Smallwonder

70810: Southbound a mile south of Lazonby on 3 April 2024

70810 Passing Lazonby & Kirkoswald: Southbound on 4 April 2024

70810 Approaching Lazonby & Kirkoswald: Southbound on 4 April 2024

Work stalled for a while until I realised I wanted to see the trains more. I also quite unexpectedly stumbled upon a prototype. I abandoned the terminus, did some engineering works with the TV tunnel and changed the lift out section to a repositioned flap. Much to be done, but far better for watching the trains go by.

Enjoyed seeing this at the weekend. The building interiors looked fantastic. Something I enjoy doing, but no-one sees my efforts. The banking operations were a great feature too.

Does anyone know how arrivals and departures were dealt with at Millerhill Yard in the late 1980s? I have seen photos of Speedlink trains pulled into the Bilston Glen branch, but was this to allow them to reverse into the yard? There seem to have been sidings with loops to allow engine release next to the through loops; were these used when trains were not reversed in? No intention of modelling it, just interested as it was not an easy place to see what was going on.

I wonder if the 31 had been sent to rescue 47207? Seems more likely than the 31 having double-headed all the way from Millerhill.

The 656s are worth the wait...

Between 1987 and 1990 I didn't see a 26 head beyond Cockenzie except occasionally to Oxwellmains (cement works at Dunbar). When a 26 made it to Carlisle in those days it was still noteworthy enough for a mention in "Rail", but again I can't remeber seeing any sightings on the East coast. In early 1990s 26s piloted 56s on coal trains south on ECML from Millerhill but only as far as Granthouses. In the 600 or so pages of Dave F's photos in the Prototype Discussions section that I have been through I can't recall seeing a 26 or 27 and he has a lot of coverage of ECML north of Newcastle in that period. But there again I can probably account for less than 0.1% of services in that period so would be quite easy for many to have slipped down the line (and it seems from he responses above that they did especially via Carlisle).

Stumbled across this:

Some variety: 47147 passes Blindwells on the ECML heading towards Millerhill on 2 July 1989 with a Speedlink Coal Network train (6S43) at 1655. By1735 it had swapped that load for some empties and was waiting to join the ECML South at Monktonhall Junction. Waverley, 4 July 1989; 47470 which departed with the 1044 to Brighton. I think it would have run round first and headed for Carstairs. South end of Mossend; 37111 arrives and heads for the yard at 1315 on 19 July 1989 37114 passes through Waverley Eastbound at 0936 with a crane on 8 August 1989. Awaiting their turns at Carstairs, 47593 and 47627 with an unidentified 47 behind on 19 July 1989 at 1615.

Shiny 37403 on The Royal Scotsman at Waverley on 4 July 1989. And from the front. It was shown on the Platform display as the 1118 to Taynuilt. 47715 at Waverley on 4 July 1989 propelling the 1130 to GQS. 26005 at Waverley on 4 July 1989 about to continue East with a civil engineers train. Stirling on 8 July 1989 for the next three: 08725 47570 with the 11 coach 1510 to Inverness. 47707 with a service south at 1325 And finally for now: 47378 arrives at Millerhill at 1730 on 9 July 1989 with the return working of the petfood train; the return carrying empty cans south I believe. The train headed on south around 1755

Niddrie North Junction - passing the site of a line that used to link the suburban line directly to the ECML before the route via Millerhill. On 20 June 1989 at 1925 47569 approaches Waverley the long way round having been diverted round the suburban line. Millerhill at 2030 the following day, 21 June 1989. 47572 stabled. 47569 is the loco on the left with the strange cabside logo. Apparently the description of it is in my "Notebook 3" which isn't immediately to hand. The other occupants of the Chute on the same evening. L to R -unknown, 47644, 47643, 47569, 47572. On 27 May 1989 the sun shines at Millerhill on 37013 and 26001. I spotted 26001 on 65 occasions from December 1987 to July 1990. On all but one occasion at was on shed at Millerhill. The one exception was on 26 July 1988 when it was at Waverly pulling the 1203 to Euston (as far as Carstairs) whilst still in original Railfreight livery.. Evening sun at Millerhill on 28 June 1989: 26006 and 37175 at 2100.

15 June 1989: 37260 Radio Highland at Millerhill at 2030. Withdrawn just over two months later. 18 June 1989: 37373 at Millerhill at 1700. 15 minutes later it headed north light engine. That's a while salmon logo on its no.2 end cabside. 18 June 1989: 47371 arriving from the south at 1715 with the 6Z93 petfood bound for Glasgow. Held in the loops at Millerhill . The "71" in its number was black in outline only. In September 1988 I spotted this one at the head of the Royal Scotsman at Waverley. An injured 37175 keeps company with 37167 at Millerhill on 18 June 1989. 37175 seemed to stay in the area for a few weeks around that time. It still had a boarded windscreen a month later. 37167 seemed to be a regular visitor to Millerhill in 1989, presumably bringing speedlink coal services north (see previous photos). I also spotted it at Oxford in July that year.

How about a slice of Doncaster? Platform face with a running line at the front with a bit of the works at the back. Not much scope for scenery and you'd have to be inventive with scenic breaks, but it would be different and give scope for more tham just locos. It would also fit different periods. Or even just a section of the works. From a quick look at overhead photos there seem to be some interesting buildings and track arrangements.

