Thurso: HR 4.4.0 14398 Ben Alder on Georgemas shuttle train. Thurso - Britains furthest north station.

Thurso: The Approach. HR 4.4.0 14398 Ben Alder taking water. Thurso - Britains furthest north station.

Georgemas Junction: Georgemas Junction - Britains furthest north junction. HR 4.4.0 14399 Ben Alder at Thurso platform.

Georgemas Junction: Georgemas Junction - Britains furthest north junction. HR 4.4.0 14399 Ben Alder at Thurso platform.

Thurso Shed: HR 4.4.0 54404 Ben Clebrig at Thurso sheds.

Thurso Shed: HR 4.4.0 54404 Ben Clebrig at Thurso sheds.

Saughton Junction: K3 2-6-0 no 61875 passing Saughton Junction in July 1959 with an eastbound freight.

Kipps Shed: Gresley class V3 2-6-2T no 67674 stands at Kipps shed (65E) in 1961.

Kipps Shed: Shed scene at Kipps (65E) in July 1961, two years before official closure to steam. Line up left to right is V3 2-6-2T no 67674, J88 0-6-0 no 68345 and J35 0-6-0 no 64472. Demolition and clearance of the remains of Kipps shed took place in 1975.

Parkhead Shed: Locomotives in the sidings at Parkhead shed in July 1961. Centre stage is class V1 2-6-2T no 67655. The locomotive was officially withdrawn from here in March 1962. Parkhead shed itself closed in October 1965 and was demolished a year later.

Polmadie Shed: McIntosh Caledonian 0-4-4 tank no 55223 'stored' in the sidings alongside Polmadie shed in July 1961. Built at St Rollox in 1914 the locomotive is recorded as being officially withdrawn from 66A in September 1961, with disposal via Connels of Coatbridge taking place six months later.

Springburn: Parkhead V3 no 67662 waits to leave Springburn on 3 July 1961 with the 1.59pm train to Partick Hill.

Springburn: Looking south from Springburn station in 1961 as Gresley K2 no 61764 Loch Arkaig takes a ballast train past the North British Locomotive Co Hyde Park works on the up goods line.

Springburn: 67662 with the 1.59pm train to Partick Hill waits in Springburn bay platform 3 in 1961. The NBL Hyde Park Works is in the background, with the Atlas Works behind the camera.

Springburn: Gresley K2 no 61764 Loch Arkaig southbound on the up goods line through Springburn in July 1961. The K2 is taking a ballast train towards Sighthill Junction. The North British Locomotive Co Hyde Park works stands in the background.

High Street: 61333 with a train at Glasgow's High Street Station in July 1961. The B1 was one of a number of steam locomotives pressed back into suburban service, along with miscellaneous coaching stock, following the withdrawal of Glasgow's 'Blue Train' electric units between December 1960 and October 1961 for emergency safety modifications. Built a short distance from here by the North British Locomotive Company in 1948, no 61333 was a Parkhead engine at that time. The B1 was eventually withdrawn from 65C at the end of 1962 and cut up at Cowlairs the following July, shortly following its 15th birthday.

Eglinton Street Goods: Fairburn 2-6-4T no 42060 passing Eglinton Street Goods with a Gourock express shortly after leaving Glasgow Central on 3 July 1962.

Montfode Fuel Depot Sidings: Ardrossan's Black 5 no 45479 approaching the town from the north in early July 1962. The train is passing the site of the former Montfode fuel depot, built during WW II to store aviation fuel produced at the nearby Shell refinery for use by the RAF see image [[25001]]. The facility was rail served and included 5 large underground storage tanks.

Kinning Park Junction: Although the WD 2-8-0 is somewhat blurred, this picture shows some of the complexities around Glasgow's Shields Road station in July 1963. The loco is heading eastwards light engine on the low level lines through Kinning Park Junction, and about to enter the short tunnel underneath Shields Road. Platforms of Shields Road station can be glimpsed top left and right, for the Paisley Canal line on the left and for the Paisley Gilmour St line on the right. Tracks to General Terminus Quay diverge underneath the Gilmour St platforms.

Carlisle: St Margarets A3 Pacific no 60041 Salmon Trout arrives at the north end of Carlisle on 3 July 1965 with the 9.50am Edinburgh Waverley - Leeds City.

Carlisle: V2 no 60835 arriving at Carlisle on 3 July 1965 with the up 9.50am (Summer Saturdays Only) Edinburgh (Waverley) - Sheffield (Midland) train.

Carlisle: Corkerhill's Standard Class 5 4-6-0 no 73102 arrives at Carlisle platform 4 on 3 July 1965 with the 8.37am Glasgow Central - London St Pancras.

Carlisle Upperby Shed: Steam and diesel locomotives on Carlisle Upperby shed in the summer of 1965. Nearest the camera is Fowler 4F 0-6-0 no 43953, recorded as being officially withdrawn by BR some four months later.

Carstairs: Britannia Pacific 70010 'Owen Glendower' runs into Carstairs with the 9.25 am Crewe to Perth in July 1965. The very faded sign at the end of the platform somehow seems of its time: 'Railway employees must not trespass on the line between Carstairs No 3 box and Strawfrank junction. The route being by the main road between station entrance and the workshops. Anyone found on the line will be severely dealt with.'

Carlisle: Black 5 no 45250 at Carlisle on 3 July 1965 with the Summer Saturday 10.35am Glasgow Central - Blackpool North. The train had arrived via Kilmarnock and Dumfries.

Carlisle Kingmoor Shed: Scene at Kingmoor shed on Saturday 3 July 1965, with Waverley Route regular 60835 amongst the locomotives in the yard. The St Margarets based V2 was less than 3 months from withdrawal at this time. The locomotive once carried what is claimed to be the longest name on a BR steam locomotive see image [[32510]].

