Scout Green, 9th May 2026

 

88008 Ariadne 4S43 06:40 Daventry Drs (Tesco) - Coatbridge (Drs).


There is a rumour that some of the Class 88s will be returned from lease by DRS - the 10 year point is in 2027.

397009 1S40 09:04 Manchester Airport - Carlisle.

390118 1M10 09:19 Glasgow Central - London Euston.

Trans Pennine Nova 3 trains for Chiltern, Eastleigh, 12th & 13th August 2025

The Nova 3 trains, supplied by CAF as Mk5a coaches, built in 2017-18, with Class 68 push-pull power, were underutilised at Trans Pennine, and entered storage after completing service in December 2023. After extended negotiation with DfT and lessor Beacon, they are now being prepared for work with Chiltern, to replace Mk3 stock, which would otherwise be in need of extensive corrosion repairs. Work on the trains is based at Arriva in Eastleigh T&RSMD, but fresh vinyls are to be applied at Arlington Fleet Services in Eastleigh Works.

After news was released on 5th August, the trains have started to arrive at Eastleigh.

A third set may arrive on Friday 15th, 5Q86 11:31 Longsight T.M.D. (D) - Eastleigh Trsmd.

Tuesday 12th August

68032 + TP05 + TP02 + 68029
5Q86 12:34 Long Marston - Eastleigh Trsmd

68032 arriving at Eastleigh. Image by Ian Knight.


68029 at the rear. Image by Ian Knight.

Wednesday 13th August

Initially expected to be a transfer of the whole formation to the Works, it came as 68029 + TP02.
68029 5Q86 14:30 Eastleigh Trsmd - Eastleigh Arlington (Zg).

68029 approaching platform 2.


Driving Open Brake Standard 12814, built as spare, but in TP02 since March 2021.

Detail of the connections between Mk5a coach and Class 68 locomotive.

Moving onwards into the Works.

Edinburgh, 13th December 2023

 

397001 1M85 10:11 Edinburgh - Carlisle (terminated short, rather than Manchester Airport.)


92020 BILLY STIRLING, between sleeper duties. Named at the time of COP26 in 2021.


Lumo 803002 arriving with 1S91 05:48 Kings Cross - Edinburgh. Revised colours with silver highlights above the lights, and a Lumo flash between them, applied in mid-November 2023.


801202 arriving with 1S03 08:56 Newcastle - Edinburgh.

43128 has been the Holy Grail for Scottish spotters, since it has never worked a train since delivery to ScotRail, and was often hidden inside. Noted when passing Haymarket shed, I believe completing my ScotRail HST power cars.

43031 on Haymarket shed, with Murrayfield Stadium in the background.

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.