Images from this day in history
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Stirling Forth Viaduct: Type 2s 5338 + 5331 heading an Edinburgh - Inverness train photographed crossing the Forth shortly after leaving Stirling station in March 1970. John Furnevel [18/03/1970] |
Oxton: The former station building and platform at Oxton, photographed during a visit on 18 March 1987. Bill Roberton [18/03/1987] |
Wakefield Kirkgate: 44767 George Stephenson with The Norseman special, westbound through Wakefield Kirkgate on 18 March 1995. David Pesterfield [18/03/1995] |
Abreiro: Before continuing from Abreiro the railbus driver connects a telephone handset to the lineside pole to confirm with control he has cleared the previous section and to obtain permission to proceed towards Tua. Mark Bartlett [18/03/2008] |
Tua: The railbus waits to return to Mirandela having connected with the main line trains on the other side of the island platform. The metre gauge freight trains no longer run and the loco hauled stock seen in the background is only used for occasional special trains but the railbuses have kept the line alive and provide panoramic views of the River Tua all the way to Mirandela. Mark Bartlett [18/03/2008] |
Tua: Drivers eye view as the railbus from Mirandela descends towards Tua station to connect with the main line trains that will cross here. The broad gauge Douro Valley line from Porto can be seen on the right. Mark Bartlett [18/03/2008] |
Tua: Drivers eye view of the last stretch of the Tua Gorge as the twice daily metre gauge railbus from Mirandela approaches the Douro Valley. The spectacular journey from Mirandela, a must do for anyone in the area, takes just under 2 hours. A return ticket price of just under 9 Euros is excellent value. Mark Bartlett [18/03/2008] |
Bamber Bridge: 158753 rushes west through Bamber Bridge station towards Preston on 18 March 2008 as restoration work continues on the former station building. John McIntyre [18/03/2008] |
Abreiro: Railbus drivers view of the approach to Abreiro in the Tua gorge. Abreiro is about half way along the two hour journey from Mirandela to Tua and the point where the valley becomes steep sided and the ride on this metre gauge line spectacular. Mark Bartlett [18/03/2008] |
Bamber Bridge: View west from the platform at Bamber Bridge station towards the former Bamber Bridge Junction on 18 March 2008 as 158 758 approaches on a Blackpool North - York service. The junction once provided a direct route to the East Lancs side of Preston station. John McIntyre [18/03/2008] |
Bamber Bridge: The level crossing and signal box at Bamber Bridge looking East along the platforms on 18 March 2008. Although the signals in the area are now controlled from Preston Signalling Centre, the box remains here to operate the busy level crossing. John McIntyre [18/03/2008] |
Lostock Hall: 150 269 arrives at Lostock Hall on 18 March with a Colne - Blackpool South service. The site of Lostock Hall shed is on the right. John McIntyre [18/03/2008] |
Lostock Hall: View west from Watkin Lane Road Bridge towards Farington Curve Junction and the West Coast Main Line on 18 March 2008. On the left is the abandoned site of Lostock Hall shed, one of the last depots to house steam locomotives in 1968. John McIntyre [18/03/2008] |
Grimsargh: Standing on the north side of Grimsargh on 18 March looking along the trackbed of the Preston and Longridge Railway towards Longridge itself. John McIntyre [18/03/2008] |
Grimsargh: View north over the site of the former level crossing at Grimsargh on 18 March. The line would have run through the bungalow now built on the far side of the road. Note the sign on the fence (left) which provides one of the few remaining clues that a railway once passed through here. John McIntyre [18/03/2008] |
Longridge (Lancs): The station building at Longridge with a short length of platform canopy still in place on 18 March 2008. The station closed to passengers in June 1930 and is now used by Longridge Town Council and St Johns Ambulance Service. John McIntyre [18/03/2008] |
Longridge (Lancs): The former passenger terminus of the Preston and Longridge Railway, looking back towards Preston, with Longridge station building located behind the Towneley Arms Hotel and the Town War Memorial now standing on the former trackbed. A level crossing was also located here carrying a mineral line beyond the station and on to Tootle Heights Quarry. On the far side of the station building a block of flats has now been built across the trackbed. Photographed on 18 March 2008. John McIntyre [18/03/2008] |