Carstairs: Jubilee 45721 'Impregnable' has taken on Black 5 44973 as pilot at Carstairs, and the pair are setting off for the run over Beattock with the 2.00pm Glasgow and Edinburgh to Liverpool and Manchester.

Carlisle: V2 60835 at Carlisle on 3 July 1965 after bringing in the 10.55 Edinburgh Princes Street - Manchester Victoria.

Carlisle Kingmoor Shed: V2 2-6-2 no 60970 stands in Kingmoor shed yard on 3 July 1965 with Black 5 no 44795 on the right.

Carlisle: Gresley V2 2-6-2 60835 recently arrived at Carlisle platform 4 on 3 July 1965 with the 10.55am Edinburgh Princes Street - Manchester Victoria.

Motherwell: Britannia 70010 'Owen Glendower,' impatient to get away from the Motherwell stop with the 9.25am Crewe to Perth on 3rd July 1965. The train was some 15 minutes down, but time was being regained through some very brisk running. Unfortunately, having had to alight at Motherwell, I was not able to see if the fast progress continued!

Carstairs: Jubilee 45721 'Impregnable' takes on Black 5 44973 as pilot at Carstairs. The train is the 14.00 Glasgow - Liverpool and Manchester, and the portion from Edinburgh will have been added to the rear of the train whilst the pilot is coupled up.

Carstairs: Black 5 44973 has just been attached at Carstairs as pilot to Jubilee 45721 Impregnable for the run south over Beattock. The train is the 2pm summer Saturday service from Glasgow & Edinburgh to Liverpool & Manchester on 3rd July 1965.

Carlisle: Black 5 4-6-0 45135 at Carlisle on 3 July 1965 with the 9.50am Edinburgh Waverley - Leeds City. The Kingmoor locomotive had taken over the train from St Margarets A3 Pacific 60041 Salmon Trout see image [[46272]].

Long Meg Mine: British Gypsum's Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 'J N Darbyshire' faintly resembles some sort of woodland creature peering from the undergrowth, as it pauses during shunting operations at Long Meg anhydrite mine, on 3rd July 1967.

Carlisle Kingmoor MPD: Some heavy freight power on view at Carlisle Kingmoor in July 1967. Stanier 8F 48702 in the foreground, with Standard 9Fs 92125 and 92114.

Shap Summit: Plenty of rainclouds over Shap on the morning of Monday 3rd July 1967, but a burst of sunlight caught Standard 9F 2-10-0 92125 as it climbed towards the summit with a northbound freight. Standard Class 4MT 4-6-0 75037 was the banking locomotive from Tebay.

Long Meg Mine: British Gypsum's Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 'J N Derbyshire' was photographed at Long Meg anhydrite mine, near Little Salkeld, on 3rd July 1967. The loco was subsequently preserved and is now at the Ribble Steam Railway.

Shapbeck Quarry: Early morning rain is just beginning to clear as Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48692 makes a slow but steady ascent of the northern slopes of Shap, near Thrimby Grange (a little north of today's Shapbeck Quarry).

Long Meg Mine: British Gypsum's Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST 'J N Darbyshire' at Long Meg anhydrite mine on 3rd July 1967. The loco was subsequently preserved and is now at the Ribble Steam Railway [[42078]].

Long Meg Mine: British Gypsum's Andrew Barclay 0-4-0T 1969/1929 'J N Darbyshire' propels a set of loaded wagons through the woods at Long Meg anhydrite mine, near Little Salkeld, on 3rd July 1967. Note the driver's appropriate headgear. The loco is now a very well presented static exhibit in the museum at the Ribble Steam Railway.

Bridgend: The Branch Line Society's 1971 'Dulais and Llynfi Valleys Railtour' at Bridgend on 3rd July 1971. Note the Totem still in place on the station lamp. In addition to this three-car DMU the tour used some open wagons to tour NCB lines behind NCB (ex BR) 0-6-0PT 9642.

Maesteg: NCB (ex-BR) 0-6-0PT 9642 is seen at Maesteg with its open wagons ready to take tour members up the line to Nantyffyllon on 3rd July 1971. This was the 'Dulas and Llynfi Valleys' railtour. What would I give to go to some of these locations by rail again. You just don't get tours like this in 2023. Note the gent fourth right looking this way. This was the late Ivor Hocking from Devon, a Plymouth Railway Circle member for many a year. Does anyone else know anyone here?

Maesteg: The BLS tour at Maesteg Llynfi Junction on 3rd July 1971. Tour members had a chance to ride in open wagons behind NCB pannier tank 9642. Note the steps from the DMU. Maesteg station had closed to passengers the previous year but it reopened in 1992 and now electrification is planned.

Barton-on-Humber: A warm summer evening at Barton-on-Humber in July 1974.

Bengate: Bridge 143 on the Midland and Great Northern Joint railway was located at Bengate between North Walsham and Honing. This is the view towards Honing on 3rd July 1976 when the overbridge was about to be demolished to straighten out the road.

Cromer: The wide, open vista that was the setting for Cromer (formerly Cromer Beach) station on 3rd July 1976. With the removal of all the sidings and goods infrastructure after 1970, the station became surrounded by disused land. Since then, building developments have closed in from all sides, reducing the footprint of the station and the impression of spaciousness see image [[42427]].

Clacton: In their original form, the Class 309 'Clacton' EMUs had attractive wraparound windscreens, but they offered drivers little protection against impacts from bricks and other missiles that vandals were apt to hurl at trains in the 1970s. The windows were remodeled, detracting from the overall appearance, in the late 1970s. Shown here is an unrebuilt example waiting to leave Clacton on 3rd July 1977. See image [[40041]]

Hadfield: 76038+76035 double-head a coal train westbound through Hadfield on 3 July 1978.

