National Grid
JOIN the
footplate of 56096 for a spectacular 104-mile coast-to-coast trip across
the lowlands of Scotland from the Firth of Clyde to the shores of the
Forth. The Grid is hauling the 7G80 merry-go-round, conveying 1,200
tonnes of imported coal from Hunterston to Longannet power station in
Fife ... and for good measure the loco has been "Wired for
Sound"!
The journey begins with a stiff southbound climb out of the 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, Ruthergien,
Coatbridge and Garnqueen North Junction. At Cumbernauld, the 7G80
continues onto the freight-only line to Greenhill Lower Junction,
followed by the semaphore-signalled junctions of Carmuirs West and East.
The run continues via Falkirk Grahamston, Polmont, Linlithgow and
Dalmeny before reaching one of Britain’s greatest railway structures -
the Forth Bridge. At the north
end of the 2766-yard bridge is North Queensferry, where full power is
resumed for the run through Inverkeithing, Rosyth and Dunfermline - with
its notoriously steep bank! Two miles further on, the 7G80 enters the
sidings at Townhill to enable the 56 to run round its train 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, where the discharge loop
is still equipped with semaphore signals. With the reign of Class 56s on
Scottish coal traffic ending with the old century, what better
reminder of the Golden Age of the Grid!
"A thoroughly enjoyable programme which will be
appreciated by anyone who has a taste for some top notch thrash"
TRACTION Magazine
