These images show the response to a mock Dundee rail crash between a five-coach InterCity 125 and a tanker carrying toxic chemicals. [Article requires subscription -RS]
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Cost-cutting plans were backed to build a double-decker road crossing from Dundee to Fife on the surviving stumps of the ill-fated Tay Bridge.
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The 'Flying Banana' is used across Scotland's rail network recording track conditions.
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William Abrams grew up in New York but a fascination with bridges inspired him to write a novel about the darkest night in Dundee's history.
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Amazing images unearthed from the Dundee University Archive show the early days of the second Tayside to Fife rail crossing.
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Scotland does many things badly: football, drugs, transitioning to becoming a normal country, restaurant service, weather. And, in William Topaz McGonagall, we produced a poet said to be the worst in literary history.
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The Golden Bridge serves as a reminder that Dundee's role in Indian history during the time of British rule was about far more than jute.
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Work is now underway to replace more than 1,200 sleepers located on the Tay Bridge, the longest railway structure in Scotland.
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A funeral procession with damnation was given to the undertakers of the Newport railway 50 years ago, in May 1969, when it made its final journey to Dundee.

The Newport line was opened in 1879, connected to the Tay Bridge, but the opening of the road bridge over the river in 1966 sounded its death knell.
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Network Rail and main contractor Taziker have won best entry at the 2018 National Railway Heritage Awards for the £75m restoration of the Tay Bridge.
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Historic images of the original architectural drawings of the Forth Bridge, Paddington station and even Isambard Kingdom Brunel's signature have been captured and published for the first time on a new Network Rail virtual archive, bringing together 19th century engineering and 21st century technology.

The website www.networkrail.co.uk/virtualarchive celebrates the heritage of today's railway infrastructure and provides public access to view a special selection of the Network Rail archive, which holds over five million records.

Visitors to the site can chart the history of the railway's most significant structures and stations including the Forth Bridge, the Tay Bridge, Box Tunnel, and many main line stations. The archive holds records by the most famous railway engineers including Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Robert Stephenson, Joseph Locke and William Henry Barlow.
(Permalink) Box Tunnel Forth Bridge Isambard Kingdom Brunel Joseph Locke Network Rail Robert Stephenson Tay Bridge William Henry Barlow

One of Scotland's worst rail tragedies, the Tay Rail Bridge Disaster, is to be commemorated with a permanent memorial to the 75 people killed when the bridge collapsed more than 130 years ago.


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Network Rail has announced the creation of 75 new jobs as part of a £20m contract to help restore the Tay Bridge, the longest bridge on Britain's rail network and a vital link to the north east of Scotland.
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Abseilers will soon be seen on the Tay Bridge as Network Rail begins a 3-year refurbishment project on the class A listed structure which will obviate the need for further major maintenance over the next 25 years. The 70 trains a day using the 2 mile long bridge will not be disrupted by the work.
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Very stong winds and rain impacted on most of Scotland's rail services in this period. The heaviest rain since 1822 fell in Carlisle causing widespread flooding when the River Eden burst its banks, a P&O ferry was blown onto the shore at Cairnryan and passengers and crew spent 30 hours aboard before re-floating. The Highland Main line was closed repeatedly due to flooding at Dalguise and Kingussie. Both the Forth and Tay bridges were closed. On the 12th the entire ScotRail network was closed as winds gusts reached 124mph. Routes were re-opened once proved safe. The Edinburgh - Glasgow line re-opened at 0715 with trains running at a restricted 50mph. Most lines re-opened although the Glasgow-Paisley line closed with an overhead line fault at Ibrox. The Highland Main Line, Carlisle-Lockerbie/Dumfries, Mallaig, Kyle and Wick lines remained closed. The front cover of the Scotsman featured a spectacular photograph of a train being engulfed by a wave at Saltcoats. The Highland Main Line re-opened on the 13th.
(Permalink) Forth Bridge Highland Main Line Kyle Line ScotRail Tay Bridge West Highland Lines

To mark the end of the Tay Bridge's refurbishment a plaque has been unveiled at Riverside Drive. This was awarded by the Saltire Society to Network Rail.
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It was announced at the RPC meeting that completion of the Tay Bridge refurbishment in April restored the route to RA8. This will allow freight to pass over the bridge.

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Railtrack


Post Hatfield Crash repairs


On the 15th there were three locations affected by Gauge Corner Cracking.

200 points and 75,000 yards of track have been renewed.


Junction remodeling


40 junctions which are known to be bottlenecks are to be remodeled.


Speed restrictions


As of the 15th 53 speed restrictions existed in Scotland.


New station facilities and station regeneration


81 stations have been identified for new toilets.

New Information Systems (CIS) will be installed at Hyndland, Partick and Queen Street Low Level.

Partick station is to be refurbished and platforms resurfaced.

Gourock station is due to be rebuilt and Railtrack is in discussion with developers.

Perth station is to be regenerated with footbridges and canopies renewed.

Broughty Ferry has been rebuilt at the cost of £1,000,000.


Train Protection Warning System


Installation of Train Protection Warning System on Scotland's railways and trains continues and is expected to be complete by December 2002.


Edinburgh Crossrail


The contracts for the Edinburgh Crossrail scheme (reopening of freight only route from Portobello to Brunstane and Newcraighall to passengers) have been signed with the council and contractors.


Stirling to Alloa and Dunfermline


The details of reopening the closed but mostly extant line from Stirling to Alloa and on to Kincardine have not yet been resolved.


Larkhall to Milngavie


Although there have been some doubts about the reopening of the closed line between Larkhall and Hamilton, Railtrack and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive are continuing discussions.


Aberdeen to Inverness improvements


Railtrack is considering its options for improving capacity of the Aberdeen to Inverness line.


A loop may be opened at Orton.


Forres loop may be altered to run by the Forres goods loop and a two platform station opened on the loop.


Signalboxes between Elgin and Nairn may be closed.


Proposals will be drawn up to 'level 4' (complete design) and given to the Strategic Rail Authority by the end of the year. Actual changes will be delayed as work on signaling is being focused on installing Train Protection Warning System until December 2002.


Members of the RPC and public suggested that perhaps a section of double track at the beginning of the route in Aberdeen and Inverness would help - such as that which the Inverness and Perth has. It was also commented that the station at Keith can be a bottleneck as the loop is located to the east of the station - a train at the station has to occupy the Keith to Elgin section and consequently trains have to be held at Keith loop or Elgin loop when there is a train at the station.


Cornton Level Crossing


Cornton Level crossing, by Stirling, is fitted with cameras which photograph every road vehicle which passes through the lights at red. 250 vehicles were photographed between January and May this year, many belonging to local people. The crossing has been checked and complies to safety standards. The council and Railtrack are considering further traffic calming options including permanent closure of the road.


Ninewells


The council in Dundee is considering opening a station at Ninewells which would serve new developments in the area, the airport and Ninewells Hospital.


Tay Bridge repair


Repairs to the Tay Bridge are due to be complete in 2003 and will allow higher speed running on the bridge and freight to pass over it.


Edinburgh Park


Railtrack and New Edinburgh Ltd have resolved difficulties and a station at Edinburgh Park can now be built. It could be open by 2003.
(Permalink) Alloa Brunstane Cornton Level Crossing Crash Edinburgh Crossrail Elgin Forres Glasgow Queen Street Hatfield Hyndland Larkhall Nairn New station Newcraighall Ninewells Partick Perth Portobello Railtrack TPWS Tay Bridge