As I've lived in London continuously since 1977, and specifically North London since 1994, I've probably taken more pictures on the NLL than on any other line within London, with the possible exception of Gospel Oak to Barking.

Over the years the NLL's fortunes have risen, fallen and risen agin, the nadir coming in the late 1970s and early 1980s when closure was hinted at.

But then came a renaissance; firstly the restoration of passenger service east of Dalston Junction in 1980, then came electrification from Dalston to Stratford and North Woolwich, albeit tempered by the closure of the line into Broad Street. Electrification of the freight lines at 25kV and the rebuilding of the line between Willesden and Camden Road (for North of London Eurostar service, which never happened) plus the transfer of responsibility for operations to TfL set the scene for the final act; the complete modernisation of the route, end to end re-signalling, new longer trains and, on 28th Febnruary 2011 the extension of East London service, partially over the old line from Dalston to Broad Street, and for the first time connecting Highbury & Islington with Crystal Palace and Croydon. The final act in the renaissance came in December 2012 with the completion of the orbital route from Canada Water to Queens Road Peckham and the introduction of a Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction via Whtechapel service