I started the day at Kincardine and 66161 wheels 6G04 0628 Hunterston to Longannet Power Station loaded coal hoppers. The train is on the last few yards of the rebuilt line from Stirling via Alloa.
The line to Alloa was reopened for passengers with the tracks extending to Longannet power station so the coal trains have a shorter journey and avoid the Forth Bridge on which loaded HHA and HTA hoppers are banned.
A move to Alloa after a long wait near Kincardine for an inbound coal train that didn't show. 66161 reappears having unloaded its imported coal. The working is 4J05 MX 1020 from Longannet to Hunterston. The loco approaches the loop.
The train runs empty as a class 4 rated to 75mph. 66161 brings its rake of empty of HTA hoppers through the loop to the east of Alloa.
In the distance the line curves to the right but this was once a junction for the line to Dunfermline via Oakley which closed in 1968.
Alloa's rebuilt station is a single platform on a siding beside the through line to Longannet. 170458 departs with 2N50 1143 off Alloa to Glasgow Queen Street. Alloa's small loco shed, a sub shed of Dunfermline, was located out of shot to the left.
Crossing the former Alloa Tramway bridge to get the going away shot of 170458 and the extent of the previous railway presence can be seen. The Devon Valley line came in on the right and the original station was located on the other side of the bridge
Coal is delivered to Longannet Power Station by both DBS and Freightliner Heavy Haul. 66557 of the latter comes towards Alloa with 6G05 0926 Ravenstruther to Longannet loaded coal hoppers.
The wooded area to the left was once a mass of sidings used to marshal coal wagons from the numerous pits in the area, all now closed.
Crossing the road for the going away shot of 66557 as it curves round gently to the left towards the signal protecting the station a short distance away. It shows a green aspect for the line beyond the station siding turnout.
Alloa bound 170456 forms 2N67 1118 from Glasgow Queen Street and the journey's end is moments way. The signal shows a yellow aspect so the driver will expect the next signal he will see is a red stop signal, it will be at the point where the turnout to the station siding leaves the main line to Kincardine. This practice slows the driver to be prepared to stop at the platform.
Moving away from Alloa and a little closer to Stirling and 170456 is seen again heading away and back to Glasgow. It passes through the area of Criagmill as 2N58 1243 from Alloa.
Another coal working heads for Longannet behind DBS 66062 branded as Euro CargoRail, the European arm of DBS.
High on the hill behind, and some distance away from, 66062 is a recently repainted Stirling Castle. 66062 works 6G06 1023 from Hunterston to Longannet with loaded HHA hoppers.
Another move and now to Stirling and looking down stream of the River Forth. An unknown class 170 Turbostar heads south with 2N46 1313 from Dunblane to Glasgow Queen Street.
Turning back to the viaduct and a north bound Turbostar clatters over the girders with 2P63 1233 from Edinburgh to Dunblane.
There are two viaducts across the Forth here, the main line to Perth and the line to Alloa. The SPT liveried turbostar is on the far viaduct on the Alloa road. It is working......
This structure was refurbished with the rebuilding of the Alloa route and an unknown class 158 Sprinter crosses the Caledonian Railway built viaduct with 2N60 1341 from Alloa to Glasgow Queen Street.
This caught me out as I was walking from the carpark to get to the new bridge over the station. But it is a good shot at a good location. 66557 comes off the Alloa line at Stirling station with empty hoppers from Longannet back to Hunterston for reloading. The working is 4C07, 1326 from the power station.
Still looking to the north and 170461 runs in passing the North Signalbox and down starter with 2P88 1358 from Dunblane to Edinburgh. The down starter is off for a northbound working.
170427 passes the down starting signal SN36 and powers away from Stirling station with class 1 working 1A67 1341 Glasgow Queen Street to Aberdeen.
The new footbridge over the south end of the station provides a wonderful view point providing you are tall enough!! I was just able to see over the parapet! 170456 slows for its station stop with 2N43 1348 Glasgow Queen Street to Dunblane.
158716 departs Stirling with 2P30 1428 from Dunblane to Edinburgh. A tall former Caledonian Railway signal stood at the end of the platform until recently but it has been felled and replaced by a LED signal on the platform itself.
