THE STEAM RAILWAY WESTERN SCOTLAND
Published by Transport Treasury Publishing Ltd. £14.95
C O M P I L E D B Y AV E R Y, M A X T O N E & D AV I D S O N
W A C ‘Bill’ Smith was a prolific photographer of steam locomotives, Clyde Steamers and trams. He travelled extensively throughout Scotland during the 1950s and 1960s recording the changes as the older pre-grouping steam classes disappeared to be replaced by the new Standard types and the even more modern diesel power. In so doing he also photographed much of the infrastructure dating back to the pre-group Scottish railways which was similarly being demolished or replaced at the time. His other claim to fame was as the organiser of many rail tours which covered Scotland in the same period. Bill’s images encompass much variety, from the graceful Great North of Scotland 4-4-0s usually in beautifully clean condition to the work stained North British 0-6-0s many of which, with long working lives, ended their days carrying out the same duties they were originally designed for - hauling trains of coal around Fife. Former Caledonian Railway locomotives are also seen with the ubiquitous 0-4-4 tanks on branch lines and many 0-6-0s moving goods traffic. The workhorses of passenger traffic, LNER B1s, V2s and LMS Black 5s as well as examples of express power are also portrayed.
THE STEAM RAILWAY WESTERN SCOTLAND
Compiled by Bob Avery, Graham Maxtone & Dave Davidson Featuring Images of The W A C Smith collection
WEST SCOTLAND COVER.indd 116-1
16/11/2023 15:57:56
The Steam Railway Western Scotland Below: On Saturday, 1 August 1959 Leeds Holbeck allocated Crab 42771 is seen from the Maxwell Road overbridge easing the 9.5am Leeds – Gourock round the spur from Muirhouse North Junction towards Terminus Junction from where it will head towards Paisley Gilmour Street and onto Gourock. Passengers on board are no doubt contemplating the short sailings across the Firth of Clyde to various holiday destinations including Dunoon and the Kyles of Bute. The Exchange sidings for Tradeston Gasworks are seen on the left of the picture. The Scottish Gas Board had their own steam loco. A Barclay 0-4-0 appropriately named “Scottish Gas Board No 1” certainly earned its keep hauling loaded wagons up to the Gasworks complex. 42771 had just over four years of its thirty-six-year career left before final withdrawal at the end of November 1963 and scrapping at Crewe Works by the end of that year. (WS505) Opposite Top: On Saturday, 12 February 1955 Kingmoor’s Crab 42899, is heading north through Motherwell station and is signalled onto the main line at Lesmahagow Junction, towards Uddingston. A miniature snowplough remains fitted as a precaution against any snow issues that could still be encountered at that time of year. A number of both upper and lower quadrant signals can be seen in the picture. These were controlled from Lesmahagow Junction signal box behind the photographer. Motherwell North & South boxes were situated south of the station on the former Caledonian Railway main line. Also visible on the right is the bay platform line situated between the main line and Hamilton loop line platforms. The bay line was removed in the 1960s with the cessation of the parcels and pigeon traffic for which it was used. 42899, which is fitted with a narrow Fowler tender in this picture, was withdrawn from Carlisle Kingmoor in December 1962. After a period in storage at Carlisle Upperby the loco was dispatched to J McWilliams scrapyard in Shettleston where it met its end in November 1963. (WS510) Opposite Bottom: The interior of Motherwell shed on Saturday, 14 May 1955. A number of resident locos are visible, the most prominent of which is Standard class 4 2-6-0 76001 (which makes another appearance in this book ten years later; see WS8033). Further back are at least three ex Caledonian Railway 0-6-0s widely used on the extensive Lanarkshire coal branches in use at that time, and ‘WD’ 2-10-0 90771, one of 25 such engines, all Scottish based. Also visible is a 2-6-4T of some description and something with a Stanier tender, probably a Black Five. The work-worn appearance is in marked contrast to the almost sterile (by comparison) ambience of modern motive power depots. In 1955, Motherwell was home to no fewer than 13 classes of engine. Your caption writer had the privilege to be associated with Motherwell depot and its team in a small way at various points in his career. Motherwell’s train crews in the 1970s and 80s had a well-deserved reputation for wide-ranging route and traction knowledge. Today the shed is still in use as a wagon repair depot for Carlisle-based Direct Rail Services. (WS538)
12
West Scotland - InDesign.indd 12
16/11/2023 16:04:28
