#OnThisDay 158 years ago, the Midland mainline opened to passengers between Bedford and London. As St Pancras would not be ready for a further 2½ months, initially trains used the City Widened Lines to Kings Cross / Moorgate. Coat of Arms: Science Museum Collection buff.ly/sptegwd

#OnThisDay 185 years ago the London & Brighton Railway opened from Norwood Junction to Haywards Heath (the Brighton section followed on 21/09/1841). The iconic and much-photographed Ouse Valley (or Balcombe) Viaduct opened with the line. Alistair Hall buff.ly/cLpizKF

#OnThisDay 178 years ago the London & South Western Railway opened Waterloo, replacing Nine Elms, Vauxhall also opened that day. It grew into a confusing collection of 3 separate stations until 1922 rebuilding combined them, the former Eurostar platforms 20-24 opened in 1994 buff.ly/QKgl4T6

#OnThisDay 104 years ago the London & North Western Railway commenced DC electric services from Euston to Watford Junction with the opening of a third pair of tracks between Queens Park and Euston. Services were provided by Oerlikon units like this preserved at the NRM in York.

#OnThisDay 170 years ago Bracknell station was opened by the Staines & Wokingham Railway (later absorbed by the LSWR). It was a charming station until 1975 when it was redeveloped, here's a 1970 view with a single 2-BIL unit approaching: Peter Nicholls buff.ly/wxFH4Qc

#OnThisDay 181 years ago Scarborough station was opened by the North Eastern Railway. This fine Grade II listed station also boasts reputedly the longest railway seat in the world at 139m, on platform 1.

#OnThisDay 85 years ago Leman Street station closed. Barely a stone's throw from Fenchurch Street, halfway between there and Shadwell, it was one of several East End wartime casualties that never reopened. Photo / map: L A Blount/ Disused Stations buff.ly/zTeDJDN

#OnThisDay 161 years ago the connection between the LSWR and SER crossing Waterloo concourse opened to passengers. Indicative of how awful crossing London by road was, it was a crazy service from Euston to London Bridge via Willesden and Clapham Junction buff.ly/bLbAGNb

#OnThisDay 72 years ago BR closed Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace to passengers resulting in closure of Stroud Green, Crouch End, Highgate (high level), Cranley Gardens and Muswell Hill stations. What might have been: a 1938 stock transfer at Crouch End in 1969 (Jim Blake)🧵1/3

#OnThisDay 28 years ago the last Class 302 EMUs operated. On the last day 302228 arrives at Pitsea; with half of the train in the platform people are already opening the doors as was the norm on 'slammers'... the ORR would have kittens today! SP Railways buff.ly/dDbWHgU

#OnThisDay 155 years ago the District Railway opened a one-stop extension from Blackfriars to Mansion House. It remained a terminus for 13 years until the Inner Circle was completed in 1884, which explains its once-complex layout: LT Museum collection depiction of the western approaches.

#OnThisDay 100 years ago Ramsgate station was opened by the Southern Railway, replacing separate Harbour (LCDR) and Town (SER) stations. The architect of the magnificent Grade II listed building is believed to be Edwin Maxwell Fry. Images: Peter Bester buff.ly/yDn9bkh

#OnThisDay 146 years ago Manchester Central's magnificent trainshed was opened, replacing a temporary 1877 station. It closed in 1969 and is seen in 1977 when it had the ignominy of being a car park (Ian buff.ly/I9Q4M8X). Today it is 'Manchester Central', formerly GMEX.

#OnThisDay 15 years ago at 17:43 the last Victoria Line 1967 Stock departed Brixton for Seven Sisters, seen here arriving at Stockwell. Completely revolutionary when introduced; automatic one-person operation and rheostatic (dynamic) braking. bowroaduk buff.ly/uT1CtAT

#OnThisDay 17 years ago Southeastern commenced a preview of its high speed service using Hitachi Rail Japanese-built dual-voltage Class 395 'Javelin' trains between St Pancras and Ashford International. It remains the fastest domestic service in the UK, serving destinations across Kent.

