Railway train from Parkend. This locomotive was designed by George Jackson Churchward (1857-1933).

Severn Bridge Railway
David Bosher 2015


Ladhope Tunnel: View north through Ladhope Tunnel, Galashiels, on 4 May 2015 showing the widening carried out to accomodate the Borders Railway. Part of the new footbridge on Buckholmside is visible in the background.

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
John Furnevel 2015


Sheffield: Clearing the road traffic away from the forecourt certainly gives a better view of that Victorian stonework - which is probably a lot cleaner than it was in the 1950s.

Sheffield to Chesterfield Line (Midland Railway)
Ken Strachan 2015


Tweedbank: 'That's the style!' (and the bench.) The former access and seating facilities at Tweedbank see image [[13777]] still survive in the undergrowth alongside the site of the new Tweedbank station in May 2015, some 4 months prior to the official opening.

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
John Furnevel 2015


Falkirk High: OHLE mast bases are just visible alongside the trackbed to the right of the train as a late afternoon service from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh approaches Falkirk High on 4 May. In the other direction, mast bases are now in place between the Falkirk tunnel and Polmont.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Colin McDonald 2015


Derby: A down CrossCountry Voyager meets an up East Midlands Meridian at Derby on 4 May, while a Nottingham service approaches Etches Park in the background.

North Midland Railway
Ken Strachan 2015


Galashiels: Shape of things to come. View south east along Stirling Street, Galashiels, on 4 May 2015, with construction work well advanced on the new interchange.

Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
John Furnevel 2015


Sheffield: Had you told residents of Sheffield in 1985, that they would still be riding round in 142s and 144s in 2015, the response would probably have been less than cheerful and complimentary - to you or the trains. Notice Sheffield's controversial 'streets in the sky' in the background.

Sheffield to Chesterfield Line (Midland Railway)
Ken Strachan 2015


Rockingham [South Yorkshire]: The short Elsecar Heritage Railway has an impressive amount of stock (see also image [[51409]]). Rockingham station is also known as Elsecar and Wentworth.

Elsecar to Mexborough Line (South Yorkshire, Doncaster and Goole Railway)
Ken Strachan 2015


Cardross: 44871, with what looks like a pretty busy footplate, heads for Fort William after an overnight pause at Dumbarton Central see image [[54973]].

Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway
Ewan Crawford 2016


Glenfinnan: The guard checks for passengers as the final westbound train of the day pauses at Glenfinnan. The view is from the east end barrow crossing.

Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway)
Ewan Crawford 2017


Glenfinnan: 45407 heads west, winding its way out from Glenfinnan station with The Jacobite. Loch Shiel is in the background right.

Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway)
Ewan Crawford 2017


Nuneaton: ROG locomotive 37601 pauses in platform 6 at Nuneaton. According to rail staff in the bothy off platform 1, 'Perseus' was waiting for his compatriot 'Theseus' to turn up, so they could set about a minor tour together. It's not a myth - you can't beat classic traction.

Nuneaton Flyover (Network Rail)
Sally Strachan 2018


White Hart Lane: Obsolete boarded-up waiting rooms on the Liverpool Street-bound platform at White Hart Lane station, north London, on 4th May 2018. This station opened in 1872 and became part of London Overground in 2015.

Bethnal Green to Edmonton and Lea Valley Line (Great Eastern Railway)
David Bosher 2018


Stamford Hill: 315 808 with a London Overground service to London Liverpool Street departing from Stamford Hill station, north London, on 4th May 2018. The Enfield Town and Chingford lines have been part of London Overground since May 2015.

Bethnal Green to Edmonton and Lea Valley Line (Great Eastern Railway)
David Bosher 2018


Hanborough: A platform with a yellow 'keep back' line, a shelter, bins, a disused platform, a wheelchair ramp, bins, what more could you want? Oh, trains, I suppose. View looks North.

Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway
Ken Strachan 2018


Aberdeen: A letter received regarding archaeology works to do with HS2 in my area - although it's happening in Buckinghamshire - not Aberdeenshire!

Aberdeen Joint (Caledonian Railway)
Alan Cormack 2018


Ayr: The planters at Ayr take one's eye off the derelict Station Hotel - almost. 4th May 2018.

Ayr and Dalmellington Railway
John Yellowlees 2018


Butterley: Class 127 d.m.u. W51591 at the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley on 4th May 2019. The destination blind is showing Barking - us north Londoners could have done with this on the GOBLIN line during the period when delays and cancellations were being caused by the continued failure of the new class 710s to appear.

