Airdrie - Bathgate Project Photograph Updates

[jonnorail]

Hi all. On Sunday 9th May 2010 I was able to go out and capture some updates on the Airdrie - Bathgate Project. With stations starting to take shape and more of the trackbed being laid furhter east of Bathgate and lots more, the project as a whole is starting to take serious shape. Photographs and more information can be found below:

Bathgate:
Looking west towards Bathgate. Overhead wire portals have been erected as well as sleepers for the new double trackbed:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878317.html
New signals have also been installed west of Bathgate. The views look east towards Bathgate:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878318.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878319.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878322.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878325.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878327.html
Looking west towards Armadale from west of Bathgate. The view shows where the new double trackbed will be and where new overhead wire portals will be erected:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878320.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878321.html
Cable trogh have started to be put down into place at the side of what will be the new double track railway line west of Bathgate:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878323.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878324.html
New Signal 'EN 2048'has been installed west of Bathgate:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878325.html
A view looking east towards Bathgate showing the ballast in place, some overhead wire portals erected and fencing put up which will portect the railway line:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878328.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878330.html
looking west towards Armadale:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878329.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878331.html
A path will be built here to lead to the public footbridge just west of Bathgate:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878332.html
Three views of Armadale station, looking west towards Bathgate. The views show the station taking shape as well as what will be the double trackbed:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878333.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878334.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878335.html
A view taken from the road bridge at Station Road, Armadale looking west towards Blackridge. You can clearly see the steep gradient here:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878336.html
Caldercruix station looking east towards Blackridge:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878337.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878338.html
Caldercruix looking west towards Drumgelloch. A new footbridge is being constructed to the which will be directly above the new railway line:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878339.html
Drumgelloch - The gates mark the closure of the existing but soon to e demolished Drumgelloch station. The last train departed the station on Saturday 8th May 2010, the ex 23.08 service to Helensburgh Central. The signs visible in the photograph tell more about the closure of this station and more about the new Drumgelloch station, which is being built approximately 550 yards to the east:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878340.html
A general view of the now closed station:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878341.html
A view looking east from Drumgelloch towards Caldercruix. The new station will be built here. Photograph taken from Crowwood Drive Road Bridge:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878342.html
Airdrie station - Buffers mark the end of the line for the time being. Where the buffers are placed now blocks the line which continued upto Drumgelloch. New track will be laid to the left here:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878343.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878344.html
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878345.html
Work on the constructon of the third platform at Airdrie station is taking shape rather well:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878346.html
Class 320 310 sits inside platform 1 at Airdrie station:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878347.html
Class 320 313 + 302 are seen sitting in the carriage sidings at Airdrie station:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878348.html
A general view of Airdrie station looking east towards Drumgelloch. The view shows the good progress being made in the construction of the new platform 3:
http://jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net/p64878349.html

Best Regards

Jonathan McGurk

 

[Mex]

Another excellent update as always Jonathan, thanks!

I drive along the A89 every weekday so I get to see the progress being made, it's definitely looking like it's coming together.

Interestingly the Scotrail info signs at Airdrie station claim that the new Drumgelloch station will be open on 12th December - do you think the project is going to arrive on time...?