Stirling's large and very impressive Caledonian Railway built station was constructed in 1915 by James Miller and is now a Category A listed building. 170395 is almost lost within the glass canopy's as it makes its station stop with 1T22 1242 Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street.
Stirling's platform 9 is the main platform for trains coming off the Alloa branch. 170460 has stopped and any passengers for Stirling have disembarked and onward passengers will board for the run to Glasgow.
66120 passes Stirling's Middle 'box with 6G07, 1228 Hunterston to Longannet Power Station loaded coal. Signal SM47 is off but the distant below it, SM10 has failed to rise despite moving slightly. It is motor driven from Stirling North 'box.
With the coal train clear, SM27 is pulled off to give 170460 the road to Glasgow. The train is 2N52 1436 off Alloa to Glasgow Queen Street.
Another class 2 local working runs in passing the tall inner home signal SM79 and SN35 with 2P24 1403 Edinburgh to Dunblane. Distant SN35 is off so the down starter will be too.
Distant signal SN10 has managed to rise to the occasion with SM47 as 170457 approaches with 2N61 1418 from Glasgow Queen Street to Alloa.
Turning round and 170457 is stationary and it looks like the guards are changing over.
A class 1 working slows for its station stop. 170428 is diagrammed on the Aberdeen road, 1A69 1441 Glasgow Queen Street to Aberdeen. 45 years ago this may have been a class A4 working on a 3 hour express.
170428 stands in platform 2 whilst 158729 pauses in platform 3 with 2P90 1458 off Dunblane for Edinburgh.
158729 gets away and clears the platforms into the vast southern throat of the station. The new LED up starter signal can just be seen in the bottom left of the picture.
Another southbound working from Dunblane sees 170456 make sits station stop with 2N48 1513 to Glasgow Queen Street.
A class 2 local working for Dunblane slows past the down inner home signal formed by 158707 working 2P55 1433 off Edinburgh.
The third Freight Company of the day rolls in with GBRf 66713 hauling 10 TUA tanks loaded with mud oil for use in the oil exploration business. There are 13 semaphore arms visible in this photo.
66713 fronts 6S60 TO 0708 Doncaster to Aberdeen loaded mud oil. The loaded train is too heavy for the shorter route through Fife over the Tay Bridge but the empties are sent that way.
The Stirling North signalman has put 170457 into platform 6 rather than 9 with train 2N54 1541 Alloa to Glasgow Queen Street. This pleased me for the next shot.
Platform 6 was good because the starter signal for it is SM65 one of the three on the one gantry all of which retain their finials. All sixteen semaphore arms are visible in this shot.
Former Hull Trains 170393 slows for its station stop enroute to Dunblane as 2P29 1503 from Edinburgh. Usually these ex long distance sets are used for Inverness and Aberdeen workings due to their internal layout.
Euro Cargo Rail 66062 reappears and shakes platform 9 with its empty HTA coal hoppers. 4J08 1528 off Longannet Power Station heads back to Hunterston for more imported coal.
Turning round for the going away shot and 66062 has the road past starter SM65 to the advanced starter colour light SM71 which is out of sight to the top right of the photo.
Approaching the station with 2N63 1518 Glasgow to Alloa is 158708. Distant signal SN10 was twitching up and down trying to raise but failed to do so.
170476 wears the carmine and cream livery of the former Strathclyde Passenger Transport. It is rostered on the Edinburgh to Dunblane circuit as its train here is 2P57 1531 off Edinburgh.
The next loaded coal train approaches with another Euro Cargo Rail loco employed on 6G08 1428 from Hunterston to Longannet.
66249 is routed via platform 6 which is bi-directional. Distant arm SN10 has managed to rise again.
12 minutes after the coal train passed through platform 6, 170456 returns from Glasgow heading back to Alloa, 2N65 1619 off Queen Street station.
A southbound freight working on the main line sees DBS 66111 fronting 4D47 1323 Inverness to Mossend intermodal. The down home signal is off for the last train I wanted to see.
The last train before heading home and East Coast HST set led by powercar 43319 runs in with 1S15 1200 Kings Cross to Inverness.
The rear powercar is 43316. Station duties are carried out before the train will leave with Perth as the next stop.. Off home now, after a great day.