Wivenhoe: Emerging into sunlight from Wivenhoe woods at 06.30 on 3 July 1981 is 31 133 on the return leg of the Liverpool Street (dep 03.20) to Clacton (arr 05.40) newspaper train which ran every day except Sunday. In the down direction, this train offloaded national newspapers at Chelmsford, Witham, Colchester, Alresford, Great Bentley, Thorpe le Soken and Clacton for collection by local newsagents. Papers for Frinton and Walton were transferred to an EMU at Thorpe le Soken which reached Walton at 05.49. By 1988, all newspaper trains had ceased operation.

Westbury: BR Class 56, 56036 pulling into Westbury (Wilts) station with a rake of stone empties on 3 July 1985. 56036 is reputed to be the first BR loco to receive the large logo livery, being experimentally repainted as early as 1979. Once approved, later 56s were painted in this from new.

Silvermines: Loading Barytes at Silvermines, County Tipperary, in July 1988.

Tyndrum Upper: Tyndrum Upper, looking towards Glasgow on 3 July 1990.

Aviemore Speyside: Running round at Aviemore Speyside in July 1991. With the loco shed on the left and the signal box on the right. The view today is slightly different with additional buildings on both sides of the line.

Whitby: 47566 with an excursion train alongside the former NER locomotive shed at Whitby (50G) in July 1993. Closed by BR in 1959 the shed is seen here in use as a ship's chandler.

Edinburgh Waverley: The Calton Road entrance to Waverley station in July 1994. Note the complete lack of signage compared with today.

Millerhill Marshalling Yard [North]: Transrail liveried 60058 John Howard appears very poorly at Millerhill in 1997.

Barrhead: 101 694 has changed ends to return to Glasgow Central on 3 July 1997, unusually using the Up Main rather than the bay platform.

Deighton: A 1997 view east from a foot crossing towards Deighton Junction along the recently cleared long time mothballed line running from Bradley Junction, and which forms a triangle with the former LNWR line to Huddersfield and the former L&Y Calder Valley line. The line re-opened in 2000 to link with the opening of the new Brighouse Station and creation of new services for connecting Huddersfield and Halifax using this line.

Barrhead: 101691 eases into the bay platform at Barrhead on 3 July 1997 with a service from Glasgow Central.

Blunsdon: Platform scene at Blunsdon in July 1998, looking towards Swindon.

Dawlish: Holiday memories: 37890 and 37248 head westwards at Dawlish on 3rd July 1998. 37248 is now preserved on the Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway but 37890 was scrapped in Rotherham.

Blunsdon: Blunsdon station on the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, viewed from the south in July 1998.

Carlisle: Wide view looking south from the footbridge at Carlisle station in the summer of 2002 as 90013 The Law Society arrives at platform 3 with a Virgin WCML service.

Wolverhampton Low Level: Wolverhampton Low Level, unloved and abandoned with a road driven through its east end, in 2003. But plans were afoot and the site was surrounded by security fencing on all sides.

Wimbledon: General view south along the main line platforms at Wimbledon in July 2004, with the LU District line to the right and the South London Tramlink platform on the extreme left at the far end of the station. See image [[5322]]

Wimbledon: A Tramlink service about to leave Wimbledon station on 3 July 2004 heading for Beckenham Junction via Croydon. The terminated south end of platform 10 at Wimbledon now forms the western terminus of the Tramlink system.

Wimbledon: 'Hello.. control?....I think I've got a tail... blue shirts...red ties...mean looking gits...3 of them... could be Oyster agents....' Wimbledon District Line arrivals, July 2004.

Consall: Ex-LMS 8F 2-8-0 no 48305 running through Consall on the Churnet Valley Railway in July 2004.

Wimbledon: A St Albans - Sutton Thameslink service, formed by 319382, comes off the Streatham line on the northern approach to Wimbledon station in July 2004. The train is about to run into bi-directional platform 9, with the adjacent former through platform 10 now blocked and its south end used by terminating Tramlink services. See image [[53581]]

Wimbledon: Part of the former through platform 10 on the east side of Wimbledon station on 3 July 2004. The south end of the platform now forms the western terminus of the Tramlink network. Waiting to depart on 3 July 2004 is service no 2, destined for Beckenham Junction via Croydon and formed by unit 2534.

Wimbledon: Is it just me... ??? Wimbledon, July 2004.

Wimbledon: A London Waterloo - Portsmouth Harbour train arrives at Wimbledon in July 2004. The train is about to pass the Southern Railway's 1948 Art Deco 'Odeon' style Wimbledon 'A' signal box. See image [[39797]]

Wimbledon: District Line trains occupying platforms 1,2 and 3 at Wimbledon terminus on 3rd July 2004.

Whitecraigs: A gem on the south side of Glasgow. Opened by the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway in 1903, the station at Whitecraigs was originally (and unofficially) described in timetables of the day as the evocative Whitecraigs for Rouken Glen. Now served by electric services on the Neilston line the station approach (west side) is seen here in July 2005.

Queens Park: Trains on the Cathcart Circle meet at Queens Park in July 2005. View south east towards Victoria Road with the tenements of Torrisdale Street standing above the station on the right.

Whitecraigs: A Neilston - Glasgow Central service arriving at Whitecraigs station in July 2005.

Queens Park: A Cathcart Circle train (L) passes a Neilston line service at Queens Park station in July 2005. View west from the Victoria Road entrance.

Brampton Town: Not far from Brampton Town is the Railhead Garage, seen here in July 2006. Note the surviving bridge abutments beyond.

Brampton Fell Level Crossing: Not quite dead yet ... a freight runs east through Brampton Fell from Workington Steelworks which is being run down.

Newbiggin: A gable end of the former Newbiggin station peeps out from the trees.

