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David Booth

@caleydave.bsky.social
227 followers 354 following 589 posts

Hobby Scottish Cold War Researcher. Occasional Volunteer. Old Police Box botherer. Based in Edinburgh, Scotland. All views are my own.

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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
If they did they would need to be careful about throwing stones in glass houses. They considered all material of the old restoration project theirs and have no respect for the original copyright holders. To the point there are pictures in books/exhibits they had no right to give permission to print
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Yes it is odd, still a picture account is the small fry compared to some of the people I have upset over Barnton Quarry.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Kelvedon Hatch, Anstruther and Hackgreen were all set up at that sweet spot in the 90's where the old equipment was being sent for scrap and they could have their pick. In my time the vision of Barnton Quarry was accuracy, but now it's Being filled with what is cheap or available. Fantastic book!
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
"I was there, Gandalf" "I was there 3000 years ago" Photo credits for the one circling the internet should to to "Grant More", with the original credit being with the Air Ministry. As an observation, Barnton Bunker appears to prefer to skip attributing credit or observing copyright.
The original photo of a photo, part of a secret Air ministry package.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The sad part, as I realise you can't see what I can, is I am now blocked.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Well that is sad 😢 Picture This Scotland is not to blame the account is only reposting a picture from a source which should be authoritative but has got it wrong, it is not Picture This Scotland's Mistake. If the reaction to a correction is to block then why bother in the first place ?
Caption reads "The Barnton Nuclear Bunker during the Cold War era in the 1950s.
A vast, three-storey, underground installation hidden 109 feet beneath Corstorphine Hill in West Edinburgh."
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Before I along with the Barnton Quarry Restoration Project were unceremoniously kicked out; as both BQ and KH were still the original size and had the operations room floored over, we were deliberately trying to restore the operations room so they would be different experiences.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
I love an R4 Most of these sites were either cleared or, following government roles, had little in them other than beds, tables and chairs. So KH is filled with lots of stuff (some miss labeled) collected at a time the stores were being disposed off.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
If you squint closely at the map on the wall of the Sector Controllers Cabin (left side) you will make out the outline of the south east coast and the Thames estuary. There were 4 R4 buildings built: Caledonian - Barnton Quarry Northern - Shipton Eastern - Bawburgh Metropolitan - Kelvedon Hatch
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Skipping over the shortening of name to "Barnton" Bunker (geographicaly and historicaly wrong) This Picture isn't off Barnton Quarry, it is actually of Kelvedon Hatch, another Sector Operation Centre built to the same R4 Building design. It was a set of official and secret photographs produced.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Thanks for the good suggestions I had checked Opendata.scot and NLS but I haven't found it yet if they do. OS Boundary line sadly doesn't contain them either (it think is where I got the Counties) An enquiry to the Boundary Commission is a good idea.
opendata.scot
Home - Open Data Scotland
A crowdsourced open data portal, aggregating open datasets across Scotland.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I was consultancy but the bulk of the business was managed security operations centre. (We triaged and acted on security alerts). There was employee speculation that not every client knew. If so, some clients would have woken up on Tuesday to their IT security being unmonitored. (This was 2025)
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
With outsourcing tech/IT so common if there was a risk it could well have been low. I can believe they had no warning having gone through an Administration. I worked for 8+ years at a computer Security company which filed a Notice of Intent on the Thursday and ceased operating at 5PM on the Monday.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Niche #GIS question, is anyone aware of public or open dataset for the 1975-1996 #Scottish Regional and/or District Council boundaries? (.shp file or similar) Introduced by Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 & Repealed by Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. 9 Regional + 3 Island
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Fantastic local knowledge, thanks for sharing, I will see if I can cross reference it with anything. There were special arrangements for warning dockyards and shipping (with varying levels of planning/implementation) There was another mains Siren at "Henry Robb Ltd., Victoria shipyard, Leith Docks"
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
For an example of an industrial user in Edinburgh with evidence of a Siren remaining we have the old Alexandra Dock pumphouse in Leith.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
It was not uncommon for certain big industrial customers to have Sirens connected to air raid warning system which, in some cases, would be used by said company. During the Transition to War a Law was to be passed restricting the use of hooters, Sirens and the like to avoid confusion with warnings.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
#SirenSaturday I had resisted posting buildings where I found no obvious remains of a Siren. Breaking that rule today with a factory hooter. "T. & H. Smith Ltd, Blandfield Chemical Works, Wheatfield Road, Edinburgh" This was given Carrier planning number 254/47 in the early 1960's.
T. & H. Smith Ltd, Blandfield Chemical Works, Wheatfield Road, Edinburgh.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I rather hope its a temporary glitch on The British Newspaper Archive that I find all folders in my Imported Bookmarks empty!
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Stephen Schwartz @atomicanalyst.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Today in 1979, a United States Vela nuclear-test-monitoring satellite detected the distinctive double-flash signature of a nuclear explosion over the South Atlantic Ocean. Although a White House scientific panel later dismissed the possibility, many speculated it was a clandestine Israeli test.
A color drawing of a Vela satellite orbiting Earth. Triangular and trapezoidal solar panels cover its surface. The satellite also has multiple antennas sticking out of it.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
No Vibe coding, just bad coding but we are slowly getting there and I have enjoyed the tiny amounts of time I have been able to spend on this project. It needs to actually resize to screens, especially mobile, before I let people get their hands on it directly. #SirenSaturday #EdinburghPoliceBox
A picture of a work in progress webpage entitled "Scottish Police Boxes".