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Castle Cary: I don't regret a minute of the time I spent chasing and photographing HSTs in their last few months. Here is an excellent example, 43188 'The Welshman', heading West at Castle Cary.

Frome to Yeovil Line (Frome, Yeovil and Weymouth Railway)
Ken Strachan 2019


Bromsgrove: The enlarged station at Bromsgrove was opened on 12th July 2016. It offers much more flexibility in operations then the rather basic original 2-platform station.

Birmingham and Gloucester Railway
Ken Strachan 2019


Butterley: 1908 0-4-0ST 'Whitehead' arriving at Butterley station with a Midland Railway Centre train from Hammersmith to Riddings, on 4th May 2019. On the right is the stock of UK Railtours' excursion from London Victoria which was stabled at Butterley during the afternoon.

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Swanwick Junction: 1908 0-4-0ST locomotive 'Whitehead' steaming away from Swanwick Junction with a Midland Railway Centre vintage train from Riddings to Hammersmith, on the afternoon of Saturday, 4th May 2019.

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Swanwick Junction: A 2019 visitor to the Midland Railway Centre is Class 485 0-6-0 Hunslet locomotive 'Lord Phil', built for the War Department in 1944 for military and industrial use and seen here arriving at Swanwick Junction with a train from Hammersmith, on 4th May 2019. Alas there was not enough time to have a ride behind this locomotive before UK Railtours' excursion train returned to London.

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Bromsgrove: Thats a fine new steel fence you have there. A Southbound class 170 coasts into the newly expanded Bromsgrove station in May 2019.

Birmingham and Gloucester Railway
Ken Strachan 2019


Butterley: Exterior of the Midland Railway Centre's Butterley for Ripley and Swanwick station, except that its not the original, this being the identical station from Whitwell on the Nottingham to Worksop line, closed in 1964 (since reopened) and brought here brick by brick and reassembled for the MRC in 1981. Seen here during a visit by UK Railtours on 4th May 2019.

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Pollokshaws West: A Glasgow service calls at 'Shaws West on 4 May 2019. Four cars indicate an East Kilbride origin; Barrhead services manage fine with two.

Glasgow, Barrhead and Neilston Direct Railway
David Panton 2019


Riddings: 1908 0-4-0ST locomotive 'Whitehead' running round at the eastern end of the Midland Railway Centre's line at Riddings, on the afternoon of Saturday, 4th May 2019. At the present time, this terminus consists of just a run-round loop with no station nor alighting facilities but the MRC does have a long-term aim to bring the line closer to the Erewash Valley Line with a new Pye Bridge station to allow passengers to alight at this end of the line. As it is, the current Riddings run-round loop is within sound, if not sight, of the Erewash Valley Line which is just behind the trees in the left background.

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Bearsden: A Milngavie service calls at Bearsden on 4 May 2019.

Glasgow and Milngavie Junction Railway
David Panton 2019


London Victoria: GB Railfreight 66719 has just brought the stock for UK Railtours' excursion to the Midland Railway Centre in Derbyshire into London Victoria and will travel at the rear of the train with 66753 at the head. Arrival was just after 07.10 in plenty of time for the 07.47 departure on Saturday, 4th May 2019. This was an unusual choice of starting point for a tour heading north, crossing the Thames twice within 10 minutes and creeping round Longhedge and Latchmere Junctions to gain the London Overground West London Line to Willesden Junction. It then took the LO North London Line to Gospel Oak and the GOBLIN to just east of Crouch Hill before traversing the spur up to the ECML at Harringay that is not normally used by passenger trains. After all this the train was then free to set its sights to the north.

Victoria Station and Pimlico Railway
David Bosher 2019


Swanwick Junction: Midland Railway Centre train from Hammersmith to Riddings, behind 1908 0-4-0ST locomotive 'Whitehead', at Swanwick Junction on 4th May 2019.

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


London Victoria: GB Railfreight 66753, with 66719 at the rear, at the head of UK Railtours' excursion to the Midland Railway Centre in Derbyshire, unusually departing from London Victoria, early on the sunny (but with a cold wind) morning of Saturday, 4th May 2019.

