Locomotive Profiles (Index)

This is a list of the occasional posts I've written about a group of related locomotive classes, a particular class or, occasionally, just one locomotive in a class. Sometimes, the profile is numbered, sometimes there's just a verbal description.

Posts are listed in reverse date-of-posting order but, just to confuse, each post describes events any time in the history of the locomotive. Alternately, selecting 'Loco-profile' in the list of 'Labels to select a blog topic' will find all my locomotive profile posts (again, in reverse date-of-posting order).

Another way of searching for posts about a particular locomotive or class is to put a search word or phrase into the Search Box in the page header (with the magnifying glass symbol) because a lot of posts which talk about specific classes or engines haven't been called 'Profiles'.

Loco Profile: D.C. Electric Locomotives in the former Soviet Union 26-Nov-2019
Dugald Drummond and the 'T9' - Historical Background (10) 14-Apr-2017
G.W.R. 0-6-0PT 'Pannier' tank locomotives (9) 5-Jan-2016
The 'Austerity' 0-6-0ST locomotive (8) 27-Oct-2015
Loco-profile 7: 'Sapper' 0-6-0ST 16-Jan-2015
Loco-profile 6: 'Planet' replica 13-Nov-2013
Loco-profile No. 5: The Russian 'E' class 0-10-0 1-Jan-2013
Loco-profile 4: Russian 'FD20' class 2-10-2 24-Aug-2012
Loco-profile 3: Russian 'FDp20' class 2-8-4 24-Aug-2012
Loco-profile 2: Russian 'YeA' Class 17-Aug-2012
Loco-profile 1: "Lion" 1-Jan-2010

[List re-ordered: 4-Sep-2018, updated 19-Dec-2019]

Diesel Multiple Units (Index)

This is a list of the occasional posts I've written about Diesel Multiple Units (DMU), based on my experiences at the Battlefield Line. Content is mixed, sometimes including associated steam train working.

Posts are listed in reverse date-of-posting order but, just to confuse, each post describes events any time from the previous day to fifty years earlier. Alternately, selecting 'DMU' in the list of 'Labels to select a blog topic' will find all my posts about DMU (again, in reverse date-of-posting order). Finally, the Search Box in the page header (with the magnifying glass symbol) will find posts including any particular word or phrase.

Diesel Days 22-Jul-2018
Diesel Multiple Unit, Easter 2018 8-Apr-2018
Summer at Shackerstone 4-Aug-2017
DMU Days at the Battlefield Line 12-Jul-2017
Bank Holiday with Steam and Diesel 7-Jun-2017
The Heritage Railcar at Shackerstone, 2015 24-Jul-2015
The Battlefield Line, 2014 2-Apr-2014
Midweek at the Battlefield Line 9-Aug-2013
Battlefield Line 1940s Weekend (June 2013) 18-Jun-2013
Sunday Diesel 4-Mar-2013
Battlefield Line Modellers' Weekend 2012 29-May-2012
'Thomas' at the Battlefield Line 1-May-2012
The 'Mince Pie Flyer' 3-Jan-2012
Diesel Multiple Units 23-May-2010
Battlefield Line Mince Pie Specials 2009 3-Jan-2010
The Battlefield Line DMU Group 29-Apr-2007

Most of the above posts have links to albums of photographs which can be viewed or downloaded in various sizes. Alternately, you can go to a list of all my photograph collections on Flickr here and look for a particular picture.

[Post added 8-Apr-2018: Updated 14-Sep-2018]

Work (Index)

This is a list of the (very occasional) posts about Work. I started working for a Wolverhampton company, Contactor Switchgear (Electronics) Limited around 1961 but, with the encouragement of my mother, set up on my own as an electronics engineer in 1966. Ford Electronics Limited was incorporated in 1977. The last 50-odd years have been a roller-coaster ride which I wouldn't have missed for anything.

Posts are listed in reverse date-of-posting order but, just to confuse, each post describes events any time from the previous day to fifty years earlier. Alternately, selecting 'Work' in the list of 'Labels to select a blog topic' will find all the posts about Work (again, in reverse date-of-posting order). Finally, the Search Box in the page header (with the magnifying glass symbol) will find posts including any particular word or phrase.

