61306 at Coatbridge CentralLNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' arrives at Coatbridge Central with 1Z61 Fort William - Coatbridge Central Steam Dreams 'Highlands and Islands' Day 7 railtour 15.5.19 On 15th May, LNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' was in West Central Scotland working on the Steam Dreams 'Highlands and Islands' Day 7 railtour.

Looking resplendent in it's LNER Apple Green livery, Mayflower worked 1Z61 Fort William - Coatbridge Central. At Coatbridge Central, the passengers left the train to be taken by bus for dinner, Mayflower then worked ECS as 5Z62 Coatbridge Central - Holytown with a couple of hours layover in Mossend Yard before heading to Holytown to pick up it's passengers once more to work as 1Z62 Holytown - Penrith.

I saw Mayflower at 4 different locations: Gartcosh, Coatbridge Central, Whifflet and Carstairs. Here are my photos:

61306 at GartcoshLNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' approaches Gartcosh with 1Z61 Fort William - Coatbridge Central Steam Dreams 'Highlands and Islands' Day 7 railtour 15.5.19	61306 at GartcoshLNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' passes through Gartcosh with 1Z61 Fort William - Coatbridge Central Steam Dreams 'Highlands and Islands' Day 7 railtour 15.5.19	61306 at Coatbridge CentralLNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' waits in the loop at Coatbridge Central with 1Z61 Fort William - Coatbridge Central Steam Dreams 'Highlands and Islands' Day 7 railtour 15.5.19	61306 at Coatbridge CentralLNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' arrives at Coatbridge Central with 1Z61 Fort William - Coatbridge Central Steam Dreams 'Highlands and Islands' Day 7 railtour 15.5.19
LNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' approaches Gartcosh with 1Z61 Fort William - Coatbridge Central Steam Dreams 'Highlands and Islands' Day 7 railtour	LNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' passes through Gartcosh with 1Z61 Fort William - Coatbridge Central Steam Dreams 'Highlands and Islands' Day 7 railtour 15.5.19	LNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' waits in the loop at Coatbridge Central with 1Z61 Fort William - Coatbridge Central Steam Dreams 'Highlands and Islands' Day 7 railtour	LNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' arrives at Coatbridge Central with 1Z61 Fort William - Coatbridge Central Steam Dreams 'Highlands and Islands' Day 7 railtour
61306 at Coatbridge CentralLNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' arrives at Coatbridge Central with 1Z61 Fort William - Coatbridge Central Steam Dreams 'Highlands and Islands' Day 7 railtour 15.5.19	61306 at WhiffletLNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' passes through Whifflet with 5Z62 Coatbridge Central - Holytown Steam Dreams 'Highlands and Islands' Day 7 railtour 15.5.19	37669 at Whifflet37669 seen on the rear of 5Z62 Coatbridge Central - Holytown 15.5.19	61306 at CarstairsLNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' passes through Carstairs with 1Z62 Holytown - Penrith Steam Dreams 'Highlands and Islands' Day 7 railtour 15.5.19
LNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' arrives at Coatbridge Central with 1Z61 Fort William - Coatbridge Central Steam Dreams 'Highlands and Islands' Day 7 railtour	LNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' passes through Whifflet with 5Z62 Coatbridge Central - Holytown Steam Dreams 'Highlands and Islands' Day 7 railtour	37669 seen on the rear of 5Z62 Coatbridge Central - Holytown 15.5.19	LNER Thompson Class B1 61306 'Mayflower' passes through Carstairs with 1Z62 Holytown - Penrith Steam Dreams 'Highlands and Islands' Day 7 railtour 15.5.19

Thomas the Tank Engine at Bo'ness"Thomas the tank engine" aka No 1 'Lord Roberts' seen at the "Day Out with Thomas" event at Bo'ness 11.5.19 I took my 2 year old cousin along to the Day Out with Thomas at Bo'ness on 11th May. It was a good day out (my cousin had a ball!) and there was plenty to see.

In the Bay Platform was No. 6 'Percy' and No. 1 'Thomas' (Coltness Iron Works No.1 'Lord Roberts'), both locos remained here for the duration of our visit.

The service was operated by Caledonian Railway 439 class No 419 and National Coal Board Fife Area no 19 (both minus their Thomas faces), which operated the hourly service up to Birkhill (where there was a bouncy castle, catering van and tent with entertainer set up) and back.

Meanwhile at Bo'ness, N.C.B. no. 6 was seen shunting a demonstration goods train up and down the run round loop. The Museum was also open as was the display shed so there was plenty to see.

