The Rail Enthusiast thread

[Mad Doug Biker]

Well, the exhaust ports anyway...

 

[Spartak]

HST still running??

Network Rail test train I believe ... ???

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U12346/2026-04-24/detailed

 

[Hover Fly]

Some GWR relics seen at Neyland in Pembrokeshire today. Neyland was Brunel's first terminal for Irish ferries in 1856, before they switched to Fishguard in the 1900s, but then declined to a minor branch line before closure in 1964.
On the quayside however the rails are still in place, enclosed now in concrete but clearly showing three parallel sidings with crossovers including diamond crossings with point work.
View attachment 805856

Nearby are some railings made of Brunel-era (so broad gauge) rails.
View attachment 805857

I hate to disillusion you, but “bridge” (or open or “top hat”) rails are still made, used for cranes and mines. Every so often someone gets excited about finding a slipway on Windermere made with what they think are Brunel’s rails when the reality is much more mundane.

 

[robjh]

I hate to disillusion you, but “bridge” (or open or “top hat”) rails are still made, used for cranes and mines. Every so often someone gets excited about finding a slipway on Windermere made with what they think are Brunel’s rails when the reality is much more mundane.

Good, and interesting, point, but in this case there was actually an information plaque nearby saying that these railings were made from the original rails on the site. Of course, quite possible there would have been track-mounted cranes on the docks as well.

 

[Spartak]

165135 pulling into Bristol Temple Meads this afternoon ...

 

[Hover Fly]

The 68 with yellow ends (not the TPE livery) has a "did you spill my pint?" face. I quite like the styling - most of the recent diesel classes like 58, 59/66, and 70 look as if no-one put any effort at all into the styling.

Going for another load of Shap to take to Sellafield. (Just what are they hiding up there?)

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Thursday 8th

Thus one of the severaal remnants* of the Midland Railway branch to the Dom Pedro Colliery (which stood, approximately, where the 'top end' of Normanton Industrial Estate is, by jct31/M62)
It's adjacent to the Normanton Bypass/A655, close to Havertop (the main Wakefield Police Station
I pass under it sometimes, whilst dog walking, but it's generally in late spring/summer, as it can be a nuddy mess

Looking towards the bypass
(the corresponding embankments still exist, barring the removed section for the bypass)

OS 25"https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.1&lat=53.69591&lon=-1.39647&layers=168&b=ESRIWorld&o=62

https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/368530
As seem from the bypass (the 'Deep Water' sign is for an adjacent ditch/sunken field) https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2578794

See last paragraph of 'Growth'; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normanton,_West_Yorkshire



* there are 2 bridges in Old Snydale, well... one & a remaining abutment)

 

[Andy in Germany]

Train to work. It's sitting waiting for the train to come the other way so we can go along the single line to Tübingen.

The opposing train runs into the platform in the foreground. The chain across the crossing is the only thing preventing the masses from walking into its path.

 

[Spartak]

 

[Windle]

The remains of Broomielaw station, hidden in an overgrown cutting just east of Barnard Castle from a ride a few weeks ago.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

The remains of Broomielaw station, hidden in an overgrown cutting just east of Barnard Castle from a ride a few weeks ago.

View attachment 808197

At first glance I thought that was some sort of insane looking aerial view of somewhere! 😆

Countryside, built up areas, canals/rivers, small lochs/lakes/reservoirs, etc. 😊

 

[albion]

https://transportationhistory.org/2...-station-in-the-british-hamlet-of-broomielaw/

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Imagine being so wealthy that you could have your own private station?!

Me? Well, I guess that I'd have one in a tunnel, so that you could appear and disappear from other unsuspecting passengers like James Bond or something! 😊

 

[robjh]

Three termini (or at least ends of line) in Pembrokeshire last month (April 2026). They are Milford Haven, Fishguard Harbour and Pembroke Dock, and all now have a pretty decent service level provided by Transport for Wales's class 197 DMUs. What they also have in common are that all three previously saw busy dock traffic which has now completely disappeared, with the sole exception of a dwindling foot passenger transfer at Fishguard for the Irish Sea ferry. All now consist of just a single track with no points, sidings or passing loops.
The Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock trains seemed well used when I was there, but I was the only passenger to Fishguard - a shame as TfW has done good work in restoring regular services here, but the two stations are some way from Fishguard town.

Milford Haven

Fishguard Harbour

Pembroke Dock

For comparison, I took this one on the approach to Fishguard Harbour in 1978 - a different world then, and I also remember the rows of goods wagons and the docks shunter at Milford Haven.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Three termini (or at least ends of line) in Pembrokeshire last month (April 2026). They are Milford Haven, Fishguard Harbour and Pembroke Dock, and all now have a pretty decent service level provided by Transport for Wales's class 197 DMUs. What they also have in common are that all three previously saw busy dock traffic which has now completely disappeared, with the sole exception of a dwindling foot passenger transfer at Fishguard for the Irish Sea ferry. All now consist of just a single track with no points, sidings or passing loops.
The Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock trains seemed well used when I was there, but I was the only passenger to Fishguard - a shame as TfW has done good work in restoring regular services here, but the two stations are some way from Fishguard town.

Milford Haven
View attachment 808763

Fishguard Harbour
View attachment 808764

Pembroke Dock
View attachment 808765


For comparison, I took this one on the approach to Fishguard Harbour in 1978 - a different world then, and I also remember the rows of goods wagons and the docks shunter at Milford Haven.
View attachment 808766

I've only been along that line once and it was to Fishguard in a class 158 (from where I sailed to Irel*nd - The less said about that the better).
I wish I'd done it in the days of HSTs and stuff, but, hey ho (there was also a tour with D1015 once. Maybe they will do one again some day).