Ladybank station and I'm heading into Edinburgh to meet up with my eldest brother Danny who is coming up from Carlisle where he is having a few days gricing. We are going to take a trip along the Waverley Route to Tweedbank and back, why? Because we can and he's never done the route! A down service slows for its stop and 170478 forms 1L59 1000 Edinburgh to Dundee. 4/2/2016
The late morning sun is just right as 170478 departs the junction station and will keep to the main line and bear sharp right.
The line going straight ahead is the Newburgh branch to Hilton Junction just south of Perth. 4/2/2016
I have an afternoon of photography planned at Ladybank as the area which used to be the loco shed and workshops has been cleared of trees and opened up a great new photographic opportunity. Parked up between jobs on one of the down sidings is Plasser and Theurer 08-32U/RT plain line tamper DR 73803 "Alexander Graham Bell". 1/3/2016
Looking over the headshunt of one of the sidings towards Ladybank station and 170459 departs with 1L55 1402 from Edinburgh to Dundee.
The going away shot of 170459 as it takes the sharp curve to head east. In the foreground closest to the main line is the down passenger loop and then two sidings off the loop.
Another look at the tamper under a brooding sky.
Moving up the fence a bit and the turnouts off the loop and for the sidings are visible. 170410 comes into view with 1L56 1434 from Dundee to Edinburgh.
The set leans well into the high degree of cant of the up line.
A down Virgin Trains East Coast set runs non stop through Ladybank station forming 1S11 1000 from London Kings Cross to Aberdeen.
Lead powercar 43316 passes tamper DR 73803 with the rear powercar 43315 still passing through the station.
The afternoon sun favours trains coming round the curve in either direction. It is quite clear as to why this livery was nicknamed "coke tin".
Moving to another part of the ground which borders the Newburgh branch. 170419 approaches with 1B31 1253 Inverness to Edinburgh. The branch is single tracked but the line on the left is the passenger loop.
Turning round for the going away shot as 170419 passes by. Up trains off the branch use platform 2 of Ladybank and cross to the up road just south of the station.
A short time after the up train has cleared the crossover a Perth bound working enters the branch. 158701 in new ScotRail livery forms 1L05 1437 Edinburgh to Perth.
Turning round and the set has just passed over the level crossing giving access to South Annsmuir woods, numerous paddocks and the former railway buildings here.
Back on the main line and 170454 comes round the curve . Lost in the trees behind the unit is a very long siding which runs round the curve. On the upside there was a large P Way depot with numerous buildings.
The P Way buildings were located behind the unit here and I'm not sure if the had been demolished when I took these photos.
This working is 1B35 1404 Aberdeen to Edinburgh and is not booked to stop at Ladybank.
This service does stop at Ladybank, 1L57 1500 Edinburgh to Dundee with 158710 providing the motive power and passenger accommodation.
The unit gathers speed as it takes the curve. DR 73803 awaits its next nocturnal outing to the Cupar area where it has been working.
The set leans into the curve as it heads away with Cupar as its next stop.
An up service from Dundee, 1L58 1534 off, to Edinburgh passes by with 170459 employed.
The degree of cant just here is quite noticeable and is like this to allow the through trains to take the curve as fast as possible.
A down working passes through non stop with 170431 rostered to 1A78 1528 Edinburgh to Inverurie.
The driver of 170431 will recognise himself as he has a copy of this photo. A friend and former work colleague from another life positively "living the dream".
As 170431 speeds away the siding turnouts are clearly visible.
Looking across the open land that was once a very busy spot. 158701 reappears with 1L10 1600 off Perth for Edinburgh. Have a look here https://www.railscot.co.uk/locations/L/Ladybank/ for some superb photos showing just what used to be here at Ladybank.
The set slows for its station stop using the down platform for an up service. It will cross to the up line just to the south of the station.
About ten or so minutes after the up train came off the branch, a down service enters. 158869 works 1L07 1536 from Edinburgh to Perth. Trains can and do cross on the branch by using the loop here.
The land where the houses now stand was once all sidings and buildings stood in the area immediately in front of me.
This is the last train I wanted to see here, 43319 leads 1E25 1452 off Aberdeen to Kings Cross coming round the curve which has a 60 mph speed limit on it.
On the back giving the rear end shove is powercar 43277. tamper DR 73803 gets in the shot once more.
A final shot showing 43277 taking the cant on the curve as the HST set speeds through Ladybank station non stop. 1/3/2016
A morning walk with the dogs and I take my camera to catch a few passing trains beside the woods at South Annsmuir by Ladybank. 43309 leads 1S03 0710 Leeds to Aberdeen down VTEC service. The Dundee Loop is in the foreground. 4/3/2016
Coaches of the set clatter over the loop exit turnout as rear powercar 43320 pushes with the front powercar.
15-20 minutes after the down HST went by, the second Up HST approaches with 43310 at the head end. The curve to the station starts right here.
On the back of 1E15 0952 off Aberdeen to Kings Cross is 43314.
I timed the return to the car to record a couple of trains on the Newburgh branch. 170457 forms a long distance ScotRail service from Inverness to Edinburgh, 1B52 0941 off.
Not long afterwards 158730 heads for Perth with 1L09 1136 from Edinburgh.
Turning round for the going away shot and Griffin looks to see what is making the noise, Phoenix is not bothered. Both dogs have been on a few trains and they are not fussed which is great. 4/3/2016
Longannet Power Station was to close on 31 March 2016 and coal trains to the site were getting few and far between. After a gap of several weeks when none ran at all, news of one or two workings brought the photographers out, me included. 66037 fronts 6G06 1031 Hunterston to Longannet Power Station loaded coal hoppers towards Kincardine. 14/3/2016
Under perfect weather conditions I record my final loaded coal train bound for Longannet. Two more train were to run before the fires went out at Scotland's last coal fired power station.
Several hours later and 66037 comes along the River Forth shoreline with its 23 empty HHA hoppers having had the several thousand tonnes of pulverised coal discharged.
In its dying days, Longannet Power Station forms the backdrop. Works started on it in the mid 1960's and it began generating electricity in 1970. It consumed 4.5 million tonnes of coal annually much of it mined at the adjacent Longannet Colliery with the coal coming to the surface at the power station. The pit closed in 2002 with coal coming from nearby open cast pits and from imported coal. The power station was planned with a 30 year life, it closed after 46 years.
A close up of my final train. In previous years there were eight trains in and out a day and the line was rebuilt between here and Alloa to allow the coal trains to avoid the Forth Bridge. 14/3/2016
South Annsmuir Woods and the grass area beside the railway was a favourite location for walking the dogs. With East Lomond rising in the murk 43306 comes round the corner at Ladybank with the first VTEC arrival in Aberdeen, 0710 off Leeds, 1S03. 23/3/2016
A close up of 43306.
