Scottish Trains Website: Blog

An hour of BREL Class 318s & 320s at Newton 31.8.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 21:45:20 GMT

	Scotrail Saltire liveried 320320+320411 arrive at Newton with 2L01 12.03 Larkhall - Dalmuir service 31.8.24
	Scotrail Saltire liveried 318253 arrives at Newton with 2F27 12.17 Motherwell - Dalmuir service 31.8.24
	Scotrail Saltire liveried 320401+320322 pause at Newton with 2L02 11.47 Dalmuir - Motherwell service 31.8.24
	Scotrail Saltire liveried 320308+320417 arrive at Newton with 2P02 12.20 service from Glasgow Central via Queens Park 31.8.24
	Scotrail Saltire liveried 320313+318261 arrive at Newton with 2L03 12.33 Larkhall - Dalmuir service 31.8.24
	Scotrail Saltire liveried 318268+320310 arrive at Newton with 2L04 12.17 Dalmuir - Larkhall service 31.8.24
	Scotrail Saltire liveried 318263+318255 pause at Newton with 2C34 12.28 service from Dalmuir - Motherwell 31.8.24
	Scotrail Saltire liveried 320413+318256 are seen at Newton, having arrived with 2M74 12.45 service from Glasgow Central via Maxwell Park 31.8.24

The full list of workings and times

Units	Working	Time
320320+320411	2L01 12.03 Larkhall - Dalmuir	12.26
318253	2F27 12.17 Motherwell - Dalmuir	12.35
320401+320322	2L02 11.47 Dalmuir - Motherwell	12.36
320308+320417	2P02 12.20 Glasgow Central - Newton via Queens Park	12.43
320417+320308	2P03 12.49 Newton - Glasgow Central via Queens Park	12.49
320313+318261	2L03 12.33 Larkhall - Dalmuir	12.53
318268+320310	2L04 12.17 Dalmuir - Larkhall	13.05
320301+320309	2F29 12.17 Cumbernauld - Dalmuir	13.08
318263+318255	2C34 12.28 Dalmuir - Motherwell	13.14
320413+318256	2M74 12.45 Glasgow Central - Newton via Maxwell Park	13.14
318256+320413	2M75 13.19 Newton - Glasgow Central via Maxwell Park	13.19

Glasgow Subway Car 101 on low loader 1.8.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 21:16:06 GMT

On Thursday 1st August, I'd came off the M8 at Govan to stop off at Starbuck to get a cup of tea prior to heading else where, when I noticed a crane over at the Stadler test track so I had to go and investigate! When viewing from the bridge over Edmiston Drive, Glasgow Subway Metro Cammell Power Car 101 was seen on the rear of a low loader also noted was that there was a different set of cars from the previous batch that was there a few days earlier.

Shortly after I arrived, the low loader departed and headed westwards. I followed the low loader and it went to JR Adams scrap yard at George V Docks near Braehead. There were more cars already there, which I assume to be the cars that were stabled outside on the test track the previous week. These were 101, 103, 104, 113, 116, 119, (probably 132), 203 and 205.

Replacing the cars mentioned above at Edmiston Drive were: 107, 110, 117, 121, 124, 129, 133 and 206. By 26th August those cars were joined by 106, 111, 120, 125, 207 and a couple of other cars which it wasn't possible to identify.

The status of the G2 fleet at the moment appears to be:

Scrapped: 101, 102, 103, 104, 108, 109, 113, 114, 115, 116, 119, 122, 123, 127, 131, 132, 203, 205, 208

Stored at Edmiston Drive: 106, 107, 110, 111, 117, 120, 121, 124, 125, 129, 133, 204, 206, 207

Unknown: 105, 112, 118, 126, 130, 201, 202

Preserved: 128

50007+50049 at Perth 25.8.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 22:38:33 GMT

Over the English Bank Holiday Weekend of 24th - 26th August, Pathfinders Railtours operated a 3 day tour departing from Taunton in Somerset called the 'Grampian Highlander', initially using 66306 to haul the train to Gloucester, where 306 was removed and swapped over for newly repainted class 50s 50007 & 50049, which would remain on the tour over the weekend. The tour then made the long journey north, heading to Aberdeen!

Sunday 25th August was day 2 of the 'Grampian Highlander' railtour, which travelled from Aberdeen to Inverness, then Inverness to Perth and back to Aberdeen. Monday 26th was the final day of the tour, departing from Aberdeen and visiting the recently opened branch to Leven, before heading south back to Gloucester and a traction swap back to a class 66 for the final leg to Taunton.

I had went out to photo the tour on the Saturday at Greenfaulds, however, having been cloudy and raining off and on for most of the afternoon, the sun came out just before the tour arrived and was right behind the train and unfortunately the backlighting from the sun wrecked the shot! I knew I wouldn't be able to get any photos on the Monday as I was working (Monday wasn't a Bank Holiday in Scotland), so I decided to make a 2nd attempt to photo the tour and headed up to Perth on the Sunday afternoon!

Rather than heading into the station it's self, I parked on Priory Place, and took photos from St Lenoards Bridge, which overlooks the station and also provides a good vantage point for movements from the south.

Having been a dreadful day weatherwise, I didn't hold out much hope of staying dry, however it did stay mostly dry apart from a couple of showers and the sun also came out very briefly as well! The tour was in the vacinity of the station for around an hour with various movements and shunts to get the stock from Platform 4 (on the Inverness line) to Platform 2 on the Aberdeen line. Below are a few photos of the action with a brief description under the shots. The tour featuring the newly repainted GBRF class 50s: 50007 'Hercules' & 50049 'Defiance' in BR Large Logo livery.


50007 & 50049 have just arrived at Perth working as 1Z50 from Inverness	50007 & 50049 await the departure of BTP liveried Scotrail Turbostar 170405 with 1T84 15.32 Aberdeen - Glasgow Queen Street service

50007 then draws forward out of Platform 4, under the road bridge	Having crossed over to the northbound line and then reversed, 50007 once again approaches the station and will pass through platform 7 and will reverse onto the rear of the train.

50049 then leads the tour out of platform 4 with 50007 now on the rear of the train, initially south before crossing over to head northwards via platform 2	50007 is seen on the rear as the tour snakes across onto the northbound line before reversing back into the station

In a brief moment of sunshine, 50007 now leading, heads the tour stock as it heads into platform 2, now working as 1Z51 to Aberdeen.	After picking up some of the passengers that didn't get back on at Platform 4, the tour departed northwards, 50049 is seen on the rear of the stock as the tour leaves.

37405+56090 and Snowploughs at Larbert 19.8.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 20:10:11 GMT

It's usually rare to see snowploughs out and about in Central Scotland even in the Winter, and even rarer to see them out in the summer! However, on 19th August, with not a drop of snow in sight, only the typical Scottish summer weather: heavy rain, Harry Needle's 37405 + Colas liveried 56090 are seen with the Inverness independent snowploughs (Front ADB965224 and Rear ADB965230) at Larbert as they are about to reverse into Larbert CE Sidings, having worked 7Z33 from Inverness Millburn Yard.

The ploughs will be taken onward from Larbert CE to MOD Eastriggs for storage. The ploughs from Kingmoor and Motherwell TMD should also be collected and transferred to Eastriggs during the week.

Keith and Dufftown Railway 2.8.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 00:23:07 GMT

On Friday 2nd August, I finally managed to tick off a Heritage Railway that I've wanted to visit for a long time: The Keith and Dufftown Railway!

About the Railway

The Keith and Dufftown Railway is the UK's most northerly Heritage Railway, and is situated around 40 miles North East of Aviemore and 55 miles northwest of Aberdeen in the heart of Whisky Country with many Distilleries close to the railway!

The railway's eastern terminus of Keith Town, is an approx 30 minute walk from the National Rail station in Keith, which is on the Aberdeen - Inverness line.

The Keith and Dufftown Railway running for 11 miles from Dufftown railway station to Keith Town via Drummuir and a request stop at Towiemore Halt.

Originally part of the former Great North of Scotland Railway line which linked Aberdeen with Elgin, the line closed to passengers in 1968 but was retained as a freight-only branch for British Rail, mainly for the many local distilleries, with the line truncated at Dufftown. Sporadic visits to the line by the Northern Belle followed and even an Intercity 125 HST visiting the line until complete abandonment of the line in 1991. The line passed into the hands of the Keith and Dufftown Railway Association in 1998 and the branch was severed from the National Network with the removal of some track panels at Keith. The line was re-opened between Keith Town and Dufftown in 2000 and the scenic line passes through forests and farmland and past lochs, glens and distilleries with wildlife to be seen (when I was there, there was plenty of deer that could be seen lineside and crossing the track in front of the train). There are plans to reopen the line from Keith Town up towards the Junction with the main line to enable better access to the line for the public.

Ticket office facilities and toilets are available at both Keith Town and Dufftown, with a gift shop also being available at Keith Town. Food and refreshments are available at The Buffer Stop cafe at Dufftown, which is located in a pair of Mark 1s and a mark 2 carriage (and is open Tuesday - Sunday during the operating season and is so popular that booking is required to sit in).

Trains operate on Fridays - Sundays from Easter till the end of September with departures from Dufftown at 10.30, 13.30 & 15.30 and Keith Town at 11.30, 14.30 and 16.20 (Journeys last approx 40 minutes each way). There are also special events at other times of the year.

Rolling Stock

Motive power on the line is mainly provided by 5x class 108 vehicles, which can be marshalled into 2 car or 3 car formation depending on demand one of the vehicles, DCTL 56491, has been converted into a mobile Function Coach, housing a bar, whisky snug and tables and chairs and can be used as part of the service train. A recent purchase of an ex Northern 3 car class 144 Pacer, also provides a higher capacity unit for busier times and is also used on the first journey of the day. Another recent purchase is of a class 107 multiple unit from the Strathspey Railway, which will be a future restoration project. Another future restoration project is the Class 140 prototype Pacer unit, which was one of the early purchases for the railway. There are also 3 small shunters which are used for Driving experiences and for works trains on the line.

Multiple unit Fleet List

Vehicle Type >	DBMS	DMSL	DMCL	DMCL	DTCL	Unit Name	Livery	Notes	Image
Class
107			52030	52008			British Railways Green (faded)	Purchased 2023 from Strathspey Railway, awaiting restoration
108		51568		52053		Spirit of Banffshire	British Railways Green	Both 51568 & 52053 are power vehicles meaning the unit can tackle the line's gradients with ease! 51568 facing Dufftown and 52053 facing Keith. Both vehicles arrived in 2001 and the KDRA took ownership of them in 2005.
108	53628				56224	Spirit of Speyside	British Railways Green	53628 faces in the Dufftown direction. Built in 1958 and was based in Chester / Manchester area before transferring to Oxfordshire. Part of the final class 108 working in Oct 1993 and stored at Southall till 1998. Moved to East Anglia Railway Museum in 1998, then to Dufftown on 7th March 2000. 56224 faces in the Keith direction and is a driving trailer. Built in 1959 and initially allocated to Bletchley depot and worked on the Cambridge - Oxford line. Was withdrawn in early 1990s and moved to Mid Norfolk Railway followed by Ecclesbourne Valley Railway in 2004. Arrived at Dufftown on 17th March 2010.
108					56491	'Uisge Beatha'	British Railways Green	56491 faces in the Keith direction. Built in 1960, and after withdrawal eventually ended up at Dufftown. In 2022, the vehicle was converted into a mobile function coach known as the 'Dram Tram' complete with bar, snug and seating compartment. Can carry 28 passengers.

Fleet Number	DMS	DMSL	Livery	Notes	Photo
140001	55500	55501	BR Blue Grey	1981 built prototype Pacer unit. Was initially used as an evaluation unit before becoming a driver training unit at Neville Hill Depot in Leeds in 1985 before falling out of use. The unit moved to Dufftown in 1994 and work has been carried out for restoration as and when time, resources and funds permit.

Fleet Number	DMS	MS	DMSL	Livery	Notes	Photo
144022	55822	55858	55845	Debranded Northern	Built in 1986/87 in Derby and mainly used on services around York and Leeds. Withdrawn in 2000, 144022 moved to Dufftown on 8th September 2000. 144022 Generally used on the 10.30 service from Dufftown and 11.30 return

Trip Report

I left home around 8.15am and drove the 188 miles up to Dufftown via the M9, A9 and A95 with a 30 minute stop off at Pitlochry and 15 minutes at Boat of Garten, arriving at Dufftown around 1pm. Due to the current temporary timetable in operation on Scotrail services at the moment, I decided not to risk going by train.

Upon arrival I bought a ticket for the 13.30 departure (£16 for a 22 mile round trip which is very reasonable) then went to the Sidings cafe, which is housed in a pair of Mark 1s and a Mark 2f on the platform to buy a tea and cake before getting on the train. The train was formed of DTCL 56491 'Uisge Beatha' + DMCL 52053 +DMCL 51568. I sat in 51568 near to the rear cab so as to get the drivers eye view out through the cab and sat on one of the very comfortable 3+2 seats! It was a lovely journey through the countryside and all too soon, we were at the terminus at Keith Town, where I got off and had a look about the station and got a few photos of our train.

On the 14.30 return journey I once again sat in 51568 and this time had the forward view! We stopped at Drummuir for 5 minutes, which allowed passengers to get off and have a look at some carved wooden statues near the station as well as the view of the nearby river. Once back on, we made our way towards Dufftown passing some deer on the way and having to stop a couple of times as they were on or very near to the track.

We were soon back in Dufftown where I got some photographs of the station and of the recently acquired class 107, awaiting restoration and of DBMS 53628, 'Spirit of Speyside' which was parked up further down the platform. After the 15.30 service departed, I asked if I could photograph 144022 and 140001, which were stabled in a siding outwith the station and the chairman of the KDR Association took me up to see them and also let me go aboard both units for some photos of the passenger saloons and the drivers cabs!

Once I had a look round, it was unfortunately time to head back home. The return journey was not quite as straight forward due to an accident on the A9, leading to a diversion through Aviemore, the closure of the M80 at Haggs (and diversion via Kilsyth and Croy) and the M73/74 junction at Maryville (diversion via Uddingston and Bothwell) , meaning that it took over 5 hours to get home!

I had a fantastic visit to the Keith and Dufftown railway and will definately return there! The railway is very enthusiast friendly, the volunteers and staff were all extremely friendly and could not do enough for you and I would like to say a huge thanks to the chairman, who showed me round the 144 and 140 for taking the time to do this! I would thoroughly recommend a visit! More information on the KDR can be found on their website: https://keith-dufftown-railway.co.uk/

Glasgow Subway G2 stock last day in service 28.6.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 19:42:39 GMT

28th June was the final day in service for the Glasgow Subway's 2nd Gen stock consisting of 1977 built Metro Cammell motors and 1992 built Hunslet Barclay central trailers.

Initially, it was announced that one train per circle would run between 1pm and 4pm, however due to demand it was closer to 5.30pm before they returned to depot, with both sets carrying out an additional couple of runs around the circle each!

The final servicable trains were in service, one per circle and were formed of 106+207+120 and 119+203+103. 106+207+120 worked on diagram 16 on the Inner Circle & 119+203+103 worked diagram 6 on the Outer circle. Due to the number of enthusiasts and regular passengers wanting to take photos etc, it was taking longer than normal to do a full circuit with longer than normal dwell times at stations.

119+203+103 returned to depot first, terminating at Govan and with 103 leading, returned to Broomloan depot wrong line. Shortly after, 106+207+120 exited service at Govan at 17.24 and after quite a few photos and videos from well wishers, it returned to Broomloan depot, bringing 44 years of service to an end for the 2nd Gen stock.

More withdrawn Glasgow Subway G2 Stock 23.6.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 21:53:33 GMT

With the Stadler compound at Edmiston Drive almost empty of G3 Stadler stock (apart from 315 which was stabled on the test track), it was possible to get a side shot of some of the latest batch of withdrawn G2 stock awaiting their fate.