Trade Show at the National Exhibition Centre 19-Sep-2021
Railway Engineering Works, Acton 5-Apr-2021
Telecommunications and Jan 10-Nov-2020
Railway Trollies 16-Oct-2020
UKRRIN Annual Conference, 21st November 2019 27-Nov-2019
Work (part 2) 7-Feb-2018.
Northern City Line 30-Jan-2018.
Rail Industry Information Day, 2018 17-Jan-2018.
Quinton Rail Technology Centre 2-Jan-2018.
Rail Research UK Association Annual Conference 2017 20-Nov-2017.
Class 373 Test Train to Paris 3-Apr-2017.
Class 373 Test Train to Grantham 8-Mar-2017.
Electrification Telephone Systems for British Rail 9-Nov-2015.
Starting my own business 4-Nov-2015.
Visiting Steelworks 22-Oct-2015.
London Underground and Jan 6-Oct-2015.
The World of Work 3-Apr-2014.
My First Trip to India (continued) 12-Jan-2013.
Crewe International Electric Maintenance Depot 17-Jan-2008.
Brewood Hall Small Barn 10-Jan-2008.
My first visit to Taiwan 3-Jan-2008.
Testing Class 395 Trainsets 18-Dec-2007.
Visit to Seoul, South Korea 14-Jun-2007.
Oil & Gas Industry 13-Jun-2007.
Working in Holland 19-Jan-2007.
Working for the Big Boys 17-Jan-2007.
If it were easy, everyone would do it 16-Jan-2007.
My first trip to India 5-Jan-2007.
Train Dispatcher Project - Thailand 5-Jan-2007.
Work 3-Jan-2007.


Some of the above posts have links to albums of photographs which can be viewed or downloaded in various sizes. Alternately, you can go to a list of my photograph albums about Work here and look for a particular picture.

[Updated 19-Dec-2019: Updated 22-Jan-2023]

Myanma Railways (Index)

This is a list of posts about railways in Myanmar (Burma), covering the nationalised railway, Myanma Railways, Yangon trams and a couple of long-gone light railways. My first visit to Myanmar was in 2008 and I've returned (in connection with charitable work) at least once a year since. Most are fairly technical railway articles but I've included more general travel posts which have some technical railway content which may not appear elsewhere. Since the early posts, I've learnt more so you may find contradictions. Hopefully, the later posts are more accurate (but I offer no guarantees). There are lots more posts describing my various visits but, unless a post has technical railway content, they are not in this Index. I hope that isn't too confusing. Posts are listed in reverse date of posting order.

Railway Carriage Building and Repair in Myanmar 8-Aug-2021
A trip to Bago - Technical Notes 6-Dec-20
Power Signal Box, Togyaunggalay 24-Jun-2020
Railway Operation Control Center, Yangon 05-Feb-2020
Visit to 'Mandalay Tower' 29-Jul-2019
Return to Burma 5-May-2019 (Yangon Central and Togyaungkalay)
Bago - Yangon by train 10-Mar-2019
Kalaw - Shwe Nyaung by train 20-Jan-2019
A trip to Bago 10-May-2018
Gokteik Viaduct Notes 9-May-2018
Gokteik Viaduct 8-May-2018
Train movements at Yangon Central station (3) 1-Apr-2018
Train movements at Yangon Central station (2)31-Mar-2018
Final day in Yangon and the Circle Line 22-Nov-2017
Rail-mounted Cranes on Myanma Railways 13-Nov-2017
Non-operational steam in Myanmar 13-Nov-2017
Mandalay and its Circle Line 26-Oct-2017
Mandalay Wednesday 17-Oct-2017
Around Mandalay 15-Oct-2017
Features of Railway Signalling in Myanmar (pictures links)
Train movements at Yangon Central station
Last Full Day in Yangon
Myanmar, Railways and Jan
A Short History of Yangon's Electric Railway
Insein Railway Station
Thazi - Kalaw (part 2)
Thazi-Kalaw
Da Nyn Gone Railway Station, Myanmar
Around the Circle Line in 2016
Kyee Myin Daing Railway Station
Railways in Burma
Last Day in Yangon
Thazi Railway Station and Diesel Locomotive Depot
Trams Return to Rangoon
The Arakan Light Railway
Ywa Taung Locomotive Workshop
Rangoon Tramways
New Railway from Katha to Bhamo
Permanent Way in Myanmar
The Madaya Light Railway
Thaton – Duyinzaik Railway
Insein Locomotive Works
Yangon (Part 2)
Yangon (Part 1)
Diesel Traction in Burma
Cab Ride around the Circle Line
Yangon Central Power Signal Box
Relaxing at the Strand Hotel
Exploring Yangon's railways
Railways in Myanmar
Freight Rolling Stock in Burma
Passenger Rolling Stock in Burma
Diesel Railcars in Burma
By Rail to Maymyo
Back to Yangon
Mandalay Area Railways
Napyidaw
On to Yangon
Yangon Area Railways
Bago to Kyaikto by Train
The Circle Line Revisited
By Train to Naba
Yangon to Kyaikto by Train
Cab Ride back to Katha
Cab Ride from Katha
The Circle Line, Yangon