Victoria Station and Pimlico Railway
David Bosher 2019


Greenside Junction: This is the site of Greenside Junction, with the Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway turning to the right while the line to the Kipps Shed and the Ballochney Railway went straight ahead. 4th May 2019.

Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway
Alastair McLellan 2019


Giffnock: An East Kilbride service calls at Giffnock on 4 May 2019.

Busby Railway
David Panton 2019


Alexandra Palace: UK Railtours' excursion to the Midland Railway Centre started at London Victoria and made its somewhat unusual way to the ECML at Harringay via the West London, North London and GOBLIN lines of the London Overground. Here at Alexandra Palace (formerly Wood Green) it is at last about to head north as it pauses to pick up more day-trippers on 4th May 2019. I could have easily boarded the train here as I live quite close to Ally Pally but then I'd have missed having my first ride ever on the normally freight only/empty stock workings spur between the GOBLIN at Crouch Hill and the ECML at Harringay.

London to Peterborough (Great Northern Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Muirend: I suppose it's the fact that the canopies at Muirend are balanced on the building that they can manage without obvious support, but they do seem to defy gravity. A Neilston to Glasgow service calls on 4 May.

Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
David Panton 2019


Greenside Junction: Airdrie and Balloch services pass at the site of Greenside Junction on 4th May 2019.

Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway
Alastair McLellan 2019


Swanwick Junction: The Midland Railway Centre, or Midland Railway, Butterley as it is also known. 47401 was attached to UK Railtours' excursion from London Victoria to assist the train into Swanwick Junction station where it is seen, with 66753 behind, on Saturday, 4th May 2019. This first Brush Type 4 entered service as D1500, based at Finsbury Park depot in north London, on 28th September 1962. With the rundown of the class in the mid 1980s, the locomotive, by now 47401, managed to survive until withdrawal on 5th June 1992, three months short of its 30th birthday. It arrived at the Midland Railway Centre on 7th July 1993 and began passenger operations there 10 days later.

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Hillfoot: A Motherwell service calls at Hillfoot on 4 May 2019.

Glasgow and Milngavie Junction Railway
David Panton 2019


Oakham: Oakham station, Rutland, seen through the windows of UK Railtours' excursion from, somewhat unusually, London Victoria to the Midland Railway Centre in Derbyshire, on Saturday, 4th May 2019.

Syston to Peterborough Line (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Swanwick Junction: With 47401 now detached, 66753 stands at the Midland Railway Centre's Swanwick Junction station about to haul this UK Railtours' excursion to Butterley station where it will be stabled until time for the return journey to London Victoria. This was on a roundabout route as befits a railtour via Nottingham, Lincoln and Spalding before rejoining the outward route at Peterborough on Saturday, 4th May 2019.

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Swanwick Junction: Busy scene at Swanwick Junction station after the arrival of UK Railtours' excursion from London Victoria on 4th May 2019. This railway centre, also known as Midland Railway, Butterley, arose out of a scheme to create a museum to the history of the Midland Railway. It runs along a section of the former Ambergate to Pye Bridge line that opened in 1875 and closed in 1968. The western end of the line, nearest to Ambergate, was breached by a road widening scheme (it would be) so a new station where none had previously existed was constructed at Hammersmith (very London sounding). Although the preservationists moved in in the mid 1970s it was not until 22nd August 1981 that passenger trains could run over a one mile section. Today, the line runs for three and a half miles between Hammersmith and Riddings, within sound of the Erewash Valley line but where there is no station nor alighting facilities. Swanwick Junction, to the east of Butterley, is also a station built especially for the Midland Railway Centre where none had existed before.

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Giffnock: A Glasgow train pulls in to pick up Saturday shoppers at Giffnock on 4 May 2019.

Busby Railway
David Panton 2019


Hammersmith [Midland]: Train from Swanwick Junction just arrived at the western terminus of the Midland Railway Centre's line at Hammersmith in Derbyshire, behind 47401, on 4th May 2019. This station did not exist prior to the closure of the Ambergate to Pye Bridge line in 1968 and was built purely for the heritage line. To the west the line to Ambergate has disappeared beneath a wretched road widening scheme. As the nameboard implies, Hammersmith was the birthplace of scientist, engineer and inventor Sir Barnes Wallis (1887-1979) of 'Bouncing Bomb' fame, immortalised in the 1954 film 'The Dam Busters' with Michael Redgrave as Barnes and Richard Todd as Wing Commander Guy Gibson. Plus, of course, that stirring March by composer Eric Coates.

