Last update 16 April 2025
This is an occasional quiz. Can you help to identify these photographs? The editor is perplexed why his younger self failed to keep proper records! Click on a photo to view a larger sized one in a new tab.
If you can identify anything here, please contact the editor who will be pleased to hear from you. Unsolved mysteries remain at the top of the page, those solved move down.
Thanks to those who have helped solve some of the mysteries.
Taken in 1996, 60065 sits in a loop with its train of coal wagons. Someone is just visible crossing the bridge! Photos on the film just before are in Oxford and after are in Swindon, not necessarily on the same day.
This disused structure is the original Balloch station, closed in April 1988 in favour of a smaller station south of a level crossing. The original is seen here in August 1989. The lower building to the right has long since disappeared but the main building has been restored and put to further use. The foreground has also been landscaped.
This 1995 photo shows a fairly new 465037 resting between duties at Beckenham Junction.
73208 and 2256 pass Purley in August 1995, looking northwards.
A class 456 and two class 455s wait at Tattenham Corner in 1995. The tree line forming a neat backdrop has since been removed, as has the far platform.
A class 08, 08727, shunts some non-passenger carriages in Stranraer Town yard, some time in August 1985. This was an organised depot visit but appears to be the only photo the editor took on that trip.
This photo of a class 40 with a selection of ballast wagons was taken at Lichfield Trent Valley. It accompanied a press release dated 17 August 1988. The company in question, Bytech, used it to publicise a computer system recently sold to British Rail, this being simply a stock monochrome photograph to illustrate generic 'railway'.
South west London in August or September 1995; 455718 is seen at Shepperton.
Again from August 1985, this view shows a pair of class 20s, 20148 and another, drawing a rake of coal hoppers round a fairly tight curve leading off the Ayr Harbour branch, likely heading towards Chalmerston, Killoch or New Cumnock. The footbridge (just visible) was replaced shortly after as part of the Ayrshire electrification scheme. The original photo was very dark and has been adjusted to reveal more of the details, at the expense of the 'gasometer' behind the train.
This is Hammerton station, looking towards York. If the automatic date is correct it was taken on 21 August 1998. In the intervening years, notice boards and fences have obscured the lower left edge view.
This August 1985 view shows a class 101 DMU number 333 taking a crossover to regain correct line at Cumbernauld. It is leaving the reversing siding to form a service back to Glasgow.
DMU P464 is seen leaving an Starcross heading towards Newton Abbot in the early 1980s. The wavy platform surface on the right is interesting in its own right. Apologies are proffered for the camera shake!
Another 1996 image, buffer-fitted 43014 leads a Reading-bound CrossCountry service over a crossover south of Oxford. The scrub land on the right is now a car park.
A sunny August or September 1995 day sees a slightly wonky class 104 DMU vehicle in Network SouthEast colours sitting with other NSE- and blue/grey-liveried vehicles in Old Oak Common depot.
Another class 60, 60044 sits on Leicester depot with 58047 just visible to the right. This was taken from a passing train in April 1996.
This February 1997 view shows 456024 in East Croydon station platform 5
Believed taken in May 1985, this miniature railway is the short-lived (1985-1987) Leysdown Coastal Railway.
Dated August 1986, this view shows DMU vehicle 54195 waiting at Scarborough; in the centre, mail bags are transferred between Royal Mail van and station trolley and a class 08 shunter sits on the right. The shunter could be 08771.
Bovey Tracey old station taken on 9 August 1984. The van is parked on what is now A382 Monks Way.
This undated image shows Greaves Sidings signal box frame.
This is a 1989 view of a DMU at Aberdare station.