The stock includes trailer 205 and Met Cam Power Cars 104 (in advertising livery), 113 & 116. Going by the advertising livery, the 5th vehicle which is partially visible is either 118 or 125. There is likely to be at least 1 possibly 2 more power cars behind the shed. 23.6.24

Confirmed withdrawn and / or disposed of cars to date are: 102, 104, 108, 109, 113, 114, 115, 116, 122, 123, 127, 128 (preserved), 131, 205 & 208

The final G2 cars are expected to run for the last time on Friday 28th June between 1pm and 3pm with one train per circle.

https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p766507381

Balloon 700 to North Station 15.6.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 22:26:55 GMT

History is made on 15th June 2024 as Balloon 700 becomes the first of Blackpool's Heritage tram fleet to carry passengers on the new extension to North Station. The short 500 metre extension connects North Station to the Promenade at North Pier with tram services being split into 3: service T1 is Fleetwood - Starr Gate, T2 is Fleetwood - North Station and T3 is North Station to Starr Gate, all 3 services are due to run at 30 minute intervals scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p493681382

Glasgow Subway Met Cam Car at Riverside Museum 14.6.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 23:04:28 GMT

After operating on the Inner Circle on diagram 12 as the rear part of a 3 car formation consisting of 111 (leading), 107 (centre) and 128 (rear) on Monday 10th June, Met Cam Motor 128 was withdrawn from service and was thoroughly cleaned in preparation for its imminent transfer into preservation. Having been selected as it was in the best condition of the remaining Met Cam motor cars, 128 was loaded onto a low loader on Thursday 13th June and transferred from Broomloan depot, its home of 44 years, to its new home: Glasgow Riverside Museum where it is to be preserved and put on display as a static exhibit!

128 was available for public display from Friday 14th June.

The photos show 128 on display in the Riverside Museum on Friday 14th June.
https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p766507381

Chasing 37409 in the West Highlands 8.4.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 19:55:48 GMT

On 3rd April, Locomotive Services Limited's Scotrail liveried 37409, three Scotrail liveried Mark 3s, DBSO 607 and British Railways Green liveried 37667 headed north from Crewe to Fort William. Later that same day, LSL announced that they would be running a tour from Fort William to Mallaig and return on Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th April, with a walk on price of £40 per head.

Departing on the one free path available (8.52 from Fort William with a 40 minute break at Mallaig and returning at 11.30, arriving at 13.38)

I decided last minute to head up to Fort William to catch 37409! Leaving home at 5.30am I drove up towards Arrochar and Tarbet, where I made a brief stop off to photograph the Caledonian Sleeper! I then got back on the road and got stuck behind a couple of slow moving vehicles. I reached Fort William just as 409 was departing the station, so managed to get in front of it and headed to Glenfinnan Viaduct to photo it there. Once it passed, I got back on the road and headed westwards.

I missed the turning for Polnish so headed Arisaig. I managed to get a few photos of the working there, then after it left, headed onwards to Mallaig, where I caught it coming in to the western terminus. After a few photos of it arriving and in the station, I headed back to Polnish to get a few photos there, then stopped off a couple of miles west of Glenfinnan where I photoed the return working from a small bridge over the line ( ending up soaked up to my ankles in a waterlogged field!). I headed back to Glenfinnan for more photos at the viaduct then back towards Fort William, where I got some photos from the Earl of Inverness Road Bridge. After this, it was time to head back home!

Here are some photos from the trip!

A West Highland Weekend 29.3.24 - 1.4.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 22:24:04 GMT

From Friday 29th March - Monday 1st April, I was on a family weekend away to Ardgarten, on the shore of Loch Long, 2 miles from Arrochar and around an hour from Glasgow by car via the A82 and 90 mins by train.

Ardgartan is a lovely place to visit and I'd recommend it not just for the passing trains but also for the stunning views of Loch Long, looking down to Arrochar and of the wildlife including seals, dolphins, thrushes, ducks, geese and robins!

The location allowed for a view of the West Highland Line and the passing workings heading along the hillside. Ardgartan is also handy for Arrochar and Tarbet station, allowing some shots of the Class 156 workings to Oban and Mallaig.

Luckily when I was there the LSL Scotrail Push Pull set tour to Oban was due to pass through so managed to get a few photos of it!

Here is what was running over the weekend. I was there from 3pm on the Friday till 12pm on Easter Monday and managed to see the majority of the listed trains and photo a few of them

Friday 29th March
Fleet Number	Headcode	Time	From	To	Due	Notes
156457	1Y31	5.20	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban	6.39
73967+66739	1Y11	4.50	Edinburgh Waverley	Fort William	7.09
156499+153377	1Y20	5.17	Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	7.10
156493+156453+156474	1Y21	8.21	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban and Mallaig	9.38
153380+156492	1Y42	6.03	Mallaig	Glasgow Queen Street	10.06
156457	1Y22	8.57	Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	10.43
153377+156499	1Y25	10.36	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban	12.00
66740	0B45	8.07	Fort William Alcan	Millerhill	12.30
156457+156492+156458	1Y23	12.22	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban and Mallaig	13.40	156457 to Oban
156477+156446+156493	1Y44	10.10	Mallaig and Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	14.09	156493 from Oban
156499+153377	1Y26	14.41	Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	16.27
153373+156445	1Y29	16.34	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban	17.57
156446+153380+156477	1Y27	18.23	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban and Mallaig	19.37	156446 to Oban
156474+156453+156457	1Y48	16.05	Mallaig and Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	20.06	156457 from Oban
156445	1Y32	20.39	Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	22.18
73967+66739	1B01	19.50	Fort William	London Kings Cross	22.44

Saturday 30th March
Fleet Number	Headcode	Time	From	To	Due	Notes
156453	1Y31	5.20	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban	6.39
73967+66739	1Y11	4.50	Edinburgh Waverley	Fort William	7.09
156446+153373	1Y20	5.17	Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	7.10
156493+156457+156474	1Y21	8.21	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban and Mallaig	9.38	156493 to Oban
153380+156477	1Y42	6.03	Mallaig	Glasgow Queen Street	10.06
156453	1Y22	8.57	Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	10.43
47712	1Z62	8.23	Edinburgh Waverley	Oban	11.03	LSL Tour
156373+156446	1Y25	10.36	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban	12.00
156453+156477+156500	1Y23	12.22	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban and Mallaig	13.40	156453 to Oban
156492+156458+156493	1Y44	10.10	Mallaig and Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	14.09	156493 from Oban
47712	1Z63	14.22	Oban	Edinburgh Waverley	16.44
156453+153373	1Y26	16.11	Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	17.56
153377+156499	1Y29	16.34	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban	17.57
156492+156458	1Y27	18.23	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban and Mallaig	19.37	156492 to Oban
156457+156474+156446	1Y48	16.05	Mallaig and Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	20.06	156446 from Oban
156499	1Y32	20.39	Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	22.18

Sunday 31st March
Fleet Number	Headcode	Time	From	To	Due	Notes
cancelled	1Y29	9.03	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban	10.22
cancelled	1Y21	9.56	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban	11.12
156474+156453+156493	1Y23	12.20	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban and Mallaig	13.38	156474 to Oban
156492+156458+156500	1Y24	12.11	Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	14.09	156492 from Oban
cancelled	1Y26	16.11	Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	17.57
cancelled	1Y30	17.04	Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	18.55
156500+156458+156492	1Y27	18.21	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban and Mallaig	19.36	156500 to Oban
156477+156453+156474	1Y48	16.01	Mallaig and Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	20.06	156474 from Oban
73967+66739	1B01	19.50	Fort William	London Kings Cross	22.44

Monday 1st April
Fleet Number	Headcode	Time	From	To	Due	Notes
156457	1Y31	5.20	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban	6.39
73967+66739	1Y11	4.50	Edinburgh Waverley	Fort William	7.09
156500+153377	1Y20	5.17	Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	7.10
156446+156474+156453	1Y21	8.21	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban and Mallaig	9.38	156446 to Oban
156492	1Y42	6.03	Mallaig	Glasgow Queen Street	10.06
156457	1Y22	8.57	Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	10.43
153377+156500	1Y25	10.36	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban	12.00
156457+156492+156477	1Y23	12.22	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban and Mallaig	13.40	156457 to Oban
156493+156458+156446	1Y44	10.10	Mallaig and Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	14.09	156446 from Oban
156500+153377	1Y26	14.41	Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	16.27
156380+156450	1Y29	16.34	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban	17.57
156493+153370+156458	1Y27	18.23	Glasgow Queen Street	Oban and Mallaig	19.37	156493 to Oban
156474+156453+156457	1Y48	16.05	Mallaig and Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	20.06	156457 from Oban
156450	1Y32	20.39	Oban	Glasgow Queen Street	22.18
73967+66739	1B01	19.50	Fort William	London Kings Cross	22.44

Glasgow Subway withdrawn Met Cam vehicles 17.3.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 22:28:37 GMT

With the introduction to service of the Glasgow Subway Stadler Generation 3 stock gathering pace (5 of the 17 strong fleet of 4 car trains now in service), a start has been made on withdrawing some of the Generation 2 Met Cam and Barclay stock.

Officially withdrawn in March 2024 were Met Cam power cars 115, 127 and 131, which were all long term out of service, however in recent weeks, these have been joined by Met Cam cars 102, 109, 114 and 123 as well as Barclay trailer 208. These vehicles have been moved from the main Broomloan Depot complex up to the Stadler testing and storage facility up at the end of the test track, which is visible from the Bridge over Edmiston Drive near Ibrox stadium, offering a rare chance to see the 2nd Generation stock in daylight.

There are 7 vehicles visible, 6 of them identifiable with a zoom lens on a camera from the bridge with one partially visible but not identifiable from the rear of the Ibrox overflow car park, looking at the images, there is possibly one more vehicle behind the storage shed.

From the bridge the order of the vehicles is as follows: Barclay Trailer 208, Met Cams 109, 102, 114, 131 & 123. The 7th vehicle isn't identifiable as the cab end is obscured by a shed. it is possible to get a 2/3rds side on shot of Met Cam 102 from the car park. The remaining vehicles are obscured by Stadler G3 stock.

There were four of the Stadler fleet visible when I visited: 311, 312, 315 and an unidentified unit.

https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p656518172

Glasgow Subway Fleetlist March 2024

(Scottish Trains Website) — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 23:06:47 GMT

In the past couple of weeks, following the introduction to service of the first of the new Stadler units, the withdrawal of Glasgow Subway's 45 year old Met Cam Motor and 32 year old Barclay Trailer fleet has begun. Three long term out of service Met Cam motors which haven't ran in months were officially withdrawn a couple of weeks back, however they have been joined by some more Met Cam motors and one Barclay trailer.

Until Friday 12th April, at least 7 visible vehicles were stored out in the open at the Stadler compound at the end of the test track at Broomloan depot. 6 of the 7 were identifiable using a zoom lens on a camera from the Edminston Drive bridge.

In order from the bridge were 208, 109, 102, 114, 131 and 123 the others were unidentifiable. On 12th April, they were removed by low loader to S Norton and Co Scrapyard at King George V docks, Govan. I will update the fleetlist as and when other withdrawals of Met Cam or Barclay cars take place or other Stadler sets enter service.

Number	Vehicle Type	Built by	Entered Service	Current Livery	Status	Notes
101	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	Download Railway Guardian, All over advert	withdrawn	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive till 1st August, when moved to S Norton Scrapyard, KGV Docks, Govan
102	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 03.24	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive till 12th April when moved to S Norton Scrapyard, KGV Docks, Govan
103	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 28.6.24	Part of the final G2 train to run on the Outer Circle, Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive till 1st August, when moved to S Norton Scrapyard, KGV Docks, Govan
104	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Net Zero Commitment livery	Withdrawn 06.24	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive till 1st August, when moved to S Norton Scrapyard, KGV Docks, Govan
105	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn
106	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 28.6.24	Part of the last G2 train to run on the Inner Circle
107	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn	Stored in the Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive
108	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	withdrawn 03.24	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive till 12th April when moved to S Norton Scrapyard, KGV Docks, Govan
109	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 03.24	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive till 12th April when moved to S Norton Scrapyard, KGV Docks, Govan
110	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn
111	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn
112	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn
113	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 06.24	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive
114	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 03.24	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive till 12th April when moved to S Norton Scrapyard, KGV Docks, Govan
115	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 27.3.23	Withdrawn with Train Control Fault. Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive till 12th April when moved to S Norton Scrapyard, KGV Docks, Govan
116	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 06.24	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive
117	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive
118	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	Scottish Power / COP 26 advert livery	Withdrawn
119	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 28.6.24	Part of the final G2 train to run on the Outer Circle, Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive till 1st August, when moved to S Norton Scrapyard, KGV Docks, Govan
120	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 28.6.24	Part of the final G2 train to run on the Inner Circle,
121	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive
122	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	N/A	Scrapped	Withdrawn 2015 and scrapped circa 2017 to provide spare parts for other vehicles
123	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 3.24	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive till 12th April when moved to S Norton Scrapyard, KGV Docks, Govan
124	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive
125	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	Scottish Power / COP 26 advert livery	Withdrawn
126	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn
127	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 18.6.23	Withdrawn with brake resistor fault. Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive till 12th April when moved to S Norton Scrapyard, KGV Docks, Govan
128	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 10.6.24	In Preservation at the Riverside Museum, Glasgow. Transferred from Broomloan Depot on 13th June, on display from 14th June.
129	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive
130	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	Glasgow Subway 1896-2016 120 years All over Grey livery with orange doors	Withdrawn
131	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 4.8.23	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive till 12th April when moved to S Norton Scrapyard, KGV Docks, Govan
132	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Net Zero Commitment livery	Withdrawn	Used for the Inaugaration of the new system by the Queen 1.11.79
133	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive. Used for the Inaugaration of the new system by the Queen 1.11.79
201	Trailer	Hunslet Barclay	1992	Scottish Power / COP 26 advert livery	Withdrawn
202	Trailer	Hunslet Barclay	1992	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn
203	Trailer	Hunslet Barclay	1992	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 28.6.24	Part of the final G2 train to run on the Outer Circle, Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive till 1st August, when moved to S Norton Scrapyard, KGV Docks, Govan
204	Trailer	Hunslet Barclay	1992	SPT Net Zero Commitment livery	withdrawn
205	Trailer	Hunslet Barclay	1992	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 6.24	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive till 1st August, when moved to S Norton Scrapyard, KGV Docks, Govan
206	Trailer	Hunslet Barclay	1992	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive
207	Trailer	Hunslet Barclay	1992	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 28.6.24	Part of the final G2 train to run on the Inner Circle, Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive till 1st August, when moved to S Norton Scrapyard, KGV Docks, Govan
208	Trailer	Hunslet Barclay	1992	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	Withdrawn 03.24	Stored in Stadler Compound, Edmiston Drive till 12th April when moved to S Norton Scrapyard, KGV Docks, Govan
301	Unit	Stadler	2024	White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	in service	entered service Jan 2024
302	Unit	Stadler	2023	White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	in service	entered service 11.12.23
303	Unit	Stadler	2024	White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	in service	entered service Feb 2024
304	Unit	Stadler	2024	White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	in service	entered service March 2024
305	Unit	Stadler	2024	White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	in service	entered service March 2024
306	Unit	Stadler	2023	White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	in service	entered service 11.12.23
307	Unit	Stadler	2024	White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	in service	entered service March 2024
308	Unit	Stadler	2024	White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	in service	entered service April 2024
309	Unit	Stadler	2024	White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	in service	entered service April 2024
310	Unit	Stadler		White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	in service	entered service April 2024
311	Unit	Stadler		White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	in service	entered service June 2024
312	Unit	Stadler		White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	in service	entered service June 2024
313	Unit	Stadler		White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	not entered service yet	In Stadler compound at end of the test track
314	Unit	Stadler		White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	not entered service yet
315	Unit	Stadler		White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	not entered service yet	In Stadler compound at end of the test track
316	Unit	Stadler		White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	In service	Entered Service July 2024
317	Unit	Stadler		White with black window surrounds & cab ends and orange doors	In Service	Entered Service July 2024

320414+320414 at Motherwell 15.2.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 22:19:02 GMT

Scotrail Saltire liveried 320413+320414 pause at Motherwell with 2B04 6.59 service to Carstairs 15.2.23 https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p334752891/edad3cc78

92023 at Motherwell 15.2.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 22:16:10 GMT

Caledonian Sleeper liveried 92023 and Mark 5 sleeper set pause at Motherwell with 1S26 23:50 London Euston - Glasgow Central Caledonian Sleeper service 15.2.23 https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p334752891/edad3c2cb

Merseyrail Visit 14.2.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 14:29:02 GMT

As part of my week off, I decided to head back down to Merseyside for some more photos and rides of the remaining Merseyrail class 507s. I drove to Ainsdale and parked up there. As there are now 4 out of 10 Southport - Hunts Cross diagrams that are now operated by 777s, it was going to be an hour before a 507 diagram into Liverpool so I caught 777020 into Liverpool Central. At Liverpool Central, I changed over onto the Wirral Line and caught 777005 to Hamilton Square, then changed there for 507020 out to New Brighton.