It features a Map in the centre which has the locations of the Police Boxes in Edinburgh and Glasgow shown.
Below there is part of a key showing the Icons available on the map.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I agree, perhaps a hope for the long term future. It's an A-listed lump of buried concrete, with a surface brick blockhouse, in a nature reserve. There is no fortune to be made from the site, only spent on maintenance. And those who visit deserve to be safe and get an accurate history.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I can recall the restoration project manager telling concerned locals the site wasn't to be used for raves, which for as long as we had influence was true. Everything the successor "Barnton Bunker" project has gifted us is at best blighted by short term thinking.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
As part of the defunct Restoration Project I ran hardhat tours in what was a shell of a derelict building. Part of the reason we had to go was we stopped the ownership from doing things like holding raves. Over the most recent 6 years so little progress has been made to restore or make it safe.
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Sarah Dalrymple @sarahdalgulls.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
As someone who manages volunteers for an actual charity, aargh. has anyone told HSE? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Fire fears, accidents and emu attacks among safety concerns at Cold War bunker
Volunteers restoring a former Edinburgh nuclear bunker are worried someone will be hurt because of safety issues.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Could be used as a case study on how to bury a story about operating without a Public Entertainment Licence or Alcohol Licence. If the other safety concern had been run the headline would be "In Bizarre fire exit dispute"!
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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 13/09/2026
📣 Important PSA! 📽️ I'll be screening and talking about the wonderful 1951 short film "The Singing Street" on next 2 weekends. 📅 19th & 20th, 10AM, Abbeyhill School with Colony of Artists 📆 26th, 12 Noon, Norton Park Centre with Doors Open Day 🎫 Free, unticketed, arrive early to avoid disappointment
A little poster for the event with some stills from the film and the dates and places. "“A WONDERFUL PICTURE OF EDINBURGH – as true perhaps as has ever been put on the screen” The Scotsman"
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
If the old Caledonian railway via Roseburn was reinstated or the South Sub converted it's strange to think that could visit a station some ~70 years after he worked their and some ~60 years after they closed.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
The next owner of this book may not know what the marks mean but to me this makes the book irreplaceable.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Controversial statement; Vandalise your books! My Late Grandad was a Relief Clerk for British Railways around Edinburgh in the 1950's. I had taken on some of his books and in an appendix of this one he had marked every passenger station he worked with a tick and each Goods station with a G.
Cover of book: Rail centres: Edinburgh by A.J. MullayAppendix 1, this page has the first half of a list of stations in Edinburgh.

