pitdiver
Member
At the height of Motorail services what was the longest service in Great Britain and the longest service in continental Europe
In 1980 there was a Kensington Olympia to Inverness motorail.In the UK, the only Inverness service I recall was to York, with Stirling being the main terminal for non-London routes as already mentioned.
Should have remembered!There were Motorail vans on the Euston to Inverness sleeper when I used it in 1985.
very nice to see those extracts!I’ve got a rather wonderful brochure from 1964 entitled British Railways Car Carrying Services which must have been published just before the Motorail branding and even the BR double arrow symbol. I attach photos of a few pages of which one shows the routes……
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Yes, it ran in the late 1970s, supposedly to relieve the A9 road which was under (partial) reconstruction. One a day, northbound late morning, southbound late afternoon, attached to a Glasgow-Inverness passenger service. Recall taking it as a passenger southbound in a September 1977 afternoon, just two cars and a number of empty carflats, which I think was pretty much the norm.Just glancing in the opposite direction, wasn't there a day service from Stirling to Inverness?
I traveled on the Stirling- Newton Abbot service in 1972.There was a Brockenhurst-Stirling, which combined with a portion from somewhere else, possibly Dover. There was also a Stirling-Newton Abbot.
That's a lovely booklet, I have a Motorail leaflet from I think the early 70s, but not as detailed as this.I’ve got a rather wonderful brochure from 1964 entitled British Railways Car Carrying Services which must have been published just before the Motorail branding and even the BR double arrow symbol. I attach photos of a few pages of which one shows the routes……
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As Taunton alludes to, the morning (0910 by the late-70s) Glasgow-Inverness had motorail vehicles conveyed from Stirling, I think until 1980.Just glancing in the opposite direction, wasn't there a day service from Stirling to Inverness?
I traveled on the Stirling- Newton Abbot service in 1972.
I recall having an evening meal on board the train at Stirling before departure and next morning breakfast somewhere en route around the outskirts of Birmingham.
Nice experience.
There was a Brockenhurst-Stirling, which combined with a portion from somewhere else, possibly Dover. There was also a Stirling-Newton Abbot.
Must have been running late, we definitely didn’t get up at that time!By 1980 it ran via the North & West, rather than Birmingham. Presumably it changed to and from electric haulage at Crewe.
Either you had an early breakfast or the train was running late: I reckon that it should have passed Birmingham around 05.30.
During the late 80s there was a standard sleeper from Bournemouth using Mark 3 stock. Don’t know when the Brockenhurst Motorail finishedI think the service from Brockenhurst was the last train to use sleeper carriages on the Southern Region
I think the service from Brockenhurst was the last train to use sleeper carriages on the Southern Region
I think at one time might have been a motorail train to Fishguard, but not sure where it ran to. (EDIT it was Kensington Olympia)
During the late 80s there was a standard sleeper from Bournemouth using Mark 3 stock. Don’t know when the Brockenhurst Motorail finished
1981. Brockenhurst was a portion of a train to/from Dover.Don’t know when the Brockenhurst Motorail finished
In 1972, I recall travelling from Newton-le-Willows to Inverness by a Motorail service, in a sleeper carriage.In the UK, the only Inverness service I recall was to York, with Stirling being the main terminal for non-London routes as already mentioned.
I traveled on the Stirling- Newton Abbot service in 1972.
I recall having an evening meal on board the train at Stirling before departure and next morning breakfast somewhere en route around the outskirts of Birmingham.
Nice experience.
Inverness via Stirling to Ely/ Dover/ Brockenhurst/ Bristol/ Newton Abbot- a kind of Multiple Coast Unexpress with multiple 'portions'?In 1972, I recall travelling from Newton-le-Willows to Inverness by a Motorail service, in a sleeper carriage.
Initially Stirling to Inverness was introduced as Stirling (and Perth) to inverness and return Motorail service with limited second class accommodation (one BSO for non motorail passengers (39 seats)). Fairly soon (next timetable change?) it transformed into a morning Glasgow to Inverness and early afternoon (14.xx) Inverness to Glasgow additionals filling gaps in the regular timetable and conveying carflats from/to StirlingYes, it ran in the late 1970s, supposedly to relieve the A9 road which was under (partial) reconstruction. One a day, northbound late morning, southbound late afternoon, attached to a Glasgow-Inverness passenger service. Recall taking it as a passenger southbound in a September 1977 afternoon, just two cars and a number of empty carflats, which I think was pretty much the norm.
Wonderful extracts! IIRC Motorail services were still known as Car-Carriers within Travellers-Fare (who provided the restaurant car services) in the very late 1970s.I’ve got a rather wonderful brochure from 1964 entitled British Railways Car Carrying Services which must have been published just before the Motorail branding and even the BR double arrow symbol. I attach photos of a few pages of which one shows the routes……
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Two separate Anglo-Scottish trains from Stirling. Ely had completely passed me by, was it detached from an East Coast service at Peterborough?Inverness via Stirling to Ely/ Dover/ Brockenhurst/ Bristol/ Newton Abbot- a kind of Multiple Coast Unexpress with multiple 'portions'?