An 80s shot of a rail car departing Thornaby. At present, modern units arrive and depart at a forlorn desolate north platforms waiting on bus shelter style waiting rooms.

A real case of running down a station building on purpose to give a reason to demolish.

I’m contemplating making this into a thread of old pictures I find interesting, not necessarily railway related.

I’m stuck at home for another week after being in close contact so thought it might be interesting for me to do.

Thread 2/ Another of Thornaby. A shocking disgrace that such a magnificent structure was let into this state. Its demolition in 1982 was "institutionalised vandalism", I cant help but agree. Its Stone-carvings, which put Thornaby in the Guinness World Record Books were not saved.

3/ A Double decker bus cruises passes the old Saltburn Railway Station Booking office.
(1974)
Unfortunately no longer used for railway purposes. The present station lies to the side with plastic glass waiting shelters and barren platforms housing an electronic ticket machine

4/ The infamous summer night of 1941 over the north of England battered Middlesbrough Railway Station into a position which resulted in the permanent removal of the overpowering glass canopy.

Probably some of the most famous railway photographs of the war.

5/ Newcastle Railway Station once had the World’s Largest Railway Crossing. After the 1970s & 80s when the intense suburban network was transformed into the Tyne & Wear Metro, trains were transferred to dedicated underground platforms beneath central station.

6/ Balloch Pier Railway Station, shortly before closure in the ‘80s. A classic holiday-making scene of pleasure boats ready to take a cruise up Loch Lomond for a day out of the city of Glasgow.

If you ask me, the car in the foreground completes this image to perfection.

7/ I don’t know why I love this advertisement: its just so simple but brilliant at the same time. The font, the orange background.
(1976)
Built to last as well, some of them are still trundling the network down t’ south.

8/ I don’t know much about this photo other than it is in Aberdeen, 1962.

9/ the once beautiful and grand terminus of the Stockton and Darlington railway let into dereliction.
Stockton Railway Station. 1970s.

10/ Ernest Marples admiring his work after closing down Leicester Central Railway Station

11/ one of a lucky few, Glasgow Central Low Level reopening in 1979 as apart of the Argyle Line after lying decrepit and dormant for a decade.

12/ New Holland Pier Station in the summer 1978 a few years before closure when made redundant by the newly opened Humber Bridge.

13/ Glen Ogle Viaduct on the Oban & Callander Line shortly before closure, this is now a cycle path in the Trossachs National Park
(1960s, I believe)

14/ Terence Cuneo’s famous advertisement for the “Blue Trains” Glasgow Electric services, which replaced the steam locomotives.

15/ Cargo Fleet Railway station in the 1960s, the station was located nearby the present Riverside Football Ground in Middlesbrough. Despite the ruined and forgotten appearance, it took until the 1990s for a permanent closure. Ironically just before the football stadium was built

16/ In December of 1906, the GNR offered Xmas excursions departing from London Kings Cross. This was provided by Oliver Bury- the then general manager of the GNR.

17/ most people think of double headed powerful locomotives on the West Highland Line, however, in this picture a small tank engine takes on water at Garelochead for a push pull Criagendoran-Arrochar and Tarbet service.

18/ Guisborough Railway Station shortly after closure. The site is now a car park for shoppers heading into town.
(Closed: 2nd March 1964)

19/ Marske Railway Staton, 1960s. This beautiful waiting room is no more, with plastic waiting shelters in its place. Not much of a substitute if you ask me.

20/ I’m going to make a wild guess and say that this is the West Highland Line in the 1960s/70s. If anyone knows anything about this photograph....