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Hammersmith [Midland]: Having run round its train at the western terminus of the Midland Railway Centre's line at Hammersmith, 47401 is now about to be re-attached for the return journey to Riddings, on 4th May 2019. The bright blue skies and sunshine belie the fact that there was a freezing cold strong wind.

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Butterley: The Midland Railway Centre's Butterley station, showing its full title Butterley for Ripley and Swanwick, seen from a train from Hammersmith to Riddings on 4th May 2019. The station originally opened with the line from Ambergate to Pye Bridge on 1st May 1875 as Butterley and until 1st June 1930 was the junction for a branch via the town of Ripley to Little Eaton Junction, just north of Derby, the important town of Ripley losing its passenger service decades before Beeching. (In the first edition of 'Passengers No More' by G. Daniels and L.A. Dench, there is a great shot by the renowned railway photographer H.C. Casserley of a train arriving from Butterley at Ripley station in 1926.) On 29th July 1935, Butterley station was renamed Butterley for Ripley and Swanwick and stayed open for passengers until 16th July 1947 and for freight until 1964 with the line being abandoned in 1968. After closure the station was demolished but an identical disused station at Whitwell, closed in 1964, was taken apart brick by brick, reassembled here and opened with the first section of the heritage line on 22nd August 1981. (A brand new station at Whitwell was opened in 1998 with the resumption of passenger services between Mansfield Woodhouse and Worksop.)

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Butterley: Butterley signal box, Midland Railway Centre on 4th May 2019. Technically now a ground frame, this signal box formerly stood at Ais Gill Summit at an altitude of 1167 ft. above sea level on the Settle & Carlisle Line, between Garsdale and Kirkby Stephen. It was opened on 14th June 1900, replacing an earlier box opened on 2nd August 1875 and was closed on 28th January 1982, finding its way to the MRC at Butterley the following year.

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Mount Florida: A bit of harmless (I suppose) May the fourth nonsense on screens throughout the area. I have never seen Star Wars. No really, I haven't.

Cathcart District Railway
David Panton 2019


Swanwick Junction: UK Railtours' excursion from, somewhat unusually, London Victoria just arrived at the Midland Railway Centre's Swanwick Junction station, at lunchtime on Saturday, 4th May 2019.

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Butterley: A scene at the Midland Railway Centre's Butterley for Ripley and Swanwick station with 47401 calling with a service from Hammersmith to Riddings. 66719 has the empty stock of a UK Railtours excursion stabled in the loop platform until its 16.25 departure from Swanwick Junction back to London Victoria, on 4th May 2019.

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Mount Florida: On 4 May 2019 Class 314s are still clinging on, here on the Cathcart Lines and on Inverclyde. A Newton service calls at Mount Florida.

Cathcart District Railway
David Panton 2019


Butterley: 47401 departing from the Midland Railway Centre's Butterley station with a service from Hammersmith to Riddings on 4th May 2019.

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Butterley: The former Whitwell station, from the Nottingham to Worksop line that closed in 1964, now at the Midland Railway Centre and seen here on 4th May 2019. It was moved to Butterley in 1981, as an identical replacement for the original Butterley for Ripley and Swanwick station that had closed in 1947 and was demolished. (A new station at Whitwell opened in 1998 with the resumption of passenger services between Mansfield Woodhouse and Worksop, passenger services between Nottingham and Mansfield Woodhouse having been reinstated in 1995.)

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Butterley: 111 year old 0-4-0ST 'Whitehead', built in 1908 for use on Welsh colliery lines, seen arriving at the Midland Railway Centre's station at Butterley with a train from Riddings to Hammersmith on 4th May 2019. After withdrawal, this was purchased by the Great Western Society and was initially based at the West Somerset Railway. It arrived at the Midland Railway Centre in July 1999 but it was not until March 2011 that it returned to service after a major overhaul. (On the left is the empty stock of UK Railtours' excursion train, stabled in the loop platform.)

Ambergate to Pye Bridge and Codnor Park (Midland Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Euxton Junction: On an afternoon which was not only dark but also very wet, an unusual visitor to these parts, a TPE Class 802, is seen having just passed Euxton Jct heading to Bolton via Chorley. The unit was 802201, it had travelled to Carlisle in the morning from Edge Hill Depot and although running as ECS stops were made at Wigan NW, Preston, Lancaster, Oxenholme and Penrith. It is thought that both runs were for testing rather than training purposes as they were operated by Freightliner rather than TPE. A further run took place on Wednesday but one scheduled for Thursday was cancelled.