Thomas the Tank Engine at Bo'ness"Thomas the tank engine" aka No 1 'Lord Roberts' seen at the "Day Out with Thomas" event at Bo'ness 11.5.19	"Percy" at Bo'ness"Percy" seen at the "Day Out with Thomas" event at Bo'ness 11.5.19	419+19 at BirkhillCaledonian Railway 439 class no 419 and National Coal Board Fife Area no 19 run round their train at Brikhill to form the 11.00am 'Day Out with Thomas' special service to Bo'ness 11.5.19	19+419 at BirkhillNational Coal Board Fife Area No 19 and Caledonian Railway 439 class no 419 prepare to double head the 11.00am 'Day Out with Thomas' special service from Birkhill - Bo'ness 11.5.19
"Thomas the tank engine" aka No 1 'Lord Roberts' seen at the "Day Out with Thomas" event at Bo'ness 11.5.19	"Percy" seen at the "Day Out with Thomas" event at Bo'ness 11.5.19	Caledonian Railway 439 class no 419 and National Coal Board Fife Area no 19 run round their train at Brikhill to form the 11.00am 'Day Out with Thomas' special service to Bo'ness	National Coal Board Fife Area No 19 and Caledonian Railway 439 class no 419 prepare to double head the 11.00am 'Day Out with Thomas' special service from Birkhill - Bo'ness
419+19 at BirkhillCaledonian Railway 439 class no 419 and National Coal Board Fife Area no 19 approach Birkhill as they double head the 11.30am 'Day Out with Thomas' special service from Bo'ness - Birkhill 11.5.19	419+19 at Bo'nessCaledonian Railway 439 class no 419 and National Coal Board Fife Area no 19 run round their train prior to double heading the 12.30pm 'Day Out with Thomas' special service from Bo'ness - Birkhill 11.5.19	N.C.B. No 6 at Bo'nessN.C.B. No 6 works a demonstration freight run along the run round loop at Bo'ness Station 11.5.19	49 at Bo'nessLNER D40 Class No 49 'Gordon Highlander' at Bo'ness 11.5.19
Caledonian Railway 439 class no 419 and National Coal Board Fife Area no 19 approach Birkhill as they double head the 11.30am 'Day Out with Thomas' special service from Bo'ness - Birkhill	Caledonian Railway 439 class no 419 and National Coal Board Fife Area no 19 run round their train prior to double heading the 12.30pm 'Day Out with Thomas' special service from Bo'ness - Birkhill	N.C.B. No 6 works a demonstration freight run along the run round loop at Bo'ness Station	LNER D40 Class No 49 'Gordon Highlander' at Bo'ness
Glasgow Subway no 55 at Bo'nessGlasgow Subway no 55 at Bo'ness 11.5.19	45170 at Bo'nessLMS Stanier 8F 45170 undergoing restoration work at Bo'ness 11.5.19	65243 at Bo'nessLNER J36 65243 on display at the Scottish Railway Museum, Bo'ness 11.5.19	61994 at Bo'nessLNER Gresley K4 61994, "The Great Marquess" is seen on display in the museum at Bo'ness 11.5.19
Glasgow Subway no 55 at Bo'ness	LMS Stanier 8F 45170 undergoing restoration work at Bo'ness	LNER J36 65243 on display at the Scottish Railway Museum, Bo'ness	LNER Gresley K4 61994, "The Great Marquess" is seen on display in the museum at Bo'ness

60009 at Bo’nessBritish Railways Green A4 class 60009 ‘Union of South Africa’ heads along the foreshore at Bo’ness with the 12.10 service to Manuel 6.5.19 On Monday 6th May (May Day Bank Holiday), the service at the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway was in the hands of A4 class 60009 'Union of South Africa', which was top and tailed with Caledonian Railway 439 class no 419. 60009 was used as it was visiting the railway, having hauled the previous day's SRPS Railtour to Aberdeen.

Unfortunately I couldn't stay to have a journey onboard, however I managed to get a few photos of the 11.25 from Manuel - Bo'ness and the 12.10 from Bo'ness - Manuel.

Due to the number of passengers wanting to get on board, an extra Mark 1 was brought out from the yard by 27001 and attached to the train prior to departing from Bo'ness on the 12.10 service to Manuel.

