Railways after dark

Thomas Harper says: If proof was ever needed that a spectacular railway photograph does not need to include any trains, this is it.

Empty promises by David Hayes

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Thomas Harper says: Savour this classic night exposure from the Scottish Region in the nineteen-eighties by Bruce Galloway. I think the repeating pattern created by the canopy supports provides important structure for the shot (if you'll excuse the pun), and be sure to check out the ghost figures, especially the driver. Great stuff.

26018 Carstairs by Bruce Galloway

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Thomas Harper says: This is probably my all time favourite from the superb railway archive of David Hayes. I often come back to look at it and wish I had taken it myself. Cop an eyeful of the amber glow, the wet platform, the lone "47" in exactly the right place, and the shining signal, dead in the centre of the photograph. Breathtaking.

Wet night at Crewe by David Hayes

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Thomas Harper says: Of course this is the old Snow Hill, destroyed in phases between the 'sixties and the 'eighties. When I first saw this photo I thought its vibrancy made it look like it could have been taken yesterday. A poignant reminder of one of our great lost railway stations.

Birmingham Snow Hill 1962 by geoff7918

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Thomas Harper says: In the late 'seventies and early 'eighties I was a keen "50" basher so this photo was a natural choice for me. All parts of scene are beautifully exposed, and the sheer clarity of the subject jumps out at the viewer. There's a super bit of perspective too as you look down the length of the platform towards the vanishing point.

Salisbury 50003 ECS 140281 by ACTON WELLS JUNCTION

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Thomas Harper says: A magical night shot from the Emerald Isle, and a piece of history now given that almost all loco-hauled trains have been replaced by railcars.

Night scene at Mallow by Semmy Trailer

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Thomas Harper says: Two things in particular appealed to me about this shot: one is the great framing effect provided by the footbridge, and the other is the very pleasing sense of space.

DMUs at night, Doncaster by Awwalker1

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Thomas Harper says: This photo showing a couple of humble first generation dmus seems very typical of the British Rail period I knew as a young railway enthusiast. There's a lovely bit of frost on the platforms and track, and I really like the pinkish glow of the night sky. The fact that you can see some of the passengers inside is another great touch.

Rock ferry 13th Jan 79. by 54A South dock

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Thomas Harper says: The obvious appeal about this shot is the light trails made by the Meridian DEMU, echoing the curve of the platforms, but there is plenty more detail to enjoy too in this nocturnal study from the Midland Main Line.

Wellingborough night by Steve Arthur 320

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Thomas Harper says: Although this photo was taken in 2015 it has a great feeling of nostalgia about it. The surviving sleeper services, which rely on locomotive haulage, are a nice reminder of the old order on Britain's railways that I grew up with.

47847 Glasgow Central 07.05.15 by Chris Firth

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Thomas Harper says: I like the sense of anticipation created by this photo: the signals may all be showing red at this moment, but eventually one will turn green and this overnight train will begin its long journey south.

Glasgow Central 7th May 2015 by Terry Callaghan

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Thomas Harper says: A quiet evening moment at Zurich with little evidence of any trains, but I sense that this is a temporary lull that will soon be broken by new activity. The delicious blue sky attracted me to this photo.

Zürich by Schnaepfli

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Thomas Harper says: This portrait of a Class 50 at Birmingham New Street station by David Rostance resonates powerfully with me: a combination of the locomotive type (a particular favourite of mine) and the location, which I got to know very well when I was a student in the city. I also like the 'brute' in the foreground, and the fact that you can see the well-lit, but claustrophobic platforms beyond, an ambiance that the station's recent refurbishment (2015) has done little to change.

50027, Birmingham New Street, November 1987 by David Rostance

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Thomas Harper says: Here's a fantastically atmospheric shot from Syd Young, showing a Class 43 passing Cave Crossing on Humberside at night. To me, the amount of motion blur is perfect, and when you combine this with the way the subjects are illuminated against the inky blackness beyond, it makes a remarkable photograph. I'd even go as far as saying that it's in the spirit of O. Winston Link's work.

Dark Cave by Syd Young

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