When my parents moved back to Scotland in 2005, they had an abandoned railway line behind their cottage. When my dad died five years later, the line was in the process of being relaid. My mum was so looking forward to seeing the huge machines roll passed. She died in 2013, just weeks before the machines reached her house. I hope someone sees sense and reinstates this line as they have with other lines in Scotland.

@neilbain8736

3 жыл бұрын

I used the Bathgate - Airdrie cycle path which has since been reinstated as a railway. I used to cycle to Glasgow every Sunday along it. It borders the A89, so was handy to keep out the traffic. The best time was during fog late one Xmas Eve. It was so tranquil. There was a pine type tree by a cottage that once was a station, and the householder had ran a wire across to it and fitted it with lights. It was the only bright spot as it was utterly dark around. There wasn't a soul about- no traffic to speak of and a deafening stillness when I stopped. No rush of air, just nothing. It's a moment I'll never forget and the tree will have gone when the railway came. One old station house was also replaced with a electricity substation on its site. When I got to the top of Buchanan St in Glasgow, I realised I was covered in ice droplets. The fog had frozen to me.

@BoredCanister

2 жыл бұрын

My gran died knowing the vote for Scottish independence was coming.she new in her heart she would never see it.it saddened me to here ur story if only we could have traded a few weeks of life both would have been happy.

Most likely that spot where the roof appears to be plugged originally was a shaft for ventilation & light during construction, as the tunnel is curved. However, on many of the longer tunnels, there'd be three or more teams of navies tunnelling towards each other via vertical-shafts in the middle, as well as the horizontal bores! As for those square (tapered?) holes in the walls, my guess is that after the lower part of tunnel-lining was laid, timbers were placed there to support the roof form-work, then once the concrete had set, the timbers were removed, & the form-work lowered. In this way the form-work didn't have to be disassembled, then reconstructed, but simply moved further along & then raised into position!

What amazing structures, now left to nature....

When I was young we'd drive up to the north coast every year and the road used to follow the railway all the way up to Lairg, and we'd count all the times we passed under or over it. 29? This started in Glen Farg. Every year they would build the new road further north, and there would be less crossings. Glen Farg went first. I missed it. The old road through the glen was dark and twist. Thanks for the memory.

That is cracking, enjoyed it all the more as I've done the tunnels a couple of times over the years. The first time was back in 1990 with my pal Mike Mather and we went through them in both directions. On walking south having come out of the tunnels and crossed the viaduct I was walking in the up cess, or on the left hand edge of the southbound line, and I found a very large lump of coal in the grass. It had obviously fallen from the tender of a steam loco which had been under the coal plant at Perth shed at least 23 years earlier. In the book "Exploring Disused Railways in East Scotland" by said pal, there is a section covering this part of the line and one of the photos on page 49 is of a very youthful me holding the piece of coal I found! Usually the north tunnel is full of farming equipment as the local farmer uses or used to use it to keep his equipment (ahem!) dry. Fun fact 1, Glenfarg Viaduct could have been yours for the princely sum of £1 fifteen or so years ago as the BRB wanted to off load the responsibility of its maintenance. Fun fact 2, that part of the line was used on at least one, maybe more than one, occasion as part of the route of The Scottish Rally sometime in the late 70's or early 80's (happy to be corrected). The Glenfarg line via Cowdenbeath gave THE shortest route between Edinburgh and Perth at just under 48 miles (I don't do km). Edinburgh to Perth via Stirling is around 64 1/2 miles and the route via Kirkcaldy and the Newburgh branch is around 56 miles. And yes it most definitely was a platelayers hut, no question.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Brilliant info Jules, much appreciated. I really want to see some of the rally clips!!

@sjedouglas

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Jules. I've been visiting the tunnels for over 10 years now (as you can probably tell from this video) and I also took a walk with Mike in 2012. I remember him telling us the story of a friend of his finding a big lump of coal by the side of the track. He even showed us the exact spot. It's nice to link memories together like this. On the walk we did in 2012, I took a photo of Mike recreating his classic 1970 shot of Glenfarg South: www.flickr.com/photos/k-burn/8249918612/

@juleshathaway3894

3 жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick Hi guys, I had a quick search on YT and there are a couple of films of The Scottish Rally one from the 70’s and another from the 80’s. Whether these films show the stage that went thru the tunnels I don’t know.

