Prototype Tim Mills' Photos

[oldravendale]

Dave, Arun, Martin and Tony. Thanks for your help regarding the coaching stock.

Dave. Thanks for the positive identification of the station.

Arun. Thank you for dealing so concisely with Tony's trolleybus question.

Tim's photos now move on to a difficult set. These were taken during a trip to Scotland and I was able to discuss these photos with Tim before he died. I remarked that the negatives didn't look the best and he said that the weather was absolutely appalling. The pictures are therefore lacking contrast, underexposed and grainy. Add to that a camera which was clearly not in the best of condition and prone to flare and focus which was just slightly out on many of the frames and these were a nightmare to correct. I've applied density, contrast, sharpness and grain correction as well as removing the dirt and dust and these are the best I can make of them. They are, however, a fascinating insight in to the declining years of steam in Scotland.

WD 2-8-0 90534 on a coal train near Thornton MPD on 11th September 1961. Home shed had been Thornton Junction since March 1947 and it went to Dunfermline Upper in January 1963 where it was withdrawn in October 1966. (SLS). It went to Motherwell Machinery and Scrap at Wishaw where it was scrapped in February 1967. (BR Database).

The WD was originally numbered 77063 loaned to the GWR Shrewsbury 19/6/43, returned to the WD 30/12/44, formally allocated to Thornton Junc 3/47 which was the date the LNER purchased it from the WD although I suspect it may have been on loan prior to that date. Surprisingly it did not form part of class O7 so there's a query here. Dunfermline 26/1/63.

I have finally laid my hands on the working from the depot that I have. Dated for 1955, so a little earlier than the photos but might provide a little insight into the working lives of the WD's allocated there.

Turn 1 was an 8F (WD) LE to Dundee (specifically Stannergate to the yards there)
Turn 2 - 8F (WD) - to Aberdeen via Dundee
Turn 3 - 2 x 8F (WD) - engine 1 worked one day to Aberdeen via Dundee, then swapped to work to Alloa. Engine 2 did the opposite
Turn 4 - 8F (WD) - worked with Eastfield turn 22 & 23 - via Polmont to Cadder Yard, work as required, finish Eastfield. Opposite days return.
Turn 5 - 8F (WD) - worked with Ferryhill. Aberdeen via Coupar Angus, swap crews, return via Kelty.
Turn 6 - spare
Turn 7 - 8F WD - to Aberdeen via Dundee
Turn 8 - spare
Turn 9 - 8F (WD) - worked with Eastfield - to Cadder Yard and Eastfield
Turn 10 - 8F (WD) engine only - to Aberdeen via Dundee



J37 0-6-0 64629 near Thornton MPD on 11th September 1961. This was also a Thornton Junction engine and had been there since at least 1948 and was withdrawn in October 1963. (BR Database and SLS). It was disposed of at Inverurie Loco Works in November 1963. (BR Database).

64629 was built as NBR 9508 by the North British Loco Co in Feb 1921 and was only at Eastfield and then Thornton Junc 22/3/37 until wdn 28/10/63. Solid machines the NB 0-6-0.



B1 61343 on the 12.17pm Thornton Junction - Crail on 11th September 1961. The loco had been allocated to Thornton Junction since April 1959 where it was withdrawn in March 1966. (SLS). Mothwell Machinery and Scrap at Wishaw saw to the final demise which was complete the month after withdrawal. (BR Database).

More Thompson stock behind that B1



J38/1 0-6-0 65907 Backing up freight at Thornton on 11th September 1961. Another Thornton Junction engine since 1948 it was withdrawn in August 1966. (SLS and BR Database). It was disposed of at Motherwell Machinery and Scrap, Wishaw, by the end of November the same year. (Rail UK). New DMU on the left of the shot.

65907 was 5 years newer than the J37, built at Darlington as 1408 3/3/26, it was only ever allocated to Thornton Junc along with quite a few of it's classmates. Quite a few enginemen from Thornton/Dunfermline reckoned the J38 was a better engine than the J39. Given the only real difference was the 6" smaller driving wheels I think they may have sounded a bit noisier at lower speeds but they undoubtedly pulled trains around the Lothian coalfields quite happily.



