Machynlleth is a stop on the Cambrian Line in Powys between Caersws and Dovey Junction.
TfW Class 158 at Machynlleth
Information
Type:
National Rail
(Cambrian Line)
Station code:
MCN
Opened:
1863
Platforms:
2
The station was opened by the Newtown and Machynlleth Railway in 1863, this is four years after the town's first station, a narrow gauge Corris Railway station. The line later became part of the Cambrian Railway though in 1922 it was absorbed by the Great Western Railway. The station had a small engine shed which has survived and is still in railway though these days used for servicing diesel multiple units. The goods yard remained in use until 1974 [1].
Trains bound for Aberystwyth and Pwllheli from Shrewsbury (usually as far as Birmingham International) divide at Machynlleth, similarly England bound trains merge at the station. Access between the platforms is via a footbridge. The main station building has survived and is used as a booking office. The station is managed by Transport for Wales.
Main station building
Down the platform
View from the footbridge
Footbridge
Looking up towards the station building
[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Machynlleth to Barmouth (Middleton Press, 2009) Fig. 7
Crewe is a junction on the West Coast Main Line in Cheshire between Stafford and Winsford and the gateway to a number of destinations in the north west of England and Wales.
Northern 323 239 at Crewe
Information
Type:
National Rail (West Coast Main Line & Others)
Station code:
CRE
Opened:
1837
Platforms:
12
Crewe station was opened in 1837 by the Grand Junction Railway. This linked two existing railways and meant London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool were now connected by rail. Crewe station was at the centre of a wide array of railway related sites including Crewe Electric Depot and Crewe Works which manufactured many locomotives ranging from the BR 9F steam freight locomotives to the HST power cars.
Crewe has twelve platforms, some of which are a considerable length with also a number of bays. Services to the station are very varied and include WCML trains run by Avanti West Midlands (who manage the station) and London North Western Railway as well as local Northern and East Midlands Railway services plus Transport for Wales services to Chester and Wales. There are also Cross County and Caledonian Sleeper services, as well as freight and special workings.
The platforms are largely is covered by canopies though there are quite a few gaps and it looks a bit dilapidated. As with all larger stations there are also the usual collection of coffee shops and kiosks. Due to its location Crewe and the great variety of traffic the station has remained a popular destination for enthusiasts.
EMR 153 355 and LNWR 350 118 on two of Crewe's bay platforms
Great Portland Street is a stop on the London Underground Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines in central London between Baker Streetand Euston Square.
A Metropolitan Line train arrives
Information
Type:
Transport for London (London Underground Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines)
Station code:
ZGP
Opened:
1863
Platforms:
2
The station was opened in 1863 as part of the Metropolitan Railway original route and therefore is one of the oldest London Underground stations. It was opened as Portland Street, gaining the "Great" later on. It was known as Great Portland Street & Regents Park during the 1920s though has had it's current name since 1933.
The station was rebuilt in 1930 [1] and is situated on a traffic island, the platforms retain many of their original features. As the station is on three lines it has an intensive service with at least twenty four trains an hour in each direction.
Preparing to go
Station name
Down to the eastbound platforms
Station building
[1] Jason Cross, London Underground Guide 2017 (Train Crazy, 2017) p. 127
Black Lake is a stop on the West Midlands Metro in West Bromwich between Wednesbury Great WesternStreet and Dudley Street Guns Village.
Tram 24 departs
Information
Type:
West Midlands Metro
Opened:
1999
Platforms:
2
Black Lake was one of the original West Midlands Metro stops opened in 1999. It is situated near to the former Swan Village railway station which closed in 1972 (the station was the opposite side of the level crossing to the metro stop).
Black Lake is situated next to the Ridgacre Branch of the Wednesbury Old Canal, the Metro crossing the canal just next to the platforms.
Tram 51 speeds away from Black Lake heading to Birmingham
Nantwich is a stop on the Crewe-Shrewsbury part of the Welsh Marches Line in Cheshire between Crewe and Wrenbury.
Transport for Wales 175 009 at Nantwich
Information
Type:
National Rail
(Welsh Marches Line)
Station code:
NAN
Opened:
1858
Platforms:
2
The station was opened by the Crewe & Shrewsbury Railway in 1858 and later became part of the London & North Western Railway. In 1862 the Nantwich & Markey Drayton Railway reached the town turning the station into a junction, this became part of the Great Western Railway later on. Nantwich had GWR services heading though it, running over LNWR metals north of Nantwich. The Market Drayton line was closed in 1967.
The station is now unstaffed, the level crossings near the station are now monitored remotely from south Wales. Nantwich is now on the Welsh Marshes Line and is managed and served by Transport for Wales. Access between the platforms is via a footbridge on the road and level crossing at the end of the platforms.
Dorking Deepdene is a stop on the North Downs Line between Dorking West and Betchworth. It is within walking distance of Dorking station though the lines are not connected.
GWR 165 111 departs
Information
Type:
National Rail (North Downs Line)
Station code:
DPD
Opened:
1851
Platforms:
2
The station was opened by the Reading, Reigate & Guildford Railway in 1851 as Box Hill & Leatherhead Road [1] (quickly shortened to just Box Hill). In 1923 the station, which was by now part of the Southern Railway, was renamed Deepdene to avoid confusion with the nearby Box Hill & Westhumble station. Finally the station was renamed Dorking Deepdene in 1987.
The station is served by services along the North Downs Line between Reading and either Redhill or Gatwick Airport. There are up to two trains an hour in both directions. All services are run by Great Western Railway.
The station is on an embankment, and has wooden platforms to save weight [2], with steps up from the street level. The station is unstaffed with a ticket machine at street level. A couple of bus shelters and passenger information screens are at platform level.
GWR 165 128 arrives with a Reading bound service
Looking down the line
GWR 166 204 departs
Station entrance and ticket machine
Waiting to depart
[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Guildford to Redhill (Middleton Press, 1989) Fig. 64
Walthamstow Queen's Road is a stop on the London Overground Gospel Oak to Barking Line in north London between Blackhorse Road and Leyton Midland Road.
London Overground 710 272 departs
Information
Type:
Transport for London (London Overground GOBLIN Line)
Station code:
WMW
Opened:
1894
Platforms:
2
The station was opened as Walthamstow in 1894 [1] by the Tottenham & Forest Gate Railway. The original station buildings survived for decades though was finally demolished in 1995. Platform buildings including canopies were also lost. The station was renamed Walthamstow Queen's Road in 1968.
The station is now part of the London Overground network. The line was electrified in 2017. The station is a few hundred metres away from Walthamstow Central which serves the London Underground Victoria Line and a different London Overground line.
View down the platform
710 264 arrives
View down the platform showing the bus shelter accommodation
Heading off
[1] J.E. Connor, St Pancras to Barking (Middleton Press, 2005) Fig. 87
Bromfield was a stop on the Solway Junction Railway in Cumbria between Brayton and Abbey Junction.
Bromfield station [1]
Information
Type:
Solway Junction Railway
Opened:
1873
Closed:
1921
Platforms:
1
The station was opened by the Solway Junction Railway in 1873 serving a small village on the English side of the Solway Firth. The station was small with just a single platform though had a private goods siding.
The station was not successful. By 1910 the service was limited to just a handful of trains a day and later reduced even further. In 1917 passenger services ceased completely but were reinstated in 1920 only to cease for good in 1921. The line remained open until 1933.
[1] G.J. Aston & D.S. Barrie, "The Solway Junction Railway", Railway Magazine 70 (415) p. 32
