This day in history 21 November

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Port Eglinton Junction: A Girvan to St Enoch train passing east through Port Eglinton Junction on 21 November 1958. The locomotive is one of Corkerhill shed's Fairburn 2-6-4Ts no 42229.

City of Glasgow Union Railway
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 1958


Alresford (Essex): A 12 coach Class 312 Clacton/Walton to Liverpool Street formation passes Alresford (Essex) on 21st November 1976. At the time, these 'outer suburban' units were fairly new to the line and a reasonable alternative to the well-liked Class 309 units, which were being released from duty for refurbishment.

Tendring Hundred Railway
Mark Dufton 1976


Carlisle: 83007 stands with empty stock on one of the centre roads at Carlisle on 21 November 1981. In the background a class 108 DMU for the Cumbrian coast line prepares to leave the M&C bay platform.

Lancaster and Carlisle Railway
Colin Alexander 1981


Loanhead: A little to the north of Loanhead Station in November 1986, with a curious adaptation to the track (presumably for stabilisation purposes on the curve). [Ref Query 2839]

Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway
Bill Roberton 1986


Bilston Glen Colliery: View north from the headshunt of Bilston Glen Colliery, Loanhead, in November 1986.

Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway
Bill Roberton 1986


Loanhead: The old goods shed at Loanhead in November 1986, plus a surviving section of track and buffer stop from the former goods yard. In the right background is the remains of Ramsay Colliery, closed in 1965. View is south west with the closed station obscured by the goods shed.

Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway
Bill Roberton 1986


Grangemouth MPD: The south east side of Grangemouth Shed in November 1987.

Grangemouth Railway (Forth and Clyde Canal)
Bill Roberton 1987


Grangemouth: Looking south from Station Road bridge, Grangemouth, in November 1987. The former station stood on the right.

Grangemouth Railway (Forth and Clyde Canal)
Bill Roberton 1987


Fouldubs Junction: Looking towards Fouldubs Junction along the disused Orchardhall branch in November 1987. The yard throat of Grangemouth shed is in the right background.

Grangemouth Railway (Forth and Clyde Canal)
Bill Roberton 1987


Bonnyrigg: The former station at Bonnyrigg - looking north east towards the B704 Cockpen Road in November 2005.

Peebles Railway
John Furnevel 2005


Bingley: Bingley station looking north from the northern portal of Bingley Tunnel.

Skipton Branch (Leeds and Bradford Railway)
Ewan Crawford 2006


Healey Mills Marshalling Yard: Looking west at the engineering sidings, wagon repair shop and fuel depot at Healey Mills.

Manchester and Leeds Railway
Ewan Crawford 2006


Healey Mills Marshalling Yard: Looking west along the Wakefield - Mirfield line at the up staging sidings at Healey Mills Marshalling Yard. The sidings are now mainly used for locomotive storage.

Manchester and Leeds Railway
Ewan Crawford 2006


Rotherham Masborough: Looking south from Rotherham Masborough. The line to the left is the old Midland mainline to Chesterfield and to the right the line to Sheffield.

North Midland Railway
Ewan Crawford 2006


Mansfield: Mansfield station building looking north on the re-opened Robin Hood line.

Mansfield to Worksop Line (Midland Railway)
Ewan Crawford 2006


Rotherham Central Junction: Southbound heading onto the Holmes Curve from Rotherham Central Junction.

Meadowhall to Mexborough Line (South Yorkshire Railway and River Dun Navigation)
Ewan Crawford 2006


Keighley: Keighley looking west. The preserved platforms.

Skipton Branch (Leeds and Bradford Railway)
Ewan Crawford 2006


Keighley: Keighley looking west. The Network Rail platforms.

Skipton Branch (Leeds and Bradford Railway)
Ewan Crawford 2006


Skipton: Skipton looking east. The bridge over the top carries the cut back Grassington branch which serves Rylstone.

Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway
Ewan Crawford 2006


Skipton: Skipton looking west. The busiest platform is behind the camera and on the right - a bay for services to Leeds.

Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway
Ewan Crawford 2006


Garsdale: Diagram and gradient profile in Garsdale signalbox.

Settle and Carlisle Line (Midland Railway)
Ewan Crawford 2006


Cambus Loop: View west towards Cambus on 21 November 2006 with the passing loop now in place.

Stirling and Dunfermline Railway
John Furnevel 2006


Earn Viaduct [Forgandenny]: View from the south of Strathearn Viaduct under complete refurbishment. Tented village flooded out previous day. Many contractors present!

Scottish Central Railway
Brian Forbes 2006


Kincardine: View west over Kincardine level crossing on 21 November 2006.

Kincardine Line (North British Railway)
John Furnevel 2006


Forteviot: Aberdeen- Glasgow Turbostar passing Forteviot.