Some of the above posts have links to albums of my photographs which can be viewed or downloaded in various sizes. Alternately, you can go straight to a list of my collections of pictures of railways in Myanmar here and look for a particular album.

There is also a series of posts in which I attempt to summarise my observations of railway signalling on Myanma Railways. This has a separate already-published index here, but the links are repeated below.

Railway Signalling in Burma - Part 1: Semaphore Signals.
Railway Signalling in Burma - Part 2: Colour Light Signals & Motor Points.
Railway Signalling in Burma - Part 3: Control of Trains.
Railway Signalling in Burma - Part 4: Manual Control of Points and Interlocking.
Railway Signalling in Burma - Part 5: Signal Boxes with Interlocking Frames.
Railway Signalling in Burma - Part 6: Signal Boxes with Electrical Interlocking.
Railway Signalling in Burma - Part 7: Telecommunications (in preparation).

[Updated 14-Sep-2018, 23-Jan-2019, 11-Mar-2019, 31-Jul-2019, 31-Mar-2020, 24-Jun-2020, 31-Dec-2020, 9-Aug-2021]

Railway Signalling in Burma (Index)

There is a series of posts in which I attempt to summarise my observations of railway signalling on Myanma Railways.

Railway Signalling in Burma - Part 1: Semaphore Signals.
Railway Signalling in Burma - Part 2: Colour Light Signals & Motor Points.
Railway Signalling in Burma - Part 3: Control of Trains.
Railway Signalling in Burma - Part 4: Manual Control of Points and Interlocking.
Railway Signalling in Burma - Part 5: Signal Boxes with Interlocking Frames.
Railway Signalling in Burma - Part 6: Signal Boxes with Electrical Interlocking.
Railway Signalling in Burma - Part 7: Telecommunications (in preparation)

Signal Box Posts (Index)

Introduction

The use of 'Labels to select a blog topic' allows particular groups of posts in the blog to be located. But, as the blog has expanded, labels like 'railways' or 'railway signalling' produce a large number of posts to be sifted. Alternately, you can look for a specific topic using the Blogger search box and entering a word or phrase that might be included in the post, for instance 'all electric system'.

To try to make specific information easier to find, I've started to produce Index information. They're really 'Link Lists' but I've incorrectly called them an 'Index' in a few places and that will probably stick, sorry.

There's a separate Index here covering Railway Signalling in Britain in a non-localised manner.

The sections below cover geographical areas where I've written about signal boxes. The post Visiting Signalboxes, first published in 2008, described how I became unofficially involved with mechanical signal boxes in the West Midlands. Interest from a group of friends prompted me to locate what remained of my early notes and attempt to turn them into intelligible (if rather specialised) reports. In each section, Posts are listed in reverse date of original posting order, as they appear in the blog.

