Princes Pier Shed: 56165 on shed at Princes Pier, 2nd August 1958. [Photograph by Brian Hilton]

Gibshill Quarry: Looking north west over a hazy Greenock on Saturday 2 August 1958 as Fairburn 2-6-4 tank no 42242 passes Lady Octavia Park on the approach to Gibshill Quarry. The train is the 5.17pm ex-Princes Pier bound for St Enoch. The route was on a constant climb out of Princes Pier with a summit close to Upper Port Glasgow. This section was at 1 in 70.

Greenock Princes Pier [2nd]: Fowler 4F 0-6-0 no 44189 with a recently arrived train at Greenock Princes Pier station on 2 August 1958.

Greenock Princes Pier [2nd]: Stanier 2-6-4T no 42240 waits with a train alongside platform 1 at Princes Pier, Greenock, on Saturday 2 August 1958.

Kittybrewster Junction: Western Region cross-country set W50626 on 0805 Aberdeen-Inverness at Kittybrewster in August 1958.

Princes Pier Junction: Stanier 2-6-4T no 42240 shunting empty stock at Princes Pier station on 2 August 1958.

Princes Pier Junction: One of Ladyburn sheds Fairburn tanks, no 42240, pulls away from Princes Pier station on Saturday 2 August 1958 with a stopping train for St Enoch.

Greenock Princes Pier [2nd]: A general view over Princes Pier terminus on Saturday 2 August 1958. The locomotive in the carriage sidings is Fairburn 2-6-4 tank no 42242.

Princes Pier Shed: Locomotives in the shed yard at Princes Pier on Saturday 2 August 1958 include (from the left) 54468, 56165, 54498 and 54506 (all 66D)

Greenock (Lynedoch): Ex-LMS 4F 0-6-0 no 44189 calls at Lynedoch station on Saturday 2 August 1958 with the 3.05pm service from St Enoch. The train is destined for Princes Pier (see [[75603]]).

Greenock Ladyburn Shed: 47167 and 47168 at Ladyburn Shed in 1958.

Upper Port Glasgow Siding: BR Standard tank 80025 passing Upper Port Glasgow siding with a westbound train on 2 August 1958.

Greenock Ladyburn Shed: Drummond Caledonian Pug 56035 photographed by Brian Hilton on shed at Ladyburn on 2nd August 1958.

Victoria Harbour: Tugs in their traditional stabling point in Victoria Harbour, Greenock, in the summer of 1959, with empty flat waggons in the siding alongside on the right. Centre stage is occupied by Clyde tugs Flying Meteor and Flying Typhoon.

Oswestry: View from a Llannfyllin branch train approaching Oswestry from the south in the summer of 1960.

Edinburgh Waverley: D9015 Tulyar stands at the east end of Waverley in August 1963 with a train for Kings Cross.

Achnasheen: Platform scene looking east at Achnasheen on 2 August 1966

Varennes sur Allier: After calling at St Germain-des-Fosses, the morning express from Clermont Ferrand to Paris Austerlitz has reached full line speed again, as it comes through Varennes-sur-Allier behind SNCF 4-8-2 241P23. The sight (and sound) of this magnificent locomotive in full flight was unforgettable.

Saint Germain des Fosses: Two days before the last of BR steam ended, SNCF American-built Mikados bask in the sunshine in the shed yard at St Germain des Fosses, not far from Vichy. Nearest the camera is 141R658 and facing the other way is 141R670.

Varennes sur Allier: SNCF American-built 'Mikado' 141R1208 heading north near Varennes-sur-Allier with a 'rapide', photographed in 1968.

Maudland Bridge: View from the cab of Black 5 No. 44874 as it makes its way back to Lostock Hall after the last steam trip up the Longridge branch to Ribbleton with coal traffic for the Courtaulds plant. The loco is crossing the old Lancaster canal bridge prior to rounding the curve by Maudlands Goods Depot to join the mainline just north of Preston station. For a modern day view of this location see image [[19715]]. I had talked my way on board for this journey on the Friday prior to the last weekend of BR Steam.

Lostock Hall: A view of Lostock Hall at the end of steam working. All the steam locos visible are LMS 5MT 4-6-0s, those on the far right being on the scrap line. Two Class 25 Type 2 and a Brush Class 47 are also visible as is one of the four Yorkshire Engine Co 0-4-0DH Class 02 shunters (D2861/2/3/8) that replaced the Kitson LMS 0F 0-4-0STs see image [[31189]] on local shunting duties and worked from here until 1970.

Lostock Hall: 70013 Oliver Cromwell, the last surviving Britannia Pacific, is prepared on Lostock Hall shed on 2 August 1968 for one of the final 'End of Steam' specials as a Black 5 simmers on an adjacent road. Forty years later the loco is of course back on the main line once again.

Lostock Hall: A bit of enthusiastic bulling has given Black 5 4-6-0 44971 a shiny smokebox for its last duties. The loco also has a full tender as it makes its way through the sidings at Lostock Hall shed. In the background is the scrap line containing many of 44971's already withdrawn sister engines and alongside is one of the Type 2 Class 25 Bo-Bo diesels that took over many of Lostock Hall's steam duties.

Saint Germain des Fosses: The American origin of SNCF 2-8-2 141R658 somehow seems particularly unmistakable from this camera angle. The 'Mikado' was photographed in 1968 in the shed yard at Saint Germain des Fosses.

