This day in history 21 December
Images
Doncaster: A1 Pacific no 60145 Saint Mungo calls at Doncaster on 21 December 1962 with the 12.39pm Leeds Central - London Kings Cross.
Carlisle: The City of Carlisle welcomes its eponymous Stanier pacific on 21 December 1963. No 46238 is adding to the haze around the north end of platform 1, where it has just arrived with a Christmas parcels extra from the south.
Carlisle: A steamy south end of Carlisle station on 21 December 1963. The Stanier Pacific on the centre road nearest the camera is 46248 City of Leeds, waiting to relieve the incoming locomotive off the 10.10am Edinburgh Princes Street - Birmingham New Street.
Tebay: A diesel-hauled northbound freight heads uphill from Tebay with Standard Class 4 75026 as banker. The photograph was taken on a very wet December morning during the final couple of weeks of steam banking on Shap.
Tebay: Rain, steam, but not a great deal of speed, if one may paraphrase J M W Turner. Britannia 70012 'John of Gaunt' will bring its freight to a halt just beyond Tebay station, to take on a banker. The photograph was taken on a dark, wet December morning in the final month of BR steam over Shap.
Tebay: A rainy December day during the final couple of weeks of BR steam over Shap. Britannia 70012 'John of Gaunt' was pictured getting underway from Tebay after taking on a banker for the climb to Shap summit.
Tebay: Standard Class 4 4-6-0 75030 added plenty of water vapour to the already rain-soaked surroundings, moving off through Tebay station with a very short northbound ballast train. The photograph was taken during the final couple of weeks of BR steam over Shap.
Hawick [2nd]: 'Peak' no D192 brings the 09.30 Edinburgh Waverley - Carlisle into Hawick on 21 December 1968. (This train also carried through coaches for St Pancras). Meantime D5069 prepares to leave for the north with the 09.20 Carlisle - Edinburgh service.
Stainton Junction: D192 with train 1S65 the 3.38pm from Carlisle (8.50am ex-St Pancras) illuminated by a weak winter sun on 21 December 1968. The train has just completed the climb north from Stainton Junction to cross the bridge over the WCML at the south end of Kingmoor yard on its way to Edinburgh via the Waverley route.
Carlisle: D5315 stands at bay platform 7 of Carlisle station on a particularly murky 21 December 1968 with the 1pm train to Edinburgh via the Waverley route.
Hawick [2nd]: D5069 with the 09.20 Carlisle - Edinburgh train stands at Hawick on 21 December 1968.
Carlisle: Under a weak December sun, just a few days before Christmas 1968, Haymarket shed's BRCW Type 2 no D5315 pulls away from Carlisle platform 7 with the 1pm service to Edinburgh via Hawick.
Laira: Newly delivered Skippers at Laira Depot, Plymouth, in December 1985, prior to entering service.
Saltash: Hastings DEMU set 1032 with the Hertfordshire Rail Tours special 1Z20 The Gunnislake Goliath during a photostop at Saltash station on 21 December 1985.
Plymouth: Down a bit... The headboard of the Gunnislake Goliath is adjusted at Plymouth station on 21 December 1985. The special, organised by Hertfordshire Railtours, ran from London and visited Plymstock, Saltash and the Gunnislake branch. The tour was handled throughout by DEMU 1032.
Saltash: The Gunnislake Goliath during a photostop at Saltash station on 21 December 1985. The Hertfordshire Rail Tours special ran from Waterloo and was handled throughout by Hastings DEMU set 1032.
Somerleyton: DMU leaving Somerleyton on the Lowestoft branch in December 1987.
Niddrie West Junction: Ah yes, I remember now, I got rather wet. A class 66 takes a freight past Niddrie West Junction during a freak rainstorm in December 2002 which lasted 8 minutes - exactly how long I stood on the bridge.
