Initially the trains originated at General Terminus Quay, or in the case of some coal trains, Rothesay dock, and were hauled by pairs of class 20 locomotives. These trains were made up of 21 ton ore hopper wagons, and you could tell the routes that the loaded trains used by the trail of iron ore pellets along the centre of the track, which had fallen through the hopper doors. These wagons were later superseded by the massive 100 tonne ore wagons leading to the requirement for more powerfull locomotives, hence the introduction of the class 37's. Then in March 1980, after a protracted industrial dispute, the modern facilities at Hunterston were brought into use.
The loaded trains were routed via the Rutherglen and Coatbridge line to avoid the 2 miles of 1 in 70 that is the Bellshill bank, but the trains still had to negotiate gradients of between 1 in 77 and 1 in 93 between Mossend and Holytown.
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Class 37 Hunterston Pool (FMGM) |
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no | Name |
| 37310 | (37152) | B.S.C. Ravenscraig |
| 37311 | (37156) | B.S.C. Hunterston |
| 37312 | (37137) | Clyde Iron |
| 37313 | (37145) | noname |
| 37314 | (37190) | Dalzell |
| 37320 | (37026) | Shap Fell |
| 37321 | (37037) | Gartcosh |
| 37322 | (37049) | Imperial |
| 37323 | (37088) | Clydesdale |
| 37324 | (37099) | Clydebridge |
| 37325 | (37108) | Lanarkshire Steel |
| 37326 | (37111) | Glengarnock |
| f | f | f |
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| After the introduction of the heavier trains with the 100 ton ore wagons, haulage was handed over to the class 37's working in pairs. The initial method of assaulting the Holytown bank was to attach a banker, usually a class 20, at Rosehall Junction in Coatbridge. This method was reviewed following an incident when several coal hoppers were derailed on Mossend north curve due to the banking locomotive failing to react quickly enough to a brake application by the leading locomotives |
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| It was then decided that it would be safer to attach a pilot locomotive at Mossend in place of the banker, 20102 is seen performing this duty in 1982. |
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| During the early 1980's the Motherwell based class 37's used for the ore trains were renumbered as 37/3's and most were given names associated with the iron and steel industry. Here 37236 "Glengarnock" and the unnamed 37313 get into their stride high above the Ardrossan North Shore with a coal train. |
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| It was the triple headers which attracted most of the interest in these workings, and a rousing start from Mossend was always guaranteed. Pilot locomotive number 37145 (having reacquired its old number) is clearly giving the travelling fitter cause for concern as the train restarts from Mossend. |
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| The emties normally
took the direct route via Bellshill when returning to Ayrshire.
Here a pair of class 37's approach Bellshill station. |
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| The class 60's arrived just in time to have a couple of years of service on the ore trains. Here 60030 "Cir Mhor" unusually passes Mossend North Junction with theempties, diverted due to extensive engineering operations at Newton. |