Slateford Junction: After leaving the sub at Craiglockhart Jct on 18 March, DRS 66423 comes off the spur to join the Edinburgh - Carstairs line at Slateford Jct and is about to run through the station with a train of EWS ballast trucks. Bill Roberton [18/03/2008] |
Longridge (Lancs): Western Portal of Tootle Heights tunnel, beyond Longridge station, looking towards the quarry on 18 March 2008. John McIntyre [18/03/2008] |
Edinburgh Waverley: West end of Waverley seen from the National Galleries on 18 March 2008 with refurbished canopies now in place over platforms 13 - 19 and a leftover from the Hogmanay street party in the tree. F Furnevel [18/03/2008] |
Torrisholme East Junction: Not the same place without a 9F. Until 1967 a triangle at Torrisholme allowed freight trains from Heysham to run through to Lancaster and beyond without the reversal at Morecambe that later became necessary. The most famous trains were the oil tanks for Yorkshire from Heysham terminal, hauled by BR 9F 2-10-0s and often piloted by Class 25 diesels. This once electrified line is now a cycle track and this view of Torrisholme East Junction looks towards Morecambe with the curve to the West Junction passing through the trees on the left and then continuing as another cycle track as far as the surviving Heysham line. Map Ref SD 444636 Mark Bartlett [18/03/2009] |
Birch Coppice: Not as it seems, part 2 - at first glance, one would not appear to be near a major road junction, nor to any railways past or present. But the suspiciously flat-topped hill in the left background is the ^landscaped^ waste heaps of Birch Coppice colliery, and the frame of a container lift in the freight terminal is visible to the right. Out of sight are the M42 (left) and the A5 (left to right) - and finally, the ^farm road^ on which we are walking is the former Birch Coppice #4 pit line (see images 25983 and 25985). Ken Strachan [18/03/2009] |
Paisley Gilmour Street: 37069 at Paisley Gilmour Street with the overhead line test coach Mentor on 18th March Graham Morgan [18/03/2009] |
Birch Coppice: Not as it seems, part 1 - a tall and secure gate and fence like this are not what the dedicated railway walker wants to see - in this case, on Birch Coppice #4 pit line (see images 25983 and 25985). However, the former ^main line^ from the MR at Kingsbury to Baxterley passes overhead. By scrambling up the embankment and down again, one can rejoin the trackbed on the far side of the fence. Our exploration of this line was fitted in after buying a plumbing fitting in the industrial estate adjacent to the freight terminal built on the site of Birch Coppice (#1) pit. We were quizzed by Security, but allowed to continue! Ken Strachan [18/03/2009] |
Birch Coppice: I thought the practice of stabling engines at rural locations overnight faded out with branch lines, but look what I found in March 2009 - on a branch line! Nine months later, Fastline Freight have lost this contract, and the Volkswagen Group car parts warehouse in the background is no longer supplied by rail. But on a recent visit, I found this terminal busier than ever. Two FL 66^s with headlights on looked great through the viewfinder, but awful on screen. Must go back! Ken Strachan [18/03/2009] |
Paisley Gilmour Street: 37612 passes through Paisley Gilmour Street at the rear the overhead line test coach Mentor on 18th March Graham Morgan [18/03/2009] |
Camden: A Euston - Watford local service ascends Camden bank on a sunny 18th March 2009. Michael Gibb [18/03/2009] |
Bangour Junction: With redoubling and bridge alterations complete, a Bathgate - Waverley service approaches the site of Bangour Jct on 18 March 2009. Electrification is due to arrive soon, marking an end to regular diesel traffic on the line. James Young [18/03/2009] |
Stewarton: The new rail bridge carrying the Glasgow - Kilmarnock line over the A735 road near Stewarton now in position, photographed on 18 March 2009. Clean up activity and structural work continues in the vicinity following the oil train derailment and ensuing major fire that occurred here in late January. Ken Browne [18/03/2009] |