Views of The Alloa Swing Bridge & Alloa In The 1960's

                                                                                                                                    Photo © T.B Owen/Colour-Rail SC1290

The Alloa Swing Bridge was known as the OTHER Forth Rail Bridge when it was opened in 1885 as part of the Alloa

Railway which by that time had been absorbed by the Caledonian Railway.  The line ran from Alloa Junction, just north

of Larbert to Alloa West Junction, a distance of 8.75 miles.  At Longcarse Junction the line split with a freight

line going to Alloa West and a passenger line connecting with the Stirling to Dunfermline (Upper) line

and Alloa station.  In this view we see ex-LNER Class J38 0-6-0 no. 65914 bringing the

"Scottish Rambler" Railtour across the bridge in April 1966. 

                                                                                                                                    Photo © T.B. Owen/Colour-Rail SC1350

Presumably taken on the same day in April 1966 this shot shows the swing bridge in a partially open position.  The

bridge was constructed of forty stone columns and riveted iron plate.  Powered by steam, the centre section would

 swing through 90 degrees to allow the passage of ships with tall-masts.

                                                                                                                                    Photo ©/Colour-Rail SC1234

In a shot taken one year earlier than those above we find an unidentified BR Standard Class 3MT heading north

with a single wagon and brake van.  The Alloa Swing Bridge was closed to passenger traffic on January 29, 1968

and to freight traffic on May 6, 1968.  Demolition took place on February 2, 1971.  The columns remained

 visible until construction on the new road bridge began recently.

                                                                                                                                    Photo © P Hutchison/Colour-Rail SC1141

ex-LNER Class B1 4-6-0 no. 61029 "Chamois" brings a train of coal empties into Alloa en route to Dollar mine.  The

B1's were a two-cylinder mixed traffic designed by Edward Thompson and were first introduced in 1942.  The first

of the class, no. 8301 (later 61000) was named Springbok in honour of a visit by South African Prime Minister

Field Marshall Jan Smut.  A further 39 locomotives were named after breeds of antelopes.  A total of 274

were built by the LNER with 136 being built by British Railways after nationalisation.

                                                                                                                                    Photo © J Robertson/Colour-Rail DE1725

April 1965 and in the small yard adjacent to Alloa station we find two 0-4-0 North British built locomotives D2716 and

 D2718.  Powered by a 225h.p. diesel engine and weighing in at 30 tons these locomotives were first introduced in 1957.

Note that D2718 bears two of the early British Railways emblems affectionately known as "cycling tomcats".

Curiously they're facing in opposite directions!

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