A few memories of the regular loco changes that used to take place at Mitre Bridge Junction near Willesden. The few inter-regional trains then routed via the West London Line were usually booked to change traction from AC to diesel haulage at Mitre Bridge. The Junction was controlled by a former LNWR signal box and interestingly retained semaphores 'under the wires'. The disel loco (usually a class 47 or 33) would wait in the down siding for the train to arrive. The AC loco would detach and draw forward over the level crossing and back towards the WCML at Willesden. In the meantime the disel loco would run forward and shunt back onto the stock and depart for the South Coast. In 1990 the box closed and the area was resignalled with in time the AC electrification was extended to North Pole Junction. Such loco changes are of course a thing of the past (except maybe for certain freight trains) but the EMU's and channel freight trains that now ply the West London Line still change from DC to AC or vice versa just down the line at North Pole Junction.

A few Deltics! Thanks to Mick Barstow for identifying a couple of these shots!

Many thanks to Trevor Scott for the info on these pictures:
They ar not actually taken at Tyne Dock but are on the other side of the river at Percy Main. The shots of the NCB saddletank are at the South end of the Backworth
Waggonway at Whitehill Point. The loco has probably just delivered a shipment load and will be collecting empties before heading back to Backworth. The 37 is at Tyne Improvement Commision No 9 box and is also working empties from Whitehill Point. It is working Cambois 8J06 turn which was an early AM
sign on.

The recent closure of the Cattwewater branch prompted me to upload a small collection of some of my photos taken on the Cattewater branch whist living in Plymouth. I used to chase the train down the branch on my bike, a pretty easy feat given the line speed and TMO crossing en route! I never really knew when the trip was supposed to operate but it was a fascinating area to explore anyway with interesting trackwork, redundant branches, the gated grossing at Shapters way, LSWR trespass notices and even broad gauge trach still set into the wharves nearby! Happy memories!

A new collection of a photo study conducted by a phtographer in the South East Birimingham area in the late 1960's and early 1970's. The photos focus on the closure of Snow Hill and study the impact on Moor Street as well as the staff at the time. If anyone can identify anyone in the photos i'd like to add the names to the negatives.

A few pictures of March station on a wet October day, just one month before closure of the joint line to Spalding.

A few from two dull days at Kettering station in May 1983.......much more to come...as ever!

A load of new photos uploaded needing detective work. I have a rough idea of the general areas from the signalling, traction etc but i'm still at a loss with most regarding the actual locations! Any help is much appreciated, i will annotate those that are solved with thanks to all who have helped!

This is a small collection depicting the Blyth and Tyne network in the early 1990's. Since these photos have been taken Cambois depot has closed and fallen into dereliction, Blyth West sidings and staithes have gone, Cambois A and B power stations have been closed and demolished, Ashington and Lynemouth collieries have closed, Blyth Bates Wharf has ceased to receive coal and Battleship Wharf has not received coal since April 2008, a very depressing scene! A recent visit showed all the signal boxes are still present and a few flows still exsist only really supported by the Alcan factory at Lynemouth. This factory takes in coal from Butterwell and other locations, Alumina from Blyth (three times a day), outgoing ingots to South Wales and Alumina to the West Highlands.

Location solved thanks to members of the signal box forum! The location is D4021 shunting at Preston (West Lancs station), thanks to all who helped!

An interesting collection of photos taken on a visit to Wath Depot by the 'York Railway Circle' prior to the depot closing in 1981. If anyone recognises anyone in the photos, please let me know.

These photos were taken of Hampshire DEMU 1101 on the Fawley branch in the 1960's at Hythe and Fawley prior to the end of passenger services on the branch. From the David Pearson collection

Winston barracks near Lanark is a truely remarkable place. It was home to the Cameronians Regiment from 1941 until it was disbanded in 1968. Since then the barracks were left in a state of decay save for a few bulidings used variously by the TA for training. The whole site is the size of a small village and has not been touched for many years. The barracks were held in 'mothballs' by the MOD for many years on minimum maintenance in case required as a hoeptial in a conventional war in Europe. The site was sold several years ago to a developer who has finally had planning accepted for 348 houses on the site and conversion of 4 of the old listed buildings into flats. The whole site is a very eerie place with interior decorations of the houses untouched since the 1960's.

A gallery of photos of Gloucester Docks taken on 15th July 2007. The area is subject to major redevelopment and most of these scenes have now vanished. I mssed most of the warehouses but a few remained.

I have resized these! Photos of Battersea power station taken in 2000. Put on a copy of Pink Floyd 'animals' for the full effect! Interestingly the ones taken at sunset show 'phantom' smoke issuing from the chimneys!

An enjoyable day out on the 'Jolly Fisherman' tour to Skegness on 29th August 2007. I looked back through my archives and found two pictures of an earlier visit taken 17 years to the day prior to this trip! I must say that the batemans beers were superb as ever!

These few images show the last year or so of the class 40's in 'border country'. The shot of the 40 spluttering up to Ais Gill summit is particularly evocative, oil leaking from the engine, thick black clag.....! Mind you it only had a few more yards to go!

A small collection of my short career as a relief signalman in West London. There are many more but i will not bore you further, just yet!! Another batch on the way soon.

A small selection from Bury and Bolton from the archives. Of particular note are the shots of the decaying remains of Knowlsley Street station taken in 1970 prior to final closure, or merciful release!

Four views of the class 50 prototype DP2 on arrival at Kings cross on 1A01. The views were taken in the early 1960's and show an atmospheric Kings Cross! DP2 was built in 1962 and survived until a catastrophic collision with a cement train at Thisk on the ECML in 1967, the loco returned to the Vulcan foundry and was cut up in 1968.