From the guard's van

Variety from York....

2012-03-03T15:42:00.001Z

Green Arrow was over the inspection pit in NRM a few days ago so I took the opportunity of taking this view from a rather unusual position.

This has its origins with the LSWR... I think.

I used to have a Hornby model of this many years ago!!!! Now the original is in the workshop at NRM receiving attention.

Then I walked through the station to view the very latest in railway technology!!! And I saw this three car pacer too.

But the building is still beautiful!!!

A new sky line...

2011-12-30T14:04:00.000Z

You really do see the most amazing things from the guard's van these days.... this is the North end of York station on 30th December 2011

Flying Scotsman....

2011-08-09T12:24:00.002+01:00

The "other" Flying Scotsman. This DVT and a class 91 were repainted in this purple scheme to advertise the new service back in May. Needless to say both the loco and the DVT are being used on any train that needs them. The DVT is seen arriving at York from the North into platform 5.

In a hurry.....

A bit more variety....

2011-07-15T15:44:00.001+01:00

DRS often store their class 66s in one of the sidings at the back of the station but they are at present being redesigned so they had to find somewhere else to park this one. The south facing bay proved to be the only space left.... and its under cover.

The two "Royal" class 67s are seen here "doing something useful" by taking a test train southbound through platform 3. Note the raised pantograph on the middle coach.

Variety at York station....

2011-07-14T22:16:00.000+01:00


First we have the uncomfortable...

Then the old but very comfortable. Still they plod on!!

Trans Pennine units are among the best we have.

Then comes the occasional freight.... 30+ loaded bogies.

Then the Royal Scotsman's empty stock came in and changed engines. Uncoupling and running around trains in stations is not a very common exercise these days.

The train had several dining and sleeping cars and this rather strange coach with a balcony at the back.

Paignton variety!!!

2011-06-23T14:56:00.000+01:00

As you can see.... there isn't much, although there was a steam train behind me but it was GWR!!

York Station 1987.....

2011-06-02T11:59:00.000+01:00


Recently discovered a number of pictures taken in 1987. These are just a few of those taken at York during June of that year.

Generally there are more tracks and far fewer passengers... and no "knitting" of course.

The new trains of the times were not the most comfortable or exciting ever produced!!! This one is a class 143 operated under the Yorkshire MetroTrain banner.


Quite a lot changed here today. Tracks removed, signals replaced, buildings demolished and liveries and brand names changed. In fact the platform edge and the church spire are about the only things remaining.... more later.

Early start.....

2011-04-21T20:45:00.000+01:00

It's 06.45 on Stuttgart station. Dawn is just breaking and we are ready for home. After several trips to Germany by road we had eventually decided that the train was a much better option. We travelled out via Eurostar to Paris and then by TGV to Stuttgart and after 12 hours travelling we arrived on the dot... every connection and every arrival on time.

Now we must trust the railway system of three countries again. This is the train we used to travel to Paris and it, and all the other trains we used that day, ran to time... well ok, our arrival at home was 4 minutes late, but after 12 hours of travelling that's not bad and certainly better than our schedule by road.

Add to that the fact that we used electric trains at every stage of the journey... i.e. no direct pollution and we were very satisfied customers....

A morning on York station....

2011-03-25T19:07:00.000Z

We begin with EAST COAST trains.


Then a glimpse of a TRANS PENNINE EXPRESS train arriving from the south.


followed by some freight activity.....

A visit to NRM.....

2011-03-18T20:34:00.001Z

The station seen from the viewing gallery at the National Railway Museum...

Work being carried out in the workshop at NRM. 55002 shares workshop space with the tender from FLYING SCOTSMAN

The machine shop seen from the viewing area.

Meanwhile at the station this cross country express waits departure time.

Industrial interlude...

2011-01-30T11:00:00.000Z

Littleton Colliery railway, Cannock Chase.... sadly no more.

A narrow gauge excursion......

2011-01-15T16:18:00.002Z


Let the first image tell you where it is... all taken almost a decade ago!!

Shiny valve gear,,,, but which loco and where???

2010-12-02T15:22:00.002Z

Mogul.....

2010-11-23T15:18:00.001Z

Any suggestions where this neat little mogul is....?

More from York station....

2010-11-04T16:44:00.000Z

Trans Pennine Express class 185 sets out for Manchester Airpot.

Northbound East Coast class 91 accelerates out of the station.

Hiding in the shadows....

Double deckers.....

2010-10-19T19:51:00.000+01:00

First a couple of views in Stuttgart station.... if DB has its way it will soon be replaced by a modern through station.... and they are determined to have their way whatever any protesters might say!!!

Now we see a double deck driving trailer in the suburbs.

York station....24th July 2010.

2010-09-17T19:45:00.001+01:00

Deltic excursion heads for Scarborough...

The guard's van....

2010-09-11T20:17:00.004+01:00

Why the title? My interest in railways comes from my father's family. He was a goods guard, His brothers worked on the railway and his father worked for the LNWR. My father came home each day and told me what he had seen from the guard's van and it has stayed with me over the years. The railway is very different now. I want to share a variety of images of todays railways (which my father would hardly recognise) and a few of the railway he knew.

The loco would certainly have been familiar to him. It was one of the workhorses of the LMS when he joined it. The station is, of course, York but he knew that too from holiday trip.