Bolton and Preston Railway
John McIntyre 2021


Raskelf: Colas operated 70801 heads north on the down slow line with a lengthy rake of empty bogie cement tanks, having just passed below Hagg Lane bridge, by the former Raskelf station, whilst returning to Oxwellmain cement works from Hunslet East Yard in Leeds late afternoon on 4 May 2021.

Great North of England Railway
David Pesterfield 2021


Woodacre Crossing: In what is believed to be the first run of a Hitachi Class 80x set on the WCML, TPE 802201 worked from Edge HIll to Carlisle on 4th May 2021. It returned later in the day but went to Bolton and then on to Longsight and repeated the run on other days that week. Whether these tests are a precursor to some regular West Coast passenger workings for these trains is not clear at present.

Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2021


Raskelf: A slightly disappointing view of a five loco working running south from Millerhill SS to Doncaster Up Decoy Yard on 4th May 2021. They also had a rake of Network Rail auto ballast wagons in tow (out of view), following use on engineering workings in Scotland over the May Day BH weekend. Unbeknown the camera had turned slightly to the left after been sighted, whilst resting on a fence post due to a very strong wind and rain. I almost missed the fifth loco from the shot as well as the wagons. The location is just north of the former Raskelf station, and the GBRf locos were 66765; 66772; 66769; 66782; & 66723.

Great North of England Railway
David Pesterfield 2021


Bridge of Gairn: The 1900 edition of 1:2500 scale map shows the location of the terminus of the former Bridge of Gairn Tramway. Lying to the west of the River Gairn the area was shown as vegetation 30 years after the line was abandoned. The location of the abutments for the bridge are also clearly visible. The bridge was reused for a road across the river at Daldownie in Glen Gairn. Map extract used with permission of the National Library of Scotland.

Bridge of Gairn Tramway (Aboyne and Braemar Railway)
Charlie Niven 2021


Raskelf: A rain affected view of a Grand Central Alstom class 180 DMU, running along the down slow line just north of the former Raskelf station on 4 May 2021. This was 1N93, the 12.45 ex Kings Cross to Sunderland. Most if not all Grand Central services were withdrawn at times during Covid so good to see this operating.

Great North of England Railway
David Pesterfield 2021


Events


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

YearCompaniesDescription
1830William Baird & CoProduction starts of first hot blast furnace at Gartsherrie Iron Works.
1871Sighthill Branch (Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway) Buchanan Street Extension (Caledonian Railway)1st_>Sighthill West Junction 1st laid in and prepared for opening (not opened).
1885London and North Western Railway South WalesDowlais High Street opened, through trains to Merthyr stop using Dowlais Lloyd Street, and Dowlais Top closed.
1920Glasgow Central Station (Caledonian Railway)Eglinton Street Shed rented out to West of Scotland Aviation Co.
1926Cowbridge and Aberthaw RailwayAberthaw closed.
1942Lanchester Valley Railway Extension (North Eastern Railway)High Westwood closed.
1964Wilsontown Branch (Caledonian Railway)Wilsontown Junction to Wilsontown closed.
1964Kilsyth and Bonnybridge RailwayBanknock to Kilsyth Junction (excluded) closed to freight.
1964Kelvin Valley RailwayKilsyth (Old) to Twechar (excluded) closed to freight.
1964North British RailwayGrantshouse station closed.
1964North British Railway1st_>Reston 1st station closed.
1964Bala and Dolgelly RailwayAberystwyth and Welch Coast RailwayClosed to regular freight from Bala Junction (excluded) to Morfa Mawddach (excluded) except GPO traffic.
1965Formartine and Buchan RailwayPeterhead to Maud junction closed to passengers. (Alternative date 3/5/1965). Peterhead, Inverugie, Newseat Halt, Longside and Mintlaw closed.
1965St Combs Light Railway (Great North of Scotland Railway)St Combs to Fraserburgh closed to passengers. (Alternative date 3/5/1964).
1965Formartine and Buchan RailwaySt Combs Light Railway closed completely. Kirkton Bridge Halt, Philorth Bridge, Cairnbulg and St Combs closed.
1970Kinross-shire RailwayFife and Kinross RailwayMilnathort to Kelty North Junction (excluded) closed to freight.
1974Rutherglen and Coatbridge Branch (Caledonian Railway)Coatbridge Central to Rutherglen Junction ceases to be used for Glasgow Central to Perth workings.
1976TS Queen Mary IIRenamed TS Queen Mary with the withdrawal of RMS Queen Mary from Lloyds Register.
1981Aberdeen RailwayBrechin to Kinnaber Junction (excluded) closed.
1994Channel TunnelOfficially opened, including the high speed section built in France and shorter connecting line in England.

