Eastfield Shed: A sunny day at Eastfield on 23 May 1959. Locomotives on shed include Haymarket A3 Pacific no 60096 Papyrus standing alongside one of Eastfield's Standard class 5 4-6-0s no 73108.

Shields Road [CGU]: Shields Road and Pollok Junction. [Railscot note: route to St Enoch in foreground, to Central to the right and the Burma Road to the left. Even further left is the Paisley Canal route to St Enoch.]

Eastfield Shed: Snow-plough fitted standard class 5 4-6-0 no 73006 of Perth shed stands in the yard at Eastfield in May 1959.

Dawsholm: Ex-Caledonian Pug 0-4-0ST no 56029 stands in the sidings at Dawsholm on 23 May 1959. Not, as it might at first seem, part of a condemned line, since the locomotive was moved to Kipps shortly thereafter see image [[22947]]. The 1895 veteran continued in service in the Coatbridge area for a further three and a half years, before being eventually withdrawn by BR at the end of 1962.

Eastfield Shed: N15 0-6-2T no 69197 on Eastfield shed in May 1959.

Eastfield Shed: Gresley V2 2-6-2 no 60825, photographed in the shed yard at Eastfield in the spring of 1959.

Eastfield Shed: Class N15 0-6-2T no 69178 simmers in the shadow of the coaling plant on Eastfield shed in May 1959.

Eastfield Shed: N15 0-6-2T no 69212 stands alongside V3 2-6-2T no 67644 on Eastfield shed in May 1959.

Eastfield Shed: New delivery. Scene in the sidings at Eastfield on 23 May 1959. Sc56480 centre stage.

Eastfield Shed: B1 4-6-0 no 61292 on shed at 65A Eastfield in May 1959.

Pollok Junction: BR Standard 2-6-4T no 80108 brings a Gourock - Glasgow Central train east through Pollok Junction on 23 May 1959.

Eastfield Shed: Gresley K4 no 61994 The Great Marquess stands on the ash roads at Eastfield shed in May 1959.

Eastfield Shed: Class N15 0-6-2T no 69179 stands on Eastfield shed in May 1959.

Eastfield Shed: A newly delivered DMU set standing at Eastfield on 23 May 1959.

Eastfield Shed: A visitor from Fort William in the shape of Black 5 no 44974 stands on Eastfield shed in May 1959.

Eastfield Shed: Detail of Reid D34 4-4-0 no 62496 Glen Loy photographed on Eastfield shed in May 1959. The locomotive was withdrawn from 65A at the end of 1961 and cut up by Connels of Calder the following September.

Shields Junction No 1: 42208 passing Shields No 1 Junction on 23 May 1959 with an Ayr-Glasgow train.

Eastfield Shed: B1 4-6-0 no 61197 in the shed yard at Eastfield on 23 May 1959.

Eastfield Shed: Reid N15 0-6-2T no 69178 stands on Eastfield shed in May 1959.

Eastfield Shed: Gresley V2 2-6-2 no 60923 on shed at Eastfield in May 1959.

Eastfield Shed: New DMUs in the sidings at Eastfield on 23 May 1959. Sc 51490 is nearest the camera - complete with delivery sticker!

Eastfield Shed: A trio of class 08 shunting locomotives stabled on Eastfield shed in May 1959. This was BRs most numerous locomotive class with 996 units being built between 1953 and 1962. The only identifiable example in this photograph, nearest the camera, is D3396. This became 08326 on renumbering and was eventually withdrawn by BR in October of 1983.

Stirling Middle Junction: A Callander - Glasgow train leaving Stirling on 23 May 1959 behind Jubilee 4-6-0 45727 Inflexible.

Stirling North Junction: Standard class 5 73106 approaching Stirling with the up Saint Mungo on Saturday 23 May 1959.

Happendon: Looking towards Lanark.

Coalburn: Looking towards Alton Heights.

Loudounhill Viaduct: Looking towards Darvel.

Darvel: Darvel Station looking towards Strathaven in 1963

Polmadie Shed: Stanier Coronation Pacific no 46239 City of Chester ready for duty on Polmadie shed in May 1964.

Tighnabruaich Pier: PS 'Jeanie Deans' at Tighnabruiach in 1964, her final year of service on the Clyde.

Polmadie Signal Box: Black 5 44801 about to pass below Polmadie bridge on 23 May 1964 with a special for Abergavenney. The EE Type 1 shrouded in smoke on the left appears to be waiting to cross over onto Polmadie shed.

Preston: 72007 'Clan Mackintosh' stands in the East Lancashire platforms at Preston on 23rd May 1964 with the RCTS Ribble/Lune Railtour. This had explored a number of lines around Lancaster and was now heading for the Southport line, but only to Meols Cop where it turned left towards Wigan. The Southport line would close in September that same year although the East Lancashire platforms lasted until 1972. Photo by Alan Castle. [Editor's note: This railtour, and others covering the Preston to Southport line, are covered in David's book, reviewed on Railscot in October 2021]

Stainton Junction: The bridge carrying the Waverley route over the WCML at the south end of Kingmoor yard in May 1964. The train crossing the bridge is the late afternoon 4.33pm Carlisle – Millerhill and the locomotive is A1 Pacific no 60152 Holyrood, working home to St Margarets shed.

Buxton: The DMU forming the LCGB (North West Branch) Manchester Terminals Farewell Railtour stands at Buxton terminus on 23 May 1969. See image [[31150]]

Carstairs: The double headed Class 50 powered Anglo-Scottish expresses had only been in operation for three weeks and were no doubt the main reasons for visiting Carstairs on Spring Bank Holiday Saturday 1970 - although the holiday didn't apply in Scotland there was probably the expectation of some extra trains from the south as well. While a number of Class 50 pairings were seen, only the 10.05 Euston - Glasgow Central, with Nos. D429 and D409 in charge, managed to put in an appearance in sunshine.

Carstairs: The 09.40 Perth - Kensington Olympia Motorail train approaches Carstairs behind Brush Type 4 No. 1743 on Saturday 23 May 1970. As far as can be seen it is only conveying two cars, so the occupants will hardly be complaining of overcrowding!

