A day in Edinburgh IV

66020 passes Inverkeithing East Junction with 6J23 0605 Thornton Yard to Hunterston empty MGR. I had hoped it would take the single line spur to the West Junction and reverse into the yard at Inverkeithing for loading but it was bound for the Clyde coast.

On the Powderhall branch the morning departure for Oxwellmains comes slowly by the disused Meadowbank station platform with 6B41, 0810 off Powderhall. This platform was used during the 1986 Commonwealth Games at the nearby Meadowbank Stadium.

At the favourite location of Millerhilll to catch the morning depatrures, 66216 gets away with an empty HAA rake, 6S31 0631 FX from Tyne Yard to Mossend.

The sun has made a show as 66166 leaves the yard with an unidentified working of hooded hoppers.

A move to a different viewpoint on Craiglockhart Junction. 66170 passes heading for Gorgie Junction and the Forth Bridge with 6G45 1038 Millerhill to Longannet Enterprise. The train is made up of empty PCA tanks for loading with flyash for use in cement making and will head to the plant near Westbury, Wiltshire.

A surprise visitor to the usually freight only Edinburgh Suburban line is 158750 on a Virgin Cross Country route learning special. The set takes the Craiglockhart loop heading towards Slateford running under the headcode 1Z99.

A short while later the unit comes back and is about to pass through the tunnel below where I was standing on the bank on the Union Canal.

During a dip in the sun 158750 comes up the line from Gorgie Junction with the route learner giving Edinburgh VXC men a refresher on the Sub for diversionary purposes. The unit had gone round the circle via Craigentinny and through Waverley and Haymarket stations.

The sun shines down on the junction as 66216 comes off Craiglockhart loop with a loaded MGR train. The working is not known but the hoppers are not hooded so it may be a Cockenzie train.

66180 clatters over the pointwork with a loaded hooded set of hoppers. This is 6E25 0950 Ayr Falkland Yard to Doncaster, deep in the heart of the South Yorkshire coalfield, or what remains of it.

This is one of two shots I particularly wanted. 66182 approaches Craiglockhart tunnel and junction coming up from Gorgie Junction. The train is one of two that is routed this way during the day, it is 6B10 1058 MX Longannet to Millerhill empties.

66112 comes through Morningside with 6D70 1340 FX Millerhill to Mossend empty coal hoppers. Look carefully at the reflection in the windscreen for the footbridge that spans the line here.

66224 passes below the road and former Morningside station building with 6S38 1052 Tyne Yard to Ayr Falkland Yard empty hooded HAA hoppers. The west bound platform was removed years ago.

Despite previous visits to Morningside I had never photographed an eastbound working. I had hoped to catch the empty steel here but was out of luck. Instead 66102 wheels an an unknown loaded rake of hooded hoppers through the remaining platform at this long closed station.

66155 heads west light engine through the closed station. The bush behind the sand sign has grown so big that it encroaches into the loading gauge. Passing trains have shaped it to adopt the outline of the class 66.

I was told by someone at Millerhill that this pair were running on this day. Even so it was a surprise and a real bonus to catch 20904 and 20906 with 7M50 1535 WO Torness Power Station to Carlisle Kingmoor Yard Nuclear Flask train.

A final eastbound coal working before moving on again and 66238 passes by in the sun with 7B75, 1221 off Hunterston to Cockenzie Power Station.

A quick call to Duddingston to record 66067 again this time working 6S54 0850 North Blyth to Fort William loaded alumina tanks. Both platforms remain here.

Another move to a new location, the overbridge looking down on Niddrie West Junction on the Sub. 66204 brings the heavy 6L80 1445 Deanside to Wisbech petfood train towards Millerhill. Shortly after this date the plant at Wisbech closed and the train stopped running.

66182 heads away from Millerhill along the Niddire Curve (which is straight!) between Nidrie South and West junctions. Signal M28R to the left is showing a green aspect which means something is due shortly.

The southern flank of Arthur's Seat provides a dramatic backdrop of 66087 and its rake of loaded HAA hoppers. The train is 6U26 1554 FX Mossend to Eggborough Power Station. The single line leads off to Portobello Junction on the ECML.

The final shot of the day is the second one I specifically wanted. The other train which comes up from Gorgie is 6E43 1500 Aberdeen to Doncaster Belmont Yard Enterprise. Here 66230 approaches the 60 yard Craiglockhart Tunnel with the early running enterprise service.