@juleshathaway3894

3 жыл бұрын

@@sjedouglas Hi, oh wow fancy that, great story. Yes we were both amazed that the lump had been there all those years and possibly more. Of course there is no way of telling how long it had been there we could only go on when Perth shed closed.

@2H80vids

3 жыл бұрын

@@sjedouglas Some wonderful tunnel photos on your Flickr site; Thanks for the link.

This is extremely local to me and I commented on your video of Saughtree on the Borders County railway. This was one of three lines to diverge at Bridge of Earn and was the most direct route from Perth to Edinburgh. This line was lost for the motorway in the 1980s but my local line through Newburgh was retained but only had 4 or so trains a day. These days the single line works to max capacity as the quickest route Edinburgh - Perth - Inverness. When I first moved here over 10 years ago the disused station was still in existence but has since been demolished - there are still proposals to re-open a station here. The old station l,ocation at Abernethy between here and Bridge of Earn is still there to see. The line was double track to just East of the village - a southerly route took you re-join the main Dundee-Edinburgh line at Ladybank. a northerly branch was a local line to Tayport and Wormit. There was a wooden halt at Lindores just a mile out of Newburgh too. I have walked these tunnels many times and the viaduct at the northern end is a great structure.

This was definitely the prettiest video I've seen so far.

Well Paul, I learned something today. When you said that was a platelayers hut I had no idea what the heck you were talking about. Good thing we have Google. In the states, I think our equivalent might have been what we called "Trackwalkers". They would walk a specific section of track, inspecting it of course and making minor repairs, like pounding down track spikes that had lifted up, replace broken track bolts and looking out for broken rails. I'm sure they oiled and maintained switches also. Great video!

As a Perth local, I've walked this and I can tell you that this is one line that should never have been closed. It takes considerably longer to travel from Edinburgh to Perth now than it used to by train. Definitely should be a candidate for re-opening for Edinburgh - Perth & Edinburgh - Inverness services. And im sure the people of Glenfarg, Milnathort, Kinross & Kelty would like to see a rail service re-instated. The earth works required to build a new track bed adjacent to the M90 . . . At least through the narrow valley at Glenfarg . . . may prove prohibitive though.

@paulharvey9149

3 жыл бұрын

No more prohibitive than dualling the A9, or building the Queensferry Crossing. I'm afraid the reality is, if they wanted to do it, it'd be done by now.

There's a film from winter 1968 of a train ride up Glenfarg bank into Kinross via Milnathort and it looked surprisingly busy for a doomed line. The M90 covers most of it today.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Anne. Would love to see this.

@annescholey6546

3 жыл бұрын

It's on a DVD about the line from Perth to Kinnaber Junction. Not sure if it's still available as the DMU ride isn't yet on KZread.

You missed the abandoned sawmill with all it's kit still in it. The tunnels have also been used on a couple of car rally routes.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Oooh, where was this? Used to enjoy wacthing the rallying, where would I find clips?

May or may not have driven a car through there 25 years ago... Had I done so, I might have seen that that cottage still had a floor then, and that it looked out over a lovely little pond.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

lol.

Gosh I really enjoyed that just love bridges and tunnels. That scenery was wonderful too. Thanks so much for taking me along, please stay safe and take care

I loved this. Thank you for all your work and exploring. Hope you enjoyed my country 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The greenery is beautiful too.

So glad you done glenfarg tunnels I plan to do this in the near future, been on viaduct at northern end but not ventured in tunnels and local to the area

There is a campaign to reopen this line. I hope it succeeds.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Likewise, but I can't see a railway taking over a motorway in a hurry

@tardismole

3 жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick They can steal it back. :)

@hairyairey

3 жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick always possible, I remember when the National Coal Board paid to straighten the ECML around Selby!

