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Fortunately there's been no lasting damage to the IWSR. The track was flooded at Long Arch on Wednesday, which meant that we couldn't operate that day. Following a line inspection that afternoon we were safe to operate for the rest of this week.

Firstly, I’m sorry to hear that Calthrop had a poor experience when travelling through Smallbrook Junction last week. Getting good connections at Smallbrook hasn’t always been easy, particularly with frequent changes to the Island Line timetable. Back in January we were in the awkward position...

Yes .... but you have to go back a long way! The Cowes & Newport Railway bought no.1 Pioneer and no. 2 Precurser new in 1861 and the Isle of Wight Railway's Beyer Peacock's were bought new between 1862 and 1883. I think the most recent new loco was the Isle of Wight Central Railway's no.8 in...

Another vote for Ventnor - in fact I chose it for my model railway and have been 'playing trains' there tonight! An incredibly cramped site build into a quarry that forms a natural amphitheatre. Tunnel mouth leading directly to a very short station throat (to the extent that locos had to go...

Out of interest, how would the 'Chinese' KF locomotive preserved at the National Railway Museum, compare?

I had a good search online, but couldn't see anything, other than a reference in the archive section of the Isle of Wight County Press to this happening in 1990 or 1991. However I distinctly remember watching a report about this on the local BBC news, including interviews with the passengers...

Another interesting example is: Haddenham & Thame Parkway - reopened on new site 1987 Bicester Village (Bicester Town) - reopened 1987 Islip - reopened 1989 Oxford Parkway - new 2015 Now all served by one service, but when re-opened they were on two different lines.

Slightly off-topic, but I seem to recall an incident, perhaps 25 years ago, when a train rolled out of Shanklin station without a driver on board, and picked up speed down the gradient. Passengers on board noticed something was wrong when the train went through Lake station without stopping...

Possibly stretching the rules a bit, but here are four post-Beeching stations in a row, all with different dates: Filton Abbey Wood (re-sited in 1996) Bristol Parkway (new 1972) Yate (reopened 1989) Cam & Dursley (reopened on different site 1994)

How about Digby & Sowton and Newcourt, on the Exmouth branch.

Ryde Pier Head, Ryde Esplanade, Ryde St John's Road

Coming back to the OP I think its highly unlikely that we've seen the last rail closure in my lifetime. Our transport needs continue to evolve, and the rail network will change with it. Predicting the future is notoriously difficult, but here's a few scenarios that might result in a line...

I seem to remember that there's a fairly substantial bridge built for the M27 over the bypass line - still possible to walk most of this route as a footpath. Like you it also struck me as odd that the problematic tunnel was kept open, but the bypass line was closed.

You're quite right - always struck me as a curious low-tech solution. Stopped being used a few years ago and now replaced with a standard TV screen

I use Penrith station car park fairly regularly. There shouldn't be any problem getting a space at a weekend (to be honest I've never had a problem on any day of the week). Yes you can park for several days. Depending on where you are travelling from Penrith can be easier to get to. Just 1min...

As a regular user of the WCML through Cumbria you definately can't see Dent Head Viaduct - the Howgill Fells are in the way. The Settle Carlisle line follows the Eden Valley and is seperated from the WCML by a ridge of hills. There's a point going over Shap where you can look east towards...