Strawfrank Junction: Tinsley based Brush Type 4 No. 1876 is well away from its usual haunts as it passes under the road bridge immediately south of Strawfrank (now Carstairs South) Junction on Saturday 23 May 1970 with train 7M27, the 08.25 Larbert - Wallerscote soda ash empties. See image [[39585]]

Carstairs: Freight traffic through Carstairs on the morning of Saturday 23rd May 1970 had been much thinner than might have been expected from what was shown in the previous winter's WTT but this was compensated by a flurry of unexpected workings in the late afternoon. Here EE Type 3 no 6842 heads north at 16.13 on a special mixed freight, probably plying between Carlisle and Mossend Yards.

Strawfrank Junction: Class 40 D210 (formerly Empress of Britain but running without nameplates) and class 50 D414 double-head the combined 10:50 Glasgow Central and 10:50 Edinburgh to Birmingham New Street (1M23) away from Carstairs on 23 May 1970. On this occasion the Edinburgh portion had been worked by another EE Type 4, D263.

Lady Victoria Pit Signal Box: A special stands alongside the remaining section of the Waverley Route at Lady Victoria Colliery, Newtongrange, on 23 May 1970 with 8102 in charge. The view is to the south, south of the Brewer's Bridge, with the Waverley Route to the right. This was the first Scottish Railway Preservation Society railtour.

Carstairs: A very clean Brush Type 4 No. 1624 passing through Carstairs on 23rd May 1970 with the 6S33 Herbrandston (Milford Haven) - Sighthill East tanks.

Ardmore Level Crossing: A pair of AM3 EMUs approaching Ardmore East level crossing with a service to Helensburgh Central on 23 May 1970.

Carstairs: Class 50s Nos. D412 and D448 bring the 14.00 Glasgow Central to London Euston under the impressive signal gantry to the north of Carstairs station on 23 May 1970. The double heading of these locos on WCML expresses had only started at the timetable change less than three weeks previously.

Beattock: D8116 and D8124 stand alongside the abandoned Beattock shed in May 1971 with an engineers train.

Newcastle West Junction: 45027 (withdrawn 8 days later) leaves Newcastle Central for Scarborough on 23 May 1981, just as 47165 arrives with a northbound train off the King Edward Bridge.

Llangollen: Stanier Black 5 no 44806 stands at the platform at Llangollen station on 23 May 1999.

Drumshoreland: 47152 climbs away from Drumshoreland with a car train for Bathgate on 23 May 1990. In the background is the Almond Viaduct on the E & G main line.

Wolsztyn: In 2014 standard-gauge steam hangs on at Wolsztyn in western Poland but freight workings like this no longer feature. On 23rd May 1994 Kriegslok Ty2-1086 (built as DR 52.5123) works a block train of loaded cement wagons on the final leg of its journey to the precast concrete works at Powodowo.

Ardlui: Southbound (left) and nortbound services cross at Ardlui in May 1998.

Llangollen: Black 5 44806 standing with a train at Llangollen on 23 May 1999.

Killiecrankie Viaduct: Killiecrankie Viaduct seen from ground level in 2003.

Alnwick: Reputedly one of the best second hand (including railway and old maps) bookshops in Britain - part of the interior of the former Alnwick station, taken in May 2004. Impressive it is.

Alnwick: The former terminus at Alnwick in 2004, some 35 years after closure of the branch from Alnmouth.

Alnwick: Alnwick station frontage - May 2004.

Drem: Drem looking east. The locomotive hauled train is a local North Berwick - Edinburgh service.

Drem Junction: Edinburgh bound locomotive hauled train leaves the North Berwick branch.

Prestonpans: On the new alignment at Prestonpans a locomotive hauled North Berwick service (left) heads for Edinburgh and HST heads east (right).

North Berwick: A change of ends at North Berwick in 2004, with the driver climbing up into 90030 'Crewe Locomotive Works'.

Kinghorn: An Edinburgh train at Kinghorn in May 2005. Is there a slight touch of Italian Adriatic Coast about the place?

Kinghorn: Road approach to Kinghorn station in May 2005.

Kinghorn: A view over Kinghorn Station - looking north in May 2005.

Kinghorn: Train leaving Kinghorn for Edinburgh in May 2005.

Kinghorn: Kinghorn Station main building, lineside, 2005.

Broughty Ferry: Platform 1 at Broughty Ferry looking west on 23 May 2007

Dundee: Dundee - Dyce train in old livery prepares to leave Dundee on 23 May.

West Ferry: Remains of West Ferry station photographed on 23 May 2007, some 40 years after closure.

Cartsdyke: 334014 approaching Cartsdyke with a service from Gourock bound for Glasgow Central

Cartsdyke: Cartsdyke station looking east towards Port Glasgow

Cartsdyke: 314215 approaching Cartsdyke with a service for Gourock

Cartsdyke: 314215 departing Cartsdyke heading west, next stop Greenock Central

Dunfermline Town: Edinburgh bound service enters Dunfermline Town on 23 May. The recently completed second car park stands on the left.

Lanark: Dalmuir train waits to leave Lanark, view towards buffer stops. May 2007.

Lanark: So that's an interchange... Lanark, May 2007.

Broughty Ferry: Looking east over Broughty Ferry station from Fort Street bridge on 23 May 2007 with the outline of the former bay platform still visible on the right. See image [[5940]]

Broughty Ferry: Gray Street level crossing, Broughty Ferry, on 23 May 2007. Looking west along the platforms towards Dundee.

Cartsburn Junction: Looking west towards Cartsburn Junction, this view looks up the level where the trackbed was. A bridge crossed a road here as the line began its climb towards Kilmacolm.

Cartsburn Junction: Looking east towards Upper Port Glasgow, the trackbed here ran straight and level to a bridge crossing the road to a small cutting which was in amongst the trees in the centre of shot behind the houses

Cartsburn Junction: Looking east towards Upper Port Glasgow, it was at this approximate point that the line started its climb of 1 in 70 to Kilmacolm. The trackbed here at one time sat on an embankment.

