Thursday 25 April 2019

ScotRail HSTs, Thursday 18th April 2019


The majority of the 4 coach sets appear to be still in ex-First Great Western condition, in the 'dynamic lines' colours. About half of the power cars are in the ScotRail InterCity scheme, which is starting to suffering from rain marks from the ventilation area. Power cars do seem to rotate a bit around the defined coaching sets.

43149 + 43151 1A55 09:29 Edinburgh - Aberdeen, passing Aberdour. Set HA02 formed 43151 - 41144 - 42295 - 42301 - 44039 - 43149. This pair arrived from Laira on 15th December, after 43149 received a G-exam at Laira, following earlier attention at Brush. 43149 entered traffic in May 1981.

43151 on the rear. The pair of power cars arrived in Scotland on 15th December, from Laira. When new this power car was exhibited at the Rocket 150 Great Railway Exposition in Manchester in 1980, and entered traffic in May 1981.

A further set  (43183 - 46010 - 42069 - 42118 - 44023 - 43150) was stabled in the sidings at Dundee, once the approach to Dundee West of the Caledonian and LMS. As currently formed this set came from Ely on 2nd April, as part of a top up of three 'classic' trainsets. There was an issue with the horn, and it appears that they have been parked since arrival, possibly pending a visit to Glasgow Works. The power cars were earlier in set HA11, this may be set HA31.

43183 at the east end, this arrived in Scotland on 17th August 2018, having completed Great Western service in July. 43183 entered traffic in December 1981.

Viewed from the Seabraes footbridge, opened in 2015. 43150 arrived in Scotland on 23rd November, having completed Great Western duties in July. 43150 is another to have entered traffic in May 1981.

43036  (set HA07 43036 -41010 -42012 - 42013 - 44004 - 43021) was working 1T32 14:42 Aberdeen - Glasgow Queen Street,  seen here at Dundee. 43036, built in November 1976, arrived in Scotland from Brush in March 2018.

43140 (set HA05  43148 - 41024 - 42030 - 42010 - 44010 - 43140)  passes Kirkcaldy with 1A81 17:36 Edinburgh to Aberdeen. 43140 was new in  March 1980. It came out of service with Great Western in March 2018, and arrived in Scotland with 43149 (above).

43148 on the rear. New in April 1981, it came off lease at Great Western in September 2017, and was delivered to ScotRail in March 2018.

The next train was 1H17 17:39 Edinburgh to Inverness led by 43146, which has been in Scotland for over a year. Set HA08 43146 - 41180 - 42268 - 42296 -44024 - 43136. 43146 was new in March 1981. Abbotshall Church is on the right, as rebuilt in 1788.