Pinkhill: Standing between the platforms at Pinkhill, Edinburgh, seen in December 2004. View west towards the former Corstorphine terminus along what is now a walkway/cycle path. See image [[34373]]
Pinkhill: The old booking office at Pinkhill station in December 2004 looking north east towards Corstorphine Road. The station closed along with the branch in 1967. See image [[34358]]
Pinkhill: The former Pinkhill station on a frosty December morning in 2004 looking west towards Corstorphine.
Oxford: 66560 passes through southbound light engine.
Oxford: 66529 awaits to depart south with a welded rail train
Reading: 66159 waiting to head east with a stone-train as fog engulfs the surrounding buildings.
Alexandra Palace: Exterior of Alexandra Palace station in north London, on the GNR main line to and from London King's Cross, on 21st December 2009. This is not to be confused with the original Alexandra Palace station which was right up against the palace walls and closed in 1954. This present station was opened on the GNR main line in 1859 as Wood Green and in 1871 became the junction for the branch to Enfield which was incorporated into the Hertford North Loop in the first part of the 20th Century. For many years, this station was known as Wood Green (Alexandra Park) but the suffix was gradually dropped. The renaming to Alexandra Palace took place in 1982, the ceremony being performed by the late actress and t.v. star Diana Dors. All the Victorian platform buildings have been replaced but it was felt that this original GNR entrance building blended in well with the local neighbourhood and so it escaped the bulldozers.
Palace Gates Wood Green: Track-bed of abandoned Palace Gates branch in north London, closed to passengers on 7th January 1963 and to freight on 5th October 1964, looking towards the demolished bridge over Park Avenue south-east of the site of the demolished Palace Gates (Wood Green) station, now occupied by a housing estate, on a snowy 21st December 2009. Much of this line has now been demolished completely, this short embankment being one of its few remaining memorials. Ironically, if Crossrail 2 ever gets built, a branch of this from Seven Sisters to New Southgate will, more or less, follow the route of this old line but presumably below ground. However, with the continued delays to Crossrail 1, don't hold your breath for Crossrail 2 to happen anytime soon.
Wakefield Westgate: CrossCountry HST power car no 43366 on the rear of an early afternoon working held at signals alongside platform 2 at Wakefield Westgate on 21 December whilst working ECS to Leeds.
Farington Junction: The scene looking south from Farington Junction towards Leyland at around 9 pm on 21 December 2011 with a serious fire in the business park to the west of the railway. The WCML was completely closed all evening due to the risk posed from a nearby gas main and a large number of exploding beer barrels
Nuneaton: A class 350 emu forms the 15.55 to Crewe at Nuneaton platform 2 on Friday 21st December. The cutaway section of platform 3 (left) was damaged in the derailment of the Glasgow Sleeper in June 1975 and has yet to be fully repaired!
Atherstone: Since the footbridge has been demolished, this rather damp underpass is the only legal way to change platforms at Atherstone. No wonder Imperial Stormtroopers carry umbrellas hereabouts see image [[41548]]
Rugby: This class 350 for Euston looks like it used to see image [[36505, looking South]], but gets there sooner. London Midland has upgraded these sets for 110 mph running, cutting a minute from the Rugby to Milton Keynes time; but the crucial factor for this train is cutting 14 minutes out of the dwell time at Rugby. Other LM services now cut out the Northampton loop, so are only 6 minutes slower than a Pendolino from Nuneaton to Milton Keynes.
Cullen Seafield Street Viaduct: A GNSR Christmas steam special crossing Seafield Steet viaduct, Cullen, on 21 December 2012.
Atherstone: Equal access for all - even Imperial Stormtroopers carrying pink umbrellas and wearing piebald wellies can buy tickets at Atherstone station.
Huyton: Entrance to Huyton station, Merseyside, on 21 December 2014. This busy station serves as an interchange between the Liverpool - Wigan line and the northern route between Liverpool and Manchester. The two diverge just to the east of the station at Huyton Junction.