Cartsburn Junction: Looking west, this view shows the trackbed to the overbridge that crossed the Wemyss Bay line, behind the trees, and Cartsburn Tunnels and junction

Paisley Gilmour Street: 334003 pulling into Platform 2 of Paisley Gilmour Street with a Wemyss Bay service

Lanark: A Dalmuir train waiting to leave Lanark on 23 May 2007. Meantime, a young mystic at the bus stop appears to be doing leftover sandwich readings.

Asnieres-sur-Seine: Loco-hauled double deck commuter train bound for Paris St Lazare

Paris Gare de Lyon: TGV Duplex sets await their journeys south.

La Garenne-Colombes: Sybic electric on a Caen-Paris express.

Manila: A Hitachi-built BoBo diesel has just arrived at Manila's Tutuban terminus with a passenger train. The single cab engine will reverse smartly out of the platform to shunt around the stock, ready for the next duty. Notice the signalling tower and shed in the left background, and the pitched roof on the carriage to the right - to stop passengers getting free rides atop the coach. The locomotive is built to the same layout as a class 20, but strangely, sounds just like a 31. See image [[35968]]

Manila: A passenger train from Tutuban station see image [[36658]] calls at Pedro Gil station on 23rd May 2008. Notice the absence of platforms or buildings: a Filipina told me they had been systematically dismantled and stolen to build private homes. New stations have since been built on this line, to a more thiefproof design. As for that CONNEX sign on the coach... different from ours, I think.

Manila: Looking into (and on the right, through) Tutuban station, Manila, in May 2008 see image [[35968]].

Howth: The railway station at Howth, Co Dublin, now incorporating The Bloody Stream seafood bar/cafe, seen here on 23 May 2008. Entry is by the doorway in the middle beside the all-day food advert with 'Howth Railway Station' above the door.

Manila: Tutuban terminus stands on the spur of a Y-junction, with services out to Laguna one way, and through the city the other. It has two 'gate guardians' - one saddle tank and one side tank.

Howth: The IE terminus at Howth in May 2008 with a DART service awaiting departure for Dublin Connolly.

Stirling Middle Junction: Train for Glasgow Queen Street leaving Stirling on 23 May with Stirling Middle box and a fine selection of semaphore signals completing the picture.

Stirling: Delayed southbound trains stand at Stirling on 23 May following signalling problems at Larbert. On the left is an Alloa - Glasgow Queen Street service.

Polkemmet Junction: Looking west from the now removed Whitburn Road OB in Bathgate on 23 May 2009. The footpath marks the course of the Railway toward Armadale and the West.

Foulridge Wharf [LLC]: Looking west at Foulridge Wharf, towards the northern portal of the Foulridge Tunnel on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, in 2009. The canal tunnel is 1630 yards long and was built in the 1790s using a mixture of tunnelling and cut and cover techniques. From 1846 to 1970 the Colne to Skipton railway also crossed the canal by the wharf but the large girder bridge over the canal will need reinstating if reopening plans are to proceed.

Foulridge: A short distance to the east of Foulridge station, the double track MR from Colne to Skipton crossed the Leeds Liverpool Canal on a viaduct. In this view to the east from the canal towpath, the viaduct was above the wooden wall and palisade fencing can be seen above and slightly left that now blocks the trackbed.

Foulridge: This is the view eastwards at the site of Foulridge (closed 1959) on the former MR line from Colne to Skipton in May 2009. The location of the former station building (dismantled at re-erected at Ingrow West on the K&WVR) has been replaced by a smart new house on the right. The tracks ran along the grassy area to the left and continued in use until the line was closed in 1970. The road approaching from the right is Station Road and there was a small goods yard behind the camera, now occupied by housing.

Polkemmet Junction: Looking North toward Bathgate town centre on 23 May 2009. A temporary road is under construction which crosses the bed of the Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway at the site of Polkemmet Junction to allow the replacement of the Whitburn Road overbridge in Bathgate. The solum of the railway is to the left of the image, while the treeline to the right marks the course of the Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness Railway

Boghead Junction: Looking east toward Bathgate in May 2009. In the middle distance, a junction existed connecting several lines to the pits in the Torbane coalface (roughly where the J4M8 business park is now). A further line looped back and joined the mainline near Armadale. Another junction existed to serve the mine at Bathville, to the north of the mainline.

Foulridge Wharf [LLC]: Foulridge Wharf on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, with the main shed in the centre of the picture. Beyond this the former MR Colne to Skipton line crossed the canal and, although the railway closed in 1970, the bridge survived until 1996.

Leyland: The Class 40 Preservation Society's 40145 arives at Leyland on 23 May 2009 with a Compass Tours special heading to Edinburgh via the Settle & Carlisle line.

Bamber Bridge Junction: 142028 on a Colne to Blackpool South service departs westwards from Bamber Bridge towards Lostock Hall on 23 May 2009. The train is approaching the former Bamber Bridge Junction on the line (to the right) to Preston via Todd Lane. Extensive engineers sidings on the right are currently out of use.

Foulridge: Foulridge, looking north along Station Road in May 2009. On the left was the goods yard, now built on and called The Old Sidings. To the right of the road was the station with the former Colne to Skipton line running from left to right behind the buildings.

Gisburn: 40145 with The Settle Scotsman railtour from Shrewsbury to Edinburgh passing the site of the former Gisburn station between Clitheroe and Hellifield on 23 May 2009. The former SB still stands and can be seen above the rear coach.

Whalley Viaduct: With the River Calder in the foreground, 40145 crosses the Whalley viaduct with the Settle Scotsman railtour from Shrewsbury to Edinburgh on 23 May 09.

Bamber Bridge: 40145 is accelerating The Settle Scotsman railtour through Bamber Bridge station on 23 May 2009 following a short wait at Lostock Hall Junction for service trains to pass.

Kinghorn: A sylvan setting on the south-western fringes of Kinghorn in May 2009, but the curving field boundary in centre-left gives a clue that this was the course of the former Binnend Oilworks railway, closed in 1905.

