Haltwhistle: Newcastle stopping train at Haltwhistle. V.1. 2.6.2.T 67636.

Alston: Branch train from Hatwhistle at Alston station in June 1952.

Lesmahagow [2nd]: Lesmahagow. CR 0.4.4T 55182 piloting standard 2.6.4T 80022 on Coalburn - Hamilton train.

Lesmahagow [2nd]: Lesmahagow. CR 0.4.4T 55182 piloting standard 2.6.4T 80022 on Coalburn - Hamilton train. [Railscot note: Blemish on print.]

Lesmahagow [2nd]: Lesmahagow. 55182 and 80022 on Hamilton train.

Bankend: Bankend CR 0.4.4T 55182. The view looks east to Coalburn with the sidings of the washery of the former Westown Colliery in the distant right and the line which was extended to Spireslack in the foreground, by this date simply a loop which continued a short distance behind the camera only.

Bankend: Bankend CR 0.4.4T 55182. Train on arrival at Bankend from Coalburn before running round. [Railscot note: Blemish on print.]

Coalburn: CR 0.4.4T 55182 at Coalburn.

Coalburn: CR 0.4.4T 55182 at Coalburn.

Newcastle Central: 61854 has recently reversed off the High Level Bridge (presumably from Gateshead shed judging by the tender) to pick up a train of mainly parcels vans from the goods lines alongside Newcastle Central station. The Gresley K3 2-6-0, based at Tweedmouth at that time (June 1960), will shortly be heading north on the ECML.

Newcastle Central: 60022 Mallard at Newcastle Central with the 'Anglo-Scottish Car Carrier' in the summer of 1960.

Newcastle Central: Station pilot J72 0-6-0T 68723 poses at Newcastle Central in June 1960.

Dalmuir Park: A Helensburgh bound Blue Train is seen at Dalmuir Park in 1962.

Carlisle: Coronation Pacific 46238 'City of Carlisle' makes an impressive departure from its namesake city on 25th June. It would have been nice to be able to say that the train was one of the crack expresses to London, but this was 1963 and in reality, it was an ordinary stopping service. The train was I think only going as far as Warrington, if I remember correctly.

Auchencastle: Summer evening view from a diesel-hauled Liverpool-Glasgow express, on the ascent of Beattock Bank, on 25th June 1963. The banker is Fairburn 2-6-4T 42055.

Craigellachie [2nd]: View of Craigellachie in June 1964.

Aberlour: View of Aberlour from the front of an approaching Speyside-line DMU in 1964. An EE Type 1 waits in the station with a freight in the opposite direction.

Craigellachie [2nd]: View of Craigellachie in 1964.

Princes Street Gardens Cutting: V2 2-6-2 60919 brings the Summer Saturday 9.10am Dundee to Blackpool through Princes St Gardens on 25th June 1966.

Edinburgh Waverley Goods: V2 60919, is of many features visible around the east end of Edinburgh Waverley, after the 2-6-2 brought in the Summer Saturday 9.10 am Dundee to Blackpool. A NBL 0-4-0 shunter can also be seen bottom right.

Princes Street Gardens Cutting: Two J37s, 64570 and 64618, get on the move through Princes Street Gardens as they leave Edinburgh Waverley with the 'Aberdonian', a special excursion from London Waterloo to Aberdeen and back in June 1966. The tour used a variety of locomotives, including restored 4472 'Flying Scotsman', which had brought the train over the Waverley route. A train of ten green Southern region carriages made a somewhat bizarre sight in Edinburgh. The J37s took the tour onwards to Anstruther, via Polmont and Alloa, then back to Thornton Junction. A V2 then completed the run north to Aberdeen.

Edinburgh Waverley: The 'Aberdonian' railtour of 25th June 1966 awaits departure from Edinburgh Waverley behind two ex-NB J37 0-6-0s, 64570 and 64618. On the right is a relocated portion of the original station building.

Paterson's No 2 Siding: Preserved A3 Pacific 4472 Flying Scotsman with the Warwickshire Railway Society 'Aberdonian' railtour photographed on its way north at Galashiels on 25 June 1966. [Ref query 482]

Edinburgh Waverley: Black 5 45084 leaving Edinburgh Waverley on the 11.25 service to Manchester, which will be attached at Carstairs to the 11.30 Glasgow - Liverpool.

Hawick [2nd]: Preserved A3 Pacific 4472 Flying Scotsman at Hawick on 25 June 1966 with the Warwickshire Railway Society's 'Aberdonian Rail Tour'. The special was on its way north during part of a 3-day tour which started and finished at London's Waterloo station.

Slitrig Viaduct: A northbound special crossing Slitrig Viaduct south of Hawick on 25 June 1966. The train is the Warwickshire Railway Society's Aberdonian Railtour with 4472 Flying Scotsman in charge for the leg from Hellifield to Edinburgh Waverley.

Princes Street Gardens Cutting: The summer Saturday 10.30 Edinburgh - Aberdeen, with Black 5 45168, meets a Metro-Cammell diesel unit in the cutting at Princes Street Gardens in June 1966.

Edinburgh Waverley: Two J37 0-6-0s, 64570 and 64618, await the arrival of the 'Aberdonian' excursion at Edinburgh Waverley on 25th June 1966. This was a spectacular railtour from London Waterloo to Aberdeen, taking 46 hours and using nine locomotives. A3 4472 'Flying Scotsman' brought the train from Hellifield to Edinburgh, via the Settle and Carlisle and the Waverley routes, and the J37s took over for the next stage into Fife, using the other Forth Bridge near Alloa. The return journey from Aberdeen would feature the more usual Forth Bridge, albeit crossing at 3am the following morning!

Edinburgh Waverley: Two J37s, 64570 and 64618, await the arrival of the 'Aberdonian' at Edinburgh Waverley on 25th June 1966. This was a railtour from London Waterloo to Aberdeen, with A3 4472 'Flying Scotsman' bringing the train from Hellifield to Edinburgh, via the Settle and Carlisle and the Waverley routes. The J37s were taking over for the next stage into Fife.