Gorebridge: Sunday morning scene at Gorebridge, looking south on 21 December 2014, with work well advanced on the station car park. Most activities are now on hold for the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
Partick Central: View westwards along the River Kelvin over the site of Partick Central on a miserable Sunday 21 December 2014. The new flats are now well advanced in what has been imaginatively named 'West Village'.
Gorebridge: A signal now in position to the north of Gorebridge station on 21 December 2014.
Leyland: A Blackpool to Manchester service calls at Leyland in the late afternoon of 21 December 2015. Of note on the platforms is the appearance of equipment huts on each platform for the lifts that are being installed along with new footbridge. All three lift towers have started to be constructed using a series of prefabricated concrete sections, the remainder of them remain in the station car park. The bridges and steps are scheduled to be craned in on Christmas and Boxing days whilst the lines are closed.
Hest Bank: 90039, in faded EWS livery, heads the Christmas extra postal south through Hest bank on 211215. This year these trains have made daily return trips between the Shieldmuir and Warrington mail terminals on December weekdays.
Bolton Abbey: A line of diesel locos and an 0-6-0T steam loco seen stored at Bolton Abbey station in late December 2015. Nearest loco is the rather shabby looking original style liveried Brush Type 4 D1524, followed by a pair of Brush Type 2s with D5600 in original style livery and 31119 in rail blue livery. The steam loco could not be identified on this visit.
Bolton Abbey: View west through Bolton Abbey station showing the front wall in place for a second platform. Brush type 4 D1524 is stored in the sidings to the left. The signal box nearest is the former Sleights East Siding Box from Pinxton, Derbyshire, which is to be used as a demonstration box. At the far end of the station is the former Guiseley Station signal box, which required a narrower lower section in order to enable it to fit between running lines and sidings at the north end of that station.
Bermuda Park: Another planned opening date, of 21st December 2015, has passed by Bermuda Park station and its counterpart at Ricoh Arena. The problems with the signal on the platform at Ricoh are well documented, but a new dispute has arisen at Bermuda. As shown, there are currently only ten parking spaces, in all of which your car is in danger of being struck by passing HGV's. The railway wants to take over the car park of a former distribution centre, but the local MP wants the distribution centre re-opened to provide 'local jobs for local people'. You can see his point - especially if the workers arrive by train! View looks North towards Nuneaton station.
Baillieston: Network Rail has announced the commencement of works to replace the overbridge at Baillieston station. The £4M project will start on 4th September 2017 and will take 12 months to complete see image [[57573]].
Baillieston: Test borings have been carried out near Baillieston Station with a view to replacing the ageing Muirhead Road overbridge, which has had a weight restriction and traffic lights reducing it to a single carriageway for a number of years. An unworked seam of coal has been discovered under the east side of the bridge – reassuring as the area is riddled with old mine workings.
Baillieston: The current overbridge carrying Muirhead Road over the recently electrified R & C at Baillieston. Test borings have been carried out in preparation for a planned replacement.
Brock: The third and final week of the extra 2016 Christmas Mail services saw the Class 90 hauled Cargowaggons continue to run between Shieldmuir and Warrington mail depots. DBS 90029 approaches Brock with the fifteen wagon train on 21st December.
Perth South Shed: The interior of 63A. One of my projects is to identify the function of each room. I believe this to be the fitters shop, the bricked up door once leading to the heavy repair shop.
Edinburgh Waverley: The Virgin Trains East Coast 0755 ex-Inverness Highland Chieftain running into platform 2 at Waverley on 21 December 2017. Standing alongside at the east end of platform 1 is the 1142 ScotRail service to North Berwick.
Edinburgh Waverley: View east from Waverley Bridge over the sub platforms on 21 December 2017. Recently arrived at platform 9 is the Virgin Trains East Coast 0645 ex-Kings Cross. Note the way train and platform start to curve to the right to avoid the pier supporting the North Bridge.
Edinburgh Waverley: A 158 leaves Waverley platform 17 on 21st December 2017 with the 1150 to Glenrothes with Thornton. In the background at platform 18 is another 158 with the 1210 scheduled departure to the same destination.
