Pictures of Acton Bridge station, on the West Coast Main Line north of Crewe, on the morning of 23rd July 2009.

Visits to Altrincham, Blackpool North & Poulton-le-Fylde on 2nd October 2008.

Trains passing Beeston Castle on the line between Crewe and Chester on Sunday 29th March 2009.

A day trip visiting Bradford, Settle, Appleby and Carlisle on a very wet Saturday 6th September 2008.

The standard-gauge Chasewater Railway is a 2 mile long former colliery railway. From the headquarters at Brownhills West, the line forms a horse-shoe shape around the shores of Chasewater Lake including passing over a one-quarter mile long causeway en-route to Chasetown, with intermediate stations at Norton Lakeside and Chasewater Heaths. Pictures taken on 28th September 2008.

A short time spent at Chester on Wednesday 13th August 2008.

Welcome to Crewe Station - the 'Grand Junction'. World famous as an iconic railway location.

A brief visit to the standard-gauge Dean Forest Railway running between Lydney Junction and Parkend through the attractive Royal Forest of Dean. All pictures on the afternoon of 3rd August 2008.

Pictures from Derby and Wakefield Kirkgate on Tuesday 27th November 2007.

The tiny station of Dolwyddelan on the Conwy Valley Line in North Wales is seen on a wet 9th May 2009.

On 12th July 2008, the quite extraordinary total of FOUR loco-hauled trains were to be found in Fort William in the West Highlands of Scotland. First to arrive was the Three Peaks Challenge by Rail charter after an overnight run from Ravenglass, then the Royal Scotsman charter en-route from Spean Bridge to Arisaig, the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston and finally the Jacobite steam service departed to Mallaig.

Four pictures of the spectacular derailment of a Virgin Trains Pendolino at Lambrigg, near Grayrigg Cumbria, on 3rd February 2007. These pictures were taken by the boyfriend of a family friend.

The Great Central Railway is the UK's only double track main line heritage railway running for 8 miles between Loughborough and Leicester. Pictures by David Dixon on 22nd September 2008 when brand new steam engine Peppercorn A1 'Tornado' was making its first ever passenger runs.

Pictures of the Keswick - Threlkeld section of the former standard-gauge railway line from Keswick to Penrith that was closed in 1972. This section is now an attractive bridleway.

A visit to the standard-gauge Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway in the Lake District on 11th October 2008. This 3.5 mile long heritage railway is part of the former branch line of the Furness Railway (FR) from Ulverston to Lakeside, at the southern end of Lake Windermere, where there has been a train-boat connection since 1868. The railway's locomotive fleet includes FR no.20, Britain's oldest working standard gauge steam locomotive, built in 1863.

Photos from the impressive operation mounted by Connex South Central in June 1998 and June 1999 to carry cyclists and their bikes back north after the London to Brighton Bike Ride. All photos taken at Brighton Station, where I was employed as Station Manager at the time.

Photos of the impressive operation mounted by Connex South Central on 18th June 2000 to carry cyclists and their bikes back north after the London to Brighton Bike Ride. All photos taken at Brighton Station, where I was employed as Station Manager at the time.

Photos of the impressive operation mounted by Connex South Central on 17th June 2001 to carry cyclists and their bikes back north after the London to Brighton Bike Ride. All photos taken at Brighton Station, where I was employed as Station Manager at the time.

A mixed bag of pictures of steam on the National Rail network.

A visit to the Manchester Museum of Science & Industry on 15th August 2009 where the Great Garratt Gathering was taking place. Up to 100 Garratts, both full-size and scale-models, were present to celebrate 100 years since this famous locomotive was first produced at the Beyer, Peacock works in Gorton, Manchester, in January 1909.

The attractive frontage and famous route map at Manchester's Victoria station.

Pictures of the standard-gauge, third-rail electrified Merseyrail network hard at work on Monday 21st July 2008 - the day of the Tall Ships Parade of Sail along the Mersey, and at Chester, Hooton and Ellsemere Port on 13th August 2008.