The Steam Railway Western Scotland Below: A slightly different view of Annbank Junction looking east. This was taken on Saturday, 9 May 1959 with the Stephenson Locomotive Society’s “Land of Burns” railtour headed by Ayr’s 2P 40574 standing in the Up platform heading for Catrine via Tarbolton, Mauchline and Brackenhill Junction. From Catrine it returned to Mauchline to run round and then proceeded up the former G&SW main line to Auchinleck where it headed for Muirkirk. The afternoon was rounded off by a run back from Muirkirk to Ayr via Logan Junction, Ochiltree and Belston Junction, regaining the outbound route at Annbank Junction. Today’s view is somewhat different with just a single line and a ground frame to operate the connection to the former Killoch Colliery (now a washery) leading off to the right. The colliery spoil heap seen in the distance has been significantly reduced and landscaped. 40574 was withdrawn from Hurlford on 30 April 1961 and didn’t survive long after withdrawal, meeting its demise at Inverurie Works on 31 May 1961. (WS1035) Opposite Top: Balloch Central station on a very wet Saturday, 11 July 1959 as Black 5 44973 waits to leave on a return Orange Walk special working. Note the tired looking signal box which was a joint Caledonian and North British Railway structure, opened in 1888. By the time this photograph was taken, it only had months to go before it was replaced by a new flat roofed BR design on the opposite side of the tracks as part of the electrification and re-signalling of the North Clyde lines. The wooden wheel operated level crossing gates were also replaced by a full barrier installation at that time. Following the closure of the short portion of line to Balloch Pier, a new station at Balloch was built on the Dumbarton Central side of the level crossing which along with the BR signal box were closed and removed in 1988. 44973 was withdrawn from Carstairs in September 1965 and disposed of at Inslow Works, Wishaw during the December of that year. (WS1037) Opposite Bottom: In an all too typical December monogloom, three members of the Permanent Way staff, without such basic safety aids as high visibility clothing or apparent lookout protection, stand aside to allow Carlisle Kingmoor’s ‘Black Five’ 44668 to pass with the 1.53pm Glasgow St Enoch to Carlisle via Kilmarnock on Friday, 26 December 1958. Boxing Day services were better in those days. The Barrhead Central branch, in the foreground, served as sidings into the 1960s, though the actual station closed as long ago as 1916. The state of the track indicates infrequent use by 1958. (WS1055)
20
West Scotland - InDesign.indd 20
16/11/2023 16:04:35
The Steam Railway Western Scotland
47
West Scotland - InDesign.indd 47
16/11/2023 16:05:07
The Steam Railway Western Scotland
51
West Scotland - InDesign.indd 51
16/11/2023 16:05:11
The Steam Railway Western Scotland
Some disruption to traffic in and out of Glasgow Central is undoubtedly being caused on Friday, 4 November 1955 as Polmadie depot’s 30 ton steam breakdown crane RS 1071 is in the process of rerailing former Caledonian Railway 439 class 55220 (locally allocated to Polmadie), having become derailed between Bridge Street and Glasgow Central. Whilst the fitting staff busy themselves with the business of ensuring the chains and shackles of the lifting gear are secure and ready for the lift, the local Traffic Inspector is seen having a quiet smoke, whilst no doubt contemplating the writing of the required investigation report. The fitting staff who accompanied the crane on its journey from Polmadie to site are in all likelihood mentally assessing the potential for an overtime payment as they strive to rerail the errant 55220. This engine was originally built for the Caledonian Railway in St Rollox as loco number 231, released to traffic in June 1913 and was withdrawn from Oban on 31 October 1961. It met its end at Inverurie Works in May 1962 after a 49 year working life. RS 1071 was the Breakdown Crane based at Polmadie and dealt with any mishaps on the south side of the city and out to the west on both former Caledonian and G&SW lines. It was built by Ransomes & Rapier of Ipswich. (WS3578)
53
West Scotland - InDesign.indd 53
16/11/2023 16:05:13
The Steam Railway Western Scotland Opposite Top: On Saturday, 17 June 1961 Eastfield allocated K2 61764 Loch Arkaig is working the Saturdays Only 2.50 pm Glasgow Queen Street - Crianlarich Upper which called at Dumbarton Central & Craigendoran (High Level platforms) to pick up only, then Helensburgh Upper and all stations, except Rhu and Glen Douglas. This service was ideal for a combined train / steamer trip via Ardlui as the pier was a literal stone’s throw from the station. This gave the opportunity for passengers to enjoy a steam trip north and a return on the Maid of the Loch to Balloch Pier, courtesy of the Caledonian Steam Packet company changing there for a train back to Glasgow. Passengers who did the trip in the opposite direction had a leisurely sojourn at Ardlui awaiting the return train service back to Glasgow Queen Street. This was to be the final season for 61764 as it was withdrawn on 7 September 1961 after the summer service finished. The locomotive