Edinburgh Waverley: A3 4472 'Flying Scotsman' brings the June 1966 'Aberdonian' railtour into Edinburgh Waverley. The tour had started at London Waterloo with the A3 in charge of the Hellifield – Edinburgh stage, using the Settle and Carlisle and Waverley routes.

Edinburgh Waverley: Plenty of young admirers for A3 4472 'Flying Scotsman' after arrival at Edinburgh Waverley with the 'Aberdonian' railtour of 25th June 1966. The tour had started at London Waterloo, and the A3 covered the Hellifield – Edinburgh stage, using the Settle & Carlisle and Waverley routes.

Edinburgh Waverley: Vans, perhaps belonging to a Motorail service, being shunted at the east end of Edinburgh Waverley by Black 5 45053 in June 1966.

Princes Street Gardens Cutting: J37s 64570 and 64618 head through Princes St Gardens as they leave Edinburgh with the 'Aberdonian& railtour. This was a spectacular tour from London Waterloo to Aberdeen and back, over a remarkably varied route, with the J37s taking the Edinburgh to Anstruther stage, running via Larbert and the 'other' Forth Bridge.

Edinburgh Waverley: The platform canopy roofing at Edinburgh Waverley looked much in need of repair in June 1966. Black Five 44954, with a nicely cleaned cabside number, waits to take empty stock from the station.

Eltham: A Bulleid 4DD double-deck unit photographed near Eltham in 1970. This is DBMT 13002, of set 4001 (later 4901) built in 1949. The 2 sets (the other being 4002/4902) normally operated together as an 8-car train. The units were not popular with passengers but nonetheless remained in service on BR Southern Region for over 20 years.

Farington Junction: A Class 40 waits on the curve from the East Lancs line at Farington Jct with an electric loco and freight train that is about to join the WCML and head south on 25 June 1976.

Farington Junction: This photograph was taken looking back from a Glasgow to London train as it passed Farington Junction in June 1976. Waiting to join the WCML southbound on the curve from Lostock Hall Junction is a Class 40 and a dead electric locomotive on a freight train. Today the area to the left of the Class 40 is covered with housing and thick vegetation is on the right.

Leschede: DB 043 121 + 043 903 take a lengthy freight through Leschede on 25 June 1977.

Edinburgh Waverley: 37012 leaves Edinburgh Waverley with the Royal Scotsman on 25 June 1987.

Horbury Bridge: Intense Marcroft repair and dismantling activity on aggregate wagons in Horbury Bridge Goods Yard in June 1997. The yard stood on the south side of the line to Healey Mills and across Bridge Road from the former Horbury & Ossett Station.

Blackford Hill: 37221 coasts down to Blackford Hill with a ballast train for Millerhill on 25 June 1998.

Montrose: A Glasgow-bound service calls at Montrose in June 1999. The ScotRail 'branding' seems to be restricted to a single small flash under the offside window.

Wellwood No 3 Pit Siding: View west at Wellwood Siding Cottage (seen to the left). This was to the east of the A70. Wellwood No 3 Pit Signal Box (Wellwood No 1 Signal Box which was further east) was in front of the cottage and to the left of the trackbed. It controlled access to a siding.

This siding was one of two which gave access to the Nether Wellwood pits by reversal. One of these is to the left (it survived closure of No 3 pit and double tracking of the railway and must have been retained as a refuge) and the other is some way behind the camera to the right (it served No 2 pit). The latter siding closed on double tracking of the Muirkirk line and was replaced with a short lived private line from Muirkirk Ironworks.

The bing to the left was in an area of old bell-pits which had been served by an early waggonway from the Muirkirk Ironworks. The same pits may have served the Nether Wellwood Ironworks of the 1730s.

The cottage was abandoned shortly before the photograph was taken, due to the expansion of the Powharnal opencast into this area which has destroyed the remains of everything described above - at the time of writing this view would be of a large flooded hole in the ground.

Lynemouth Aluminium Smelter: The unloading point at Lynemouth Aluminium Works, seen in 2004.

Haymarket MPD: Expansion at Haymarket MPD - looking west at the new facilities under construction on 25 June 2006.

Edinburgh Waverley: Looking over the east end of Waverley station from Regent Road on Sunday 25 June 2006. EWS 66104 is on an engineer's train, while 322464 stands in the background.

Edinburgh Waverley: EWS 66183 with another PW train at Waverley platform 1 on 25 June 2006. The locomotive is standing below the enclosed mailbag conveyor system that linked the GPO HQ sorting office on Waterloo Place with the rail distribution depot on the left.

Perth: 158702 is one of a trio of 158 sets stabled in platform 3 at Perth station on 25 June.

Rodney Street Tunnel: Clearance work on Rodney Street tunnel on 25 June 2007. View south under Broughton Road/Rodney Street towards Scotland Street (now visible through the north portal) and the next tunnel, which eventually emerged at Canal Street terminus.

Townhill Yard: Blue is the colour...A Scottish Region HAA hopper at Townhill on 25 June.

Abernethy: Like a model train, the Royal Scotsman travels north west past Abernethy.

Abernethy: 57601 takes the Royal Scotsman on its journey towards Perth.

Midge Hall: Looking towards Midge Hall on 25 June as 142012 approaches on a Preston - Ormskirk service, having just passed over Pages occupation crossing.

Rufford: Looking south towards Ormskirk at Rufford station as the signalman collects the staff for the section from Ormskirk and hands over the token for the section to Midge Hall on 25 June 2008. Rufford is the only passing loop on the line between Farington Curve Junction and Ormskirk.

Rufford: An Ormskirk to Preston service in the hands of Class 142 012 departs from Rufford over the level crossing on the almost dead straight section of track towards Croston on 25 June 2008.

Inverkeithing East Junction: 47804 takes The Royal Scotsman away from Inverkeithing East Junction on 25 June 2008 on its journey north.

Jamestown Viaduct [Inverkeithing]: EWS 67025 comes off Jamestown viaduct on the approach to Inverkeithing on 25 June with the 1708 Fife Circle service from Waverley.

