Railway Herald
Monday 30th January 1978 by the A713 just outside Dalmellington Ayrshire finds Andrew Barclay 0-6-0T NCB West Ayr Area No. 23, works number 2335 built in 1953, approaching Pennyvenie Colliery with a load of empties from Dunaskin Washery, Waterside. Immediately behind the loco are 4 BR 16 ton mineral wagons followed by 12 NCB internal use only wooden bodied wagons. The wagon in front of No. 24 acts as a tender to provide extra coal for the loco. This was the last winter of steam on the Waterside system as Pennyvenie Colliery was closed down in July 1978 and with it went the railway, so this may well have been the last chance anyone had to photograph the remaining workings in snow and brilliant sunshine. The following day brought more snow but totally overcast conditions as well.
No. 24 survived the closure of the mine and was eventually purchased for preservation. Today she is a static exhibit at the SRPS Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway.
Bob Woolnough