There were 3 class 507s out on the New Brighton service, which is a 15 minute timetable, however only 3 of the 4 diagrams were running as one diagram an hour is not running due to training on class 777s giving 2 15 minutes service and a 30 minute gap. As 507016 was one of 2 507s that I didnt have a photo of, I waited to catch it and ride it back into Liverpool Central.

Passing Birkenhead North depot I saw 507017 shunting 507002 out of the shed and 507032+013 stored in the shed awaiting scrapping. Due to a shortage of 777s, 507033 was seen operating on the West Kirby line.

Back at Liverpool Central, I caught 507015+507011 back to Ainsdale, however due to heavy loading, the sets lost time reaching there almost 12 minutes late. I got off at Ainsdale and a couple of minutes later, 507003+507018 appeared also heading to Southport (and were almost empty in comparison). 507003 has recently returned from overhaul and is fitted with a track camera on the second mans window of one of the cab ends (the window has been panelled over) and was the last 507003 that I had yet to see!

I then spent about an hour at Ainsdale awaiting the return of 507018+003 and in the meantime photoed the passing workings, which were a mix of 3 and 6 car sets and included BR Blue / Grey liveried 507001 and another unit I haven't seen very often, 507010. After catching 018+003, it was time to head home.

Units seen:

Southport - Hunts Cross

777022, 777030, 777013, 777021 (Sandhills - Hillside training run), 777020, 507015+507011, 507003+507018, 507031. 507001, 507029, 507010+507007

Chester line

777005

West Kirby line

507033

New Brighton line

777034 (stabled at New Brighton), 507016, 507020, 507030

Birkenhead North depot

230006, 230008, 230010, 507017, 507002, 507032, 507013

Stored and Spares Donor locos at Carnforth 14.2.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 13:11:33 GMT

The West Coast Rail depot at Carnforth is visible from the platform at Carnforth station. Since my last visit there a few years ago, many of the stored and spares donor locomotives owned by West Coast have been moved over towards the station end of the site and are visible from the station.

West Midlands Metro 10.2-13.2.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 12:57:23 GMT

The West Midlands Metro opened in 1999 and originally ran from Wolverhampton St Georges to Birmingham Snow Hill and was operated by 16 AnsaldoBreda built T69 trams, which were similar to the T68 trams which originally operated on the Manchester Metrolink. The T69 fleet were withdrawn by 2015 and replaced by a fleet of 21 CAF Urbos 3 trams, more of these trams were ordered with future expansion planned. In 2015, the line was extended from Snow Hill to Grand Central (New Street). The next extension from Grand Central to Library opened in 2019, however this section did now have OHLE and required the trams to be retrofitted with batteries to operate on this section.

A fleet of 21 CAF Urbos 100 trams were ordered for future extensions and entered service from 2021, however at this point there were a number of CAF Urbos 3 trams withdrawn for repair after cracks were discovered in the frames and later with panel issues. The line was further extended from Library to Edgbaston Village in 2022. At the Wolverhampton end of the line, an extension to Wolverhampton station opened in 2023 allowed for a second branch in the city.

Future extensions are in progress with a line from Wednesbury to Waterfront Merry Hill (and eventually on to Brierley Hill) and in the city centre a branch from Bull Street to High Street Deritend (eventually to Sollihull)

I was on a family holiday down to Birmingham and spent some time riding on and photographing the trams on the West Midlands Metro. Having 4 days in the area, I managed to photograph a number of trams in the City Centre as well as riding them between Library and Wednesbury. I found that it was mostly CAF Urbos 100 trams that were out (numbered 40 and above) and only 1 CAF urbos 3 (28) seen over the few days. There are a number of decent photography spots within the city centre, especially in the area around the Library and City Hall. I would recommend a visit!

The Prestwick Shuttle 3.2.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 20:53:57 GMT

I had a trip on Scotrail's Prestwick Town - Ayr shuttle service earlier.

Starting from Prestwick Town, 156445 arrives into Prestwick Town with 5A44 Prestwick Town - Prestwick Town ECS working

The reason for the shuttle was the Station Hotel Fire. 156445 is seen at Ayr having arrived with 2A24 12.23 service from Prestwick Town. The remains of the fire damaged and now partially demolished former Station Hotel are in the background.

Work is progressing on demolishing the totally gutted south wing of the former Station Hotel. The fire in the hotel has meant the limitation of services to 2 car class 156s using the north end of Platform 4, with no services south of Ayr towards Stranraer, covered by replacement buses.

Just down from the station, Scotrail Saltire liveried 156445 passes over the River Ayr with 2A27 12.55 Ayr - Prestwick Town service

Round the other side of the bridge, there is a walkway over the River Ayr crossing. The other unit on the shuttle, Scotrail Saltire liveried 156513 passes over the bridge over the River Ayr with 2A26 12.56 Prestwick Town - Ayr

Scotrail Saltire liveried 156513 is seen at Ayr having arrived with 2A26 12.56 Ayr - Prestwick Town and awaiting departure back to Prestwick Town

Back at Prestwick and Scotrail Saltire liveried 156513 departs Prestwick Town with 5A26 12.35 Prestwick Town - Prestwick Town ECS
working

The ECS working involves the unit heading from Prestwick Town to Barassie Junction 156445 is seen at Barassie with 5A66 15.05 ECS working

Merseyrail day out 27.1.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 20:42:22 GMT

On 27th January, I decided to drive down to the Merseyrail area and it was quite an eventful trip!

I reached New Brighton around 12 o clock and the Wirral lines were all massively disrupted following the failure of a 777 on a Chester service on the Mersey loop. There was a 40 minute gap between trains on the New Brighton line so I headed to a spot that I'd seen in Martyn Hilbert's Merseyrail book just outside Wallasey Grove Road Station and got a couple of pics there of late running 507011 with 777016 practically right up its tail.

Time was getting on as I was well over an hour out there waiting for those shots and wanted to try a few other spots so had to miss out Birkenhead North and Bidston and head over the river to Leeds Street to catch some of units going up and down the incline to /from Moorfields as I've been wanting to do there for ages! Luckily 507001 was running 10 + late so I managed to get it there!

Then I drove up to Formby to photo there and caught 001 up to Southport. Got a few pics up there then got 014 down to Ainsdale and got some pics there, then 018 back to Formby. Got a couple of pics there including 001 in the dark as it returned back to Southport. I had been going to stop off at Headbolt lane for a couple of pics there but had run out of time and had to head home!

Units spotted:

New Brighton (stabled): 507028, 777034

New Brighton service: 507011, 777016

Southport - Hunts Cross service: 507014, 017, 033, 018, 023, 015, 007, 029, 030, 001

Stabled at Southport: 507021, 777027, 777004, 777036

Ormskirk: 777022

Headbolt Lane: 777140, 777148

318259+320401 at Newton 26.1.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 20:04:39 GMT

Scotrail Saltire liveried 318259+320401 arrive into Newton with 2F37 14.17 Cumbernauld - Dalmuir service 26.1.24

86101 tnt 87002 at Hillington West 13.1.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 20:02:20 GMT

Locomotive Services Limited's Intercity liveried 86101 and 87002 top and tail a matching set of Mark 3s through Hillington West with 1Z31 13.35 Barassie Junction - Glasgow Central leg of 'The Ayr Extension' Railtour 13.1.24

385006 at Wishaw 6.1.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 19:58:46 GMT

Scotrail's Class 385: 385006 is seen crossing Marshall Street Bridge on the approach to Wishaw station at sunset with 1C60 15.34 Glasgow Central - Edinburgh Waverley via Carstairs service 6.1.24

Last class 508 standing 4.1.24

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 19:56:46 GMT

On 3rd January Merseyrail's 508108 and 508114 were withdrawn from service. The withdrawal of this pair of class 508s left 508104 as the final class 508 remaining in service. Seen at Southport, 508104 came in working as 2S37 from Hunts Cross and departed as 2U44 to Hunts Cross. 104 was withdrawn a week later along with 507004. Both units were hauled from Birkenhead North to Crewe South Junction awaiting further movement to Newport for scrapping on 5th February.

Bo'ness Diesel Gala 29.12.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 19:28:09 GMT

The Bo'ness Diesel Gala took place on 29th December, with Colas Class 70s 70807 and 70813 the visiting locos and home fleet locos 37403 and 27001 operating the services. 47643 was on display in the Bay Platform and 37025 was used as a shunter. Here are a few photos from the Gala.

Glasgow Subway new Stadler trains 27.12.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 19:12:59 GMT

Glasgow Subway's new 3rd Generation Stadler Subway units 306 and 302 are seen at Cessnock, Ibrox, Govan, Partick and Kelvinhall on 27th December.

Both units were in service until around 12.40pm with 306 on the front diagram and 302 behind. Both work on consecutive diagrams on the Outer circle at the moment in case of failure that the other unit can rescue the failed one.

The procedure for returning to depot appears to be that the first unit terminates at Govan, then returns wrong line back to the ramps to Broomloan Depot, whilst the 2nd unit terminates at Ibrox and heads straight to the ramps back to depot.

First impressions are that they are so much quieter than the Metro Cammell / Barclay stock, have smoother, faster accelleration and that the interior seems much brighter and more spacious!

Christmas Time at Edinburgh 21.12.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 18:59:57 GMT

I headed over to Edinburgh after work on 21st December to catch a couple of interesting workings at Edinburgh Waverley.

First up was British Railways Green liveried 40013 'Andania' which departed heading southbound with 1Z36 16.53 Edinburgh - Leicester return leg of the 'The Edinburgh Christmas Statesman Railtour'

Later on and West Coast Railways 47813 & 47848 top and tail a set of BR Blue / Grey Mark 2s as they prepare to depart with 1Z31 'Edinburgh Polar Express' working to Portobello Junction

Up on Princes Street the trams are seen passing the Big Wheel and the Star Flyer at the Christmas Village

Before heading home, I saw Scotrail Inter7city HST power car 43028 awaits its next duty at Edinburgh Waverley with the Big Wheel, Star Flyer and Scott Monument on Princes Street lit up in the background

321419 at Holytown 8.12.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 23:24:47 GMT

Varamis Rail's newest addition to it's fleet, 321419, which has been converted to carry parcels instead of passengers, passes through Holytown with 1Z07 Mossend - Birmingham International parcels working 8.12.23

Merseyrail trip and 507001 in BR Blue-grey 2.12.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 23:21:52 GMT

In late November 2023, Merseyrail unveiled 507001 in a modified version of the original BR Blue/Grey livery carried by the fleet when they first entered service in 1978. The livery has been modified with all Grey doors to meet PRM regulations. The livery is also to commemorate the future withdrawal of the fleet during mid 2024.

On to the trip and on hearing the news of 001's relivery, I decided to drive down to Liverpool to get some photos while the unit was still clean! On the day in question, 001 was in service on the West Kirby branch so it meant a drive through Liverpool and over to Birkenhead North for some photos! Heavy traffic in Liverpool meant that the journey took longer than expected and that I didn't reach Birkenhead North station till 1pm (about an hour later than expected).

Luckily I caught 507001 a few times passing through and 001 looked fantastic! As well as 001, there was also the opportunity to photograph some of the class 508s, which were facing imminent withdrawal at the time and indeed at the time of writing have all been withdrawn and scrapped with 508136, one of the units photographed on the day, being withdrawn just a few days later.

On 2nd December the units passing through Birkenhead North were:

New Brighton line: 508131, 507030, 508120, 507004
West Kirkby: 507018, 507001, 777018, 508104, 508136

Thanks to the failure of a class 777 operating on a Chester service on the Mersey Loop, there was chaos in Central Liverpool, with delays and early turn backs on some services to get back to time. Unfortunately I received a notification on my phone whilst in Birkenhead that there was an amber weather warning for snow in Cumbria declared so I took the decision to call it a day around 3.30 after final photo of 507001 and head back up the road alot earlier than planned. It was lucky I did as heavy snow around the M6 between Tebay and Shap almost led to me being stranded, lucky I had left when I did as 30 minutes later and I'd have never made it home to Lanarkshire! Luckily I did though!

Bannockburn Station Road 25.11.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 23:22:48 GMT

Scotrail Inter7city liveried HST power cars 43035 and 43147 top and tail a set of matching mark 3s past Bannockburn Station Road with 1H17 13.33 Edinburgh Waverley - Inverness service
British Railways Green liveried D213 (40013) 'Andania', a late replacement for a poorly 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' passes Bannockburn Station Road with 1Z51 12.57 Dunfermilne City - Edinburgh Waverley Steam Dreams Forth Bridge Lunchtime
Scotrail Saltire liveried 385023+385038 pass Bannockburn Station Road with 2N43 13.49 Glasgow Queen Street - Alloa service
Former Cross Country HST Power car 43285 and Former LNER Power Car 43257 top and tail the Network Rail PLPR Test Train northwards past Bannockburn Station Road with 1Q77 13.35 Mossend - Inverness Millburn working

40013 at Culross 25.11.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 23:18:23 GMT

Viewed from Culross Pier, British Railways Green liveried D213 (40013) 'Andania', a late replacement for a poorly 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' heads along the shoreline of the River Forth with 1Z51 12.57 Dunfermilne City - Edinburgh Waverley Steam Dreams Forth Bridge Lunchtime Tour 25.11.23

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway 28.10.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 23:12:50 GMT

On 28th October, I went to the Multiple Unit Gala at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway to get some photos of the newly repainted class 101 DMU and 143625 making its one and only outing at the railway. Also out and about was the West Yorkshire PTE liveried class 144011 and railbus M79964

Saltcoats Seawall 21.10.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 22:54:56 GMT

Scotrail Saltire liveried 380001+380104 accelerate out of Saltcoats and along the seawall with 2T16 14.07 Largs - Glasgow Central service and 380004+380112 head along the seawall on approach to Saltcoats station with 2T15 13.45 Glasgow Central - Largs services

156495 & 156503 at Girvan 19.10.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 22:50:09 GMT

Following the Ayr Station Hotel Fire in September 2023, Scotrail Class 156s 156495 & 156503 were trapped south of the station without access northwards towards Ayr station. Both units are seen awaiting their next duties at Girvan Station on 19th October 2023

313212 at Eastleigh 13.10.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 22:43:00 GMT

Five months after withdrawal and after a scrapping process that began in July, one Southern liveried class 313 vehicle remains: 62604 from 313212. It is seen awaiting its fate at Eastleigh Arlington works on 13.10.23.