Brian

 

[76043]

More Thompson stock behind that B1! Shame you've left East London, but slightly relieved it's not more A3's and A4's, but very happy you're now over the border into interesting stuff like grimy freight trains.
Tony

 

[Martin Shaw]

Some bits and bobs.
IMG#2358, the coach end and the adjacent one behind the L1, which I surmise to be the same, are I think dia373 6 compt 72 seat brake thirds produced by BR in 1953 on Ilford stock underframes made redundndant by the Shenfield electrification. Originally produced for the LT&S by 1962 they were surplus there as well. The LNER (Gresley) produced a few 6 compt brakes in 1924 which these obviously aren't and then these so I'm reasonably comfortable with the identification.

IMG 2361, the WD was originally numbered 77063 loaned to the GWR Shrewsbury 19/6/43, returned to the WD 30/12/44, formally allocated to Thornton Junc 3/47 which was the date the LNER purchased it from the WD although I suspect it may have been on loan prior to that date. Surprisingly it did not form part of class O7 so there's a query here. Dunfermline 26/1/63.

IMG#2362 64629 was built as NBR 9508 by the North British Loco Co in Feb 1921 and was only at Eastfield and then Thornton Junc 22/3/37 until wdn 28/10/63. Solid machines the NB 0-6-0.

IMG#2364 65907 was 5 years newer than the J37, built at Darlington as 1408 3/3/26, it was only ever allocated to Thornton Junc along with quite a few of it's classmates. Quite a few enginemen from Thornton/Dunfermline reckoned the J38 was a better engine than the J39. Given the only real difference was the 6" smaller driving wheels I think they may have sounded a bit noisier at lower speeds but they undoubtedly pulled trains around the Lothian coalfields quite happily.

The B1 was unremarkable.

Martin

 

[Lyndhurstman]

Back at Stratford this is an unidentified J69 on a trip freight on 29th March 1962. Well, I called it a J69 but I think it may be a J67, either 68565 withdrawn in August 1962 or 68566, withdrawn in September 1962, both of which were at Stratford at the time of the photo. 68565 was scrapped at Stratford in September 1962 and 68566 in January 1963.

View attachment 201282

Brian

15 spoke unbalanced wheels - ex-passenger loco (R24). It has widened tanks, and the safety valves are not in front of the cab; these aspects denoting a 180 lb PSI boiler. Thus, it’s an R24 Rebuilt (LNER J69/1).

RCTS 8A has 68565 withdrawn 8/62, 68566 a month later. Yeadons v48 agrees.

Cheers

Jan

 

[oldravendale]

Thank you Tony - more A3s and A4s to come but not for a while.

Martin. That's a load of information which is just what I need in the way of confirmation and additional info. All now added where appropriate. And the B1 may be unremarkable but what we'd give to see them in revenue earning service again.

Jan. Thanks for your confirmation about the J69s. If I'd dug just a bit further I'd have found out about the rebuilding but it's all now added to the photo.

Delving further in to these Scottish photos I note that some of those a bit earlier in the trip are really poor. They'll be included as I get to them but only from the historical perspective. In some cases the lens seems to be focussed immediately in front of Tim rather than on the subject and I reckon there must have been an intermittent problem with the camera. However, to continue the theme...

J37 0-6-0 64546 taken from a DMU at Dysart on 11th September 1961. The loco was allocated to Thornton Junction and had been since 1948. It was withdrawn from there in May 1964. (BR Database and SLS). It was scrapped at Connels, Coatbridge, in September the same year. (BR Database).



J37 64599 seen from a Dundee bound DMU approaching the Forth Bridge on 11th September 1961. It was a St Margarets engine at the time, moving to Dunfermline Upper in April 1964 where it was withdrawn in October 1965. (BR Database and SLS). It was scrapped at Shipbuilding Industries, Faslane, in January 1966.



J38/2 0-6-0 65908 on a coal train near Thornton MPD on 11th September 1961. The loco had been allocated to Thornton Junction since 1948 where it was withdrawn in September 1964. (BR Database and SLS). It was scrapped at the end of the year by Motherwell Machinery and Scrap at Wishaw.



An unidentified industrial 0-6-0ST (or maybe an 0-4-0ST) on coal wagons opposite Thornton MPD on 11th September 1961.

As a rough guess , I think this would be Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST Works No.1723 of 1921 at the exchange sidings of NCB's Balgonie Colliery, the colliery itself being situated just to the north of Thornton Junction. The colliery was closed for production in February 1960 but the rail system remained in use in 1961 to remove coal stocks. At Nationalisation the colliery had two 0-4-0STs No.1 AB 1723/21 and No.2 AB 2062/38 which remained until closure, but the latter was transferred to the central workshops c1960 and scrapped there in February 1961, so the loco in the photo must be AB 1723.