Stations marked with a tick are:
Abbeyhill, Balgreen Halt, Colinton, Corstorphine, Craigleith, Dalry Road, Gorgie East, Haymarket, Joppa & Leith North

Goods stations marked with a G: Bonnington Road, Currie, Gorgie East & Granton.Appendix 1, this page has the second  half of a list of stations in Edinburgh.

Stations marked with a tick are: Merchiston, Morningside Road, Piers hill, Portobello, Princes Street, Slateford & Waverley.


Goods stations marked with a G: Leith South, Leith Walk & Portobello
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Duncan Campbell @duncanc.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Serious news - not reported until now. In the week the UK and NATO accused Russia of armed drone attacks in Leipzig, Britain's nuclear deterrent backup link was destroyed over the Yorkshire. Our story is here. bylinetimes.com/2026/09/08/k...
bylinetimes.com
Key UK Nuclear Deterrent Link Destroyed Over Yorkshire
The Ministry of Defence has refused to clarify whether the catastrophic mid-air failure of the Trident relay system was a weather accident or sabotage
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Ian McClellan @ianmac.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Acted as MARWO on a few exercises whilst also passing raid reports to the Radar Managers at Control & Reporting Posts. Thankfully never had to do it for real, I’d love to know how we’d do it now. I’m not exactly filled with confidence that emergency alarms would sound in time before raids hit.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Such is the attention to detail, and not always demonstrated on tours, Messages from the CCP to the Carrier Receiver also activates the one in the operations room. And, staying in the operations room, the telephone on the Warning Teams desk can speak to the demonstration CCP.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
They have a working Setup showing how Warning messages were distributed from: The National Injection point to the Carrier Control Points, The CCPs to the warning/carrier receivers & The CCPs to Siren via the remote control panel. #SirenSaturday
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
I believe there are a few tickets left! Relevant to #SirenSaturday , The Bunker housed the Sector Controller for Scotland, who should national communications fail, be responsible for issuing warnings and 28 Groups who's warning team would be in direct contact with the Police for issuing warnings.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
The team, @28group.bsky.social, behind the #ColdWar Bunker at Craigiebarns in #Dundee are running tours on 9-11th October 2026 Great chance to see the combined #ROC 28 Group and #UKWMO Sector Headquarters which would have been used to track Fallout and Nuclear Bomb detonations over Scotland.
eventbrite.co.uk
Dundee Cold War Bunker
Guided tours through Dundees own cold war nuclear bunker and learn the history and about the people who worked there
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Are buckets to catch water from the leaky roof a feature of murder pubs? With the inverted-pitch they will be present but in a predictable line rather than scattered with the true flat roof.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
The team, @28group.bsky.social, behind the #ColdWar Bunker at Craigiebarns in #Dundee are running tours on 9-11th October 2026 Great chance to see the combined #ROC 28 Group and #UKWMO Sector Headquarters which would have been used to track Fallout and Nuclear Bomb detonations over Scotland.
eventbrite.co.uk
Dundee Cold War Bunker
Guided tours through Dundees own cold war nuclear bunker and learn the history and about the people who worked there
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Undiscovered Scotland @undisscot.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Spitfire "Red Lichtie" on display at the superb Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre on the north side of Montrose in Angus, celebrating the unexpected home of Britain's first operational military airfield. More pics and info: www.undiscoveredscot... #Scotland #Spitfire #Montrose #Angus
Spitfire "Red Lichtie" on display at the superb Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre. The image shows a Spitfire facing diagonally left and towards us. It has grey and green camouflage and is standing on a grassy area in the foreground, with ties to the ground. There is a wooden hut on the left behind it and other buildings can be glimpsed beyond. The sky is blue.