Ribbleton (Red Scar): Scene at Ribbleton (Red Scar) on 2 August 1968 as 44874 arrives with the last steam working on the Longridge line, two days before BR steam finished. After this trip Class 25s and 40s handled the Courtaulds coal traffic until the plant closed. 44874 did have one more duty, hauling the SLS Farewell to Steam No.2 tour through Lancashire and Yorkshire with 45017 before being scrapped.

Whitehouse Junction: The second photo from my cab ride from Red Scar sidings at Ribbleton (on the Longridge branch) to Lostock Hall on Black 5 4-6-0 44874 see image [[24975]]. This picture is on the now closed East Lancashire lines from Preston out to Todd Lane Junction where the train took the chord round to Lostock Hall. The Whitehouse Junctions formed a triangle between this line and the Southport line. That line had closed in 1964 and this followed in 1972 when East Lancashire line trains were diverted via Farington Curve Junction. Even though this is the last weekday of steam working another steam hauled coal train is approaching on the opposite line, possibly heading for Fleetwood Power Station. Penwortham Gas Works, then also rail served, can be seen on the skyline.

Lostock Hall: Nicely bulled up for its last weekend of steam duties is Stanier LMS 8F 2-8-0 48476, photographed at Lostock Hall shed on 2nd August 1968. Two days later it piloted BR Standard 5MT 4-6-0 73069 from Manchester Victoria to Blackburn via Oldham, Rochdale, Bury Knowsley St and Bolton on the RCTS End of Steam Commemorative Rail Tour. Despite appearances the 8F then unfortunately had a one-way ticket to the breakers yard. See image [[31774]]

Lostock Hall: A 'last weekend of steam' photograph showing the last Britannia 4-6-2, 70013 Oliver Cromwell ready to leave 10D Lostock Hall shed for specials duties. In the background are the platforms of the original Lostock Hall station, which closed the following year.

Spalding: Gas lamps at Spalding in the summer of 1973.

Cudworth: The late morning Cardiff to Newcastle express approaches Cudworth Station under caution in August 1975 behind Peak No. 46028. The lines to the right led to Stairfoot Junction, giving a connection between Wath Yard and the ex-MR main line. This has long since been expunged from the landscape, as indeed has the main line.

Oakenshaw North Junction: 47 047 powers under the bridge carrying the Heath Common to Snydale road over the former MR main line just north of Oakenshaw North Junction. The wide spacing of the up and down lines betrays the fact that four tracks once existed here, but at least in 1975 the line was still carrying class 1 trains - indeed NE to SW expresses not calling at Wakefield had only recently reverted to this route as it was by then no longer plagued by colliery subsidence as had been the case in earlier years. Forty years later, no railway exists here and I presume the trackbed is occupied by a birch forest. The train is the 09:16 Leeds - London St. Pancras and the date is 2 August 1975

Cudworth: Steam heat 'Peak' No. 45044 Royal Inniskilling Fusilier forges south past the site of Cudworth station in August 1975 with the through service from Glasgow Central to London St. Pancras. The train is the one-time 'Thames Clyde Express' although the name had ceased to be used the previous May.

Oakenshaw North Junction: When Healey Mills based EE Type 4 No. 40 048 passed me at 10:23 on the morning of Saturday 2 August 1975 near Oakenshaw North Junction with a rake of Mk 1 coaches in tow, I assumed that this was an excursion to the Yorkshire coast. However, after perusing the 1975 BR timetable recently in the NLS, I have now concluded that the train is actually the dated 09:42 SO Sheffield to Glasgow, the successor to the 06:40 SO Birmingham to Glasgow, a train of some renown in 1966/67 because of its 'Jubilee' haulage over the S&C. In 1975 the class 40 no doubt gave way to a Holbeck based class 45 at Leeds.

Cudworth: The summer Saturday 09.10 Tenby - York passes Cudworth Station signal box in August 1975 behind Brush Type 4 no 47087 Cyclops.

Cudworth: 47045 (D1626) speeds the 14:00 Newcastle - Bristol past the disused station at Cudworth on a warm but sultry August Saturday afternoon in 1975.

Aviemore: 26019 with a southbound service at Aviemore on 2 August 1980.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: A class 47 with an arrival at Glasgow Queen Street in August 1981

Grosmont: Deltic 55002 The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry en route to Whitby with a Merrymaker excursion from Newcastle in August 1981. The Deltic is passing Hymek D7029 standing just south of Grosmont station as it brings the special off the Middlesbrough line at Grosmont Junction.

Battersby: 55002 The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry runs round a Newcastle - Whitby Merrymaker excursion at Battersby on 2 August 1981.

Whitby: Deltic 55002 The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry brings a Merrymaker excursion from Newcastle into Whitby on 2 August 1981. A DMU on an Esk Valley service stands at the other platform.

Oban: Tom Weir of Weirs Way with a camera crew at Oban Station in August 1984.

Inverness Goods: A pair of class 20s, with 20225 nearest the camera, photographed in livestock sidings in the goods yard at Inverness station on 2 August 1985.

Inverness Goods: 26028 stabled alongside Inverness MPD on 2 August 1985.

Meadowbank Stadium: A memento of the short-lived Meadowbank Stadium station, opened for the embarrassingly underfunded Commonwealth Games of 1986. The station appeared on the ScotRail East network map posted in carriages, but had no service apart from specials for the odd event after the games. It closed unnoticed (by me) in 1988.