Last ones from this set of scans. All Millerhill. 31 March 1989 20213 had just arrived on shed, having been shunting in the yard, and had been soon followed from the yard by 37353. According to my notes I had seen 37353 three days earlier when it passed through Prestwick on the R05 which I presume was a local trip working. 37521 then arrived from the ECML light engine with 47378 which I presume is obscured by 20138 and the 26. Unusual to see two 20s on shed at by then. A 37/5 was also a rarity at Millerhill then; for me anyway. 47290 arrives at 1540 with empty car carriers enters from the north (probably Bathgate or Leith). Now 2 April 1989 and 37059 is stabled in the chute with 37009 at 1630. Fourth time I had spotted 059 at Millerhill in two months. 37009 On the same day; 08570 with 20138 still hanging around.

Easier to spot the trains in these ones. A batch from Thursday 30 March 1989: 20213 at Portobello Wheel Lathe at 1415. We were allowed in that afternoon and told all about it. A DBSO can just be seen inside. It was always worth popping by here on the way from Craigentinny to Millerhill. And from the other end. 37162 exits Millerhill for the ECML at 1445 with coal container empties (6E34). I spotted this loco 8 times at MH throughout 1989. My notes mention it having a black "SCN" sticker on it which I think stood for Strategic Coal Network, but two of other time I saw 37162 it was on engineering duties; the other times it was stabled. And from the other end. 20138 leaves MH northbound at 1500, passing 08570. 20138 was back on shed the next day. 26024 arrives at Millerhill from the North at 1510 with some fresh ballast. Quite a modellable formation - only 8 wagons. And from the other end.

Millerhill 11 March 1989 - around 1420 5 x 26s in the Chute part 1 - l to r in old Railfreight - 26025, 26006 and 26035, with subtle variations. 5 x 26s in the Chute part 2 - 26004 and 26005, with 08791 47470 has the honour of the headshunt. Now Millerhill on 19 March 1989 - late afternoon A presumably recently named 47588 brings the petfood North (6Z93). 08791 and 47633 behind. 08793, 47649, a manky 47213 and 26031. 26046. Ayr MPD on 27 March 1989 - 37165, during its brief time as 37374, - oh for a zoom lens.

Five shots from Millerhill: 47209 heads for the EMCL on at 1540 on 6 Feb 1989 with the 4M77. A few minutes later 47004 entered the yard from the North with cement empties, but the photo is even worse than this one. Today's fact: I never saw a loaded car train at Millerhill. Only empties headed north and south. 12 Feb 1989 distant line up of 47311 (unusually in with the tankers; usually the 08s were kept in there), 47285 (in "old" Railfreight grey), 47052, 08791 and 26005 (in its relatively freshly applied triple grey livery) at 1420. 26002 in the headshunt, still in old railfreight livery with castle on 12 Feb 1989. 08761 exits north at 1430 on 12 Feb 1989. 26001, 37272 (formerly 37304, and apparently with a black headcode box at its number 2 end and yellow at number 1) and 26??? on 18 Feb 1989. In a brief dry spell at Motherwell; 37201 on Sunday 5 March 1989. Not sure who the recipient of the broken nose on the left was. The Fiesta looks in better shape.

4 Feb 1989 - ECML engineering works mean diversions through Millerhill: 47604 Millerhill - undated, but 1989. 37029 leaves Millerhill heading North on 6 Feb 1989 at 1500 (with the 4O38?). Same train about to pass under a competitor on the A1.

Tricky location to get information about, but a very interesting one. I had a look around the internet last year after discovering that my grandad occassionally worked in the signal box there. Not your era, but: More helpfully, the excellent "Vanished Railways of West Lothian" by Harry Knox has some photos of the stations and the yard and, near the back of the book, another photo of the yard. I think the images are from around 1960. I haven't seen any image of the old engine facilities. The book also covers part of the line toward Slamannan and there is more information about that line on the Railscot website. And finally: https://www.scalefour.org/shows/S4um2011/blackston.html

Waverley 10 December 1988. Yet more freight traction; 26003 heads the 1C66, 1203 departure to Euston (as far as Carstairs). Craigentinny 21 Jan 1989 at 1420. 47534 on a visit north with a rugby special. For the record Scotland beat Wales 23-7. Back to Waverley: 14 January 1989. 47703 prepares to depart with the 10am to Glasgow QS. 47617 on 6 February 1989 with the 1245 to Aberdeen. Black cab surrounds extend back to door. 47470 on the same day with the 1314 to Manchester. Tiny number somewhere.

I can highly recommend this video which I stumbled across as having recently been uploaded on YouTube. I had great fun spotting a few old favourites as they made appearances. The same person has uploaded a few videos from that period, mostly from South of the border.

Another freight engine on passenger duty at Waverley, this time its 37070 on 17 September 1988; almost certainly bound for Carstairs with a service headed further south. 37185 departs Millerhill towards the ECML at 1623 on 29 September 1988 with the 4M77 service of empty car transporters, the first of which is a Cartic. I cycled here after school. On my racer. I kept my red grifter for my paper round. Not sure what happened to 37185 but my racer made it into preservation. It's mounted on my turbo trainer. Back to Motherwell on 8 October at 4.30pm for these shots; fairly overcast again. Presumably Motherwell depot adopted a salmon logo because it was so wet. 37051 37325 (37108), 37326 (37111), crane and a bit of 08581. The rest of 08581(salmon) plus 08851 (Westie) and 08732 (Castle). 27018 awaits its fate in the yard beside the shed at Motherwell on the same day.