Back in the day...

[xotGD]

Hi All,

Rather than continuing to hijack other people's threads with my reminiscences of bashing in the 80s, I'm starting my own.

So, as promised, my 1985 Freedom of Scotland is detailed below. Just to set the scene: 4 teenagers, 7 overnights in row, poor food and no showers. We set of from Newcastle Central on the last unit of the day to Carlisle on 7th July. After a few hours festering on Citadel the action began - any gaps are due to taking a unit, which I don't record:

Day 1:
87002 Carlisle - Mossend Yard 1S07
37026 Mossend Yard - Cowlairs Jn 1S07
37088 Cowlairs Jn - Glasgow QS 1S07
37026 Glasgow QS - Corrour 1S07
37263 Corrour - Dumbarton C 1T18
37108 Dumbarton C - Crianlarich 1Y13
37192 Crianlarich - Glasgow QS 1T28
37175 Glasgow QS - Dumbarton C 1Y23
37026 Dumbarton C - Glasgow QS 1T34
37049 Glasgow QS - Arrochar & Tarbet 1Y17
37108 Arrochar & Tarbet - Glasgow QS 1T44
47712 Glasgow QS - Haymarket 1O62
47258 Inverkeithing - Waverley 2J38
47463 Waverley - Inverness 1H01

A great start. 7 syphons up and down the West Highland. Pity that 2J38 didn't produce anything bigger. Then an attempt to sleep on the overnight up north. TBC...

 

[Mag_seven]

Great start - looking forward to the rest. The 80's was very much my "era" as well.

 

[xotGD]

Day 2:

37264 Inverness - Dingwall 2H61
37261 Dingwall - Achnasheen 2H81
37114 Achnasheen - Dingwall 2H80
37017 Dingwall - Inverness 2H70
47018 Inverness - Elgin 1A48
26038 + 26040 Elgin - Inverness 1H27
47209 Inverness - Aberdeen 1A52
47209 Aberdeen - Inverness 1H35
47018 Inverness - Keith 1A60
47118 Keith - Inverness 1H37
47463 Inverness - Perth 1T04

The day started really well, and the pair of Type 2s was a nice bonus. Taking the duff to Aberdeen turned out badly - I thought the return would be a 27 (or pair) rather than the same duff. Meanwhile my mates were more sensible and took a 37 to Kyle & back!

 

[xotGD]

Day 3:

47460 + 47463 Perth - Stirling 1T04
47460 Stirling - Glasgow QS 1T04
37033 Glasgow QS - Fort William 1S07
5407 Fort William - Mallaig
5407 Mallaig - Fort William
37012 Fort William - Locheilside 2Y55
37263 Locheilside - Fort William 1M16
20097 Fort William - Fort William 1M16
37263 Fort William - Dumbarton C 1M16
37108 + 37263 Dumbarton C - Glasgow QS 1M16
47614 Glasgow QS - Perth 1L31

So a bit of kettle action as well as some good long runs behind 37s. Oh, and the 20: this shunted the sleeper portion from one platform at Fort William to join on to the stock that had just arrived from Mallaig in the other. We made a quick dash to get it in the book. I can't remember why 108 was added at Dumbarton, or if this was a regular thing.

 

[xotGD]

Day 4:

47604 Perth - Inverness 1H01
37264 Inverness - Dingwall 2H61
37261 Dingwall - Achnasheen 2H81
37260 Achnasheen - Dingwall 2H80
26038 + 26040 Dingwall - Inverness 2H70
47604 Inverness - Stirling 1M42
47711 Stirling - Glasgow QS 1T24
37175 Glasgow QS - Dumbarton C 1Y23
37178 Dumbarton C - Glasgow QS 1T34
37026 Glasgow QS - Garelochhead
37111 Garelochhead - Glasgow QS 1T44
47715 Glasgow QS - Haymarket 1O62
27052 Haymarket - Waverley 2J38
47543 Waverley - Carstairs 1C77

A bit of deja vu first thing in the morning, and then we decided that there were probably richer pickings back on the West Highland. And 2J38 was a bit more interesting than on Day 1. A different overnight plan too...