@martinowl

3 жыл бұрын

I believe that section of track around Selby was altered as part of the electrification of the ECMl

@williamgeorgefraser

3 жыл бұрын

Just try finding the trackbed at Kelty. I visited the area in the 1970s when the track and signalbox still existed and I recovered a couple of track circuit plates (strangely LMS). When I visited in 2007 I couldn't find any trace of the old line. It's been taken over as agricultural land .

WOW!!!! This place is amazing! The stone and masonry are awe inspiring! Great video!!!

Having moved from Perth to Fife in 1972 - but returned each weekend to visit my grandmother; I am very familiar indeed with Glen Farg and have literally witnessed the gradual disappearance of that railway line [I can just remember seeing a DMU running southbound, alongside the then A90 where you began your walk], the growth of the M90 motorway [back then it extended only as far north as Kelty, with the section from there to Arlary, near Milnathort, under construction]; the disruption to the surrounding landscape and its gradual return to nature. The section north to Arngask Bridge [Glenfarg] and that from Bridge of Earn to Perth were also built and opened before the final section avoing The 'Farg; as the tortuous route nowadays known as the A912 and B996 are locally known. I walked through the tunnels in Autumn, when the trackbed between the two [and just before the overbridge you've shown] was under four inches of water and several more of mud - so well done for going in the summer...

Great to see that parts of the old line still exist. I'm from Dunfermline and travelled a number of times on this line between Dunfermline and Perth during the early 60s. It was basically shut down so the M90 could be built on the trackbed. During the early 70s I walked parts of the line, especially at the southern end, at Cowdenbeath and Kelty. It is so tragic that so much of the line is gone forever, just like the Dunfermline-Alloa line which closed around the same time, while plans for reopening are being pushed using the Dunfermline-Kincardine freight line.

That was really good, thank you! I also think that square patch was the remains of the base of a shaft. Zooming in shows the outline is simply discolouration, and so there is clearly something going on above it. And as for the slim refuges on the first viaduct, they are probably just an “extra bit” to top-up an already generous clearance (well that’s my theory anyway)! Looking forward to the next Scottish one!

Well worth the wait, cracking images. Thank you all 👍

There’s a small tunnel from the 1830s built by the S&D railway near me, if you’re ever in County Durham id happily show you a few of our old rail bits

Fascinating video once again, and it's great that you can walk through the tunnels in their entirety. Once again, some wonderful stills photography. Incidentally, Simon came across as a nice chap.

Built to last these tunnels. Hope the lines reinstated.

@kennethmckay6391

3 жыл бұрын

M90 is very much in the way, Im afraid

Finally got around to watching this. Really loved that tunnel it was awesome. Also loved the drone shot, beautiful place. Loads of history around that place.

Lovely stuff, thanks so much for your weekly output.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Our pleasure Jerry. Cheers for commenting.

Funniest 'Paulism' so far....when talking about the middle of the tunnel "it will be pitch dark"...Paul, we love you....(and Rebecca too obv....)

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Everyone loves the dark.... right?

@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne

3 жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick Many years ago, while driving my train at 110mph I entered a tunnel only to quickly realise it was filling with smoke. Within seconds my visibility was down to nil. Now it takes about 40 seconds to get through this tunnel and I was getting twitchy as I contemplated why there was so much smoke in there (a class 60 can be a culprit of excess smoking, but not this bad)....nonetheless I ploughed on and it was only as I emerged (pushing copious quantity of smoke out in front of me) that I realised I was following a steam train.....Never been so relieved to see sunlight.....So "NO I don't love the dark"......

@hairyairey

3 жыл бұрын

@@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne hopefully following a steam train at a good distance! I imagine there was high atmospheric pressure at the time preventing the smoke from rising.

@paulharvey9149

3 жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick i was waiting for you all to switch off your torches and show us how dark it was...

@juleshathaway3894

3 жыл бұрын

@@hairyairey The signalling will take care of the distance separation. If the tunnel has no vent shafts the steam will take a while to dissipate, no where to rise to.

hey paul and rebecca , another great video , really enjoyed it , love it when you come across old buildings still up , loved the drone shots and pics at the end , well done and thank you , :)

Another cheery video to soothe away my stresses of the day..

Very interesting. The plate layers hut is like the ones on the Inverness to Perth Junction Railway. Built of sleepers. Often have the remains of a cast iron stove inside them.

