A Princes Pier Boat Special is seen at Glasgow’s St Enoch Station, Platform 1, prior to departure on 9th May 1959. The two Standard 2-6-4Ts Nos 80127 and 80030 both of Corkerhill are standing at the head of a heavy boat train bound for Greenock and a trans-Atlantic crossing.

The Caledonian semaphore route indicators showing the ’20 past 2’ position are a mystery as there was no such code for any train departures from St Enoch Station. This arm position appears in Nock's book on the CR (p.184 for trains originating or terminating in Glasgow) as 'To and from Coatbridge' but that isn't right for this train. Other shots of the Greenock trains all show the code as '10 to 8' but Nock has this as 'To and from Airdrie' which isn't right either! Nock's listing for Glasgow has nothing for Greenock or Gourock just two Edinburgh codes for Gourock (No. 26, '6 o'clock' position) and 'To and from Glasgow and from Gourock and Balloch' (No. 28, 3 o'clock position).

Perhaps this system changed under BR? - plus I've got an impression from other sources it was unofficial by then anyway and perhaps no more than a wishful nod by shed staff back to pre-Nat/pre Group days. Who knows?

© David P Williams Archive / Rail-Online; Original photograph by Donald Luscombe.