Ghost Train was inspired by a walk in Avenham Park, Preston. There are two railway lines cutting across the park. One is still in use, connecting London with Scotland. The other is long closed down and is now part of a walking, cycling way. It really did used to have 50 graceful arches but they were covered over by a grass banking and it looks a sad, lonely place. Every time I walk under it I think about what it was like when trains ran over. And from there the idea formed of a story set around trains suddenly appearing again on that bridge.

The ornamental garden between the two bridges was the setting for a scene in the Unfinished Business story “Tammy”, and The Doctor promised to bring Rose back there with their own children. This fulfils that promise and provides a reason for them being there to witness the “ghost trains”.

Before that happened, there was a tender moment, and a complicated one for The Doctor when his son asks him permission to ask Jackie’s hand in marriage. This is a result that was coming since the last stories of Unfinished Business when Jackie and Christopher found they had something in common – both being widowed. The Lœngbærrow family tree got another twist to it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avenham_Park

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miller_Park%2C_Preston

http://www.avenhamandmillerpark.org.uk/