Brian

 

[PhilH]

An unidentified industrial 0-6-0ST (or maybe an 0-4-0ST) on coal wagons opposite Thornton MPD on 11th September 1961.

View attachment 201393

Brian

As a rough guess , I think this would be Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST Works No.1723 of 1921 at the exchange sidings of NCB's Balgonie Colliery, the colliery itself being situated just to the north of Thornton Junction. The colliery was closed for production in February 1960 but the rail system remained in use in 1961 to remove coal stocks. At Nationalisation the colliery had two 0-4-0STs No.1 AB 1723/21 and No.2 AB 2062/38 which remained until closure, but the latter was transferred to the central workshops c1960 and scrapped there in February 1961, so the loco in the photo must be AB 1723.

 

[Roger Pound]

Just a question re the unidentified loco in #2705.

The cab roof appears to have a considerable overhang so I wondered if these locos had a form of tender attached, like the ex-Caledonian Pugs. to extend their fuel capacity. Photographs of the Andrew Barclay locos that the NCB allocated there might resolve the query.....?

OK - I'll get back in my corner now.

Roger

 

[PhilH]

Just a question re the unidentified loco in #2705.

The cab roof appears to have a considerable overhang so I wondered if these locos had a form of tender attached, like the ex-Caledonian Pugs. to extend their fuel capacity. Photographs of the Andrew Barclay locos that the NCB allocated there might resolve the query.....?

OK - I'll get back in my corner now.

Roger

I don't think the cab roof has a considerable overhang, bear in mind the angle of the photo is slightly to the rear so you're looking at part of the rear of the roof as well as the side. It would have a open top part of the cab rear like this Andrew Barclay loco -

​

The line at Balgonie was fairly short so I doubt if they would need a tender. Some similar locos elsewhere did run with homemade tenders but any photos I've seen don't show any with an extended cab roof.

Photographs of the AB locos that the NCB allocated there may indeed resolve your query - If you can find them !

 

[oldravendale]

Phil. Thanks for the detail on the likely candidate for that distant shot of an industrial 0-4-0. If there's anyone who'd come up with a likely description it's you!

A good question there too, Roger, which I think Phil has answered for us.

Out of interest I looked at the photos yet to come, some of which date as far back as 1958, and they are of far better technical quality on the whole. As we go through this set of Scottish photos I'm becoming more convinced that there was a camera problem in the focus department. In that respect the photos for today are not too bad but certainly far from pin sharp and still underexposed, flat and grainy.

K4 2-6-0 61998 Macleod of Macleod, D11/2 4-4-0 62686 The Fiery Cross and J88 0-6-0T 68335 in store at Thornton MPD Yard on 11th September 1961.

61998 was allocated to Thornton Junction in December 1959, in store from July 1961 and withdrawn in October. (SLS). It was scrapped in Inverurie Works by the end of March the following year. (Rail UK).

62686 was a St Rollox (Ballornock) engine from May 1957 (although Rail UK advises the last shed to have been Eastfield) and was withdrawn in July 1961. (SLS). It was scrapped by the end of August 1962 at Cowlairs Works. (Rail UK).

68335 was a Haymarket engine from December 1959 and had a life after this photo as it was transferred to Dawsholm in May 1962 after a period in storage at Bathgate in April 1962 before withdrawal in the following October. (SLS and Rail UK). It was scrapped at Inverurie Works in April 1963 (Rail UK).

The two concrete towers in the background of the images from Thornton are of the winding towers at Rothes colliery. This was developed by the NCB as one of its "super-pits" with a planned output of 5,000 tons of coal per day. The £12m pit was beset with problems from the start, especially with the inflow of water. It was also the first pit to be visited below ground by a monarch. Queen Elizabeth visited in 1958.

The whole complex was considered ultra-modern at the time and was complimented by the development of one of BR's new hump yards. Thornton Marshalling Yard | Canmore
The original engine shed - which was located inside the triangular junction from which it got its name - was by this time replaced with a much larger and more modern facility directly opposite Rothes colliery.



61998 at the end of the row of stored engines in Thornton MPD Yard on 11th September 1961.



K4 61995 Cameron of Lochiel, J35 0-6-0 64474 and a line of locos in storage at Thornton MPD Yard 11th September 1961.

61995 was allocated to Thornton Junction from December 1959, to store in July 1961 and withdrawn in October. (SLS). It was scrapped at Halbeath Wagon Works, Dunfermline, by the end of January 1962. (Rail UK).