Stour Valley Signal Boxes

Wolverhampton High Level Station in Steam Days 11-Nov-2015
Catchem's Corner Signal Box 19-Sep-2013
Albion 18-May-2012
The 'Breakdown' at Bloomfield 8-May-2012
Railway Signalling: Tipton (Part 2) 10-Jan-2012
Tipton Station Shunting Frame 8-Jan-2012
Traffic Movements at Tipton Station Box (1965?) 6-Jan-2012
Traffic Movements at Tipton Station box, 1965 5-Jan-2012
Deepfields Electrical Controls 4-Jan-2012
Heaviest Single Load carried by British Railways 30-Dec-2011
Traffic Movements at Tipton Curve, 1965 13-Dec-2011
Jan's Train Register Book 13-Dec-2011
List of Traffic Movement Posts 6-Dec-2011
Traffic Movements at Tipton Curve, 1965 23-Nov-2011
Traffic Movements at Deepfields, 1964 (Part 2) 21-Nov-2011
Traffic Movements at Deepfields, 1964 (Part 1) 21-Nov-2011
Traffic Movements at Tipton Station box, 1964 29-Jun-2011
Traffic Movements on the Stour Valley, 1964 29-Jun-2011
Traffic Movements at Bloomfield Jn, 1962 (Part 2) 29-Jun-2011
Traffic Movements at Dudley Port, 1962 23-Jun-2011
Traffic Movements at Watery Lane, 1962 (Part 1) 23-Jun-2011
Traffic Movements at Bloomfield Jn, 1962 (Part 1) 22-Jun-2011
Traffic Movements on the Stour Valley, 1961-1962 (Part 3) 20-Jun-2011
Traffic Movements on the Stour Valley, 1961-1962 (Part 2) 18-Jun-2011
Traffic Movements on the Stour Valley, 1961-1962 (Part 1) 18-Jun-2011
Princes End Electrical Controls (Part 5) 8-Feb-2010
Princes End Electrical Controls (Part 4) 2-Feb-2010
Princes End Electrical Controls (Part 3) 1-Feb-2010
Spring Vale Electrical Controls (Part 2) 31-Jan-2010
Princes End Electrical Controls (Part 2) 31-Jan-2010
Spring Vale Electrical Controls (Part 1) 28-Jan-2010
Princes End Electrical Controls (Part 1) 23-Jan-2010
Railway Signalling: Spring Vale Sidings Box 19-Jun-2009
Prince's End 22-Feb-2009
Tipton Curve Junction. 11-Jan-2009
Visiting Signalboxes 5-Jul-2008
Deepfields in Detail 17-Jun-2008
Mond Gas Company's Sidings 3-Jan-2008
Holiday Time at Bloomfield 19-Jun-2007
Deepfields 19-Jan-2007
Bloomfield Junction 19-Jan-2007
Watery Lane 19-Jan-2007
Dudley Port 17-Jan-2007
Tipton 15-Jan-2007

The above list includes a number of posts describing Traffic Movements at some of the above signal boxes. These posts are listed, in date order of the events described, here. Alternately, you can select all the posts labelled 'Traffic Movements' by clicking here.

South Stafford Signal Boxes

Sedgeley Junction - Early History 2-Jan-2012
Sedgeley Junction - Signalling Alterations 1964 25-Dec-2011
Sedgeley Junction (again) 25-Dec-2011
More from Sedgeley Jn. 20-Jun-2011
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 18) 9-Jan-2011
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 17) 7-Jan-2011
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 16) 5-Jan-2011
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 15) 5-Jan-2011
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 14) 4-Jan-2011
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 13) 3-Jan-2011
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 12) 6-Oct-2010
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 11) 6-Oct-2010
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 10) 30-Sep-2010
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 9) 22-Sep-2010
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 8) 22-Sep-2010
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 7) 19-Jul-2010
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 6) 28-Jun-2010
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 5) 1-Mar-2010
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 4) 1-Mar-2010
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 3) 20-Feb-2010
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 2) 19-Feb-2010
Traffic Movements at Sedgeley Junction 1962-1963 (Part 1) 14-Feb-2010
Excursions at Sedgeley Junction 5-Aug-2009
Sedgeley Junction remembered 19-Jun-2009
Sedgeley Junction 14-Feb-2008
Horsley Fields Junction 13-Jun-2008

The above list includes a number of posts describing Traffic Movements at some of the above signal boxes. These posts are listed, in date order of the events described, here. Alternately, you can select all the posts labelled 'Traffic Movements' by clicking here.

Crewe Area Signal Boxes

Crewe Salop Goods Junction Signal Box 3-Jan-2015
Crewe North Junction ('Crewe' All Electric System) 8-Oct-2013
Crewe South Junction Signal Box ('Crewe' All Electric System) 2-Oct-2013
Crewe South Junction (1940) Signal Box 19-Apr-2013
Crewe North Junction (1940) Signal Box 10-Jan-2013
Crewe Station Signal Boxes 31-Dec-2008
Crewe North Junction History 24-Jul-2008
Railways at Crewe in the '50s 22-Jul-2008
'Crewe' All Electric System, LNWR 14-Jul-2008

Crewe was at the centre of the L&NWR empire and there's some background on L&NWR signalling in these signalling posts:-

L. & N.W.R. Signal box architecture and features 16-Oct-2016
Life in the Signal Box 20-Sep-2013
Single-stroke Bells 16-Dec-2011
L&NWR Block Signalling Instruments 18-Jun-2008
L&NWR Signalling and the 'Bedstead' 4-Jun-2008

Of course, reference to 'Crewe' appears in other of my posts labelled 'Railways' You can find these with the 'Blogger' search box, as mentioned above. I've not been into the present Crewe Signalling Centre, but there is a report on examining it from the outside included in the post Return to Blackpool and Fleetwood (part 1).

