NY4055 : The northbound 'Royal Scot' entering Carlisle Citadel Station, 1959
taken 67 years ago, near to Carlisle, Cumbria, England

Here it is hauled by Coronation class pacific locomotive 46235, 'City of Birmingham'. The class was often referred to as 'Duchesses' (as many of them were named after duchesses), although a majority carried 'City' names like this one. There were 35 engines in the class and they formed the mainstay of motive power for the principal expresses on the West Coast Main Line. Their demise was precipitated by the electrification of the southern section of the West Coast Main Line as they were not permitted to work under the wires. 'City of Birmingham is one of 3 of the class to survive, being preserved as a static exhibit at the Birmingham Science Museum.
The West Coast Main line is a 399 mile long high speed railway from London Euston to Glasgow. The route has a long history dating back to the 1830s. The route today is one of the busiest in the country and serves the West Midlands, North West, North Wales and Southern Scotland.
A Grade II* listed building Link
, designed in Tudor style for the Caledonian Railway Company by prolific railway architect Sir William Tite Link
. Sometimes referred to as Carlisle Citadel, the station opened in 1847 and was extended 1879-80.
The station layout has changed very little over the years, with the eight platforms (three through and five bays) still in use today.
Platform 1: A through platform, serving as bi-directional relief West Coast Main Line platform
Platform 2: A bay platform, serving the Cumbrian Coast Line
Platform 3: A through platform, serving the West Coast Main Line north-bound
Platform 4: A through platform, serving the West Coast Main Line south-bound
Platform 5: A bay platform, serving Tyne Valley Line
Platform 6: A bay platform, serving Carlisle-Settle-Leeds Line
Platform 7: A bay platform, serving the former Glasgow & South Western Line to Glasgow via Dumfries
Platform 8: A Bay platform, serving early morning services to Scotland
In addition to the tracks serving the platforms, there are additional stabling lines and passing loops within the station.
The station was at one time served by seven different railway companies. At the time of writing (January 2015), four companies operate services from the station.
Virgin Trains: West Coast Main Line Services to London Euston, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh
First Trans-Pennine Express: Services to Manchester Airport, Glasgow and Edinburgh
First Scotrail*: Services to Dumfries and Glasgow (via Dumfries)
Northern Rail: Services to Whitehaven, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancaster, Newcastle (via Hexham) and Leeds (via Settle)
* the First Scotrail franchise will transfer to Abellio Linkfrom 1st April 2015.
