SEE BIGGER VERSIONS OF THESE PICTURES ON MY FLICKR PHOTOSTREAM.
Finally, I'm out and about tracing this old line down, as it facinates me quite a bit.
Today I checked out Bothwell, as I had seen in pictures that an old Platform remained. I was much disapointed to find out that the Platform is not as easy to see as in the RailScot pictures, if it's even there at all. That's how much vegatation there was!
This was the first view of the station that greeted me. There is a bus stop just on the bridge which makes this place easy to find and was very convenient for me. Like many other lines closed under BR, almost no traces of the lines existance remains, and the average Josephine walking down this footpath would have no idea that this was once a railway.
I'm hoping someone can help me with this one. There's something on the wall next to the bridge, and I have no idea if it's something to do with the railway or not. Thought I'd photograph it just in case.
Also, there's a part on the wall that's a brighter shade on the right. Looks like that might've once been the pedestrian entrace!
Same goes for this. An odd bit of concrete randomly there. The concrete looks different to that of the path and is next to the old station.
Remains of an old platform, maybe?
Walking away from the station, I came across the site of what was once a yard. The path turned from concrete into this ash and was like this for the remainer of this part of the trip.
following the line, I came across some sort of valley or something. I thought I was approaching some sort of giant bridge (), and found I was right when I saw this sign. It reads "BRB BOT 29". I don't know what any of this means, but I know a sign like this signifies some sort of railway bridge.
And then came the crown jewel. The "giant bridge" was actually none other than Craighead Viaduct itself. Or rather, what's left of it. What once had upwards of 5 piers and carried the line towards Blantyre, Burnbank and eventually to terminate at Hamilton is now only 3 peirs. It was rumoured that they were all to be dismantled, but I think these were saved to be preserved or something. Either way, I'm glad they remain as I've been hunting for a way to see them for ages. My breath was taken away when I saw them. They're freaking huge!
After a few minutes, I turned back and followed the line in the other direction. I bypassed the station and came to what is today, the end of the line.
Looking towards Bothwell.
Final view of the line before it becomes part of a Neighbourhood or something.
Fortunetly, the street the station was on has kept it's old name.
In all, it was a very interesting day. It got me into a "what could've been" mindset, wondering what the line would be like today had BR fixed Craighead Viaduct and the railway not closed (of course, then it would face threat of closure at the hands of Beeching as well). Shame an area such as Bothwell is not served properly by rail anymore.
Larger versions of the pictures can be found on my Flickr Photostream!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28870160@N02/
Also thought you'd like to see this. I came across it a few minutes ago.
Bothwell Railway Station - Circa 1936.
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