Railway Signalling in Britain (Index)

As this blog (like Topsy) 'just growed' the use of the 'Labels' to select a group of posts becomes less useful. The label 'railway signalling' currently produces almost 200 'hits' so I've started to add a few Index Posts to try to make life easier. It remains to be seen how effective this will be, particular since updates is done manually, when I get around to it.

I've always been interesting in railway signalling so, back in 2013, I started a series of articles on Railway Signalling in Britain. The emphasis on historical systems, rather than modern practice. Progress is slow and erratic, I'm afraid, but a number of parts are available, as listed below:-

Part 1: Introduction 28-Apr-2013
Part 2 - Semaphore Signals 3-May-2013
Part 3 - Slotting 3-May-2013
Part 4 - Semaphore Signal Aspects by Night 13-May-2013
Part 5 - Signal Arm, Slot and Lamp Repeaters 23-May-2013
Part 6 - Mechanical Operation of Points 18-Sep-2014
Part 7 - Train Detection In preparation
Part 8: Colour Light Signals 2-Apr-2018
Part 9 - Power Operation of Points In preparation
Part 10 - Absolute Block Working In preparation
Part 11 - Single Line Railways 8-Dec-2018
Part 12 - Automatic Train Control In preparation

There are also a number of articles about British signalling which don't form part of a series - more of a 'pot-pourri'. The one on Double Wire working is included because, although this is principally associated with overseas railways, Double Wire working is not unknown in Britain.

L. & N.W.R. Signal box architecture and features 16-Oct-2016
Double Wire Working of Points and Signals 29-Oct-2015
The use of Electricity in Railway Signalling 8-Oct-2015
Life in the Signal Box 20-Sep-2013
Manchester Piccadilly Station - Behind the Scenes 19-Mar-2013
The End of an Era 16-Jan-2013
A. F. Bound 3-Jan-2013
Sealed Release for Signal Boxes 24-Dec-2011
Single-stroke Bells 16-Dec-2011
Reading the Runes: Decoding Train Register Books 5-Dec-2011
The Train Register Book 29-Nov-2011
L&NWR Block Signalling Instruments 18-Jun-2008


In general (but there are no fixed rules in this blog), the above list excludes posts applying to a specific area or signal box, but there's a separate post Signal Box Posts (Index) which lists posts relating to specific locations.

Alternately, a lot of my early experiences working mechanical boxes in the West Midlands in the steam era can be traced through the introductory post Visiting Signalboxes.

Of course, an alternative way of looking for a specific topic is to use the Blogger search box and enter a word or phrase that might be included in the post, for instance 'block control'.

[Posts added 31-Oct-2016: Link to Signal Box Posts added 1-Nov-2016: Updated 8-Apr-2018: Part 11 added 8-Dec-2018]

Exploring Britain's Railways (Index)

From time-to-time, I travel by train, sometimes for meetings, sometimes to see what remains of our railway system. There are reports of some of these trips, listed below in reverse date order, as they appear in the blog. Note that dates in the list below are original posting dates, not dates of events described.

There's no fixed format for these reports: sometimes they cover both the journey and what I did when I arrived, sometimes the journey features in a separate report. In general, posts on the railway history of geographical areas which don't involve a specific journey I've made are not included in this list (but some are, particularly when they were prompted by recent journeys). The content varies according to what caught my eye at the time, although railway operation and signalling often make an appearance.

An alternative way of looking for a specific journey or topic is to use the Blogger search box and enter a word that might be included in the post, for instance 'guildford'.

