Railway Reflections Reminiscences of Steam in Scotland

THE author spent his working life on the railways around Scotland and, armed with his camera, amassed a large collection of photographs across the region. The standard of his work is well known, and this collection put together for the Scottish Railway Preservation

Society is of an equally high quality.

Many of the locations are well known: from St Margarets loco shed, with the proverbial small tanks standing around the turntable, to views in the Highlands. In addition, working on the railway gave Stuart opportunities not afforded other photographers, and this is reflected in this collection – including views on the Forth Bridge.

What makes these photographs different is Stuart’s eye for picture composition. Sadly, many of the freight locations depicted are but a memory, with any evidence of a railway long removed. Among your reviewer’s favourites are a view of ‘J36’ Maude at the base of HMS Lochinver, possibly the only photograph taken at the site.

Another feature throughout the collection was the rural nature of the Scottish railways. Even those around Edinburgh on the suburban line in the Fifties look very different to the present day, where development has encroached ever closer to the line.

The text is edited by Brian J. Dickson, but many of the photographs have Stuart’s anecdotal stories attached.

All profits from the sale of the book will go to the SRPS, and it is highly recommended. AB

Published by The Scottish Railway Preservation Society www.srps.org.uk

96 pages, softback. £14.50