Merehead Limestone Quarry: Oversize for the BR network, but very useful for moving the very heavy stone trains in the Torr Works, Merehead quarries, this is Foster Yeoman's USA import, a General Motors switcher type SW1001 locomotive seen in 1987.

Merehead Limestone Quarry: The virtually new Yeoman locomotives 59001 & 59004 stand side by side on shed at Merehead Quarry on Sunday 02 August 1987.

Merehead Limestone Quarry: The GM shunter Western Yeoman II stands at Merehead Quarry on 2 August 1987.

Merehead Limestone Quarry: A Yorkshire Engine Co Janus shunter at Merehead quarry on 2 August 1987.

Merehead Limestone Quarry: Foster Yeoman Class 59s 59001 & 59004, on their Sunday rest day, outside the loco. maintenance depot at Merehead Quarry, Torr Works on 2nd August 1987.

Slateford: A cement train runs west through Slateford station on a bright summer afternoon in August 1994 hauled by BR Coal Sector liveried class 60 no 60074. The locomotive is carrying the name Braeriach.

Westbury: EWS 66130 with a PW train at Westbury on 2 August 2002.

Westbury: Scene at Westbury on 2 August 2002 with a shuttle service to Weymouth at platform 2. Fragonset Rail locomotive 31602 'Chimera' is seen here on the south end of the train, with 31459 'Cerberus' at the rear.

Bristol Temple Meads: DMU 143263 awaiting its departure time at Bristol Temple Meads station on 14 August 2002 with a mid morning service to Severn Beach.

Bristol Temple Meads: View across the platforms at Temple Meads in August 2002 with First Great Western Adelante 180102 on a Paddington service.

Bristol Temple Meads: Virgin 47818 Strathclyde passes below the bridge carrying the A4 on the approach to Bristol Temple Meads in August 2002 with a CrossCountry service from the west of England.

Bristol Temple Meads: Outside line. An empty First Great Western HST proceeds towards platform 15 on the eastern edge of Bristol Temple Meads station in the summer of 2002. The train will form the next service to London Paddington..

Bristol Temple Meads: Station Approach, Bristol Temple Meads, seen during the evening of 2 August 2002.

Westbury: EWS 60052 in the locomotive stabling area alongside Westbury yard in August 2002.

Bristol Temple Meads: A First Great Western HST about to run into platform 15 on the east side of Bristol Temple Meads station in the summer of 2002.

Westbury: EWS class 66 locomotives stabled at Westbury in August 2002. [Ref query 1662]

Bristol Temple Meads: A train of Royal Mail TPO vehicles lined up across the 'InterCity' bridge over the River Avon on the west side of Bristol Temple Meads station in August 2002. View from Bath Bridge roundabout.

Westbury: 31459 'Cerberus' on hire from Fragonset Rail waiting to leave Westbury on 2 August 2002 with a shuttle service to Weymouth. Sister locomotive 31602 'Chimaera' is on the other end of the train.

Bristol Temple Meads: A Virgin Cross Country service about to pass below Bath Road bridge shortly after leaving Bristol Temple Meads on 2 August 2002. The train is hauled by XP64-liveried Brush Type 4 D1733/47853 Rail Express.

Bristol Temple Meads: A Virgin Voyager arrives at Bristol Temple Meads from the south west on 2 August 2002 forming a Paignton - Manchester Piccadilly CrossCountry service.

Westbury: Scene at Westbury on 2 August 2002, with a recently arrived local from Swindon at platform 1. [Ref query 1652]

Bristol Temple Meads: Classic two-tone green liveried Brush Type 4/Class 47 carrying the numbers D1648/47851 and the name Traction Magazine approaching Bristol Temple Meads from Plymouth in 2002 with a Virgin CrossCountry service.

Bristol Temple Meads: A Plymouth bound Virgin Cross Country service pulls out of Bristol Temple Meads station in the summer of 2002 behind XP64 liveried D1733/47853 Rail Express.

Bristol Temple Meads: XP64-liveried D1733/47853 Rail Express takes a Virgin Cross Country service out of Bristol Temple Meads in the summer of 2002. See image [[25781]].

Bristol Temple Meads: Scene at Bristol Temple Meads on a sunny 2 August 2002. Pacer 143623, sporting 'Visit Bristol' promotional livery, leaves the station with a local service.

Colinton: The old goods platform at Colinton looking north east in August 2003. The station proper was located on the other side of the bridge carrying the B701 over the trackbed (and the Water of Leith). The line lost its passenger service in 1943, although freight traffic continued for more than 20 years serving the surviving paper mills see image [[55024]]. [Ref query 2620]

Maryhill Central Junction: Looking south over the River Kelvin in August 2006 at the massive retaining walls and viaduct that once brought the Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway across the river on the approach to Maryhill Central station.

Maryhill Central Junction: Looking west along the Kelvin in August 2006 at the adjacent Glasgow Central Railway (nearest) and Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway viaducts.

Maryhill Central Junction: Looking south over the former Glasgow Central Railway viaduct spanning the River Kelvin in August 2006.

Maryhill Central Junction: Looking from Maryhill across to Kelvinside through the barbed wire of the L&D viaduct across the River Kelvin in August 2006.

Maryhill Central Junction: Section of the L&D viaduct over the River Kelvin in 2006 looking south through a gap in the Rosebay Willowherb.

