Of cormorants and pups......
Entry posted by Dave John
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I have been asked why I model the CR in urban Glasgow. Simple really, its on my doorstep. Of course large amounts of it have gone, but if you walk the pathways you can still find traces of what used to be there. Its also interesting to see how nature reclaims these areas, and although perhaps not strictly about model railways it is a blog about the study of the prototype.
Anyway, first of all, a bit of a map. Dawsholm sheds, and all the associated industrial lines in the locality. Plenty of good pictures of how it used to be , both online and in “LMS engine sheds , Vol 5” by Hawkins and Reeve. It was a substantial site, home to about 50 engines back in the day. The majority of these worked the low level lines and the freight traffic on the north bank of the Clyde. Indeed, most of the engines I model would have been shedded here.
So here we are, looking from A at the viaduct over the road and the Kelvin. Typical CR stonework, built to last.
From B, a view over the turntable to where the sheds stood. That part is now occupied by a religious establishment. Nature has provided many mature trees since the railways were lifted in the 1960s. The turntable would be where that circular stand of trees on the right now is. 
This is looking along the line forming the loop for the Paper works. All long gone now, the factory is now residential housing. Taken from C.
Pups where once there were pugs. 
Looking back down the Kelvin towards the paperworks site from D. All very tranquil , with just the piers for the paperworks branch visible. Not uncommon to see herons perched on top of them. 
The most recognisable landmark is the weir, originally connected to the paperworks. I have seen salmon heading upriver leaping over it. The Kelvin was long considered to be a dead river, but after the demise of industry it has made a remarkable recovery, with a decent trout population and runs of salmon and sea trout to the headwaters. Taken from E, it would be the view from a loco footplate. 
The piers for the gasworks branch are not stone, but concrete coloured to look like stone. Very mossy, they stand like cliffs across the river. A couple of pictures here, taken from F. Now they are not terribly good pictures, but yes, those are a colony of urban cormorants. They clearly think the piers will substitute for cliffs. I have tried to count them, I think there about a dozen in total. Nature finding a use for industrial dereliction. 
Finally a view from G. The Caledonian pup, now almost in full CR freight livery on the trackbed of the line to the chemical works. In the background is the aqueduct which carries the Forth and Clyde canal over the river and what was two railway lines. Dawsholm station was to the right. 
Anyway, I hope that wasn’t too verbose and off topic. Just my feeling that nothing beats getting out and seeing the prototype first hand, walking it all gives a feel for the scale of things.
My compliments of the season to everyone.
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