had been built for the Great Northern Railway as a Class H3 and was originally allocated to Kings Cross Top Shed. After its initial 6 years at Kings Cross the locomotive was transferred across to the GE Section working from Stratford, Cambridge and Southend Victoria sheds, emigrating to Eastfield in December 1931. The loco was named in March 1933 and apart from four years at St Margarets shed in Edinburgh, 61764 spent the rest of its working life at Eastfield. It was disposed of at Cowlairs Works at the end of 1961 after 43 years sterling service and not that far from its birthplace at the NBL Locomotive works. In between withdrawal and disposal, it was reported that 61764 had spent some time at Peterborough’s New England shed as a stationary boiler before making the long trek back north to meet its demise. At some point in its LNER career it was one of the locomotives converted to oil firing. (WS5512) Opposite Bottom: 61764 is seen again, blowing off steam in the down loop at Ardlui gathering strength in preparation for the long climb up through Glen Falloch to its final destination of Crianlarich Upper where the engine will be turned ready for the return trip to Glasgow Queen Street. Passengers who detrained at Ardlui could avail themselves of a steamer trip back down Loch Lomond to Balloch Pier from where a further train journey would get them back into Glasgow at 8.15pm. Just visible in the small goods yard on the left hand edge of the photo are the successors to the wooden bulk alumina wagon seen in the turntable siding at Garelochhead. These were built of steel and remained in traffic until superseded by the BR built Covhops and former Bulk Grain wagons. (WS5514) Below: A rare picture indeed featuring a very different view of the turntable at Crianlarich Upper. 61764 is being turned after arriving with the 2.50pm service from Glasgow Queen Street on Saturday, 17 June 1961.The facilities at the shed did not include coaling so arriving locomotives could only be turned and watered. 61764 would have then worked back to Glasgow Queen Street on the 8.10pm departure, arriving back at 10.18pm. The main user of the shed was the local PW Engineering department but in the early 1960s some locomotives were stored in the shed including a D11/2 4-4-0. If a circular tour was your preference, then a gentle stroll down the hill to Crianlarich Lower on the Callander & Oban Railway would have allowed you to catch the 7.07pm service back to Glasgow / Edinburgh via Callander. A high tea in the Crianlarich Hotel was no doubt warranted to while away the two hour sojourn in the western end of Perthshire. (WS5516)
79
West Scotland - InDesign.indd 79
16/11/2023 16:05:46
The Steam Railway Western Scotland
Above: Ballochmyle Viaduct on the G&SWR main line between Mauchline and Cumnock, which carries the line 169 feet above the River Ayr. The structure claims to be the highest railway viaduct in Britain. A southbound Black 5 hauled goods is crossing on Saturday, 15 September 1962. The viaduct became a Category A listed structure in 1989, and it was designated a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the Institute of Civil Engineers in 2014. It has recently had strengthening work carried out, and continues to carry main line traffic. (WS6355) Opposite Top: BR Standard Class 5 73124 works a returning football special from Abbeyhill to St Enoch past Polkemmet Junction, which was the divergence of the Fauldhouse and Crofthead freight lines. On Saturday, 22 September 1962, Rangers were playing Hibernian and a large number of supporters took advantage of the proximity of Abbeyhill station to Hibernian’s ground at Easter Road. No doubt it’s a trainload of happy supporters as Rangers won the game 5-1. The train was routed via the former North British route through Bathgate as this allowed easy access to St Enoch via High Street, the City Union and the North curve from Saltmarket Junction. 73124 was completed at Doncaster Works in February 1956 and initially allocated to Corkerhill. The loco was withdrawn from there at the end of 1965 and met its demise at J McWilliam’s scrapyard at Shettleston by the end of March 1966, after a short working life of just 10 years. (WS6364) Opposite Bottom: The SLS ‘Covenanter’ railtour ran on Saturday, 20 October 1962, and the engine was Caledonian 0-6-0 57581 throughout. The tour comprised five coaches, originated at Glasgow St Enoch and took in a number of unusual and lightly used lines. This shot shows the tour heading along the goods branch to what was the original station in Ayr, known as Ayr 1st terminus, which closed to passengers as long ago as 1857. As can be seen, the branch crossed the connection from the current main line to Ayr Harbour on the level – one of very few places in the UK to adopt this layout feature. Bill lists this railtour as a Stephenson Locomotive Society special, but the website ‘Six Bells Junction’ credits its organisation to the Scottish Locomotive Preservation Fund. (WS6397)
