RAILWAYS OF SCOTLAND
Volume 12
The South West

An area of Scotland frequently ignored by railway enthusiasts, the South West's main lines and branch lines offered a wide and fascinating diversity of steam and diesel operations. Starting at Carlisle, the WCML is followed to Gretna Junction where the former Glasgow and South Western Railway route to Glasgow diverges. Following this route, the first major station to be reached is Dumfries, where views of steam and early diesel traction are a reminder of the town's former importance as a junction for the 'Port Road' to Stranraer.

Departing from Dumfries behind a 'Britannia' Pacific, views of several wayside stations are followed by arrival at Kilmarnock, the northernmost limit of the programme's coverage of the G&SWR main line. The Ayrshire Coast is the next major feature, with Fairlie, Largs, Heads of Ayr, Troon and Ardrossan all recorded on film in the early 1960s. Ardrossan's long-vanished Montgomery Pier and the adjacent oil terminal are featured in addition to the town's locomotive depot, plus locomotives awaiting scrapping at Troon Harbour.

Traffic from the once extensive Ayrshire coalfields is shown, with ex-LMS 'Crabs' much in evidence and, of course, no feature on the coalfields would be complete without scenes at Waterside and Dalmellington. The final section of the programme features a journey through picturesque Kirkcudbrightshire on the 74-mile ‘Port Road’ from Dumfries to Stranraer.

Filmed shortly before the line's closure in 1965, and showing every station and major feature on the line, the film is complemented by views of the branch line to Kirkcudbright.

DVD Info

Region: 2
Running Time: 65 minutes