Garsdale: Coal train approaches Lunds tunnel. The considerable effort made to improve the embankments of the cutting can be seen clearly.

Horrocksford Junction: Looking south to Horrocksford Junction. The two line on the left run through to Hellifield and that to the right goes to the Clitheroe cement works.

Whalley: Looking south from Whalley over the viaduct.

Whalley: Looking north at Whalley. The station building still exists on the northbound platform but is not longer in railway use. The goods yard was to the right.

Fairbourne (FBSR): No 759 at Fairbourne station on the narrow gauge Fairbourne Railway in July 2006.

Barmouth: An Arriva Trains Wales 158 service in Ginsters advertising livery photographed on the Cambrian Coast line near Barmouth Viaduct on 3 July 2006.

Garsdale: Coal empties running north from Garsdale towards Lunds tunnel.

Kirkby Thore: Unusual track fastenings looking south at Kirkby Thore in July 2006.

Kirkby Stephen: Sprinter for Leeds leaves Kirkby Stephen.

Warcop: Warcop, with added sidings. View north west towards Appleby in July 2006.

Clitheroe: Clitheroe viewed from the disused platform and old station building.

Garsdale: Sprinter heading north from Lunds tunnel near Garsdale.

Larkhall: Larkhall, slightly more than six months after opening. Grass begins to grow on the embankments.

Perth New Yard: Perth New Yard in July 2006, now used mainly for wagon storage. The yard control tower still stands in the left background and the redundant turntable can be seen in the centre.

Instow: Looking south over the former level crossing at Instow towards the signalbox and station on 3 July 2008. The track may be in place across the road but unfortunately there is not much on either side. The broken white lines running over the crossing mark the Tarka Trail which follows the trackbed from Torrington to Barnstaple.

Fremington: With the River Taw on the left and behind the camera, this south facing photograph, taken on 3 July 2008, shows the original railway bridge over the creek at Fremington. The station is off to the left.

Larbert: View west across the running lines just north of Larbert station on 3 July 2008. About to run past Network Rail's Larbert Training Centre (opened 9 days earlier) is the 11.48 Glasgow Queen Street - Dunblane. The new centre is used to train NR engineering and maintenance staff and was built on railway land previously occupied by sidings.

Meeth Halt: A view along the platform at Meeth Halt on 03 July 2008 with a lorry heading south on the A386 road towards Hatherleigh. The station building is extant at the far end of the platform. [Ref query 16 July 2018]

Drysdale Street Tunnel: A provisional member of the Hells Angels Alloa Junior Chapter speeds north through the Drysdale Street/Mar Street underpass along the former route of the Alloa Wagonway on 3 July 2008. View north towards the Station Hotel.

Kincardine: EWS (Everybody Waving and Smiling) 60031 'ABP Connect' returning from Longannet power station on 3 July 2008 during a route learning trip. The locomotive is leaving Kincardine, with the line into the PW yard running off to the right.

Larbert: A Dunblane bound train shortly after leaving Larbert on 3 July 2008, passing the new Network Rail training centre, officially opened the previous week.

Torrington: Looking south along the platform at the old Torrington station on 3 July 2008. The station building is now The Puffing Billy public house, as evidenced by the sign hanging from one of the former platform lamp posts.

Fremington: The former Fremington station, now Fremington Quay Heritage Centre and cafe. Opened on 1 September 2001 this view looking west along the trackbed towards Instow was taken on 3 July 2008.

Larbert: Edinburgh and Dunblane services pass at Larbert station on 3 July 2008.

Larbert: The 12.18 Glasgow Queen Street - Alloa service pulls away from the Larbert stop on 3 July 2008.

Torrington: Looking north over the former level crossing at Torrington station, Devon, on 3 July 2008. The old station building is now the Puffing Billy public house and the area under the platform canopy has been enclosed.

Instow: The former Instow station on the Torrington branch on 3 July 2008. The platform is fully fitted out with lamps, station signs, seats and milk churns. The level crossing is protected by signals and the signalbox retains all of its equipment. There is even some track in place across the road and for about 50 yards on either side. It will be a long wait for the next train however, as the trackbed is now part of the Tarka Trail long distance cycle path.

Bideford: Sitting in the sunshine at Bideford station on 3 July 2008, with an ex-BR Mk 1 coach acting as a cafe and information centre. There are other items of rolling stock and a Planet 4W DM shunter on a short length of track behind the photographer. View north back along the branch towards Barnstaple.

Fremington: Fremington station and signalbox on 3 July 2008. Most of the buildings are recreations, although the platform on the left of the former trackbed is original. This was the site of a riverside quay and at one time china clay was brought here from the pits south of Torrington for onward shipment by sea.

Torrington: The south end of Torrington station on 3 July 2008, with an old BR 20T brake van together with a wagon formerly used to transport china clay from nearby pits.

Drysdale Street Tunnel: View through Drysdale Street Tunnel, Alloa, on 3 July 2008, looking north towards the Station Hotel. The tunnel formed part of the Alloa Waggonway, whose first use is recorded circa 1760 to transport coal from Clackmannanshire pits to be loaded onto shipping in the Forth. Today the old route provides a public walkway through the town.

Instow: A short distance north of Instow station there is a tunnel on the line to Barnstaple. The old trackbed has become a cycle and walkway known as the Tarka Trail.

Drysdale Street Tunnel: The route of the Alloa Waggonway. Photographed in July 2008, looking north east towards the point where it passed below Mar Street and Drysdale Street. At the top right of the picture the impressive Franco - Gothic clock tower of Alloa Sheriff Court looks out over the town. The building was officially opened in 1865, approximately 100 years after the first Clackmannanshire coal passed by on the waggonway heading south to be loaded onto ships in Alloa Harbour.

Bideford: Bideford station building viewed from the car park on 3 July 2008.

