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Edinburgh Railways in the 1950s
Beside the Railway |
Beside the Railway - Where?
©
Reproduced by
courtesy of
Archie
Foley
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Question |
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Where was this photo taken?
A railway worker stands beside the railway as an engine passes the signal,
heading towards the signal box.
If you recognise this location, please
email me. Thank you. |
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Answer
1 |
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Wrong Way Round? Thanks also to Walter Anderson
for taking the trouble to email me and suggest (quite rightly) that the
image as originally displayed on this site was wrong way round. I've now corrected it. |
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Answer 2 |
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Patrick
Hutton, New Town, Edinburgh, has provided answers to several railway
questions on this site. Patrick asked if this location had yet been
identified. The answer is: 'Not yet'.
©
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Patrick
added:
The Lothian Lines?
"I've
amassed some more books on Lothian railways, and I'll try and pin this one
down soon. I might need to work with some large-scale maps.
Clues:
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A bing in the right
distance.
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Sidings with mineral wagons on right.
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Large flat area (field?) on left.
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Double tracked main line - but looks like wagons are
standing outside the 'box without a engine or brake-van (looks like a
ventilated goods van nearest to the photographer)
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The signal box.
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The fencing to the side suggests that the photo might
be close to a station?
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The loco is a B1 - general mixed-traffic engine. It is
stopped at the signal. The bloke is probably the driver (or fireman).
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Lattice-work signal posts. |
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Answer 3 |
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Thank you to
Dr Francis A Dalrymple-Hamilton, Peebles, Peeblesshire, Scotland who wrote:
Thornton, Fife?
"I have the impression that
signal box in the background is one of the Thornton boxes in Fife.
I will look into this and
let you know.
I have made a lifelong
study of the signal boxes in Scotland, so hopefully I will be able to
identify it for you."
Dr Francis A Dalrymple-Hamilton: February 19, 2008
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Answer 4 |
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Thank you to
Dr Francis A Dalrymple-Hamilton, Peebles, Peeblesshire, Scotland who wrote
again, after looking into the subject further:
Thornton South, Fife
"I am now fairly certain that the Signal
box in question is Thornton South.
When I first saw the picture my gut reaction
is that this is where it was. I have now checked this with a colleague
who feels, like me, that it is Thornton South."
Dr Francis A Dalrymple-Hamilton: March 5, 2008
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Answer
5 |
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Thank you to David Briggs, now living in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, formerly
Thornton, who wrote
It's not Thornton South
"I just noticed this photo and can say for
certain that this is not Thornton South. There was never a bing on the DN
line facing south, and never any trees on the UP line either. I know a
man who will sort this out though.
The real clue here is the position of the sun,
ie, the way the "driver's" shadow is cast on the sleeper wall/ fence and
the lack of shadow from the "B1" anywhere on the wall. The sun is
definitely at a fairly high position. This indicates some time
either side of noon.
This means the track is running east/west. ie,
we are looking due east. There is also a person or persons in the field
on the LHS which is either a park or more likely a golf course.
My money is on something south of the Forth as
nothing in Fife is ringing a bell. Hope this helps!"
David Briggs, Newcastle upon Tyne (Formerly Thornton):
June 15, 2008 |
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Thanks David:
Most of the other photos that
were found with this one were taken around Edinburgh and Midlothian, so
your comment 'south of the Forth' seems to me to be likely to be true.
Peter Stubbs:
June 16, 2008 |
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Answer 6 |
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Thank you to Grahame Hood, Bromley, Kent who wrote:
Addiewell
"As you think the photo was taken south of the
Forth, may I suggest it was possibly on the ex Caledonian line from
Edinburgh to Glasgow via Shotts.
A possible location is between West Calder and
Addiewell, the signal box controlling the entrance to the Addiewell Oil
Works.
The locomotive is an ex LNER B1, but Dalry
Road engine shed usually had a few of those allocated from the mid 1950s
onwards."
Grahame Hood, Bromley, Kent, England: September 2,
2008 |
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The Photographer |
© |
This is one of
several photos taken by this photographer. He
appears to have been a keen photographer and a railway worker
in the 1950s. I believe that this is a photograph of
him.
Do you recognise him?
If you know who this is, please
email me. Thank you. |
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