 

[xotGD]

Day 5:

85029 Carstairs - Carlisle 1V62
47460 Carlisle - Ayr 1S08
20039 + 47460 Ayr - Stranraer 1S08
20039 + 47157 Stranraer - Ayr 1A02
47157 Stranraer - Glasgow C 1A02
37011 Glasgow QS - Crianlarich 1Y13
37111 Crianlarich - Glasgow QS 1T28
37043 Glasgow QS - Dumbarton C 1Y23
47713 Glasgow QS - Haymarket 1O56
47006 Waverley - Inverkeithing 2J35
47004 Inverkeithing - Waverley 2J26
47716 Waverley - Haymarket 1C75
47543 Haymarket - Waverley 1B29
47001 Waverley - Carstairs 1C76

We knew that the Stranraer overnight was booked to be piloted by a 20 from Ayr - hence the move. Getting it again on the return was a bonus. Just a pity all those fill in turns around Edinburgh didn't produce anything better.

 

[xotGD]

Day 6:

86241 Carstairs - Carlisle 1V60
87009 Carlisle - Mossend Yard 1S07
37020 Mossend Yard - Cowlairs Jn 1S07
37011 Cowlairs Jn - Glasgow QS 1S07
37020 Glasgow QS - Dumbarton C 1S07
86402 Glasgow C - Carlisle 1M94
37071 Carlisle - Ayr 1S91
47614 Ayr - Glasgow C 1A42
37049 + 37188 Glasgow QS - Dumbarton C 1Y23
37022 + 37191 Glasgow QS - Dumbarton C 1Y17
37190 Dumbarton C - Glasgow QS 1T34
47713 Glasgow QS - Haymarket 1O54
47462 Haymarket - Inverkeithing 1A69
47302 Inverkeithing - Kirkcaldy 2J33
27008 Kirkcaldy - Aberdour 2J26
47016 Aberdour - Kirkcaldy 2J35
47198 Kirkcaldy - Inverkeithing 2J38
47624 Inverkeithing - Waverley 1C77
47519 Waverley - Carstairs 1C77

Covering the Blackpool - Stranraer was the priority of the morning, and it came up trumps with 071. The two pairs thrashing up the tunnel out of Queen Street were very entertaining.

 

[xotGD]

Day 7:

47475 Carstairs - Carlisle 1V62
47475 Carlisle - Carstairs 1S25
47531 Carstairs - Glasgow C. 1S39
47531 Glasgow C. - Dumfries 1M35
47546 Dumfries - Carlisle 1O21

A bit of an anticlimax, but it was now time to head home - via a replacement bus service to Brampton. Knackered, rather unfresh and in need of a decent meal, but an excellent week.

I hope people enjoy reading this journey into the past. If so, a few more may follow....

 

[87electric]

I'm enjoying your nostalgia posting and look forward to any more that you post. I wish I had been more comprehensive in my bashing notes between 1978/1982.

 

[xotGD]

I'm enjoying your nostalgia posting and look forward to any more that you post. I wish I had been more comprehensive in my bashing notes between 1978/1982.

Thanks! I almost threw away my moves book a few years ago when I had lost interest but my wife thankfully persuaded me not to.

 

[fishquinn]

Definitely enjoying the read here, just seeing how much better it was back in the day compared to now.

 

[Mag_seven]

!I almost threw away my moves book a few years ago when I had lost interest but my wife thankfully persuaded me not to.

Unfortunately I threw all mine away thinking at the time I would never look at them again. I'm really regretting that decision now.

 

[Cowley]

Sent a shiver down my spine reading that little lot.
Some proper boiler fitted stuff still working.
Why was the Stranraer overnight turn booked to be piloted by a class 20 back then though?
I think I remember reading about that somewhere.

 

[47403]

Unfortunately I threw all mine away thinking at the time I would never look at them again. I'm really regretting that decision now.

Try having them put in a brazier and destroyed by a spiteful ex. That fairly stings a bit too.

Great read by the way. Mr xot. I remember reading about the 20s too, an old friend of mine told me hed had a pair of 20s from Ayr to Carlisle. Not sure if it was a Glasgow Carlisle turn or a Stranraer Euston but he took great happiness in telling me, one of your beloved duffs went pop. I had no reason to doubt him but he still showed me the photo he'd taken.
Brings back memories, taking 37s out of Queen St to Dumbarton Central and Arrochar.

 

[Mag_seven]

Try having them put in a brazier and destroyed by a spiteful ex

Hell hath no fury.

 

[47403]

Hell hath no fury.

No she was just being a cow.

 

[xotGD]

Sent a shiver down my spine reading that little lot.
Some proper boiler fitted stuff still working.
Why was the Stranraer overnight turn booked to be piloted by a class 20 back then though?
I think I remember reading about that somewhere.

The 20 was attached at Ayr as the hills between there and Stranraer were deemed to be too much for a 47 on whatever load the sleeper was. I guess it piloted the Glasgow service back to Ayr to save a path for a light engine working.