Cozes: Many French station buildings survive as private residences, on both closed and open lines. Cozes however, on the former Saujon to Pons line, has not been so fortunate and is crumbling away despite being a very interesting looking building. The tracks are still in place from Saujon to Gemozac, with a passing loop here, but it is a long time since any rail traffic passed this way and the local buses are now stabled encroaching onto the track.

Georgemas Junction: Lucky I got there early... Georgemas Junction, 25 June 2009.

Georgemas Junction: 158720 is about to set off from Georgemas Junction for Thurso, having recently arrived from Inverness on a warm and sunny 25 June.

Crewe: 87002 'Royal Sovereign' pauses at Crewe on 25 June while en route from Willesden to Warrington light engine.

Crewe: Arriva Trains 57315 departs Crewe with the 16.15 Cardiff-Holyhead service on 25 June.

Glenfinnan: Old snowplough on display at the Glenfinnan Museum in June 2010, built around the chassis of a Gresley V2 tender.

Glenfinnan: 62005 climbs into Glenfinnan station on 25th June 2010 bound for Mallaig with The Jacobite.

Cardross: The 'Three Peaks Challenge' heads east from Cardross.

Carlisle: And to think we never used to bat an eyelid when we saw a class 47 at Carlisle. 47580 stands at Carlisle on a railtour fron Norwich.

Plumpton: A interesting coffee stop just off the M6, some 4 miles north of Penrith, is the station site at Plumpton. The station itself has long gone (closed May 1948) but the old station house now hosts a tea room with a garden centre occupying the yard. Photographed on 25 June 2011 with the WCML behind the camera.

Perth: A six car 158 set with 158715 on the point arrives at Perth with the 10.47 from Inverness to Edinburgh on 25 June. The train stabling area can be seen on the right.

Preston: An unusual combination of motive power - an electric hauling a dead diesel! 86101 pauses at Preston with 67013 dead in tow on the final leg of the 'Three Peaks Challenge, from Fort William to Euston (see image 34640)

Farington: 20312 and 20309 head south with one flask wagon on a summer evening at Farington. This was the Sellafield to Crewe service on 25 June 2012.

Princes Street [Tram]: View east along Princes Street on 25 June 2012. For a similar view 2 years and 8 months earlier see image [[26039]].

Culross [2nd]: Colas Rail 66847 nears Culross with a route learning trip from Stirling to Townhill on 25 June, with Longannet Power Station in the background. There has been speculation that the Linkswood aviation fuel trains may be diverted this way - while they last.

Hardengreen: View south over Hardengreen roundabout on 25 June 2014. Part of Newbattle Viaduct is visible in the centre, with the Lady Victoria Colliery site beyond. The spire of Gorebridge parish church stands on the horizon top right. See image [[47129]]

Banavie Swing Bridge: View across the open Banavie rail swing bridge from the adjacent road bridge on 25 June 2013.

Fort William: Then Ian Riley owned 37518 runs forward to couple onto the stock of the afternoon Jacobite service, after its arrival back at Fort William on the evening of 25th June 2013. The diesel then made the short journey to the nearby stabling sidings in Fort William Junction yard. Black 5 44871 was on the other end of the stock which it had pulled tender first from Mallaig. See image [[43989]]. My wife is seen to right of view patiently awaiting further proceedings.

Lochailort: Grab Shot at Lochailort on 25 June showing 156492 leading 156465 round the curve towards the station non stop on the late running 09.03 Glasgow Queen Street to Mallaig service.

Fort William: 67004 runs round the Caledonian Sleeper stock at Fort William mid morning on 25 June 2013, having arrived from Edinburgh earlier.

Fort William: Ian Riley branded 37518 stabled at Fort William on the evening of 25 June 2013. It was later used by the returning Jacobite crew to haul the stock and locomotive of the special to the stabling sidings.

Fort William Oil Sidings: 156453 and 156447 run past the oil depot on their approach to Fort William station on the 10.10 ex Mallaig to Glasgow service on 25 June.

Fort William: Black 5 44871 runs into Fort William platform 2 on 25 June with the evening arrival of The Jacobite from Mallaig.

Lochailort: First Scot Rail liveried 156465 is on the rear of a twin unit set, working with 156492, seen running non-stop through Lochailort Station on 25 June 2013 with the 09.03 Glasgow Queen Street to Mallaig service. See image [[43638]]

Hest Bank: After the steam loco shortages that plagued the 2013 Great Britain tour there has been a flurry of overhaul completions. There have been three test trips round the Hellifield loop in fairly quick succession recently with B1 61306 being followed by Scot 46115 and, on 25th June, Black 5 45231 seen here approaching Hest Bank at speed. (My thanks to John McIntyre for the tip off about this working)

Esk Valley Junction: Looking north east towards the site of Esk Valley Junction in June 2013, more than 46 years after the last train passed through. The embankment on the right carried the Peebles loop between Bonnyrigg and Eskbank, closed in 1967. The route straight ahead brought in the Esk Valley branch from Polton see image [[7418]], closed 3 years earlier. Both former routes are now walkways.

Hardengreen: Preparing the way for the new Borders Railway bridge over Hardengreen roundabout on 25 June 2013. View west showing preparatory work in progress on the south side of the roundabout. The tipper truck has reached its position at the top of the embankment via Newbattle Viaduct see image [[33036]] and the old Waverley trackbed, a route currently being used by construction traffic as an alternative to the A7... much to the relief of drivers on the A7.

Hardengreen: View south west at Hardengreen on 25 June with the new Eskbank station behind the camera. Hardengreen roundabout is out of sight below trackbed level in the centre of the picture. The tipping activity in the background is taking place on the south side of the roundabout and the red van is heading back towards Newbattle Viaduct. See image [[43557]]

Banavie Swing Bridge: View over the Caledonian Canal from the adjacent foot crossing, looking towards Fort William over the closing Banavie swing bridge, with the RETB control centre seen beyond.

