Trackside flora

[Mick Crawley]

I am looking for photos to establish the earliest date when Buddleja davidii is clearly growing on railway tracks or sidings. I am keen to form a group of enthusiasts interested in extracting botanical information from archive railway pictures.  Thanks in advance for your help.

[rogerzilla]

Would it show up in black-and-white?  It's been in the UK since the 19th century and the seeds spread easily, so it's probably been near railway lines about as long as there have been railways.  The main difference is that, in steam days, anything growing near the track was either cut back by the lengthmen or, if they didn't get to it first, scorched by lineside fires.

Edited January 20, 2020 by rogerzilla

[Wickham Green]

....... and anything growing in brickwork was dealt with before it did much damage.