Great video, I can't believe I've only just found this now. I grew up in nearby Clackmannanshire and I know this area well. Such a shame the line closed well before my time!

Interesting as always, loved the plate layers hut find. Look forward to your next video. All the best you two! Take care

Good video, good music, no foul language, all that's missing in this one is a trained lock picking bodyguard with lots of lighting.....me. I have to say, the stone and brickwork are outstanding and really quite beautiful, the work of true artisans. This applies to most of your videos of these places. Thank you. Enjoy your tea. Those tunnels would be great for growing mushrooms, or movie locations.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Well I can think of a gazillion ways this might be useful.

Brilliant video! That platelayers hut is a great survivor!

Very nice video guys 😀🚇🛤🏚 loved the tunnels the viaduct and even the little old shack by the wayside! Can't wait for your next adventure 🏃🏻🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻👍🏻

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Daniel, next week is a goodun!

Another great video exploring tunnels and I enjoyed the soundtrack and aerial views too.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Awesome, thank you!

I always wondered why the direct Dunfermline-Kinross-Perth line got closed in favour of the slower Ladybank/Newburgh route, so the explanation that it was a cheap route for the M90 seems convincing. It would make it very difficult to reinstate the line though. The concrete in the middle of the tunnels is surely because it was cheaper - saving the more attractive stone and brick for the portals where they can be seen.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Yup all correct there Ian.

@williamgeorgefraser

3 жыл бұрын

The direct route was actually closed in favour of the Edinburgh-Stirling-Perth route. The Ladybank-Newburgh line was only reopened several years later.

@2H80vids

3 жыл бұрын

@@williamgeorgefraser I may be wrong but I don't think the Newburgh route ever closed. It was always the "poor relation" to the Stirling route, which could be used by both Edinburgh and Glasgow trains, often joining at Perth. Today's set-up makes far more sense, although not nearly as much sense as 𝒏𝒐𝒕 closing the main Edinburgh - Perth railway. Returning the M90 to railway use isn't going to happen but, if the desire was there, I don't see anything to stop them putting a railway beside/in the middle of/under/over the motorway. Whether there's enough population on the old Glenfarg route to justify a railway, I'm not so sure. I think upgrading the single line and re-opening Newburgh would be a more logical option.

@williamgeorgefraser

3 жыл бұрын

@@2H80vids The Ladybank to Bridge of Earn (via Newburgh) closed to passenger traffic in 1955 though it remained in use for goods traffic. I travelled on it during the late 60s/early 70s when BR were doing their Grand Scottish Railtours. It opened again to passenger traffic in 1975, several years after the Glenfarg line closed. During that period, passenger traffic went via Stirling. So it did close to passenger traffic which is what we are talking about. As for population on the Glenfarg line, Kelty is within walking distance of Cowdenbeath (I've done it). It would be much simpler and cheaper to connect Kinross and Milnathort to the network by reopening the line between Alloa and Ladybank. This will never happen.

@2H80vids

3 жыл бұрын

@@williamgeorgefraser Fife doesn't seem to be high on the list for re-openings. Levenmouth has been rumbled about for ages but never seems to be any nearer to getting reconnected. Alloa - Dunfermline seems like a non-starter too, so I wouldn't hold out much hope for Milnathort and Kinross. Newburgh seems to be about the most likely, at the moment anyway.

Nice One Love The Tunnels Good Walk Cheers

Absolutly love seeing more of your Scottish adventure

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Shaun. Sadly this is the last of the scottish ones until next year.... when hopefully we can get back up there.

@davidmam

3 жыл бұрын

let me know if you areplanning to do the Dundee to Newtyle railway and want a guide.

I took a train south from Perth late 1969, in the days when you could sit in the front seats of a DMU and see through the windscreen. Surprised how narrow the Forth Bridge is from the track.

5:05 What a photo worthy view! Great and interesting architecture!

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Many thanks!

Excellent and interesting material as always! Thank You!

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Barry

Very enjoyable and informative video. Thank you.

Excellent as always, guys. Thanks so much. Peter A :) :) :)

Yep, you sure have done this a little justice. Brilliant video.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Andrew, it wasn't too difficult with Simons expert guidance and the stunning Scottish landscape.