Sheepford Viaduct: Plate-girder viaduct crossing the Monkland Canal near Calder between Whifflet and Airdrie. The odd looking arrangement of the stone piers was to fit in with the canal alignment. Summer 2006.

Sheepford Viaduct: The mighty plate-girder viaduct that once carried the R&C extension over the Monkland Canal just to the east of Calder station between Whifflet and Airdrie. Photographed looking east in August 2006, the structure is now part of a walkway/cycleway.

Sheepford Viaduct: On the former Caledonian route between Whifflet and Airdrie, the line was carried on a long plate girder viaduct over the Monkland Canal. The last train to use the viaduct crossed in 1990 by which time the line had been cut back to British Steel's Imperial Works, approximately half a mile to the east. Today it is part of a walking and cycling route. Photographed approaching from the Whifflet direction in the summer of 2006.

Sheepford Viaduct: The viaduct near Calder between Coatbridge and Airdrie that once carried the R&C across the valley and the Monkland Canal. Photographed in August 2006. A wide angle lens comes in handy for this one. 2006.

Templehall LC: Templehall crossing keepers house to the north of main line, west of Longforgan.

Longforgan: View east from Templehall to Longforgan crossing and station house.
The western outskirts of Dundee are seen behind the subject.

Errol: Express for Perth rattles through the crossing at Errol

Abington: A down Virgin Pendolino photographed midway between Crawford and Abington in the summer of 2007.

Levisham: BR Standard class 4MT no 80135 heads south with a train on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway between Levisham and Pickering on 2 August 2007.

Ladysmith: A fifty wagon late afternoon freight headed by three Class E18's in Spoornet livery passing south through Ladysmith in August 2010. The leading locomotive is no 18 109. South Africa's railway network is mainly 3ft 6in gauge.

Whitby: High summer and typical tourist weather greets people to this popular resort as a class 156 stands at Whitby in August 2008

Euxton Junction: The Compass Railtours charter from Holyhead to Carlisle heads north at Euxton Junction on 2 August 2009 with the gaudy 37670 in DBS red leading the more sober 37401 in the former EWS maroon livery.

Euxton Junction: Lineside vegetation is taking a hold again after it was extensively cut back last year when a new fence was installed on the west side of the WCML at Euxton Junction. The peace of the countryside is shattered on a Sunday afternoon as a pair of Class 37 locos speed north to Carnforth with the ecs from the previous days Spitfire railtour. So loud are these veteran locos that they drowned out the heavy Sunday traffic on the M6, some 200 m behind the photographer. Now that was a result!

Spurn Point: Spurn Point, East Yorkshire, photographed in August 2009, showing some of the remains of the Spurn Head Railway. This military line, operational from 1915, was built in connection with the construction, supply and maintenance of wartime fortifications along the Spurn estuary.

Gregson Lane: A Blackpool North to York service is seen heading east in fading light from Gregson Lane UWG on its way towards Hoghton and Blackburn at 2050 hrs on 2 August 2009.

Estcourt: Class E18 locomotive no 18 320 in Transnet livery hauls two wagons of rails past the site where Winston Churchill was captured by Boer forces in 1899. The spot is approximately half way between Estcourt and Colenso in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province. A close-up of the commemorative marker is shown below.

Hawkhead: The surviving south abutment of the former Paisley & Barrhead Railway bridge over the Paisley Canal line, taken through a fence alongside the latter in August 2010.

Estcourt: Class 35 diesel locomotives nos 648 and 209 await their next turn of duty in the busy yard at Estcourt in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province.

Ladysmith: Station frontage at Ladysmith in the summer of 2010, complete with palm trees and evening sun. Ladysmith is an important junction, with connections to Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria. There has been a station here since 1886, although the present one was built later.

Paisley East: The 'squinty house' in Seedhill Road, to the west of Hawkhead station. The view shows its peculiarly-angled gable, which came about as a result of the now-removed embankment of the former Paisley & Barrhead Railway that ran along the line of the boundary wall. View south on 2 August 2010.

Tomatin: The Inverness - Oxwellmains cement empties heading south near Tomatin on 2 August behind Freightliner 66614.

Cambridge: Another evening view see image [[7242]] of the new island platform at Cambridge in August 2012, this time looking North. The new footbridge is clearly visible; that in the background crosses the entire station area, and was built some 15 years ago.

Peterborough: Sweating the assets: at 12 noon, 66740 was stabled outside the GBRf depot in New England yard. At 2.30, it was hauling empty bolster wagons past platform 5. At 4.30, it was stabled light engine outside the EMD depot in March (a stone building, probably the former goods shed). The blue fencing and excavators on the left are (hopefully) signs of a start on the new Western entrance to the station see image [[35318]], currently framed by a gantry crane.

Peterborough: 66142 gives a wide berth to platform 5 as it heads south through Peterborough with the Lafarge self-unloading aggregates train on 2nd August 2012.

Peterborough: A Grand Central HST looks distinctly pugnacious as it heads South through Peterborough non-stop in August 2012.

Bridgnorth: Ivatt 4MT 4-6-0 no 43106 at Bridgnorth on 2 August 2012.

Bridgnorth: Rebuilt Bulleid Pacific no 34053 Sir Keith Park is assisted by GWR 2-8-0 no 2857 on the Severn Valley Railway at Bridgnorth on 2 August 2012.

Highley: D8188 with a southbound train at Highley on 2 August 2012.

