Coalburn What?

To justify my naming of the route, I thought it'd be a good idea to spice up the area after which it is named. I might post some before and after shots soon but here's a sneaky peek at the area in question.

Some more information about it: During both World Wars, this high security complex was dedicated to the arms and munitions production. Its high walls offered impressive defence in the event of invasion and its inner ring of elevated workshops, warehouses and offices overlook the widest stretch of the river. Now though, in the mid 1960s, the gates have been removed to allow constant access for freight trains on their way to the power station (hence the name) and the occasional local passenger service for workers.

The dockyard in this picture is just a tiny area for a regular ferry which would take the produced arms to the nearby docks at Highbarn Oak Water and bring in new raw materials. The railway is also linked to the docks, however it is not the most ideal route in. The complex has been modernised somewhat and its appeal has tarnished even during the Cold War, however its desolate and haunting aura still spooks even the hardiest of drivers as they charge through.

In the background of the image is a truss bridge - this elevated line is the two-track mainline service that bypasses the docks, power station and ammunitions factory, whilst the three lines in the picture are for the local freight and passenger services.

Oh for the wonderful power of imagination eh!