The 'Watsonhead' coal loading pad was built just shy of the former Wishaw and Coltness terminus at Morningside when a short section of the former line was re-opened from Stirling Road. Historically the W&C line was continued on ultimately to Bathgate by the Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness (the uneasy relationship demonstrated by the fact there were two Morningside stations on either side of a roadbridge for the two companies, later the Caley and NB). The loading pad was to be removed after Watsonhead opencast was worked out but is still in place, albeit somewhat overgrown, presumably due to a number of other opencast possibilities in the area. The view looks west towards Morningside Junction at Stirling Road. Formerly the branch to the Chapel Colliery was to the left, the passenger line to Newmains to the right and Morningside (Caledonian) station and a branch to the Allanton Brickworks and collieries behind the camera. See image 29594
Location: Morningside (Caledonian)
Original line: Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Photographer: Ewan Crawford
Contact photographer: Ewan Crawford
Date: 27/06/2010
Image number: 29593