Loose_Grip/Pete's photos with the keyword: 1975

The once-splendid Great Western Railway Snow Hill station was slowly rotting away 8 years after through trains were withdrawn and 3 years since the last shuttles to Wolverhampton Low Level ran. At this time the station was used as a car park and the trackbed was filled so cars could park across the platforms. This shot was taken on a Sunday when the car park was closed.

Thorne colliery, opened in 1926, was the deepest & furthest east mine in the South Yorkshire coalfield. This changed the small market town of Thorne into an industrial centre although the pit village of Moorends (where I was born) was built a discreet distance from the old town. In 1956 the colliery closed temporarily for repairs to the shaft to stop the influx of water. Although millions of pounds were spent the mine never opened again and today all trace of the original colliery seen here was erased & even the later 1980s winding gear has now been demolished. HFF everyone & have a great weekend.

Abbey Wood station Up platform looking west from the footbridge. The 1849 South Eastern & Chatham Railway buildings look a bit grubby. Commuters to London city centre observe the two trackmen at work. Today the station has changed completey out of recognition as Abbey Wood is the eastern terminus of the new Crossrail / Elizabeth line. Phil Sutters has recently posted a great series of shots of the station: www.ipernity.com/doc/philsutters/51793576/in/activity

A Peak Class diesel is working hard on a Northeast to Southwest expess (1V76 to Penzance) as it crosses the viaduct over the canal & Bristol Road in Birmingham. Queen Elizabeth Hospital forms the backdrop. By 1975 the Midland Railway station, opened in 1876, was unmanned & uncared for. The glass in the platform awning had gone & the buildings were derelict. It was demolished and replaced by a modern structure a few years later.

Austria Erzberg steam banker pushing an empty iron ore mineral train up the mountain. It was taken with an old Halina 35X camera on time-expired film during ALP fieldwork in September 1975. The crew look remarkably laid-back enjoying the autumn sun.