Many thanks to Jim Burton for the memories and logs
1A23 being the 0845/50/55 to Aberdeen. I never worked out where the booked locomotive came off, or even what Class it was!! There follows a series of runs behind anything from 1160 hp to 3300 hp – not that it seemed to make much difference on occasion!!!
To start…..a Class 26 in top form….
DATE :- Monday April 16, 1979
TRAIN :- 1A23 0845 Edinburgh Waverley-Aberdeen
LOCOMOTIVE :- 26024 (IS)
LOAD :- 6 vehicles, 195 tons tare
TIMING LOAD :- D280
DEPART WAVERLEY :- 32 minutes late – failure of booked loco en route from
Craigentinny C.S with 5A23.
ARRIVE HAYMARKET :- 31.25 minutes late
DEPART HAYMARKET :- 32 minutes late
ARRIVE INVERKEITHING :- 32.5 minutes late
DEPART INVERKEITHING :- 32.5 minutes late
ARRIVE KIRKCALDY :- 31.75 minutes late
DEPART KIRKCALDY :- 32 minutes late
ARRIVE TAY BRIDGE :- 27.5 minutes late
0.00. Edinburgh Waverley 0 0. 00 –
0.56. Haymarket Tunnel East 1. 41 16/28
1.18. Haymarket 4 3. 08 31/36/31/-
0.00 0 0. 00 –
2.11. Saughton Junction 3. 17 38.46/51.5/53
5.30. Turnhouse 6. 11 62.5/66/72/72
8.23. Dalmeny 9 9. 06. 73.5/61/53/*44
9.94. Forth Bridge North 11. 52 40.5/37.5/38/41
10.07. North Queensferry 12. 03. 41
11.95 Inverkeithing 14.5 15. 07 43/49/46/25/-
0.00 0 0. 00 –
PWS *20 *26.5/27
1.88. Donibristle 3. 54 36/41
4.27. Aberdour 6. 33 45.5/46.5/55/*47
6.97. Burntisland 10 10. 01 56.5/59.5/62/53/*27
9.58. Kinghorn 13. 52 36/47.5/*33.5/38
11.67. Invertiel Junction 16. 20 43/50/53.5
12.73 Kirkcaldy 19 18. 08 53.5/42/-
0.00 0 0. 00 –
1.39 Sinclairtown 2. 36 32/44
2.10 Dysart 3. 28 47
4.80. Thornton Junction 6 6. 20. 48.5/51.5/58.5/65/69
7.34. Markinch Junction 8. 35. 69/67/66/66
9.02. Lochmuir 10. 14 62/58.5/56.5
10.27. Falkland Road 11. 23. 60/65.5/69
12.31. Kingskettle 13. 06 71.5/75 73.5/64
13.22. Ladybank 16 14. 04 60.5/*36.5
16.44. Springfield 17. 40. 44/50.5/60/64/66
18.74. Cupar 19. 56 67/68/*50
21.74. Dairsie 23. 22. 44/57/61/62.5
24.96. Leuchars Junction 27.5 26. 20 63.5/67/71/65/*47
28.81. St. Fort (4) 30. 19. 48.5/53/56/65/64.5
30.71. Tay Bridge South 37.5 32. 42 57/46/*41.5
32.55. Esplanade 36. 30 34/37/36/28/22
33.30 Tay Bridge 43.5 38. 59 30/19/-
Followed by….a Class 25 struggling more than I would have expected….could it be that the crew were not amused to be met with something of a mere 1250 horse power??!!