Larbert: A southbound 158 arrives at Larbert on a bright and sunny afternoon in July 2008.

Drysdale Street Tunnel: The stone steps that now provide pedestrian access between the old route of the Alloa Waggonway and the busy Drysdale Street. View is north towards the station Hotel on 3 July 2008, with Moncrieff United Free Church on the right. For the view back along the trackbed towards the steps see image [[18986]].

Bedford Place Tunnel: Photograph taken in July 2008 looking north from the ramp linking the route of the Alloa Wagonway with the towns Bedford Place. Down below the old wagonway route continues in a straight line north before meeting the ring road alongside the Station Hotel (see image [[18968]]).

Bedford Place Tunnel: View south from Bedford Place, Alloa, towards the Forth on 3 July 2008 showing the route of the old Wagonway emerging below. Clearance and redeveloment of the industrial area between here and the river (less than a quarter of a mile away) have obliterated further traces. Just beyond the blue container there is a second Wagon Way information point, similar to that alongside the Station Hotel see image [[18967]].

Meeth Halt: Remains of Meeth Halt station on 3 July 2008, standing alongside the A386 road between Okehampton and Great Torrington.

Laigh Hill Tunnel: Running ahead of time, presumably because there had been no passengers to set down, the Caledonian Sleeper heads north out of Dunblane shortly after 5 a.m. on July 3rd 2009 behind 67009. Following a transport review in 2011, there were predictions that the service might not be able to continue beyond 2014.

Carlisle Kingmoor Marshalling Yard: Freightliner Class 66 locomotives awaiting their next duties at Kingmoor on 3 July 2010. In the foreground is a snowplough which looks very much like a modified bogie from a Class 40, 44, 45 or 46 without the leading axle.

Abington: The 1740 hrs Glasgow Central to London Euston Pendolino service leans into the curve as it passes the Abington loops on 3 July 2010.

Christchurch: King Arthur class 4-6-0 no 30777 Sir Lamiel + 37706, westbound from Christchurch towards Swanage on 3 July 2010 hauling The Swanage Belle ex-London Victoria.

London Victoria: A 377 for Portsmouth and Southsea prepares to leave platform 18 at Victoria in July 2010.

Ayr: DBS 66016 couples up to the stock on platform 4 at Ayr for the return Compass Tours Ayrshire Coast Explorer to Broad Green on 3 July 2010.

Ayr: 318254 and a second set wait in platform 1 at Ayr on 3 July 2010 with a service for Glasgow Central.

Ayr: DBS 66016 about to back onto a charter train having crossed the River Ayr viaduct to enter Ayr station from the north on 3 July 2010. The train is the return Compass Tours Ayrshire Coast Explorer to Broad Green.

Ayr: The impressive red sandstone frontage of Ayr station and The Station Hotel viewed looking east across Smith Street on 3 July 2010.

Kilmarnock Junction: DBS 66016 at the front of the Compass Tours Ayrshire Coast Explorer departs from Kilmarnock and takes the single line to Barassie on 3 July 2010 past Kilmarnock SB.

Euxton Balshaw Lane: DBS 66016 arrives at Euxton Balshaw Lane station with a charter train to Ayr on 3 July 2010. The platforms here can cope with a 4 coach multiple unit so a loco hauled 13 coach special does restrict the number of doors by which passengers can board the train. However, this was a better arrangement than the return journey when the train sailed passed the station on the fast lines - which have no platforms.

Euston: Light and shade at the buffers at Euston on 3 July 2010.

Carlisle: BR 8P Caprotti Pacific No. 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' draws to a halt at Carlisle's platform 3 after arriving with 'The Cumbrian Coast Explorer' from Crewe.

Carlisle: Steam specials arriving in Carlisle usually loiter long enough to allow a few close up studies - such as this one of Duke of Gloucester's front end following its arrival on The Cumbrian Coast Explorer from Crewe on 3rd July 2010

Clapham Junction: Temporary stairs on platforms 12 and 13 at Clapham Junction in July 2010 see image [[30662 for reason]]. These are better built and lit than some permanent stairs I know...

Ayr: 334020 arrives at Ayr on a 6 car service from Glasgow Central on 3 July 2010

Ayr: A pair of Class 318s depart from Ayr on 3rd July 2010, heading to Glasgow.

Causewayhead: At just after noon on a warm and sunny 3rd July 2010, 170393 is recorded speeding through Causewayhead en route to Alloa following its departure from Stirling. That's usually about it for a railway photograph legend: rolling stock, date and location duly reported, but with no indication of what the future held for the human occupants. However, on this occasion, we are obliged to look at this scene again and spare a thought for the feelings of the unsuspecting people on board, especially the driver and conductor, for a tragedy will soon be upon them. Within 2 minutes of this photo, the train struck and fatally injured a person on the track at Cambus Junction. After the authorities had completed their distressing work at Cambus, train and passengers were backtracked to Stirling and 170393 was taken out of service.

Clapham Junction: Improvements at long last at Clapham Junction. The new roof and stairs on the left are over platforms 12 and 13.

Ayr: DBS 66016 at the south end of platform 4 at Ayr on 3 July 2010 having arrived with the Compass Tours Ayrshire Coast Explorer charter from Broad Green.

Carlisle Kingmoor TMD: Class 37 and 66 locomotives stand in the sun at the south end of the DRS Kingmoor depot on 3 July 2010.

Ayr Viaduct: 318263 crosses the River Ayr on 3 July 2010 shortly after leaving Ayr station at the start of its journey to Glasgow Central.

Ayr: The platform information board on platform 4 at Ayr on 3 July 2010 suggests that the Compass Tours charter is being operated by National Express! Most other stations where we stopped displayed the calling points and listed the service as 'Private Charter'. There were several announcements on board the train when we stopped at stations in the early part of the journey advising passengers that this was not a Virgin service - and later that it was not a ScotRail service!