More Train Travel posted 21-Dec-2023
By Train to Newport posted 28-Aug-2023
Trade Show at the NEC (Railtex 2023) posted 21-May-2023
Merseyside in March posted 13-May-2023
Book-buying in Morecambe by Train posted 30-Aug-2022
Blackpool by rail, Fleetwood and Knott End posted 26-Aug-2022
Old Locomotive Committee Annual General Meeting, 2022 posted 7-Aug-2022
Manchester by rail posted 6-Aug-2022
Retrieving my Camera posted 27-Jun-2022
Llandudno in April posted 9-Jun-2022
Return to Croydon posted 9-May-2022
New Brighton, again posted 18-Apr-2022
Rail Travel in January 2022 posted 12-Feb-2022
To Stockport by Rail 14-Nov-2021
Trade Show at the National Exhibition Centre 19-Sep-2021
By Train to Croydon 12-Sep-2021
Blackpool by Electric Train 28-Aug-2021
A day trip to Liverpool 21-Aug-2021
The Cambrian Line in 2021 25-Jul-2021
A Trip to Birmingham 3-Dec-2019
The West London Line 17-Nov-2019
Bath by Train 23-Sep-2019
East Croydon to London Bridge 23-Sep-2019
Bournemouth by Train 7-Sep-2019
Buxton by Rail 23-Jul-2019
Caldicot by Train 7-Jul-2019
Glasgow by Rail 23-Apr-2019
Whitehaven by Rail 6-Apr-2019
New Brighton by Rail 30-Mar-2019
Morecambe by Rail 26-Mar-2019
Llandudno by Train 28-Feb-2019
Blackpool by Train 17-Feb-2019
Another Trip to Merseyside 23-Nov-2018
To Altrincham via the former C.L.C. 27-Aug-2018
Returning from Hereford by Rail 11-Aug-2018
To Hereford by rail 6-Aug-2018
Another Day Trip to Ely 14-Jul-2018
A Trip to Merseyside 10-Jan-2018
High Speed One 8-Dec-2017
Class 373 Test Train to Paris 3-Apr-2017
Class 373 Test Train to Grantham 8-Mar-2017
Channel Tunnel Rail Link 5-Mar-2017
Interlude in London 25-Feb-2017
By Bus to Brighton 10-Jan-2017
Return to Merseyside (Part 3) 5-Jan-2017
Return to Merseyside (Part 2) 2-Jan-2017
Return to Merseyside (Part 1) 30-Dec-2016
Return to Manchester 24-Oct-16
Return to Blackpool and Fleetwood (part 2) 15-Oct-2016
By Rail to Nottingham 2-Sep-2016
Return to Blackpool and Fleetwood (part 1) 19-Feb-2016
Return to Llandudno 17-Feb-2016
Grand Central and Birmingham New Street Station 4-Feb-2016
By Train to Surrey 31-Jan-2016
Merseyside in December 9-Jan-2016
Wolverhampton to Preston by rail 19-Oct-2015
Preston to Liverpool by Rail 20-Oct-2015
Visiting former 'Southern' stations in London 26-Aug-2015
By Rail to Guildford 14-Aug-2015
By Train to Irlam 7-Apr-2015
Railways around Shrewsbury 31-Dec-2014
Llandudno Railway Station 31-Dec-2014
Ellesmere Port - Helsby line 27-Oct-2014
More Merseyrail 21-Oct-2014
The Cheshire Lines Committee Routes Today 7-Oct-2014
The Great Eastern in the London Area 15-Sep-2014
Day Trip to Shipley 10-Sep-2014
Day Trip to Southport and Liverpool (Part 2) 4-Sep-2014
Day Trip to Southport and Liverpool (Part 1) 30-Aug-2014
A Trip to South Wales (Part 2) 15-Aug-2014
A Trip to South Wales (Part 1) 1-Aug-2014
Furness and the Cumbrian Coast (Part 2) 1-Jul-2014
Furness and the Cumbrian Coast (Part 1) 26-Jun-2016
By rail to Liverpool (Part 2) 24-Mar-2014
By rail to Liverpool (Part 1) 14-Mar-2014
By Rail to Chirk 12-Mar-2014
Railways around Birkenhead 28-Feb-2014
Birkenhead and New Brighton by train (Part 3) 25-Feb-2014
Birkenhead and New Brighton by train (Part 2) 20-Feb-2014
Birkenhead and New Brighton by train (Part 1) 19-Feb-2014
The Holyhead to Crewe Railway Line 14-Feb-2014
Trip to Holyhead (Part 2: Llandudno to Holyhead) 10-Feb-2014
Trip to Holyhead (Part 1: Crewe to Llandudno) 30-Jan-2014
Walsall by Rail 19-Jan-2014
Railways around Blackpool 18-Jan-2014
Railways around Morecambe 30-Dec-2013
Return to Heysham 20-Dec-2013
The Buxton Branch 26-Nov-2013
Another Saturday in Manchester 10-Oct-2013
Railways around Edge Hill in 2013 30-Aug-2013
A Busy Week 5-Aug-2013
A Saturday in Manchester 11-Jun-2013
Day Trip to Ely 5-Jun-2013
'Black 5' to Birmingham 4-Jun-2013
Liverpool Lime Street Station 28-May-2013
Clapham Junction Station, London 20-May-2013
By Rail to Manchester 19-Mar-2013
London & Birmingham in 2012 29-May-2012
Liverpool by Train 25-May-2012
A Trip to the Seaside (Part 2) 27-Nov-2011
East London Line 24-Jun-2010
Day Trip to Liverpool 24-May-2010
Redevelopment at King's Cross Station 8-Dec-2009
Brave New Railway (again) 5-Aug-2009
Crewe Station 22-Jul-2008
Halfex to Blackpool 5-Jul-2008
Stafford Station in the 'Fifties 25-Jun-2008
Birmingham Moor Street Station 1-Jul-2008
9:17 a.m. to Birmingham 9-Jun-2008
London's Terminal Stations 26-Feb-2008
My First Steam Special 17-Jul-2007
A Sunday Stroll to Stafford 19-Jun-2007