Dalmeny: 158 and 170 units pass just north of Dalmeny station on 23 May with work in progress on The Bridge in the background.

Dalmeny: Colour clash at Dalmeny as a pair of 170s restart from the platforms there on 23 May 2009.

Lucerne: A steam special at Lucerne station on 23 May 2009. That day there were celebrations taking place commemorating the 150th anniversary of the opening of the station.

Loudounhill: Looking East along the trackbed of the Darvel to Strathaven line, farmer's occupation bridge in foreground, Loudoun Hill behind. Trackbed condition here is such that sleeper indents are still clearly visible (and hard to walk over!).

Pickering: 45407 running around its train in Pickering station on 23 May 2009.

Whinhill: Looking West at Whinhill station in Greenock. The station occupies the site of the trackbed that ran along the second Cartsburn Tunnel, now disused.

James Watt Dock: Looking North to the viaduct in the James Watt Dock. This runs off the bridge crossing the Port Glasgow Road (see image 15506, 21461 and 15533). This took the line from the Ladyburn sidings, in amongst the trees to the bottom left, into the James Watt Dock's sidings and United Molasses terminal.

Edinburgh Park: Looking west from the site of the planned tram stop alongside Edinburgh Park station on 23 May 2010, just as EWS liveried 66116 is about to run east through the station with a PW train. Trams heading for the airport will turn north at this point, crossing the line via the new flyover directly ahead.

Kirkby Stephen: An EWS (or DBS) 66 hauls Castle Cement bogie tanks North on the S&C on a glorious spring evening. It is wonderful to see the revival in freight traffic on this beautiful railway.

Barnard Castle: ..and here, see image [[31904]] is why you shouldn't get too close to the edge. Notice the impressive skew stonework under the arch. This is the South pier of the former viaduct, looking West from the adjacent (steep) footpath from Barnard Castle in May 2010.

Edinburgh Park: Standing on Lochside Avenue looking east towards Edinburgh Park station (now obscured by the new tram flyover) on 23 May 2010. The sprawl of the business park itself is off to the left, with one of the tramworks compounds secured behind the blue hoarding in the background. Running below the new flyover, having just passed through the station, is the westbound 0900 Edinburgh Waverley - Glasgow Queen Street.

Barnard Castle: A happy group of Railway Ramblers enjoying a shaded section of the SDLUR approaching the site of Tees viaduct in May 2010 see image [[31904]]. View East; the Middleton-in-Teesdale branch merged on the left near this point.

Oban: A busy scene at Oban railway station during a particularly warm and pleasant Sunday 23 May 2010. Standing at the platform is unit 156 474, forming the 12.11 service to Glasgow Queen Street.

Saughton: The new tramway flyover across the Edinburgh & Glasgow main line at Saughton, seen looking north from Stenhouse Drive early on Sunday 23 May. Approximately 10 minutes later the morning haar, seen in the background rolling down from the Forth over Corstorphine Hill, put an end to any further photography here for a while. Sausalito... huh!

Oban: 156 474 forming the 12.11 train to Glasgow Queen Street, awaits its departure time at Oban station on a very warm Sunday 23 May 2010.

Mickleton: This fine NER concrete stile can be found near Mickleton on the Middleton-in-Teesdale branch. View looks North-East.

Saughton [Tram]: Pedestrians, buses, cyclists, trams and trains will all be catered for, as shown in this view west at Broomhouse on 23 May 2010. The Edinburgh tram route, built along the former guided busway, is climbing in the background to cross Broomhouse Road, with the catenary of the E&G visible on the far right of the picture. See image [[29063]]

Saughton: Progress on the new flyover that will carry trams over the railway just east of Saughton Junction, photographed from the south side of the line on Sunday 23 May 2010.

Lands Viaduct: Looking North across the remains of Lands Viaduct (also named after the River Gaunless) during a Railway Ramblers excursion in May 2010. The trackbed of the former Haggerleases branch can be seen passing from left to right. The grassed area to the right used to house colliery sidings.

Saughton [Tram]: A Sunday morning view looking east towards Broomhouse on 23 May 2010, showing the tracks that will eventually carry trams over the B701 Broomhouse Road. On the horizon the outline of Edinburgh Castle can just be made out through the haar. To the left the catenary of the E&G main line runs parallel with the tram route at this point. Both will continue on to Edinburgh Park station, approximately half a mile behind the camera, at which point the trams will then turn north, crossing the E&G on a new flyover, before heading for Edinburgh Airport. See image [[29068]]

Barnard Castle: Don't walk, paraglide: an intrepid Railway Rambler considers his options on 23 May 2010, having arrived 39 years too late to walk across the deck of the Tees viaduct. The bridge was built by Thomas Bouch (of Tay Bridge notoriety), at a cost of £25,119. See image [[31910]]

Glenluce: Most of the Glenluce station site has been built over since the 1965 closure of the Port Road. However, at the east end is a small car park overlooked by this road overbridge and with the low retaining wall still intact. View towards Newton Stewart.

Dunragit: As 156501 draws to a halt the Dunragit signalman has crossed to the Up Line to receive the single line token from Stranraer Harbour and hand over that for the next section to Glenwhilly. For the passengers who appreciate it a beautiful stretch of line lies ahead, climbing through the Luce Valley and onto the high moorlands between there and Girvan.

Glenluce: The old station site at Glenluce, as seen from the overbridge, on a very wet morning in May 2011. This view looks west towards Challoch Junction where the line from Girvan was joined. Although there is little trace of the station itself Glenluce viaduct, to the west of the village, still stands and is a fine monument to the Port Road. See image [[15291]]

Dunragit: 156501 passes the old platform at Dunragit as it draws to a halt in the loop for the token exchange. This covers the next single line section to Glenwhilly. The train is the 1005 Stranraer to Glasgow Central.

Glenluce Viaduct: Two bridges in retirement in May 2011. In the foreground is the old A75 road bridge, which since the Glenluce bypass was completed has only carried a farm access road. Beyond, also spanning the River Luce, is the single track railway viaduct that carried The Port Road until closure in 1965.