At 260m Leicester Square and Covent Garden are the two closest stations on London Underground (platform to platform), but Shepherd's Bush (Market) and the original Wood Lane used to be even closer... around 205m (only around 90m between platform ends!) buff.ly/0UU43GU

#OnThisDay 100 years ago Becontree station opened as 'Gale Street Halt' by the LMS to serve the huge 26,000-home Becontree housing estate. The station was renamed when the line was quadrupled in 1932. Image c.1977 of a westbound R Stock train: std70040 buff.ly/4alF1I9

#OnThisDay 40 years ago at 18:37, the last train departed Broad Street terminus for Watford Junction (pictured). For its final year of life, trains served this temporary platform extension north of the original terminus while it was demolished. 15038 buff.ly/HyN6bNA

#OnThisDay 54 years ago the 1972 stock was introduced. I was guard and drove Mk1 (the first batch) on the Northern Line, while the second batch Mk2 continue in service on the Bakerloo Line; now the oldest passenger stock operating in the UK. LT Museum collection buff.ly/BpmxX7S

#OnThisDay 149 years ago magnificent York station was opened by the North Eastern Railway, replacing the original station within the city walls that required through trains to reverse. At the point of opening it was the largest railway station on earth and remains hugely imposing

#OnThisDay 35 years ago Staines West oil terminal saw its final train, incidentally it also opened on June 24th (1964). The M25 severing the Staines West branch resulted in access being via the Southern region after 1981. Image (January 1981): Steve Guess buff.ly/YxCOrUo

#OnThisDay 162 years ago the Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway opened from Machynlleth to Aberystwyth. Its grand terminus building dating from a 1925 rebuild is today a Wetherspoons (Yr Hen Orsaf - the old station), and only one platform survives, albeit retaining its canopy.

#OnThisDay 119 years ago, the Charing Cross Euston & Hampstead Railway, a.k.a. Hampstead Tube, opened between Charing Cross and Golders Green / Archway (originally 'Highgate' - pictured / Illustrated London News). This forms a significant chunk of the Northern Line today.

#OnThisDay 45 years ago Bricklayers Arms parcels concentration depot closed. Here's the yard later that year; it survived a further two years as a crane repair depot before finally closing October 1983, Mandela Way is on this site today. Image: David Flett buff.ly/6TQLF3L

#OnThisDay 10 years ago the Class 700 Siemens Desiros were introduced into passenger service on the Thameslink Bedford to Brighton service. 700141 heads a down service having just passed Brockley, I took this for the London Railway Atlas 6th edition cover buff.ly/xfzp2Dd

#OnThisDay 163 years ago Silvertown station opened to serve this rapidly industrialising area by the Royal Docks. Captured in its twilight years, a Silverlink branded Class 313 to Richmond pauses; today Elizabeth Line trains whizz through here at speed. buff.ly/Vp122cY

#OnThisDay 19 years ago the DLR terminus platform 4 at Stratford closed, replaced by today's 4a (4b followed on 9 December), allowing longer and more frequent trains. Platform 4 was originally built for a BR shuttle to Fenchurch Street that never happened. buff.ly/MtErVgZ

#OnThisDay 59 years ago saw the last 'Tyneside electric'. Since 1904 the Newcastle suburban system was 3rd rail DC but it was de-electrified in 1967, the newish 2EPB units like these sent south. 13 years later much was converted to Tyne & Wear Metro. buff.ly/5ttdvn5

#OnThisDay 139 years ago Sheringham was opened by the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway on its extension from Holt to Cromer. The station survives on the North Norfolk Railway (pictured: Tour Norfolk buff.ly/oVGt9Tv), with the National Rail station over the road.

#OnThisDay 163 years ago the LNWR opened its station in Buxton, alongside the Midland terminus that opened a fortnight beforehand. This is the surviving station in the town, although it lost its roof leaving just this lovely listed fan window. Alan Padley buff.ly/ZMyiUvm

#OnThisDay 185 years ago the Bristol & Exeter Railway opened from Bristol to Bridgwater, it was engineered by IK Brunel with 7ft broad gauge and leased to the GWR from the outset. Bridgwater's fine station building dates back to the line's opening: Google buff.ly/rKKsRp9

#OnThisDay 162 years ago the Hammersmith & City Railway - a Metropolitan and Great Western Railways joint venture - opened between Paddington and Hammersmith with two intermediate stations at Notting Hill (now Ladbroke Grove) and Shepherd's Bush. @ltmuseum buff.ly/AcM285U

#OnThisDay Earl's Court Control Room signals its last train. In its heyday the room controlled most of the District & Piccadilly Lines; a hive of activity. Latterly it has only controlled Fulham Broadway to Putney Bridge, I was lucky to return last month on a @BLSfixtures tour