Scottish Central Railway
Brian Forbes 2006


Healey Mills Marshalling Yard: Nothing but a 66 alongside Healey Mills depot on 21 November 2006, but the nearby sidings were full of redundant class 37s and other locomotives.

Manchester and Leeds Railway
Ewan Crawford 2006


Mansfield: Looking north along the platforms of the re-opened station at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, on the Robin Hood Line in November 2006.

Mansfield to Worksop Line (Midland Railway)
Ewan Crawford 2006


Creswell: Looking north at the former Creswell Junction from Creswell station. The route off to the left is still in place but the junction is taken out. This went west to Barrow Hill.

Mansfield to Worksop Line (Midland Railway)
Ewan Crawford 2006


Skipton: Skipton station building which is on the north side of the line.

Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway
Ewan Crawford 2006


Rotherham Masborough: The closed station at Rotherham Masborough. The three lines to the left and centre run to Sheffield and the two on the right run by the old North Midland Railway mainline to Derby by Barrow Hill.

North Midland Railway
Ewan Crawford 2006


Skipton: A service for Bradford stands in the south bay at Skipton in November 2006.

Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway
Ewan Crawford 2006


Merryton: The Larkhall line has proved popular. First ScotRail is delighted saying Latest available figures suggest that more than 325,000 trips have taken place on the strategic rail link built to reconnect Larkhall to Glasgow and to increase capacity on the rail network.

Mid Lanark Lines (Caledonian Railway)
Ewan Crawford 2006


Schöftland: Wynental-und Suhrentalbahn (WSB) unit, (now marketed as AAR),stands at Schöftland in NE Switzerland on a wet 21st November 2007.

AAR Bus and Bahn
Michael Gibb 2007


Hayes Knoll: Scene on the Swindon and Cricklade Railway on 21 November 2007 as Barclay 0-6-0ST 2139 of 1942 Salmon undergoes some test running following a major overhall.

Swindon and Cheltenham Extension Railway
Peter Todd 2007


Olten: Swiss Re4/4 and Re460 locos in multiple provide a superpowered journey from Olten to Zurich on 21/11/07.

Swiss Federal Railways (SBB)
Michael Gibb 2007


Perth New Yard: Most of the buildings in the former yard had disappeared by 19 November 2008. See image [[22032]]

Scottish Midland Junction Railway
Gary Straiton 2008


Bristol: 66204 heading up the Portbury Branch from Bristol on 21 November 2008 with coal empties. These trains are very erratic, being dependent on power station demands and shipping.

Great Western Railway
Peter Todd 2008


Westcombe Park: 465152 to London Cannon Street calling at Westcombe Park, south-east London, on 21st November 2009. This station is on that section of line in south-east London opened on 1st February 1878 that extended the London & Greenwich Railway from Maze Hill to a connection with the North Kent Line west of Charlton but Westcombe Park was not opened until 1st May 1879.

Greenwich and Charlton Line (South Eastern Railway)
David Bosher 2009


Westcombe Park: 465152 to London Cannon Street departing from and 376027 to Dartford arriving at respectively Westcombe Park, in south-east London, on 21st November 2009.

Greenwich and Charlton Line (South Eastern Railway)
David Bosher 2009


Didcot Parkway: EWS liveried 66098 & 66131 at Didcot on 21 November 2009.

Great Western Railway
Peter Todd 2009


Kirkcaldy: 170 401 leaves Kirkcaldy with the hourly Edinburgh to Dundee semi-fast service on Saturday 21 November.  Behind it lies the now indespensible car park, full of commuters' cars during the week, which was built a few years ago on the land once occupied by the  extensive goods yard. The few terminating trains, when needing to clear the main line, use the siding which starts under the rear coach.

Edinburgh and Northern Railway
David Panton 2009


Didcot Railway Centre: 3822 and 3650 stand in the yard at the Great Western Society Depot, Didcot, on 21 November 2009.

Great Western Railway
Peter Todd 2009


Cupar: The newly constructed disabled access to the southbound platform at Cupar seen here on 21 November 2010.

Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Brian Forbes 2010


Cupar: A CrossCountry Voyager calls at Cupar on 21 November 2010. The new zig zag ramp to facilitate disabled access to the southbound platform has now been constructed behind the station building see image [[16815]]

Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Brian Forbes 2010


Preston (Ribble Branch): Rolling easily down the 1:29 gradient from Preston station to the docks is a train of loaded bitumen tankers. This would have been a different story in loose coupled days when wagon brakes would have been firmly pinned down to prevent a runaway. 66150 is just about to enter the short Fishergate tunnel See image [[20278]] where the line levels off before Strand Rd level crossing. The Class 66 will shortly return with the empty tankers for Lindsey near Immingham.