Daventry International Railfreight Terminal: My previous shot see image [[47296]] is now impossible, as there is a retaining wall in the way. Some embankment infill and a large drainpipe are also in shot as the North abutment of the A428 rail-over-road bridge takes shape. The destination of this new line, DIRFT3, can be seen on the horizon.

Dahn Süd: A DB Class 628 DMU approaching Dahn Süd. These sets, built between 1986 and 1996, consist of a power car and a trailer car, the unpowered trailer being designated class 928. This service had started from Bundenthal-Rumbach, the terminus of the Wieslauterbahn, and was en-route to Neustadt (Weinstrasse). After further stops at Dahn and Hinterweidenthal Ort, the train will join the east-west line from Zweibrucken to Landau then continue north to its final destination. The building in the background, the Pfalblick Hotel, provides an ideal base for walking and cycling in this area, and the benefit of watching the trains on the Wieslauterbahn! [With thanks to Bill Jamieson for loco information.]

Dahn Süd: A DB Class 628 DMU approaching Dahn Süd station. These sets, built between 1986 and 1996, consist of a power car and a trailer car, the unpowered trailer being designated class 928. This service was en route from Bundenthal-Rumbach, the terminus of the Wieslauterbahn, to Neustadt (Weinstrasse). After stops at Dahn and Hinterweidenthal Ort, the train will join the east-west line from Zweibrucken to Landau , then continue north to its final destination. The rock outcrop in the background, the Lämmefelsen, is characteristic of this part of Rheinlandpfalz, with the area around Dahn being known as the Dahnerfelsenland. [With thanks to Bill Jamieson for loco information.]

Furth im Wald: A scene which happens just twice a day at the once-busy Furth im Wald station (close to the German-Czech border). The Czech Railways 09.06 train to Pilsen ( a 1981-vintage railcar) waits for its few passengers on 25th June, while in the background a modern Oberpfalzbahn unit is soon to depart at 09.05 - normally to Schwandorf on the Regensburg-Hof main line, but on this occasion only to Roding due to track works.

Shudehill: Double track working has been reinstated along Balloon St between Manchester Victoria and Shudehill. Additionally, all the setts are back in the roadway and the Heras fencing has been removed. Brand new tram 3099 drops down towards Victoria heading for Rochdale on 25th June 2015. See image [[48387]] for the same location during the previous summer.

Glasgow Central: Approaching Glasgow Central on 25 June 2015.

Manchester Victoria: Double tram tracks are in place again from Shudehill through Manchester Victoria, while at the new side entrance two further tracks are being laid for the Second City Crossing. A double tram led by 3036 climbs Balloon St on 25th June heading for Shudehill as a further double set passes through Victoria bound for Bury.

Wigan North Western: 319380, in new Northern Electrics livery, makes a connection with two Pendolinos at Wigan North Western on 25 June, prior to returning to Liverpool Lime Street via St Helens. Although these 4-car former Thameslink EMUs have been around for some time they have been refurbished and are a great improvement on the 2-car Pacers they have replaced on these services.

Manchester Victoria: Construction work and tram track laying taking place in Corporation Street near Manchester Victoria station on 25 June 2015 in connection with the planned 'second city crossing'.

Manchester Victoria: TPE 185140 leaves Manchester Victoria on 25 June heading for Liverpool Lime St with a service from North East England. Just ahead of the train, in a siding on the left, is one of the recently introduced Class 319 EMUs on layover between services. This image taken from the staircase of the west end footbridge as, with the completion of Manchester Victoria's electrification, new raised parapets have been installed on the bridge deck and another photography spot has gone.

Waldmuenchen: Modern Oberpfalzbahn train and modern (relocated) station at Waldmuenchen at the terminus of the branch from Cham in eastern Bavaria on 25th June. As well as offering a scenic run, this rural branch - unusually for Germany today - has freight trains, serving a liquid waste plant.

Manchester Victoria: Just a little more tidying around the new Metrolink section of Manchester Victoria and the station will be ready to receive trams from the link to Exchange Square that may open later in 2015, ahead of the full second city crossing. 155341 leaves from the Network Rail side of Victoria on 25th June 2015, heading for Leeds via Todmorden and Dewsbury.

Brugge: Crossrail Benelux (private open access operator) class 66 PB13 passes through Bruges/Brugge with containers for Zeebrugge on 25 June.

Fluelen: Looking back towards the Gotthard pass at Fluelen, with Swiss Rail EMU 524001 calling at the station, on 25th June 2016. This is a connecting point from the railway to the Lake Lucerne steamers and the landing stage is immediately behind the camera. See image [[57137]].

Blairhill: A 344 for Helensburgh pulls in on 25/06/2016. Station improvements are in progress.

Alne: The completed rebuild of the former Easingwold Branch line crossing keeper's cottage at Alne. This updated view shows how the original road facing part of the original structure has been incorporated into the new build. See image [[43262]] for a view during the early stage of the conversion.

Gotthard Pass: A Swiss Inter City Class 500 EMU descends the Biaschina spirals on the south side of the Gotthard pass, as seen from a northbound train. Below the train another line that it will shortly run over can just be seen despite the dark and rainy weather. From December 2016 these trains, and all freight services, will run through the new Gotthard base tunnel and the scenic line through the pass will only see local services and tourist trains.

Blairhill: The ageing prefab ticket office at Blairhill seen on 25/06/2016. Is a new building at platform level part of the ongoing station improvements? I could have just asked at the ticket window but I like a surprise.

Fluelen: PS Schiller, first launched in 1906, approaches the jetty at Fluelen on 25th June 2016. Fluelen is the furthest point on the lake from Lucerne and a connection point with the Wilhelm Tell Express trains to and from Locarno via the Gotthard Pass.

High Street: Bricked-up section of wall on the city bound platform at High Street station in June 2016, thought to be a defunct passenger access point. [Ref query 10254]

Mount Florida: A Neilston service rolls in on 25/06/2016. Waiting passengers can take their pick (literally) from the strawberries or rhubarb in the foreground. Keeps you as regular as the trains, though we hope not as frequent.