69008 at Eastleigh 13.10.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 22:40:39 GMT

GBRF liveried 69008 passes through Eastleigh with 4Y19 Mountfield Sidings - Southampton West Docks 13.10.23

50007 and 50049 at Bournemouth 11.10.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 22:23:35 GMT

GBRF's 50049 & 50007 with 4 barrier coaches and recently refurbished and reduced to 4 carriages Class 458/4 458425 sandwiched inbetween, passes through Bournemouth with 5X72 Wembley Receptions 1-7 - Bournemouth T&RSMD ECS move 11.10.23

458407+458417 at Bournemouth 11.10.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 22:19:22 GMT

Newly refurbished and reduced from 5 to 4 cars, class 458/4s 458407+458417 pass through Bournemouth with 5Q91 Basingstoke - Bournemouth T&RSMD ECS working 11.10.23

153376 at Eastleigh 10.10.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 22:12:44 GMT

Arriva Blue liveried Network Rail Inspection Train 153376 is seen in the yard at Eastleigh 10.10.23

Clapham Junction 10.10.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 22:10:06 GMT

With London's skyline in the background, a selection of units including a South Western Railways 458, a 444 and 450 are seen around Clapham Junction 10.10.23

London Transport Museum Store 23.9.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 22:00:31 GMT

On 23rd September, I visited the London Transport Museum Store at Acton Depot in London. Catching an early flight from Edinburgh to Gatwick, I then caught a class 377 from Gatwick to Clapham Junction then from Clapham Junction to Wimbledon. From Wimbledon I headed to Acton via the District Line to Earl's Court and then the Picadilly line to Acton Town.


Earl's Court Station	Earl's Court station signage	View from overbridge outside Acton Town

From Acton Town station, its a 2 minute walk to the museum and once inside it's packed to the rafters with items relating to the Underground and London Transport in General. There is a wide selections of Buses, Trams and Underground Trains onsite. The Underground stock was my main interest on the day with plenty of vintage trains and vehicles to see:


Waterloo & City Car 61	Standard Car	1972 Northern Line Stock	1967 Victoria Line Stock

Sleet Car	Standard Car	1938 Stock	L51 Engineering car in Pride Livery

It was a very interesting visit to the Museum. Once I'd been, I had a couple of hours spare before returning home, so I visited Northfields to photo some of the Picadilly 73 stock. Then it was off to Heathrow for a flight back to Edinburgh. More photos from the day at: https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p946354454

LSL Bubblecar 121022 at Rannoch 30.9.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 22:52:08 GMT

Making its debut following a major overhaul and interior refit, Locomotive Services Ltd's Carmine and Cream liveried Bubble Car 121022 (55022) 'Flora' approaches Rannoch with a private charter working as 2Z28 11.30 Mallaig - Rannoch 30.9.23 and is later seen departing with 2Z29 15.26 back to Arisaig.

Also included are photos of the stunning interior of the Bubble Car (I was invited on along with others on the platform for a look round)

The bubble car has been restored for use on private hires.

The Pilgrim Centurion Railtour 16.9.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 22:38:51 GMT

The Pathfinders 'Pilgrim Centurion' Railtour visited Scotland on 16th September 2023 with GBRF's 50007 & 50049 providing the traction.

Photo 1: 50007 & 50049 are seen passing through Kirknewton with Pathfinders Railtour 'The Pilgrim Centurion' working 1Z50 5:30 Swindon - Edinburgh Waverley

Photo 2: 50007 & 50049 are seen passing through Uddingston with the Pathfinders Railtour 'The Pilgrim Centurion' ECS working as 5Z51 13:22 Edinburgh Waverley - Polmadie

Photo 3: 50049 & 50007 are seen passing through Hartwood at slow speed following a local stopper with the Pathfinders Railtour 'The Pilgrim Centurion' ECS working as 5Z52 15:41 Polmadie - Edinburgh Waverley 16.9.23

Photo 4: 50049 & 50007 are seen passing through West Calder with the Pathfinders Railtour 'The Pilgrim Centurion' ECS working as 5Z52 15:41 Polmadie - Edinburgh Waverley

Midland Pullman 43047 & 43046 at Carstairs 9.9.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 21:02:11 GMT

Locomotive Services Limited's Midland Pullman liveried HST set consisting of 43047 & 43046 and a matching set of mark 3s are seen at Float, south of Carstairs with 1Z43 5.46 Paignton - Fort William Day 1 of the 'West Highland Pullman' railtour 9.9.23

Bo'ness Steam Gala 2.9.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 21:00:06 GMT

On 2nd September, the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway held their annual Steam Gala. As well as the home fleet steam locos: Caledonian Railway class 439: 55189 (CR 419), Lord Roberts (No1) & National Coal Board No 19 Fife Area, visiting the railway was Lambton no 29 from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

	National Coal Board No 19 Fife Area in all over black livery shunts the demonstration freight from the Bay Platform
	No1 'Lord Roberts' reverses along the run round line as National Coal Board No 19 Fife Area prepares to shunt the demonstration freight from the main to the Bay Platform
	National Coal Board No 19 Fife Area in all over black livery is seen waiting in the yard near the steam shed
	Visiting loco from the NYMR, 1904 built Olive Green liveried Lambton no 29 is seen reversing onto the headshunt
	1899 built, Coltness Iron Co no 1 'Lord Roberts' heads the 15.45 service from Bo'ness - Manuel
	British Railways Black liveried Caledonian Railway 439 class 55189 (419) awaits it's next duty as visiting loco from the NYMR, Olive Green liveried Lambton no 29 heads towards to water coloumn to take on water
	Visiting loco from the NYMR, Olive Green liveried Lambton no 29 takes on water at the water coloumn at Bo'ness as Calendonian Railway 439 class 55189 (419) awaits it's next duty in the background
	Visiting loco from the NYMR, Olive Green liveried Lambton no 29 is seen hauling the 16.45 Bo'ness - Birkhill demonstration goods train along the foreshore at Bo'ness. A Ford Anglia is seen onboard the Lomac wagon.

70813 and 56105 Dead in tow at Falkirk Grahamston 25.8.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 21:48:56 GMT

70813 with 56105 dead in tow pass through Falkirk Grahamston with the late running (183 late) 6S36 Dalston - Grangemouth tankers 25.8.23

313121 at Leven 19.8.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 21:46:12 GMT

Network Rail liveried dual voltage 313121 'Pan up Pete' is seen stabled at it's new home for preservation at Fife Heritage Railway at Leven 19.8.23

313121 at Queensferry 16.8.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 21:38:57 GMT

Network Rail liveried 313121 is seen on the back of 3 low loaders parked up on the lay-by on the Northbound sliproad of the M90 at the Queensferry Crossing enroute to its new home at the Fife Heritage Railway in Leven 16.8.23

Rail Adventure HST Power Cars 43468+43480 at Drem and Prestonpans 14.8.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 21:34:35 GMT

Rail Adventure HST Power Cars 43468+43480 with 2 HST Stoneblowers in tow are seen waiting in the down loop at Drem and Prestonpans with 6Z44 Peterborough Eastfield Sig - Slateford Depot 14.8.23

43132 tnt 43130 at North Queensferry 7.8.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 21:29:25 GMT

Scotrail Inter7city liveried 43132 and 43130 top and tail mark 3 set HA01 through North Queensferry with 1B84 13.56 Aberdeen - Edinburgh Waverley 7.8.23

37884 and 318250 at Kilmarnock 31.7.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 21:24:17 GMT

Europhoenix liveried 37884 is seen pushing Scotrail Saltire liveried 318250 out of Kilmarnock with 5Q08 Yoker - Kilmarnock Bonnyton Depot 31.7.23

Isle of Wight Island Line 13.7.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 21:21:39 GMT

A selection of photos from my visit to the Isle of Wight on 13th July. More can be found at: https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p830529663

313209, 204, 211 and 205 at Eastleigh 14.7.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 21:44:55 GMT

Awaiting their date with the scrapman, 313209, 204, 211 & 205 head lines of their sister units at Eastleigh Arlington 14.7.23

455865 at Clapham Junction 12.7.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 21:34:59 GMT

South Western Railway's 455865 is seen on the rear of an unidentified 455 as it departs Clapham Junction depot with an unidentified ECS working 12.7.23

378205 at Clapham Junction 12.7.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 21:30:34 GMT

Wearing an eyecatching overall wrap for Pride, a very colourful 378205 awaits departure from Clapham Junction with 2L21 10.23 service to Stratford 12.7.23

Scrap 313s at Eastleigh 11.7.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 20:57:22 GMT

A selection of stored Class 313s awaiting scrapping at Eastleigh Arlington 313203, 204, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 212, 213, 215, 216, 217, 219 &220 on 11.7.23

142003 at Eastleigh 11.7.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 20:42:44 GMT

Greater Manchester PTE orange liveried 142003 is seen outside Eastleigh Arlington works 11.7.23

313211+313205 at Eastleigh 11.7.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 20:38:34 GMT

The end of the line for the Southern Class 313 fleet as 313211+313205, the final pair of class 313s to transfer from Hove to Eastleigh Works as 5Z03 for scrapping are seen arriving into Eastleigh for the final time. 11.7.23

Crich Tramway Village 4.7.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:08:17 GMT

On 4th July after getting a very reasonable last minute deal on thetrainline from Motherwell - Whatstandwell return, I visited Crich Tramway Village!

Whatstandwell on the Nottingham - Matlock line is the station for Crich. It is 1 mile away from Crich, however it is a 30 minute walk up a very steep hill! I'd advise getting a taxi, however it is a 15 minute walk down hill on the return journey!

On arrival at Crich, I bought my ticket, which was £22 and gives you entry for a year. After leaving the ticket office, the path brings you out at the Bowes Lyon Bridge, where there is also a tram stop.

I decided to visit the museum building, which is close to the bridge and the Town End. There are many of the non running fleet in the museum ranging from horse trams to steam tram through to trams built or liveried in each of the decades up to the 1960s. A wander round and looking at the differing details of each of the different types of tram from the streamlined Balloon 712 and PCC tram, the reversed staircases of Lecister 76, to Blackpool's Conduit 4.

Directly opposite the Museum, is the depot fan complete with traverser. The sheds are open to allow you to wander up and down and have a look at each tram in the depot with the opportunity for some shots of the various trams at the front of the depot and if you're lucky, some of them may be out on the depot fan.

Next I visited the workshop viewing area, where the fantastic LCC1 'Bluebird' and Leeds 399 were under maintenance.

After this I spent the rest of the day riding up and down the line on board the 3 service trams out on the day: Glasgow 22, Sheffield 74 & London United Electric Tramways 159 or taking photos from different locations.

I had an absolutely fantastic day at Crich and would highly recommend a visit!

Wensleydale Railway visit 5.7.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 23:03:24 GMT

The Wensleydale Railway is based in North Yorkshire with its main station and depot located in Leeming Bar near Northallerton and handily located for the A1(M) motorway and not far from the A66 at Scotch Corner. Currently as I write this, they are running a service from Leeming Bar to Leyburn on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with a shuttle service also running to Scruton from Leeming Bar on selected days. With the English school holidays being on throughout August, a service will also be running on Tuesdays. For more details on times and services visit their Website: https://wensleydale-railway.co.uk/running-days-2023/

The Wensleydale Railway's line runs to Redmire at the west end and to Northallerton West at the east end of the line, however the line is only operational between Scruton and Leyburn for passenger services at the moment.

I visited on 5th July, and on this day debranded Northern liveried Pacer 142060 was operating the service. Before boarding I had a look round the station and some of the collection of rolling stock, which includes vehicle 51353 from set 117301, which has been converted to a community hub, former Tyne and Wear Metro shunter TW4, BR Dutch liveried 37250, class 14 D9523 and Class 121 Bubble Car 121032.

To see more of the collection of Pacers and assorted 1st Generation DMUs, you need to catch the train! I caught the 11.30 service formed of 142060 and on leaving Leeming Bar, saw 142087, 142090 & 142018 as well as some of the 1st Gen DMUs and EWS liveried 44785. It was a nice run taking 42 minutes to Leyburn and passing 144020, 142028 & 142035 stored in a passing loop further up the line. At Leyburn, there is cafe facilities and a gift shop and with 25 minutes before the return journey, there is enough time to visit both. The return journey departed Leyburn around 12.30 and was soon back at Leeming Bar.

Once back, one of the volunteers let me have a look at LEV1, the railbus that became one of the pacer prototypes, which was located in their shed. He mentioned that Regional Railways liveried 143623 was up at Redmire, where filming was taking place for the new series of Vera, so I decided to drive up there and get some photos of the unit, which is looking superb!

I then drove back to Leeming Bar for some more photos, stopping off enroute at Leyburn for some photos of 142060, then headed back home. I would recommend Wensleydale Railway for a visit, the staff and volunteers are all friendly and welcoming and the ticket prices are good value for money.

Edinburgh Tramway Extension to Newhaven

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 21:51:50 GMT

Having opened on 7th June, the extension of the Edinburgh Tramway appears to have been very popular both with passengers and enthusiasts.

Stretching 3 miles from York Place to Newhaven, there are 8 stops enroute. At York Place, the former single track and terminus platform has been removed and a new stop has been built at Picardy place complete with 2 platforms, in the middle of a large traffic island at the top of Leith Walk and opposite the Omni Centre.

The line continues down Leith Walk on a central reservation with island platform stops at McDonald Road (Opposite Harburn Hobbies) and Balfour Street (with a crossover installed). There is a double platformed stop at Foot of the Walk, which owing to the narrow nature of the street, takes up the full width of the street with the platforms doubling as the pavement.

From here the tramway moves onto Constitution Street, towards Leith Town Hall and the Burns Statue at The Shore Tram Stop. The Shore is located at the junction of Bernard Street with the tramway sharing the roadway with general road traffic for the full length of Constitution Street. The tramway continues on towards Ocean Way, continuing to share with road traffic on sections of it before taking a 90 degree turn onto Ocean Drive and into the island platform of Port of Leith tram stop.

Departing Port of Leith, the line continues along Leith Harbour sharing the roadway with general traffic and passing the Fingal floating 5 star hotel and restaurant and the Victoria Swing Bridge, before taking a 90 degree turn outside the Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre onto a central reservation for the remainder of the journey. Ocen Terminal tram stop features an island tram stop with crossover outside and it is opposite the Shopping Centre. It is possible visit the Royal Yacht Britannia or to catch the tour buses or normal service buses back up to the city centre at Ocean Terminal. From here the line takes a 90 degrees turn to the right onto Melrose Drive passing many harbourside warehouses and businesses as well as a flour mill. The line then reaches a scissors crossover which allows the trams to switch to a free platform at Newhaven. The line curves here into the 2 outer platforms of Newhaven. Beyond the platform, there is enough room for 2 trams to stable until needed.

Photo Locations

There are many nice locations for photographs of the tramway particularly on Ocean Way (between The Shore and Port of Leith) and Ocean Drive (between Port of Leith and Ocean Terminal), here are a few of the best spots for photos:


'The Shore' tram stop at Bernard Street with the Burns Statue to the left and the domed building behind.	Ocean Way near to Port of Leith looking towards The Shore tram stop in the distance.

90 degree curve from Ocean Way to Ocean Drive. Port of Leith tram stop is to the left out of shot.	Port of Leith tram stop looking eastwards

Ocean Drive with RFA Fort Victoria in the Docks in the rear of the image	Ocean Drive

Ocean Terminal	Leaving Ocean Terminal and heading onto Melrose Drive

Leaving Ocean Terminal and heading onto Melrose Drive	Passing Ocean Terminal Car Park

Melrose Drive with Ocean Terminal in the background	Melrose Drive with the Flour Mill in the background

Melrose Drive approaching Newhaven	The terminus at Newhaven

McGill's East revisited

(Scottish Trains Website) — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 21:59:09 GMT

Since the last post about McGill's Scotland East back in January, there has been a massive change to the fleet with an influx of buses from their Scotland West franchise owing to a large influx of Yutong Electric buses out west. This has seen Mercedes Benz Mellor Stratas, Citaros, AD Enviro 200s, some AD Enviro 200MMCs move west with ex London enviro 400s also entering service. This has seen the near total withdrawal of the B7RLE Wright Urbans and the Scania Omnidekkas with very few remaining in service. Also the relivery of some buses has begun, with some Citaros and Streetlites treated to an updated version of the Midland Bluebird or Eastern Scottish livery.