North Union Railway
Mark Bartlett 2011


York: York's station lights do their best to combat the overall gloom during a heavy downpour on the morning of 21 November 2012. Meantime, Deltic 55002 'The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry' prepares to depart on time at 09.41 with streamlined Stanier Pacific no 6229 'Duchess of Hamilton' in tow. The Duchess is en route to Shildon where she will join recently repatriated A4s 60008 'Dwight D Eisenhower' and 60010 'Dominion of Canada'. See image [[40640]]

York and North Midland Railway
Vic Smith 2012


York: 6229 'Duchess of Hamilton' about to leave York for Shildon on 21 November 2012 in pouring rain behind Deltic 55002 'The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry'. See image [[41106]]

York and North Midland Railway
Vic Smith 2012


Harlech: 158818 and 158822 during extended stops at Harlech on 21 November, after bringing students to the local college. The trains are standing below Harlech Castle while awaiting their 08.25 departures to Birmingham International and Pwllheli respectively.

Aberystwyth and Welch Coast Railway
David Pesterfield 2012


Oxheys: 34067 Tangmere travels south along the WCML at Oxheys Loop on 21 November heading for Southall after overhaul at Carnforth. The Battle of Britain Pacific and support coach are crossing the very low Lytham Road bridge in Fulwood.

Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2013


Strand Road Exchange Sidings: Catch them while you can. DBS recently lost the contract for the Lindsey to Preston Dock bitumen service and so the red Super 60s that have been the mainstay for some time will no longer be seen on the Ribble Branch. On 21st November 60044 arrived at Strand Rd to hand over the loaded tanks to RSR Sentinel Energy.

Ribble Branch (North Union Railway and Preston Corporation Joint)
Mark Bartlett 2014


Ashton Swing Bridge (Preston): RSR Sentinel Energy trundles a rake of seven loaded tankers across the Preston Dock swing bridge towards the bitumen terminal. This is not the original Preston Dock loco of the same name but was previously Manchester Ship Canal MSC DH23, purchased by Ribble Rail in 2004. It can easily be recognised from a distance as it faces in the opposite direction to sisters Progress and Enterprise.

Ribble Branch (North Union Railway and Preston Corporation Joint)
Mark Bartlett 2014


Edinburgh Waverley: This welcome sign at Platform 19 acknowledges that railways have a heritage. Nice touch. Can you imagine it showing the bogie of a Pendolino?

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
David Panton 2015


Prestonpans: Diesel on the North Berwick line? A category mistake caused by work on the OLE, I imagine, as there were no electrics running. An afternoon service to Edinburgh calls in low sunlight from the southwest. Notice that a frost is expected.

North British Railway
David Panton 2015


Leyland: A pair of Pacers on a Manchester to Blackpool service call at Leyland on 21 November 2015. Under the next franchise the Pacers are to be withdrawn from Northern services. The successful bidder is expected to be announced within the next two weeks.

North Union Railway
John McIntyre 2015


Glasgow Queen Street High Level: View south over the east side of Queen Street station on 21st November 2015. Centre left can be seen the rear of the B listed Millenium Hotel main building while rising above the trainshed to the right can be seen Consort House which is scheduled for demolition during the station refurbishment. The future of the car park area in the left foreground is unclear at present.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Colin McDonald 2015


Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The Millenium Hotel main building (B listed apart from its conservatory) will be retained in the redevelopment of Queen Street station. The hotel extension which will be demolished can just be seen at the far left of the picture.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Colin McDonald 2015


Glasgow Queen Street High Level: The 1877 bridge which carries Cathedral Street over Queen Street station was recently refurbished and strengthened. The bridge also supports part of the trainshed roof and so is included in the 'A' listing of the trainshed. (Manufacturer's plate inset).

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Colin McDonald 2015


Lake Windermere: Cumbria's answer to Cal-Mac? Whilst the steamers that operate the full length of Windermere were once owned by the Furness Railway the ferry that crosses the narrows just south of Bowness has never had that connection. The current diesel vessel Mallard is cable operated and can carry up to eighteen cars and one hundred passengers. It is seen here loading at Bowness prior to making the ten minute crossing to the west side on 21st November 2015.

Cumbria County Council
Mark Bartlett 2015


Prestonpans: The one on the left, at least, gets me every time. The nearest thing Prestonpans station has to staff.

North British Railway
David Panton 2015


Crossgates: DB Cargo 66096 nears the site of Crossgates Station running light from Mossend to Thornton, purpose unknown, on 21 November.

Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
Bill Roberton 2016


Dalreoch: An Helensburgh to Edinburgh service draws to a stop at an autumnal Dalreoch.

Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Junction Railway
Ewan Crawford 2016


Glasgow Queen Street Low Level: Low level Queen Street during an all too rare quiet period. The disused centre island platform is clearly seen.

Glasgow City and District Railway
Ewan Crawford 2016


Glasgow Central: The Gordon Street frontage of Glasgow Central on the evening of the 21st of November. Above the entrance is the Caledonian's hotel, now the Grand Central Hotel.

Glasgow Central Station (Caledonian Railway)
Ewan Crawford 2016


Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Frontage of Queen Street high level with the ghastly 1970s hotel extension in the centre blocking the view of the station. Work to demolish this and build a new station concourse is due to begin ... any time now ...

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Ewan Crawford 2016


Edinburgh Gateway: The 'coming attractions' blurb on all ScotRail December timetables. The new Edinburgh Gateway station will also mean a significant change to the Fife locals. In order not to introduce another stop, especially when it's so close to South Gyle, all but a very few trains will call alternately at one or the other. This means that South Gyle is demoted to a half-hourly service. I don't suppose there's a feasible alternative to this, but there's no direct walking route between the two stations so some people are going to be inconvenienced! Trains to Aberdeen, Perth and Dundee will call at Gateway, which will have a tram link.

Forth Bridge Connecting Lines (North British Railway)
David Panton 2016


Layton: The rebuilt Crossleys Bridge at Layton station has reopened to road traffic but it will be late March 2018 before trains are regularly passing underneath it again. This photo taken on 21st November 2017 shows the Carleton Crossing distant still standing defiantly, although the signal box was being dismantled. See image [[55384]] showing the old bridge before demolition.

Preston and Wyre Railway, Dock and Harbour
Mark Bartlett 2017


Carleton Crossing: Progress has a sad side. The little gate box at Carleton Crossing is dismantled by contractors on 21st November 2017, ten days after it signalled its last train. It is believed the roof section was removed to allow the small lever frame to be lifted out and the various instruments have been recovered for use elsewhere. Blackpool No.2 was the first box to be demolished and the contractors are expected to move on to Poulton No.3 after this task.

Preston and Wyre Railway, Dock and Harbour
Mark Bartlett 2017


Newark Shipyard: 'Glen Sannox', Calmac's new ferry for the Ardrossan to Brodick route was launched from Ferguson's shipyard at Port Glasgow on a dreich 21st November 2017.

Ferguson Marine Engineering
Malcolm Chattwood 2017


Blackpool North: A new Platform 1/2, taking shape at Blackpool North on 21st November 2017. This looks like it will be capable of taking Pendolinos. Much still to do during the nineteen week closure but clearance work has been rapid in the ten days since closure.

Preston and Wyre Railway, Dock and Harbour
Mark Bartlett 2017


Blackpool North: Rather symbolically, a bulldozer trundles past the site of Blackpool No. 2 on 21st November 2017. The old L&Y box had been swept away a few days previously and trackwork quickly lifted as a new layout is planned. Smaller instruments were removed for further use but the rest of the structure and the lever frame were broken up on site.

Preston and Wyre Railway, Dock and Harbour
Mark Bartlett 2017


Blackpool North: Electrification work at Blackpool North carriage sidings where a new washing plant can be seen on 21st November 2017. A single track is in place on the main line for materials removal and Freightliner 66597 is at the head of a spoil train. The first point has been laid and it looks like the severe speed restriction at the old station throat is going to be eased considerably.

Preston and Wyre Railway, Dock and Harbour
Mark Bartlett 2017


Kirkham and Wesham: The new third platform taking shape at Kirkham on 21st November 2017. This station will reopen at the end of January 2018, but only for trains to Blackpool South until the rest of the Fylde lines electrification project is complete.

Preston and Wyre Railway, Dock and Harbour
Mark Bartlett 2017


Leamington Spa: MPV DR98904, on RHTT duties, arrived from the Birmingham line in Leamington Spa station on 21st November 2018 and paused before retracing its route. Whilst waiting for a clear road it was passed by several trains, including Chiltern 168109, heading for Moor Street, and 153371 arriving from the Coventry and Kenilworth line. Note the splendid lamp on the end of Platform 2.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Leamington Spa: Chiltern connection made. 68011, working from Marylebone to Moor Street, calls at Leamington Spa on 21st November 2018. In bay platform 1, 165022 waits to follow with a stopping service calling at intermediate stations to the same destination.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Leamington Spa: DB 66014 has a green light on the Up Middle road at Leamington Spa with a Trafford Park to Southampton intermodal service on 21st November 2018.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Warwick: A grey train on a grey day. A late running Chiltern service from Marylebone to Birmingham Moor St passes Warwick behind 68015 on 21st November 2018. The train was still accelerating after the Leamington stop and the impressive sounding loco could be heard long before it came into view.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Leamington Spa: 153371, on the shuttle to Coventry via Kenilworth, departs from Platform 4 at Leamington Spa while a Newcastle to Southampton XC 220 calls at Platform 3 on 2st November 2018. A local enthusiast told me that the Kenilworth trains, which only started running earlier this year, are enjoying steadily improving loadings.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Leamington Spa: DB 66192 takes the Down Middle road through Leamington Spa heading north on 21st November 2018. The empty train was returning from Southampton Docks to the Castle Bromwich Jaguar terminal for another load of cars for export.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Dorridge: West Midlands 172334 arrives in Platform 3 at Dorridge on 21st November 2018 with a service from Kidderminster that will terminate here. Once a four track line there are now just two main lines and a loop in the station with the fourth track apparently not used.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Stratford-upon-Avon: The end of the line at Stratford, and has been for many years. This is the view from the Alcester Road bridge, immediately south of the station, in November 2018. The lines through platforms 1 and 2 converge at the buffers, allowing the steam specials that occasionally arrive here to run round.