419 tnt 60009 at KinneilCaledonian Railway 439 class no 419 top and tailed with British Railways Green liveried A4 60009 'Union of South Africa' approach Kinneil Halt on the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway with the 11.25 service from Manuel - Bo'ness 6.5.19	Caledonian Railway 439 class no 419 top and tailed with British Railways Green liveried A4 60009 'Union of South Africa' approach Kinneil Halt on the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway with the 11.25 service from Manuel - Bo'ness
60009 at KinneilBritish Railways Green liveried A4 60009 'Union of South Africa' seen on the rear of the 11.25 service from Manuel - Bo'ness as it approaches Kinneil Halt 6.5.19	British Railways Green liveried A4 60009 'Union of South Africa' seen on the rear of the 11.25 service from Manuel - Bo'ness as it approaches Kinneil Halt
419 tnt 60009 at Bo'nessCaledonian Railway 439 class no 419 top and tailed with British Railways Green liveried A4 60009 'Union of South Africa' head along the foreshore on the approach to Bo'ness with the 11.25 service from Manuel - Bo'ness 6.5.19	Caledonian Railway 439 class no 419 top and tailed with British Railways Green liveried A4 60009 'Union of South Africa' head along the foreshore on the approach to Bo'ness with the 11.25 service from Manuel - Bo'ness
60009 at Bo'nessBritish Railways Green liveried A4 60009 'Union of South Africa' seen on the rear of the 11.25 service from Manuel - Bo'ness as it approaches Bo'ness 6.5.19	British Railways Green liveried A4 60009 'Union of South Africa' seen on the rear of the 11.25 service from Manuel - Bo'ness as it approaches Bo'ness
60009 at Bo'nessBritish Railways Green liveried A4 60009 'Union of South Africa' seen at Bo'ness after arrival on the rear of the 11.25 service from Manuel - Bo'ness 6.5.19	British Railways Green liveried A4 60009 'Union of South Africa' seen at Bo'ness after arrival on the rear of the 11.25 service from Manuel - Bo'ness
60009 at Bo'nessBritish Railways Green liveried A4 60009 'Union of South Africa' pulls forward out of Bo'ness station to allow an additional Mark 1 to be added to the train 6.5.19	British Railways Green liveried A4 60009 'Union of South Africa' pulls forward out of Bo'ness station to allow an additional Mark 1 to be added to the train
60009 at Bo'nessBritish Railways Green liveried A4 60009 'Union of South Africa' pulls forward out of Bo'ness station to allow an additional Mark 1 to be added to the train 6.5.19	British Railways Green liveried A4 60009 'Union of South Africa' pulls forward out of Bo'ness station to allow an additional Mark 1 to be added to the train
27001 at Bo'nessBR Blue liveried 27001 brings an additional Mark 1 from the yard to attach to the 12.10 service from Bo'ness - Manuel 6.5.19	BR Blue liveried 27001 brings an additional Mark 1 from the yard to attach to the 12.10 service from Bo'ness - Manuel
60009 at Bo’nessBritish Railways Green liveried A4 class 60009 ‘Union of South Africa’ waits to reverse onto the 12.10 service from Bo’ness to Manuel 6.5.19	British Railways Green liveried A4 class 60009 ‘Union of South Africa’ waits to reverse onto the 12.10 service from Bo’ness to Manuel 6.5.19
60009 at Bo’nessBritish Railways Green A4 class 60009 ‘Union of South Africa’ heads along the foreshore at Bo’ness with the 12.10 service to Manuel 6.5.19	British Railways Green A4 class 60009 ‘Union of South Africa’ heads along the foreshore at Bo’ness with the 12.10 service to Manuel
419 at Bo’nessCaledonian Railways 439 class no 419 is seen o the rear of the 12.10 service from Bo’ness - Manuel 6.5.19	Caledonian Railways 439 class no 419 is seen o the rear of the 12.10 service from Bo’ness - Manuel
419 at Bo’nessCaledonian Railways 439 class no 419 seen on the rear of the 12.10 service from Bo’ness- Manuel 6.5.19	Caledonian Railways 439 class no 419 seen on the rear of the 12.10 service from Bo’ness- Manuel

37038+37218 tnt 68018 at Hillington WestDRS Liveried 37038+37218 top and tailed with 68018 pass through Hillington West with 1Z86 Mossend Up Yard - Gourock, the second leg of the Branch Line Society's 'Gourock Growler' Railtour 27.4.19 The Branch Line Society operated a railtour from Crewe to Gourock and return on Saturday 27th April. The 'Gourock Growler' operated with DRS locomotives throughout and the SRPS railtour Mark 1's.

