BR - Sheffield Park

Bluebell Railway

Getting up steam, double header locomotives 178 and 323 approach Sheffield Park whilst the station staff discuss the forthcoming departure.

The pair 'simmering' away.

The footplate crew await departure.

Later the double header of locomotives 323 and 178 returns to Sheffield Park station.

LR - Glyndyfrdwy to Llangollen

Llangollen Railway

'Auto train' with engine 6430 operating the push-pull service from Glyndyfrdwy.

Engine 58926 pulling into Glyndyfrdwy from Llangollen.

Britannia, engine 70000, preparing for departure at Llangollen.

Tornado, engine 60163, raising steam prior to departure at Llangollen.

Visiting the Llangollen Railway is engine 49395, currently cared for by Pete Waterman's L&NWR Trust at Crewe whilst in the ownership of the National Railway Museum.

Britannia, engine 70000, just about to depart Llangollen.

Another shot of engine 58926, this time at Llangollen, taking on water ahead of engine 49395.

NVR - Peterborough to Wansford

Trains first operated on this line as far back as 1845, with a service until the 'Beeching' cuts of the mid 1960's. In 1977 the line was re-opened as a preserved railway and bit by bit it grew into what it is today.

Nene Valley Railway

End of the line at Peterborough NVR station.

Built in 1965, diesel locomotive 14029 pulls into Peterborough NVR station to collect her coaches for the 11:00 departure.

Orton Mere signal box awaits the departing train to clear.

14029 and the 12:05 prepares to depart Wansford station for Peterborough NVR.

With her smokebox open, City of Peterborough, 73050, is ready for inspection next to 44422 at Wansford station.

Wansford station.

Wansford station.

Approaching Wansford station, 14029 glimmers in the still waters of the River Nene.

CVR - Kingsley & Froghall to Cheddleton

Churnet Valley Railway

Sunday morning and all's quiet at Kingsley & Froghall Station prior to the arrival of the days first departure.

The 1110 out of Kingsley & Froghall makes its way to Cheddleton, seen here passing by Ruelow Wood. This 1950's DMU-104 (50455/59137/50517) had today replaced the scheduled steam locomotive service.

Perched above the Caldon Canal, Consall Station approaches.

Travelling southbound the DMU-104 passes by the Black Lion pub and over the Caldon Canal at Consall.

An empty Cheddleton Station.

At Cheddleton Station travelling northbound, the DMU-104 purrs its way through before returning for the 1447 departure to Kingsley & Froghall.

Just before the crossing at Cheddleton Station, the 1447 approaches from Leekbrook in the north.

Copyright: Ordnance Survey

Copyright: Ordnance Survey

ELR - Bury to Nuttall

East Lancashire Railway 

First sighting of the day of 71000, the 'Duke of Gloucester', passing Springside Farm.

80080 approaching Summerseat enroute to Bury.

The 'Duke' leaving Summerseat towards Ramsbottom.

Passing by Springside Farm, engine 44871 pulls its coaches whilst in the distance NCB 65 assists.

NCB 65 crossing the bridge at the tail end of 44871's coaches.

Between tunnels at Nuttall, the southbound 'Lord Nelson' hurries along towards Summerseat.

In the distance at Bury South junction, 'The Sherwood Forester', 45231, can be seen raising steam before pulling onto platform 4.

After switching tracks, 45231 waits patiently for 'May' to manoeuvre a rake of coal wagons at Bury South junction.

And finally with the signal raised, the 'Duke of Gloucester' begins to depart Bury Bolton Street station.

BR - Holywell Water Works to Horsted Keynes

Bluebell Railway

From a photographic viewpoint at the Holywell Water Works the 13:00 from Sheffield Park approaches, pulled by engine 80151.

After passing with the signal still raised, she disappears under the bridge and into the distance.

Shortly afterwards the 13:21 from Horsted Keynes, engine 1638, thunders trough the bridge towards Sheffield Park.

The 15:21 prepares to depart at Horsted Keynes.

In semi-restoration condition, engine 92240 resides peacefully at Horsted Keynes.

Engine 75027 also resides in semi-restoration condition at Horsted Keynes.

Looking south out of Horsted Keynes, the station is once again silent.

Copyright: Ordnance Survey

WCR - Glenfinnan to Mallaig

West Coast Railways

Although not a typical 'heritage line', a special steam service between Fort William and Mallaig operates each year during the summer months. This service is known as 'The Jacobite'.

West Coast Railways, operators of 'The Jacobite', provided the steam engine and carriages for the "Hogwarts Express" as seen in the 'Harry Potter' films. 

Engine 45231, 'The Sherwood Forester', is seen here pulling into Glenfinnan Station.

 Glenfinnan Signal Box, situated at the end of the platform.

The 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct, a location recently made more familiar in the'Harry Potter' films.

This structure measures 1248 feet in length and 100 feet high. Each arch spans 50 feet and is made wholly of concrete. The aggregate used was crushed rock quarried from the approach cuttings at each end of the viaduct.

Passengers waiting for the next train at Lochailort Station.

'The Sherwood Forester' pulling out of Mallaig Station.

End of the line and Mallaig Station.

Dr. Richard Beechings axe did hover over this line but thanks to support from local communities, the line was spared from closure during the infamous 1960's and 1970's railways culling.

Today the line survives with the upsurge of summer visitors, steam excursions and the awareness of the line brought about by the 'Harry Potter' films..