Class 26 no. 037 and Class 27 no. 005 arrive at platform 2 of Stirling station with the 10.38 Glasgow Queen Street to Perth. The class 26 is in fine looking condition after being outshopped from Glasgow Works (British Rail Engineering Limited).
Glasgow works would use this train to test if a locomotive was ready to return to duty. If class 26 no. 037 was to fail on this service then class 27 no. 005 would ensure the train got to Perth.
28 May 1982
Something to read on the train? A traveller peruses the books for sale from the John Menzies bookstall on platform 2 at Stirling station. What will it be? The latest thriller, a romantic novel or something more serious?
A notice on the platform lets those passengers who arrived at Stirling on the overnight Motorail train know that they can collect their car keys on platform 10. Stirling once had an extensive Motorail service which enabled passengers to travel with their cars to places like London, Newton Abbot and Dover. However British Rail announced in February 1989 that it would no longer run Motorail services from Stirling.
28 May 1982
Stirling station was designed by the architect James Miller who also co-designed Wemyss Bay Station. In 1913 it was confirmed that Stirling station would be expanded and rebuilt to his design. This new design was opened on 1 January 2015.
On platform 2 can be seen a magnificent clock. Similar clocks were also to be found on platforms 3, 6 and 9. Sadly at some point during the late 1980s the clocks were removed. The platform bookstall, in a semi-circular design, was run by John Menzies. However in 1998 John Menzies sold its retail arm to W H Smith who then took over the running of the bookstall.
A pillar box dating from the reign of Edward VII stands next to the bookstall. Collections were made from the box on Monday to Friday at 08.00, 11.45, 18.00 and on Saturday at 08.00, 11.45.
12 Apr 1983
A once common sight at railway stations was the loading of mailbags and parcels onto trains. Postal and railway staff load the brake van of The Clansman 10.30 Inverness to London Euston service on platform 3 at Stirling station in 1983. The train was pulled by class 47 no. 467.
12 Apr 1983
A class 47 crosses the River Forth shortly after leaving Stirling station with the 11.25 Glasgow Queen Street to Aberdeen service. The Wallace monument which commemorates the life of Sir William Wallace, who led his troops to victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, can be seen on the left of the photo.
16 Jul 1984
The John Menzies bookstall on platform 2 of Stirling station attracts the attention of customers both young and old.
Stirling station was well known for its floral displays. There used to be a greenhouse beyond platform 10 at the station to which railway staff were able to grow flowers for the station. The bookstall we can see is well decked with flower pots and the stairs leading to the bridge over to other platforms have hanging baskets.
11 Jul 1989
Photo set: British Rail Scotland in the 1980s and early 1990s (150 photos)