THE photographic skills of ScotRail maintenance engineer John Hay have earned him first place in a national competition.

Now he will be going out on a photographic assignment for a Scottish newspaper as part of his prize.

John, who is based at Glasgow Queen Street, won first place in the employee category of the First ScotRail Press Photography Awards 2007 with a dramatic against-the-light shot of Glasgow speed cats racing through a water chicane. As well as the award and newspaper assignment he won £250.

“I’m over the moon at winning,” said John. “I’ve been keen on photography for a while now but this was the first time I’d entered the awards.”

Runner-up was Alan Wallace, a train driver from Ayr, with a highly commended view of enthusiastic participants in a Majorcan street festival. Alan, a keen amateur photographer for 25 years, said: “It’s nice to have my work recognised by professional judges and see it exhibited beside all the other winning pictures.”

Two other ScotRail staff were shortlisted: Darrel Hendrie, a train driver from Helensburgh, and Marjorie Ward who works at Ladybank station in Fife.

Overall winner of the competition was Ian Rutherford, a long-serving photographer with The Scotsman, who won the top award – Press Photographer of the Year – for a record fourth time. He also collected the award for Picture Essay of the Year.

First ScotRail is arranging to showcase the winners at railway stations and other venues in Scotland.