Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)

Introduction

This line is mostly open - the section between Elderslie and Paisley is closed and has become a cycleway. The line follows the course of the former Glasgow and Ardrossan Canal which only reached as far as Johnstone due to lack of funds. The route was later continued from Johnstone to Ardrossan as a railway - which became part of the Glasgow and South Western Railway. The canal was purchased by the Glasgow and South Western Railway in 1865. The canal was later closed and a railway built along its course, taking a slightly different course as required, which opened in 1885. The fact the line was once a canal is clear from the many curves this line follows and former aqueduct west of Hawkhead - the Blackhall Viaduct - which the line passes over at a skewed angle. The name Port Eglinton also betrays its past.




Dates

  /  /1791Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal
Proposed by Earl of Eglinton. (The route between Elderslie and Port Eglinton Basin was later used by the Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)).
  /  /1807Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal
Construction begins. (The route between Elderslie and Port Eglinton Basin was later used by the Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)).
  /  /1811Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal
Last section built into Port Eglinton Basin, Glasgow. The canal ran from Johnstone to Port Eglinton Basin. An aqueduct across the Clyde to join up with the Forth and Clyde Canal was considered, but not built. (The route between Elderslie and Port Eglinton Basin was later used by the Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)).
  /  /1869Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal Glasgow and South Western Railway
The Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal is purchased by the Glasgow and South Western Railway. (Later the route of the Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway).)
09/02/1870Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Glasgow and South Western Railway shareholders refused possibility of joint ownership of proposed line.
  /  /1871Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Bill for joint ownership promoted by Caledonian Railway and Glasgow and South Western Railway rejected.
01/07/1885Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Opened from Port Eglinton Junction to Elderslie Junction. The line uses much of the former route of the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal, the line runs skew across a former aqueduct bridge at Paisley Hawkhead. The canal route under the main line at Elderslie was used for a link to the Bridge of Weir Railway so that Greenock Princes Pier [1st] bound trains did not have to cross the track used by Ayr to Glasgow trains. The former Port Eglinton Basin becomes the Port Eglinton Goods depot.
01/07/1885Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Shields station opened.
25/01/1886Maxwell Junction to Bellahouston No 1 Junction (Caledonian Railway)
Line opened between Maxwell Junction (General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway) and Bellahouston No 1 Junction (Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)).
01/04/1925Glasgow and Paisley Joint RailwayCity of Glasgow Union Railway
New Shields Road station opened incorporating the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway Pollokshields station, City of Glasgow Union Railway Shields Road [CGU] station and Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Shields stations.
  /  /1938Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Station opened at Mosspark for the Empire Exhibition.
08/01/1983Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Paisley Canal line closed to passengers.
  /  /1986Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Track lifted between Canal Junction [Elderslie] and just east of Paisley Canal. Track singled from Paisley Canal to Corkerhill Depot. Line closed to freight from Canal Junction [Elderslie] to Hawkhead Oil Siding.
28/07/1990Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Paisley Canal line re-opened to passengers from Glasgow to a new Paisley Canal station. (Also given as the 30th.)

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

This was a goods yard served from the west at Port Eglinton built on the site of the former Port Eglinton Basin. The approach to the yard was from West Street Junction [GSWR] where there was a signal box from 1885 to 1903 when control was given to the new Port Eglinton Junction signal box.
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This was an important junction where the routes to Ayrshire via Paisley Gilmour Street and Paisley Canal met before running together to Glasgow St Enoch. The layout altered over the years.
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See also
City of Glasgow Union Railway
A Girvan to St Enoch train passing east through Port Eglinton Junction on 21 November 1958. The locomotive is one of Corkerhill shed's Fairburn ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 21/11/1958
BR Standard 2-6-4T 80127 passing Port Eglinton Junction on 5 May 1956 with a Saturday service to Largs. The class 4 tank locomotive had arrived at ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 05/05/1956
2P 4-4-0 no 40579 at Port Eglinton Junction on 25 April 1959 with a Largs - Glasgow train. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 25/04/1959
Caledonian 0-4-4T 55219 at Port Eglinton Junction on 25 April 1959 with a train of empty stock for St Enoch. [Ref query 1677] ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 25/04/1959
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This junction gave access to Port Eglinton Goods from the west. The signal box, of 1885, here closed in 1903 when control was taken over by Port Eglinton Junction. The line and goods yard closed in 1966.
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City of Glasgow Union Railway


This signal box controlled the eastern approach to Shields station. The box was on the east side of the Shields Road bridge over the railway and located on the south side of the Paisley Canal line. It was on the bridge by which the Canal line crossed over the General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway. (Shields Road passed over the Canal line at the same location that it passed over the ...