64474 had been a Thornton Junction engine since 1946, went in to store at the beginning of July 1961 and was withdrawn in October. (SLS). This was also scrapped at Halbeath Wagon Works during March 1962. (BR Database).



J38/2 0-6-0 65900 and J37 0-6-0 64618 in Thornton MPD Yard on 11th September 1961.

65900 was at Thornton Junction from December 1956 and was withdrawn in November 1963 (SLS). It was scrapped in Inverurie Works in December (Rail UK).

64618 was at Thornton Junction from 1948 and withdrawn in October 1966. (BR Database and SLS). It was scrapped at Motherwell Machinery and Scrap, Wishaw, in February 1967.





Another of 64618 on shed at Thornton Junction on 11th September 1961.



J35 0-6-0 64478 on shed at Thornton MPD on 11th September 1961. This went to Thornton Junction in February 1961 (BR Database) and was transferred in September 1962 to Carlisle Canal (SLS) which was probably only for storage as withdrawal had been at the end of August 1962 (Rail UK). It was scrapped at Inverurie Works in December the same year.



Brian

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

'J35 0-6-0 64478 on shed at Thornton MPD on 11th September 1961. This went to Thornton Junction in February 1961 (BR Database) and was transferred in September 1962 to Carlisle Canal (SLS) which was probably only for storage as withdrawal had been at the end of August 1962 (Rail UK). It was scrapped at Inverurie Works in December the same year'

One wonders what the logic was of transferring an engine miles south only to then send it even further north from whence it started to be disposed off! Little wonder the railway was losing money hand over fist.

Ian.

 

[oldravendale]

One wonders what the logic was of transferring an engine miles south only to then send it even further north from whence it started to be disposed off! Little wonder the railway was losing money hand over fist.

Ian.

Fair comment, Ian, but my remarks about storage before withdrawal etc are mine alone as an interpretation of the info I've been able to glean. It rather assumes that the information is correct in the first place. We also know that certain MPDs were concentration depots for withdrawn locos which may have made things easier from the logistics perspective when selling the locos on to the scrap merchants. It's one of those situations where it'd definitely be better to not start from 2023!

 

[Roger Pound]

Phil, many thanks indeed for your comprehensive answer to my rather 'off the wall' question. I am afraid my experience of NCB Colliery locos stems back to my early working days some sixty five years ago in the Coalville area of the Leicestershire Coal field. However, at that time I was more focused on the main-line activity in the area. One of those things in life that seemed insignificant then but assumes a new proportion in retirement when interests broaden.

Hey ho !

Roger

 

[oldravendale]

Another J37, 64618, on shed at Thornton MPD on 11th September 1961. This had been at Thornton Junction since 1948 and was withdrawn in October or November 1966. (BR Database and SLS). It was disposed of at Motherwell Machinery and Scrap, Wishaw, in February 1967. (BR Database).



N15 0-6-2T 69204 in use as a stationary boiler for washout at Thornton MPD on 11th September 1961. I don't remember whether hot water or steam was used for wash outs so can't verify the suggestion that this is why it was in stationary use. However, it had been a Thornton Junction engine since December 1959 and withdrawn in July 1962. It was scrapped at Inverurie Works during November the same year.

Washing out requires vast quantities of water, preferably hot so that is what 69204 is supplying intermittently. Locomotive boilers aren't really big enough for the volumes needed but undoubtedly free was a ringing endorsement. Surprisingly the loco is still in the traffic dept rather than the ODM, however that may be an administrative exercise that came a bit later. Considering Thornton Junc and its environs was a vast railway enterprise and along with mining by far the biggest employer in the area in 1961, today there is virtually no sign of either.





Caprotti Standard Class 5 73145 on a freight passing Thornton MPD on 11th September 1961. This was a St Rollox engine, moving to Eastfield in January 1966, then Ayr in September where it was withdrawn the same month. (SLS). It went to West of Scotland Shipbreaking, Troon, where it was scrapped in April 1967.



An unidentified J37 on a freight train passing Thornton MPD on 11th September 1961.



Brian

 

[Martin Shaw]

Washing out requires vast quantities of water, preferably hot so that is what 69204 is supplying intermittently. Locomotive boilers aren't really big enough for the volumes needed but undoubtedly free was a ringing endorsement. Surprisingly the loco is still in the traffic dept rather than the ODM, however that may be an administrative exercise that came a bit later. Considering Thornton Junc and its environs was a vast railway enterprise and along with mining by far the biggest employer in the area in 1961, today there is virtually no sign of either.
Martin

 

[SimonT]

from the logistics perspective

They didn't have logistics then, they had Supply.