Edinburgh Waverley: 'I'm telling you there used to be an escalator right there...' The lady arriving off a train at Waverley's recently extended platform 12 is correct of course, as evidenced by the blanked off area on the walkway top right with platform directions above it. Photograph taken looking north from platform 10 on 21 December 2017. See image [[50992]]
Edinburgh Waverley: Unusual view looking west between the 'sub' platforms and the south wall at Waverley on 21 December 2017, showing ScotRail 334025 leaving platform 9 (W) with the 1107 service to Mingavie. Photographed through a glass panel at the base of the passenger access stairway serving platform 10.
Edinburgh Waverley: Late morning scene at the west end of Waverley on 21 December 2017. Pulling out of platform 14 is ScotRail 170395 with a Fife Circle train. In the background a 380 EMU waits at 13 with a service for Ayr via Glasgow Central, while the newly extended platform 12 is occupied by a class 334, recently arrived from Milngavie.
Edinburgh Waverley: The Waverley 'sub' island platforms (8 & 9) seen looking east through a glass panel from the station walkway on 21 December 2017. Standing at platform 9 (W) is ScotRail EMU 334025 awaiting its departure time with the 1107 to Milngavie. The covered stairway on the left, built onto the station's south wall, was constructed in 2006 to provide access to the new through platform 10, which runs along the other side of the wall see image [[13170]]. Note how the line and platform are forced to curve round the massive pier supporting the city's North Bridge, fortuitously creating enough space to accommodate the new platform 10 stairway and lift.
Edinburgh Waverley: While some of the hoardings and barriers are still in place, work on the recently extended bay platform 12 at Waverley's west end is vitually complete. Photograph taken on 21 December 2017 with a 158 at the buffer stops.
St Rollox Works: The three daughters of James Kennedy with the Lord Provost during the unveiling of a plaque to his memory. James Kennedy died during a robbery at the St Rollox Works in Glasgow on the 21st of December 1973.
St Rollox Works: The text of a plaque unveiled to the memory of James Kennedy.
James Stirrat Topping Kennedy GC (11th September 1930 - 21st December 1973)
James Kennedy was a security guard at British Rail's Springburn Works and was assaulted, then shot and killed, whilst repeatedly attempting to foil an armed robbery in the early hours of 21st Devember 1973. He was posthumously awarded the George Cross for his courage and sacrifice.
Edinburgh Waverley: With the extended platform 12 now operational, attention turns to platforms 5 and 6, which are due to be ready in July 2018. View north over the construction site from the cross-station walkway on 21 December 2017. For the same view two and a half months earlier see image [[61228]].
Edinburgh Waverley: A quiet corner of Waverley station on 21 December 2017. View is south past the attractively clad entrance to the ops depot towards platform 4, where the 1124 service to Tweedbank is at the platform. Spot the individual trying to hide somewhere in the picture.
Edinburgh Waverley: The north east corner of Waverley on 21 December 2017 looking along Calton Road towards the tunnels, with the overbridge carrying the ECML in the background. On the right the 1142 ScotRail service to North Berwick is at platform 1.
Edinburgh Waverley: The 0956 ex-Helensburgh Central runs past the old west box and on towards Waverley's platform 9 on 21 December 2017. In the background (left to right) are the 1133 to Ayr via Carstairs and Glasgow, the 1150 to Helensburgh Central and the terminated 0615 from London Kings Cross.
Eastleigh: Freightliner 66534, northbound at 1330hrs, passes through Eastleigh with containers from Southampton on 21st December 2018.
Eastleigh: South Western Railway 444039, bound for Poole, crosses to the platform line at Eastleigh on 21st Decembr 2018.
Eastleigh: Freightliner 70015, heading southbound to Southampton, runs through the platforms at Eastleigh on 21st December 2018.