Cowdenbeath: 57001 hauls 'The Royal Scotsman' north through Cowdenbeath on 23 May 2011. The train is crossing a bridge that once spanned a mineral line serving nos 7 and No 8 pits.

Stranraer Harbour Junction: Only a short distance for 156449 to go before reaching Stranraer Harbour as it passes over the disused connection to the Stranraer Town freight facilities. Former railway land to the left of the train is now in other use and Town station is just beyond the white lorry at the end of the yard. Picture taken from overbridge at NX 073604.

Cowdenbeath: You've been framed! 158 736 seen through the latticework of Cowdenbeath's footbridge on 23 May, awaiting departure with the 13.23 to Edinburgh.

Stranraer Harbour Junction: 156449 is on the last part of its journey to the Harbour station at Stanraer and just about to swing into the shallow cutting that leads down to the breakwater. Directly above the train the roof of Stranraer steam shed can be seen over the trees See image [[15270]] with the disused lines to Stranraer Town to the left.

Stranraer Harbour Junction: The view east towards Castle Kennedy from the small overbridge near Stranraer Town as 156449 heads for the port. The building on the right was formerly part of the rail freight handling facilities at this location. See image [[34207]] for the view west from the same bridge.

Pembroke Dock: 153312 lays over at Pembroke Dock on 23 May before returning to Swansea on the 17.09 service. The line previously continued forward across Water Street and between the houses ahead, before crossing Gordon Street in order to continue along to the dock area see image [[39429]].

Pembroke Dock: Extant track and crossing gates on Gordon Street, Pembroke Dock, looking east along trackbed that passes between the houses in the distance and crosses Water Street to access the station some 50 metres beyond see image [[39622]].

Pitmedden: A westbound train passes the remains of the Aberdeenshire Canal east of Pitmedden in May 2012. The GNSR is often described as being laid on the route of the canal but a canal meanders far more than a railway and so a number of curved sections, such as this one, still survive.

Macduff (Banff): Macduff (Banff) was the original terminus of the extension north from Turriff. Inconvenient for Macduff (and Banff) it was replaced as the line was extended half a mile north through Banff Bridge station to a new Macduff terminus. Little remains of the old terminus except the turntable pit (seen) and site of the locomotive shed. The station was beyond the pit. The view looks south.

Leyland: A pair of DRS Class 57s with 57002 leading, heading south through Leyland station on 23 May 2012 with the 6K73 Sellafield to Crewe freight.

Ashbourne: At the southern end of the Tissington Trail in the Peak District lies this tunnel, which takes the cyclists and walkers directly into Ashbourne town centre. Regular passenger services ceased in 1954 but goods trains continued on this section until 1963 and the route can now be followed all the way to the outskirts of Buxton.

Hulme End: The narrow gauge terminus at Hulme End was at the northern end of the eight mile 2' 6' gauge Leek and Manifold line from Waterhouses. As the line closed in 1934 after only thirty years use the station building has done well to survive but is now cherished by the local community. For many years the old engine shed stood alongside and the cafe that has replaced it has been built in the same style and using some of the original frames. One room in the old station building houses a fascinating collection of photos and models of the old railway line, which can be followed on foot or bicycle for its full length.

Tissington: The wooden station buildings and platforms at Tissington were swept away after closure, like all the others on the line, but the station site is now a car park and picnic site on the Tissington Trail. This view in May 2012 looks north towards Parsley Hay and Buxton and the semaphore arm mounted on the bridge is a nice reminder of times past.

Thorpe Cloud: Evocative names these old stations on the Tissington Trail. Parsley Hay, Alsop-en-le-Dale and here is Thorpe Cloud, first station out of Ashbourne heading north. As at all the others on the line the wooden platforms and station buildings are long gone but a picnic area has been created at the site. View north towards Parsley Hay and Buxton showing a small under bridge that has survived to carry the trackbed cyclepath.

Macduff: More than 60 years after closure, the old Macduff locomotive shed still stands on the hillside to the west of the former station see image [[39268]], where it is now used for storage. The stone built 2-road straight shed, latterly a sub to 61A Kittybrewster, serviced locomotives between 1872 and 1951. Photographed in May 2012 looking south from the A98.

Banff Bridge: Crossing the River Deveron heading east on the A98 between Banff and Macduff in May 2012. The former Banff Bridge station stands on the hillside in the centre background. See image [[39065]]

Banff Bridge: Looking north over Banff Bay from the hillside to the east of the town in the spring of 2012. The building is the old Banff Bridge station, last stop before the former branch terminus at Macduff, less than half a mile off to the right. Banff Bridge was closed by BR in October 1951 and is now a private property.

Cullen Burn Viaduct: View west over the town of Cullen in May 2012. The viaduct once carried the Moray Coast line towards Portnockie in the distance on the other side of Cullen Bay. See image [[39206]]

Portsoy [1st]: The booking office and passenger entrance to the original Portsoy terminus looking east on 23 May 2012, approximately 128 years after the last ticket was issued. The north end of the former train shed stands in the background. Just off to the right is Old Station Yard, now a council depot and recycling point. See image [[39216]]

Portsoy [2nd]: The 1884 station building at Portsoy, opened when the line was extended westward by the GNSR. The station closed along with the line in 1968 and has since been used by the local scouts. The refurbished trainshed of the original 1859 Portsoy station, terminus of the Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway, can be seen in the right background, still in remarkably good condition 128 years after closure, with the building and yard currently used by the local council. See image [[39216]]

Macduff: The former Macduff station building, now 'Seaway Marine', seen from the main entrance in May 2012.

Portsoy [1st]: The 1859 terminus of the Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway at Portsoy, closed to passengers as long ago as 1884 when the line was extended west. The surviving structure, seen here in May 2012, is currently part of a local council depot. To the right of the fence a line ran down to Portsoy Harbour passing below Seafield Street (A98) through the tunnel visible in the centre background. The building housing the booking office and passenger entrance still stands at the north west corner of the trainshed [[39409]].

