RMweb Gold Rannoch Moor Posted June 13, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 13, 2012 This is almost certainly a long shot but I was wondering if anyone had or knew of any photos taken (when open or soon after closure) of the freight only colliery lines that ran from Westcraigs Junction (on the Airdrie to Edinburgh line) through Shotts and Shotts East Goods station to Blackston Jn on the Wilsontown, Morningside and Colness Rly. I ask because as a youngster my brother and I spent hours walking the old lines between all the disused collieries (Baton, Calderhead, Greystonelee, the Hirst, Springbank etc, many of whch my late Grandfather worked at) when visiting my Grandparents. At that time (early to mid 70's) there was much infrastructure to see and we had great times exploring. Since then, despite the lack of glamour, I've had regular searches (Google, Railscot etc) online and also trawled books and maps. There are passing refs to the lines (part of the Monklands Railways) and I have read the local book on the Monkland Railways - very interesting BTW. The line to Shotts East closed in 1963 as the collieries were worked out (the other half from Shotts to Blackston Jn had closed in 1950). My mother can vaguely remember the lines as she lived in a cottage next to the extension from Baton Colliery to Fortissat colliery, and indeed walked along another line on her way to school at Dykehead in Shotts. Anyway, would be very grateful if anyone had any phots (or recollections of the workings) on the lines. Many thanks Gus Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andytrains Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Have you tried the Scottish Records Office and the National Archives of Scotland Home Page www.nas.gov.uk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Rannoch Moor Posted November 17, 2012 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 17, 2012 Andytrains, Have tried the website and found the maps very useful thanks - a similar post in the disused railways section here got some really useful stuff by Wullnull which was great. I also found a separate photo of Benhar Junction, shown here: Gus Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alancolq Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Hi Gus, I'm only 5+ years late but, just in case you haven't come across it, Harry Knox - a retired inspector/Area Manager from Bathgate - has published "Vanished Railways of West Lothian" available from Lightmoor Press. Various photos of the branches in the area, a bit pricey at £25 but hours of enjoyment to be had! ISBN 9781911038 17 7 The signal box photo is Benhar Level Crossing box, which had opened on 6 October 1920 to replace a smaller SB and a second SB just to the south called Benhar Pitts Junction. Benhar LC closed along with the line itself on 15th June 1963: it worked northwards to Westcraigs Junction, which hung on until official closure on 16 December 1979 when the Bathgate-Airdrie line was singled. Southwards, Benhar LC worked to Hartwoodhill Junction, which closed a bit earlier on 14 November 1962 (there's a photo of that in the book). Benhar Junction SB was on the Caley Midcalder Jcn-Shotts line and survived until 29 June 1981, the last manual box to go under the original Edinburgh resignalling scheme. If anyone had told me back in the 1970s that Bathgate would one day have en electrified railway with 4 trains an hour I would have laughed out loud! All the best, Alan C Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckymucklebackit Posted June 14, 2018 Share Posted June 14, 2018 Hi Gus, I'm only 5+ years late but, just in case you haven't come across it, Harry Knox - a retired inspector/Area Manager from Bathgate - has published "Vanished Railways of West Lothian" available from Lightmoor Press. Various photos of the branches in the area, a bit pricey at £25 but hours of enjoyment to be had! ISBN 9781911038 17 7 The signal box photo is Benhar Level Crossing box, which had opened on 6 October 1920 to replace a smaller SB and a second SB just to the south called Benhar Pitts Junction. Benhar LC closed along with the line itself on 15th June 1963: it worked northwards to Westcraigs Junction, which hung on until official closure on 16 December 1979 when the Bathgate-Airdrie line was singled. Southwards, Benhar LC worked to Hartwoodhill Junction, which closed a bit earlier on 14 November 1962 (there's a photo of that in the book). Benhar Junction SB was on the Caley Midcalder Jcn-Shotts line and survived until 29 June 1981, the last manual box to go under the original Edinburgh resignalling scheme. If anyone had told me back in the 1970s that Bathgate would one day have en electrified railway with 4 trains an hour I would have laughed out loud! All the best, Alan C Yeh - and that you could see class 73s hauling sleeper ECS through Bathgate! Saw a video of today's daylight working on Facebook! Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corrour Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 Yeh - and that you could see class 73s hauling sleeper ECS through Bathgate! Saw a video of today's daylight working on Facebook! Jim Ian, here's a drawing I did for Benhar Jcn., for the late and much missed writer on Scottish railways Ian Brown. Benhar-Jcn.-M1-1974-Rev.2-rot.pdf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckymucklebackit Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 That wasn't the Ian Brown that posted a lot on the Glasgow Central Low Level Line on Urban Glasgow? Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corrour Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Yes Jim I think it was. kind regards, Robert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckymucklebackit Posted June 16, 2018 Share Posted June 16, 2018 Yes Jim I think it was. kind regards, Robert Thanks Robert - Sad news if it is, I met him a couple of years ago at a meeting in Central Hotel, nice guy. Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Rannoch Moor Posted July 21, 2018 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 21, 2018 Thanks everyone. It’s the first time I’ve looked in on RMWeb for a good while. Jim, I was aware it was Benhar LC but I suspect I miswrote the name when I put up the original photos. I met Harry when he was selling his Shale Oil book and talked to him gleaning some useful info then - he actually worked at Shotts Station (Caley one) in late 50’s and I think visited Shotts East (NB) periodically as part of his duties. You’re right though, his writing style is excellent and his West Lothian book (and the Shale Oil one) are truly masterpieces. His Haymarket experiences are also well worth seeking out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasp Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 There is a third (shed) book by Harry Knox, “Dalry Road”, Edinburgh’s third locomotive shed. The same high quality Joint publication by Caledonian Railway Association and Black Dwarf Lightmoor, available from The Association Jim P Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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