Caledonia Works [2nd]: A view east over the Brush Barclay works at Kilmarnock from the Barassie line on 3 July 2010.

Fort William: EE Type 3 No. 37676, West Coast Railway's appropriately named Loch Rannoch, complete with painted 10A (Carnforth) shed plate on each nose, was stabled alongside the Caledonian Sleeper stock at Fort William on Sunday 3rd July 2011.

Castle Douglas: Scene at Castle Douglas in July 2011 looking south west from what was once the town's goods yard. The substantial old goods shed survives as a building supplies and DIY centre, while the white building in the left background on the other side of Oatwell Road still carries the name 'Station Hotel'. Off to the right, behind the goods shed, the site of the former station itself (closed June 1965) is now occupied by a Tesco supermarket and car park.

Mirfield: Looking over the still to be developed site of Mirfield Shed in July 2012. Latterly coded 56D, the shed was officially closed in 1967 see image [[30938]]. The TransPennine Express 185 on the right is heading west with the 14.50 Middlesbrough to Manchester Piccadilly service.

Cullen Seafield Street Viaduct: The old viaduct in Cullen, which crosses the main street in the town. See image [[38970]] for the view in the opposite direction.

Portgordon: At the east end of Portgordon the Moray Coast railway and the road came together. This view looks west towards the village in July 2012 along the footpath and cycleway that uses the trackbed. For the view to the east from the same location See image [[30413]].

Cullen Castle Street Viaduct: A disused Moray Coast bridge and one of the town's viaducts that form part of the impressive railway backdrop to the coastline at Cullen.

Chestfield and Swalecliffe: Southeastern EMU no 375924 is on a Ramsgate - London Victoria on 3 July 2012 seen at Chestfield & Swalecliffe.

Whitstable: The station approach to the Up, London bound platform at Whitstable in July 2012. A similar approach and car park is on the other side of the station.

Nairn: The view west from Nairn station footbridge as a pair of Class 158s leave for Inverness with an evening service from Aberdeen. The disused signalboxes survive at each end of the platform but the signaller now works from an office in the main station building.

Stranraer: Wide view of Stranraer Harbour station from the east in the monsoon of 3 July 2012.

Whitstable: A Ramsgate to London service calls at a very wet Whitstable on 3 July 2012. Southeastern EMU 375820 collects a small number of passengers before continuing its journey west through Kent towards London Victoria.

Whitstable: A Ramsgate to London Victoria slows for the station stop at Whitstable on 03 July 2012.

Reichenbach: Last stop for Sherlock Holmes! Reichenbach (Sachsen) is one of five towns of this name in Germany. While the quality of trains throughout Germany is almost universally good (and outstanding in the case of the ICE units), much of the railway environment around small to medium-sized stations in the old East is neglected and unattractive. Reichenbach is no exception, with the boarded-up graffiti-adorned building and overgrown former goods yard forming a dismal backdrop for a Dresden-Goerlitz Regionalbahn service on 3rd July 2013.

Woodacre Crossing: Ahead of its planned duties on Jacobite services, newly overhauled Black 5 45231 was turned out for the 3rd July Fellsman. The 12 coach train, once again fully booked, is seen here crossing the Grizedale Brook at Woodacre near Garstang.

Carlisle: So there I am having just walked into a car park in Carlisle, when suddenly....
An unexpected (by me at least) appearance of Black 5 no 45231 with The Fellsman on 3 July.

Prestwick Town: The 10.23 Ayr - Glasgow Central rolls into Prestwick station on 3 July over the newly installed replacement underbridge at the south end of the station.

Prestwick Town: The new underbridge just south of Prestwick Town station seen from the west on 3 July - as yet unsullied by the attentions of the illiterati driving overheight vehicles.

Goerlitz: The imposing frontage of Goerlitz's second station on this site (built 1913-17), seen on 3rd July 2013, with the inevitable tram in the foreground. As well as the elegant surviving trainshed, the station boasts an impressive art nouveau booking hall with decorative chandeliers and Romanesque windows.

Grenoble: TGV, local and regional (Rhone-Alpes) services at Grenoble on a July evening in 2014.

Crouch End: Platform remains at the former Crouch End station, near where I live, on the GNR's Northern Heights branch, looking towards Alexandra Palace, on 3rd July 2014, the 60th Anniversary - if it can be called that - of the last day of passenger trains on the line. This was earmarked for electrification and incorporation into the LUL Northern Line as part of the 1935 New Works Scheme but after the war, despite over £1 million being spent with conductor rails laid all the way and the platforms at Crouch End adjusted to correspond to tube train height, the scheme was never completed and the line once promised a bright new future closed instead in 1954. A shameful blot on London Transport's otherwise rich history.

Crouch End: Sign at former Crouch End station detailing the history of the GNR Northern Heights line, and the sad failure to incorporate this section into the LUL Northern Line, seen here on 3rd July 2014, 60 years to the day after the last passenger train. Although tube trains did get to High Barnet and Mill Hill East (from Archway), the rest of the electrification of these former steam lines was shamefully abandoned.

Crouch End: View from the site of the former Crouch End station, looking towards Finsbury Park, along the old GNR Northern Heights line, opened in 1867 and closed in 1954, after almost becoming part of the LUL Northern Line. It is now the Parkland Walk footpath which is totally unlit at night. This view is on 3rd July 2014, 60 years to the day since the line closed to passengers. Had it not been for WWII, tube trains would now be running along here and passengers would simply take them for granted. I live in Crouch End and I must say it would be very useful to have a station again instead of having to go everywhere on buses which often come along full up and also get stuck in traffic jams, plus the interchange with National Rail and London Underground services at Finsbury Park is not exactly convenient. There have been many suggestions in recent years to rebuild this line as a Docklands Light Railway style line or a tramway but they have all fallen on deaf ears.