What an amazing video as always my friend, enjoyable and fantastic! This is the bar set for my videos!

Great content never seen railway tunnel concreted lined before.

Next time you’re planning a trip to Scotland, there’s a nice tunnel with a really interesting, unusual, hole in it close to Peebles.

@paulharvey9149

3 жыл бұрын

and another at Strowan, between Crieff and Comrie

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

@@paulharvey9149 we had planned Peebles but sadly ran short on time.

You go on some amazing walks and see a lot of stuff .

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Captain

Another great video, just makes me chuckle, Simon in his T-Shirt, the pair of you all wrapped up. Lol, keep up the good work thanks ;-)

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

That sums up scotland right! Soft Southerners!

That was fabulous. Thank you so much. What an education.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Shirley, completely our pleasure.

Wow, those abandoned holiday cottages.

@AngryPunk

3 жыл бұрын

The cottages are in fact the remains of a old mill. A small mill pond lies aside the derelict building. I'm unsure as to what the mill produced.

Paul and Rebecca , really like the video tour of the Glenfarg tunnels and viaducts. I have an idea for your consideration. How about a calendar of your most picturesque Tunnels and Viaducts ? I for one would buy one. I really like seeing the past captured in your videos and having a calendar of views to view during the year would be a special treat. Charles M

Ooh nice! Watching now 🤩

Nice video, thanks for showing what remains. Beat you there by a few years though (summer 1963)!!!!

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Haha..... only a few years!

YAYY. My neck of the woods. I’ll watch it later with added interest. Done them several times.

@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne

3 жыл бұрын

Why did I read your comment in a Scottish accent.....

@juleshathaway3894

3 жыл бұрын

@@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne Beats me, I’m English!!😀😆

Another great video guys, scenery out of this world,love the drone footage,nice to see that entrance portals not bricked or fenced off.🚂🚃

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Kim. Sadly its becoming more and more rare these days.

@davidbahlaj6072

3 жыл бұрын

This is fairly local to me and I've walked them a few times. I believe the tunnels remain open because they are used by the local farmer (he has certainly passed me in a 4x4 on one occasion!). Lovely place though 👍

Loved it!

Wow! Looks like it is still summer in Scotland!

Aye, long gone are pristine Haymarket A3s roaring up there.

Good stuff. Many thanks.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Cheeeeeeers Wayne

Those huts are called a Bothy in Scotland...

Love the videos, just one thing- more Rebecca, she always has such good insights

What a interesting life’s you two have thanks for a very interesting video. This should be a cycle track.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

To be fair, there is very little stopping you from cycling along here

Another great video, both of you. Fabulous pair of tunnels - good to see that you can walk through them and that they are not bricked up (which always annoys me, because it totally spoils the look of tunnel portals, particularly if covered in horrible graffiti).

Great vid love the hidden beauty yoy fine your both awesome

Interesting to see the concrete tunnel and the method of laying it. Great video and a bit of urbex thrown in too. 👍

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

Marks on the roof will be imprint of shuttering boards :)

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Keith. Can you elaborate a tad more. Much appreciated

@keithsbitsandpieces

3 жыл бұрын

Modern version :) images.app.goo.gl/YsyagGDxrroPZ5mj9

I love how the concrete was molded/shaped to look like masonry construction.

@neiloflongbeck5705

3 жыл бұрын

They probably used planks for the forming. They still do that in many places today, especially were the outer face can be seen. I've seen it quite often in Denmark.

Amazing that the hinges on the door are still in and working eh.!W😲W!.

Paul and Rebecca go urbex! Lovely video. Thanks guys.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

haha... I was so tempted to title it that

Superb tunnels.

Thanks for that!

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Our pleasure!