DATE :- Thursday, March 23, 1978
TRAIN :- 1A23 0845 Edinburgh Waverley-Aberdeen
LOCOMOTIVE :- 25059 (HA)
LOAD :- 6 vehicles, 191.5 tons tare
TIMING LOAD :- D280
DEPART WAVERLEY :- TIME
ARRIVE HAYMARKET :- 0.25 minutes early
DEPART HAYMARKET :- 0.50 minutes late
ARRIVE INVERKEITHING :- 1.50 minutes late
DEPART INVERKEITHING :- 1.50 minutes late
ARRIVE KIRKCALDY :- 1.75 minutes late
DEPART KIRKCALDY :- 2 minutes late
ARRIVE TAY BRIDGE :- 3 minutes late
0.00. Edinburgh Waverley 0 0. 00. –
0.56 Haymarket Tunnel East 1. 53 21/27/31
1.18. Haymarket 4 3. 40 28/19/-
0.00 0 0. 00. –
2.11 Saughton Junction 3. 39 42/45.5/51.5/53
5.30 Turnhouse 6. 44 57/63.5/64/67
8.23. Dalmeny 9 9. 31 70/62/58/*43
9.94. Forth Bridge North 12. 26 36/37.5/40.5/39
10.07 North Queensferry 12 38 41
11.95 Inverketihing 14.5 15. 35 46/41/32/-
0.00 0 0. 00 –
1.88. Donibristle 4. 01 27/34/35/36
4.27. Aberdour 7. 08 36/41/54/*46
6.97. Burntisland 10 10. 47. 41/48/5/61.5/*23
9.58. Kinghorn 15. 05 39/45/48/*30/33
11.67. Invertiel Junction 17. 46 39/46/52/54.5/56
12.73. Kirkcaldy 19 19. 22 53/33/-
0.00 0 0. 00. –
1.39 Sinclairtown 3. 11 30/32/33
2.10. Dysart 4. 22 33
4.80. Thornton Junction 6 8. 19 33/34.5/47/54
7.34 Markinch Junction 11 14 55/53/50/49
9.02. Lochmuir 13. 47. 43.5/37.5/34.5/36
10.27. Falkland Road 15. 28 41.5/53
12.31. Kingskettle 17. 22 59/64/70.5/73
13.22. Ladybank 16 18. 19 62.5/*40
16.44. Springfield 22. 12 40/52/54.5/58
18.74. Cupar 24. 24 58/63/67/*48
21.74. Dairsie 27. 55 52/58.5/55
24.96. Leuchars Junction 27.5 31. 11 57/61.5 62/55
28.81. St. Fort (4) 35. 28 50.5/52.5/54.55.5
30.71. Tay Bridge South 37.5 38. 04 48.5/46.5/*35
32.55. Esplanade 42. 13 37/34/34/26
33.30. Dundee 43.5 44. 24 34/25/-
Next for a joyous change – “The Green Goddess” herself!!! Mind you, I would describe the performance as nothing better than average – relatively weak on the bank but capable of some speed going down them!!
DATE :- Saturday, November 25, 1978
TRAIN :- 1A23 0845 Edinburgh Waverley-Aberdeen
LOCOMOTIVE :- 40106 (LO)
LOAD ;- 6 vehicles, 192 tons tare
TIMING LOAD :- D280
DEPART WAVERLEY :- 2.5 minutes late
ARRIVE HAYMARKET ;- 1.75 minutes late
DEPART HAYMARKET :- 1.75 minutes late
ARRIVE INVERKEITHING :- 2 minutes late
DEPART INVERKEITHING :- 2 minutes late
ARRIVE KIRKCALDY :- 1.5 minutes late
DEPART KIRKCALDY :- 1.75 minutes late
ARRIVE TAY BRIDGE :- 3.5 minutes early
0.00. Edinburgh Waverley 0 0. 00 –
0.56. Haymarket Tunnel East 1. 44 21/26/30
1.18. Haymarket 4 3. 10 34/28/-
0.00 0 0. 00 –
2.11. Saughton Junction 3. 43. 36/41/49.5/54.5
5.30. Turnhouse 6. 33 65/65/69/74.5
8.23. Dalmeny 9 9. 04 75/68/62/ *46
9.94. Forth Bridge North 11. 35 41.5/42.5/43/42
10.07. North Queensferry 11. 46. 43
48/43/45/
11.95. Inverketihimg 14.5 14. 51 33/-
0.00 0 0. 00 –
28/34.5/37.5
1.88. Donibristle 4. 19 40/42
4.27. Aberdour 6. 55 40/46/53/52
*41/54.5/59/
6.97. Burntisland 10 10. 28. 53/*32
*31.5/42/51
9.58. Kinghorn 14. 35 *28/34
11.67 Invertiel Junction 16. 59 39/48.5/60
12.73. Kirkcaldy 19 18. 33 54.5/32/-
0.00 0 0. 00 –
1.39 Sinclairtown 3. 02 26/33/40
2.10 Dysart 3. 54 46/46/5
4.80. Thornton Junction 6 6. 53 51.5/56/60/60
7 34. Markinch Junction 9. 39 53/51.5/55/62
9.02. Lochmuir 11. 22 58/56.5/56.5
10.27. Falkland Road 12. 32 62/66
