On both sides of the Forth

North Queensferry station and looking south sees 66126 coming off the Forth Bridge with 7G12 0623 Mossend to Longannet Power Station loaded MGR.

As the coal train rumbles north a pair of class 221 Super Voyagers, led by 221123 passes south with a cross country working to Plymouth, 1V49 0640 from Dundee.

Two class 170 Turbostars pass in North Queensferry station. On the left is 170405 pauses working 2K03 0745 Edinburgh to Edinburgh via the Fife Circle Inner. On the other road is 170425 passing through on 1B07 0600 from Aberdeen to Edinburgh.

The second of the Dundee early morning departures comes through the station formed by just one unit. 221126 is diagrammed to 1O18 0733 Dundee to Bournemouth via the ECML.

Another coal train finds a gap in the constant flow of units to cross the Bridge with a loaded coal train, 7G13 0553 Hunterston to Longannet.

Five minutes after the previous loaded MGR went north, 66195 passes south with an empty rake from Longannet for reloading at Hunterston, 6J13 0800 from the power station.

GNER's first south bound departure from Aberdeen comes through North Queensferry with 43099 leading 1E10 0755 from Aberdeen to Kings Cross.

Crossing to the south of the River Forth and 170456 powers up to leave Dalmeny station heading back to Edinburgh with 2G47 0850 from Edinburgh via the Fife Circle. The driver gives me a wave.

Turning round on the over bridge and 170455 approaches with a Cowdenbeath working, 2G23 1020 from Edinburgh. The unit passes over Dalmeny Junction with the line curving off to the right going to Winchburgh Junction on the Edinburgh and Glasgow line.

A loaded coal train comes south and goes straight on for Edinburgh and will take the suburban line and recess in Millerhill Yard for onward movement later in the day. The train is 7G31 0842 Westfield to Millerhill and the driver is giving me a wave.

66182 comes north with an empty rake of HAA hoppers heading for Thornton Yard for reloading with Fife open cast coal. The train is 6S22 0145 from Drax Power Station.

170428 forms 1B18 0851 from Aberdeen to Edinburgh. It is running slightly ahead of schedule as it passes Dalmeny Junction.

A long list of stopping points is displayed in the screen above the secondman's seat on 170457 as it passes below the A90 road bridge. The unit is working 2G51 1050 Edinburgh to Edinburgh via the outer Fife Circle.

66068 approaches Dalmeny Junction with 6J11 0930 from Longannet to Hunterston. The change in gradient from 1 in 200 up to 1 in 200 down in the direction of travel is most obvious.

The train crosses over the down road and takes the single lead track of Dalmeny Junction. The line becomes double in a hundred yards or so.

A northbound piece of On Track Plant heads north. 73916 is a Plasser and Theurer 08-4xC-RT switch and crossing tamper.

66083 comes south bound for Cockenzie Power Station with a rake of loaded MGR hoppers full of Fife open cast. The train was loaded at Thornton Yard and left at 1035 as 7G09.

A loaded train of imported coal comes off the Winchburgh line heading for the power station at Longannet. 66098 heads 7G15 0820 from Hunterston, the double track finishes under the road bridge.

HST powercar 43167 leads 1E14 0955 Aberdeen to Kings Cross past Dalmeny Junction. This is the second train to London from Aberdeen of the morning.

Moving again to the Winchburgh line and an overbridge at Carmelhill, and 66126 comes into view with 6J12 1055 Longannet to Hunterston with empty MGRs on the drawbar.

In the other direction as the tail end of the previous train disappears, 66028 comes into view with a loaded working from Hunterston, 7G16 1000 off heading for Longannet.

A bonus working for a Monday is 6D71, 1225 Linkswood to Grangemouth empty TTA aviation fuel tanks. Here 66046 comes round the corner with 20 tanks in tow.

At the time of my visit only one return passenger working is routed this way everything else being freight and predominant coal at that. Today, 2013, no coal comes this way as the line to Longannet via Alloa is open. 66132 heads west wtih 6J13 1222 Longannet to Hunterston.

66110 is heading east with a loaded working, 7G17 1125 from Hunterston to Longannet.

Moving a little further west nearer to Winchburgh village and 66102 bends its loaded rake over the gradient change from Winchburgh Junction just out of view.

Opening the lens out and 66102 hums past working 7G18 1330 from Hunterston.

So far this day all the coal trains were pretty much on time, this one was the exception and 66142 approaches with 6R14 1330 from Longannet to Ayr Falkland Yard running about an hour late.