National Grid
Join the
footplate of 56096 for a spectacular and nostalgic 104-mile
coast-to-coast trip across the lowlands of Scotland from the Firth of
Clyde to the shores of the Forth. The Grid was in fine fettle for this
“Wired for Sound” cab ride for which it is hauling the 7G80
merry-go-round, conveying 1,200 tonnes of imported coal from Hunterston
to Longannet power station in Fife.
The journey begins with the stiff climb out of the Hunterston
loading terminal up to West Kilbride. After skirting the coast at
Saltcoats, the train heads north through Dalry and Lochwinnoch to reach
the outskirts of Glasgow at Paisley, which marks the start of a complex
20-mile trek across the city suburbs via Shields Junction, Polmadie,
Rutherglen, Coatbridge and Garnqueen North Junction.
At Cumbernauld, the 7G80 continues onto the then freight-only line to
Greenhill Lower Junction, followed by the semaphore-signalled junctions
of Carmuirs West and Carmuirs East. The coal continues via Falkirk
Grahamston, Polmont, Linlithgow and Dalmeny before reaching one of
Britain’s greatest railway structures - the Forth Bridge. After North
Queensferry, full power is resumed for the run through Inverkeithing,
Rosyth and Dunfermline – where the Grid is at near-meltdown on the
notoriously steep bank! The 7G80 then enters Townhill loop to enable the
56 to run round its HAA hoppers before completing the final leg of the
journey.
After heading back through Dunfermline, the train diverges onto the
truncated remains of the line to Alloa. This 10-mile freight-only branch
provides some delightful scenery as it skirts the banks of the Firth of
Forth before reaching Longannet power station. Today, Class 56s on coal
traffic are but a memory…as is the routing of the Longannet coal
traffic via the Forth Bridge and Dunfermline. Today, it all travels via
Stirling and Alloa.
This programme was filmed in October 1999 and has been digitally
re-mastered for release on DVD and contains an updated commentary from
David Maxey as well as an extra 25 minutes of bonus footage which was
not included on the original VHS version.
"A thoroughly enjoyable programme which will be
appreciated by anyone who has a taste for some top notch thrash"
TRACTION Magazine