Cambridge: That wisp of steam you see is a dash of perspiration from the 20 or so passengers who ran down from platform 4 to platform 1 to be sure they caught the last train (the 21.00) to Birmingham. Had we missed this train, we could have gotten home about 02.05 - long after they lock the doors at Nuneaton! The Greater Anglia stock on the left is adjacent to the new island platform (7 this side, 8 the other side). See image [[39955]]

Highley: 50135 Ark Royal arrives at Highley on the Severn Valley Railway on 2 August 2012 hauling a northbound train.

Peterborough: Well, that's the West side full. An East Coast train for Newcastle on platform 4, a Cross Country 170 leaving platform 5, a rusty through road, and containers for Felixstowe on the far right. A couple of spotters propping up the lamp post, and the sound of a steam whistle on the Nene Valley line in the background, completing the Tri-Power scene. All we need for 'Quad Power' is an LPG-fuelled people mover... see image [[39652]].

Bridgnorth: GWR 2-8-0 no 2857 in action at Bridgnorth on the Severn Valley Railway on 2 August 2012.

Bridgnorth: Bulleid Pacific no 34053 'Sir Keith Park' standing alongside the station at Bridgnorth on 2 August 2012.

Williams, Arizona: No 29 on display at the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Arizona, in August 2013.

Swindon: Freightliner 66532 waits at signals on the up through road in Swindon station with an Intermodal service on 2 August 2013 as the 10.28 ex-Swansea starts out on the final leg of its journey to London Paddington.

Williams, Arizona: Grand Canyon Railway stock in the sidings at Williams, Arizona, on 2 August 2013.

Blackburn: Plaques adorning Blackburn station, August 2014.

Kirkcaldy: Power car 43251 brings up the rear of the 14.52 Aberdeen - Kings Cross HST as it enters Kirkcaldy on 2 August. The entire train carried the latest East Coast livery.

Gare du Nord: The approaches to Gare du Nord remind me of the throat at Paddington. see image [[4565]]. A Metro train can be seen on the second bridge.

St Pancras: The St Pancras undercroft, as converted for use as a Eurostar waiting room. It probably doesn't smell quite as heady as it did when used for storing beer; but it also has around 100% less rats. The lady on the left doesn't seem to be impressed.

Paris Gare du Nord: Despite the tail lights showing, this Eurostar has just arrived at Gare du Nord from St Pancras on 2nd August 2014 The low platform height allows a dramatic perspective.

Leyland: Clocking up the miles, London Midland 350374 helping out during the Commonwealth Games, strengthening the 1S71 Manchester Airport to Glasgow TPE service with a 350/4 on the rear. The train rushes north through Leyland on 2 August 2014.

Sidmouth: The old booking office of the closed terminus at Sidmouth, still in commercial and residential use in 2015. The town centre and sea front are over a mile away from here and the station and its short branch line closed to passengers in 1967.

Forder Viaduct: 34067 Bristol to Par excursion crossing Forder viaduct near Saltash. Sadly the tide was out. The photograph was taken from the site of the original viaduct.

Exhibition Centre: 318258 heads west from Exhibition Centre on 02 August 2015 and is about to climb the hill to Finnieston East Jct.

Glasgow Central: 314207 is 'off'; the 1653 hrs departure to Neilston is heading out of platform 7 'right time' on 02 August 2015.

Riverside Museum: HR 4-6-0 'Jones Goods' No.103 stuffed and mounted in the Glasgow Riverside Museum in August 2015, with G&SWR 0-6-0T No.9 looking down from the first floor.

Brent: 34067 'Tangmere' working 1Z37 0850 Bristol Temple Meads to Par special at South Brent on 2nd August 2015. The down side station platforms were just on the right hand side, not that one would know now. Former junction for the Kingsbridge branch.

Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Looking at the station throat of Glasgow Queen St High Level from the road bridge on Cathedral St on 02 August 2015.

Glasgow Queen Street Low Level: ScotRail 334016 arrives at Glasgow Queen Street Low Level station on 2 August 2015 with a service to Helensburgh Central.

Glasgow Central: Two generations of EMU at the buffers on platforms 6 and 7, Glasgow Central on 02 August 2015. The future destination for 380004 was not noted but 314207 was scheduled for the 1653 hrs to Neilston.

Exhibition Centre: 318258 arrives at Exhibition Centre with a westbound service on 02 August 2015.

Sidmouth: Station House at Sidmouth is still in excellent condition almost fifty years after the last train left. The island platform ran out from the back of the house and the booking office was at right angles to the house, parallel to the tracks See image [[52389]]

East Largin Viaduct: 34067 'Tangmere' 1Z39 Par to Bristol crossing Largin Viaduct on 2 August 2015. One of the classic Cornish main line locations.

Exhibition Centre: Looking down at the junction between east and westbound lines at Exhibition Centre station on 2 August 2015 as an eastbound service heads for the city centre.

Loanstone Sidings: The Peebles Railway crossed the B7026 Auchendinny – Leadburn road at Loanstone, half a mile from Pomathorn station. On the east side of the crossing (behind camera) were two agricultural sidings. View is south west over the site of the crossing towards Pomathorn in 2016, with a garage now occupying the trackbed. The fence on the right is supported by one of the original gateposts and beyond that is the former crossing box, standing in front of the refurbished gatekeeper's cottage. The Pentland Hills can just be seen in the centre background. The line closed completely in 1962.