Stratford-on-Avon Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Leamington Spa: 70010 powers through Leamington Spa hauling classmate 70003 (dead in train) and a Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton intermodal on 21st November 2018. The flats under construction on the right of the picture stand on the site of the LNWR Leamington Avenue station, which closed completely in 1965. After a long period when a bus garage, car dealership and then a car park operated on this site the new building is now under construction and changing the skyline.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Leamington Spa: Freightliner 66572 runs onto the Down Middle line in Leamington with an intermodal service from Southampton to Leeds on 21st November 2018.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Stratford-upon-Avon: Dusk at Stratford-upon-Avon in November 2018 and two Class 172s, still in London Midland green livery, have just arrived from Stourbridge Junction working via Solihull and the Hatton to Wilmcote line.

Stratford-on-Avon Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Leamington Spa: 68008 Avenger, in DRS Blue livery rather than Chiltern Grey, slows for the Leamington stop with a Marylebone to Moor Street service on 21st November 2018. The train is just passing the station garden and GWR running in board.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Stratford-upon-Avon: A nice touch inside the entrance to Stratford station is this roll of honour alongside the ticket office window. It depicts the names of the members of staff of the Stratford-upon-Avon & Midland Junction Railway who served in World War I, their rank and regiment along with drawings of scenes around Stratford.

Stratford-on-Avon Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Leamington Spa: 70003 is 'Dead-in-train' as sister 70010 takes it, and a liner train, from Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton. The train is seen passing through Leamington Spa on the p Middle road on 21st November 2018.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Leamington Spa: Chiltern DVT 82302, on the rear of a Class 68 hauled train to Birmingham Moor St, sits alongside the fine looking Down side buildings at Leamington Spa in November 2018.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Leamington Spa: 68015, propelling a Chiltern main line service from Moor Street to Marylebone, calls at Leamington Spa on 21st November 2018. In bay platform 4 165003 is waiting to depart for Stratford-upon-Avon.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Warwick: Chiltern Trains 68011 propels a Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone service through Warwick on a gloomy 21st November 2018.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Dorridge: Chiltern 168218 runs through Dorridge station heading for Marylebone on 21st November 2018. The original station building is still in use on Platform 1 and the island serves Platforms 2 & 3. This station was known as Knowle and Dorridge until 1974.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Stratford-upon-Avon: West Midlands Trains 172341 pulls away from Platform 1 at Stratford-upon-Avon heading for Stourbridge Junction via Snow Hill on 21st November 2018. This view taken from the new Stratford footbridge, which has lifts permitting level access to Platforms 2 & 3. Passengers on the island platform are waiting for the Chiltern service to Warwick and Leamington Spa.

Stratford-on-Avon Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Stratford-upon-Avon: A modern step-free access bridge has been installed at Stratford since my last visit but thankfully the superb covered GWR footbridge has been retained. A Class 172 is newly arrived in Platform 1 from Stourbridge Junction on 21st November 2018. Passengers were also sheltering on the island platform waiting for a Chiltern service from/to Leamington Spa. See image [[27201]] from the same spot in 2010.

Stratford-on-Avon Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Leamington spa: Compared to the TPE allocated Class 68s (See image [[70350]]) those on Chiltern duties look rather plain and do not carry names. This is 68015, seen at Leamington Spa working from Birmingham Moor Street to Marylebone, on 21st November 2018.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Dorridge: Chiltern 165022, on a stopping service from Leamington Spa to Birmingham Moor Street, pulls away from Dorridge station on 21st November 2018.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Dorridge: 172334 has just terminated in Platform 3 at Dorridge with a service from Kidderminster on 21st November 2018. Earlier photos show a further platform, with full length canopies, at this location but there is not trace of that now although the fourth, presently unused, track is still present.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Warwick: Chiltern DVT 82304 leads a Marylebone service seen passing Warwick at speed on a wet and gloomy 21st November 2018. The loco propelling the MkIII rake on this occasion was 68011.