Cambuslang: 320s in a choice of liveries at Cambuslang on 25/06/2016.

Gotthard Base Tunnel: Southern portal of the new Gotthard Base Tunnel, as seen from a northbound train that has started the climb on the original Gotthard route with its world famous spirals. This view taken in June 2016 when the tunnel had been completed but wasn't yet open for scheduled trains.

Gotthard Base Tunnel: The north portals of the new Gotthard Base Tunnel, seen from the observation car of a northbound Wilhelm Tell Express from Locarno to Lucerne that had just traversed the old mountain route in June 2016. With the full opening of the tunnel to scheduled services in December 2016 the only trains using the old route will be scenic excursions and local EMUs.

Lea Bridge: 317661, heading to Stratford, departing from the new Lea Bridge station on 25th June 2016. The original station was opened on 15th September 1840 as part of the Northern & Eastern Railway from Stratford to Cheshunt which was leased to the Eastern Counties Railway and which was absorbed into the Great Eastern Railway upon its formation on 1st January 1862. The station was first called Lea Bridge Road but this was shortened to Lea Bridge in 1841. British Rail Eastern Region withdrew the service between Tottenham Hale and Stratford on 8th July 1985 resulting in the closure of Lea Bridge station, which was left to fall into dereliction, though the line remained open to freight. Just over 20 years later, in December 2005, the line between Tottenham Hale and Stratford was reopened to passengers although for just over a decade trains passed by the abandoned platforms at Lea Bridge until a new station on the same site was opened on 15th May 2016, a few weeks before this photo was taken.

Biasca: An impressive backdrop to the SBB loco depot at Biasca, at the southern end of the Gotthard pass, where three diesel shunters were stabled in the depot yard in June 2016. The final drop of the waterfall is actually two separate cascades that cross each other.

Cranmore: Welcome return. Cranmore sees the identical front ends of Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 46447 (on the right) and Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T 41313 on 25th June 2017. The occasion was the latter loco's reappearance in service after restoration from Barry scrapyard condition.

Hartlepool Maritime Museum: LNER Paddle Steamer Wingfield Castle, formerly a Humber Estuary ferry, has been retired to its birthplace in Hartlepool as the largest exhibit in the excellent museum based around the old dock. The exterior is in need of some TLC but there is a very tidy wood panelled café in the lounge inside.

Hartlepool Maritime Museum: An exhibit at the Hartlepool Maritime Museum that is both rail and marine related. A former LNER flat wagon is loaded with a buoy and sits on an isolated section of track. Behind the wagon the masts of the museum's main exhibit, historic warship HMS Trincomalee can be seen. and Paddle Steamer Wingfield Castle is just behind the camera.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: What looks like a maze in progress in the former car park area at the east side of Queen Street as work continues on the new staff accommodation block. (This building now houses power supply equipment; its unfortunate neighbour, the partly constructed staff accommodation block, was demolished in 2018).

Quorn and Woodhouse: 92214 is appropriately heading for its namesake, the City of Leicester, hauling the GCR Sunday luncheon train South on a breezy 25th of June.

Quorn and Woodhouse: I find it rather sweet that the older party is introducing the younger chap to the things that really matter in life - such as BR Standard 2MT 2-6-0 78018. I also find it reassuring that he clearly has a very firm grip on the little man.

St Leonards Bridge Junction: DRS 66431 takes the Dundee line with the 4A13 Grangemouth - Aberdeen Craiginches intermodal on 25 June.

Mountsorrel Bond Lane: The new GCR branch terminus at Mountsorrel is both basic and forbiddingly secured when not in use. But it allows the Great Central to be one of the few preserved railways with an active branch line. The original line, which was built to transport stone from the Mountsorrel quarries, fell into disuse in the 1950s and was lifted in the 1960s.

Edinburgh Waverley: Pipe Major Iain Grant provides the music as 66746 waits to depart Edinburgh Waverley with the Royal Scotsman to Tain on 25th June 2018.

Haymarket: 365525 and 365509 at Haymarket with the 11.30 to Glasgow Queen Street on the first weekday of class 365 services - 25th June 2018.

Weeton [Lancashire] Signal Box: Pendolino 390013 runs through the Fylde countryside to the north of Weeton cutting between Kirkham and Poulton-le-Fylde. The train is 1P92, the 0854 from Euston on 25th June 2018. See image [[28414]] for the same location before electrification (and cultivation). [Ref query 26 June 2018]

Weeton [Lancashire] Signal Box: A nearly thwarted attempt at a Then and Now image of London trains at Weeton between Poulton and Kirkham. New bridge parapets prevented a direct shot from the same angle but it was just possible to capture 390013, the appropriately named Blackpool Belle as she passed the site of Weeton box with the 1302 hrs Blackpool North to Euston service on 25th June 2018. See image [[19151]] for another London service passing here in 1981.

Edinburgh Waverley: Just time for a photo of IEP 800103 at Waverley's platform 2 before returning to Doncaster Carr. 25th June 2018

Edinburgh Waverley: Preparing the trackbed in Platforms 5 and 6 at Waverley on 25th June 2018.

Edinburgh Waverley: Caledonian Sleeper 73969 on the rear of the Royal Scotsman train in Waverley station on 25th June 2018.

Leith Walk West Goods: This block was built by the LMS in 1935 in front of their goods station. The first floor supposedly was occupied by the goods station office, but the whole floor seems excessive for a not very big operation, even by the labour-intensive standards of the time. There is a plan to demolish the block and replace it with multi-storey student accommodation, This is being vigorously opposed by the 'Save Our Leith Walk' campaign who think there are enough student student flats. I'm staying neutral.

Edinburgh Waverley: 66746 enters Waverley Station on 25th June 2018 with the stock for the Royal Scotsman to Tain.

Morningside Road: Freightliner 66554 runs light through the closed Morningside Road station, on its way from Coatbridge FLT to Millerhill on 25th June 2018. Housing occupies the former goods yard.