Pembroke Dock: The former branch from Pembroke Dock station to the dock area itself crossing Gordon Street in May 2012, with rails and gates still in position. Little of the old route, closed in 1969, now survives beyond the buildings on the far side of the gates.

Whitland: Token collection taking place at Whitland on 23 May 2012 from the 17.09 Pembroke Dock - Swansea service, with the unit standing over the level crossing. Due to an earlier level crossing failure near Pontyclun, and diversion via Barry, the unit had to wait 30 minutes at Carmarthen for the arrival of the incoming conductor.

Pembroke Dock: A gate post still in place on the west side of Water Street on the former route to Pembroke Dock, looking to Gordon Street level crossing with the station approximately 50 metres behind the camera.

Portsoy [1st]: The original 1859 terminus of the Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway at Portsoy, seen from the south west in 2012. The station served passengers for a mere 25 years, becoming redundant on the opening of the GNSR route westward in 1884, at which point a new through station was opened behind the camera (see [[39179]]). The wooden trainshed has since acquired a front wall complete with doors and windows and is now part of an Aberdeenshire Council Civic Amenity and Recycling Centre.

Tenby: 153312 and 150279 stand at Tenby on 23 May during token exchanges whilst working the 14.00 Swansea - Pembroke Dock and the 15.09 reverse service.

Whitland: Looking east from the down island platform at Whitland in May 2012. The station buildings on the up platform are empty and boarded up and give a generally poor impression to travellers.

Oldmeldrum: Gone! Oldmeldrum station building has been taken for use on the Deeside Railway. May 2012.

Banff Bridge: The steep climb towards Banff Bridge, penultimate station on the Macduff branch, approaching from the south in May 2012. The station lost its passenger service in 1951 and the station building on the left was subsequently converted and refurbished to provide an attractive private residence, with views over the town and the bay see image [[39065]].

Macduff: Looking over the former Macduff station in May 2012. Closed in 1951 the refurbished building is now a shop specialising in watersports accessories. See image [[30079]] The old locomotive shed, now in use as a storage facility, still stands in the left centre background.

Cullen Seafield Street Viaduct: Surviving section of viaduct crossing Seafield Street, Cullen, in May 2012. View north towards the harbour with Cullen Bay beyond. The former station stood off to the right and was closed along with the Moray Coast line in 1968.

Portsoy [2nd]: The second (1884) station at Portsoy looking south west on 23 May 2012. Closed to all rail traffic in 1968, the emblem of the Scouting movement attached to the front of the building indicates its current use. For a view from the platform side, which also shows the 1859 station that this version replaced, see image [[39179]].

Banff Bridge: View west over the River Deveron towards the town of Banff, Aberdeenshire, showing Banff Bridge, which carries the A98. On the left is Duff House Royal Golf Club, while emerging from the broom on this side of the divide is the former Banff Bridge station, now a private residence.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Glasgow Queen Street during late rush hour 23/05/13

Lillooet: A well kept Canadian secret that I happened upon by chance. This is the Kaoham Shuttle that runs one return trip a day for local people on the scenic line from tiny Seton to not much bigger Lillooet. The train is a privately operated twin-car DMU but it runs in CN colours on CN tracks and is seen here on layover prior to returning to Seton in the afternoon.

Invershin: Those travelling on the afternoon Inverness to Thurso train are entertained by an impromptu recital from young musicians on their way to the Orkney Folk Festival. Strangely enough, most of the passengers are in the other coach.

Hamworthy: SWT 444036 leaves Hamworthy heading for Wareham and Weymouth on 23 May. As the EMU bears right the Hamworthy Goods branch, presently out of use, can be seen curving left down towards Poole Harbour See image [[47654]].

Bournemouth Cliff Lifts: Westcliff lift at Bournemouth is one of three operated by the council. Although known as Cliff Lifts they are actually funicular light railways. The Westcliff lift rises 145 feet on a gradient of 1:1.42 and dates from August 1908.

Pokesdown: The covered footbridge (with open sides) at Pokesdown provides a good vantage point on a wet day. Evidently the station once had more tracks than the two that now suffice. Most SWT services in the Bournemouth area are handled by 444 EMUs but the Class 450 suburban sets make appearances on stopping trains. 450561 is on the rear of a westbound eight car set making its last call before Bournemouth.

Bournemouth Cliff Lifts: Eastcliff is the oldest of Bournemouth's three cliff railways, but only by three months, having opened in April 1908. It is also the tallest, rising to 170' above the East Promenade on a gradient of almost 1:1. Seen here in May 2014, the Routemaster bus was in town for the annual Wheels Festival.

Pokesdown: Pokesdown, a suburb of Bournemouth, has a basic service of two trains per hour in each direction but many more go through without stopping. Cross Country Voyager 220015 passes through the twin arch bridge at the east end of the station on the last leg of a Manchester to Bournemouth service.

Poole: Passengers waiting in very heavy rain at Poole on 23rd May 2014 were glad of the large platform shelters. SWT 444037 pulls in on a stopping service for Waterloo ex-Weymouth. The arched roof sections of the modern station building can be seen to the right of the train.

Branksome: Just off the east end of the platform at Branksome is this junction, where Somerset and Dorset trains used to diverge from the main line to access Bournemouth West station. Bournemouth West closed in 1965 when the Bournemouth lines were being electrified but a new EMU depot was constructed on the station approaches and so most of the short branch is still in use and busy, albeit with empty stock movements. This view from a passing train on the main line on a very wet 23rd May 2014.

Hamworthy: A wet day at Hamworthy, looking towards Wareham from the east end of the Weymouth platform. The signalbox is no longer in use. The Hamworthy Goods branch, presently mothballed, passes behind the box and this platform before diverging beyond the station. See image [[47497]]

Branksome: This is the junction at the east end of Branksome station. Until 1965 the route to the right led to Bournemouth West station and Somerset and Dorset trains from Bath would diverge here. The junction is still busy as the old line is now used to access Bournemouth Traincare Depot. SWT 444011 is taking the line to the left heading for Bournemouth (Central) and Waterloo.