The changes made include:

1 x Mercedes Benz Mellor Strata transferred east (0117)
The withdrawal of the 4x BMC Probus / Falcons (0300 - 0303)
49 out of 74 Wright Streetlite DF buses remaining in service, 2 of which are in the new livery (0405-0479)
2x Wright Streetlite SF (Numbered 0480-0481 and Transferred from Xplore Dundee)
6x Volvo Plaxton Profiles (Numbered 0600-0605, 3 remaining in service)
16x Scania Wright Solars (Numbered 1601-1616, all withdrawn from service)
3 out of 22 Scania Omnidekkas remaining in service (Numbered 1811, 1814 & 1818)
1 x Volvo Wright Renown (Numbered 2200, training bus)
10 x Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse 2 (Numbered 2230 - 2239, 6 in Midland Bluebird v 1 livery, 4 in McGill's livery, transferred from McGills West of Scotland)
2 our of 66x Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Urbans remaining in service 2297 & 2303 (Numbered 2240 - 2346)
5 of 7x Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini in service (2808-2811 & 2817) (Numbered 2807-2811, 2817-2818, transferred from Xplore Dundee)
1x Volvo B7TL Alexander ALX400 (Numbered 2844, withdrawn training bus)
2x Volvo B7TL Plaxton President (Numbered 2845-2846, both withdrawn)
12 our of 21x Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini remain in service (Numbered 2847-2867)
4 x Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini (Numbered 2900-2903)
9 x Citaro in service (3331, 3332, 3356-3358, 3360-3363)
17 out of 19x Alexander Dennis Enviro 200MMC (Numbered 4101-4108 (McGills livery) & 4111-4121(Xplore Dundee)), 4111 & 4118 withdrawn
9 x Wright Pulsar 2 withdrawn (Numbered 6001-6009)
26x Enviro 200 (All in McGills livery 8001-8008, 8013-8018, 8023-8026, 8038-8041, 8043-8044, 8048 )
1 of 6 x Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 in service (8055) (numbered 8050 - 8055)
11 of 20 x Alexander Dennis Enviro 300 in service (numbered 8475 - 8496 and transferred from Larbert / Bannockburn - Livingston)
12 x Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 (numbered 8924-8935 , Bright bus tours open toppers)
15 x Alexander Dennis Enviro 400MMC (numbered 8936-8951 all now based at Larbert / Bannockburn)
12 x Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 ( 8961-8974)
8 x mix of buses for Bright bus tours (numbered 9901-9908)

The images below show some of the new influx of buses and some of the new liveries to be seen in and around the East Scotland area.

A last ride on the Class 313s 2.5.23

(Scottish Trains Website) — Thu, 25 May 2023 22:48:30 GMT

I decided to make the most of an extended weekend off and fly to Gatwick then on to Brighton for a final day out on the Class 313s on the Southern Coastway routes.

With the flight arriving early, I was soon on board a class 700 heading into Brighton and passing Lover's Walk, 313209, 313216, 313208 & 313201 were stabled outside the sheds, the latter pair having already been withdrawn with 201 out of hours and 208 with camshaft issues.

On arrival at Brighton, I discovered that the West Coastway services were disrupted due to a broken rail beyond Barnham with all services terminating at Barnham or Bognor Regis. 313205 was waiting to depart with a Bognor service so I managed to get a few photos of it. I then caught a service out to Hove, where I photographed 313203 & 313206 stabled in the sidings there, then caught the shuttle back to Brighton. I was left kicking myself as if I'd waited a further 30 mins, I would have seen 201& 208 move there with 203 & 206 returning to Lovers Walk.

After heading back to Brighton, I decided to stick to the East Coastway line to Seaford due to the disruption out west. East Coastway out to Seaford featured 3 class 313s in service: 313215, 313219 & 313220. I caught 313215 out to Bishopstone, which is a lovely station and location, photoing 313215 departing eastward to Seaford then when it returned, departing westward, with the classic shot looking westwards towards Newhaven. 313219 was next up the branch and I decided to head down the entrance ramp to the station to photo it approaching the station on the embankment. I caught 313219 on it's return journey and got off at Lewes for some lunch and to photo some of the passing units. I then got back on 313215 and headed to Moulsecoombe for some more photos, then caught 313219 back to Brighton, where I spent the final hour photoing more units before heading back to Gatwick for the flight back to Edinburgh.

The status of the class 313s at this point was:

Available for service: 313203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 215, 216, 219 & 220

Withdrawn: 313201 & 313208

Stored at Eastleigh awaiting scrapping: 313202, 214, & 217

Saturday 20th May

I had booked to go back to Brighton on 20th May as it was initially supposed to be the final day in service for the class 313s, however due to strike action during the previous week and a ban on overtime working leading to a vastly reduced and curtailed timetable, the 313s were withdrawn a day early. Photos from the day of the 313s were limited to 313213 & 313219 stabled outside Lover's Walk and 313204, 205, 207, 209, 211, 215, 216 & 220 stabled in 2 lines of 4 at Hove.

More photos from Brighton and the Class 313s can be found at: https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p86303780

McGill's Scotland East

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 00:45:10 GMT

One of the most interesting bus operators in Central Scotland at the moment is McGill Scotland East. McGill took over operation of the Former First Scotland East franchise in September 2022, inheriting 257 buses in the process. By purchasing the Scotland East Franchise, McGill extended their reach as they already own McGills Scotland West, which is mainly based in the Inverclyde and Renfrewshire and Xplore Dundee, which covers the Dundee City area.

Routes and Depots

McGill Scotland East is split into 2 areas: Midland Bluebird and Eastern Scottish, both reviving heritage names and heritage liveries. Midland Bluebird is based at 3 depots: Larbert, Bannockburn and Balfron with Eastern Scottish being based at Livingston.

Livingston depot covers routes in West Lothian and Edinburgh, heading to places such as Shotts (North Lanarkshire), Fauldhouse, Whitburn, Blackridge, Armadale, Bathgate, Linlithgow, Balerno, Queensferry, Kirkliston and Deans

Larbert depot mainly covers routes around the Falkirk area to destinations such as Maddiston, Dunnipace, Bo'ness, Larbert, Grangemouth, Fankerton, Hallglen, Langlees, Forth Valley Hospital, Camelon, Denny, Slamannan, Edinburgh and Glasgow (via Cumbernauld).

Balfron depot mainly covers routes between Stirling and Glasgow via Balfron and Kippen or via Aberfoyle and Milngavie.

Bannockburn depot mainly covers routes around the Stirling area to destinations such as Cambusbarron, Callander, Alloa, Clackmannan, Cowie, Stirling University, St Ninnians, Raploch and Glasgow via Cumbernauld.

The fleet

As mentioned before, McGill inherited 257 buses of various types from First, including the Bright Bus tours operation in Edinburgh. On taking over, McGills had to withdraw 120 of the inherited fleet as they were deemed unsuitable for service. Some of the fleet were returned to service after repairs, however a number of them were replaced by buses from the reserve and withdrawn fleets from the West of Scotland and Xplore Dundee operations.

The current fleet includes:

4x BMC ProBus / Falcons (Numbered 0300-0303, only 1 remaining in service)
74x Wright Streetlite DF (Numbered 0405-0479)
2x Wright Streetlite SF (Numbered 0480-0481 and Transferred from Xplore Dundee)
6x Volvo Plaxton Profiles (Numbered 0600-0605, 3 remaining in service)
16x Scania Wright Solars (Numbered 1601-1616, all withdrawn from service)
22x Scania Omnidekkas (Numbered 1800 - 1820 plus one that hasn't been renumbered, 9 remaining in service)
1 x Volvo Wright Renown (Numbered 2200, training bus)
6 x Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse 2 (Numbered 2234 - 2239, 4 in service in new Midland Bluebird livery, 2 still to enter service, transferred from McGills West of Scotland)
66x Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse (Numbered 2240 - 2346)
7x Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini (Numbered 2807-2811, 2817-2818, transferred from Xplore Dundee)
1x Volvo B7TL Alexander ALX400 (Numbered 2844, withdrawn training bus)
2x Volvo B7TL Plaxton President (Numbered 2845-2846, both withdrawn)
21x Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini (Numbered 2847-2867)
4 x Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini (Numbered 2900-2903)
11x Alexander Dennis Enviro 200MMC (Numbered 4111-4121)
9 x Wright Pulsar 2 (Numbered 6001-6009, 3 in service, 6 still to enter service, being painted a mix of Midland Bluebird and Eastern Scottish liverys, transferred from McGill's West of Scotland)
6 x Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 (numbered 8050 - 8055)
20 x Alexander Dennis Enviro 300 (numbered 8475 - 8496)
12 x Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 (numbered 8924-8935 , Bright bus tours open toppers)
15 x Alexander Dennis Enviro 400MMC (numbered 8936-8951)
8 x mix of buses for Bright bus tours (numbered 9901-9908)

Liveries

With it being early days in the new franchise and with buses having to be transferred in from other areas, there are a real mix of liveries on the fleet at the moment including

First Barbie
First 2012
First Urban (Midland, West Lothian and plain)
2 toned blue
Midland Bluebird Retro
Midland Scottish Retro
Xplore Dundee Green (Streelite SFs, Enviro 200MMC and some ex Xplore Dundee Geminis)
Debranded National Express Dundee Red and White (some ex Xplore Dundee Geminis)
New Midland Bluebird Blue and Cream
New Eastern Scottish Green and Cream

There are also various buses with route branding on them.

With the many bus types and liveries, McGills Scotland East are an interesting company to follow and ride on at the moment! It is best to take the opportunity to do this just now before the inevitable newer, more uniform buses come along and more of the new livery is seen!

Some examples of the current liveries are shown below, more can be found at: https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p1057977495

Day out on the London Underground 12.10.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 00:38:30 GMT

As part of my trip to the South Coast, I wanted to combine my trip to see / ride on a class 315 with a day out on the London Underground network, having not been on it since 2016.

Arriving at London Waterloo at 9.15am, my first port of call was to buy an all zones day ticket, before making my way down to the Waterloo and City station for the short journey to Bank on board the 92 stock. As there was already a train in the station, I didn't get the opportunity to photo one in the turnback siding and another in depot.

At Bank, I found my way via the many cavenous passageways and escalators to finally make it to the Central Line platforms, where I caught an Eastbound Epping service as far as Woodford. I'd wanted to catch the 1962 stock Central line Rail Adhesive Train (or RAT for short), however unfortunately it did not run. After spending some time photing the comings and goings of the 92 stock at Woodford, I caught another 1992 stock train up to Epping, where I walked down to the bottom end of the car park for a look at the former London Underground Shunting Loco L11, which was built by joining the cab ends from 1931 built standard stock cars 3080 and 3109 together. It is part of the Epping Museum, who are also restoring the former Epping signal cabin, which is located next to L11. More info about Epping Museum can be found at: https://www.eppingmuseum.com/home

Next I returned to Epping station but before I got on the train, I had a lovely roll and sausage from the van outside! I'd thoroughly reccomend it! I then got back on the train, and had planned on going to Holborn to change to the Picadilly Line, however on arrival at Stratford, our train was held due to a signalling issue further up the line, so I got off there for some air and spotted a pair of class 315s working an ECS movement. I caught a class 345 Elizabeth line train to Liverpool Street and resumed my Central line journey from there to Holborn. There I changed onto the Picadilly line and some 1973 stock for the short 3 stop journey to Piccadilly Circus.

My impressions of the 92 stock were that they were rather tired inside, with worn moquette, grafitti all over the interiors and generally in need of a deep clean and a refurb. The 73 stock in comparison was in excellent condition, very clean looking and had real character.

At Picadilly Circus, I changed over to the Bakerloo line to sample some 72 stock. Heading westbound, I travelled out to Queen's Park, where the Bakerloo line goes from deep tube up to above ground and runs alongside the Overground lines out to Watford Junction as far as Harrow and Wealdstone and the WCML.

Queens Park is a decent place to catch the 72 stock, with its overall roof, the steep incline out of the tunnel at the East End and the uniqueness of the main lines and turnback sidings actually passing through and doubling as part of the depot! I spent about 45 minutes here photoing the 1972 stock, which although it looks quite shabby and in need of a repaint and overhaul, like most older stock it has alot of character both inside and out (a blog post about the Bakerloo 72 stock will be coming soon).

After I left Queen's Park, I headed back via 72 stock to Waterloo, where I changed from the Bakerloo to the Jubilee line. I then headed east on the 1996 stock to Stratford, where after a few photos I headed off to catch the peak class 315 working at Shenfield. After riding on the 315s I headed back to Stratford, where after more photos, I caught a Central line train to Bank, then changed for the Waterloo and City line back to Waterloo for the train back to my hotel at Eastleigh.

Isle of Wight revisited 13.10.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 23:43:27 GMT

As part of my trip to the South Coast in October, I decided to return to the Isle of Wight so on Thursday 13th October, I made my way from my hotel in Eastleigh by train to Portsmouth and Southsea, where due to a slight delay on my train, I'd unfortunately missed the bus to the Hoverport by 2 minutes. After a very quick taxi ride to the Hoverport at Southsea, I joined the queue for the crossing over to the island.

The journey by Hovercraft over the Solent to Ryde was very swift and comfortable, reaching Ryde in 7 minutes and luckily, Loganair had a 30% off voucher code when booking flight tickets so the journey was a good deal cheaper than normal. On arrival at Ryde, I made my way to Ryde Esplanade station to catch the Island Line train out to the IOW steam railway. Unfortunately due to a bridge strike, the trains were cancelled for at least an hour, however there was a replacement mini bus running.

I took the mini bus up to Ryde St Johns and visited the Bus Museum. The bus museum was interesting to see with plenty of different types of bus and plenty of historical displays showing the history of Southern Vectis on the island and is less than 5 minutes walk from Ryde St Johns and is on some of the bus routes.

After I had visited the museum, I walked back to Ryde St Johns and by this time, they were getting ready to resume the train service, with 484001 arriving from the Shankin direction, 002 was stabled in platform 3, 004 and 005 were stabled in the yard and 003 was in the maintenance sheds. 001 was then reversed back out of platform 1, crossed over and entered platform 2 where the service was resumed heading towards Shanklin. I got off at Smallbrook Junction and crossed over to the IOW Steam Railway. Smallbrook Junction is a small halt that is only accessible by rail and as such is only open with the steam railway is open. It only has basic facilities but that does include a waiting room, so with around 30 minutes to wait on the steam train coming, I sat and read my Kindle so the time passed quite fast!

All too soon, British Railways Black liveried Ivatt 2MT 41298 arrived with a rake of beautifully restored Southern 4 wheeler compartment stock. The interior of the carriages was of an excellent quality with the period notices and adverts really adding to the experience as did the very comfy deep sprung seating in the compartment. It is a lovely scenic journey through the Wight countryside up to Wooton with the train passing through Havenstreet non stop heading up the line. After a 10 minute turn around at Wooton, the train returned eastwards to Havenstreet, the main hub of the railway.

Having a bit more time to spend at Havenstreet this time (only had 10 -15 minutes last time), spent some time looking round the shop, the carriage workshops where there were a couple of 4 wheeler coaches in for restoration, then up to Train Story, where I spent an hour wandering round taking photos. Of particular interest to me were the old Ryde Pier trams and Island line liveried 483007, which I had a good look around! I then went back outside to watch British Railways Green with wasp stripe ends liveried D2059 'Edward' shunting Southern liveried 'O2' class W24 'Calbourne' into a different siding in the yard. I then went over to the cafe at the other side of the line to have some lunch. At this point the sun came out and despite it being October, it was actually really warm so I sat out in the sun while I waited on the train back to Havenstreet.