West Ham (High Level): 357040, with an evening peak hours C2C service from Fenchurch Street to Laindon, Essex, calling at West Ham on 15th September 2016. The train will head away from the camera when it departs. On the left is the island platform served by LUL District and Hammersmith & City Line trains. The low level platforms for DLR and LUL Jubilee Line trains are at right angles below.
Eastleigh: A trip to busy Eastleigh, just to avoid the Christmas hassle, produced a number of sightings, including DB 66174 with GBRf 66772 & 66773 in the background. 21st December 2018.
Eastleigh: A close-up of the cab of Freightliner 70020, southbound to Southampton, paused at Eastleigh on 21st December 2018.
Eastleigh: Close up of South Western Railway 450083, and a classmate, still in Stagecoach colours on 21st December 2018. The pair of EMUs were bound for Poole at Eastleigh.
Pages Park: Steam, electric, and diesel can be seen in this view of the current engine shed at Pages Park. The diesel is hauling a Santa Special on the right; the electric is the grey, low profile, battery loco in front of 'Doll' (centre). This railway was built using surplus materials from WW1 battlefield railways; but the rails have been upgraded from 20 lbs/yard to 45 to cope with modern passenger traffic standards. People are heavier than sand, apparently. Far be it from me to mention pies.
Pages Park: This looks like a junction, but the buffer stop in the distance on the right gives the game away - that line is just a headshunt for Pages Park shed, which is out of view to the left (and is due to be replaced by a new shed elsewhere in the next few years). Diesel engine 'Beaudesert' is in charge of the 2pm Santa Special train on the left.
Pages Park: Got myself a crying, talking, steaming, hauling LIVING DOLL - though it is fair to assume that LBNGR Andrew Barclay No.1641, an 0-6-0T from 1919, is not what Cliff had in mind.
Pages Park: If you are struggling to lose weight, you will probably be reassured by the strength of the recycled materials used to construct this bench; which offers a good view of comings and goings at Pages Park shed and station on the LBNGR.
Pages Park: Here's looking at you, kid - 'Doll' seen through cab of 'Pedemoura' outside the shed at Pages Park station in December 2019.
Pages Park: This modern station at Pages Park is three years old, and cost £400,000. It is the main passenger station for the Leighton Buzzard railway, which plans to open an extension towards the A5 by 2021.
Pages Park: 'Beaudesert' is a diesel named after a local school and built to LBNGR specifications. It has a rather functional appearance.
Oxford: Chiltern Railways 165033, just arrived in the bay platform at Oxford from London Marylebone, on 21st December 2021.
Lancaster: Northern Belle excursions run to unusual 'destinations'. 57601 heads a Christmas Lunch train from Huddersfield and Manchester to Harrisons Sidings at Shap (for a 20 minute pause) on 21 December 2021. The train is seen slowing at platform 3 for a crew change. On the left a southbound Avanti service pulls into platform 4. The return train reached Huddersfield via the Copy Pit route.
Didcot Parkway: Didcot, GBRF 66758 'The Pavior', westbound through Didcot at 1353hrs on 21st December 2021, heading for Wentloog in South Wales.
Morecambe: A Lancaster to Morecambe shuttle service with 156496 waits at Morecambe before setting off again back to Lancaster. The view is west and it is a grey day on the shortest (daylight) day of the year.
Oxford: Two contrasting front ends at Oxford on 21st December 2021 with Chiltern Railways 168109 and X-Country 221136.
Oxford: DBC 66176 northbound through Oxford at 1325hrs on 21st December 2021, with car empties from Southampton Docks to Jaguar Halewood Rep. No 666T.
Preston: DRS 68017 passes Preston on a light engine move from Crewe to Carlisle on 21 December 2021.