Pokesdown: Pulling away from the Pokesdown stop in torrential rain on 23 May, 444023 on a Poole to Waterloo service passes through the twin arch bridge at the east end of the station. Thankfully, the station footbridge from which the photograph was taken has a full length roof.

Morpeth: 66709 northbound off the curve and through Morpeth station with a ballast train on 23 May 2014.

Low Gill [1st]: A long way from the Channel Tunnel - 92037 heading South with containers past an NR acess point on 23rd May.

Branksome: A Waterloo to Weymouth service, formed by SWT 444005, calls at Branksome, between Bournemouth and Poole, on a very wet morning in May 2014.

Brockenhurst: Brockenhurst station, Hampshire, opened by the Southampton & Dorchester Railway on 1st June 1847, looking west on 23rd May 2015. This is the junction for the branch to Lymington Town and Lymington Pier (connecting there with ferries to and from Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight) and until 4th May 1964 was also the junction for the original inland route through the New Forest via Ringwood, Wimborne and Broadstone. Broadstone station stayed open until 7th March 1966 when it closed along with former Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway main line.

Alresford (Hampshire): View inside the Alresford station signal box on 23rd May 2015.

Winchburgh: Having just passed Winchburgh Junction, a Dunblane - Edinburgh service approaches Winchburgh tunnel on 23rd May 2015. No sign of EGIP activity here yet, although masts are in place a few miles further west. The tunnel is due to close for EGIP electrification works in just a few weeks time.

Prestonpans: A Virgin (for now) East Coast service for King's Cross passes through Prestonpans at speed on the afternoon of 23 May.

Bournemouth: Juniper units 8014 and 8016 with UK Railtours 'The Juniper Factor' excursion from London Waterloo to Poole at Bournemouth station, on 23rd May 2015. This station was opened by the LSWR as Bournemouth East on 20th July 1885, renamed Bournemouth Central on 1st May 1899 and finally to simply Bournemouth under BR on 10th July 1967.

Alresford (Hampshire): 08377 sits in the cattle dock platform at Alresford on 23rd May 2015. The former D3462 was built at Darlington and first posted to Hither Green in 1957. It moved around the country and its final depot was St. Blazey. It was vacuum only so an early candidate for withdrawal in 1983. Originally preserved on the West Somerset Railway it is now in the Mid-Hants fleet.

Tetbury: Satnavs don't generally show disused railways; but it's hard to argue with remnants like these impressive abutments, which rest a few yards to the South of the A433 from Cirencester. Tetbury is to the right.

Alresford (Hampshire): Southern Railway LN Class 4-6-0 850 'Lord Nelson' arriving at Alresford, with a service from Alton, on 23rd May 2015.

Clapham Junction: Juniper units 8014 and 8016 calling at Clapham Junction on the way back from Poole to London Waterloo with UK Railtours 'The Juniper Excursion', on the evening of Saturday, 23rd May 2015. The train followed the main line from Poole to Wimbledon, then taking the LUL District Line as far as East Putney where it took the spur to Point Pleasant Junction west of Wandsworth Town.

Haslemere: 450014 and 450 041 arriving at Haslemere station in Surrey, with a London Waterloo service, on 23rd May 2015.

Moreton-in-Marsh: An up First Great Western 'Thames Turbo' DMU accelerates past the signal box at Moreton-in-Marsh on 23rd May 2015 on its way to Paddington. See image [[35794]]

Haslemere: 450041, at the rear of 450014, heading for London Waterloo at Haslemere station in Surrey, on 23rd May 2015.

Morar: Not far to go now. Black 5 No. 45407 with the SRPS Railtour from Glenrothes to Mallaig is pictured west of Morar.

Alresford (Hampshire): Alresford station buildings and forecourt in May 2015. Opened in 1865 for the new Alresford and Winchester Railway and closed by British Railways in 1973. However, it was reopened as the Mid-Hants Railway 'Watercress Line' in 1977.

Alresford (Hampshire): Signal box and platform view of Alresford station, looking west on 23rd May 2015.

Hayles Abbey Halt: The 2807 Owners' Group held its annual Shareholders' Day today, with 2807 being star of stage and screen. Here 2807 passes Hailes Abbey. A Halt is to be built here.

Toddington: The 2807 Owners' Group held its annual Shareholders' Day today, 2807 is seen at Toddington.

Broadway: The rebuilding of Broadway Station, looking north. The track is currently a mile away. The signalbox is complete as is one platform.

Blaenau Ffestiniog: 150262, with a Conwy Valley Line service to Llandudno, waiting to depart from Blaenau Ffestiniog station on 23rd May 2016. This station stands on the site of the old GWR Blaenau Ffestiniog Central station that closed in 1960 and which I remember seeing, derelict, as a boy in 1965. On the left is the world-famous Ffestiniog Railway.

Llandudno: 150262 just arrived at Llandudno station with a Conwy Valley Line service from Blaenau Ffestiniog on 23rd May 2016.

Barmouth: 158 824 from Pwllheli to Machynlleth at Barmouth station on the evening of 23rd May 2016.

Barmouth: Exterior of Barmouth station, Cambrian Coast Line, opened in 1867, on 23rd May 2016

Oubeck Loops: Freightliner 66528 Madge Elliott MBE hauls the late running Coatbridge Daventry service towards the Oubeck Loops on 23rd May 2016. The container train is just about to cross the Burrow Beck. This rural scene is set to change as the land on this side of the railway is earmarked for a retail development. See image [[51530]]

Minffordd [FR]: Ffestiniog Railway train from Porthmadog Harbour to Blaenau Ffestiniog calling at Minffordd, looking back towards Porthmadog, on 23rd May 2016. This station is an interchange with the standard gauge Cambrian Coast Line that passes underneath just to the north.

Cinderbarrow: Recent clearing of vegetation has opened up a vantage point on Tarn Lane at Cinderbarrow, near Burton and Holme, where DB 66167 is seen heading south with the evening Hardendale to Margam containers on 23rd May 2016. The train has just crossed the Cumbria and Lancashire border.