Birmingham and Oxford Railway
Mark Bartlett 2018


Edinburgh Waverley: Plenty of takers for the 0752 LNER Aberdeen - Kings Cross HST, seen here arriving at Waverley platform 19 on 21 November 2019.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
John Furnevel 2019


Edinburgh Waverley: The view east from Waverley Bridge on 21 November 2019 would suggest the six year old canopy over platforms 8&9 is due a bit of a clean - not to mention some weeding see image [[43131]]. The Pendolino standing at platform 8 is the Virgin Trains 1052 to London Euston. The works in the background are part of the ongoing twenty two million pound refurbishment of Edinburgh's North Bridge, due for completion in 2021.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
John Furnevel 2019


Edinburgh Waverley: The last two passengers about to board the ScotRail 1030 service to Glasgow Queen Street as it prepares for departure from Waverley's platform 12 on 21 November 2019. I remain convinced that the designer of these units was heavily influenced by the superhero character 'Batman' (the Michael Keaton Version).

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
John Furnevel 2019


Harringay: The remaining outer side of the former northbound island platform at Harringay station looking north on 21st November 2019. This station was added to the GNR's London Extension of 1850 on 1st May 1885 as Harringay and was renamed Harringay West on 18th June 1951. The original and much more grand ticket office on the bridge suffered severe fire damage in the early 1960s and by 1969 the remains had been replaced by a small timber shack which is still there today. The station reverted to its original name on 27th May 1971; the inner half of this platform on the down fast track was abolished when the London suburban services were electrified on and from 8th November 1976, leaving the station a shadow of its former self.

London to Peterborough (Great Northern Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Princes Street [Tram]: Edinburgh trams passing on 21 November 2019 alongside the Christmas Market on Princes Street, as Rudolph & Co look on.

Edinburgh Trams
John Furnevel 2019


Princes Street [Tram]: Edinburgh's 2019 Christmas market does its best to brighten up a dull Thursday morning on Princes Street as a tram passes by on its way to the airport.

Edinburgh Trams
John Furnevel 2019


Bowes Park: Bowes Park station, north London, the southernmost on the Hertford North Loop and the only one with an island platform, looking south on 21st November 2019. This is on the original GNR branch from Wood Green (now Alexandra Palace) to Enfield that opened in 1871 but Bowes Park was not added to the line until 1880. It was not until the second decade of the 20th Century that the line was extended from Enfield back to the main line at Stevenage to form the said Loop. In 1932, nearby Bounds Green station on the first stage of what is now the LUL Piccadilly Line's Cockfosters extension from Finsbury Park to Arnos Grove was opened and almost overnight Bowes Park lost three quarters of its traffic to the new 'tube' line. It is still one of the quietest stations on the GNR London Suburban system.
See query 2199

Enfield Branch (Great Northern Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Edinburgh Waverley: The Christmas markets and amusements in central Edinburgh seem to have gradually expanded year on year until they now seem to almost surround the station. On the morning of 21 November 2019 the 0937 ex-Glenrothes with Thornton enters Waverley from The Mound tunnel to the strains of 'Jingle Bell Rock'.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
John Furnevel 2019


Harringay: 700143 passing Harringay station as it heads north down the ECML, on the cold, grey and damp afternoon of Thursday, 21st November 2019. The site of the inner edge of the former northbound island platform on the fast track is on the right. Further right, beyond the fence, the outer edge of this former island platform remains intact served by local stopping trains.

London to Peterborough (Great Northern Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Bowes Park: 717007 to Moorgate arriving at Bowes Park station, north London, on the cold and grey afternoon of 21st November 2019.

Enfield Branch (Great Northern Railway)
David Bosher 2019


Princes Street Gardens Cutting: Trains about to pass alongside the Castle Rock in Princes Street Gardens on 21 November 2019. On the left the 0901 ex-Dunblane is approaching The Mound Tunnel, while on the right the 0959 Edinburgh - Arbroath is heading west towards Haymarket Tunnel. The Caledonian Hotel dominates the background.

Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
John Furnevel 2019


Powderhall: In the fading light of an afternoon on the cusp of winter, the time of year for which the untranslatable Japanese word [get on with it. Ed] The foundations in the foreground are not, alas remnants of Powderhall station but of the now demolished refuse disposal plant, the line's last raison d'etre. The rusting track is being smothered by vegetation. See image [[11948]] from operational plant days.