Haymarket: Red Box Coffee - the new coffee on offer at Haymarket.

Edinburgh Princes Street: Caught in time: it's 1968 but Princes Street station (closed 1965) still has a presence, but demolition awaits. Once the goods shed was cleared away the West Approach Road opened on the trackbed as far as Ardmillan and still makes a useful urban fastway. Edinburgensians can amuse themselves by spotting bygones. Contributor's collection. Crown Copyright.

Loch Eil Outward Bound: Black 5 No.45407 makes a slow approach to the station at Loch Eil Outward Bound with the morning * Jacobite * steam service to Mallaig.

Invergarry: Progress at the Invergarry Station site. The foundations of the signal box are in place and part of the platform has been gravelled. A lamp post and station sign have been added.

Banavie Swing Bridge: Black 5 No.45407 is reflected in the Caledonian Canal as it crosses the swing bridge at Banavie at the start of the journey to Mallaig.

Helwith Bridge Quarry Siding: A load of stone from either Arcow or Dry Rigg quarries awaits onward transport North on the S&C. Grab shot from passing train - we'd been shopping in Settle. This rail loading facility opened in June this year.

Haltwhistle: The 22.00 to Newcastle-upon-Tyne pauses at Haltwhistle on 2nd August. The light in the signal box is deceptive - it is no longer in use.

Kilmarnock: 37421 working a track inspection train at Kilmarnock with 37219.

Dumfries: One of three lovely paintings by Jo McSkimming for the People's Project at Dumfries Station.

Dumfries: One of three superb paintings by Jo McSkimming for the People's Project at Dumfries Station.

Dumfries: One of three superb paintings by Jo McSkimming for the People's Project at Dumfries Station.

Airdrie: ScotRail 320411 rests in bay platform 1 at Airdrie on 2 August 2017, after treating me to my first 'station skipping' experience. It left on time on its return journey, depositing several bemused 'scenic route' passengers at various stations on the way back west.

Borrodale Viaduct: The northbound afternoon Jacobite hauled by Black 5,No.45212,with the nameboard carried on its distinctive offset lamp iron,exits Borrodale Tunnel and is immediately onto the viaduct, followed by a climb of 1 in 60 towards Arisaig.

Borrodale Viaduct: The longest mass concrete span in the world when built,Borrodale Viaduct is now surrounded by trees and difficult to photograph. It spans the Borrodale Burn and is immediately north of Borrodale Tunnel.

Borrodale Viaduct: The, very late running, Glasgow Queen St. to Mallaig service crossing Borrodale Viaduct consisting of a four car multiple unit led by 156458.

Milton Level Crossing: This small signal box (with suitably economical signalman's transport) is east of Brampton station.

Glasgow Central: An enormous mobile Virgin Radio advert seen at Glasgow Central.

Boig Road Level Crossing: GB Railfreight 66 705 Golden Jubilee on Thursday 2nd August 2018 hauling 6E70 the penultimate coal train from the Greenburn opencast site near New Cumnock where it was scheduled to leave at 1325. The train is about 35 minutes late and is shown on the Greenburn branch at the level crossing on Boig Road near Connel Park, New Cumnock. The crossing gates are being operated by two people, one from Network Rail and the other from Kier, the opencast mining company. The train then headed for Kilmarnock for the run round at the Long Lyes before travelling south to Cottam Power Station.

Londonderry [Waterside] [3rd]: The 1980 station at Londonderry alongside the river Foyle, on 2nd August 2018. This station closed the following year when it was replaced by a new station on the site of the old Londonderry Waterside station of 1852 that the 1980 station had itself replaced, a case of returning things to how they had been 39 years earlier. It was demolished in December 2019. (See my photo of unit 3002 at this station taken three days earlier for further details of the changes made here in 2019.)

Londonderry [Waterside] [3rd]: Interior view of waiting room at the 1980 station at Londonderry, on 2nd August 2018 when my friend John and I were waiting to return to Belfast before sadly parting when he headed home to Tralee in the Republic and I headed home to London by air to Stansted. This station closed the following year and has now been demolished, being replaced by a new station back on the site of the original Londonderry Waterside station of 1852 that the 1980 station had itself replaced. (See my photo of unit 3002 at this station three days earlier on our arrival for further details of this change.)

Londonderry Foyle Road: The former Foyle Valley Railway Museum at Londonderry, now closed, seen here on 2nd August 2018. The passenger station was behind the camera.

Killin [2nd]: The station site at Killin is slowly changing. The council has now erected a large shed in their depot in the old goods yard and the trees alongside the old trackbed are gradually obscuring the mountain backdrop. This view towards Loch Tay on 2nd August 2018. See image [[29144]] from eight years earlier.

Locheilside: Black 5 45407, running as 45157 The Glasgow Highlander, hurries the morning Jacobite service through Locheilside on its way to the Glenfinnan water stop on 2nd August 2018.

Ratho: The low platforms of the former Ratho station on the E&G seen from above in a view which looks north towards the former Low Level station.

Castlerock: Busy scene at Castlerock station, Northern Ireland, with passengers boarding and alighting from Translink N.I. Railways broad gauge diesel unit no. 3002 calling with a service from Londonderry to Belfast Great Victoria Street, on 2nd August 2018.

Cullybackey: Cullybackey level crossing and station entrance seen from Translink Northern Ireland Railways unit no. 3015 with a service from Londonderry to Great Victoria Street, Belfast, on 2nd August 2018. This station closed in 1976 and reopened in 1982.

