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Above: A fine study of the lever frame in Romsey's preserved signal box. All of this equipment is in working order, and some of it actually operates signals and points which have been installed outside. The box, originally situated at the north eastern corner of Romsey station, was closed by BR in October 1982 but escaped the planned demolition because the Romsey & District Buildings Preservation Trust purchased it (for a mere £10), and funded the £1,000 removal costs. In June 1983, the whole structure was lifted across the tracks to a temporary new location to the south east of the station until a further move in April 1987 saw it arrive at its current home, on a nearby piece of land purchased from Hampshire County Council. For further details, see www.romseysignalbox.org.uk. 16th October 2010. (Mike Smith)
 
Above: The down platform at Horsebridge station on the Test Valley line, which once linked Romsey with Andover. Shortly before the branch closed in September 1964, it was winning 'best kept station' prizes, so the then station master would be very pleased if he could see it today. As can be seen, the present owners have gone to great lengths to install authentic features, such as the luggage trolley, wheelbarrow, Mausell coach and track panel. 16th October 2010. (Mike Smith) Note: If you want to see more of Mike Smith'excellents photographs, including many studies of old railways, visit www.geograph.co.uk and search for 'Romsey signal box', 'Horsebridge station' and 'West Bay station'.
 
Above: Cockfield station was situated on the GER line from Long Melford to Bury St. Edmunds, which closed in April 1961. Much of the trackbed has been absorbed back into farmland, but a mile of it south of Cockfield can be walked between grid references TL 905542 and TL 914522. As can be seen, the trackbed through the station is now a finely kept lawn. 25th August 2008. (Alan Simspon)
 
Above: Stoke by Clare station was situated on another branch out of Long Melford, that which headed east to Haverhill and Shelford. This route closed in March 1967, along with the line south from Long Melford to Sudbury, and these two losses combined brought to an end the GER's cross country link between Colchester and Cambridge. The station master's house is of typical GER construction, while the use of black and white for this study gives it a distinctly 1950s look. 2nd April 1985. (Alan Simpson)
 
Above: Takeley station on the former GER line from Bishop's Stortford to Braintree is a lucky survivor, for by the the turn of the millennium it was in a ruinous state. It was renovated in 2006 at a cost of £290,000 to provide 'community facilities'; we understand that it is now a rangers' office for staff working on the nearby Flitch Way, which re-uses virtually all of this disused railway. As can be seen, the restoration was carried out to a high standard. 17th November 2006. (Alan Simpson)
 
Above: At the north end of England, the wonderfully named Slaggyford was the penultimate station on the NER's Alston branch, which left the Newcastle-Carlisle line at Haltwhistle, famous for its association with Hadrian's Wall. The Alston branch closed in May 1976, so it is remarkable that this timber station should have survived all this time. The trackbed of this scenic line now forms the South Tyne Trail. The narrow gauge South Tynedale Railway hopes eventually to extend here from its Alston base, so perhaps one day trail users will have a choice or walking or riding the final few miles into Alston. 3rd April 2010. (Alan Simpson)
 
Above: Back in the east again, this is the former station at Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk, a terminus which was also the junction of separate branch lines from Heacham, north of King's Lynn, and County School, north of Wymondham. The premises is now used as a pottery and book shop. Once again the distinctive architecture reveals the building's GER provenance. A modern narrow gauge railway now uses the trackbed from a point on the southern edge of the town to Walsingham. 12th November 2008. (Alan Simpson)
 

Above: This unprepossessing scene (which is not a good advert for the month of November either) shows Walsingham goods shed and station, the latter now serving as St. Seraphim's Russian Orthodox church. The road between the two leads to the new Walsingham station, which is the southern terminus of the Wells and Walsingham Light Railway. South of this point, i.e. behind the photographer, the trackbed is a cycle trail to Houghton St. Giles (ca. 1 mile) and then a track of unknown status to TF 915319, just north of Fakenham. This track might actually be a permissive route linking Houghton with Fakenham, but confirmation is needed; if you can tell us, please get in touch using the form on our Contact page. 12th November 2008. (Alan Simpson)