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Glen Douglas at St Margarets 1959
On 20th April 1959 D34 Glen Class 4-4-0 No 62469 Glen Douglas entered Cowlairs Works for a decision about its future. At this time D34s were routinely being scrapped on being called to the Works, but on this occasion the decision would be favourable for Glen Douglas. Not only was the 4-4-0 fully overhauled in the weeks that followed but she was also restored to full North British livery as a working Historic Locomotive. By mid July the transformation was all but complete and the engine left Cowlairs in almost ‘as new’ condition on 24th of that month.
A little over 4 weeks later, on 29th August 1959 the Stephenson Locomotive Society ran a ‘Festival Special’ visiting branch lines south of Edinburgh. This was part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the SLS in 1909 (and also linked with the Edinburgh Festival which was taking place at the time). Motive power was provided by the immaculate newly restored No 256 Glen Douglas seen in this photograph at St Margarets locomotive depot prior to the start of the tour.It is possible that this was the first official duty of the restored 4-4-0.
The shed staff are clearly intrigued by the presence in their midst of an engine in such pristine condition and are giving Glen Douglas a close examination. This class of engine had a long association with the Edinburgh shed as in earlier years several of the class (including Glen Douglas itself) were stationed there for working the various branches south of the city such as the lines to Penicuik and Peebles.
On this occasion, part of the Festival Tour was to travel the full length of the Glencorse branch which left the Waverley main line just south of Millerhill. The stations visited on the branch were Gilmerton, Loanhead, Roslin and the terminus Glencorse. The passenger service to Glencorse had closed as early as 1933 and this SLS excursion was the last train to travel along the full extent of the branch.
Glen Douglas at St Margarets 1959
On 20th April 1959 D34 Glen Class 4-4-0 No 62469 Glen Douglas entered Cowlairs Works for a decision about its future. At this time D34s were routinely being scrapped on being called to the Works, but on this occasion the decision would be favourable for Glen Douglas. Not only was the 4-4-0 fully overhauled in the weeks that followed but she was also restored to full North British livery as a working Historic Locomotive. By mid July the transformation was all but complete and the engine left Cowlairs in almost ‘as new’ condition on 24th of that month.
A little over 4 weeks later, on 29th August 1959 the Stephenson Locomotive Society ran a ‘Festival Special’ visiting branch lines south of Edinburgh. This was part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the SLS in 1909 (and also linked with the Edinburgh Festival which was taking place at the time). Motive power was provided by the immaculate newly restored No 256 Glen Douglas seen in this photograph at St Margarets locomotive depot prior to the start of the tour.It is possible that this was the first official duty of the restored 4-4-0.
The shed staff are clearly intrigued by the presence in their midst of an engine in such pristine condition and are giving Glen Douglas a close examination. This class of engine had a long association with the Edinburgh shed as in earlier years several of the class (including Glen Douglas itself) were stationed there for working the various branches south of the city such as the lines to Penicuik and Peebles.
On this occasion, part of the Festival Tour was to travel the full length of the Glencorse branch which left the Waverley main line just south of Millerhill. The stations visited on the branch were Gilmerton, Loanhead, Roslin and the terminus Glencorse. The passenger service to Glencorse had closed as early as 1933 and this SLS excursion was the last train to travel along the full extent of the branch.