Easter Road Deviation (North British Railway)
David Panton 2020


Balshaw Lane Junction: Bi-mode training runs between Springs Branch, Wigan and Blackpool North are taking place with the Class 769 multiple units. There are two return paths in the system for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays but sometimes these are canceled. On the afternoon of 21 November 2020 769450 was out on the 5Z52 path and is seen at Balshaw Lane. The schedules suggest that they would start from the depot on diesel and change to OHLE at Wigan North Western but on this run the unit was still on diesel, only indicated by the fact the pantograph was down.

North Union Railway
John McIntyre 2020


Angel: The 1992 entrance on Islington High Street to Angel station on the Northern Line, which replaced the original City & South London Railway entrance of 1901 on City Road which still stands ([[77020]]), seen here on 20th November 2021. The entire station was rebuilt at the same time with escalators replacing lifts and, as a result, Angel now has the longest escalator on the London Underground ([[68747]]), superseding that at Leicester Square.

City and South London Railway
David Bosher 2021


Bay Horse: The empties from the new flow of used ballast to Pinnox Sidings usually return to Carlisle overnight but on Sunday 21st November ran in the afternoon. 56113 has been the sole traction so far and is seen on the embankment at Bay Horse with the thirteen box wagons used for this train. This should have been the second consecutive Colas train going north but the log empties from Chirk were cancelled on this day.

Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2021


Bay Horse: Colas 56113 approaching Bay Horse, with empty box wagons from Pinnox to Carlisle, late on an unusually sunny 21st November 2021.

Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2021


Bay Horse: Driver training for the TPE 802 sets on the WCML continues, including Sunday workings. Different sets are used, and on 21st November 2021 it was 802206, seen here heading for Preston at Bay Horse. The usual diagram is Craigentinny - Preston - Carlisle - Preston - Craigentinny.

Lancaster and Preston Junction Railway
Mark Bartlett 2021


Events


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

YearCompaniesDescription
1889Glasgow Central Station (Caledonian Railway)Glasgow Clyde Place (by Bridge Street) closed.
1899Airdrie Branch (Caledonian Railway)CR_>Airdrie Shed CR burns down.

News


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

YearCompaniesDescription
2006Open to all: CILT Talk Rail Developments in Wales and Scotland by John DaviesThe Scottish Regions^ Annual Rail Event
"Rail Developments in Wales and Scotland" by John Davies
Tuesday 21 November 2006, 1730 for 1800
8th Board Room, Atkins, 200 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G1 4RU.

John Davies was formerly BR Manager for Wales, and his subsequent experience as a consultant makes him uniquely placed to compare developments post-devolution in Wales and Scotland.

Lacking the rail powers now enjoyed by the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly has nevertheless been able to take advantage of the emergence of a Wales and Borders passenger franchise to deliver improvements including a national concessionary fares scheme, reopening of the Barry-Bridgend freight line and now the proposed reopening of the mothballed route to Ebbw Vale.

Wales and Scotland share issues of peripherality, inadequate infrastructure and opportunities for greater rail-bus integration, but in both countries there is greater optimism about rail development than in their common neighbour.