Betws-y-Coed: Betws-y-Coed station on the Conwy Valley Line in north Wales, seen from 150262 working from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog, looking back northwards on 23rd May 2016.

Dolwyddelan: Dolwyddelen station on the Conwy Valley Line in North Wales, seen from 150262 on a Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog service, on 23rd May 2016. This station was once an island platform but only one side is now in use.

Oubeck Loops: Sporting promotional vinyls for Festival No.6 at Portmeirion, Voyager 221106 speeds south through the loops at Oubeck with a Euston (via Birmingham) service on 23rd May 2016.

Milcote [2nd]: The Carriages 5344 Cafe is set inside a restored 1967 BR MkII coach. Carriages 5344 Cafe creates a refreshment stop at the Milcote Picnic Site on the Stratford Greenway, which runs as far as Long Marston on the old line to Cheltenham. 23rd May 2017.

Stratford-upon-Avon Race Course Junction: This substantial bridge crosses the River Avon, approximately one mile from Stratford upon Avon on the old line to Long Marston. One side is in use as part of the Greenway path but the other side has no decking.

Poulton-le-Fylde: An eastbound Class 319 approaches Poulton-le-Fylde on the evening of 23 May 2018. The disconnected Fleetwood line can be seen on the right, See image [[41766]] for a view from the same viewpoint nearly 6 years earlier with the signalbox and junction intact.

Glasgow Central: The large, open, bright and airy space of the Glasgow Central concourse.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The Queen Street Fanlight and demolition progress seen in bright sunshine on the 23rd. With Wellington, and his cone, off to the left and the North British off to the right.

Prestonpans: A Class 385 on driver training on 23 May, about to come to a stop at the east end Prestonpans station. After its windscreen problems this class had emerged from hiding earlier than expected.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The west (Dundas Street) elevation of Queen Street in bright sunshine.

Poulton-le-Fylde: Although VWC have introduced 3 return trips by Pendolino from London to Blackpool on weekdays, the first and last service of the day remains a Voyager unit and, unlike the Pendolinos, call at Kirkham & Wesham and Poulton-le-Fylde. On the evening of 23 May 2018 a Voyager departs from Poulton-le-Fylde.

Prestonpans: I was surprised to come across this Class 385 out and about (on driver training, presumably) as I thought the class was grounded. Have the windows been fixed? I can't tell. Anyway I worked out (without reference to RTT, which is cheating) that it had been to Dunbar and back, making a brief stop here at Prestonpans at the end of the platform, as if for a crew change. Notice the numbers on both sides: just for symmetry?

Edinburgh Princes Street: The most obvious survivor of Princes Street station gets a touch-up on 23 May.

Blindwells Opencast Disposal Site: Some sleepers and a fossilised signal mark the course of the Blindwells branch near Prestonpans. Currently this location doesn't appear in a search on online maps, but is about to become a shiny new town. Meanwhile a black HGV roadsign nearby still points to 'Blindwells NCB'; Blindwells closed in 2000 and the NCB obit 1987. [Ref query 16 June 2018]

Edinburgh Waverley: A Class 385 on driver training makes its way to Platform 11 on 23 May. It will then change ends and return to Dunbar, slightly delaying the North Berwick service on Platform 7.

Farington Junction: 68031 propels one of the new CAF Mk 5 sets south on the WCML near to Farington Jct on 23 May 2019. This was a another test run from Manchester to Manchester via Carlisle and Bletchley.

Leyland: 37219 is seen with a Derby RTC to Fort William Network Rail test train at Leyland on 23 May 2019. On the platform on the right, the L&Y 0-6-0 and brake van have been joined by a 12T mineral wagon which also contains a rather nice selection of flowers courtesy of the Friends of Leyland Station.

Largs: The 1353 Largs - Kilwinning formed by 156432 and running as 1Z14 on Saturday 23rd May 2020. High winds and storms on this date presumably resulted in withdrawal of electric services because of the exposed stretch between Stevenston and Saltcoats. The unit is shuttling between Kilwinning and Largs. A further presumption is that ScotRail have plenty of spare diesels sitting around due to the reduced services currently operating as a result of the virus pandemic. Often the service is just suspended when this happens. Photograph by Stewart J Brown and published with his permission.

Horton-in-Ribblesdale: The 1450 hrs Carlisle to Leeds service arrives at Horton-in-Ribblesdale on 22 May 2021 with 158758 in charge.

Lady Victoria Colliery: View towards the west side of the National Mining Museum 0n 23 May 2021, with the Borders line running past approximately 30 feet below the boundary fence. At this time the museum had been closed for several months due to Covid restrictions. In the foreground the area alongside the path from Newtongrange station has become a dumping ground, while the north west corner of the site is a wasteland. The lone railway vehicle is one of the narrow gauge surface cars once used on the Easthouses Tramway.

Lady Victoria Colliery: Another of the information panels attached to the perimeter fence of the Scottish Mining Museum. Of particular note is the seldom photographed high level conveyor system shown on the right. This was part of the improved transshipment facilities introduced during the NCB era to handle coal arriving via the Easthouses tramway. The conveyor brought the coal from a discharge hopper in the north west corner of the site up to the pit head for washing, screening and loading into standard gauge wagons pending disposal via the exchange sidings.

Reston: Commemorative ticket for the Reston re-opening day, 23rd May 2022.

Reston: A nice touch on the 23rd May reopening day for Reston was this enthusiast bringing one of the old totems from the station.

Reston: The first passenger service to call at Reston in almost six decades is piped into the station. (Monday 23rd May 2022)

Reston: Jenny Gilruth, Scottish Government Minister for Transport travelled to the Scottish Borders village aboard the 09.33 TransPennine Express service to Reston. The train's arrival was greeted by a piper and Ms. Gilruth was met by a party of children from Reston Primary school. To mark the first day of service, pupils from Reston Primary then travelled to Edinburgh courtesy of TPE to experience travelling by train for the first time from their home station.

Reston: Ticket to ride to newly reopened Reston on 23rd May 2022