Sunday 3 April 2022

Special Trains in Scotland, 19th March 2022


Powering away from the stop at Dalgety Bay is the SRPS Railtours "The Imperial Speysider" 1Z37 06:24 Linlithgow - Aviemore (Speyside), which then connected with and ran in the Speyside Railway Diesel Gala. 37685 led 37403, on its first main line run since extensive repairs at Bo'ness, but which had to run 'inside' as it was the ETH loco. Tour train running was to time.



The special train made a stop in the loop at Thornton, which allowed 1H07 HST to Inverness to run ahead, and for me to move on to Markinch, where I again saw 1Z37.


I have been around long enough to remember being up against those railings watching steam hauled  trains, in the 1963 - 1966 period.


History is made, the first 'Merchant Navy' to run into Scotland, where only the 'West Country' class has previously been seen. 35018 British India Line appears to have climbed Shap and Beattock better than timed for, and was 6 minutes early passing Curriehill, on the former Caledonian Railway, in the area west of Edinburgh. The train was "The Edinburgh Flyer" 1Z80 06:18 Preston - Edinburgh.


47802 on the rear of the train.