The Inverness – Aberdeen line, history, gen and phots
The 108 mile “over the top” route from Inverness to Aberdeen has perhaps always been a bit lower down in enthusiasts eyes than the Highland or Far North/Kyle lines. Scenic wise in sections it is nice enough with many crossings of the Spey and plenty green hills.
After the rigours of an internal Highland line overnight many used the Inverness – Aberdeen line as 3 hours doss potential.
Class 120 DMU’s dominated services on the line from March 1960 to March 1980 with justthe occasional loco hauled substitutions. Elgin – Aberdeen services saw class 21, 24 and 26 operation as did Inverness/Elgin – Aviemore services via Grantown in the early 60s up to closure.
There was also the 0440 Aberdeen – Elgin which in the 60;s and 70’s was a 4 coach papertrain back then, which again saw a good variety of power. By the mid 80’s this was a passenger train getting type 2 power variety galore
From March 80 the Inverness – Aberdeen service went over to loco haulage with classes 25, 26 and 27 dominating. By 1983 47’s had taken over most turns, including one mixed train with a Freightliner container tripped from Aberdeen to the Far North and back. By 1990 class 37’s slowly took over most services until 1992 when 156 Sprinters took over the route.
Today HSTs, 158’s and 170’s units dominate services and apart from the odd special or sleeper diversion loco haulage has drifted into history
27109 steaming nicely on the 0840 Inverness – Aberdeen on May 29th 1982
1980 – 1987 the class 26 and 27 years
Below is a list of the known individual 26 and 27’s that worked “over the “top” from1980 – 1987. Class 25s will be reportedly separately but were much rarer than 26/27’s on the route. Normally load 6 or 7 Mk I’s on timings much improved on the old “Swindon sluggard” DMUs they replaced.
Class 47’s became more regular on most turns on the route by May 83 but the 26’s/27’s kept on producing until the Class 27 farewell tour on May 9th 1987.
5303 (later 26003) 1415 Aberdeen – Inverness Oct 58 (loco on test, new to Scotland)
26008 1155 Aberdeen-Inverness 290582
26013 0736 Aberdeen – Inverness 200282
26014 1750 Aberdeen – Inverness 120881
26015 1243 Aberdeen – Inverness 200382
26018 0945 Aberdeen – Inverness 240381
26019 1446 Inverness – Aberdeen 300780
26021 1734 Aberdeen – Inverness 120681
26023} 1038 Inverness – Aberdeen 220781
26033}
26024 1150 Aberdeen-Inverness 010682
26025 0705 Elgin-Inverness 030682
26026 1038 Inverness – Aberdeen 170482
26027} 0840 Inverness – Aberdeen 180982
27008}
26028 0900 Inverness-Aberdeen 300582
26029 1150 Aberdeen – Inverness 160483
26030} 1A27 1048 Inverness-Aberdeen 020883
26043}
26031} 1448 Inverness – Aberdeen 300883
47271}
26031 and 47271 at Forres with the 1448 Inverness – Aberdeen on August 30th 1983. A Tony Ewer phot
26032 1754 Aberdeen – Inverness 041082
26033 1150 Aberdeen – Inverness 250682
26034} 1A22 0848 Inverness-Aberdeen 020883
26040}
26035} 1357 Aberdeen – Inverness 050783
26046}
26036 1357 Aberdeen – Inverness 070680
26037 2102 Aberdeen – Inverness 020481
26038 1040 Inverness – Aberdeen 310782
26039 2040 Inverness – Aberdeen 310383
25240} 1353 Aberdeen – Inverness 300382
26040}
26040 and 26034 prior to departure with the 0848 Inverness – Aberdeen on August 2nd 1983
26041 1740 Inverness – Aberdeen 050580
26042 0715 Elgin – Inverness 010983
26043 and 26030 prior to departure with the 1048 Inverness – Aberdeen on August 2nd 1983
26043} 1048 Inverness – Aberdeen 020883
26030}
26044 2030 Inverness – Aberdeen 210781
26045 1152 Aberdeen – Inverness 070680
26046 0840 Inverness – Aberdeen 050183
27001 2A57 2029 Inverness – Aberdeen 060381
27002 0540 Inverness-Aberdeen 030682
27003 0955 Aberdeen-Inverness 290582
27004 1554 Aberdeen-Inverness 270980
27005 1N06 0447 Aberdeen-Inverness 260185
27007 0915 Inverness-Aberdeen 280980
27008 and 27003 at a damp Inverness with the 1035 Aberdeen service on September 22nd 1984. A Tony Ewer phot
27003} 1N13 0745 Aberdeen – Inverness 220984
27008}
27010} 2A27 1039 Inverness – Aberdeen 290581
27108}
27012 2N12 0736 Aberdeen – Inverness 110382
27014} 1448 Inverness – Aberdeen 210284
47270}
27016 1628 Aberdeen – Inverness 150680
27017 2N15 0948 Aberdeen – Inverness 120580
27018 2A27 1039 Inverness – Aberdeen 210381
27020} 1A33 1232 Inverness – Aberdeen 290185
27054}
27021 0840 Inverness-Aberdeen 220982
27022} 1039 Inverness – Aberdeen 250681
40067}
27023 0712 Elgin-Inverness 290582
27025} 2N33 1550 Aberdeen – Inverness 230982
27002}
27026 2A27 1040 Inverness – Aberdeen 210483
27029} 2A27 1038 Inverness – Aberdeen 240881
27042}
27030} 2A27 1040 Inverness – Aberdeen 260882
26029}
27032} 2029 Inverness – Aberdeen 120482
27002}
27033 1N08 0719 Elgin – Inverness 220984
27036 2A27 1040 Inverness – Aberdeen 140283
27037 1N08 0719 Elgin – Inverness 261084
27038 1N08 0719 Elgin – Inverness 040984
27040 1N08 0719 Elgin – Inverness 090485
27041} 1N27 1355 Aberdeen – Inverness 310184
27042}
27046 1N06 0447 Aberdeen – Elgin 050784
27005} 1A33 1250 Inverness-Aberdeen 270185
27048}
27049 1600 Aberdeen – Inverness 090286
27051 1N08 0715 Elgin-Inverness 020883
27051} 1N13 0745 Aberdeen-Inverness 290185
27055}
27054} 1A33 1232 Inverness – Aberdeen 290185
27020}
The epic class 27 farewell tour is captured by “TC” at Nairn on May 9th 1987, the very last 27 action “over the top”
27055} Inverness – Aberdeen – (Edin/Glas) “Class 27 Farewell tour” 090587
27063}
27056} 1N15 0955 Aberdeen – Inverness 270384
47209}
27057 1N08 0719 Elgin – Inverness 311284
27105 1723 Inverness – Aberdeen 110281
27106 1040 Inverness-Aberdeen 290582
27107 2A12 0545 Inverness – Aberdeen 210381
27108 1357 Aberdeen – Inverness 280580
27109 0830 Inverness-Aberdeen 290582
27110 2A22 0832 Inverness – Aberdeen 050380
27204 1244 Inverness – Aberdeen 300780
27210} 2A22 0826 Inverness – Aberdeen 020482
27109}
27211} 2N16 0936 Aberdeen – Inverness 150382
27007}
end
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