Sheringham: Station sign at the National Rail station at Sheringham, on the opposite side of the restored level crossing to the preserved ex-MGNJR station, on 25th June 2019. This single platform halt opened on 2nd January 1967 when BR trains ceased using the 1887 station. That reopened in 1975 with the first section of the North Norfolk Railway's heritage line as far as Weybourne.

Sheringham (North Norfolk): A close-up view of Metro-Cammell Class 101 DMU waiting to depart for Holt (not St. Ives!) from Sheringham with the 13.00 service on 25th June 2019. These units were a common sight on rural lines in East Anglia from the late 1950s to the early 1990s, even though, apart from the Norwich to Cromer and Sheringham line and Great Yarmouth to Reedham, Norfolk had lost all its branch lines by the end of the 1960s. However, Wymondham to Dereham is now preserved as the Mid-Norfolk Railway with an extension to County School in the offing and hopes of eventually reaching Fakenham while, further north, the one time continuation of this line to Wells-Next-The-Sea is now the miniature Wells & Walsingham Light Railway. Further east, the Wroxham to Aylsham section of a line that once extended to the Wells line at County School and which closed to passengers in 1952, long before Beeching, is now the miniature Bure Valley Railway.

West Runton: Old and new signs at West Runton station, seen from the ex-17.49 service from Sheringham to Norwich, on 25th June 2019. West Runton and Cromer (until fairly recently known as Cromer Beach) are the only two original MGNJR stations to survive to the present day for use by National Rail trains. See image [[12872]]

Bridge of Wester: Looking west from the A99 bridge at Bridge of Wester along the Subsea 7 Fabrication Yard's metre gauge line, with pipes bound for the North Sea.

Sheringham (North Norfolk): Sheringham station, North Norfolk Railway, looking towards Weybourne and Holt, on the afternoon of Tuesday, 25th June 2019. Opened in 1887, it closed to BR passengers in 1967 when trains from Norwich thenceforth served a new single platform halt on the opposite side of the level crossing which was abolished (restored in 2010). The station reopened to passengers as the main terminus of the North Norfolk Railway, a.k.a. The Poppy Line, to Weybourne in 1975. The glass canopy and the surviving building on the main arrival and departure platform are its chief feature; there was originally a similar platform and canopy on the opposite platform until demolished by BR. The NNR hopes to rebuild this at some stage in the future, using some original MGNJR cast iron columns and spandrels recovered from the former MGNJR terminus at Yarmouth Beach which was sadly finally demolished in 1986 after serving as a bus station for many years following the closure of the MGN main line in 1959. The 2010 restoration of the level crossing allows some NNR trains to run on from Sheringham over National Rail metals to Cromer from time to time as well as being able to welcome occasional excursion trains from further afield.

Coxwold: View looking east along the trackbed to accommodation bridge THM12 in June 2019. This is located a short distance north east of Coxwold, on the section of line towards Ampleforth and Gilling East stations. A sports club occupies a short section of the trackbed, in a shallow cutting, beyond the bridge.

Bridge of Wester: Looking east from the A99 bridge along the Subsea 7 Fabrication Yard's metre gauge line, with pipes bound for the North Sea. The appearance can be deceptive. This is not a train of pipes; the pipes are the train, mounted on bogies for movement out to sea.

Sheringham (North Norfolk): A view through the trees of Sheringham East signal box, North Norfolk Railway, on the evening of Tuesday, 25th June 2019. This was originally sited by the level crossing (closed 1967, restored 2010) but was moved to the west end of the NNR station's platform 2 in the early 1970s. After the 2010 restoration of the crossing, it was moved yet again, this time back to its pre-1970s location next to the crossing which will allow platform 3 at the station to become operational again in the future.

Ayr: The 09.00 from Girvan, on 25th June 2019, departs Ayr ecs after arrival at 09.28, having unloaded quite a number of passengers who then caught the 09.50 express to Glasgow Central 

Dumfries: A Glasgow to Carlisle service pulls out of Dumfries on 25 June 2019. The lovely station is built of the red (Locharbriggs?) sandstone which is ubiquitous round these parts

Ayr: Colas 56090 has run round the Monkton Avgas Tanks in Ayr on 25th June 2019. The loco is about to be tied on for the last few miles to the siding.

Ayr: The 09.00 from Girvan departs ecs from Ayr after arrival at 09.28. It unloaded quite a number of passengers who caught the 09.50 express to Glasgow. 25th June 2019.

Gretna Green: A Glasgow to Carlisle service pulls up to make its last stop in Scotland on 25 June 2019. Gretna Green and the contiguous Springfield are to the north of the station. The much larger Gretna is a few hundred yards on the other side (left) but there is no direct access from that side - the A75 dual carriageway is in the way.

Burton and Holme: After several months of individual running the new TPE Class 397 EMUs are now being tested in pairs. Units 003 and 004 were working in multiple when seen at Cinderbarrow near Burton-in-Holme heading from Crewe to Carlisle on 25th June 2019.

Carlisle: A TPE service for Glasgow calls at Carlisle on 25 June 2019. Surprisingly for a station of its size and importance Carlisle lacks a full departures board; details are available only on individual platforms. I notice these things. I also notice that the digitised announcements pronounce Sanquhar 'Sankwar' and stress the first syllable in Kilmaurs.

Gretna Green [1st]: The original Gretna Green station (closed 1965) seen looking west on 25 June 2019 with the car park of the current station in the background. Notice the gaslamp column being used as a washing pole. Although situated in Gretna Green the stations (old and new) are in fact closer to Gretna village than the Caledonian Gretna station was; one of those somehow predictable naming anomalies.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: An off-putting display at Queen Street in June 2019. Total failure, lots of staff around with sheaves of paper answering questions!

Gunton: The station building at Gunton in Norfolk is no longer in railway use, situated on the disused platform and seen here from the ex-11.45 service from Norwich to Sheringham calling at the basic single platform opposite, on 25th June 2019.

Hunterston High Level Sidings: A plethora of signs adorn one of the entrances to the now disused Hunterston High Level loading terminal.