Once at Havenstreet, again having travelled back there onboard 41298, I boarded 484001 and headed up to Shanklin, then on the next working back to Ryde Esplanade. I then walked along the Pier to photo 484001 heading back towards the Esplanade then walked round to the footbridge to photo 484002 arriving with the peak time working from Shanklin, then walking round to the tunnel mouth to catch 002 departing again.

I then decided to catch a bus to see a bit more of the island so I caught the service 3 bus out as far as Ventnor, which was definately worthwhile for the absolutely stunning views of the coastline south of Shanklin! Unfortunately due to timing, I had to get off one bus and catch another straight back but this time I got off at Brading and walked back to the station to photo it and to catch the cross over of the 2 units there. I caught 001 out to the Pier Head for some final photos there before it closes for refurbishment, then back to Esplanade. Finally in the darkness, I caught some photos of 002 at Esplande station from the footbridge as I made my way back for the 7pm hovercraft back to Southsea, then the Hoverbus back to Portsmouth Harbour for my return journey back to the hotel in Eastleigh!

Class 315s in London 12.10.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 00:44:59 GMT

As part of my trip to the South Coast during the October Holidays, I decided to spend the day in London. Most of the trip was spent exploring the Underground, (more about this in a future blog post), however I also took the advantage of the opportunity to sample a ride on a class 315 for the first and probably the last time.

The class 315 is the newest of the PEP family, having been brought into service in 1980. Being powered by the OHLE, the 315 is essentially a four car version of the much missed 1979 build class 314 which ran on the Argyle lines and laterly the Cathcart Circle, Newton and Neilston lines. With a seating capacity of 309 (plus 7 tip up seats), the 315 is formed of 2 outer DMSO vehicles, containing the motors and drivers cabs, with a PTSO, containing the Pantograph and TSO (trailer) in the centre. In their heyday, they could be formed up into 12 car formation, but now they are formed into 8 car formation from 2 sets. Originally 61 sets were built, however now only 6 remain (315837, 315838, 315847, 315853, 315856 and 315857) with the rest having been scrapped.

With the full opening of the Elizabeth Line having now happened and the 315s not being compatible with the signalling or platform doors, their days are numbered. At the time of my visit they were combined to a couple of peak time diagrams between Shenfield and Liverpool Street. Since my visit their route has been further cut back to Gidea Park - Liverpool Street with only 2 morning and evening peak diagrams.

Interestingly, it was announced today (1st December 2022) that 315856 has been purchased for preservation by the Class 315 Preservation Society and will be moving to the Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway in Wales, where it will be restored to original livery, original interior spec and will be converted to be able to carry passengers on preserved lines with the unit being loco hauled.

Trip report

Following an unexpected delay at Stratford as the Central Line 92 stock train I was travelling on was delayed due to a signalling issue around 12.15 ish, I decided to get off and get some fresh air. I'm glad I did, as 315847+315856 passed through the next platform with 5C91 the ECS working from Aldersbrook up CHS to London Liverpool Street, which I luckily managed to get a photo of.

Later in the afternoon, I made my way up to Shenfield onboard an Elizabeth Line class 345 to catch the 15.38 class 315 hauled working to Liverpool Street. As 315837+315857 arrived into the platform, I was struck by how clean and well cared for that both units were and also the fact they had modern LED head and tail lights as well as the electronic destination screen. On stepping onboard the rear carriage of 315857 that opinion was confirmed as not only were they spotless inside but they also looked bright and modern, especially with the LED lighting, CCTV, passenger operated doors and Passenger Information System. Despite it retaining the low back seating, that was standard on the class 314, it did not give the impression of being a 42 year old unit with only weeks left before withdrawal and probable scrapping.

The journey was smooth with both units showing great accelleration and performed well, keeping to time the whole way. The sounds of the motors brought back memories of many journeys onboard the class 314s. At Liverpool Street, after a few quick photos, I decided to get back on again for a ride on board back to Stratford.

The ride back to Stratford was swift, with both sets managing to keep up with an Anglia liveried 745 that left Liverpool Street around the same time as us for most of the journey! Unfortunately due to time constraints as my train back to Eastleigh was at 6pm and I'd still to find my way back to Waterloo via an extremely packed Central Line train and connection via an equally busy Waterloo and City line, I had to leave the train at Stratford.

I was extremely impressed by the Class 315s and it will be sad to see them go, especially considering their excellent condition, compared to the Southern Class 313 and Merseyrail 507 & 508s which are clearly being run down with withdrawal and replacement in the next year / 2 years on the cards for them. Having now travelled on all the PEP fleets, I'd definately say that the class 315 is the best of the lot!

Fleet list of the remaining units

Number	Livery	Formation	Status	Photo
315837	TfL White with blue solebars and doors	64533+71317+71425+64534	In Service
315838	TfL White with blue solebars and doors	64535+71318+71426+64536	In Service
315847	TfL White with blue solebars and doors	64553+71327+71435+64554	In Service
315853	TfL White with blue solebars and doors	64565+71333+71441+64566	In Service
315856	TfL White with blue solebars and doors	64571+71336+71444+64572	In Service
315857	TfL White with blue solebars and doors	64573+71337+71445+64574	In Service

Class 313 Days out 11.10 and 14.10.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 00:18:56 GMT

The Class 313s are rumoured for withdrawal during 2023 so I decided that I had to make sure I sampled them and photoed as many as possible! As part of a week long trip to the South Coast, I enjoyed a couple of days travelling on some 313s

The Class 313 is part of the PEP family of units and were built in 1976 / 77 as dual voltage stock. The remaining examples in passenger service are now 3rd rail only and have had their pantograph removed. 19 sets (313201 - 313217, 313219-313220) of the once 64 strong fleet remain, with 17 of them being in passenger service with 313214 and 313217 having already been withdrawn from service.

313221 remains in sporadic use as a dual voltage test train for Network Rail. The class 313s are now one of the oldest main line passenger trains left on the network with only the 1972 Bakerloo line stock and 1973 Piccadilly line stock on the London Underground older.

The Class 313s currently operate on the following services:

Brighton - Portsmouth & Southsea / Portsmouth Harbour
Littlehampton - Portsmouth & Southsea / Portsmouth Harbour
Bognor Regis - Barnham Shuttle
Bognor Regis - Littlehampton
Brighton - Hove Shuttle
Brighton - Seaford
Football specials in the Brighton area

Trip report

11th October

Arriving from Eastleigh by 377 on the 11th October, I photoed 313208, which was working on the Hove Shuttle. I then went over to the far end of the station to catch 313204 out to Lewes.

It was very clear from seeing 313204 that the class 313s are in their final months of service, with the exterior condition of the train being poor, with missing, worn out and peeling external vynals and the interior looking very tired and not the cleanest, however, despite this 313204 performed well on the 15 minute journey out to Lewes.

Lewes was a lovely, well kept station, with a nice view at the east end looking towards the old signal box, which gave a nice shot in full sunshine. I spent 90 minutes here and in that time managed to catch the other pair of 313s on the Seaford circuit, 313207 and 313215. As well as the 313s, there was 377s, 387s, 700s, a stone working from Newhaven featuring 59001 and the RHTT top and tailed with 73107 and 73201.

I then headed back into Brighton onboard 313215. After a walk down to Churchill Square for some bus photography, I headed back to the station, where I had time for some more photography while I waited on my train. As well as 313208 shuttling between Brighton and Hove, 313216 had also arrived and was switched off in Platform 2, whilst in the sidings at Lover's Walk, 313203+313205 were coupled up and awaiting use later that night on a football shuttle service. Shortly before 4pm, 313209 arrived from Portsmouth and would form the 4pm train back to Portsmouth and Southsea, which I caught. As I waited for my train back to the hotel in Eastleigh, 313211 arrived from Littlehampton, then soon departed, heading back there.

13th October

After a day out at the Isle of Wight, I returned to Portsmouth and Southsea for the train back to Eastleigh to return to the hotel. As I had time to kill, I caught 313213, which was working on the 19.57 service to Littlehampton to Fratton, where I got off and caught my own train back to Eastleigh.

14th October

I caught a 377 from Eastleigh to Barnham, where I got off and waited for the shuttle to Bognor Regis. 313213 duly arrived from Bognor to operate the return journey, however before getting on the shuttle, I managed to catch a photo of 313212 arriving from Brighton, heading to Portsmouth and Southsea and 313201 'Big Blue' heading to Littlehampton. I then caught the shuttle to Bognor, where I had a wander about then caught 313201 to Littlehampton.

Of all the 313s that I travelled on, 313201, complete with modified BR Blue/Grey retro livery was in by far the best interior and exterior condition of all the 313s that I travelled on, the rest being pretty much run down and tired looking, which is quite understandable given that they will all be withdrawn pretty soon.

At Littlehampton, I caught a pair of 377s to Hove and changed over to 313202 on the Hove Shuttle into Brighton. The sidings at Brighton were reasonably busy with no fewer than 3 x class 313s stabled there, 313211, 313207 and 313220. Unfortunately, I was on a very tight schedule so I didn't have time to catch any of the Seaford workings so I caught the next working back out of Brighton, which was the 2pm service to Portsmouth Harbour with 313215 as the unit of choice and was my final PEP for this trip.

Over the course of this trip and my previous trip down that way in July, I managed to catch / photo 16 of the 20 remaining class in the twilight of their working lives, whether or not they are still in service on my next trip down that way is anyone's guess.

Current Fleet

Number	Livery	Formation	Status	Photo
313201	BR Blue / Grey	62529+71213+62593	In Service
313202	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62530+71214+62594	In Service
313203	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62531+71215+62595	In Service
313204	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62532+71216+62596	In Service
313205	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62533+71217+62597	In Service
313206	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62534+71218+62598	In Service
313207	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62535+71219+62599	In Service
313208	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62536+71220+62600	In Service
313209	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62537+71221+62601	In Service
313210	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62538+71222+62602	In Service
313211	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62539+71223+62603	In Service
313212	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62540+71224+62604	In Service
313213	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62541+71225+62605	In Service
313214	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62542+71226+62606	Withdrawn
313215	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62543+71227+62607	In Service
313216	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62544+71228+62608	In Service
313217	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62545+71229+62609	Withdrawn
313219	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62547+71231+62611	In Service
313220	Southern Dark Green, light green, white and grey	62548+71232+62612	In Service
313221	Network Rail Yellow	62549+71233+62613	In Service

New advert livery for Subway Cars 132 + 204+ 104 10.9.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 22:00:20 GMT

Glasgow Subway's latest vynal wrap sees a 3 car set consisting of Metro Cammell Power Car 132, Barclay Trailer 204 and Metro Cammell Power Car 104 outshopped in a new design advertising SPT's commitment to achieving Net Zero.

the three car set are seen paused at St Enoch working diagram 11 on the Inner Circle on 10.9.22

Whitrope Heritage Centre 3.9.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 22:58:55 GMT

Had a lovely visit to the Whitrope Heritage Centre in the Scottish Borders today.

Can honestly say that of all the heritage railways that I've been to, Whitrope are one of the friendliest and most welcoming of them all!

Whitrope is a short railway of around 1/2 - 3/4 miles in length and has a fleet containing 2 Pacers: 142019 in Northern livery (which isn't currently in use) and 142020 in Tyne and Wear PTE livery and is the main unit on the line at present. There is also Experimental Pacer RB004, Class 26040, which is undergoing restoration and 2 small shunters FC Hibbert 'Planet' 4WDM 'Pluto' 3777, which usually offers breakvan rides on the line and Ruston & Hornsby 48DS 411319, which is currently stored.

Would definately reccomend a visit!

More photos at: https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p347160578

614209 Demonstration run at Bo'ness 2.9.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 22:19:00 GMT

Arcola Energy's Scottish Hydrogen Train, 614209 (former Scotrail Class 314 PEP unit 314209) was out today at Bo'ness operating demonstration runs for some invited guests during the day, between Bo'ness and Kinneil Halt. 614209 was run both on battery and on hydrogen mode on different runs with the mile long run out in each direction giving the invited guests the chance to sample both tractions from this bi-mode unit.

It was great to finally see 209 out on the tracks and good to note that the distinctive compressor sounds remain from 209's days as a class 314 emu as does the sounds of the motors when accelerating in battery mode

I photoed 614209 at Bo'ness station (from the footbridge), Bo'ness foreshore and the area around Kinneil Halt, here are some of my efforts:

Swift Express Freight's 321334 at Holytown 26.8.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 22:41:47 GMT

Returning from only its 2nd visit to Scotland, Swift Express Freight's 321334, which has been converted to carry up to 12 tonnes of parcels, approaches Holytown with 5Z84 Mossend - Doncaster ECS working 26.8.22

https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p86324693/e3fc6e4eb

Visit to Isle of Wight 26.7.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 23:39:05 GMT

I made my first ever trip to the Isle of Wight on 26th July. My day started with the 40 minute trip from my hotel at Eastleigh by train into Portsmouth Harbour, where I joined a long queue waiting for the Catamaran across to Ryde. I got a good spot up on the top deck to view the Harbour and the coastline of Portsmouth and Southsea on the short 20 minute crossing.

On arrival at Ryde I headed into the Pier Head station where 484004 was waiting to form the 10.45 service to Shanklin. 484004 had just replaced 484002, which had failed on the previous service. It was a really smooth journey and despite the number of people who got off the ferry, I wouldn't have said it was packed.

The interior of 484004 was bright, modern looking, spacious and airy. I travelled to Lake, one stop short of the terminus, where I got off the train.

My reason for getting off one stop short of the terminus was that I was wanting to go and get some photos of 483004 at it's new home at Holliers Park in Arreton. The bus stop was a 5 minute walk from Lake station out on the main Ryde - Ventnor Road. From here I caught service 8, which runs half hourly to Amazon World. The journey took about 20 minutes and once off the bus was a 5 minute walk, turning left at the crossroads and walking about 1/4 mile. In Holliers Park, there is the House of Chilli, a craft centre and the Bus Stop Cafe, which is located in a converted bus.

483004 is currently in a fenced off section of former gravel car park, however the owner of the cafe kindly gave me permission to go in and have a look round and take some photos of the exterior. 483004 is looking excellent in its coat of London Transport Red with white roof. The visible side of the train has been fully painted, however the side that isn't visible is still mostly in the grey primer. The staff who are working on 483004 are really making an excellent job in restoring 483004, which is destined to become a cafe in the future. Before I left, I had a nice lunch at the Bus Stop Cafe, which I'd definately recommend and it cost less than £10.

I headed back towards the Island Line on bus service 8, however after mistakingly thinking that the service stopped at Sandown train station, where as it actually stopped on the front, I had a 15 minute walk up to the station, which meant that I'd just missed the train to Smallbrook Junction by 5 minutes and had almost an hours wait on the next one. Whilst I was waiting, 484003 passed through heading to Shankin on a driver training run and then returned a short time later heading in the direction of Ryde. As it was roasting by this point, I crossed over and decided to catch 484004 up to Shanklin, then from Shankin down to Smallbrook Junction.

At Smallbrook Junction, I got off and transferred over to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. After a 10 minute wait, Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0 ST WD198 'Royal Engineer' arrived with a trainload of vintage Southern carriages for the journey to Wooton.

On the outbound journey, the train does not stop at Havenstreet so it is a straight end-to-end journey. After running round at Wooton, 198 led the train back to Havenstreet for a 10 minute stopover awaiting the passage of the other train on the line led by LMS Ivatt Class 2 41298.

Unfortunately due to missing the previous Island Line train and 198 being the final train of the day to Smallbrook Junction, I literally had 10 minutes to look round at Havenstreet, which included a very quick sprint up to 'Train Story' for a few shots of 483007. I just made it back to the platform in time for the train back to Smallbrook Junction.