Events
Events from the chronology which occured on this day. This generally lists events before 1995, the creation of the website.
| Year | Companies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1814 | Lambton Waggonway | Locomotive by Phineas Crowther of Newcastle's Ouseburn Foundry tried on line which ran from Fencehouses to the River Wear at Penshaw. Locomotive designed by William Chapman and Edward Chapman. |
| 1847 | Berks and Hants Railway | Reading to Hungerford opened. Stations on this section: Theale, Aldermaston, Midgham, Thatcham, Newbury Racecourse, Newbury, Kintbury and Hungerford. |
| 1850 | Blaina Branch (Monmouthshire Canal Tramway) | Abertillery opened. |
| 1850 | Beaufort Ironworks Tramway | Aberbeeg opened |
| 1850 | Monmouthshire Canal Tramway | Abercarn opened |
| 1850 | Monmouthshire Canal Tramway | Terminus opened at Newport Courtybella. |
| 1874 | Pontypool, Caerleon and Newport Railway | Opened from Pontypool North Junction to Panteg Junction avoiding Coedygric Sidings. Passenger train start to use the line and run to Newport station on the South Wales Railway. |
| 1903 | Caledonian Railway | Edinburgh Princes Street Station Hotel opened. |
| 1941 | West Highland Railway | New signal box and longer loop opened at Helensburgh Upper to help with Faslane Military Port traffic. |
| 1967 | Halls Tramway | Penar Junction to Hall^s Road Junction closed. |
| 1979 | Halls Tramway | Last train between Oakdale and Markham Colliery. |
| 1988 | Lockerbie Disaster | Pan Am flight 103 is blown up by a terrorist bomb and crashes on Lockerbie killing both passengers and villagers. |
| 1998 | Caledonian Railway | Derailment at Beattock. |
| 1998 | Ayr and Dalmellington Railway | Derailment at Falkland Yard. |
| 2001 | Bristol and Portishead Pier and Railway | Formally re-opened to Portbury for imported coal and other traffic. |
| 2005 | West Highland Railway | English, Welsh and Scottish Railway restarts carrying ingots south from the Lochaber Smelter. (These had been swapped from rail to road by Freightliner who lost the traffic.) |
| 2017 | Rosyth Dockyard | Prince of Wales moved out of dry dock. |
News
These are old news items which which occured on this day. This generally lists events after 1995, the creation of the website.
| Year | Companies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Revised timetable for Aberdeen services on January 2nd [Network Rail Article] | |
| 2009 | Union demands guards on rail link [BBC News Article] | RMT union is to meet the transport minister to discuss staffing levels on Airdrie-Bathgate rail link. |
| 2010 | Chaos on ECML after power failure [BBC News] | Thousands of rail Passengers are being urged to re-schedule their journeys after a power failure caused havoc on the East Coast mainline. |
| 2011 | Scottish sleeper service funds announced [BBC News] | The Scottish government has committed £50m in funding to secure cross-border sleeper train services. This matches £50m in UK government investment detailed in Chancellor George Osborne^s Autumn Statement. Mr Osborne made the funds available on the condition Holyrood ministers agreed to co-fund an improvement programme. The money will be used to replace the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper fleet, which is coming to the end of its life, and improve on-train facilities. |
| 2012 | Christmas exodus gets off to disastrous start with rail delays [Telegraph] | Vast numbers of Britons are taking a two-week festive break this Christmas, with the exodus already well under way, according to transport experts. But the fire in an equipment room at Acton station in west London has led to many services being cancelled to Paddington station, forcing travellers to find alternative routes on one of the busiest days of the year. [From Mark Bartlett] |
| 2013 | Leipzig^s city tunnel - late but loved [BBC] | Despite being well over budget and years behind schedule, the opening of Leipzig City Tunnel is being celebrated by locals. But has the German reputation for efficiency and punctuality taken a dent? [From Richard Buckby] |
| 2013 | Electrification - Driving innovation and collaboration [The Rail Engineer] | The railways of Great Britain are on the cusp of change. The next decade will see the introduction of a fleet of new high speed trains delivered by the Inter City Express programme, new signalling and control technologies revolutionising train control and traffic management, and a new telecommunications network. In addition to these three major changes, the industry is embarking on the largest programme of electrification ever undertaken in the UK to provide faster, greener, cleaner and more reliable services for passengers and freight companies. |
