In the early 1980s, Ravenscraig steel works was the biggest source of
rail freight north of the border, handling iron ore, coal, lime and
scrap, as well as semi-finished and finished products. Opencast coal was
thriving and would even lead to some lines re-opening later in the
decade. Wagonload freight was still providing a service on some rural
lines, not least the Far North line where many intermediate stations
still handled general freight, such as seed potatoes and fertilizer.
Today, Ravenscraig is a distant memory and coal is no longer carried by
rail anywhere in Scotland. Wagonload freight has also disappeared,
despite some attempts to revive the concept in the early 2000s. However,
in a few areas, rail freight has done well. The cement works at
Oxwellmains is a big user of rail and Grangemouth refinery still
produces three trainload flows. Intermodal traffic has grown
substantially, with several regular Anglo-Scottish flows on the West and
East Coast main lines as well as internal movements to Aberdeen and
Inverness.
Illustrated with over 160 photographs, many of which are previously
unpublished, this volume looks at the changing face of rail freight in
Scotland. It details the changes in traction, rolling stock and railway
infrastructure over four decades.