By the time I reached there, the half hourly peak service had started, so I caught 484003, which was operating as the extra unit between Shanklin and Ryde Esplanade as far as Ryde St Johns, where I got a couple of photos of 484001 and 484002 stabled in the yard and 484003 on it's return journey to Shanklin.

I then caught 484004 from Ryde St Johns to Ryde Esplanade, where I got the classic shot of 004 heading along the pier. I then had a wander round the town before photoing the hovercrafts arriving, some buses and the 484003 arriving at Ryde Esplanade, then departing again via the tunnel. After grabbing a quick bite to eat, I walked along the Pier, catching some photos of 484004 heading to the Pier Head. I then ran up to the Pier Head for the Catamaran back to Portsmouth then back to the hotel.

Photos from my trip can be found at https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p37224282

My History of the Island Line Blog can be found via the following links:

Island Line: A History, Part 2: Class 483s and 484, 1990 - to date

(Scottish Trains Website) — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 00:09:10 GMT

Replacement of Standard Stock

British Rail originally started looking at replacing the Standard stock with the 1938 on the Isle of Wight back in the late 1970s, however they initially rejected the idea of using the 38 stock as the under floor mounted equipment would be vulnerable to waves, flooding and the salt air on Ryde Pier. However by 1988 when it became clear that the Standard stock would no longer be economically viable after 1990 and the offer was there to buy 38 stock, BR took up the offer. Initially they decided to buy 44 cars to allow trains to be made up of 4 cars consisting of a motor, two trailers and another motor. However, as Ryde St Johns depot was only capable of holding 2 cars in their maintenance sheds per road at a time and with storage space at a premium and BR being reluctant to spend money on expanding the depot facilities, it was decided to go with 2 car trains featuring two motor cars (A at the Ryde end and D at the Shanklin end). Electrical and braking equipment carried on the trailers being relocated to the motors.

Initially BR had planned a minimal refurbishment as they'd planned on the 38 stock being a stopgap that would be withdrawn and replaced in 1995 with 59/62 stock, which was due to be replaced on London Underground at that time, however BR carried out a far more extensive overhaul than expected and this meant a far longer service life was achieved in the end.

Initially 8x2 car trains were to be created and refurbishments and overhauls began in 1988 at Eastleigh and involved the conversion from London Underground's 4 rail operation to 3 rail, the fitting of flourescent lighting, allowing for Conductor / guard operation of the doors, fitting of passenger door controls, fitting of a PA system, reupholstering of seating and improvements to the interior decoration. On the exterior, Network South East livery would be applied.

Delivery and Unveiling

The units were classified as the class 483s on TOPS and the first test run of one of the 2 car units was on 30th June 1989, between Eastleigh and Winchester. On 4th June 483001 was loaded in 2 parts onto low loaders at Fratton and taken to Gunship Wharf in Portsmouth for transfer onto the car ferry. 001 was then taken by road to the yard at Sandown where both halves were unloaded and coupled together and on 6th July 1989, 001 was hauled to Ryde St Johns depot by a train of standard stock and later that evening made its first test run on the island.

On 13th July, 483001 was unveiled to the public on the shuttle platform at Ryde Pier Head, where a short ceremony took place before the train headed off to Brading with invited guests on board with a stop off at the site of the future Smallbrook Junction station to unveil a sign hearalding the future extension of the IOW Steam railway to Smallbrook Junction. 001 spent the remainder of the week working on the Pier shuttle and over the following weeks spent time on testing and driver training over the full line before being passed for passenger service.

It would be September before the next arrivals took place with 002 arriving on 26th September and 003 on the 27th. On 1st October 001 and 002 ran as a pair for test purposes with 001, 002 and 003 in that order running as a 6 car to see if it was possible to do so. 6 car running very rarely happened though with the exception of rescuing a failed train. 002 and 003 both entered service on 7th October 1989, joining 001 and the remaining standard cars in service.

The next class 483 to arrive on the island was 483007 on 12th March 1990. 007 was closely followed by 004 on 14th March and 005 on the 15th March. With the arrival of the class 483s, work was also going on to improve the depot facilities at Ryde St Johns with a raised pit road on one track and a full length pit on the other installed / improved and a carriage cleaning platform added in the depot yard. The new facilities were formally opened on 20th March 1990 by the Chairman of the British Rail Board, Sir Robert Reid.

During May 1990, the line was closed for 3 days to allow it to be reballasted and realigned slightly by use of a track machine to try and improve the ride qualities of the 483's which had been fine on the mainland but was decidedly bouncy on the island! 483004 debuted in service on 1st May 1990, with 005 and 007 debuting on 11th and 18th May 1990 respectively. 006 and 008 were delivered on 20th and 21st June, debuting in service on 29th June (008) and 13th July (006). Faults on cars 123 and 224 on sets 003 and 004 resulted in a hybrid unit 003 being formed from vehicles 223 and 124 from June 1990 - October 1991, when both units reverted to their correct formations.

On 20th July 1991, Smallbrook Junction became part of the Island Line when the extension of the steam railway opened to Smallbrook. The wooden halt acting as an interchange station is only open when the steam trains are running. 1991 also saw the end of regular running of the Pier Shuttle, with this being limited to only running ad hoc as and when required (and staff were available) in the following years.

Additional unit

It was decided to introduce an additional set for service from the original 8 planned, so 483009 was refurbished and sent over to IOW arriving on 9th April 1992 and entering service on 18th June 1992. As well as 009, an additional unit nominally numbered 483010 was sent across on 8th April 1992, however it had been stripped to a shell and was painted entirely in dark blue. Both cars were to be kept in case the body shells were required in the event of an accident to be refurbished to replace damaged vehicles. In 1993, the service was mostly cut to 2 trains per hour, however with the earlier singling of the track from Brading to Sandown, this caused the rather unpopular 20/40 minute split timetable. The full 20 minute timetable was restored at really busy times, with 1 train an hour throughout the winter.

Hybrids and Withdrawals

Heavy rain caused the flooding of Ryde St John's depot in early January 1994, meaning a temporary formation being made up from vehicles 129 (from 009) and 224 (from 004), this hybrid ran until 8th February 1994. On 10th February 1994, 483005 collided with the buffer stops at Ryde Pier Head, causing damage to the cab on vehicle 125. 483003 was out of service with defects, so the decision was taken to reform 003 with 123 from 003 and 225 from 005, with 125 and 223 becoming set 005 and being withdrawn, the first set to leave service.

Little over a year later in May 1995, 001 and 003 were reformed, with 121 and 225 becoming 001 and 123+221 became 483003 and was withdrawn from service. The number of servicable trains was reduced to 6 in 1996 with a further withdrawal and the final permanent reformation of a class 483 unit. 483001 was reformed with 121 and 222 (from 483002) and 483002 was reformed with 122 and 225 (from 001) with 001 being withdrawn from service. It was decided that 6 units would be enough to provide a service and have spares going forward.

In 1997 the Pier shuttle made a semi permanent return during the season, but only as and when there was enough staff / stock to cover it. The pier shuttle would continue to run on and off but on very rare occasions until the early 00s when the shuttle track was mothballed. In the early hours of March 1st 1998, the bodies of withdrawn cars 121, 125, 222 and 223 as well as the body shells from the nominally numbered but not used 483010 were lifted from the tracks and dumped in the car park at Ryde St John's depot awaiting scrapping 121, 125, 222 and 223 were scrapped on 24th April 2000, 483010 was scrapped by June 2005 . Vehicles 123 and 221 survived on track as a store for spare parts and as a possible spare unit if required but was scrapped in the mid - late 00s.

An interesting move occured at Christmas 1999 with a trio of class 483s working to Ryde Pier Head to get them away from Ryde St John's depot, which was flooded following heavy rain.

Dinsoaur Livery arrives

During 2000, a new livery was forthcoming for the veteran class 483 fleet in the form of the rather bright but eyecatching Dinosaur livery! 483006 was first to receive the livery, being unveiled to the public and the press on 21st March 2000. 004 and 009 were repainted into Dinosaur livery around the same time with 008 and 002 following suit in the following months. The five units were named: 'Raptor' (002), T-Rex (004), Terry (006), Iggy (008) and Bronty (009). The repaint was part of a £1 million electrical and mechanical overhaul of the units. The sixth unit (007), was the final unit to remain in NSE livery, being withdrawn for repaint on 12th May 2000.

Severe Floods and Major Repairs

007 had been repainted in London Transport livery and was nearing completion of it's electrical and mechanical overhaul when disaster struck. A severe flood on 9th/10th October flooded the depot and caused various degrees of damage to 002, 004, 006 and 007, with 007 receiving the worst damage of them all, indeed it was thought that the damage was so severe that the unit would have had to have been scrapped. 008 and 009 escaped damage and following track repairs to replace washed away ballast around Smallbrook Junction, were able to keep the service going. 004 received the least amount of damage and was able to return to service on 13th October. 006 returned to service on 13th December and 002 on 20th June 2001, both units requiring complete motor replacements.

007 took alot longer with many of its underfloor electrical components at the Ryde end having to be completely replaced. This was delayed by a major overhaul to 006 being required and the parts being diverted to it. A second serious flood caused more damage then when 007 was moved out into the yard to allow others into the shed for maintenance, it was attacked by Graffitti 'artists'. By the end of 2002, the damaged components were refitted to 007, the unit was repainted and finished off in authentic London Transport style branding and numerals, with 007's original LT numbers being displayed on the bodysides. Following a relaunch back into service on 24th March 2003, 007 resumed normal passenger duties on 27th March 2003. A second unit, 483009 was repainted into LT livery but minus the LT branding in October 2003, to allow a matching set to run when in 4 car formation.

New Franchise - Retro livery

483002 was stored out of use in the yard at Ryde St Johns from sometime in 2004. In 2007, came a new franchise owner in the form of Stagecoach, who decided to repaint the entire fleet in the heritage London Transport red livery. The final by this time rather tired looking Dinosaur liveried train, 483006 being repainted in Winter 2008 / 09. Even the withdrawn 483002 was treated to the new livery!

Final years of the class 483

In 2016, 483009 was withdrawn from passenger service, being demoted to use as the Ryde depot shunter, with 007 being withdrawn for a 2 1/2 year long overhaul in 2017. This would leave 004, 006 and 008 to operate the service. By this time, services were no longer being operated in 4 car formation. The fleet was further reduced when 004 was withdrawn in 2019 and was used to provide spare parts to keep 006 and 008 going.

On 13th September 2019, South Western Railway announced that due to a 'safety issue' that only one unit was able to run, meaning that it was only possible to run an hourly service. The hourly service remained for 5 weeks, when a 2 car service was able to resume. 3 days into the hourly service commencing, South Western Railway announced that five ex District Line 'D' Stock trains in 2 car formation (the class 484s) would be replacing the class 483s. Meanwhile issues with the class 483s continued into November with several days of disruption and reduced timetables.

The last year

It was announced that the final day of operation for the Class 483s would be Sunday 3rd January 2021 as the line needed to close to allow for upgrade works prior to the class 484s entering service. For most of the final year of the class 483s, Covid 19 led to an hourly service with only one train being used, equaling the burden between sets 006 and 008 for the majority of the year, however for a spell in November 2020 there were no trains available for service at all. 483008 was withdrawn from service on 4th December 2020 and it was expected that 006 would soldier on for the last month alone, however 483007's protracted overhaul was completed in mid December allowing the burden to be shared. On 10th November, the first class 484, 484001 arrived on the island and having been offloaded at Sandown, was driven slowly under it's own power to Ryde St Johns Depot. 484001 was seen out on occasional test runs during December.

On 3rd January 2021, the final day of service for the class 483s, 007 started the day with the hourly service and was replaced at lunchtime by 006, which finished the day and brought down the curtain on 31 years of service for the class 483. The final 6 units are all still in existance in various states of repair: 483002 is currently stored in the yard of Railway Support Services in Wishaw (England), 483004 is currently being converted to an on site cafe at Holliers Park, Arreton on the Isle of Wight, 483006 and 483008 are currently preserved by the London Transport Traction Group at the Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway in Wales and will hopefully both be runners again one day, 483007 is currently on display at the 'Train Story' shed on the Isle of Wight Railway and it is hoped to be a runner again in the future. 483009 is in 2 locations with 129 having been restored by a private buyer at the East Somerset Railway and 229 remaining stored in the yard of Reid Freight in Longton.

Line upgrade and introduction of the class 484

After 483006 returned to depot for the last time and the power was switched off, work quickly commenced on the upgrade of the line with the platforms at all stations needing to be raised in line with the increased line of the 'new' former sub surface stock which were taller than the former deep tube stock that they replaced. Track replacement at some parts of the line was also needed as was work to reinstate the disused 2nd platform at Brading with a passing loop being built. The work was met with delays and with late delivery of the trains and software issues with the trains, the line did not reopen until 1st November 2021, some 8 months after it was due to reopen. 484001-484004 were available for service from reopening with 484005 not being delivered until February 2022 and still not having been handed over to South Western Railway. Trains currently run hourly from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin, with a second unit entering sevice in the morning and afternoon peaks and operating between Ryde Esplanade and Shankin.

**Class 483 Fleet List**
Fleet Number	Original LT Numbers	Original IOW Formation	Vehicle Swaps (permanent)	Final IOW formation	Final / Current Livery	Name	Withdrawn	Status	Notes	Photo
483001	10184+11184	121+221	225 from 003 and 221 to 003 May 1995 222 from 002 and 225 to 002 June 1996	121+222	NSE	N/A	1996	Scrapped	Scrapped 2000	Photo from Wikimedia Commons:
483002	10221+11221	122+222	222 to 001 and 225 from 001 June 1996	122+225	LT Red with Yellow Cab ends	Raptor	2004	In Storage	Currently stored at Railway Support Services in Wishaw (England)	Photo from Wikimedia Commons:
483003	10116+11116	123+223	225 from 005 and 223 to 005 Feb 1994 221 from 001 and 225 to 001 May 1995	123+221	NSE	N/A	1995	Scrapped	Scrapped mid 00s
483004	10205+11205	124+224	N/A	124+224	LT Red	T-Rex (Removed)	2019	On Display	being converted to an on site cafe at Holliers Park, Arreton on the Isle of Wight
483005	10142+11142	125+225	225 to 003 and 223 from 003 Feb 1994	125+223	NSE	N/A	1994	Scrapped	Scrapped 2000
483006	10297+11297	126+226	N/A	126+226	LT Red	Raptor (Removed)	2021	Preserved	preserved by the London Transport Traction Group at the Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway	Photo from Wikimedia Commons:
483007	10291+11291	127+227	N/A	127+227	LT Red with Yellow cab ends and Island Line branding	Jess Harper	2021	Preserved	on display at the 'Train Story' shed on the Isle of Wight Railway
483008	10255+11255	128+228	N/A	128+228	LT Red with Yellow cab ends	Bronti (Removed)	2020	Preserved	preserved by the London Transport Traction Group at the Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway	Photo from Wikimedia Commons:
483009	10229+11229	129+229	N/A	129+229	LT Red / LT Red with yellow cab end	Iggy (Removed)	2016	Preserved / In Storage	in 2 locations 129 restored by a private buyer at the East Somerset Railway and 229 stored in the yard of Reid Freight in Longton	Photo from Wikimedia Commons:
483010	10139+11172	130+230	N/A	130+230	All over Blue	N/A	N/A	Scrapped	Scrapped 2005

**Class 484 Fleet List**
Fleet Number	Original LT Numbers	Current Numbers	Livery	Status	Photo
484001	7086+7011	131+231	South Western Railway	In Service
484002	7068+7002	132+232	South Western Railway	In Service
484003	7051+7083	133+233	South Western Railway	In Service
484004	7074+7111	134+234	South Western Railway	In Service
484005	7124+7093	135+235	South Western Railway	Undergoing Testing

Photos from Wikimedia commons:

001: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:483_001_at_St_John%27s_Road,_1989_-_geograph.org.uk_-_790855.jpg
002: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:483002_483007_Ryde_Electric_Depot.JPG
006: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Island_Line_train_-_geograph.org.uk_-_836245.jpg
008: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:483008_Shanklin.jpg
009: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:484001_and_483009_at_Ryde_Traincare.jpg
Remainder are my own photgraphs, more of which can be found at: https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p37224282

Island Line: Isle of Wight A History Part 1 - Standard Stock 1967 - 1991

(Scottish Trains Website) — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 21:42:42 GMT

Having visited the Isle of Wight on 26th July, I decided I would write a blog post about my visit, however I wanted to explain a bit of the history of the Island Line first before I write about my visit. The history will be over 2 posts, with this post being mainly about the Standard tube stock and the line from 1967 onwards till 1990/91 and the second part will be about the 1938 stock and the current ex District Line stock, with my trip report being in a third post.