Note: No Booking is required for this event.
2008Scots rail fares set to increase [BBC News Article]Rail passengers in Scotland face a 6% rise in the ticket prices - almost 2% above the current rate of inflation.
2008MSP slams tram-train Interchange delay [Evening News]EDINBURGH West Liberal Democrat MSP Margaret Smith has criticised the Scottish Government over delays in choosing the site for the planned tram-train interchange at Gogar.
2008New phase begins on Airdrie-Bathgate project [Network Rail Article]Work on the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link will gather pace on Monday with the start of a vital phase of activity which will prepare the way for the new line.
2009Rail services affected by heavy rain[BBC News]Rail services have been badly affected by heavy rain and flooding, especially in southern and central Scotland
2010Rail fares up by average 6.2% in new year [BBC News]Rail travellers are facing an average rail fare rise of 6.2% in the new year, according to industry figures. [From Mark Bartlett]
2011Goodnight to the sleeper train [Independent]Shortly after nine this evening, Britain^s most remarkable train will shudder its way out of Euston station in London. It^s a struggle to get moving because the 9.15pm overnight train to Scotland is the UK^s longest, stretching almost a quarter of a mile, and comprised of rolling stock four decades old. And the fear is that the day is not far off when it ceases to leave at all.
2011Trains to take Dounreay nuclear fuel to Sellafield [BBC News]Trains are to start moving tonnes of nuclear fuel from Dounreay in Caithness to Sellafield in Cumbria from next summer. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said the breeder material would be reprocessed for use in generating electricity in the future.
2012Historic locomotive goes on show at Shildon railway museum [Northern Echo]A STEAM engine which spent 13 years on display at a Butlin^s holiday camp has now gone on show at a North-East railway museum. The Duchess of Hamilton arrived at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon today. It has been based at the National Railway Museum, York, since 1987 and is paying its first Shildon visit. The loco was pulled from York to Shildon by an NRM-owned Deltic.
2013Plans to close Folkestone Harbour branch line [ITV News]Network Rail has announced that it proposes to close the Folkestone Harbour branch line and Folkestone Harbour station. The line hasn^t been used by passenger services as part of the national rail network since 2001 and only chartered services have operated in recent years. An assessment by Network Rail concluded it would not be financially appropriate or responsible to continue to maintain it. The recommendation covers the railway line between Folkestone East Junction and Folkestone Harbour and Folkestone Harbour station and that they close at the earliest opportunity. [From Mark Bartlett]
2013Borders railway decision ^insane^, says Institute of Economic Affairs [BBC News]The decision to build the new Borders railway has been described as ^insane^ by the Institute of Economic Affairs. The think tank said the project was ^exceedingly poor value for money^. But the claims were rejected by Transport Minister Keith Brown, who insisted the line would provide a major economic boost to the Borders. The railway link between Edinburgh and Tweedbank in the Borders is due to be completed by 2015 and will cost £294m to construct.
2014Deal reached on Welsh electrification [IRJ]AFTER months of political deadlock, the British government and the Welsh assembly have reached an agreement on funding for the electrification of the South Wales Main Line between Cardiff and Swansea and the Valley Lines suburban network around Cardiff. [From Richard Buckby]
2014Eurostar passengers trapped on trains overnight number more than 1,200 [Guardian]Hundreds of Eurostar passengers were stuck on trains for hours overnight after an overhead cable problem. The power outage, at Lille in northern France, affected nearly 700 passengers travelling on Thursday’s 6.01pm London to Paris Eurostar service as well as around 600 who were on the 6.04pm London to Brussels train.
2015Crossrail train carriage features unveiled [BBC News]Transport for London has released details of the trains which will carry passengers on the £14.8bn Crossrail route, saying they will be ^fully accessible^ with free Wi-Fi access. Services due to start in 2018 will run across London, extending as far west as Reading and as far east as Shenfield in Essex. London Mayor Boris Johnson said the rolling stock ^showcase the best of British design and engineering^. They are built by Bombardier in Derby. Each train will provide space for 1,500 customers in nine carriages. At over 656ft (200m), they are over one and a half times longer than the longest Tube train.
2015First tram-train heads for Sheffield [Railway Gazette]UK: The first of seven Citylink vehicles for the Sheffield – Rotherham tram-train pilot project left Vossloh España’s factory near Valencia on November 18. Expected to leave the port of Santander on November 23, it is due to arrive in Southampton on November 28 before making the final leg of its journey by road, to arrive in Sheffield on December 1.
2016Abellio hits back at ScotRail nationalisation warning [Daily Record]Dutch operator says any operator running the ScotRail franchise - public or private - does so to a ^tightly specified Scottish Government contract^, meaning ^Ministers set fares and essentially determine how many seats are available and therefore how much overcrowding exists across the network^
2017Discount railcard extended for people aged up to 30 [BBC News]If you^re 26 and annoyed about paying the full fare for your train travel, the Budget may offer a reprieve. The government has said people up to 30 years-old will now be able to buy a £30 railcard for discounted train travel. The move - set to be announced in Wednesday^s Budget - would be an extension of the current young person^s railcard for those aged 16 to 25. The so called millennials^ card will be available from spring next year, and offer up to a third off non-peak fares.
2018ScotRail cuts 100 services for training [Scotsman]ScotRail has cancelled around 100 services over the past four days as it struggles to train staff in time to run extra trains next month.
2018Report on Cairngorms funicular railway structural problems delayed [BBC News]A report into a structural problem that has closed the Cairngorms^ funicular railway for more than month has been delayed. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which owns the railway and the CairnGorm Mountain snowsports centre, had expected the report on 3 December. But strong winds and cold temperatures have hampered work to excavate some of the railway^s foundations.
2019ScotRail misses target to stop dumping sewage on tracks [BBC News]The rail operator admits the ^disgusting^ practice will continue after delays to a train refurbishment programme.
2019Condition of Cairngorm railway ^disappointing^ for its age [BBC News]The Cairngorms mountain railway has "widespread minor deficiencies", according to an engineers report.
2019Highland Spring has the bottle to invest in rail freight – John Yellowlees [Scotsman]A recent presentation by Ken Russell of JG ­Russell Transport and Morwen Mands of the Highland Spring Group at Blackford, below the rolling Ochils of Perthshire, slaked the thirst of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport for a model of how to embed sustainability in Scottish business.
2019Less than half of trains to Tweedbank arrive on time [Border Telegraph]Less than half of trains heading to Tweedbank on the Borders Railway were on time last month.