12.31. Kingskettle 14. 12 71/74/75/72
13.22. Ladybank 16 15. 06 60/51/*43
16.44. Springfield 18. 37 37.5/51.5/60.5/71
18.74. Cupar 20 32 74/76/78.5/*57
21.74. Dairsie 23. 39 53/60/63.5/66/72
24.96. Leuchars Junction 27.5 26. 31 69/70.5/69/*59
28.01. St. Fort (4) 30. 22. 50/52/57.5/64/66
30.71 Tay Bridge South 37.5 32. 30 61.5/56/*39
PWS *20 34/32/29/*21
32.55. Esplanade 36. 42 *19
33.30. Dundee 43.5 38. 40 22/31/27/-
Next….another visiting Class 40…the schedule has become marginally tighter and the performance of this locomotive accordingly was more impressive
DATE :- Saturday August 09, 1980
TRAIN :- 1A23 0855 Edinburgh Waverley-Aberdeen
LOCOMOTIVE :- 40146 (TE)
LOAD :- 6 vehicles, 191.5 tons tare
TIMING LOAD :- D280
DEPART WAVERLEY :- TIME
ARRIVE HAYMARKET :- TIME
DEPART HAYMARKET :- 0,50 minutes late
ARRIVE INVERKEITHING :- 0.75 minutes late
DEPART INVERKEITHING :- 0.50 minutes late
ARRIVE KIRKCALDY :- TIME
DEPART KIRKCALDY :- TIME
ARRIVE TAY BRIDGE :- 3.75 minutes early
0.00. Edinburgh Waverley 0 0. 00. –
0.56 Haymarket Tunnel East 1. 42 31
1.18. Haymarket 3 3 00 –
0.00 0 0. 00. –
2.11. Saughton Junction 3. 03 31/46/53/59.5
5.30. Turnhouse 5. 41 63.5/65.5/74.5/72
PWS *20 75/76.5/64/*22.5
8.23. Dalmeny 8.5 8. 52 39/41
9.94. Forth Bridge North 11. 22 46/44/45
10.07. North Queensferry 11. 33. 44
11.95 Inverkeithing 14 14. 15 48.5/48.5/29/-
0.00 0 0. 00 –
1.88. Donibristle 3. 17 27.5/41/45/47.5
4.27. Aberdour 5. 41 51/53/61/*48.5
6.97. Burntisland 9.5 8. 56 64/60/55/*30.5
9.58. Kinghorn 12. 54 30/41.5/50/*31.5/
36
11.67 Invertiel Junction 15. 09 46/56/63
12.73. Kirkcaldy 17.5 16. 57 59/33/-
0.00 0 0. 00 –
1.39. Sinclairtown 2. 33 33/45
2.10. Dysart 3. 22 50
4.80. Thornton Junction 6 6. 10 53.5/56/60/63
7.34. Markinch Junction 8. 32 61/65.5/68.5
9.02. Lochmuir 10. 06 63.5/62/62
10.27. Falkland Road 11. 08 67.5/73
12.31 Kingskettle 12. 43 80/80/78
PWS*20 62/38/*21.5
13.22. Ladybank 13 14. 22 *21.5
16.44. Springfield 18. 35 *23.5/30/47/59/
64/69
18.74. Cupar 20. 39 74.5/79/65.5/*54.5
21.74. Dairsie 23. 30 56/64/67/73.5
24.96. Leuchars Junction 25.5 26. 19 75/76/57.5/56
28.81 St Fort (4) 29. 48. 60/64/67.5/69/65.5
30.71. Tay Bridge South 35.5 31. 57 64/50/*42
32.55. Esplanade 35. 39 40/40/33/24
33.30 Tay Bridge 41.5 37. 47 26/-
Some of this was quite amazing for 1980 – the time to pass Kingskettle from a stop at Kirkcaldy ; a maximum of 80 down Falkland Road bank ; a maximum of 79 before Cupar…….this represented a loco and crew at the top of their game!! Makes you think about the realities of 1895, when the racing train covered the 59.19 miles to Dundee in 59 minutes!!
RUN 5 is just to prove that Haymarket based 40s did appear on 1A23!!
DATE :- Saturday September 27, 1980
TRAIN :- 1A23 0855 Edinburgh Waverley-Aberdeen
LOCOMOTIVE :- 40173 (HA)
LOAD ;- 6 vehicles, 191 tons tare
TIMING LOAD :- D280
DEPART WAVERLEY :- 2.25 minutes late
ARRIVE HAYMARKET :- 2.50 minutes late
DEPART HAYMARKET :- 3 minutes late
ARRIVE INVERKEITHING :- 2.75 minutes late
DEPART INVERKEITHING :- 4.75 minutes late
ARRIVE KIRKCALDY :- 4.25 minutes late
DEPART KIRKCALDY :- 4.50 minutes late
ARRIVE TAY BRIDGE :- 0.75 minutes late
0.00. Edinburgh Waverley 0 0. 00 –
0.56 Haymarket Tunnel East 1. 41 24
1.18. Haymarket 3 3. 18. 33/40/-
0.00 0 0. 00 –