What an interesting video. There is an easy access point where I've stopped off a few times on the bike when caught short and used the bushes. I've always meant to explore but never had the time. There's so much I haven't seen, and it really looks idyllic for an explore. I hate to say it, but it's passed me by for years. There's something about the word 'Farg'. It's very LOTR, and features in many names Glen Farg, Glenfarg, The Farg river, everything Farg. BTW try saying Arlary. Luckily the place is tiny so you may not have to. I have to ask, did you use the wee ice cream shop in Milnathort? If there's two places everyone on the planet possibly knows in Scotland, one is the Green Welly In Tyndrum on the way to Oban/Fort William etc., and the other has to be that nice wee ice cream shop in Milnathort. It has about a squillion flavours, is just off the junction for the M90, beside Loch Leven, and everyone stops there: bikers, cyclists, tourists, locals. Even Mary, Queen of Scots, when she was imprisoned in the castle on the Loch, used to enjoy a sneaky penny slider on the side with her jailer. But she nicked the keys when he was distracted and escaped so she wasn't daft. In winter it's down to one or two flavours and they stored fireworks in the empty freezer. I know that cos after one particularly good party one November where we painted my bike with luminous paint ( and wrote rude things in Russian on the stair walls- OK Your mother was a hedgehog- we couldn't remember the word for hamster ( never mind the bit about elderberries! ), we took the train to Perth next day and cycled back, stopping off for an ice cream with a thirst like a robber's dog, only to find the freezer full of fireworks and only vanilla or chocolate ice cream. Luckily they also do Irn Bru.

P&R What you call "refuges" and in this episode inspection hatches are actuall for the advancement of a sheild for the tunnelers . If you measure between you will find they are generally equidistant its not how far you could run but how Long the sheild is or was. 9 out ot 10-yimes they were 34yds 6in. Watch blacwall tunnel "How the built it" Great videos apleasur to watch. TY

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Will do, thanks.

Very cool.

That's really nice - should be a cycleway...

Ive got a abandond branchline suggestion, the Bethesda branch in North wales

Wrong Simon lol but off topic it now makes me wonder how many people in the world are named Simon lol but jokes/banter over now and back to commenting about the video. some of the features of the line like the cottage and the platelayers hut really look amazing indeed and for the tunnels and viaducts, they're awesome as well. Great video.

@healingandgrowth-infp4677

3 жыл бұрын

My little brother is called Simon :-)

good won guys still wacthing the other ones been all over with you and not left my front room

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

haha, nice one Philip, much appreciated.

@philipeaton3102

3 жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick only got 20 more to go

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

@@philipeaton3102 eat, sleep and drink at some point Phillip!!!

7:09 If it was a vent shaft there could well be something left above in the hillside, if it was just for workers during construction it very well may be completely lost and covered now ?

such a nice place

Guys, you should really get a decent pay from the British tourism industry for your amazing videos. I am absolutely tempted to come (in case I can get in the UK annd Covid-19 is gone).

Well done for the excellent video, yes, this is a line that should never have been allowed to close and reopening it will require major investment in various locations where the trackbed has been obliterated by the M90 and in other locations by buildings. Why can't we ever learn in this country to protect old railway routes for either reopening fully or usage as cycle or foot paths.

@2H80vids

3 жыл бұрын

While I completely agree, I think some lessons have been learned - moreso in Scotland. Maybe not so much protecting former trackbeds but, at least, not closing 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 else. Network Rail/Railtrack/BR had this amazing knack of closing bits and lifting the track, only to find, a year later, that they need to relay the track, re-open the line and double-track it. Beeching is blamed for so much but, particularly in Scotland, some ridiculous closures were made long after Dr Beeching's time - Glenfarg and Kilmacolm being two obvious examples. Surely we've finally learned enough, that similar blunders will be kept to a minimum?

Used to walk my dog through there and she used to refuse to go in. I had to coerce her every single time 😂 Bit creepy walking through alone. At one point you can't see light at either side.

Cool! I’ve always wanted to go in these tunnels! I also believe that there are a few abandoned stations nearby!