The standard-gauge Mid-Norfolk Railway is currently operational between Dereham and Wymondham, but also owns the disused northern section from Dereham as far as County School. The whole line is 17.5 miles long. The few pictures here are of rolling stock in Dereham Station Yard on 16th September 2008.

A mixed bag of images from around the national network.

Pictures of the Monsal Trail footpath between Monsal Head and Millers Dale in the Wye Valley on 31st July 2009. The route largely follows the track bed of the former Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway, built by the Midland Railway in 1863 to link Manchester with London. The line closed in 1968 under the Beeching Axe.

The national rail branch line from Farringdon to Moorgate in the City of London, opened in 1866, closed permanently to passenger trains after 143 years on Friday 20th March 2009 to allow for upgrading of the Thameslink route. Just three days earlier, on Tuesday 17th March 2009, I visited Farringdon, Barbican and Moorgate to record some of the final trains using this unique route.

A small collection of photos showing the wonderfully isolated station of Nethertown on the scenic Cumbrian Coast line between Barrow and Carlsile.

Pictures of the open day held by Northern Rail at their Newton Heath Depot in Manchester on Sunday 16th September 2007.

A day, 28th April 2007, spent in North Yorkshire, including the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, steam to Whitby and Scarborough cliff lift and station.

On Saturday 3rd October 2009, the Oldham Loop line north of Manchester, together with 9 stations and 2 signal boxes closed and National Rail services ran for the final time. Over the next couple of years, the line will be converted to Metrolink tram operation. Pictures taken just 2 days before the closure on Thursday 1st October 2009.

The QE2 made its last ever visit to Liverpool on Friday 3rd October 2008, as part of its farewell 'British Isles Voyage'. The ship arrived in Dubai on 27th November to be retired for its new use as a floating hotel.

A selection of steam, diesel and electric railtours on the main lines around Crewe, Cheshire.

The Royal Scotsman is Scotland's very own luxury cruise train, offering tours of the Scottish Highlands. The 9-coach train carries a maximum of only 36 passengers with a passenger to staff ratio of just 3:1. A new purpose rebuilt set of Royal Scotsman carriages was introduced in 1990. Six of the nine coaches including most of the sleeping-cars, dining-car 'Raven' and the lounge-observation car, were rebuilt from Pullman seating cars originally built by Metro-Cammell in Birmingham in 1960 and used on prestige trains on the East Coast route. Dining-car number 2 'Victory' was built in 1945 as an LNER first class carriage, used for much of its life as a inspection saloon for railway officials. The last two vehicles (one service & generator car, one crew/sleeper) were built in the early 1980s as British Rail Mark 3 sleeping-cars. The locomotives that haul the train are provided by West Coast Railway.

A mixed bag of railway photos from north of the border in Scotland. Includes Fort William and Stranraer.

Photos of the London Euston to Fort William Caledonian Sleeper, a SRPS railtour to Mallaig, the Jacobite steam train and some Scotrail Sprinters in the Scottish West Highlands on 31st August and 1st September 2002.

The variety of the West Highland Line between Spean Bridge and Mallaig caught on camera in June 2003, including the Fort William sleeper and the Jacobite steam train.

A selection of photos of the West Highland Line between Crianlarich and Mallaig, taken between 6th and 9th May 2005. Includes the London Euston to Fort William Sleeper, local freight workings and a SRPS railtour from Glenrothes to Mallaig on Saturday 7th May.

Highlights of a visit to the Scottish West Highlands between Friday 19th and Monday 22nd May 2006, including the Class 37 hauled London Euston to Fort William Sleeper (three weeks before the locos were withdrawn from this train), the luxury Royal Scotsman touring train and a variety of local passenger and freight services. More fots to come......

The Severn Valley Railway is a standard-gauge preserved railway running between Kidderminster in Worcestershire and Bridgnorth in Shropshire, a distance of 16 miles, along the banks of the River Severn. Pictures by David Dixon on 24th September 2008.

On two consecutive Saturdays in February 2006, the Class 37 hauled ScotRail Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston and Edinburgh to Fort William was diverted to Oban due to track work on Rannoch Moor. On the second Saturday, 18th February, 37416 was in charge. The train returned from Oban to Edinburgh and London Euston at 1945hrs on the Sunday evening.