Pitlochry: Pitlochry signal box is looking rather unkempt these days. Note the site of the lifted PW siding in the foreground - the beginning of preparatory works here. The station platforms are to be extended north and timber portions removed.

Belfast Great Victoria Street: Translink Northern Ireland Railways unit no. 3015 just arrived at Great Victoria Street station, Belfast after its journey from Londonderry, at lunchtime on 2nd August 2018.

Armadale Pier: The last few vehicles drive across the linkspan onto MV Lord of the Isles at Armadale on 2nd August 2018, prior to the 30 minute crossing from Skye to Mallaig.

Cullybackey: Cullybackey station, closed 1976, reopened 1982, seen from Translink Northern Ireland Railways diesel unit no. 3015 calling with a service from Londonderry to Great Victoria Street, Belfast on 2nd August 2018.

Nether Lochaber Slip: MV Corran makes its way across the Loch Linnhe narrows on 2nd August 2018. Predecessor MV Maid of Glencoul is moored in the channel but available to provide a two ferry service at times of peak demand.

Fort William Pier: The liner 'Boudicca' made a fine sight moored off Fort William in Loch Linnhe. One of the vessel's tenders can be seen alongside the ship waiting to carry cruise passengers to the pier. For 2nd August 2018 this was a very grey and wet day.

Nether Lochaber Slip: Demonstrating the corner loading ramps, vehicles leave the MV Corran after crossing Loch Linnhe on 2nd August 2018. Note the leg to prevent tipping as heavy vehicles drive on or off - another is under the lowered ramp - and how the bridge of the new vessel is to one side to give a better view of operations rather than the central position of its predecessor. See image [[55934]]

Helpston: 158774, forming a Liverpool to Norwich service, heads from Grantham towards Peterborough at Helpston level crossing on 2nd August 2019. The Melton Mowbray lines are in the foreground at this six track location.

Euston: 1M16 Highland Sleeper, diverted via Bolton, Manchester and Stockport, arriving at Euston on 2nd August 2019 behind 90042. 86101 alongside is ready to shunt the stock.

Helpston: 91109 'Sir Bobby Robson' propels a LNER service towards King Cross at Helpston level crossing on 2nd August 2019. The level crossing carries a busy road over six tracks - four of the ECML and two of the Peterborough - Stamford - Leicester route and is the widest on the UK network.

Wickham Market Junction: Wickham Market Junction, just to the north of the station, was the point where the single track branch line to Framlingham left the Ipswich to Lowestoft East Suffolk Line. The branch closed to passengers in 1952 but freight continued for a further eleven years. The signal box stood just behind the Blackstock Crossing keeper's cottage. Further rationalisation later saw the main line singled between Woodbridge and Saxmundham. See query 2133

Helpston: 180109 passes Helpston signal box and crossing, just north of Peterborough, with a Kings Cross to Hull service on 2nd August 2019. In the foreground are the two tracks of the Stamford line, while beyond the short gap are four ECML tracks, making six in total between the barriers, which probably explains why the busy crossing, the widest on Network Rail, is still locally operated from the box.

Girvan: Tablet exchange at Girvan, from the incoming 11.59 for Kilmarnock to the 12.01 for Stranraer; on 2nd August 2019.

Girvan: The 12.01 for Stranraer passing the up inner home signal at Girvan after exchanging single line tablets in the station passing loop.

Pollokshaws West Goods: 57349 shunting the up yard at Pollokshaws on 10 August 1956.

Helpston: DVT 82209, leading an Up ECML express, is propelled through Helpston by 91126 on 2nd August 2019.

Bellgrove: 334021 calls at Bellgrove with a Helensburgh Central to Edinburgh service on 2nd August 2020. The overgrown ground on the left was formerly the course of a double track avoiding line.

Sharpness Docks: This substantial swing bridge took dock railway lines over the canal at Sharpness Docks, but is now used by road traffic only. A short distance to the north of here a further swing bridge, part of the old Severn Bridge railway, crossed the Gloucester Canal but closed when the main bridge was destroyed by a barge in the 1950s and has since been demolished.

Hoghton: The LSL stock move from Crewe to Appleby for the third week of the RCS 'Staycation Express' charter service from Skipton to Appleby is seen heading east at Hoghton on 2nd August 2020. The locomotives again D6817 (37521) leading with 47593 on the rear. Unfortunately shortly after the photo was taken, D6817 shutdown and the move was terminated at Blackburn. The train then returned to Crewe where D6817 was substituted by 37407 and the train headed north again in the evening.

Sharpness Docks: I heard rumours of a new Museum Society located in the Sharpness dock area so I went a looking for the Vale of Berkeley Railway. There is a comprehensive rail network still in place but tarmacked over, covered in vegetation or in plain view on the roads. This is a former CEGB 0-4-0F Fireless loco on display on 2nd August 2020.

Sharpness Docks: Rails in the road, and in the centre of one of the swing bridges, in the basin at Sharpness Docks on 2nd August 2020.

Sharpness Docks: Rails still embedded in the road at Sharpness Docks in August 2020. This road leads to a small village and the western side of the docks.

Sharpness Docks: I visited Sharpness Docks to investigate the Vale of Berkeley Railway preservation site and found this selection of rolling stock stored on part of the site.

