Thanks to Dave Spencer for the memories and phots, excellent stuff!
Up Scotland in February 1981 still held plenty of steam heat locos and I managed two no heat ones as well.
Saturdays 1S19 was 47104 as far as Crewe where 85037 took over to Carstairs for 47701 forward. Sunday February 22nd 1981 1N20 the 0900 Waverley-Inverness was a train to watch. In 1980 I’d had a pair of 26’s on it. This time 47460 produced. A Haymarket loco so no pinching today. This was taken to Dundee .
40164 was then taken on 1T26 0920 Aberdeen – Queen St and going well until it had a traction motor failure at Dunblane. This was a cue to leap. It managed to plod on and we ended up going to Aberdeen on 37022 on 1A07, the 1125 ex Queen St.
40164 in trouble at Dunblane with a traction motor fire on 1T26 0920 Aberdeen – Glasgow, Dave bailed here and advises the 40 limped furthur South on Feb 22nd 1981
37022 arrives at Dunblane with 1A07 1125 Glasgow – Aberdeen, an unusual sighton Feb 22nd 1981
At the Granite City we were spoiled for choice G27 the 1650 to Waverley was 47412 whilst T46 the 1720 to Queen St was 40061. The 37 would return on T57 to 1830 to Queen St. 27008 was on 2N12 the Inverness stopper.
Classic Aberdeen power heading South, 47412 on 1G27 1650 Aberdeen – Edinburgh and 40061 on 1T46 1720 Aberdeen – Gasgow on Feb 22nd 1981
I left Chris at Aberdeen boarding G27 with 47412 and the tea can (I’d never had a “generator” out of Aberdeen so leapt to Stonehaven). Cadging hot water from station Bert, we could have coffees on leaving Stonehaven.
Now another first… By Dundee T46 was getting extremely hot. The Pressure Ventilated heating system on the early series mark 2s was on overtime. From previous experience I had never had such heat emanating from a class 40. Yes 40061 was still on.
Glasgow was still short of type fours as 37114 was passed at Inchoonans on 1A08.
By Perth I’d had enough of being desiccated so bailed and spent an hour doing time exposures on 40002 surrounded by its cage type fence and 26008. 47271 and 47405 produced on services so no need to take.
The “prison camp” at Perth sees 40002 stabled on February 22nd 1981
A nice time exposure from Dave here of 26008 stabled at Perth on Feb 22nd 1981
Rejoined 37022 on 1T57 as far as Larbert, now its type two time 27033 was on 1L36 2110 Glasgow to Dundee taken to Gleneagles for 1M12 1925 Inverness-Euston and 47469 which would achieve notoriety later on in March.
Leapt at Stirling for 1P04 the 2255 Waverley-Perth with 47425, on the Inverness portion from Waverley. Monday 23-February saw 47271 forward on the 2335 Waverley-Inverness, at least we had steam heat.
Now we hadn’t really discussed a move plan at Inverness but the Kyle-Mallaig move was being considered. Don’t know how many bashers actually did this move but we were not missing anything.
At Inverness got a cracking time exposure 27008 (again) the 0545 to Aberdeen 2A12.
Balls ed up the Timex on 26035 on 2K03 0615-Wick. It competed with 26021 on 2K02 the 0634 to Kyle which i managed a reasonable Timex. 26021 was a low mileage beast so had to be taken.
Now by rights one couldn’t expect 26021 to be on this turn in winter as it hadn’t been headlight fitted. But 26022 had had a prang and Instead of repairing it (even though a runner) it went for the chop instead. The one good pair of Lucas’s (headlights) passed to 26021
Achnasheen was passed with 26041 on 2N12 the 0700 ex Kyle . We could not be tempted so off to the Kyle. Only my second visit. Managed an en route shot near Plockton and at the Kyle took two photos from the blocks.
2 views of 26021 on the 0634 Inverness – Kyle at Plockton and Kyle itself on February 23rd 1981
Now the plan needed three things to work 1-The Ferry across to Kyleakin. 2-The Bus to Armadale and 3-The Ferry to Mallaig,
Took the 0950 Sailing on MV Kyleakin across to Kyleakin at the princely sum of 15p.
Road transport then prevailed in the form of a Ford Coach KST117P Highland Omnibus T117 1015 departure via Broadford to Armadale a 26 mile journey at the cost of £1.70
Time honoured scene as a well laden MV Kyleakin arrives at Kyle on February 23rd 1981
Classic Highland bus power at Kyleakin on February 23rd 1981
Seventy Five minutes allowed connecting into MV Lochmor. A £1.20 fare to Mallaig
Highly sociable prices totalling £3.05.
Chris and I were the sole passengers on the Mallaig ferry
At Mallaig we were greeted by the sight of 27018 on the blocks. This wouldn’t be lasting much longer with the 37 invasion. The driver was traditionally dressed with sports coat over his uniform jacket and flat cap
Classic loco and driver scene at Mallaig on February 23rd 1981
We also had a surprise when we encountered “Bescot shed on Tour” . Comments were made about Bescot now having a diagram up the West Highland!!! Winding Mr Howard up.
27018 made a workmanlike job on the 1232 Mallaig-Fort William 2B16 crossing 37112 on the 2B09 (Stock for 1603 ex Mallaig 1T56)
37112 at Glenfinnan steaming nicely on February 23rd 1981
27018 dwarfed by the scale of the hills and Glenfinnan viaduct on February 23rd 1981
Now Fort William only had three locos 27038 27207 & 27212. Risking it with the 27/2’s as by now they were shot to bits
It was dry on the Mallaig extension with the sun trying to creep out. It was a bit dull at the “Fort” which was closed!!! Basically it was considered as a Scottish Bank Holiday
27018 was taken back to Glenfinnan on the 2B12 1622 to Mallaig . Made the leap on to 1603 Mallaig-Glasgow 1T56 (No hope of a 27 out of the Fort) so RA to Carlilsle 37112 made it to Cowlairs where 47269 took over on the portion 1D05 to Mossend.
The combined train 1M16 1930 Inverness-Euston going forward with 862XX never had time to get number at Carlisle A bit annoying re electric traction as 85037 was on Mossend
08844 at Carlisle shunting vans in the early hours of February 24th 1981
Classic nighttime Carlisle, 81014 looking good on February 24th 1981
The dud traction continued with 86009 on 1S07 2150 Euston-Inverness. This was a crew stop only at Carlisle. Station staff knew this but didn’t deter anyone from getting on. They shouted “Where are you going?” The reply “Tyndrum” or “Crianlarich” sufficed. (In practice you got off at Queen St)
The unadvertised stop was designed to stop Glasgow passengers wedging out the West Highland portion.
47269 did the honours again on the portion 0422 Mossend-Queen St 1T02 as far as Springburn where a reversal was needed then. 20216 then worked it to Queen St.
Then 27209 backed on to shunt T02 portion on the 0600 Mallaig 1B07 (This was my last 27/2 run on BR albeit a very short one)
Today we leapt at Queen St as 37112 did the 0600 1T03
Thanks again to Dave Spencer for the memories and excellent phots….
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