Overnight snowfall in Cheshire, followed by brilliant sunshine on the morning of Thursday 2nd March 2006, produced a great chance for photos of trains in the snow. Pictures taken at Coppenhall (just north of Crewe) and at Acton Bridge between 0830hrs and 1200hrs. Then on 9th February 2007, Crewe station was blanketed in snow.

A 140mph trip from St. Pancras International to Ebbsfleet International aboard the Southeastern High Speed preview service on 30th July 2009.

Views of London's St. Pancras station on 1st April 2004, a few weeks before it closed to domestic Midland Mainline trains.

Pictures of the impressive St. Pancras International Station, 12 days before its opening as the new London terminus for Eurostar. On this day, 'ghost' Eurostar trains were running between St. Pancras and Ebbsfleet with volunteers testing the check-in and station facilities. All pictures taken at lunchtime on 1st November 2007. H.M. The Queen officially opened the new station on 6th November and the first Eurostars ran on 14th November after an overnight transfer from London Waterloo.

Photos of the superb St. Pancras International station in London taken on the afternoon of Thursday 8th May 2008. The station was officially re-opened by H.M. The Queen on 6th November 2007 and International Eurostar train services started on 14th November 2007, after transferring overnight from London Waterloo.

Photos of the 2nd running of the Three Peaks Challenge by Rail 2005, in aid of the Railway Children charity. Train ran London Euston - Bangor - Ravenglass - Fort William - London Euston between 23rd - 25th June 2005.

The 3rd running of the Three Peaks Challenge by Rail special train in aid of The Railway Children charity. Conveyed 200 employees of the rail industry attempting to climb Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis within a 36 hour period. Departed from London Euston on the evening of Thursday 21st September and returned on the evening of Saturday 23rd September having visited Bangor, Ravenglass and Fort William.

The 5th running of the Three Peaks Challenge by Rail in aid of The Railway Children. Another 200 employees of the railway industry took part in this gruelling event from 10th - 12th July 2008. The train ran from London Euston to Bangor (via the Chilterns and Crewe) for Snowdon, from Bangor to Ravenglass (via Preston) for Scafell Pike, from Ravenglass to Fort William (via the Glasgow suburbs) for Ben Nevis and then returned from Fort William to London Marylebone (via the Glasgow suburbs, Carlisle, Preston, Crewe, Banbury and the Chilterns).

The 6th running of the Three Peaks Challenge by Rail in aid of The Railway Children from Thursday 25th to Saturday 27th June 2009. During the event, the teams walk 30 miles, climb 10,000 feet and travel 450 miles between the mountains - all in 36 hours!

A 12th August 2006 visit to the magnificent Wemyss Bay station near Glasgow in Scotland - ferry port for the Isle of Bute.

Engineering work at Stafford on Bank Holiday Monday 4th May 2009 required all West Coast Main Line traffic to use the secondary Crewe - Kidsgrove line. This produced the unusual sight of Virgin Trains flagship 125mph tilting Pendolinos on a single track branch line! All pictures taken in just over an hour of observations at Oakhanger Level Crossing between Crewe and Alsager.

The West Coast Main Line is Europe's busiest mixed-traffic railway and accordingly there is a huge variety of passenger and freight trains to be seen. All pictures taken at Coppenhall, just north of Crewe.

The Weymouth Quay Tramway is a standard-gauge railway constructed along the streets of Weymouth, Dorset. Opened in 1865, the tramway ran from a junction before the main Weymouth terminus station, through the streets adjacent to the Backwater and harbour, to Weymouth Quay station, where passengers could transfer to the Channel Islands ferries. Boat trains from London ran until September 1987. After the regular boat trains ended, the line was still occasionally used for special services, the last being a Pathfinder railtour on 2nd May 1999. My photos of the currently disused tramway were taken in August 2009 unless marked.

Pictures of the Cumbrian Coast Line stations of Whitehaven and St Bees on 22nd May 2009.

A short visit to Wrexham General on Wednesday 13th August 2008, including a Wrexham & Shropshire Railway train.