Maud

 A new month, a new season and a blip for a new project. 

It’s hardly original or uncommon to be interested in railways. There are many, many railway experts including a good number on Blip. There are hobbyists and academic researchers who devote themselves to the study of  railways . I’m not an engineer and the locomotives aren’t what intrigue me. I can see why people would be interested in the mighty locos but that's not for me. 

I’m fascinated, though,  by old, disused, dismantled and derelict railways and railway buildings. The social history of the railway is what I find interesting. The connections made, then lost. The employment created, then taken away. 

It’s easy to romanticise railways and railway journeys in days gone by. It wasn’t always great and it certainly wasn’t always economically sound. But the closure of railway lines and stations and the way in which private road transport has been elevated has had so many negative consequences. Most people remember Dr Beeching as the villain of the piece but he was given a very hard job to do by politicians with vested interests. Ernie Marples, for example. Anyway the closures started long before the 1960s. 

What I want to do is visit the remains of railway lines to see what I can see. Many dismantled railway lines are now walking and cycling tracks and they are always enjoyable to use. I plan to keep my eyes open for any remaining infrastructure which reminds me of the many branch lines which used to criss-cross the country. 

I don't want to get too precious about this though. As with the reservoirs and tin tabernacles (which I'll never not look out for) this is a way of trying to be observant of my surroundings and to go to places I'd otherwise pass by. I'm going to tag blips #railwayrelics. 

And on that note here is Maud Junction. This is where the Formartine and  Buchan line split, taking trains east to Peterhead or north to Fraserburgh.  Freight trains outlasted passenger trains on this line but everything was gone by the 1980s. Fortunately the then local authority, Grampian Regional Council, developed the lines as the Formartine and Buchan Way, a long distance foot and cycle path so it is still a wonderful way to get around the area. 


Heading for home after a few splendid days in Aberdeenshire. It's been a real treat.