Scotland, June - July 2026

 

The longer evenings around the solstice give the chance to see 6B36 19:25 Craiginches - Oxwellmains cement empties in the daaylight. 70813 is seen with this task at Aberdour on 25th June.

801226 and 801218 at Edinburgh Waverley, 27th June.

92018 was tucked away between workings of the Caledonian Sleeper, and platform access was by ticket at the time I was there.

In EWS colours, but marked for DB, 66028 passing Aberdour with  6K01 04:05 Auchterarder - Millerhill, 29th June.


A short while later came 37418 An Comunn Gaidhealach + 975025 Caroline ...


... working as 5Z55 06:03 Slateford Depot - Inverness C.S.D. (Carriage Servicing Depot). It is understood that Loram may be relinquishing their operating licence in September.

37418 was new from English Electric Vulcan Foundry in March 1965 as D6971, later 37271, then Heavy General Overhaul and ETH conversion to 37418 was completed in November 1985. 975025 Caroline was built at Eastleigh in 1958 as Hastings DEMU buffet 60755, but laid aside in 1964. Converted to the Southern Region General Manager's Saloon as DB 975025 in 1969.

43169 (+ set HA20 + 43182) 1B80 12:07 Aberdeen - Edinburgh. at the former Donibristle Halt, 3rd July.

At the same location, 66746 Pipe Major Iain Grant with 'Royal Scotsman' 1H79 13:45 Edinburgh - Keith.
 

Caledonian Sleeper Class 73 movements, December 2025 - January 2026

 

On 24th December, 66301 Drax Power Station 50 + 73968 passes Aberdour as  0Z17 09:47 Aberdeen Clayhills Car.M.D - Craigentinny T.&R.S.M.D.

73968.


The same working one week later, 31st December, and the same combination, seen passing Dalgety Bay.

73968.

Returning north for duty, 73970 WS Sellar + 66759 Chippy 0Z25 11:40 Craigentinny T.&R.S.M.D to Inverness, running through Inverkeithing, 2nd January.





Similarly, 73968 + 66301  0Z26 15:19 Craigentinny T.&R.S.M.D - Aberdeen Clayhills Car.M.D, at Aberdour on the same day.

Class 73 daylight moves, Fife, Christmas 2024 & New Year 2025

 

73967 0Z17 09:47 Aberdeen Clayhills Car.M.D - Craigentinny T.&R.S.M.D, passing Aberdour, 24th December. (2 pictures)

73967 was formerly 73006 and before that 'JA' E6006, delivered new from Eastleigh Carriage Works on 17th November 1962. It spent some time in preservation, at both the Dean Forest and Severn Valley Railways, and attended the 2009 Eastleigh Works Open Day.

73968 + 66302 0Z25 11:48 Craigentinny T.&R.S.M.D - Inverness approaching Dalgety Bay station, 27th December.

73968 was previously 73117 and 'JB' E6023 delivered from English Electric Vulcan Foundry in March 1966.

66302 was delivered in 2008 and has worked for Fastline, DRS and, since October 2022, GBRf.

73970 W.S. Sellar passing Aberdour, 27th December, as 0Z26 14:22 Craigentinny T.&R.S.M.D  Aberdeen Clayhills Car.M.D

73970 was formerly 73103 delivered as 'JB' E6009 in October 1965.

73966 worked south before NewYear, but the weather was dark and dismal. On 2nd January, 73967 0Z26 14:22 Craigentinny - Aberdeen Clayhills is seen passing Aberdour at 15:55. after a spell in the loop at Dalmeny.

Caledonian Sleeper Loco Movements, Aberdour, Christmas 2023

 

66716 LOCOMOTIVE AND CARRIAGE INSTITUTION CENTENARY 1911 - 2011 + 73966 0B16 09:46 Aberdeen Clayhills Car.M.D - Craigentinny T.&R.S.M.D, 23rd December.


73966 on the rear. Originally D6005, it was new in  July 1962 from Eastleigh Carriage Works, later 73005/


66771 Amanda + 73969 0B25 16:30 Inverness - Craigentinny T.&R.S.M.D, 24th December.


73969 (formerly 73105) on the rear.

66771 + 73969 0H16 11:35 Craigentinny T.&R.S.M.D - Inverness, 27th December. This working reversed at Kirkcaldy, and returned to Craigentinny, when a decision was made to stop all workings north of Perth and Dundee, under the effects of Storm Gerrit.

73969 on the rear. The pair ran to Inverness the following day, via Dunblane, leaving before sunrise.

Eastern Scotland Miscellany, June 2023

 

66746 with 'Royal Scotsman' 1H79 13:45 Edinburgh - Keith, Hillend, 5th June.

Passing Aberdour at 04:49 on 8th June, 37403 Isle of Mull was on its second demo for GBRf on the sleeper, 1A25 Edinburgh to Aberdeen. This is now expected to be a monthly refresher, to allow 37403 to cover when the class 73/9 fleet is poorly.

73966 was only working as a translator, with 37403 providing the ETH throughout.

The cement empties now seem to only return in their later path these days, 6B36 19:25 Craiginches Aberdeen C.Ra - Oxwellmains Lafarge Colas, 70817 seen passing Aberdour at 22:09 on 14th June.

803001 of Lumo at Edinburgh, 19th June.

397008 was awaiting departure as 1M89 14:12 Edinburgh - Manchester Airport.


802214 would shortly depart as 9N14 14:10 Edinburgh - Newcastle. The rumour is that these units may go to LNER to release the Class 91 + Mk 4 sets.


43274 leads the NMT towards Aberdour, 19th June.

43290 on the rear. Both power cars were LNER regulars here until 2019.

66743 1H89 13:45 Edinburgh - Boat Of Garten, approaching Dalgety Bay, 21st June.

Edinburgh Waverley, 12th July 2022

Just a passing by, before a commitment in Edinburgh. 

801217 and 801221 on the stops at new platforms 5 and 6 at Waverley.

A view of the same pair of trains from the footbridge.

92032 was laying over between sleeper workings.

Caledonian Sleeper 73s pass Aberdour, 2nd January 2022

 

800105 1W11 10:00 Kings Cross - Aberdeen.


73969 + 73971 with late running 0Z25 14:41 Craigentinny - Aberdeen Clayhills.

73969 was 73105, 73971 was 73207.