['Return to Merseyside' added 9-Jan-2017: Updated to January 2018, labelled as 'Index' 4-Jun-2018: Updated 24 and 28-Feb-2019: Updated 24-Apr-2019: Updated 23-Sep-2019: Updated 19-Dec-2019: Updated 31-Oct-2021: Updated 26-Nov-2021: Updated 22-Jan-2022: Updated 31-Dec-2023]

Southern Railway (Index)

As a child growing up in the Midlands in the early days of the post-war Nationalised railway, I became familiar with both the former L.M.S. and G.W.R. lines but the former Southern Railway was very much a 'foreign railway' to me. Once I travelled on it, I was fascinated by the complexity of the network, the frequency of trains and the electric services - the 'juicers' - unknown at that time in my part of the country.

The Southern Railway had been created in 1923 by the government-directed grouping of railways into the 'Big Four' (L.M.S., G.W.R., L.N.E.R. and S.R.). The Southern Railway brought together the London Brighton and South Coast Railway, the South Eastern and Chatham Railway and the London and South Western Railway.

Upon Nationalisation in 1948, the Southern Region of British Railways absorbed the assets of the Southern Railway.

There are now a number of articles in this blog on the Southern Railway, its predecessors and successors, which are listed below.

Where a topic is split into two or more parts, links are normally provided between these parts, but note that unconnected posts may deal with a similar theme. I'm sorry if it appears confusing, but the Search Box (with the magnifying glass symbol) in the header can always be used to find posts including any particular word or phrase. From time-to-time, other topics may appear.

My Articles

Origins of the Southern Railway: Part 1 - L.S.W.R. 17-Nov-2015
Origins of the Southern Railway: Part 2: L.B.S.C.R. 11-Oct-2016
Origins of the Southern Railway: Part 3 - S.E.C.R. 11-Oct-2016
Origins of the Southern Railway: Part 4 - Pre-Grouping Approaches to London

Waterloo Station, London 8-May-2013
Waterloo Station, London (Part 2) 17-Sep-2015
London Underground: The Waterloo & City Line 7-Oct-2015
Victoria Station, London 15-May-2013
Clapham Junction Station, London 20-May-2013
By Rail to Guildford 14-Aug-2015
Visiting former 'Southern' stations in London 26-Aug-2015
By Train to Surrey 31-Jan-2016


My Pictures

These are albums which include pictures taken in recent times showing former Southern Railway infrastructure:-

Clapham Junction.
London: former 'Southern' lines.
London's Railways.
Waterloo Station.
London: Victoria Station.
London Cannon Street Station.
London Charing Cross Station.
London Bridge Station.

[Amended 16-Oct-2016]

Mutual Improvement Classes (2)

In the post Mutual Improvement Classes, I outlined the aims of the MIC of steam days. This index has links to posts labelled 'MIC' in my blog. Titles starting 'MIC' have been used as talks before appearing here, other posts are included because of the amount of technical content which I hope may be of some help to volunteers studying locomotive work.

Where a topic is split into more than one post, links are normally provided forwards and backwards, but note that unconnected posts may deal with a similar theme. I'm sorry if it appears confusing, but the Search Box (with the magnifying glass symbol) in the header can always be used to find posts including any particular word or phrase.

