Mk III Sleeper 10598 out West
Mk III Sleeper coach M 10598 emerged new from Derby Litchurch Lane works in Feb 1983 and was soon put on the then extensive BR sleeper network. Built with a pantry, 2 toilets and configured between 12 First or 24 second class berths.
Her BR career would have seen M10598 visiting the likes of Barrow, Fort William, Glasgow, Holyhead, Inverness, Liverpool, Manchester and Stranraer on sleeping car services from Euston. Under Scotrail/Serco operation she was confined to the sole surviving Lowand Sleeper services from Euston – Glasgow/Edinburgh and Highland Sleeper from Euston – Aberdeen/Fort William and Inverness.
Sample 10598 workings 1987-2019
87030 2330 (22/6) Euston – Glasgow/Edinburgh 230687
92097, 10674, 10587, 10701, 10555, 10714, 10545, 10713, 10598, 92081 (Glas)
10547, 10715, 9539, 92118, 93331, 93741 (Edin)
87009 2055 Euston – Inverness 150893
96101, 96175, 96156, 96155, 92935, 10508, 10710, 10597, 10598, 10610h, 10654, 6708, 10613, 10653 (and 6311 from Edinburgh)
90049 1S25 2057 Euston – Inverness, Aberdeen, Fort William 010919
10614, 10714, 10553, 10598, 10693, 10506, 1210, 9810, 10600, 10519, 10675,10565,10648, 6702, 9807
67004 1M16 2045 Inverness – Euston 091019
90044 1M16 2045 (9/10) Inverness/Aberdeen/FW – Euston 101019
(last booked Mk IIIs on ScR/WCML)
9807, 6704, 10648, 10565, 10675, 10543, 10600, 10650, 9810, 1210, 10714,
10614, 10501, 10693, 10598, 10504
A sad morning scene, 90044 brings the end of Mk III sleeper operation on the WCML working 1M16 Inverness/Fort William/Aberdeen – Euston “Caledonian Sleeper” on October 10th 2019. Bringing up the rear of the train were sleepers 10504 and 10598
Indeed 10598 featured in the very last Mk III sleeper operation on October 9th/10th 2019. After arrival at Euston she was hauled to Ferme Pk CS, then Wembley then to storage at Carnforth on November 19th 2019.
A suprise saw 10598 moved by road and ferry from Carnforth to Maam Cross, in Connemara, Western Ireland in April 2023. The sleeper coach will be used to house volunteers working on the expanding Connemara project seeing sections of the former Clifden – Galway railway reopened (it closed in 1935). Good to see Caledonian Sleeper livery out West!
Sleeper 10598 arrived at Maam Cross on April 26th 2023, sitting on Hoffman Busch DART bogies and looking good in deepest County Galway. Thanks to Jo Waldau for the Maam Cross 10598 photos
some classic Irish Rail freight wagons at Maam Cross in October 2022
Initially 3 foot guage has been laid for the start of train services from Maam cross to a mile or so East, the plan is to reinstate Irish Rail 5ft 3 inch guage tracks for future expansion, an October 2022 view of the scenic wanders on offer from Maam Cross
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