UP THE WHEEL

At Camelon, just outside Falkirk, we cross the branch of the Forth & Clyde Canal, leading down to the Firth of Forth near Grangemouth. The lock here had yet to be restored when photographed in 1994.

 Ten years later and the canal through Camelon has been brought back to use.

The Canal Inn looks interesting. It's not listed in Whatpub, but has a Facebook page. I'm not sure of the cask beer situation.

The 'Maryhill' moored up at Camelon.

Just to the west, the Forth & Clyde meets the Union Canal, now joined by the famous Falkirk Wheel.

One can take a short cruise from one level to the other (and back).

Here's a general view of the whole thing.

Below the wheel is the final lock into the Forth & Clyde.

Above the wheel, now, and the tour boat turns before Roughcastle Tunnel.

Next stop, Kilsyth. Here's a postcard view from the north.

In 1986, Kelvin Scottish had a depot in Kilsyth.

To the southeast is the New Town of Cumbernauld. The main bus operator was Kelvin Central.

By 1999, Firstbus had taken over.

Several independents also served Cumbernauld. Top to bottom, we have Canavan's, Crainey of Kilsyth and N's Coaches.

Now we come to Kirkintilloch and here is the town hall (Creative Commons License).

St Mary's church  (Creative Commons License).

The Forth & Clyde Canal crossed the railway (long gone now) and the River Luggie by this aqueduct.

Two more old postcards of the canal in Kirkintilloch.

Navigation through Kirkintilloch has now been restored.

Transport along the canal is remembered in the name of the town's Wetherspoons, the Kirkie Puffer.

Firstbus operates the majority of services in Kirkintilloch.

A local independent, Greens, ran several routes in the 1990s (Richard Huggins).

Stuarts of Carluke operated a tendered service in Kirkintilloch in 2004.

We get closer to Glasgow as we arrive at Bishopbriggs station in Caledonian Railway days.

However, we now turn away from the big city and head for Baillieston, with its railway station seen in 1961 (Ben Brooksbank).

Baillieston was home to a small bus company, Marshall's, running a fleet of old Leylands on contract duties.

It's here that I must conclude this post. The next one will find us around Coatbridge and Airdrie. Follow the route here.