Other topics are in preparation but, unfortunately in an unstructured manner.

Caledonian Railway preserved 0-4-4 tank engine No. 419 at the Battlefield Line 21-Jan-2023
Battlefield Line Mince Pie Specials 2022 3-Mar-2022
Battlefield Line 'Santa' Trains 2021 29-Jan-2022
Class 20 Diesel Electric Locomotive 08-Jan-2022
A Day on the DMU13-Nov-2021
Getting Back on Track 6-Nov-2021
Origins of the Great Western Vacuum Brake 8-Nov-2020
Battlefield Line Bonfire and Firework display at Market Bosworth Station 19-Nov-2019
Shackerstone Railway Society 50th Anniversary Steam Gala 16-Nov-2019
Operation of Steam/Diesel Multiple Unit Services at the Battlefield Line 10 Nov-2019
Fish and Chip Special 11-Oct-2019
Preparing 5542 (part 2) 6 Aug 2019 5542 at the Battlefield Line in 2019 30 Jul 2019
'Pannier' 6430 at the Battlefield Line 4-Apr-2019
Battlefield Line Steam Gala 2018 (Part 2) 4-Jan-2019
Battlefield Line Steam Gala 2018 (Part 1) 16-Oct-2018
Preparing 5542 (part 1) 14-Sep-2018
Battlefield Line 'Family Fun Weekend' 3 Sep 2018
5542 at the Battlefield Line 28 Aug 2018
Talking about Engines 19 Apr 2018
Class 08 User Manual 24 Mar 2018
Passed Fireman 24 Mar 2018
Santa Specials at the Battlefield Line 2017 19 Dec 2017
On the Footplate 5 Dec 2017
On the Footplate: the Drummond 'T9' 17 Sep 2017
Two Failures 16 Sep 2017
The Role of the Shunter (2) 26 Aug 2017
The Role of the Shunter 29 Aug 2017
Bank Holiday with Steam and Diesel 7 Jun 2017
British Locomotive Headcodes 1-Feb-2017
Shackerstone Santa Specials 28-Dec-2016
Peak Rail Santa Specials 23-Dec-2016
'Operation: Market Bosworth' - On the Footplate 8-Oct-2016
Electrical Systems on Steam Locomotives 14-Sep-2016
The Railway at Night 11 Sep 2016
Locomotive Regulators (part 2) 11 Sep 2016
Peak Rail Winter Service 2013 22 August 2016
Sunday at Shackerstone 4 April 2016
Driving the 'Planet' replica 11 September 2015
Water, water, everywhere 19 July 2015
HST Charter to Peak Rail 12 March 2014
Peak Rail in early 2014 11 March 2014
Battlefield Line 1940s Weekend (June 2013) 18 June 2013
Preparation of Locomotive 'Sapper' 8 January 2013
The Clack Valve 19 November 2012
A Day on the Footplate (2) 25 June 2012
A Day on the Footplate (1) 9-Jun-12
Driving 'Lion' 13 January 2012
Battlefield Line Santa Specials 2011 18 December 2011
Summer Saturday with a '2884' 4 September 2011
On the Footplate (Part 2) 7 January 2011
On the Footplate (Part 1) 22 July 2010
The Best Laid Schemes ... 9 July 2010
Stanier '8F' inauguration at Peak Rail 28 May 2009
Diesel Multiple Units 23 May 2010
MIC - Brakes 11 January 2009
MIC - Disposal 10 January 2009
MIC - Firing Steam Locomotives (1) 10 January 2009
MIC - The Working of Trains 2 January 2009
Driving Turn at Peak Rail - Part Two: Driving Experience 31 December 2008
MIC - Lamps 31 December 2008
Firing a 'B1' 11 October 2008
Driving Turn at Peak Rail - Part One: Preparation 6 May 2008
Mutual Improvement Classes 24 February 2008
Locomotive Regulators (part 1) 17 July 2007
Sunday at Peak Rail: 15 January 2007
Early Locomotive Design 12 January 2007
'Henry' 12 January 2007

You can select all the posts in this blog labelled 'MIC' by clicking here.

[List updated: 30-May-2017, 29-Aug-2017, 23-Mar-2018, 8-Apr-2018, 4-Sep-2018, 14-Sep-2018, 8-Aug-2019: List updated and sequence reversed 28-Jan-2023]