| I have always had a liking for Scotland ever since I first remember going there by train in 1963, however a trip in the early 1970s with my father, going on the overnight St Pancras - Glasgow Central in a Mk 1 corridor compartment, followed by travelling on to Wick via Aberdeen left me with memories of 26 haulage to Wick, 24 haulage to Kyle Of Lochalsh where we remained for 3 hours (and it poured continually) and travelling behind a Class 40 from Aviemore to Inverness. Tainted for life!
Anyway,apart from the single malts,the other good thing about Scotland in the 1980s was the railway scene which resulted in me visiting as much as possible. Thus a week in 1984 was particularly memorable, travelling from Ely through to Edinburgh on the "European" via Sheffield,Manchester Victoria,Carlisle and Carstairs,(none of this changing at Peterborough for the ECML) helped by seeing my last 37 (145) at Kingmoor before it turned into a rest home for DRS. About half of these pictures were taken that week and a highlight must have been the use of Class 20 locomotives as Glasgow Central station pilots however I was not too amused to see 47583 (a regular East Anglia Locomotive) performing regularly.Even the multiple unit scene was varied with plenty of slam door stock and none of your modern plastic.Highlights of other visits include being turfed out of the Stranraer sleeper at 0530 on a seriously cold September morning (despite the timetable note that berths may remain occupied until 0730) and having not a lot to do until the 0717 to Glasgow could be boarded. One of the other sleeper trips was memorable in discovering that the 47 which was in charge at Stevenage on the 2335 Kings Cross - Aberdeen had been swapped for 26014 and 26019.Unfortunatley our berth was to the rear of the train so there was little chance of any "bellowing". Another surprise was track bashing to Cardenden and expecting a DMU back to Edinburgh, however a class 47 materialised with a full set of Mk 2 coaches in tow, a fill in turn for the Sussex Scot set...and yes we were the only passengers as far as Inverkeithing. Unfortunately the present day scene is totally different with little of interest, in my opinion,at least the Forth Bridge is still present but travelling over it in a modern DMU does not have the same effect as being behind a class 26 with load 4 on a Dundee working.Despite having free travel I would now rather take the car, have the odd day out by train and spend the rest of my time bird watching with the occasional visit to my favourite Whisky shop in Inverary to stock up on my Islays. I have included some pictures taken at Carlisle because most of the time it appeared to be a subshed of Haymarket or Eastfield and you could usually get Type 2 haulage via the Nith Valley. I will produce a smaller collection of shots taken in the 1990s later but this selection taken between 1978 and 1988 will do for a starter. |
06004 and 06008 in Dundee Yard. 22.09.81. |
20076 working ECS (unfortunately) away from Glasgow Central. 04.07.84. |
20125... Glasgow Central pilot. 03.07.84. |
25027 at Carlisle on a service to Glasgow Central via Dumfries. 14.06.83. |
25090 shunts the stock off the night sleeper at Stranraer Harbour. 06.09.78. |
26004 at Edinburgh Waverley. 04.07.84. |
26005 departing Millerhill Yard. 23.04.88. |
26014 and 26019 on the 2330 Kings Crtoss- Aberdeen at ladybank. 22.09.81. |
26019 and 26014 at Dundee whilst working the 2330 Kings Cross - Aberdeen. 22.09.81. |
26026 at Carlisle. 14.06.83. |
26029 at Dundee. 06.07.84. |
27010 at Dundee on the 1528 to Edinburgh Waverley. 03.07.84. |
27010 at Dundee. 03.07.84. |
27025 departing Glasgow Central on the 1710 to Ayr. 04.07.84. |
27048 at Carlisle. 03.07.84. |
27056 at Inverkeithing. 06.07.86. |
27103,27204,27025 with 47617 and 47623 for company at Carlisle. 21.05.85. |
27106 at Glasgow Queen Stret having arrived on the 1130 from Edinburgh Waverley. 06.09.78. |
27108 at Inverness. 12.06.83. |
303009 at Helensburgh Central. 13.06.88. |
303075 at Paisley Gilmour Street. 29.03.84. |
303081 on the 1320 Glasgow Central - Gourock at Paisley Gilmour Street. 19.05.82. |
370007 at Glasgow Central. 22.05.85. |
37112 approaching Inverness. 01.07.86. |