Dunrobin Castle: Track has been re-laid in the dock platform at Dunrobin Castle. Fencing makes this a difficult shot from the train.

Shawfair: ScotRail 158730 on the front of a 4-car set leaving Shawfair southbound on 3 July 2016 with a morning service to Tweedbank.

Balshaw Lane Junction: With the Euxton Jct to Lostock Jct line closed for engineering work, Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria services are diverted via Wigan on weekends at the moment. Here such a service is seen crossing from the Up Slow line at Balshaw Lane Jct on a sunny afternoon on 03 July 2016.

Shawfair: The 0925 Sunday service to Tweedbank (0911 ex-Waverley) leaves Shawfair station on 3 July 2016 during a sunny spell between showers of rain.

Lyness Submarine Base: Flatbed wagon on the Lyness Submarine Base railway.

Lyness Submarine Base: Rail mounted crane on the railway network within the Lyness Submarine Base.

Altnabreac: The unused watertank at Altnabreac, on the disused down platform, is a remarkable survivor.

Lyness Submarine Base: Interior of one of the huts at the Lyness Submarine Base.

Lyness Submarine Base: A section of remaining (or re-laid) track at the former Lyness Submarine Base in Orkney.

Garelochhead: Panoramic photograph taken at Garelochhead (click link for larger version).

Hillhead [Subway]: Closed 2nd July to 1st August for modernisation. Outer Circle No 92 bus substitute northbound in Byres Road. No. 91 is Inner Circle.

Lyness Submarine Base: Very neat and suspiciously intact track at the former Lyness Submarine Base.

Kingsknowe: FTPE 350404 approaches Kingsknowe with the 12.13 Edinburgh - Manchester Airport service on 3 July (... almost an Alpine feel?)

Glasgow Central: Rush hour view south over the trainshed roofs from one of the interestingly shaped rooms at the rear of the Grand Central Hotel. Platforms 1-10 are underneath the left section of the roof and platforms 11-15 are below on the right. The distant sound of engines and announcements is all that gives away all the activity at platform level.

Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll: You have more time to grab a shot of this station sign than most on the network.

Morningside Road: DBC 66101 climbs towards Morningside Road with a Hartlepool South Works - Inverness (Georgemas) pipe train on 3rd July 2018.

Morningside Road: GBRf 66737 passes the closed Morningside Road station with alumina from North Blyth to Fort William. The former booking office survives in commercial use at street level on 3rd July 2018.

Bathgate: Helensburgh (left) and Edinburgh services cross at Bathgate on 28 June. The last time I was here was a bitterly cold December morning and the light was poor. The contrast couldn't be more marked. See image [[63152]]

Perth: A nice sign at the entrance to the Perth Station Garden Club.

Stirling: Unrefurbished ScotRail HST standard class coach photographed at Stirling in July 2019. (There were no instructions about refraining from pressing the shutter whilst in a station).

Stirling: 385036 waits at Platform 9 in Stirling with a service to Glasgow Queen Street on 3rd July 2019. In the background, work is continuing on the recently reinstalled listed footbridge, while in the foreground the horror that is the temporary footbridge frames the scene.

Breich: After a gap of many years Breich now has a proper service - to go with its completely rebuilt station. Of course nowhere in Scotland is boring, but Breich is as far from anywhere interesting as it is possible to be. It was the life model for 'Stoneybridge' (look it up). An Edinburgh service calls on 3 July 2019.

Edinburgh Waverley: A (necessarily) terminating service from the south pulls into Waverley's Platform 5; like 6 only a few months old. A signal gantry was presumably thought necessary to avoid ambiguity with Platform 4 and 7's signals. I once read or heard that the steepest gradient between Kings Cross and Waverley is in the last few hundred yards. I like the sound of this so if it is not true I don't want to know.

Breich: Breich station was completely rebuilt and reopened with a full service in the May 2019 timetable. Summer vegetation means that it has already lost its rawness a matter of weeks later on 3 July. Note that no footbridge has been installed so passengers have to use the A706 (behind me).

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: 56096 (coupled to 56105 out of frame to the left) parked in Queen Street Platform 3 at the head of a spoil train during the first week of works to extend platforms 2 and 3 in July 2019.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Colas Rail 56105 and 56096 with a train of wagons for spoil sit at platform 3 during the July 2019 work to extend platforms 2 and 3 at Glasgow Queen Street. The other platforms remained open for business with a slightly revised timetable during the works.

Galgate: The canal junction at Galgate in July 2020. In commercial days the canal was owned by the railway, right up to LMS days and beyond, and runs close to it in a number of places. The junction is where the two mile long Glasson Branch leaves the main section of the Lancaster Canal to lock down to Glasson Dock and the sea. The top lock is immediately under the bridge, the first of seven on the branch. The main surviving section of the Lancaster Canal is lock free, all the way from Preston to north of Carnforth. Although there are many similar looking 'hump back' bridges on the canal, this one is noticeably slimmer, because of course it only has to carry the towpath and not a road or track.

Irwell Vale: The ELR summer 2021 diesel gala had no visiting locos but the home fleet is huge so there was plenty of variety over the three days. 25279 has recently been repainted in BR Blue, seen here double heading a service out of Irwell Vale with D5054. It was really good to hear the distinctive sound of a pair of Sulzer Type 2s working a train.

Woolfold: The last train, a goods service from Tottington, ran over Woolfold Viaduct, a five arch stone structure, in 1963 and it was demolished in 1977. This left a gap in the Kirklees Trail cycle path from Greenmount to Bury but this replacement was constructed in 2012. See image [[21383]] showing the original bridge in 1952. Vegetation growth prevented a direct Then and Now comparison and this picture was taken from the Bury side of the Kirklees Brook in July 2021 (and doesn't do full justice to this very tall structure.)