Carlisle: The RAF 100th anniversary set pulls out of Carlisle Platform 2 with a Barrow service on 25 June 2019. The announcement of calling points seemed interminable, and was followed by one almost as long saying which of these were request stops only.

Dumfries: The pleasingly functional signal box at the northern end of Dumfries station, seen on 25 June 2019.

Manningtree: Manningtree station, or as it is now known Manningtree for Dedham Vale and the junction for the Harwich Town branch, looking towards London from the ex-19.00 Greater Anglia service from Norwich to Liverpool Street, calling on 25th June 2019.
See query 2122

Holt: British Railways Metro-Cammell Class 101 Diesel-Multiple Unit with the ex-13.00 North Norfolk Railway service from Sheringham just arrived at the terminus at Holt, with two of my friends on the left, on Tuesday, 25th June 2019. Trains were extended here from Kelling Heath Park on 19th March 1989; the station occupies a brand new site as the original station, that was closer to Holt town centre, was demolished after closure in 1964 to make way, surprise surprise, for a road widening scheme. The building is from the former Stalham station on the North Walsham to Yarmouth Beach section of the MGNJR main line that was sadly closed, pre-Beeching, in 1959.

Weybourne: View through cab of BR Metro-Cammell Class 101 DMU at Weybourne, looking towards Holt, calling with the ex-13.00 North Norfolk Railway service from Sheringham to Holt, on 25th June 2019.

Weybourne: WD 2-10-0 90775 'The Royal Norfolk Regiment' under the bridge at Weybourne while calling at the station with the ex-14.50 North Norfolk Railway service from Sheringham to Holt, on 25th June 2019.

Weybourne: Weybourne station, seen from a Class 101 DMU arriving with the ex-13.00 North Norfolk Railway service from Sheringham to Holt, on 25th June 2019. The line here opened in 1887 but this station was not opened until 1st July 1901. It closed on 6th April 1964 when the BR passenger service to Melton Constable was cut back to Sheringham. BR's contractors began lifting the track with indecent haste but the MGNJR Association was able to save Weybourne station from demolition and began to restore it and re-laid track although it was not until 13th July 1975 that it was open to the public with the first section of the heritage line as far as Sheringham. Prior to that date, only MGNJR Association members were able to ride on the line.

Dumfries: A Carlisle to Glasgow service pulls out of the well-kept Dumfries station on 25 June 2019. A more or less hourly service is provided to and from Carlisle with alternate trains terminating on this platform, changing ends then returning south. A day return costs a reasonable £6.40. A single is £11.80...

Weybourne: Time for a chat as Metro-Cammell Class 101 DMU waits at Weybourne station, with the ex-13.00 North Norfolk Railway service from Sheringham to Holt on 25th June 2019. The waiting shelter dates from 1987; the original was demolished in 1964 after the line and station closed to BR passenger services.

Scorton [Lancashire] [1st]: Job done! The fireman relaxes in his seat as 48151 and support coach work back to Carnforth from Preston on the evening of 25th June 2019. The 8F had worked The Dalesman from Carlisle over the S&C to Preston from where two Class 37s continued to Chester. 48151 is seen passing through Scorton from the Broad Fall Farm footbridge.

Norwich: 82105 at the rear of the 19.00 service to London Liverpool Street waiting to depart from Norwich station, on Tuesday, 25th June 2019. Loco hauled Anglia services are scheduled to cease later in 2019.

Holt: WD 2-10-0 No. 90775, built by North British in 1943, just arrived at Holt with the ex-13.50 North Norfolk Railway service from Sheringham, on 25th June 2019. This locomotive (originally WD no. 3652) was purchased by the M & GN Society in 2005. In 2009 it was withdrawn for overhaul, which was completed at Weybourne in 2017 following which it was named 'The Royal Norfolk Regiment'.

Eglinton Street: Murals at Eglinton Street on 25th June 2019, sadly rundown nowadays.

Burton and Holme: Another TPE test run is propelled past Cinderbarrow, near Burton and Holme, by 68025 'Superb'. The train was working from Carlisle to Bletchley having gone north from Manchester earlier that morning. 25th June 2019.

Norwich: Direct Rail Services 37558 (37424) waiting to depart for Lowestoft from Norwich station, on the evening of Tuesday, 25th June 2019.

Holt: View from Metro-Cammell Class 101 DMU approaching the terminus at Holt with the ex-13.00 North Norfolk Railway service from Sheringham, on 25th June 2019. The Midland Railway signal box, similar to those used on the main MGNJR until its closure in 1959, was moved here from Upper Stone Sidings near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.

Holt: Exterior of the North Norfolk Railway station at Holt, opened in 1989, on 25th June 2019. The station is more than a mile from Holt town centre, the original having been demolished for a road widening scheme after closure in 1964. The building at the 1989 station came from Stalham on the Yarmouth Beach to North Walsham section of the M&GNJR, which closed pre-Beeching on 28th February 1959. (There is a short sequence of a train arriving at Stalham in the 1954 colour film 'Conflict of Wings' starring John Gregson and Muriel Pavlow and which was shown on Talking Pictures TV recently.)

Sheringham (North Norfolk): Metro-Cammell Class 101 DMU at Sheringham, waiting to depart with the 13.00 North Norfolk Railway service to Holt, on 25th June 2019. This station was opened by the Eastern & Midlands Railway (that later became part of the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway) on 16th June 1887 and the heritage line runs for five and a quarter miles along a section of the MGNJR as far as Holt (but not quite as far as the original station which was demolished to make way for the town by-pass). The bulk of the ex-MGNJR closed on 28th February 1959 but Sheringham to Melton Constable stayed open until 6th April 1964 when the service from Norwich and Cromer was cut back to Sheringham. In January 1967, Sheringham station was closed to BR trains and replaced by a single platform halt on the opposite side of the level crossing; the ex-MGNJR station was then leased to the MGNJR Society to eventually become the main station for the North Norfolk Railway.

