Hi, Welcome to my blog. It will contain my latest sightings, links to my latest photos and info pages and any relevant news updates. It will be updated when possible.
Greenfaulds and Carstairs 2.6.17
320412 stops at Greenfaulds with 2V54 Garscadden - Cumbernauld service
Scotrail Saltire liveried 68007 approaches Greenfaulds with 5G13 Motherwell TMD - Edinburgh Waverley Fife Circle ECS working
One of the last few 318s remaining in Carmine and Cream livery, 318267 departs Greenfaulds with 2F01 Cumbernauld - Dalmuir service
Colas liveried 70802 working in place of the usual class 60, approaches Greenfaulds with 6N47 Prestwick - Grangemouth tankers
Scotrail Saltire liveried 68006 passes through Hartwood with 5L69 Motherwell TMD - Edinburgh Waverley Fife Circle ECS working
350407 accelerates away from Carstairs South Junction with 1M94 Edinburgh Waverley - Manchester Airport
an unidentified 390 heads north towards Carstairs with 1S87 London Euston - Glasgow Central
390040 with Virgin Radio advertising approaches Carstairs with 9S85 London Euston - Glasgow Central
92014 passes through Carstairs with 5C11 Polmadie - Edinburgh Waverley sleeper ECS working
Greenfaulds 31.5.17
A quick visit to Greenfaulds tonight produced the following sightings:
66107 passes through Greenfaulds with 4M30 Grangemouth - Daventry containers
Track Machine DR73915 passes through Greenfaulds with 6T44 Stirling Sidings -Abington
newly revynaled and repainted Saltire liveried 156507 at Greenfaulds with 2J82 Glasgow Queen Street - Falkirk Grahamston
37's at Cleland 28.5.17
Europhoenix liveried 37611 and BR Large Logo liveried 37025 pass through Cleland with 0Z37 Derby RTC - Mossend light engine move
92018 at Carstairs 24.5.17
I had a quick visit to Carstairs earlier and saw:
60026 crossing Float Viaduct with 6M34 Grangemouth - Dalston loaded tanks
92018 passes with 5C11 Polmadie - Edinburgh Waverley Sleeper ECS movement
Colas 70 at Camelon 22.5.17
Colas liveried 70802, with 56302 in tow had been on a Driver Training Run to Oxwellmains. They are seen passing through Polmonton their return journey to Grangemouth.
Colas liveried 70802 and 56302 seen with 0Z61 Oxwellmains - Grangemouth Driver training run
Summerlee 311103 and trams 20.5.17
I saw the following at Summerlee:
311103 at Summerlee
Summerlee's access tram, Dusseldorf 392 is seen passing the depot fan and heading towards the park entrance
Glasgow 1017 stabled at the rear of the tram shed
Lanarkshire 53 seen stabled in the tram depot
Camelon 20.5.17
I went up to Camelon to catch 2 freights passing through and as soon as I arrived, the heavens opened!
In torrential rain, 66425 passes through with 4A13 Grangemouth - Aberdeen Craiginches containers
156430 departs with 2J67 Glasgow Queen St - Falkirk Grahamston
60026 approaches with 6S36 Dalston - Grangemouth tanks
Carstairs South Junction 19.5.17
I spent an hour at Float Viaduct just to the south of Carstairs South Junction today. Here are my sightings:
Old First TPE liveried 350405 leads new liveried 350404 south with 1M99 Edinburgh Waverley - Manchester Airport
350408+350402 in the New First TPE livery with 1S56 Manchester Airport - Edinburgh Waverley
An unidentified 390 approaches with 9S55 London Euston - Glasgow Central service
66709 approaches with 6S50 Carlisle Yard - Millerhill Departmental
66529 heads south with 7M69 Mossend - Carlisle Yard crane move
Blackpool Heritage Trams on Bank Holiday Weekend 28.4-1.5.17
I spent the Bank Holiday weekend in Blackpool from 28th April - 1st May and there were plenty of heritage trams out during that time. 11 different heritage/ illuminated trams were out in service over the weekend with 3 B Fleet trams also seeing use. The only servicable trams from the heritage/B fleet not used were: 227(602) (undergoing an internal repaint), 230(604) (stored awaiting an internal repaint), 675+685 (work going on to its wiring), 718 (being repainted) and 719 (unknown).