#OnThisDay 65 years ago the first A60 Stock train - built for the Metropolitan Line electrification to Amersham (hence the 'A') - ran in passenger service. They bowed out in September 2012, having provided 51 years service. Image: LT Museum collection buff.ly/sxNtsrI

#OnThisDay 120 years ago the short-lived Bandon Halt between Wallington and Waddon was opened by the LB&SCR. As can be seen in this image taken from Plough Lane it was very rural, it closed 7th June 1914 before the UK entered World War 1. buff.ly/Mak4WsP

Pop down to Waterloo concourse by Platform 10 today to say hello to the lovely people at Network Southeast Friends who have a stand with railwayana and merch to mark NSE’s 40th birthday today… I picked up a set of coasters 🙂🔴🔵⚪️

#OnThisDay 187 years ago the London & Southampton Railway reached Southampton, of sorts. Southampton (temporary) to Winchester and Basingstoke to Winchfield opened, but Winchester to Basingstoke was a road coach until 11th May 1840, when this permanent Southampton terminus opened

#OnThisDay 175 years ago Primrose Hill station opened as 'Hampstead Road'. Mostly served by Watford Junction to Broad Street trains, these withered to a token service to Liverpool Street after Broad Street closed, and it finally closed in September 1992. My photos from May 1991

#OnThisDay 180 years ago The Brighton, Lewes and Hastings Railway opened between Brighton and Lewes including the graceful London Road Viaduct in Brighton. It can be fully appreciated in this 1848 John Wilson Carmichael painting, before development surrounded it: National Railway Museum

#OnThisDay 118 years ago 'Euston Road' station on the Hampstead Tube became 'Warren Street'. Presumably 'Euston' and 'Euston Road' being consecutive stops was extremely confusing! Thankfully, Euston Square was still 'Gower Street' at this point: LT Museum Collection buff.ly/ppDff8W

#OnThisDay 55 years ago London Transport marked the end of its steam-hauled engineers trains with this farewell trip from Moorgate to Neasden seen here at Barbican on the 'Widened Lines'... This was 3 years after BR had banned(!) steam traction. @ltmuseum buff.ly/vCFpyaN

#OnThisDay 110 years ago the L&SWR service between Kensington Addison Road (Olympia) and Richmond ceased, resulting in closure of stations at Shepherd's Bush and Hammersmith Grove Road (pictured: John Alsop buff.ly/G7T60sK). The route mostly survives as the District Line.

#OnThisDay 125 years ago Tattenham Corner opened, to serve Epsom Downs racecourse. The most significant event in its history occurred 1 December 1993 when the 06:16 from Victoria failed to stop and damaged the station building beyond repair. Andy Gibbs buff.ly/A9hwOM5

#OnThisDay 12 years ago the last C Stock ran in regular passenger service on the District Line, seen here at East Putney on the last day (Jack Gordon). Not universally popular, these were my favourite trains to drive... I was always happy on the Wimbleware service.

My history of the St Ives Branch Line is currently HALF PRICE in the @penandswordbooks.bsky.social summer sale - just £15 instead of £30! #StIvesBranchLine #StIves #StIvesCornwall www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-St-Ives-...

#OnThisDay 18 years ago Mitcham Eastfields opened, plugging a gap with poor railway station coverage. There was no ceremony as trains unexpectedly started calling that afternoon - Ian Docwra captured this Epsom bound service within the first hour buff.ly/vZ42SdN

#OnThisDay 169 years ago the Crumlin Viaduct opened across the Ebbw Valley in South Wales, for its entire life the tallest viaduct in the UK and the third tallest on earth at 200ft/61m. 1962 image two years before closure: John Wiltshire via Peter Brabham buff.ly/NK517kI

#OnThisDay 7 years ago the last train called at Angel Road station in Edmonton; Greater Anglia 317652/317671 on 2S57... seen here with a small welcome party (Aubrey buff.ly/aooJDMk). The station was replaced by Meridian Water to the south, which opened on 3rd June 2019.

#OnThisDay 26 years ago Croydon Tramlink extended to Wimbledon, reopening the Wimbledon to West Croydon BR route. A 'before' (c.1994 buff.ly/WOeVJjY) and 'after' shot (2008 buff.ly/t7SaKJn) at Waddon Marsh, the chimneys of Croydon 'B' power station dominating both

#OnThisDay 36 years ago City Thameslink opened. Fascinating image of the newly-opened station in its original 'St Paul's Thameslink' incarnation (its name changed after just 16 months on 30/09/1991), and before it was rafted over. Tom Burnham buff.ly/y1UPDLY