Weybourne: Weybourne station, North Norfolk Railway, looking towards Holt on 25th June 2019. Built in 1900 and opened on 1st July 1901, it was probably the grandest station of all on the now-sadly defunct MGNJR system. The signal box was rescued in 1967 from the original station at Holt, closed in 1964 and now demolished and the waiting shelter was constructed by the NNR in 1987. The station is about a mile south of the seaside village of Weybourne.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: If you have the Scotrail App, it is worth checking the Aberdeen/Dundee trains from Queen Street. There is never a day when 'incidents' are not found on this route. Cancelled trains, no catering, 3 coaches instead of four so seat reservations don't match. In June some days trains started at Perth - yes, Perth, 'no longer calling at Queen Street or Stirling', - no drivers available. The display seen here at Queen Street was certainly off putting. I am surprised there is not more in the press about it.

Coxwold: View in a northerly direction across fields to accommodation bridge THM12 in June 2019. This is located a short distance north east of Coxwold on the former section of line running towards Ampleforth and Gilling East stations. This is a humped bridge on a farm track running from the north leading to the fields on the south side. A sports club occupies a short section of the trackbed east of the bridge.

Weybourne: Weybourne station has often been used by t.v. companies when they need a station scene representing the past. Due to oft-shown repeats, many will remember the episode of 'Dad's Army' from May 1973 when Weybourne temporarily became Walmington-on-Sea. In the 1980s, a few episodes of the comedy series 'Hi-de-Hi', set in a 1950s holiday camp, were filmed here too when the station was temporarily renamed Crimpton-on-Sea. Rather nice to stand where great comedy stars like the late Arthur Lowe, Ruth Madoc and the rest of the casts of these series once acted.

Dundee Victoria Dock: It is difficult to find traces of the docks rail system, apparently abandoned in 1982. However this stretch along the north side of the Victoria Dock, seen in June 2019, is intact - but short.

Roughton Road: A solitary passenger alights at Roughton Road station, not opened until well into BR days on 20th May 1985, from the ex-17.49 Greater Anglia service from Sheringham to Norwich, looking back towards Cromer, on 25th June 2019. This is a short surviving section of the Norfolk & Suffolk Joint Railway opened in 1906 and mostly closed in 1953 with the end of trains from Cromer to Mundesley-on-Sea via Overstrand with the remainder from Mundesley to North Walsham closing in 1964.

Carlisle: 48151 prepares to take 'The Dalesman' south from Carlisle on 25 June 2019. I just happened upon it.

Coxwold: Views of a single track farm accommodation overbridge a short distance east of Coxwold Station on the former section of line to next station Ampleforth on the line to Malton, where after Gilling East a line turned north to run to Pickering via Helmsley and Kirbymoorside. This bridge could possibly be THM12, as it follows bridge THM11 which supports the main road through Coxwold; unless there was a culvert between them.

Euxton Balshaw Lane: 87002 with D1935 and a mixed rake of carriages are seen just north of Euxton Balshaw Lane on 25 June 2020. This was an ecs run by LSL from Crewe to Carlisle and the photo was taken on the return trip

Bay Horse: 87002, newly repainted in Inter-City livery, ventured out from Crewe to Carlisle on 25th June 2020 on a full load LSL test run. The gleaming electric is pictured at Bay Horse on the return leg.

Upminster Bridge: The history of Upminster Bridge station, LU District Line, on the wall of the westbound platform, seen here on 24th June 2021. It is slightly misleading as the LMSR's Southend services were not electrified in the 1930s, they had to wait until 1962 in BR Eastern Region days, but the LMSR did provide the extra set of tracks, electrified from the outset, between Barking and Upminster for LU District Line trains in 1932. And all the stations between Bromley-by-Bow and Upminster remained in main line ownership until 1969 as part of British Rail Eastern Region (apart from Barking and Upminster which are still part of the National network), even though some of those stations had not been served by BR trains for seven years while others, like Upminster Bridge, were never served by them at all.

Kentallen: Looking south to the former station at Kentallen on 25 June 2021. It is much enlarged and now a hotel and holiday centre. The nearer building is entirely new.

Ballachulish Slate Quarries: Looking into the Ballachulish slate quarry, started in 1693 and closed in 1955. A tramway ran along the course of the path to the shore. 25th June 2021.

Ballachulish Slate Quarries: The 'slate arch' built in 1822 to haul empty wagons up an inclined plane to the Ballachulish Slate Quarries higher level workings, with full loads going down a larger arch nearby, now demolished. This is the only surviving built - as opposed to ground based - incline in Scotland. The old road to Glencoe passed underneath. The Pap of Glencoe is visible on the left in this June 2021 view.

Kentallen: The water tower at Kentallen, behind Station Cottage, on 25 June 2021. The former station is beyond, over the A828 road.

Kentallen: The enlarged former Kentallen station building, now a hotel and holiday centre, on 25 June 2021.

Heywood: Bulleid West Country 4-6-2 34092 'City of Wells' takes water at Heywood prior to working an ELR service to Rawtenstall on 25th June 2022. After my first ever trip on a double headed steam train earlier that day this was my first trip behind a loco that I own a model of.

Heywood: Two Victorian built steam locos run round their train at Heywood prior to working back to Bury and Rawtenstall on 25th June 2022. L&YR 0-6-0ST 752 (BR 51456) and L&NWR 0-6-2T 1054 (BR 58926) had been brought together by the ELR to mark the centenary of the merger of their parent companies in 1922, one year prior to the 'Grouping'.

Rawtenstall: 34092 'City of Wells' runs round its train at Rawtenstall on 25th June 2022. After spending most of its preserved life on the Worth Valley it is now owned by the East Lancashire Railway and this view along the 'air smoothed' flanks shows that it is in fine condition.

Heywood: In 2022 the East Lancashire Railway celebrated the 100th anniversary of the merging of the L&YR with the L&NWR with several events including operating some services with the LYR 0-6-0ST No.752 and the LNWR 0-6-2T 'Coal Tank' No.1054. The two old locos are seen at Heywood prior to taking their train to Rawtenstall on 25th June. This was the first time I had been on a double headed steam train. Remarkably, 1054 had a brief main line steam career in the 1980s. See image [[25361]]