WITHIN SIGHT OF ENGLAND

We return to the ECML, at Drem, where we find LNER 8423 in 1935.

Further down the line is the station at East Fortune, long closed, but seen in the 1920s.

Beside the village of East Fortune is an airfield, visited in 1978.

To the north is Dirleton Castle.

A flight from East Fortune takes us over the nearby town of North Berwick.

From North Berwick itself, we look out over the Firth of Forth.

There are also fine views of Bass Rock.

North Berwick is at the end of a short branch, off the ECML. LNER 425 has just arrived in 1939.

By the 1980s, North Berwick station had been reduced to a single platform.

Now it's 1991 and there's just a simple platform.....but electrification is happening.

Electric units now serve North Berwick.

Many local buses are operated by Eve Coaches of Dunbar.

North Berwick is a decent place for beer. The Golfers' Rest is worth a visit.

The Nether Abbey Hotel has good beer and food.

Right in the heart of town is the Ship Inn.

Leaving North Berwick behind, we follow the coast down to Belhaven, with its "Bridge to Nowhere" (Creative Commons License).

Belhaven is, of course, famous for its brewery of the same name, albeit owned by Greene King these days. Here it is in 1976.

Where better than the Masons Arms in Belhaven to try those beers? The pub is now called the Brig & Barrel.

A mile or so away is Dunbar, with some nice coastal views.

Here's Dunbar Castle, in 1976.

Dunbar's most prominent building, the Tolbooth (Creative Commons License).

Dunbar station, on the ECML, in the 1930s. Today, it's still open, but reduced to one platform.

LNER 2-6-2T No. 2909 on the Dunbar turntable in 1931.

In August 1973, a bus rally was held in Dunbar (Les Flint).

Back in 1976, Starks of Dunbar (a subsidiary of Eastern Scottish), ran the local services.

Later, in 1989, Lowland was Dunbar's main operator.

By 2003, Eve Coaches seemed to be the major player.

Eve Coaches also had some larger buses, mainly for schools duties. Here's one at the depot in 2003.

Following the ECML, we come to Grantshouse, near where LNER 2203 was photographed in 1937

A North British Railway branch ran down to the coast at Eyemouth.

There's a small fishing fleet based in Eyemouth (Creative Commons License).

Lowland's Border Courier once served Eyemouth.

To the south, close to the English border, we arrive at Paxton on board an Optare Solo of Perryman's.

The departure of the bus reveals the Cross Inn.

Less than a mile away is the River Tweed and the Union Bridge.

On the opposite bank is England, but you'll have to await the next post before we go there. Meanwhile, here's a link to the map of the route so far.