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Edinburgh O'Clock @edinburghclock.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Edinburgh O'Clock - 3 minutes to every hour. - we run fast so you don't miss your train. A new hourly image to brighten your day taken in #Scotland very often #Edinburgh and shared with love by Tom Duffin @tomduffinphotos.bsky.social. Please repost with your own caption.
Delicious images of Edinburgh from Tom Duffin
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Is "The Red Bridge", carrying the path along the old railway over Ferry Road, unofficially now the Birthday Bridge?
The Red Bridge, named only for its colour, carries the path along the old railway over Ferry Road. It is a modern bridge. It is adorned with a number of different shears of cloth all with different "Happy Birthday" messages
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Yes And unofficial variations; Haymarket Depot should revive the "Haymarket Castle" that was put on side of locomotives in the 80's.
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Brutalismbot @brutalismbot.com · 30/08/2026
They keep trying to tear it down r/brutalism
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Here are the pictures for August 2025. It was known as "ARABICA DABRA" back then and was painted primarily black.
Edinburgh Police Box at St Patrick Square. Picture was taken in August 2025.
It was painted black and named "ARABICA DABRA".Edinburgh Police Box at St Patrick Square.
This is a close up of the Edinburgh Castle emblem. It has been painted:
Cream surround, light blue sky, grey castle, brown rocks, black doors and windows and the 3 flags painted as Saltires.
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Mike @mikeyashworth.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
1870 Airey/RCH junction diagram for "Edinboro (Edinburgh) Granton Leith & Haymarket showing the city's railways prior to many changes such as the South Suburban line. But @threadinburgh.scot @joebrownlondon.bsky.social I can't recollect ever seeing evidence of a station at Cairntows?
Lithographed and coloured outline map showing the railways around Edinburgh, Granton, Leith and Haymarket annotated in colour to show ownership by various companies. It is Junction Diagram No. 27 from 1870 in the 1875 combined volume of Railway Junction Diagrams by John Airey issued under the name of the Railway Clearing House.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Another Repainted #EdinburghPoliceBox this time at St Patrick Square. This might not be a recent repaint, it's been almost exactly a year since I lasted visited, I am pleased it retains the painted castle 🏰. Now branded "Sonas Expression Bar".
Edinburgh Police Box at St Patrick Square.
It is now painted Blue with a cream top, windows and doors.
It is now branded as "Sonas Expression Bar"
Offering "Specialist Coffee".A "Edinburgh Castle" emblem from the front of a Police Box at St Patrick Square.
It has been carefully painted with a light blue sky, grey castle, brown rocks, windows and doors in black and 3 miniature saltires.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
The Carrier Control Point for 257 North Berwick Carrier Area was in (appropriately enough) the North Berwick Police Station. Key to the warning system was the supporting and distribution equipment located in Telephone Exchanges, such as the North Berwick Exchange. #SirenSaturday
The former North Berwick Police Station on north Berwick High Street.North Berwick Telephone Exchange on Nungate Road.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Yes, Two Typhoon Fighter jets based on the two of ast moving blobs (with lights) seen with my eyes and transponder on flight radar.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
And here is why I took a Trip to the North Berwick Law: Royal Observer Corps North Berwick Post. At stand down it reported to 24 Edinburgh Group ROC HQ & was the Master (Radio Equipped) post for Cluster 24/25 consisting of: 24/25 North Berwick 24/26 Cockburnspath 24/27 Garvald #ColdWar
View of the North Berwick Royal observer Corps Post Hatch.
To the left of the hatch is the mounting point of the "Ground Zero Indicator".
The Tube in the Grass behind is for the "Fixed Survey Meter".
To the rear is a Vent.View of the North Berwick Royal observer Corps Post Vent.
The Metal Bulge on the side was for the (now gone) connectors into which the radio mast could be plugged.

The Tube in the Grass in front is for the "Fixed Survey Meter".
To Hatch can just be seen through the Grass.
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David Booth @caleydave.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Possibly just Bluesky being slow to load the picture? It appears to be fine for me (double checked by logging onto computer rather than phone). But My newest post took a few minutes for the photos to appear.
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