# RailScot

> website with images and descriptions of railways within and outwith Scotland

**Wikidata**: [Q113083146](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113083146)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/railscot

## Summary
RailScot is a comprehensive website that serves as an online database and photo archive focused on railways in Scotland and beyond. Founded in 1995 by Ewan Crawford, the platform hosts approximately 78,000 railway-related images and descriptions, making it a significant resource for rail transport enthusiasts and researchers.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1995 by Ewan Crawford
- Classified as a website, online database, and photo archive
- Main subject is rail transport
- Contains approximately 78,000 items in its photo archive (as of July 2022)
- Based in the United Kingdom
- Primary website is https://www.railscot.co.uk/ (primarily in English)
- Has a Twitter account (@railscot) created on May 25, 2010
- Associated with Wikidata properties P10987 (location ID) and P10989 (company ID)
- Also known by the alias railscot.co.uk

## FAQs
### Q: What is RailScot?
A: RailScot is a website that provides images and detailed descriptions of railways, with a particular focus on Scotland but including railways from around the world. It functions as both an online database and a photo archive dedicated to rail transport.

### Q: When was RailScot created?
A: RailScot was founded in 1995 by Ewan Crawford. The platform has been continuously developed and expanded since its inception, growing to include tens of thousands of railway-related items.

### Q: How extensive is RailScot's collection?
A: As of July 2022, RailScot's photo archive contained approximately 78,000 items. The collection covers a wide range of railway-related content, focusing on railways within and outside Scotland.

### Q: Does RailScot only cover Scottish railways?
A: No, while RailScot has a particular focus on Scottish railways, it also includes railways from outwith Scotland, making it a comprehensive resource for rail transport enthusiasts globally.

## Why It Matters
RailScot serves as a crucial digital repository for railway heritage, particularly in Scotland where it preserves historically significant transportation infrastructure and operations that might otherwise be lost to time. The platform bridges the gap between academic research and public interest by providing accessible, well-organized information that supports enthusiasts, historians, and transportation professionals. By cataloging over 78,000 railway-related items, RailScot helps document the evolution of rail transport, contributes to historical preservation efforts, and facilitates greater understanding of how railways have shaped communities and economies. This specialized resource fills a niche that general-purpose databases cannot, maintaining detailed information that might otherwise remain scattered or inaccessible.

## Notable For
- Being one of the most comprehensive online archives specifically focused on Scottish railways
- Hosting approximately 78,000 railway-related items, making it a substantial digital collection
- Being an early online railway resource, founded in 1995 during the early days of the commercial internet
- Serving as both a photo archive and detailed database, providing both visual and contextual information
- Maintaining a specialized Twitter presence since 2010, engaging with rail enthusiasts through social media

## Body
### Overview
RailScot is a specialized website dedicated to railways, with particular emphasis on Scottish rail systems but including railways worldwide. Founded in 1995 by Ewan Crawford, it has evolved from its early form into a comprehensive online resource.

### Content and Collection
- The photo archive contains approximately 78,000 items as of July 2022
- Collection includes images and detailed descriptions of railway infrastructure, rolling stock, and operations
- Covers historical and contemporary railways within and outwith Scotland
- Organized as both a visual gallery and detailed database

### Technical Details
- Website: https://www.railscot.co.uk/ (primarily in English)
- Twitter handle: @railscot (created May 25, 2010)
- Associated with Wikidata properties P10987 and P10989 for location and company IDs
- Based in the United Kingdom
- Also known by the alias railscot.co.uk

### Development and Management
- Founded and maintained by Ewan Crawford
- Continuously updated since 1995
- Serves both the public and specialized researchers
- Integrates with broader digital preservation efforts