| 2015 | Train delay refunds: Which? files super-complaint [BBC News] | Train companies are making it too difficult for delayed rail passengers to receive compensation, consumer group Which? has argued. It is making a so-called super-complaint to the railway regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). Which? said that as many as 47 million journeys a year end in cancellation or delay, and it should be easier for passengers to get their money back. The ORR said it was already working to improve the situation. |
| 2015 | Harry Potter turns Scots train route into success [Scotsman] | The railway line made famous by the Harry Potter films and voted the world’s most scenic train journey is ScotRail’s fastest growing route, official figures reveal. A doubling of trains on the West Highland line between Glasgow, Oban, Fort William and Mallaig helped boost its passenger numbers by nearly 14 per cent to 454,000 in 2014-15. |
| 2015 | ScotRail announce £475m investment in fleet [Scotsman] | A £475 million ScotRail programme to improve train capacity, accessibility and wifi has been announced. The seven-year project will see 75% of trains refurbished or replaced and a number of high-speed trains will also be introduced. |
| 2016 | Call for views over Scotland^s railway police merger plan [BBC News] | MSPs want to hear what people think about plans to merge the British Transport Police (BTP) north of the border with Police Scotland. Members of the Holyrood^s justice committee are scrutinising the Railway Police (Scotland) Bill following concerns about the proposed change. They have already heard from police bosses who said a merger would be ^complicated but not insurmountable^. It has been a long held aim of the government to see through the change. The legislation would give power over railway policing to Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) watchdog. Want to comment? Send an email to justicecommittee@parliament.scot by Tuesday, 31 January British Transport Police^s deputy chief constable, Adrian Hancock, told the justice committee last month that the plans could create an unnecessary ^border^ for officers. MSPs also heard concerns that officers would leave due to uncertainty over terms and conditions and pensions. |
| 2017 | Edinburgh Waverley opens extended platform as electrification prep continues [RTM] | Preparation works for the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) will continue over the Christmas period with track improvements through Edinburgh Waverley station and Princes Street Gardens. Work on the extension of Waverleys platform 12 was completed this weekend, making it capable of accommodating eight-car Class 385 electric trains being introduced by ScotRail next year. |
| 2017 | Honour for hero rail worker shot dead by armed robbers [BBC News] | A heroic railway worker who died trying to stop armed robbers stealing the works payroll days before Christmas has been honoured with a memorial plaque. James Kennedy, 43, was gunned down at the former St Rollox Railway Engineering Works in Glasgow on 21 December 1973. |
| 2018 | A train which ran out of fuel caps ScotRail’s passenger woes - Alastair Dalton [Scotsman] | Things must be bad at ScotRail when it’s what people want to talk about when they meet me for the first time. |
| 2018 | ^More here than just a train^ [BBC News] | How businesses in and around Aviemore are coping with the closure of the Cairngorms funicular railway. |
| 2018 | Northern Rail: The most cancelled rail line in the UK? [BBC News] | Is the Ormskirk to Preston line the worst railway in the UK? Since the timetable changes in May, more than 2,000 services have been cancelled between the two towns in north west England, a figure that rises every day. In exclusive data analysed for the BBC, 5,712 trains were timetabled to run during the six-and-a-half-month period. But up until Saturday 15 December, only 3,701 operated. That meant a third of services simply vanished. |
| 2019 | Obituary: Ian McCrorie, Inspirational teacher, accomplished musician and Clyde Steamer enthusiast [Scotsman] | Ian McCrorie, teacher, chorus master and Clyde maritime historian. Born: 6 May, 1941 in Greenock. Died: 5 December, 2019 aged 78 |
| 2019 | Railway station upgrades at Broughty Ferry will encourage people to Dundee [Evening Telegraph] | Major upgrades to a suburban railway station will bring an economic boost to the area according to a city councillor. |