88
West Scotland - InDesign.indd 88
16/11/2023 16:05:58
The Steam Railway Western Scotland
Opposite Top: This impressive three-way junction is the location for Polmadie’s 73063 heading west with the 1.23pm Glasgow Central to Edinburgh Princes Street on Saturday, 3 November 1962. The train has come from Glasgow via Newton, Uddingston and Bellshill. The lines disappearing behind the engine to the right curve round to join the Motherwell - Perth line just south of Mossend Yard, and the lines on the left give access to the same line, but facing towards Motherwell. The notable assortment of semaphore signals were controlled from the impressive Fullwood Junction signal box, a tall structure which closed with the commissioning of Motherwell Signalling Centre in the early 1970s. All three are still in use and electrified, and the location is now known as Mossend East Jn. (WS6437) Opposite Bottom: An undated photograph of ex-LMS Black 5 45421 passing Stranraer Harbour Junction signal box with what looks very likely to be the stock for the 3.50pm passenger/parcels train from Stranraer Town to Carlisle, via the ‘Port Road’ to Dumfries. This will have been taken sometime between 1962 and 1964 when the engine was allocated to Carlisle Kingmoor. The Junction signal box was where the lines from the Town station (and at one time Portpatrick) came in from the left, joining the Harbour line the train is actually on, climbing on a ruling gradient of 1 in 86. This signal box also controlled the connections to the extensive goods yard, engine shed and workshops sidings – note the sheds visible in the distance. Following complete closure of the Port Road to Dumfries in June 1965, Stranraer Town and Junction signal boxes initially survived but were subsequently closed on 9 November 1969 and 11 March 1972 respectively. The 36 lever Junction signal box was replaced by a ground frame (and intermediate token instrument) to allow continued access to the goods yard which is still there today, although sadly freight traffic has now ceased. Post June 1965 passenger traffic was transferred in its entirety to the Harbour station but even that has since fallen away quite dramatically with the sailings to Larne starting from the ironically now non-railway connected old wartime Military Port No 1 at Cairnryan, where the surplus gas shells mentioned in WS7610 were loaded onto old merchant ships and unceremoniously dumped in the Irish Sea. Following transfer from Kingmoor to Fleetwood in August 1964, 45421 was ultimately withdrawn from Lostock Hall, Preston in February 1968 and cut up at Ward’s of Sheffield in the June of that year. (WS6465) Above: BR Standard class 2 2-6-0s 78050 and 78051, both based at Motherwell, lift a loaded, loose coupled coal train from Kingshill Colliery, near Allanton in North Lanarkshire in wintry conditions on Tuesday, 22 January 1963. Bill speculates, probably correctly, that the train is destined for Clyde Ironworks near Carmyle to the south west of Glasgow. This train typifies so many of the unseen, unglamorous and rarely photographed freight workings that served to keep the wheels of industry turning. It’s pleasing to see a regular job photographed, as so many of these somewhat obscure or out-of-the-way lines were only photographed if visited by a railtour, though we are indeed thankful for such shots today. (WS6508)
91
West Scotland - InDesign.indd 91
16/11/2023 16:06:03
THE STEAM RAILWAY WESTERN SCOTLAND
Published by Transport Treasury Publishing Ltd. £14.95
C O M P I L E D B Y AV E R Y, M A X T O N E & D AV I D S O N
W A C ‘Bill’ Smith was a prolific photographer of steam locomotives, Clyde Steamers and trams. He travelled extensively throughout Scotland during the 1950s and 1960s recording the changes as the older pre-grouping steam classes disappeared to be replaced by the new Standard types and the even more modern diesel power. In so doing he also photographed much of the infrastructure dating back to the pre-group Scottish railways which was similarly being demolished or replaced at the time. His other claim to fame was as the organiser of many rail tours which covered Scotland in the same period. Bill’s images encompass much variety, from the graceful Great North of Scotland 4-4-0s usually in beautifully clean condition to the work stained North British 0-6-0s many of which, with long working lives, ended their days carrying out the same duties they were originally designed for - hauling trains of coal around Fife. Former Caledonian Railway locomotives are also seen with the ubiquitous 0-4-4 tanks on branch lines and many 0-6-0s moving goods traffic. The workhorses of passenger traffic, LNER B1s, V2s and LMS Black 5s as well as examples of express power are also portrayed.
THE STEAM RAILWAY WESTERN SCOTLAND
Compiled by Bob Avery, Graham Maxtone & Dave Davidson Featuring Images of The W A C Smith collection
WEST SCOTLAND COVER.indd 116-1
16/11/2023 15:57:56