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This was a two platform station. To the east, beyond the Shields Road overbridge, was Shields Signal Box. The station was on the original Paisley Canal line before its route was altered to approach Glasgow Central rather than Glasgow St Enoch.
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Compound 40919 calls at Shields on 6 June 1950. The train is a local from Paisley Canal. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 06/06/1950
Work taking place on the trackbed near Shields Road between Shields EMU Depot and Shields station. This was the route that took the line from St. ...
Graham Morgan 09/03/2010
Shields Road looking north-west. Front to back; site of Shields stn, Burma road at Kinning Park Junction (low level out of sight), stub of General ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
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This was a complex four way largely goods handling junction around 12 tracks wide including sidings. To the west and east was the Glasgow and South Western Railway's 1885 Paisley Canal line. A 1886 Caledonian Railway connection to the north east connected to the General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway at Maxwell Junction. To the north west was a [[Glasgow and Paisley Joint ...

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General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway
Maxwell Junction to Bellahouston No 1 Junction (Caledonian Railway)
Standard Mogul 77008 on the spur from Maxwell Junction up to Bellahouston No 1 on 5 May 1956. [Ref query 1080] ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 05/05/1956
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This junction was west of Bellahouston No 2 Junction. The junction opened with the Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway). It was a four way junction.
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This junction was west of Shields Junction No 1. This junction provided a secondary connection between the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway and the General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway (chiefly a goods line). It was at the end of the conventional quadruple track from Paisley Gilmour Street and there was a yard on the south side of the goods line, a series of single ended ...

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Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway


This was originally a two platform station. The main building was on the Glasgow bound platform. Bellahouston No 2 Junction to east. The street level ticket office was on a bridge on the west side of Gower Street. The first Bellahouston No 3 signal box (1885) was west of the station, on the north side of the line.
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This is a two platform station. It is a relatively new station having opened with the re-opening of the Canal Line in 1990.
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The ramped entrance from Nithsdale Road leading down to platform 1 at the deceptively rural looking Dumbreck station. The next stop, less than two ...
John Furnevel 20/05/2007
A Class 314 comes to a halt at Dumbreck with a Glasgow train on 1 December 2018. This and a 4-car Class 380 were sharing the duties on the branch that ...
David Panton 01/12/2018
A Paisley Canal service calls at Dumbreck on 1 December 2018. It's the only station on the branch with two platforms (making photography easier) ...
David Panton 01/12/2018
156 510 with a Paisley Canal - Glasgow Central service at Dumbreck on 17 February 2010 ...
David Panton 17/02/2010
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This short lived station served the 1938 Empire Exhibition in Bellahouston Park [Park] which ran from May to December.
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This is the eastern entry to Corkerhill Depot.
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This is a double ended depot on the south side of the Paisley Canal Line which began as a steam shed. It is just east of Corkerhill station. It is accessed from both east and west (the west end is no longer connected to the line). The line to the shed was electrified in 1986 when the Ayrshire lines were electrified.
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View looking east at Corkerhill Depot in 1987. At this time the limit of electrification was the former westbound platform line, a reversing spur for ...
Ewan Crawford 26/05/1987
Picture showing Corkerhill Traction Maintainance Depot from the air. ...
Colin Harkins 08/06/2008
Corkerhill Depot looking east. These days flanked to the right by the M77. ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
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This is a two platform station, but only one platform is in use. It was initially a private station opening in 1896 for the nearby Corkerhill Shed, formerly a steam shed, just to the east. It became public in 1926.
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A major event in Glasgow in 1982 was the visit of Pope John Paul II to an open air mass in Bellahouston Park. To cope with the anticipated numbers of ...
John Clark 01/06/1982
380004 stands at Corkerhill on 19 November 2012, the first day of electric operations over the branch. ...
John Yellowlees 19/11/2012
This padlocked gate on the south side of a bridge on Glasgows Corkerhill Road once gave access to the westbound platform of Corkerhill station below. ...
John Furnevel 28/09/2012
Platform view at Corkerhill station on the Paisley Canal branch looking west towards Mosspark in September 2012. By this time the headshunt had been ...
John Furnevel 28/09/2012
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This is a single platform station to the east of the Crookston Loop. It was opened for the nearby Empire Exhibition.
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A Paisley Canal to Glasgow service pulls into Mosspark on 21st July 2018. The station was once known as Mosspark West, even though there wasn't ...
David Panton 21/07/2018
This poster at Mosspark seems to answer its own question with a 'No, but it doesn't really matter'.
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David Panton 05/03/2016
Looking towards Glasgow Central on 20 May 2007 along the platform of a wet Mosspark station. ...
John Furnevel 20/05/2007
156 511 pulls into Mosspark on 28 July with a Paisley Canal - Glasgow Central service. ...
David Panton 28/07/2008
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This is a minimal single platform station. The platform is the former westbound platform - when the Canal Line re-opened to passengers in 1990 it was a single track and the eastbound line was not relaid.
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Looking east at Crookston in 1990. The station had closed in 1983 and was soon burned down. Since rebuilt as a private house with passenger services ...
Bill Roberton //1990
A plaque was unveiled at Crookston today by the South Cardonald and Crookston Community Council at Crookston Station in memory of the late Alistair ...
John Yellowlees 02/12/2019
Looking west at Crookston in 1990. The station had closed in 1983 and was soon burned down. Since rebuilt as a private house with passenger services ...
Bill Roberton //1990
A Paisley Canal to Glasgow service calls at Crookston on 17 November 2018 in charge of a doomed Class 314. Leylandii was planted by the owners (or ...
David Panton 17/11/2018
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The sidings at Hawkhead Oil Terminal, looking east towards Glasgow on 10 January 2019. The Paisley Canal line is on the left and Hawkhead station ...
John McIntyre 10/01/2019
The 15.05 Paisley Canal - Glasgow Central departs through the site of the original Hawkhead station on 10 March 2014. The disused and disconnected oil ...
Colin Miller 10/03/2014
On the left a Sprinter passes through the site of the original Hawkhead station as it heads to Glasgow. To the right are the Hawkhead Oil sidings. ...
Ewan Crawford 26/09/2009
The 14.08 Glasgow Central - Paisley Canal service passing through the site of the original G&SWR Hawkhead station (1894-1966) see image 20008 to ...
John Furnevel 28/09/2012
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This was a two platform station on the east side of Hawkhead Road. Unlike most stations on the Paisley Canal line Hawkhead and Paisley West station closed in 1966.
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BR standard 2-6-4 tank no 80030 about to run through the original (1894) Hawkhead station on 10 April 1953 with a St Enoch - Princes Pier train. (This ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 10/04/1953
The up side building at the former Hawkhead station in 1962, seen from the loading bank. See image 19244. ...
Colin Miller 11/07/1962
Standard class 4 and 5 locomotives run east through Hawkhead on their way to Corkerhill shed in July 1962, both so grimy that their numbers were ...
Colin Miller /07/1962
The coal yard at Hawkhead in June 1964, shortly before closure. [With thanks to all who responded to this query]
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Colin Miller /06/1964
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This is a single platform station. The station dates from 1990, the re-opening of the cut back Paisley Canal Line, and replaced Hawkhead [1st] which closed in 1966. The original station was to the east of Hawkhead Road.
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The rear of 380010, as the unit leaves Hawkhead's single platform on the 13.27 to Paisley Canal on 4th August 2021. ...
Gordon Steel 04/08/2021
380010 arriving at Hawkhead on the 13.27 to Paisley Canal on 4th August 2021. ...
Gordon Steel 04/08/2021