News


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

YearCompaniesDescription
2004Police chopper warns train driver [BBC News]A police helicopter pilot swoops over a railway line to alert a train driver to a car stuck on a level crossing.
2004Rail union accused over pensions [BBC News]Network Rail accuses the Rail Maritime and Transport Union of "scaremongering" as the union votes over strike action.
2009Rail deal Sparks £400m cash call [The Times]NATIONAL EXPRESS has struck an outline deal with the government to scrap its troubled east-coast train franchise, which should pave the way for a £400m rights issue and boardroom shake-up at the bus and rail group.
2009Criticism for Bank Holiday rail work [The Herald]The chair of the powerful House of Commons Transport Select Committee has criticised Network Rail for carrying out extensive engineering work on the West Coast Main Line over the Bank Holiday weekend.
2009Thousands cross Royal Albert Bridge to mark Brunel legacy [Network Rail Article]A special bridge walk across the Royal Albert Bridge, organised jointly by Network Rail and the Ashtorre Brunel Committee, has drawn thousands of people to celebrate a Brunel masterpiece.
2010Dalmarnock station gets £2.8m boost [Herald]A railway station near the 2014 Commonwealth Games village has secured £2.8 million in European funding towards a major refurbishment, it has been announced. [Railscot note: Herald article shows image of Waverley]
2011Tube strike looms for London commuters [Guardian]London commuters face travel disruption in the coming weeks after it was announced that tube workers are to take strike action in an escalating row over the sacking of two drivers.
2012How a Victorian railway guide by a backstreet Salford printer has become the book world^s most surprising hit [Daily Mail] THE drab brown cover is stained with greasy fingermarks, and the faded gold leaf of the title is barely legible. Inside, the tiny print is so small you have to squint to decipher some of the text. There’s no blurb extolling the celebrity of its author nor any snippets from rave reviews by the literary darlings of the day. There is not even any introduction. Yet this book of quaint observations by George Bradshaw, a backstreet Salford printer, on his meandering train journeys through Britain in mid-Victorian times has taken the best-selling book charts by storm.
2013Stags and hens face dry train as drink ban gets green light [Herald]A FRIDAY alcohol ban is being trialled on an East Coast morning train between Aberdeen and Newcastle after a spate of anti-social behaviour. Passengers will be forbidden from drinking alcohol on the 9.52am service from Aberdeen from next Friday. The trial will run for four weeks, from May 10 until May 31, and will only apply to a section of the route running between Aberdeen and Newcastle – a journey of roughly four hours. The service is popular with stag and hen parties travelling from Scotland to Newcastle for a long weekend, with the same route also used on Friday evenings by oil workers travelling home for their two-week shore leave. A spokesman for East Coast, the main operator on the East Coast mainline that connects Aberdeen and Edinburgh to London King^s Cross, said it was taking action after a number of recent incidents where rowdy passengers had caused disruption to other travellers.
2013Train crash: Toxic chemicals on fire near Belgium^s Ghent [BBC]Two people died and 14 were injured when a train carrying toxic, flammable chemicals derailed and caused a major fire near the Belgian city of Ghent. The train was travelling from the Netherlands to Ghent^s seaport when it derailed as it changed tracks between the towns of Schellebelle and Wetteren at about 02.00 (00.00 GMT). Six of the train^s 13 cars derailed and three caught fire, setting off a series of explosions. [From Mark Bartlett]
2014Labour should reform the railways, prospective MPs say [BBC News]Labour should renationalise the rail industry if it wins the next election, a group of 31 prospective MPs has said. In a letter to the Observer, they said services should be returned to public ownership when current franchises end. The candidates, many of whom are fighting marginal seats in commuter constituencies, said profits could fund "a bold offer on rail fares". Labour is undertaking a policy review. Party sources have said there is no imminent decision on railways. Leader Ed Miliband has previously told the Guardian newspaper he might be in favour of renationalising some parts of the railway. He said the party was working on "innovative solutions", but did not spell out what they were.