 

[Cowley]

The 20 was attached at Ayr as the hills between there and Stranraer were deemed to be too much for a 47 on whatever load the sleeper was. I guess it piloted the Glasgow service back to Ayr to save a path for a light engine working.

Ah that’s interesting. Thanks

 

[NorthWestRover]

I really do need to find my books from 1980-84. I can't really remember what I did on my Freedom of Scotland - certainly 26s, 27s, 37s. I think I got a 40 from Dundee to Edinburgh too.

 

[Cowley]

I really do need to find my books from 1980-84. I can't really remember what I did on my Freedom of Scotland - certainly 26s, 27s, 37s. I think I got a 40 from Dundee to Edinburgh too.

Please do. We love this kind of stuff.

 

[xotGD]

I really do need to find my books from 1980-84. I can't really remember what I did on my Freedom of Scotland - certainly 26s, 27s, 37s. I think I got a 40 from Dundee to Edinburgh too.

A 40 featured in my 1983 Freedom of Scotland - I'll post that up next when I get the chance...

 

[AJM580]

Some great stuff there. Thankfully I still have all my moves from 1981 - 2018 safely printed out as well as all the associated spotting notes. Frequently dip into them and relive the 1980s with moves in East Anglia and beyond

 

[NorthWestRover]

Most of my moves were North Wales Coast (40s), other bits and pieces around the North West, a few trips down South for Hoovers, random other days/weeks.

 

[47403]

Mr xot, did you not get 40013 on the 14.20 Newcastle-Liverpool Trans Pennine turn that day. 11.8.84 here's Mark Slaters excellent shot of it, leaving Man Vic I was on this from Newcastle to York. It was absolutely rammed, I looked the length of the train, as we headed over the King Eddie Bridge and there was a head out of almost every window. Was a good day that, finished the day with a pair of 31s on the Paignton turn.

 

[03_179]

xotGD nice posts.

Roy B has been sending me his Blast From The Pasts for my blog which has gone down well.

Such a shame we don't have the variety of traction we once had ...

 

[xotGD]

Mr xot, did you not get 40013 on the 14.20 Newcastle-Liverpool Trans Pennine turn that day. 11.8.84 here's Mark Slaters excellent shot of it, leaving Man Vic I was on this from Newcastle to York. It was absolutely rammed, I looked the length of the train, as we headed over the King Eddie Bridge and there was a head out of almost every window. Was a good day that, finished the day with a pair of 31s on the Paignton turn.View attachment 63800

My moves that day:

37289 Sunderland - Newcastle 1N35
40013 Newcastle - Durham 1M76
37305 Durham - Newcastle 1N13

Probably did that for the cost of a Transfare bus ticket!

 

[Cowley]

Amazing stuff. As 03_179 said it’s such a shame that it’s (nearly) all gone.
At least we experienced some of it though.

 

[47403]

My moves that day:

37289 Sunderland - Newcastle 1N35
40013 Newcastle - Durham 1M76
37305 Durham - Newcastle 1N13

Probably did that for the cost of a Transfare bus ticket!

I was on all of them too, i remember 37289 just erupting out of Sunderland Station. I've mentioned on here elsewhere, the blue hue of diesel in the coaches and nigh on gassing those left on the platform. An horrendous station but put a decent loco growling its guts out of it. Total hellfire!!!! Driver played to his audience that day.
I've mentioned it a lot on here too, the loco hauled turns when the 143s went pop was a free for all, bashing wise. 37515 was a very notable 37 that rocked up.

 

[xotGD]

So, time to head further back in time to my first Freedom of Scotland in July 1983. Just 2 of us on the trip that time, and I was responsible for planning the 'moves'.

I won't list everything this time, just a few highlights and snapshots:

- Plenty of 37 action on the West Highland and Far North: 022 to Mallaig, 191 to Oban, 260 to Wick, 035 to Thurso, etc.
- 26041 to Kyle of Lochalsh (Plus a quick ferry move to Skye and back)
- 3 pairs of 26 plus a 26/27 combo on the Inverness - Aberdeen line
- 27023 to Stranraer
- Plenty of 27s on Fife local turns out of Edinburgh
- 40170 in tandem with 47460 between Perth and Stirling on the internal overnight
- 40001 Carlisle to Wetheral on a dmu substitution (stretching the validity of the ticket slightly!)

and the final move before heading home was 47709 from Glasgow Central to Edinburgh via Shotts.

I think I survived on jam sandwiches all week. Young and daft!

 

[Cowley]

I’d survive on dog s#*t sandwiches to spend a week doing that lot!