While the doubling of track at Dore & Totley ends the bottleneck at the east end of the south trans-Pennine route, a short single-line section remains at the western end, at Hazel Grove. Tracks to the right lead to/from Buxton.

Today marks the first day of the eastern end of the Hope Valley Resignalling Scheme. This has closed two signal boxes, one of which is seen here in happier times: Totley Tunnel East.

As dusk fell at Mansfield Woodhouse I spotted this Greater Anglia train being dragged through towards Kirkby-in-Ashfield. Coincidentally I was in 170206, also in the identical colour scheme.

Caverswall Signal Box and Meir Tunnel sit adjacently on the North Staffs Line.

Blue and green should never be seen!

I had hoped to have recorded “non-stop” through Derby. We didn’t quite achieve this in the very strictest sense. But the doors didn’t open so I think it still counts.

The new platform at Dore & Totley is taking shape.

Some Hazel Grove regulation today, as we were signalled to “overtake” a Buxton-Piccadilly using the bu-directional track.

Some Cheshire Lines regulation today. Northern’s 156428 is held in the Glazebrook Loop, allowing my beleaguered, battle-worn, late single unit to pass by.

Summer is over.

Double trouble in Merseyside.

A crack-of-dawn New Clee photo. The image doesn’t convey the smell of the nearby docks.

Here’s a first. My first Newstead photo. And my first time on 170203.

Office view. Going forward, which is a strange sensation for me.

The only lower quadrant semaphore stop signal in the Eastern Region (apparently) is located at Ketton, twixt Peterborough and Leicester. It’s sited on the “wrong” side so drivers can see it better.

Capacity-busting double track taking place now at Dore & Totley!

Until the next time, 156410 could be my last ever 156! (Taken at Lincoln yesterday).

Wales in England. 170204, our most recent acquisition from TfW, is awaiting some titivation at Eastcroft Depot, Nottingham.