Scotland - April 2012
April 2012 provided a week long visit to Scotland using the ‘Freedom of Scotland Rover’ to get around. Although the week was based around rail travel, to make the most of the ticket there were opportunities to take photographs along the way. Our base for the week was Haymarket which gave us the opportunity to visit some outposts in the Scottish Highlands such as Aberdeen, Inverness, and Fort William without having to overnight at another location.
Our route up was with First Great Western to London Paddington before traveling First Class with East Coast from Kings Cross to Edinburgh. The weather during the week wasn’t the best, but with snow still evident (and falling) in the highlands the scenery was stunning. A further surprise was the Glasgow suburbs which proved to be an real eye opener with some superb sights to be witnessed.
Due to the ongoing construction work for the Edinburgh Tram system Edinburgh Station was one large building site which made any photography at this station pretty much impossible. However once these works are complete I’m sure the station will look stunning once more.
Our route up was with First Great Western to London Paddington before traveling First Class with East Coast from Kings Cross to Edinburgh. The weather during the week wasn’t the best, but with snow still evident (and falling) in the highlands the scenery was stunning. A further surprise was the Glasgow suburbs which proved to be an real eye opener with some superb sights to be witnessed.
Due to the ongoing construction work for the Edinburgh Tram system Edinburgh Station was one large building site which made any photography at this station pretty much impossible. However once these works are complete I’m sure the station will look stunning once more.
Our journey up on the 16th April was via London Kings Cross. The new Entrance and Roof at Kings Cross station looks absolutely stunning and has totally transformed the station to bring it up to date with its modern cousin St Pancras.
Former Wessex Trains Class 158's have settled into their new home in Scotland. 158871 departs Haymarket on the 16th April.
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Class 67's from DB Schneker currently operate evening peak services from Edinbrugh via the Fife Circle. On the 16th April 67017 calls at Haymarket with the 2G13 17:08 Edinburgh - Edinburgh via Glenrothes
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Following shortly behind 67017, was 67016 working he 2L61 17:21 Edinburgh - Cardenden, seen at Haymarket.
Slightly off the route for an East Midlands HST set, but on the 17th April 43318 arrives into Stirling with the 1E13 07:58 Inverness - Kings Cross service, formed of East Coast Powercars 43318 & 43206 between a former set of EMT HST trailers.
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Class 170 No.170403 was our traction from Stirling to Inverness. Seen here at Dunkeld on the 17th April where the unit arrived early and had to wait for another unit to come down off the single line section.
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170412 arrives into Dunkled on the 17th April with the 1B52 09:41 Inverness - Edinburgh passing 170403.
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17th April 2012, 170403 is seen lined up with 158721 and 158715. The Class 158s would later head out to Wick and Kyle of Lochalsh.
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Having arrived with the previous nights Caladonian Sleeper service 67011 is seen stabled at Inverness.
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17th April 2012, 158708 arrives into Inverness.
43239 & 43307 stand at Aberdeen Station ready to form the 1E30 18:16 Aberdeen - Leeds where it would arrive back into Leeds at 00:50!
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18th April 2012. At 04:30 in the morning 67007 stands under the scaffold at Edinburgh Station with the Inverness portion of the Caladonian Sleeper from London.
18th April 2012, 67009 1Y11 04:50 Edinburgh - Fort William.
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18th April 2012, 67009 1Y11 04:50 Edinburgh - Fort William.
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18th April 2012, 67009 1Y11 04:50 Edinburgh - Fort William.
The 1Y11 Sleeper service from Edinburgh passes GBRF Class 66 NO.66735 at Tulloch while working the 6E45 08:07 Fort William - North Blyth cement tanks.
After arriving into Fort William 67009 shunts stock into the adjacent platform for servicing before forming the evening service back to Edinburgh.
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18th April 2012, 156450 arrives for the 11:40 service from Oban heading to Glasgow Queen Street.
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18th April 2012, having travelled back down from the Highlands on 150450 we jumped off at Dalmuir for a trip around the Glasgow Suburbs.Alstom 334 No.334014 arrives into Dalmuir with a service to Airdire.
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18th April 2012, 156437 and 390053 pass at the entrance to Glasgow Queen Street.
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Thought to be the first time that the newly re-branded DB Management Train has operated. 82146 leads 67029 into Glasgow Central with a 1Z06 14:15 Millerhill Yard - Mossend via Glasgow Central.
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18th April 2012, 67029 prepares to leave Glasgow Central and head for Mossend Yard with the DB Management Train in tow.
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In pouring rain on the 10th April 334009 prepares to depart Haymarket Station heading to Edinburgh.
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19th April 2012, 318262 arrives into Springburn Station ready to form a service train to Dalmuir.
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320320 stands at Balloch Station having formed the 10:57 from Airdire to Balloch.
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318365 & 261 team up to operate the 13:23 Balloch - Airdrie service, seen in a brief patch of light at Balloch.
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19th April 2012, 318262 rolls into Partick Station having just left the Glasgow Low Level lines.
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On the 19th April 2012, the new order prepares to depart Gourock with a service train to Glasgow Central.
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Heritage Traction arrives into Gourock Station on the 19th April in the shape of 314214 which formed the 2G60 15:35 Gourock - Glasgow Central service.
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380112 rolls into Port Glasgow with a service train to Glasgow Central.
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Standing under the impressive canopy of Wemyss Bay, 380103 prepares to leave with the 1W20 16:45 to Glasgow Central.
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SPT liveried 170474 arrives into Haymarket with a service to Edinburgh on the 21st April 2012.
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First Scotrail liveried Class 90 No.90024 stands at Edinburgh having arrived with the previous nights sleeper service.
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380108 stands at North Berkwick on the 20th April 2012 having arrived with the 2Y08 09:42 from Edinbrugh.
Edinburgh Station was a complete building site, so photography at the station was very much hindered, we did however manage this shot of 47832 on the rear end of the Northern VSOE. 47790 (on the other end) then lead the train out of Edinburgh on a lunchtime 1z47 11:40 Edinbrugh to Edinburgh circular via Perth and Dundee.
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20th April 2012, In difficult lighting 47790 passes over the Forth Bridge with the 1Z47 11:30 Edinbrugh - Edinburgh via Perth and Dundee with the Northern VSOE.
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20th April 2012, a UID Class 158 passes over the Forth Bridge into North Queensferry.
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170470 pauses at North Queensferry wearing the new Scotrail Saltire livery on the 20th April 2012.
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Holytown in the Glasgow suburbs was a surprise, we worked out by getting to this location we could pick off 3 freights in 20 minutes. GBRF Class 66 NO.66735 passes through with the 6E45 08:07 Fort William - North Blyth PCA's.
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DB Schenker liveried Class 92 No.93031 passes through Holytown with the 4S53 Daventry - Mossend 'Tescoliner'.
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313263 pauses at Holytown coupled with 320321 on the 19th April 2012.
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DB Schenker Class 92 No.92041 followed shortly after with 6S51 12:15 Carlisle - Mossend loaded welded rail.
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Seen at Carstairs 380106 forms a 2Y10 15:13 Glasgow - North Berwick service with operates via Carstairs and the WCML link to Edinburgh.
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21st April 2012, 156507 pauses at Haymarket with a stopping service to Glasgow.
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SPT liveried 170472 arrives into Haymarket heading for Edinbrugh.
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21st April 2012, 334014 arrives at Haymarket with a service from Edinburgh to Helensburgh via the new Bathgate lines.