| Until early May this year, I'd only visited Beattock and the Clyde Valley once for photographic purposes, despite hundreds of trips over this magnificent line behind 86s and 87s - and even a few Roarers, long ago!
I was thus keen to return, and the prospect of unbroken good weather in which to enjoy pairs of AL6s in action on the Caledonian Main Line saw me galvanised into action. I was not disappointed...... Setting out ridiculously early (by my standards!) on the Monday, I spent almost a full day on and around Shap (see 'A few shots over Shap'), enjoying good weather and good company (hello Marc!) before heading north into the setting sun and over the border. As in 2003, my aim was to record trains amid the scenery as much as possible; the resultant shots, therefore, are most certainly not station portrait material! But I hope I've succeeded in my aim to show a variety of traction at work in beautiful surroundings, particularly the Elvanfoot - Abington stretch, where the line makes sweeping curves around the valley floor as the hills tower above. This section of line still ranks among my particular favourites. Further north, at Carstairs, the scenery is less dramatic, but the procession of freights which follow the last passenger services south was a pleasant surprise, as was the fact that the sun was not lost behind the hills! Hence the selection of sunset shots around Float Viaduct which form part of this collection. Lastly, a final word of thanks to "the usual suspects" (you know who you are...!) who, despite trying to run trains for a living, found time to accommodate my numerous gen calls. To these fine gentlemen I am most grateful ! |
First stop north of the border on May 1st was Crawford, where luckily the sun had yet to set. The shadows are nonetheless long in this view as 90042 cruises south with 4O11, 18:21 Coatbridge - Southampton liner. |
And these were what, above all, I went for: AL6 power over Beattock. The sun has now set but to my mind 86610+86637 (grey one inside!) still make a magnificent sight, storming south into the twilight towards Crawford, and bound ultimately for Tilbury with 4L81, which left Coatbridge at 19:41, just an hour before I got this shot. |
The morning mist has not long cleared, and a grand view is to be had from half way up Castle Hill, near Crawford. With the infant River Clyde running behind, pioneer Pendo 390001 sweeps south towards Crawford with 1M14, 10:10 Edinburgh - Euston, on May 2nd. |
With a lengthy rake of 100-ton tanks in tow, 66078 heads north at Crawford with 6S36, 08:50 Dalston - Grangemouth, on May 2nd. |
Even though the sun is not yet ideally placed, 86612+86607 still make a superb sight at another of the WCML's classic locations, crossing the River Clyde viaduct at Crawford with a fully-laden 4S52, 08:02 Basford Hall - Coatbridge, on May 2nd. These fine machines are both in their 42nd year of front line operation, and still going strong. For my money they rank easily as one of the top five locomotive designs of the modern era. |
There is no mistaking the Network Rail New Measurement Train, whatever the prevailing conditions! Here it is again, approaching Crawford with 1Z92 from Glasgow Central, though I don't recall its destination on this occasion. |
Having not long passed the former station site at Elvanfoot, 390016 rockets towards Bodsbury Crossing and thence up the last mile or so at 1 in 99 to Beattock Summit, with 1M16, 12:49 Glasgow - Euston, on May 2nd. A far cry from bygone days of Stanier pacifics blasting uphill at perhaps 40mph with 15 on...! |
Another unmistakeable sight is the unique Stobart-liveried 66411 'Eddie The Engine', seen here on its customary daily return trip from Daventry to Mossend, 4S43. The train is approaching Bodsbury Crossing. |
Mixed pair, grey one inside - again !! A telephoto shot of 86627+86614 storming south at Elvanfoot with 4M74, 13:54 Coatbridge - Basford Hall, on May 2nd. To my slight annoyance, the sun is a fraction too far round.... |
With 20 or more high-capacity HTA coal hoppers stretching far behind it, 66214 rumbles steadily round the curve from Crawford, bound for Ravensruther Coal Terminal with 6E59 empties from Drax Power Station, running nearly an hour ahead of schedule. |
First of a selection of southbound evening freights at Carstairs is 4O11, 18:21 Coatbridge - Southampton, seen here crossing Float Viaduct with 90042 at the helm, as the sun slowly sinks on May 2nd. |
With the sun rather lower now, 92030 crosses the Clyde atop 6M66, 18:20 Mossend - Warrington, on May 2nd. |
Seen earlier at Crawford with the empties, 66214 now heads slowly south over Float Viaduct with 2,000 tons and more at the drawbar, hauling freshly-loaded HTAs forming 6M69, 19:49 Ravensruther - Ironbridge Power Station, on May 2nd. |
With the sun all but gone, 92002 is the last of the freights to be phot-able, heading for Trafford Park with 4M67, 19:35 ex Mossend, on May 2nd. |
The first and last photo of Voyajunk I will ever take.....! An unidentified 220 glints momentarily as it catches the very last rays of sunlight, crossing Float Viaduct. |
A tiny load for a massive machine in an even bigger landscape. It is doubtful whether this ridiculous 4-wagon consist forming 6S65, 08:59 Carlisle - Mossend, had any effect on 92009's performance over Beattock. The train is seen climbing the bank with Greskine forest in the background, running well ahead of time, on May 3rd. |
The 09:49 Glasgow - Euston flyer cruises down Beattock at Greskine, formed of 390046, on May 3rd. |
Running an hour or so late despite being only 50 miles or so fron its start point, 66412 rolls down the bank at Greskine with 4M44, 08:21 Mossend - Daventry, on May 3rd. |
At last a grey one on the front ! 86614+86627 are dwarfed by Castle Hill's 483-metre height as they skirt round its base (north of Crawford) with 4S52, 08:02 Basford Hall - Coatbridge, on May 3rd. (A slightly different shot taken a few seconds earlier is to be seen as The Caledonian Gallery's logo screen, incidentally....!) |
Heading south around Castle Hill, 390042 forms 1M15, 11:10 Glasgow - Euston, on May 3rd. |
Nearing Elvanfoot former station (from which a branch once lead down the valley to Wanlockhead) 66177 is seen in charge of 6S50, 12:45 Carlisle - Millerhill engineer's train, on May 3rd. |
The distinctively-shaped plantations on Tewsgill Hill immediately give this away as being Crawford: 86610+86637 make a fine sight amid the hills with 4M74, 13:54 Coatbridge - Basford Hall, on May 3rd. A pleasing shot, though it will be noticed that I have cunningly (stupidly!) cut the tail off the train....! D'oh! |
Lamington is another location at which no trace of the former station remains; in its place now is an OLE feeder station, as 66024 passes with an unidentified southbound freight on May 3rd. |
Running a good 20 minutes late due to a TCF in suburban Glasgow, 390009 uses its tilt capability to the full as it races south over Lamington Viaduct with 1M18, 16:40 Glasgow - Euston, on May 3rd. |