 

[oldravendale]

Thank you for your response to my question about washing out, Martin. That rather explains it, and some of Tim's photos, notably at Kentish Town, which show someone with a steam lance and loads of steam blowing about.

As for logistics, Simon, no, we didn't call the process of moving goods around that in the sixties when I worked in a Distribution Centre. Then we had lorry deliveries, postal deliveries, passenger train deliveries to local stations and receipts, collections, customer trade counter, etc etc. All neatly covered nowadays by the logistics label which, I believe we all understand.

V2 60836 on a freight passing Thornton MPD southbound on 11th September 1961. This had been allocated to St Rollox (Balornock) since November 1960, moved to Aberdeen Ferrhill in December 1963 and finally Dundee Tay Bridge in May 1964 where it was withdrawn at the end of December 1966. (SLS). It was scrapped at Motherwell Machinery and Scrap, Wishaw, in July 1967. (BR Database).



J35 0-6-0 64478 has been seen recently in post #2709. Here it's on a freight at Thornton Junction to Leuchars on 11th September 1961. To repeat the earlier notes 64478 went to Thornton Junction in February 1961 (BR Database) and was transferred in September 1962 to Carlisle Canal (SLS) which was probably only for storage as withdrawal had been at the end of August 1962 (Rail UK). It was scrapped at Inverurie Works in December the same year. (Rail UK).



A view at Thornton looking North from the station area on 11th September 1961. 64478 is on the nearer freight/mineral train.



This photo typifies the issues Tim appears to have been having with his camera. The rails in the foreground are sharp but the subject matter is out of focus. The earliest pictures on this trip seem to be OK so I wonder whether the camera was dropped or otherwise received a knock which affected the focusing ring. At this distance in time we'll never know.

J35 0-6-0 64491 hauling freight on the Crail line at Thornton on 11th September 1961. It was at Thornton Junction from February 1961 and withdrawn at the end of December 1962 as the last of the class to be withdrawn. (SLS and Rail UK). It was scrapped at Inverurie Works in May 1963. (Rail UK).


V2 60937 on a southbound fitted freight at Thornton on 11th September 1961. It had been a St Margarets engine since November 1958 and was withdrawn at the end of December 1962. (SLS). It was scrapped at Inverurie Works in November 1963. (BR Database).

This looks like an Up Fish. Class 3 with insulated van. Usually in the hands of a V2 or A2. Considered to be the hardest jobs in the link, they were effectively express passenger times but without the station stops.



B1 61343 arriving at Thornton from the Crail branch on 11th September 1961. It had been allocated to Thornton Junction since April 1959 and was withdrawn in March 1966. (SLS). It was scrapped at Motherwell Machinery and Scrap (Wishaw) in April 1966. (BR Database).



Brian

 

[oldravendale]

A3 60097 Humorist arriving at Portobello from Carlisle on 11th September 1961. This had been a Haymarket engine since 1954, moving to St Margarets at the end of December 1961 and was withdrawn in August 1963. (SLS). It was disposed of at Doncaster Works by the end of the same month after entering Doncaster Works for repair in July. (BR Database). Was this the only A3 with what I can best describe as A1 type smoke deflectors?

The A1 type smoke deflectors were the culmination of a whole series of experiments done on that engine relating to smoke clearance. She/It had cowls, odd looking vents in the top of the smokebox and odd little wings stick on the smokebox before the final deflectors were fitted. Similar experiments were carried out on the A2/2s and one of the last surviving V2s [60813].
Presumably, Humorist's eventual set of deflectors worked as otherwise it would have been in line for a set of the German variety.



V3 2-6-2T 67620 on a local to Dunbar at Portobello on 11th September 1961. This was a V1 rebuilt to V3 in 1953. This had been at Haymarket since at least 1948 but moved to Heaton in December 1962, then Gateshead in July 1963 where it was withdrawn in November 1964. (SLS and BR Database). After a period in store at Bathgate, reported in April 1962 it was scrapped at T J Thompson and Sons at Stockton by the end of August 1965. (Rail UK).



J36 0-6-0 65327 in the station yard at Portobello on 11th September 1961. This loco was allocated to St Margarets, moving to Dunfermline Upper in December 1963 and Thornton Junction in July 1965 where it was withdrawn in November the same year. (SLS). It was scrapped during September 1966 at Motherwell Machinery and Scrap, Wishaw. (BR Database).