Sharpness Docks: Swing bridge over the Sharpness Canal, at the docks of the same name, in August 2020. This former rail bridge now carries a road to a small village, and to the western side of the docks.

Bellgrove Tunnel: Looking over the Bellgrove Street parapet towards Bellgrove Tunnel, with the former cattle market above, on 2 August 2020. Double track avoiding lines ran parallel behind the brick arched wall

Mawcarse Junction: Looking north east from the overbridge at Mawcarse in August 2021. The station was on the other side of the bridge but a signal box here controlled the junction and the lines to Perth (left) and Ladybank gradually diverged from this point until complete closure of the latter in 1964 (Passenger services had finished in 1950). Trains continued to run on the line to Perth until 1970.

Abernethy Road: 66746 leads a 'Royal Scotsman' excursion to Keith through the cutting between Newburgh and Abernethy on 2nd August 2021. When the Ladybank to Perth railway was being constructed around 1848 there was briefly a temporary terminus here, before the line was completed and a through station constructed in Abernethy village.

Larne Harbour: Larne Harbour station and passenger terminal from the deck of the P&O Cairnryan ferry with an unidentified unit sitting in the station. These excellent interchange facilities between ferry, train and bus are probably not fully utilised nowadays with Stena having transferred to Belfast and the rail link on the Scottish side having been broken with the move from Stranraer to Cairnryan.

Ladybank: 43144 comes round the curve and powers an Aberdeen to Edinburgh Scotrail HST service through the Up platform at Ladybank on 2nd August 2021. The single track Perth line continues straight on from the junction.

Troon: It looks as if the steel frame at Troon has survived the fire. It has been shot blasted and primer-coated and looks like new but I think it is the original.

Troon: The 1036 Ayr to Glasgow calls at Troon on 2nd August 2021 following service resumption after the disastrous fire.

Gateside: The station at Gateside has been closed for over seventy years but the house is still occupied and has been extended behind over the area where the single platform was. This view from the road entrance in August 2021.

Dechmont [2nd]: Surviving parapets of an infilled skew bridge in the centre of Dechmont where the Bangour branch once passed under the road. Dechmont station itself was on the south side, over to the right, in a cutting now long filled in. As can be seen this is a built up area and as the branch closed in 1921 it is surprising that a century later these parapets remain.

Gateside: A view towards Mawcarse and Kinross from the overbridge at Gateside in August 2021. The line closed to passengers in 1950 but freight passed through until 1964. Since then Gateside station house has been extended onto the single platform in the now well established garden. On the opposite side of the bridge steps lead down to a riverside trackbed footpath.

Gorton [WHR]: The southbound Sunday night sleeper coming south out of Rannoch Moor and entering Gorton, with the driver giving a friendly wave.

Mawcarse: A view from the overbridge of the site of Mawcarse station in August 2021. Most traces of the station have been removed but the goods loading bank is still in place on the right and the trackbed curves left towards Milnathort and Kinross Junction. The site is well cared for these days compared to the years after the line closed in 1970. See image [[13998]] from the same spot in 1981.

Aberdour: Having run along the coast from Kinghorn, 170393 slows to call at Aberdour as seen from the Hawkcraig Road bridge on 2nd August 2021.

Aberdour: Bi-mode Azuma 800103 snakes through Aberdour with a late running LNER Leeds to Aberdeen service on 2nd August 2021.

Ladybank: With a severe right turn at the junction ahead, 800106 runs sedately through the platforms at Ladybank on a Kings Cross to Aberdeen service on 2nd August 2021.

Langside Junction: 156502 nears the former Langside Junction with an empty stock working from East Kilbride to Corkerhill Depot on 2 August 2021.

Langside Junction: 156502 passes the former Langside Junction with an empty stock working from East Kilbride to Corkerhill Depot on 2 August 2021. The main line to St Enoch diverged to the left, past the red brick St Andrews Power Station.

Ladybank: 170410, on the 1334hrs from Edinburgh to Perth on 2nd August 2022, left Ladybank almost on time, but immediately had a scheduled wait of nine minutes in the loop on the Perth line for 170415, on the 1427hrs from Perth to Edinburgh, to clear the single line from Hilton Junction. See image [[14955]] for an external view of the loop. There is a similar loop at the Hilton Junction end of the single line section allowing southbound trains to clear the main line while waiting for the single line to be free.

Milnathort: Station Cottage at Milnathort, alongside the old approach road, certainly seems to be an original building from the time of the railway. The other buildings on the station site are modern structures but this seems to be a survivor from operational days.

Newburgh [1st]: There are superb views of the Firth of Tay from trains on the Perth to Ladybank line, particularly on the section between Newburgh and Lindores Loch, as seen here on 2nd August 2022.

Perth: 43135 was on an Aberdeen to Glasgow service on 2nd August 2022 but this was terminated at Perth for some reason. The HST is in Platform 1 and seen from a 158 leaving the bay platforms, also heading for Edinburgh but via the Ladybank line.

Perth: Platforms (L-R) 4 to 1 at Perth, between trains, from the south end of Platform 4 on 2nd August 2022. Bay Platforms 5 & 6 and through Platform 7 are off to the left.

Perth: 170434 approaches Perth from the south on 2nd August 2022 and takes the Dundee line to call at Platform 2.

Milnathort: This modern building occupies the site of Milnathort station, but is named 'Station House' in recognition of the site. Viewed from the old station approach road in August 2022 with the road to Kinross on the right climbing to the filled in overbridge.