2014Highlands told to look at glass-roofed trains [Scotsman]GLASS-ROOFED trains to give tourists a better view of Scotland’s scenery and wildlife have been proposed by the BBC’s Great British Railway Journeys presenter Michael Portillo. The former Conservative transport minister said coaches with windows extending to the roof should run on the “Far North Line”, from Inverness to Wick and Thurso. The call came as the Scottish Government revealed it had received “very exciting proposals” for planned “scenic trains” among bids for the ScotRail franchise from next year.
2015German train drivers begin week-long strike [BBC News]Drivers for Germany^s Deutsche Bahn have begun a week-long strike, their eighth walkout in 10 months of wage negotiations and the longest in the rail operator^s history. Freight train drivers stopped work on Monday afternoon, with passenger train drivers due to follow suit at 02:00 local time on Tuesday. Their union, GDL, wants a 5% pay rise. It also wants to cut the working week from 39 hours to 37 and the right to represent staff such as train stewards. ^This strike is completely inappropriate and totally over the top,^ Deutsche Bahn said.
2016ScotRail fare dodgers to pay £30 penalty [Scotsman] Passengers who falsely claim they have travelled from a closer station than where they boarded will be hit by a penalty fee in the latest ScotRail drive to tackle fare dodging. A new £30 “administration charge” will be levied on such people when attempting to buy a ticket at their destination station, The Scotsman has learned. The move will be accompanied by a campaign to encourage passengers to buy tickets before they board trains. [From Colin McDonald]
2016Lorry hits Lambeth bridge despite huge warning signs [BBC News]A lorry has crashed into a railway bridge emblazoned with ^low bridge^ warning signs in London. The crash happened on the A205 South Circular in Tulse Hill, Lambeth, on Wednesday morning. The driver was treated by paramedics after suffering a hand injury, police said. Southern Railway said lorries hit the bridge roughly twice every month, causing cancellations and severe delays.
2017Virgin unveil new ticketing structure to save customers £7.1m a year [RTM]Virgin Trains has announced changes to its advanced ticketing prices that could lead to customers saving around £7.1m per year. Services on the East Coast will now allow customers to take advantage of cheaper advance fares on the day of travel, meaning that at the current rate of passenger walk-ups savings of £7.1m could be yielded from the change. [From Richard Buckby]
2018Tube map highlights the routes that aren^t in tunnels [Daily Mail]More than half of the Tube^s 270 stations are above ground, with only the Victoria and Waterloo & City lines wholly underground. This design uses a grey overlay for sections underground.
2018ScotRail Alliance reminds customers to plan ahead [ScotRail]The ScotRail Alliance is reminding customers to plan their journeys in advance, ahead of the latest phase of the Aberdeen to Inverness Improvement Project. As part of the multi-million-pound upgrade, a 14-week line closure between Aberdeen and Dyce will be in place from Saturday 12 May 2018 to allow major improvement works to take place.
2018Kilcreggan to Gourock ferry contract terminated early [BBC Scotland]The contract for the Kilcreggan to Gourock service will end next week after a series of disruptions.
2020Coventry Very Light Rail project receives funding from WMCA [Railway Technology]The Coventry Very Light Rail project has received funding from West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), which was secured by Coventry City Council (CCC). The £1.5m funding will support the project, which aims to modernise affordable public transport.
2020DfT preparing for future passenger franchise options [Railway Gazette]Having temporarily suspended its franchise agreements with passenger train operators, the Department for Transport is currently considering its options for what may follow the Emergency Measures Agreements announced on March 23.
2020Video: Enjoy an Azuma train driver^s view of the strath at super high speed [Strathspey and Badenoch Herald]And we mean high speed ... journey from just north of Aviemore to Edinburgh takes just over seven minutes!
2020Works to stabilise crumbling embankment on West Highland railway line to begin this week [Press and Journal]Lochaber motorists are being warned to expect seven weeks of delays as works to stabilise a crumbling embankment on the West Highland railway line begin this week. Essential repairs will begin on Tuesday to stabilise the embankment on the A86 at Glenspean, to ensure the road remains safe for motorists. The area located above the West Highland Line has deteriorated substantially over time, leading to the undermine and exposure of the safety barrier foundations along the carriageway.