On Friday 26th, 66425 worked light engine from Carlisle Kingmoor - Bo'ness to collect the railtour set, heading south, the tour worked as 1Z85 and was worked as the 'Bo'ness Bonus' railtour to Crewe. The route taken to Crewe included heading to Edinburgh Waverley then via the Shotts Line to Holytown, then via Motherwell and the West Coast Main Line.

On to Saturday and the main event. The tour left Crewe led by 88007+88002 and was top and tailed with 68018 on the rear, however due to multiple working issues between the pair of 88's, 88007 was removed at Carlisle leaving 88002 to lead to Mossend Up Yard. The tour was running late, therefore missed out many of the loops that it was due to pass through on the way up the West Coast Main Line until it reached Carstairs, where it was held in the Down Passing Loop for 8 minutes to allow 390122 to pass it.  It then proceeded to Mossend Up Yard, where it arrived 28 minutes late. It was here that there was a change of traction, with 88002 being removed and 37038+37218 being added for the trip out to Gourock.

37038+37218 with 68018 on the rear of the train then departed Mossend Up Yard 28 minutes late heading to Whifflet South Junction then on the rarely used single track to Sunnyside junction, where the tour headed along the North Clyde Line as far as Anniesland before taking the Maryhill line to Springburn. After Springburn, the tour headed back onto the North Clyde Line at Bellgrove  before taking the City of Glasgow Union Line to Shields Junction. The tour then headed towards Paisley Gilmour Street, where it took the Inverclyde line out to Gourock.

After a break at Gourock, 68018 led for the journey back towards Glasgow where the tour stopped at Polmadie Clydesdale Loop. It then reversed with 37038 and 37218 leading once more, it headed back towards Paisley Gilmour Street where this time it headed along the Ayrshire line via Kilwinning then at Newton on Ayr junction it headed along the single track, which would join the GSW line near Mauchline and would continue south to Carlisle. At Carlisle, the 37's were removed and 88009 was added to the front for the remainder of the journey to Crewe.

On Sunday, the final day of the tour, 66305 brought the SPRS stock back north as 1Z66 Crewe - Polmont 'The Sunday Shed' tour. After it arrived at Polmont, 66305 returned the stock to Bo'ness before heading back to Carlisle Kingmoor Light Engine.

66425 at AddiewellDRS liveried 66425 and the SPRS railtours Mark 1's approach Addiewell with 1Z65 Bo'ness - Crewe 'Bo'ness Bonus' Branch Line Society railtour 26.4.19	88002 tnt 68018 at CarstairsDRS Liveried 88002 top and tailed with 68018 waits in the Down Passenger Loop at Carstairs with 1Z85 Crewe - Mossend Up Yard, the first leg of the Branch Line Society's 'Gourock Growler' Railtour 27.4.19	37038 + 37218 tnt 68018 at Hillington WestDRS Liveried 37038+37218 top and tailed with 68018 pass through Hillington West with 1Z86 Mossend Up Yard - Gourock, the second leg of the Branch Line Society's 'Gourock Growler' Railtour 27.4.19
DRS liveried 66425 and the SPRS railtours Mark 1's approach Addiewell with 1Z65 Bo'ness - Crewe 'Bo'ness Bonus' Branch Line Society railtour 26.4.19	DRS Liveried 88002 top and tailed with 68018 waits in the Down Passenger Loop at Carstairs with 1Z85 Crewe - Mossend Up Yard, the first leg of the Branch Line Society's 'Gourock Growler' Railtour 27.4.19	DRS Liveried 37038+37218 top and tailed with 68018 pass through Hillington West with 1Z86 Mossend Up Yard - Gourock, the second leg of the Branch Line Society's 'Gourock Growler' Railtour 27.4.19

385018 at HartwoodOn only the fourth day of Class 385's working passenger services on the Shotts line, 385018 pulls into Hartwood with 2Y50 16.16 Scotrail service from Glasgow Central - Edinburgh Waverley 26.4.19 With class 385's now starting to be used on the Glasgow Central - Edinburgh Waverley via Shotts line, the single diagram that has been converted to 385 operation so far has seen a different 385 on it each day on it's first week in service.

The following 385's have been used:

Interestingly, the 385 on the Shotts line has also went on to do some evening services on the Cathcart Circle starting with the 19.45 service to Newton.

The photo shows 385018 arriving at Hartwood with 2Y50 16.16 Scotrail service from Glasgow Central - Edinburgh Waverley on Friday 26th April.