Friday 28th
Friday wasnt originally organised as having heritage trams running, however a late change saw Brush car 631 and Balloon 701 out on Pleasure Beach - North Pier/Cabin workings from 13.40 and into the evening, a couple of runs to Cleveleys and Fleetwood.
The Photo on the right shows Brush Car 631 passing the site of the old Imperial Hotel tram stop en route from Fleetwood - North Pier on a heritage working on 28.4.17.
There was to be a 7 tram heritage service operating over the weekend instead of the usual 6 route Bank holiday service. Route G was an extra bonus working over the weekend and featured an illuminated tram on each of the 3 days. It started later on the Saturday as it was used to take the FTS group from Rigby Road to Fleetwood for their annual convention around lunchtime. Route F duties were shared between Bolton 66 and Fleetwood 40, whilst Route C was the shop tram and utilised a B Fleet balloon on each of the 3 days.
Saturday 29th
7 Heritage trams were due out on Saturday, allocated routes A-G.
A: Ex towing railcoach 680
B: Balloon 701
C: Balloon 700
D: Brush Car 631
E: Balloon 723
F: Bolton 66
G: Frigate 736
Balloon 723 had replaced Balloon 715, which had been due to work on route E. The tram was later seen parked outside the electrical compound.
Also spotted at Rigby Road was Balloon 703, which has recently returned to Blackpool from Beamish and is sporting red and cream Sunderland livery from its time masquerading as Sunderland 101. Brush Car 621, which is in the process of being prepared for a return to service in September for the Brush Car's 80th Anniversary in service, was partly visible parked at the front of the electrical compound (seen via the 60 x zoom on my camera). I didn't travel on the heritage trams on this day as I decided to take photographs instead. The photo above shows F736 and Balloon 701 stabled at Pleasure Beach in between workings on 29.4.17.
Sunday 30th
7 Heritage trams were due out on Sunday, allocated routes A-G.
A: Brush Car 631
B: Balloon 715
C: Balloon 711
D: Balloon 723
E: Centenary 648
F: Fleetwood 40
G: The Western Train 733+734
The 7 trams ran as per the original allocations although 631 on route A and 648 on route E swapped routes during the afternoon. I managed to travel on 6 of the 7 trams during the day including a run from Cabin - Cleveleys on 648, Cleveleys - North Pier on 631, North Pier Cabin on Fleetwood 40, Cabin - Fleetwood on the top deck of 711, Fleetwood - Pleasure Beach on the Western train, Pleasure Beach - Bispham on 723. The above photo shows Balloon 715 at Bispham on a working to Pleasure Beach.
Monday 1st
7 Heritage trams were due out on Monday, allocated routes A-G.
A: Centenary 648
B: Balloon 717
C: Balloon 713
D: Balloon 701
E: Boat 600
F: Bolton 66
G: Frigate 736
Once again, all 7 ran as per their original allocations and again I managed to travel on 6 out of 7 trams. The use of Balloon 713 on this day was a highlight as I havent seen or been on this particular tram since July 2011. Journeys included Cabin - Bispham - Pleasure Beach on 713, Pleasure Beach - North Pier on 736, North Pier - Bispham on 701, Bispham - Little Bispham - Pleasure Beach on 717, Pleasure Beach - North Pier on 66 and Pleasure Beach - Cabin on 648. The photo above shows Balloon 713 in all over advert for Hounds Hill Shopping Centre working the first heritage working of the day from Pleasure Beach - Bispham on 1.5.17.
As well as the heritage workings, the usual diet of Flexities were out with 14 out of 16 seen. Only 003 and 016 weren't seen out over the weekend. Overall, it was a fantastic weekend and the weather was good, which is always a bonus!
My photos from the weekend can be found at: http://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p474188147