The same loco on the same date on empty stock at Portobello.



J36 0-6-0 65329 in the station yard at Portobello on 11th September 1961. This was a St Margarets engine reallocated to Bathgate in August 1963 where it was withdrawn in December the same year. It was disposed of at Arnott Young, Carmyle, in July 1964. (BR Database).




The same loco on the same day with brake van at Portobello.



J37 0-6-0 64604 in the station yard at Portobello on 11th September 1961. BR Database confirms the loco allocation as Dunfermline Upper where it was withdrawn in August 1962. (SLS and BR Database). It was scrapped at Inverurie Works in October 1962. (BR Database).



Brian

 

[Arun Sharma]

Regarding 'Humorist', the A1 type smoke deflectors were the culmination of a whole series of experiments done on that engine relating to smoke clearance. She/It had cowls, odd looking vents in the top of the smokebox and odd little wings stick on the smokebox before the final deflectors were fitted. Similar experiments were carried out on the A2/2s and one of the last surviving V2s [60813].
Presumably, Humorist's eventual set of deflectors worked as otherwise it would have been in line for a set of the German variety.
Figs 56, 58-67, 92 in Vol 2A of the 'Green Book' show some of these variations fitted to her.
Her sister, Coronach [60093] also had some similar draughting mods performed in 1931 but I believe eventually reverted to the standard fittings [see Fig 57 in Vol 2A of the Green Book]

 

[76043]

We've seen B1 61343 before, I did wonder if it was on a two coach train then, but this second image confirms it. Super power indeed on that one, especially having read in RHN Hardy's book what the B1's got up to on the GE expresses.
Tony

 

[oldravendale]

Thanks, Arun, for the details about the A3. It makes me wonder why these deflectors were not fitted to the A3s years before the German type were considered suitable. I guess they must have worked, or why leave them on the engine right up until its demise?

Tony - I forgot to check for previous entries for 61343, but your comment about the B1s is a point well made.

Named B1 61249 Fitzherbert Wright on an Edinburgh - Harwich train at Portobello on 11th September 1961. Sadly the underexposure of the first shot is gross and the second one is a great example of the focus being on the flower bed rather than the subject. 61249 was a Sheffield Darnall engine, so quite well away from home here. In June 1963 it was reallocated to Canklow and was withdrawn in June 1964. (SLS). Final demise was a Cohens, Ickles, in August 1964. (BR Database).





Named J36 65224 Mons passing through Haymarket Station light engine on 11th September 1961. My minimal research has thrown up an interesting history for this loco, although by no means unique. BR Database confirms the loco as new in 1891 and loaned out of service to the WD/ROD in October 1917 and returned by the army in May 1919. It was at St Margarets in 1948 although this is just a snapshot so it may have been there previous to that date. It was withdrawn in May 1963. (BR Database with date of withdrawal confirmed by the SLS). It was scrapped in March 1964 at T W Ward, Inverkeithing. (BR Database).



Another J36, 65319 on a freight at Leuchars Junction Station on 11th September 1961. BR Database confirms it was at Dundee Tay Bridge in 1948. SLS advises it was transferred to Bathgate in January 1966 and St Margarets in September the same year before withdrawal later the same month. It was scrapped at Campbells, Airdrie, in December 1966.

This is the down bay, which was used until 1956 for direct trains to Tayport, along the original Edinburgh & Northern Railway route. By '61 this was cut back to the Old Station yard and the line to RAF base.

65319 was the regular Leuchars Pilot. A job that it held for many years.

Is that Tim's case on the platform, I wonder? The suitcase bears a remarkable resemblence to the suitcases issued to soldiers [prior to us swapping them for green canvas holdalls] in the mid '70s. It is possible that Tim was on National Service at the time of the photo.



Class J83 0-6-0T 68481 on Haymarket Shed on 10th September 1961. It had been a Haymarket engine since at least 1948 and was withdrawn in February 1962 (BR Database and SLS) being scrapped at Arnott Young, Carmyle, in August 1963. (Rail UK).

That open Mineral behind the J83 might have a pressed steel side door?

Indeed it does, with a riveted body and a pressed steel end - but not visible here. It's either an LNER-built wagon (of which there were 7,200), or a BR one to D1/103 (about 8,000 wagons). Welded side doors were also seen on these wagons in later years.



An unidentified V1/V3 passing Haymarket Shed on 10th September 1961.



A distant view of what appears to be a Standard Class 5 opposite Haymarket Shed on 10th September 1961.



Brian