385019 at HartwoodOn the first day of Class 385's working passenger services on the Shotts line, 385019 pulls into Hartwood with 2Y50 16.16 Scotrail service from Glasgow Central - Edinburgh Waverley 23.4.19 On 23rd April, the class 385's made their debut on the Glasgow Central - Edinburgh Waverley via Shotts Service. Initially only one of the diagrams is currently being operated by the 385, with 019 the chosen unit for the first day in service.  Class 156's and 158's remain on the other diagrams for the time being.

It's expected that only the class 385/0's (3 car variation) will operate on this route.

The class 385 is expected to work the following services for the remainder of the week:

• 2Y60 0715 Glasgow Central to Edinburgh
• 1Y75 0858 Edinburgh to Glasgow Central
• 2Y52 1016 Glasgow Central to Edinburgh
• 1Y81 1157 Edinburgh to Glasgow Central
• 2Y44 1316 Glasgow Central to Edinburgh
• 1Y87 1457 Edinburgh to Glasgow Central
• 2Y50 1616 Glasgow Central to Edinburgh
• 2Y51 1755 Edinburgh to Glasgow Central

The photo shows 385019 working 2Y50 16.16 Glasgow Central - Edinburgh service on 23.4.19

3004, 3098 and 3120 at St Peter's Square3004 arrives at St Peter's Square with a Altrincham - Bury service (diverted via Exchange Square), 3098 arrives with a MediacityUK - Ashton service, while 3120 departs with an Ashton - MediacityUK service 10.4.19 The Manchester Metrolink is the largest light rail network in the UK. The tram network currently boasts 120 Bombadier M5000 trams operating on 18 routes, with a further route and another 27 trams under construction.

The services are currently as follows:

Construction is well underway on a new route running from Crumpsall on the Bury route to the Trafford Centre.   Crumpsall is having an additional platform added to the existing stop, while the new part of the route, which construction is well underway, leaves the current system at Pomona on the Eccles line and makes its way to the Trafford Centre with a combination of on street and off street running. The new route is expected to open next year with a standard 12 minute headway.

On my visit to Manchester from 8th - 11th April, I noted that the 8 routes ran with the following combinations of trams

• Altrincham - Bury: Double M5000's
• Altrincham - Piccadilly: Single M5000's Mon / Tues / Thurs and Doubles on Weds as Manchester United were playing Barcelona at Old Trafford.
• Bury - Piccadilly: Double M5000's Mon / Tues / Thurs and singles on Weds as doubles operated on Altrincham route instead
• Ashton - Eccles: single M5000's
• Ashton - MediacityUK: Single M5000's
• East Didsbury - Rochdale: mix of single M5000's and doubles
• East Didsbury - Shaw: mix of single M5000's and doubles
• Manchester Airport - Victoria: Single M5000's

The Altrincham and Bury routes appeared to use lower numbered trams with higher numbered trams mainly (but not always) appearing on the other routes.

Less all over advert liveries were noted this year compared to last, with Vodafone adverts being seen on trams 3017, 3047, 3093 and 3100 and 3075 advertising the Body Shop.

Photo spots

There are plenty of places to spot the trams, either running on street or off street:

• St Peter's Square: One of the busiest stops on the system with trams from 7 out of 8 routes stopping here.
• Manchester Central: 7 out of 8 routes pass here
• Princess Street / Cross Street: East Didsbury - Shaw / Rochdale head along here
• Mosley Street: Altrincham - Bury / Piccadilly, Manchester Airport - Victoria and Ashton - Eccles / MediaCityUK pass along here
• Piccadilly Gardens: triangular junction with trams passing with most routes diverging for Piccadilly every couple of minutes
• Victoria: recently modernised stop with 4 platforms on a 3 track layout. Airport services turn back here.
• Deansgate - Castlefield: car park area good for photoing the trams on the sleeper track and coming off former railway bridge
• Salford Quays: good for photoing trams heading along quayside.
• Mediacityuk: 2 platform terminus, triangular junction with Eccles branch.

314208 at Glasgow Central314208 awaits departure from Glasgow Central with 2D27 12.42 service to Paisley Canal 1.3.19 On 5th April, 314208 became the 6th class 314 to be withdrawn from service (really 8th if you include 207 and 210 which were reinstated).

The withdrawal of 314208 leaves 10 units available for service: 314202 / 203 / 205 / 207 / 209 / 210 / 211 / 214 / 215 and 216. This is likely to reduce further following the May timetable change, when it is expected that only 5 units will be required for service on a daily basis.

The photograph shows 314208 awaiting departure from Glasgow Central with 2D27 12.42 service to Paisley Canal on 1st March 2019.