Brandlesholme Road Halt: An attempt at a Then and Now comparison with image [[21571]] at Brandleshlome Road after walking the Kirklees Trail on the Holcombe Brook branch from Woolfold on 3rd July 2021. The trail climbs up to cross the road but the platform was in a cutting, which continued beyond the road bridge but has since been filled in and built over.

Brandlesholme Road Halt: This is the view towards Woolfold from the site of Brandlesholme Road Halt [[21749]] in July 2021. Completion of the bridge over the Kirklees Brook at Woolfold has allowed the cyclepath to be connected to here and it drops down to join the curving trackbed just beyond the filled in cutting. It can be followed all the way to the site of Greenmount station, just short of the original Holcombe Brook terminus.

Newcraighall Colliery: A track linked the sidings at Niddrie West Junction with Newcraighall Colliery and here is where it went under a still existing footpath, the one that has made possible all those views of Niddrie West Junction (just a little north of here). As far as I know this is the only remaining sign of the pit's existence. Its site is covered by a Fort Kinnaird retail park.

Irwell Vale: The huge bulk of a Peak Class 1Co-Co1 locomotive is evident in this ground level view at Irwell Vale in July 2021. Long loan 45108 (D120), newly repainted, was one of many ELR based diesels in use over the three day Diesel Gala, which also included Classes 14, 24, 25, 33, 37, 42, 47 (x2), 50, 56, 104, 105, 122 and 144.

Woolfold: Looking up the gradient towards Woolfold station site, along the trackbed Kirklees Trail, on 3rd July 2021. The bridge in the foreground was opened in 2012 to replace the railway viaduct over this deep valley that was demolished in the 1970s. The houses in the distance encroach on to the station site and the trail diverges around this before regaining its original course. See image [[22058]] of the station in 1952.

Summerseat: If the Rawtenstall branch had not closed in 1972 it would undoubtedly have been worked by Pacers, although they would have been Newton Heath 142s rather than this Neville Hill 144 pictured passing Summerseat during the ELR 2021 Diesel Gala. 144009, seen here in a fictitious 'Great Midlands Trains' livery, is due to go to Greater Manchester Fire Service training centre but was having a last fling before retirement.

Summerseat: D1501 (47402) brings up the rear of a Rawtenstall bound service at Summerseat on 3rd July 2021. The two tone green of this immaculate Brush Type 4 contrasted with train engine 47765 in 1980s Scotrail livery.

Oxford Circus [Bakerloo]: Busy scene at Oxford Circus station with passengers, dutifully masked due to covid, leaving or waiting to board a train of LU 1972 stock on a southbound Bakerloo Line service to Elephant & Castle, on Saturday, 3rd July 2021. These are currently the oldest trains on the Underground and are set to make their half century of service as the pandemic has put their replacement back somewhat.

Irwell Vale: A popular pairing on the third day of the ELR 2021 summer diesel gala was the two Sulzer Type 2s, D5054 and 25279 (D7629). There was a real contrast between the first incarnation, with no headcode box but a gangway and multiple bodyside grills, and the (much tidier) final design with headcode box, cantrail grills and no gangway, but both had the distinctive Sulzer sound as they left Irwell Vale heading for Rawtenstall.

Ramsbottom: The prominence of vegetation both in front and behind 37109 suggests a rather more rural and exotic location than Ramsbottom station. The locomotive is waiting for the crossing gates to close and a clear road to Rawtenstall as part of its duty on the ELR Summer Diesel Gala on 3 July 2021.

Summerseat: Peak 45108 slows to call at Summerseat, on its way to Rawtenstall, during the ELR 2021 Summer Diesel Gala. This loco is on long term loan at the ELR, under an agreement that presently lasts until 2022, and as part of which it was repainted during Autumn 2020.

Summerseat Viaduct: Pacer 144009 has had an interesting year. After withdrawal from Northern it was presented to Greater Manchester Fire Service, but in the interim went to the East Lancs Railway. It now sports a fictitious Great Midlands Trains livery and there are reports it has been used on a filming contract - one to keep an eye out for. It was also used at the East Lancs summer 2021 Diesel Gala running shuttle services between Bury and Ramsbottom on 3rd July, seen here crossing the River Irwell heading back to Bury, but is likely to become a static training vehicle in the near future.

Lathalmond Railway Museum: D2650/MOD 250 works the brake van shuttle at Lathalmond on 3rd July 2022. It is passing other former Rosyth Dockyard shunters.

Bonnyrigg: The landscaped platforms of the former Bonnyrigg station now form part of the Penicuik - Dalkeith Walkway. Photographed looking south west along the trackbed towards Rosewell on 3 July 2022, with Sunday morning strollers enjoying the sunshine. View is from the access point on Dundas Street, complete with information board containing details of the route and its various delights.

Dunaskin Platform: This beautifully restored LMS Inspection Saloon has superseded the Brake Van previously used for public rides on the Doon Valley Railway, seen at the Dunaskin platform on 3rd July 2022.

Dunaskin Platform: The Doon Valley Railway is holding Open days again in 2022. The Barclay diesel shunter is presently deputising for Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 10, which is awaiting reassembly after boiler work.

Lathalmond Railway Museum: Lathalmond Railway Museum, in collaboration with military re-enactors, held a 'Wartime Defend Fife' event on 3 July 2022. Both standard and narrow gauge lines were in operation with the latter 'evacuating casualties' as well as carrying passengers. 'Sandra' is seen operating the 'rescue' train.

Lathalmond Railway Museum: Replica Bagnall 'Big Dave' and friends outside the narrow gauge shed at Lathalmond during the Wartime Defend Fife event on 3rd July 2022.