SO it seems the Swinging Sixties was not just about free love, whacky baccy, and music, but it was also about, well, trainspotting. Still at least there was a small amount of danger as I don't think strolling around rail-lines with such abandon would be permitted these days. The object of their excitement in September, 1966, was the last run of The Bittern from Glasgow to Aberdeen. The Bittern, named after a type of heron, was a Class A4 Pacific locomotive, which was a pretty sleek locomotive as another A4, The Mallard, set the then world speed record for steam locomotives at 126 mph in 1938.
You may not recognise the station as this was Buchanan Street Station which closed a few months after this picture was taken. Its site is now occupied by the office block across the road from The Herald here in Cowcaddens where ScotRail still has its headquarters.
The good news is that Bittern is still with us, albeit in an engine shed in Crewe awaiting a major overhaul. It has been in private hands since it was sold in 1966, and for a few years was painted to appear on a private line as Spencer from Thomas the Tank Engine.
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