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Sadly nothing walkable, but we loved this stretch nonetheless

@paulharvey9149

3 жыл бұрын

Not much left on that line, unfortunately - apart from Loch Leven station [at the south end of Kinross], where the station building remains - alas even that has recently been boxed in very unsympathetically, by adjacent buildings. Blairadam has also recently disappeared with new houses built in its footprint; and you'd be hard pressed to even work out where the trackbed is around Kelty, and between Kinross Junction [nowadays buried under a Sainsbury's and a motorway junction approach] and Milnathort. Portmoak Junction was very obvious for a while, but the platform timbers eventually rotted away and there is little more than their foundations left to see now. I watched the site of Glenfarg being cleared many years ago - the motorway runs right through it; and there is no trace of Bridge of Earn either - not even the widened formation; owing to subsequent house building. Some of the former wayside station buildings remain at the other side of the Ochils, between Hilton Junction and Dunblane - but the platforms have all gone. Newburgh was demolished just a few years ago, on the Ladybank route as was Strathmiglo, on the Fife and Kinross; and all that remains at Gateside are a few embedded tracks around the former mill. Auchtermuchty remains set into the factory wall.

I assume the burnt out cavalier has been removed. Was in there years ago

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

There was the odd panel still there, but nothing significant

Concrete is a really interesting substance. It was actually invented by the Romans (could even have been earlier than that). It's been discovered that Roman concrete is getting harder with age. That tunnel could therefore last well over a thousand years, excepting earthquakes (and yes, we do get them).

@healingandgrowth-infp4677

3 жыл бұрын

Are you sure. I'm sure Roman's never entered Scotland

Without giving away my advanced years, I can attest to having travelled on that route in the mid-sixties as a small boy, (jumpers for goalposts).

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Ah great stuff James

@AngryPunk

3 жыл бұрын

'Jumpers for goalposts!' Three words that conjour up such great memories.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

@@AngryPunk absolutely. Used to have to make sure the jumper was piled tightly so no one argued if it went "over" the post or "post and in" etc

Hello Paul, I have a question. Why did the railway follow the terrain it did, necessitating the (admittedly fabulous!) infrastructure, when the M90 diversion seems to totally avoid any major 'obstacles' along the way? From what I can see there are no stations along the original route between Glenfarg and Bridge of Earn, so it looks like the planners took an unnecessarily 'difficult' route when they could have followed the M90 diversion - unless I'm missing something? Great video by the way 👍

@sizenineelm

2 жыл бұрын

The M90, where it diverges from the old Glen Farg line, climbs sharply and then drops very sharply in a curved cutting to rejoin the old track line - but you'd never have got a railway along the same line. Hence the tunnels...

@davidrowe2783

2 жыл бұрын

@@sizenineelm Aha thought there must have been a good reason, can't always envisage the exact terrain from maps 👍

This line must of cost a pretty penny to build, and now its abandoned, for what? A highway that carries gas guzzling cars and trucks! It will only be when all vehicles are electric that highways make any sense! Great trip guys, great video as always!

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Yup, nail on the head!

I subscribed! :)

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

YEEES

This is about 15 minutes from me. I've only ever got in part of the way. I'll need to get a decent torch and get a proper look.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Its a lovely walk to the north once you are out of the tunnel.

Your videos keep appearing do I've not bothered subbing but as you've mentioned it I've subscribed.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

About time too John!!!.... 🙂

In case you missed it . They are at Glenfarg .

Nice to see the early concrete one. Your videos must take a while to edit with all the audio syncing.

What magnificent engineering and construction, probably cost lives, yet just scrapped at the wave of a Whitehall pen. What a waste. Is the whole line walkable? Be a fabulous reinstated line..

@AngryPunk

3 жыл бұрын

Sadly much of the line has been consumed by either crops or roadbuilding (eg: M90 motorway ect) Parts are walkable in places but you may encounter private dwellings.

@christinaburton9297

3 жыл бұрын

@@AngryPunk what a shame. Thank you for your prompt reply.

👏👏👏

Whats the difference between viaduct and bridge? Great vid.

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

I'm waiting for a punchline Geoff

Great video guys -are they not always- but Im having trouble seeing where this is

@robinjones6999

3 жыл бұрын

sorry - what went wrong there?

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

Haha... no idea Robin. This is Glenfarg just north of Perth. 👍👍

@davidbahlaj6072

3 жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick South of Perth 👍

@juleshathaway3894

3 жыл бұрын

@@pwhitewick Map upside down??? 🤪🤪

@pwhitewick

3 жыл бұрын

@@juleshathaway3894 often!