2.11. Saughton Junction 3. 17 24/40.5/47/50.5/
56
5.30 Turnhouse. 5. 57 60/69/70/ 75/76.5
8.23. Dalmeny 8.5 8. 26 81.5/75.5/66/*56
9.94. Forth Bridge North 10. 55 47/45/41.5/43
10.07 North Queensferry 11. 06 43
11.95. Inverkeithing 14 13. 51 47/53/54.5/41/-
0.00 0 0. 00 –
1.88 Donibristle 3. 31 23.5/37.5/43/45.5
4.27. Aberdour 6. 01 50/50.5/60/53/*49
6.97. Burntisland 9.5 9. 24 56/60/62/53/*28
9.58. Kinghorn 12. 59 39/47/53/*32/34.5
11.67. Invertiel Junction 15. 16 43/51.5/57.5/61
12.73 Kirkcaldy 17.5 16. 55 65.5/59/36/-
0.00 0 0. 00 –
1.39 Sinclairtown 2. 40 26.5/39.5/45
2.10 Dysart 3. 30. 48.5
4.80. Thornton Junction 6 6. 18 53/57.5/64/67.5/*62
7.34 Markinch Junction 8. 44 60/59/65.5/69
9.02. Lochmuir 10. 16 64.5/64/64
10.27. Falkland Road 11. 18 67.5/75/77
12.31. Kingskettle 12. 56 75/75/76/72
13.22. Ladybank 13 13. 54 *47
PWS *10 *21.5/36/50
16.44 Springfield 18. 31 60/5/64/69
18.74. Cupar 20. 31 75/76/76/69 *53
21.74. Dairsie 23. 30 56/64/67/70.5/72
24.96. Leuchars Junction 25.5 26. 05 75/76.5/78.5/*56
28.81 St. Fort (4) 29. 44 56/65.5/66/61.5
30.71 Tay Bridge South 35.5 31. 41 64/56/*43
32.55. Esplanade 35. 29 39/41/41/*22/30
33.30 Dundee 41.5 37. 39 28/22/-
Becoming quite the “race-track” from Kirkcaldy to passing Leuchars, was it not??
Another excellent run with a 40 – don’t suppose the average passenger noticed thee late arrival in Dundee!!
And so, we come to 3300 hp –
DATE :- Friday April 04,1980
TRAIN :- 1A23 0850 Edinburgh Waverley-Aberdeen
LOCOMOTIVE :- 55007 PINZA (YK)
LOAD :- 6 vehicles, 191 tons tare
TIMING LOAD :- D280
DEPART WAVERLEY :- 6 minutes late
ARRIVE HAYMARKET :- 5.25 minutes late
DEPART HAYMARKET :- 5.50 minutes late
ARRIVE INVERKEITHING :- 5.25 minutes late
DEPART INVERKEITHING :- 5.75 minutes late
ARRIVE KIRKCALDY :- 4.25 minutes late
DEPART KINRKCALDY :- 4.25 minutes late
ARRIVE TAY BRIDGE :- TIME
0.00. Edinburgh Waverley 0 0. 00 –
0.56 Haymarket Tunnel East 1. 47
1.18. Haymarket 4 3. 09 –
0.00 0 0. 00 –
2.11. Saughton Junction 2. 49 25/53/64/64
5.30. Turnhouse 5. 36 61.5/66/72/73.5
8.23. Dalmeny 9 8. 24 76.5/70.5/*44
9.94. Forth Bridge North 11. 08 40.5/38/42
10.07. North Queensferry 11. 19 42
11.95. Inverkeithing 14.5 14. 14 50/51/23/-
0.00 0 0 00 –
1.88. Donibristle 3. 03 28/37.5/52/57
4.27. Aberdour 5. 22 56.5/60/64/*45.5
6.97. Burntisland 9.5 9. 05. 49/53/56/59/*25.5
9.58. Kinghorn 12. 49. 46/60/*29.5/37.5
11.67. Invertiel Junction 14. 55. 62/59.5/60
12.73 Kirkcaldy 16. 35 57.5/41.5/-
0.00 0 0. 00. –
1.39. Sinclairtown 2. 22 44/56
2.10 Dysart 3 04 56
4.80. Thornton Junction 6 5. 38 60.5/64/64/*47
PWS *20 42/*19*23
7.34. Markinch Junction 9. 55 39.5/62
9.02 Lochmuir 11. 32 60/60/64/59.5
10.27. Falkland Road 12. 46 61.5/64
12.31. Kingskettle 14. 32 66/72/70/73.5
13.22. Ladybank 15.5 15. 33 56/*39.5
16.44. Springfield 18. 38. 51.5/67.5/72
18.74. Cupar 20. 32 72/74.5/60.5/*50
21.74. Dairsie 23. 37. 56/60/75/72
24.96 Leuchars Junction 27 26. 28 73.5/74/72/*57.5
28.81. St. Fort (4) 30. 39. 56/57.5/56/56
30.71. Tay Bridge South 37 32. 45 60/51.5/*38
32.55. Esplanade 36. 37 34/36/26
33.30 Dundee 43.5 38. 58 22/24/-
The additional hp came in useful for acceleration and the ease on the uphill sections!!
Thanks again to Jim burton for the memories of more interesting times in Fife and Angus!
end
