Late Afternoon at Perth, 3rd October 2026

 

43026 and set HA21 1T50 15:35 Aberdeen - Glasgow Queen Street. This power car was new from BREL Crewe in October 1976, so is now 50 years old.

43148 was on the rear of the set.


43149 with set HA06 1A51 16:38 Glasgow Queen Street - Aberdeen, a further working of a train set seen earlier in the day.

A closer view of 43149.

800112 approaching with 1S12 10:30 Kings Cross - Inverness.

The same set under the overall roof. A large part of this was removed in the 1960s, in particular on the west side - I did see that scene before the roof was removed. Now it seems that Network Rail would like to remove it, to expose the 1848 building by Sir William Tite, which lies behind the train, which stands where the horse drawn carriages would then approach the station, until extension was made in 1885.

66428 Carlisle Eden Mind arrives with 4D47 13:37 Inverness - Coatbridge.

66428 coasts to a timetabled stop of about 30 minutes in platform 4.

A morning hour at Perth, 3rd October 2026

An opportunity to catch-up on ScotRail Inter7City HST services, before attendingt the 5th Scottish Railway History Conference at a nearby venue.

43134 Gordon Aikman arrives with 1T18 07:24 Aberdeen - Glasgow Queen Street.

Moments later, 43134 is further rounding the curve of the platform 1 line from Dundee.

The carriage set was HA06, the set numbers being keyed by the TGFB coach, in this case 40606. This was formerly TF 41104, built at BREL Derby in 1977-78 to Lot 30896, which in the 1980s ran in East Coast Set 24.

43149 on the rear of this train.

43176 with set HA24 1A35 08:41 Glasgow Queen Street - Aberdeen, running into platform 2.

43126 on the rear, as the train heads towards the site of Princes St station, and then the bridge over the Tay.

800103, which was repaired at Eastleigh in May 2026, arrives with 1E16 07:55 Inverness - Kings Cross.

43150 and set HA25, which was reformed in April 2026, with 1H09 08:37 Edinburgh - Inverness, seen approaching the St Leonard's Bridge.

43132 on the rear of this train.

800111 released from Eastleigh Works, 22nd July 2026

LNER Azuma 800111 entered Eastleigh Works on 20th May, and has received the full crack repair programme, noticeable above the yaw dampers. 

5X80 12:21 Eastleigh Works Gbrf - Reading.

800111, lead by PDTA 811111.

A closer view of 800111 as it ran to a stop in platform 2, showing the repair work above the first yaw damper. There is a missing unit number, which should be close to the yaw damper mount, about below the LNER logo.

MS coach 815111.

Detail of the repair above the yaw damper on PDTRBF 819111.


Leaving the station, heading for Allbrook and Shawford, and a return to LNER service on the East Coast Main Line.

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.
 

Edinburgh, 16th January 2025

 

800108 1W02 07:08 Leeds -Aberdeen.


800113 arrives with 1E11 07:52 Aberdeen - Kings Cross.


800113 departs into the Calton Hill tunnels.


801220 is prepared for 1E12 11:00 Edinburgh - Kings Cross.


Another view of 801220 with Lumo 803001 to depart later as 1E84 11:24 Edinburgh - Kings Cross.


801228 CENTURY 1E17 13:30 Edinburgh - Kings Cross.


43031 HA10 (+43003) had arrived with 1B78 11:01 Aberdeen - Edinburgh, leaving as 5B24 13:41 Edinburgh - Haymarket Depot, later working1A87 15:30 Edinburgh - Aberdeen

43031 in platform 16, ready to work 1H17 13:32 Edinburgh - Inverness.

43152 at the other end of this train, with 40611 of set HA11.

Another view of 43031 as the Inter7City working departs.

LNER Azumas in Fife, December 2024

Murky skies or long shadows as the Solstice passed. 

800107 1W02 07:08 Leeds - Aberdeen, passing Aberdour, 19th December.

Decorated with poppies and THANK YOU, 800111 1E15 09:50 Aberdeen - Kings Cross, Aberdour, 19th December 2024.

First of class, and effectively 10 years old, 800101 with  1W11 10:00 Kings Cross - Aberdeen, Dalgety, 20th December.

800110 1W02 07:08 Leeds - Aberdeen, at Dalgety, 23rd December.

800108 1E15 0952 Aberdeen - Kings Cross, Aberdour, 24th December.

800102 1E15 09:52 Aberdeen - Kings Cross, passing through Dalgety Bay, 27th December.

A wave from the driver of 800102 1E11 07:52 Aberdeen - Kings Cross, running slowly behind a late stopping train, Aberdour 30th December. The LNER drivers on these turns are based in Newcastle.

To Edinburgh, 21st August 2024

 

43144 passes through Dalgety Bay leading 1A79 09:30 Edinburgh - Aberdeen, with 43163 at rear.


158719 stopping at Dalgety Bay 2K58 09:15 Leven - Edinburgh, specially finished in a Levenmouth scheme.

43012 had arrived with 1B20 06:38 Inverness - Edinburgh to later work  1A81 11:30 Edinburgh - Aberdeen.


385007 ready to work 2Y49 10:25 Edinburgh - Glasgow Central

801225 positioned to work 1E12 11:00 Edinburgh - Kings Cross.

801225 bears the name ELEANOR as a marketing play upon LNER.

43037 arriving on the rear of 1B74 09:05 Aberdeen - Edinburgh