'This train is for Paisley Canal only.' ScotRail DMU 156512 pulls away from Hawkhead on the last leg of its journey from Glasgow Central to ...
John Furnevel 28/09/2012
A Paisley Canal to Glasgow Central service with 314211 arrives at Hawkhead on 10 January 2019. ...
John McIntyre 10/01/2019
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This stone built converted canal aqueduct crosses the White Cart Water between Hawkhead (to the east) and Paisley Canal (west) by means of a single 84 ft arch.
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Original bridge (1810) carrying Paisley Canal over River Cart, near Hawkhead. Class 2 4.4.0 40572 on Kilmarnock via Dalry train. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 05/05/1953
Original bridge (1810) carrying Paisley Canal over River Cart, near Hawkhead. Class 2 2.6.4T 42229 on Greenock train. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 05/05/1953
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This signal box was for the Saucel Goods yard, east of Paisley Canal station. The box was on the south side of the line opposite the turn out for the goods yard which was approached from the east. The yard had a headshunt east of Patrick Street.
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This is a single platform station built to the east of Causeyside Street in 1990 for the Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway) re-opening.
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380009 at Paisley Canal, about to form the 11:35 service back to Glasgow Central, on 18th June 2021.
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Duncan Ross 18/06/2021
380015, at Paisley Canal station, waiting to return to Glasgow Central on 26th July 2017. ...
David Bosher 26/07/2017
Photographs taken on a circular walk from Paisley Canal. ...
John Yellowlees 26/10/2018
320315 at Paisley Canal on 12th May 2019. These units were not used on the branch before the May timetable change.
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John Yellowlees 12/08/2019
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This was a fine two platform station. Unfortunately when the Elderslie to Paisley Canal line was lifted and cut back to the new Paisley Canal station this earlier version of the station was not re-opened.
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New cycling signage outside the original Paisley Canal station in October 2018.
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John Yellowlees 26/10/2018
4MT 2-6-0 76093 pilots 5MT 4-6-0 73124 through Paisley Canal on the 17.33 from St Enoch to Kilmarnock. By 1964 double heading was not unusual on this ...
Colin Kirkwood 01/07/1964
Installation of a Transport Trust plaque at the old Paisley Canal station on 16th August 2019 by Bill Reeve, Provost Lorraine Cameron and Jerry Swift ...
John Yellowlees 16/08/2019
Original G&SW station frontage at Paisley Canal in July 2005. Now an eating and drinking establishment. ...
John Furnevel 29/07/2005
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This was a two platform station. It was immediately north of Corsebar Junction, the signal box for which predated the station and was at an elevated position above the station north of the junction (and the original Corsebar Road bridge) on the east side of the line. Station buildings were at the south end, next to the road bridge. The buildings had canopies.
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HR 103 backs out from Paisley West onto the remaining spur of the line to Barrhead while on the 'Easter Rambler No.4' on 17 April 1965. This spur was ...
Colin Kirkwood 17/04/1965
Redundant Telegraph Pole near to site of the former Signalbox. ...
Colin Harkins 29/09/2006
Looking East to Paisley Canal Street from the location of the signal box at Paisley West, the line curving away to the right. ...
Graham Morgan 29/08/2008
Looking West to Elderslie from the location of the signal box at Paisley West, showing the remains of the up platform. ...
Graham Morgan 29/08/2008
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This was a double track junction west of Paisley West station. The signal box was above at the top of the cutting on the south/east side of the line, north of Corsebar Road. The junction was south of the Corsebar Road overbridge.
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Barrhead Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
BR Standard 2-6-4 tank no 80006 with a St Enoch - Princes Pier train passing Corsebar Junction, shortly after leaving Paisley West on a wintry ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 24/01/1959
55219 entering the Potterhill Branch at Corsebar Junction with empty stock prior to running round on 2 September 1957. Paisley West station stands in ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 02/09/1957
Class 2P 4-4-0 no 40621 with empty stock at Paisley West on 2 September 1957. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 02/09/1957
Class 5 4-6-0 44795 passing Corsebar Junction and approaching Paisley West with a Largs - St Enoch train on 2 September 1957. In the background ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 02/09/1957
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This was a double track junction on the Paisley Canal line between Elderslie and Paisley West. It was the western apex of a triangular junction. The eastern junction was Corsebar junction and southern Meiklerigg Junction.
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Barrhead Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Location of Potterhill Junction looking towards Elderslie. The line from Meikleriggs Junction came in from the left. This closed in 1909 at the time ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
CR 4.4.0 54453 passing site of Potterhill Junction on Greenock train. [RailScot note: sources vary on whether this is Potterhill or Meikleriggs ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 05/05/1953
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Looking east towards Paisley West, this is one reason why any reopened line to Kilmacolm will have to come from Elderslie. Housing estate built on the ...
Graham Morgan 12/04/2007
Ferguslie Goods (GSW) on the Canal line just east of Elderslie. Now a housing estate. ...
Ewan Crawford //
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This junction was located at the east end of Elderslie station. Here the double track Paisley Canal line of 1885 met the already existing Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway of 1840. Elderslie station had opened in 1876.
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Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
There is still some light available as Class 47 No D1849 approaches Elderslie with the 10.30 pm sleeper from Glasgow Central to London Euston on 15 ...
Colin Kirkwood 15/06/1967
Clayton Diesel No D8521 is resting in a siding just east of Elderslie station (on the line to Paisley Gilmour Street) on 30 September 1963. Although a ...
Colin Kirkwood 30/09/1963
Hard working BR Standard 2-6-4T no 80057 brings a lengthy freight through Elderslie No 1 Signal box (Canal Junction) in the late spring of 1959. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 05/05/1959
Looking to Elderslie East Junction, the trackbed now part of the cycle path network ...
Graham Morgan 04/05/2007
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