Some highlights of Scotland in July 1985 for you:
Wed 03/07/85
The Haymarket DMU fleet was collapsing in the heat, and maybe the fitters were on a work-to-rule as well. Either way, it meant there were cancellations and loco-hauled substitutions occurring. The regular turn was the 17:05 Edinburgh – Cardenden, using the air-con Mk 2 stock off the incoming portion from Carstairs that had originated at Poole. Tonight mega-rare 26002 is allocated, and duly performs. It’s a very sickly little rat, and lost 25 minutes to Cardenden. Off it tottered to Thornton to run round. A number of 26 bashers arrived on the next unit, including one top man for whom 26002 was his last of the class for haulage. Alas (for him) Thornton turned out 26039 for the return trip!
Back at Edinburgh, 26039 was turned straight round for the 19:45 to Cowdenbeath, as there were still no DMUs available. A quick trip to Inverkeithing with 26039, returning with 27052 on a Dundee stopper. Finally, a return Lincoln to Arbroath Adex produced required 37097. Had that through to Arbroath, having first cleared it with the guard that I could come back with him on the ECS. Did that to Perth for 47526 on the Inverness – Queen Street overnight.
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Sat 06/07/85
Various NB locos out on the Dundee circuit today. I did 27023 15:20 Edinburgh – Kirkcaldy for 47193 back. The main attraction was 37062 on 17:12 Edinburgh – Newcastle stopper. I took this to Berwick upon Tweed to pick up the corresponding northbound service, 17:18 Newcastle – Edinburgh, for which I had no gen. 45120 was the power – the only time I had a 45/1 into Edinburgh. Then the 15:20 Scarborough – Glasgow was running 2 hours late, due to two loco failures on the outward journey, and by coincidence the 20:30 Queen Street – Edinburgh had failed, trapping the 21:00 behind it. So there was a gap in the E&G service into which the Scarborough train duly slotted. 27054 22:00 Edinburgh – Queen Street
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Sun 07/07/85
37042 on an Ayr – Caersws return Adex. Alighted at Carlisle.
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Mon 08/07/85
37216 08:40 Carlisle – Glasgow Central via Dumfries.
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Wed 10/07/85
37403 11:05 Glasgow Queen Street – Perth, my first ever run with a 37/4. Impressive. On arrival at Perth this was booked to go ECS back to Cowlairs. However the 11:05 Aberdeen – Glasgow class 47 failed at Arbroath, so the ECS ran as a passenger train in its path. 6 minutes late start, 1 early arrival at Queen Street on class 47 timings. My first taste of 37/4s was most impressive.
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Thu 11/07/85
37401 08:20 Glasgow Queen Street – Oban, 13:00 Oban – Glasgow Queen Street. The first ever 37/4 to Oban. Driver was instructed by the technical rider to open the power handle wide at the platform ramp and not to attempt to control the inevitable wheelspin in Queen Street tunnel as the loco was supposed to do it automatically. The result was spectacular, but not very good, as the wheelslip protection needed some fine tuning (to be polite about it). Once safely back from Oban, it was DMU to Largs for 37265 on a Largs – Nelson return Adex. This worked to Polmadie, where 85011 took over for the run to Carlisle where I alighted. 87005 back north.
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Fri 12/07/85 – Sat 13/07/85
Friday night and the West Highland Line collapses into chaos, with the Fort William – Euston sleepers failing on the Up and the 18:20 Queen Street – Oban failing on the Down pretty much simultaneously. Freight services were dumped to one side and their locos purloined to rescue the mess. I took note and plotted my moves, but first some new track and a required loco: 27002 + 27030 23:30 Glasgow Central – Edinburgh Waverley via Rutherglen, Whifflet, Grahamston. This was a relief service running to Kings Cross instead of Euston because of engineering work at Crewe. By the time this had staggered into Edinburgh I didn’t have long to wait for 26046 on the 04:30 Edinburgh – Queen Street. Now to pick up those required freight 37s which had rescued the West Highland Line last night:
37020 05:50 Glasgow Queen Street – Crianlarich
37104 09:10 Crianlarich – Glasgow Queen Street
My moves overlapped with xotGD on 37020, but he alighted at Dumbarton to head south to cover the Blackpool – Stranraer (37071, which I picked up later). The two pairs of 37s he had out of Queen Street later that day were to get locos onto the WHL to rescue the stranded freights.
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Sun 14/07/85
37071 14:05 Glasgow Central – Carlisle via G&SW.
47117 16:15 Carlisle – Beattock, hauling 87030 dead (OLE power off). Then 87030 pan up and 47117 detached at Beattock, forward unassisted to Glasgow Central.
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Mon 15/07/85
26043 15:45 Glasgow Central – Carlisle via G&SW.
37245 20:43 Carlisle – Shields Jn via Beattock. Return Adex, load 9. At Shields Jn 37146 was attached to the other end, and led the way via High Street Jn to the then terminus at Airdrie, with 37245 on rear. By arrangement with the crew, we stayed on board the returning ECS, and made an unofficial stop at Coatbridge Sunnyside for us to alight. We hoofed it quickly to Coatbridge Central for the up Inverness – Euston with a 47 as the only sensible way out.
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Thu 18/07/85
37200 15:45 Glasgow Central – Annan, 26043 18:00 Annan – Glasgow Central.
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Fri 19/07/85
37103 15:45 Glasgow Central – Annan, 25089 18:00 Annan – Glasgow Central.
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Sun 21/07/85
37017 15:05 Glasgow Central – Stranraer, and 18:30 return.
A fair selection of new track, new locos, and a few different classes involved. Happy days!