Please note: the photo on this page is from Wikimedia Commons and is of a 3 Tis + 4 Vec (class 486+485) 7 car formation working on the Pier Head - Esplanade Shuttle in 1984. The original photo can be found at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BR_Class_485_train_on_Ryde_Pier_IoW.jpg

Introduction

The Isle of Wight Railway history stretches back as far as 1862 with the building of a line from Cowes to Newport. Ryde St Johns Road - Shanklin followed in 1864 with a later extension from Shanklin - Ventnor following in 1866. Smallbrook Junction - Newport in 1875 and Ryde St Johns Road - Ryde Pier Head in 1880 also followed. Other branches from Merstone - Ventnor West, Freshwater - Newport, Sandown - Newport and Brading - Bembridge ensured that by 1900, the Isle of Wight was served by 55 1/2 miles of railways.

By 1956 low patronage of many of the branch lines, particularly off season led to closure of the lines from Cowes to Newport, Merstone - Ventnor West, Sandown - Newport, Freshwater - Newport and Brading - Bembridge leaving only the Ryde Pier Head - Ventnor and Newport lines open. Into the 1960s and the Beeching Report recommended the full closure of the remaining lines on the island other than the short but busy stretch between Ryde Pier Head and Ryde St John's Road. A local hard fought campaign for the retention of the Ryde - Ventnor line eventually managed to save the 8 1/2 mile line from Ryde - Shanklin, with the closure of the Shanklin - Ventnor stretch and the Smallbrook Junction - Newport branch of the line in 1966.

Rationalisation and Introduction of the Standard Stock

With the line saved, British Railways announced a modernisation and track rationalisation programme for the 8 1/2 mile stretch of line so next came the challenge of replacing the elderly Adams Class 02 steam locos (with an average age of 74) and wooden bodied, non corridor, 4 wheeled Southern Railways rolling stock with their unique loading gauge. The rolling stock was narrower and shorter that of the trains on the mainland, to allow them to pass under the bridges on the line and the Ryde Tunnel. The option chosen was to approach London Underground to buy some of their recently withdrawn tube stock. It was the right profile for the tunnel and the bridges so would be a suitable option! By chance, London Underground was withdrawing some of it's pre 1938 stock (built between 1923 and 1934) so by 1965 and with the approval of BR to begin a programme of electrification of the Ryde to Shanklin stretch, 46 pre 1938 stock vehicles were purchased.

This was soon reduced to 43 cars to save money, with 19 Driving Motors (numbered S1S-S11S, S13S, S15S, S17S, S19S-S23S and S25S), 6 control trailers (numbered S26S, S28S, S30S, S32S, S34S, S36S), 4 ex control trailers (Numbered S27S, S29S, S31S, S33S) and 14 trailers (numbered S41S-S49S and S92S-S96S) purchased. Initially they were marshalled into 6x 4 cars ('4 VEC' or class 485 numbered 041-046) and 6x3 cars ('3TIS' Class 486 031-036) with one spare motor (S10S). The formation was as follows: 4 car: Motor - Trailer - Trailer - Motor 3 car: Control Trailer - Trailer - Motor. The initial plan was for 2 x 4 car sets to be used for winter traffic and as many as 6 x 7 car (4&3 car combined) on Summer Saturdays. Each set had an 'A' motor (or control trailer) at the Ryde Pier Head end and a 'D' motor at the Shanklin end as A and D motors had different equipment underneath them, it was not possible to have 2 A or D cars as the Driving Motors in the one set.

4 Vec and 3 Tis original formations
3TIS	Control Trailer (A)	Trailer	Driving Motor(D)
031	26	47	1
032	28	92	3
033	30	93	5
034	32	94	7
035	34	95	9
036	36	96	11
4VEC	Driving Motor(A)	Trailer	Trailer	Driving Motor(D)
041	20	27	41	13
042	22	29	42	15
043	2	31	43	19
044	4	33	44	21
045	6	48	45	23
046	8	49	46	25
Spare	10

The steam era on the Isle of Wight ended on 31st December 1966 as work to complete the electrification and cut the four platform tracks at the Pier head down to two continued whilst platforms at the other stations were lowered to allow the pre 38 standard stock to use them. 11 weeks after the steam era finished, the electric era began on Monday 20th March 1967 with trains operated by 4 VEC 041 and 3 TIS 031 (with the spare Motor car S10S attached to make it up to 4 cars). The Sandown school special was operated by a 7 car set made up of 032 and 044.

Early years of the Tube stock services

By Autumn 1967, a shunting accident caused damage to Motor Car S15S which led to the car being scrapped in 1969 and a replacement was sought in the form of another car that had been withdrawn by London Underground. It was repainted at Stewarts Lane and transferred by ferry over to the Isle of Wight, arriving during 1971. In 1969, the Pier tramway, which ran on a seperate pier alongside the line closed and was replaced by a 7 car set shuttling between the Pier Head and Esplanade stations before running ECS to Ryde St Johns. As a 7 car train was required for the shuttle, the timetable was reduced south of the Esplanade to 4 trains per hour, which meant that the up platform at Shanklin was rarely used in service and by 1971 the platform buildings were demolished and the subway between platforms was filled in.

By 1973 the scissors crossing for access to Pier Head Station was worn out and in need of replacement also the Pier Head Signal Box which was its self in need of replacement. Rather than replace it with a new crossover, plain track was fitted to both tracks and a trailing crossover south of Esplanade station on the ramp to the tunnel was installed, rendering the Pier Head signal box redundant at the same time and allowing its closure and demolition. This led to the southbound track becoming a dedicated bi directional shuttle track for the pier shuttle and removed dead mileage of having to go to St Johns to reverse. The main service used the former northbound track, which also became bi directional as the same time.

Also during 1973, the number of trains available for use decreased following a shunting accident between 4Vec 045 and 3Tis 035, which resulted in the withdrawal and scrapping of 3 vehicles (Driving Motor S23S and Trailers S45S and S48S from 045) and the reformation of the remaining four vehicles into a new formation of 4Vec 045. The fleet was further reduced during 1975 when S25S, the Shanklin end driving Motor from 4VEC 046 was severely damaged and with no spare motor vehicle suitable for working on the Shanklin end available, 046 was disbanded with the remaining vehicles being kept as spares.

By 1979, the service had reduced to 3 trains per hour during the summer and this allowed for further rationalisation at Shanklin with the removal of the headshunt (remains of the former line to Ventnor) beyond the station and the track in the up platform. This also meant that only 1 train could be south of Sandown at a time.

Rundown and Replacement

The pool of available vehicles was further reduced with the disbanding of set 033 in 1982. 033's driving motor replaced that of set 043 with vehicle S30, 033's control trailer being removed from the track at St Johns for use as a store, while S19 from 043 was moved to Sandown to the PW yard there also as a stores vehicle.

Attention started to turn to the replacement of the Standard Stock, with consideration being given to the transfer and use of the Merseyrail class 503s, which were about to be withdrawn and replaced by class 508s and the other option of 1938 stock from London Underground, which was about to be partially withdrawn from the Underground also being considered and initially rejected due to the electrical equipment being located under the floor and this was considered a risk especially with the line travelling along the pier. Some 7 years later, the 1938 stock would come to the Island Line and would replace the Standard stock.

With the replacement of the Standard stock having been rejected, the remaining fleet were treated to an £80,000 interior and exterior refresh, with an interior repaint, new lino and new moquette fitted in the interior and BR Blue / Grey livery painted on the exterior. A further four vehicles were withdrawn in 1985 (Driving motors S13 and S21, Control Trailer S36 and Trailer 96) leaving 29 vehicles for service, these being reformed into 5 x 5 car units (5 Vec) and 2 x 2 car units (2 TIS) and from January 1987, the remaining vehicles began to be repainted into Network South East livery. Also in 1987, the first new station on the line in many decades was opened in the form of the single platformed station at Lake, between Sandown and Shankin, which opened on 11th May 1987. Lake station could only handle a maximum of 5 coach lengths of standard stock, which effectively put an end to the use of 7 car trains.

In August 1988, it was confirmed that 'new' trains were on the way to the Island in the form of then 48 year old 1940 built '38 stock from London Underground, with 8 x 2 carriage trains expected to be delivered and at that point were expected to be in service by May 1989. Network South East were reportedly spending £900,000 on a full refurbishment of the 'new' trains.

Over the weekend of 29th-30th October 1988, the track between Brading and Sandown was reduced to single track, this had the added effect of making the signal boxes at Brading and Sandown redundant, with all signalling concentrated on the one remaining box at Ryde St Johns. Brading signal box became a small museum in later years whilst Sandown box was demolished a year later in 1989.

The singling of the track from Brading (which was reduced to one platform, with the former island platform on the down side becoming redunant) through to just outside of Sandown station was fine for the then 20 minute service in operation using 3 trains, however when the service was further reduced to 2 trains per hour, the timetable became a lop sided affair with a 20/40 minute split.

The first class 483, 483001 was delivered during 1989 and made its offical debut on 15th July 1989 taking invited guests from the Pier Head to Sandown with a stop off at Smallbrook Junction to reveal a sign announcing the extension of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway from Havenstreet through to Smallbrook Junction, where a new halt would be built linking the 2 lines. 483001 would spend time during the summer working on the Esplanade - Pier Head shuttle. Over the course of 1989, the remaining Standard stock reverted to 4 car formations, eventually being reduced to 17 vehicles. By August 1990, there were sufficient class 483s in service for the Standard stock to be reduced to 7 vehicles in service, a 4 car set made up of 2, 26, 49 and 7 and a 3 car set made up of 28, 31 and 5. However by the following month only the 3 car set remained available for service, mainly for de-icing purposes, but also occasionally in service, with the last official recorded passenger service use being on 12th January 1991, with the final de-icing run taking place on 17th January 1991, though unofficially, the train carried passengers from the Esplanade to Pier Head to connect with a catamaran service to Portsmouth.

Most of the cars once withdrawn, were scrapped either on the island or the mainland, however 5 of them were returned to London Transport as part of a Vintage Train project with Motor cars S2S and S7S and Trailers S49S, S27S and S44S chosen. S27S and S44S were repainted into London Transport colours at Ryde St Johns however, the project never really took off and some of the cars remain stored or have been scrapped.

Island Line Standard Stock Fleet List
Number	Type	LT Number	In Service (IOW)	Withdrawn	Disposal
1	'D' Driving Motor	3703	20.3.67	6.6.90	Scrapped 7.1.93
2	'A' Driving Motor	3706	20.3.67	7.9.90	LT Heritage Train Project
3	'D' Driving Motor	3251	20.3.67	1989	Scrapped 4.10.90
4	'A' Driving Motor	3702	20.3.67	28.9.89	Scrapped 4.10.90
5	'D' Driving Motor	3185	20.5.67	13.5.91	Scrapped 23.4.94
6	'A' Driving Motor	3084	15.5.67	1.2.90	Scrapped 1991
7	'D' Driving Motor	3209	26.4.67	7.9.90	LT Heritage Train Project
8	'A' Driving Motor	3074	20.3.67	6.6.90	Scrapped 8.1.93
9	'D' Driving Motor	3223	26.4.67	3.10.89	Scrapped 1991
10	'A' Driving Motor	3696	20.3.67	6.6.90	Scrapped 5.1.93
11	'D' Driving Motor	3705	22.3.67	18.1.90	Scarpped 15.1.93
13	'D' Driving Motor	3141	1967	03.85	Scrapped 1987
15 (i)	'D' Driving Motor	3253	20.3.67	7.10.67	Scrapped 10.5.69
15 (ii)	'D' Driving Motor	3273	1971	11.4.88	Scrapped 8.5.89
19	'D' Driving Motor	3045	20.5.67	12.82	Scrapped 21.4.89
20	'A' Driving Motor	3308	1967	11.4.88	Scrapped 8.5.89
21	'D' Driving Motor	3041	20.3.67	3.85	Scrapped 6.87
22	'A' Driving Motor	3010	20.3.67	14.11.86	Scrapped 16.5.89
23	'D' Driving Motor	3315	15.5.67	10.9.73	Scrapped 4.5.74
25	'D' Driving Motor	3313	22.3.67	8.9.75	Scrapped 10.82
26	'A' Control Trailer	5294	20.3.67	7.9.90	Scrapped 18.4.94
27	Ex Control Trailer	5279	1967	18.1.90	LT Heritage Train Project
28	'A' Control Trailer	5304	20.3.67	13.5.91	Scrapped 14.4.94
29	Ex Control Trailer	5293	20.3.67	25.9.89	Scrapped 16.10.90
30	'A' Control Trailer	5312	20.5.67	12.82	Scrapped 7.87
31	Ex Control Trailer	5283	20.5.67	13.5.91	Scrapped 16.4.94
32	'A' Control Trailer	5290	26.4.67	4.9.89	Scrapped 15.10.90
33	Ex Control Trailer	5291	22.3.67	20.9.89	Scrapped 13.10.90
34	'A' Control Trailer	5302	26.4.67	6.6.90	Scrapped 20.10.90
36	'A' Control Trailer	5350	22.3.67	3.85	Scrapped 6.87
41	Trailer	7286	1967	12.9.86	Scrapped 8.5.89
42	Trailer	7280	20.3.67	27.11.86	Scrapped 16.5.89
43	Trailer	7275	20.5.67	30.9.88	Scrapped 25.10.90
44	Trailer	7281	20.3.67	3.2.90	LT Heritage Train Project
45	Trailer	7293	15.5.67	10.9.73	Scrapped 4.5.74
46	Trailer	7283	22.3.67	7.9.90	Scrapped 16.5.89
47	Trailer	7279	20.3.67	11.87	Scrapped 25.10.90
48	Trailer	7298	15.5.67	10.9.73	Scrapped 5.4.74
49	Trailer	7296	22.3.67	7.9.90	LT Heritage Train Project
92	Trailer	7285	20.3.67	4.10.88	Scrapped 14.10.90
93	Trailer	7282	20.5.67	18.1.90	Scrapped 20.10.90
94	Trailer	7287	26.4.67	3.10.89	Scrapped 17.10.90
95	Trailer	7292	26.4.67	5.3.90	Scrapped 23.10.90
96	Trailer	7290	22.3.67	3.85	Scrapped 6.87

Volks Electric Railway 25.7.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 09:28:47 GMT

I visited the Volks Electric Railway for the very first time on Monday 25th July. This short 1 mile line has many years of interesting history and is the oldest remaining electric railway in the world.

I will describe my visit later in the blog but first some of the history of the line:

The Founder

Magnus Volk, the son of a German Clockmaker was born in Brighton on 19th October 1851, he was known as an inventor and pioneer in the Brighton area with some of his projects including inventing a fire alarm system, having the first electrically lit house in Brighton, an early attempt at telecommunications with a neighbouring house and having a contract to electrically light Brighton's Royal Pavilion.

Demonstration Line

His successful experimentations with electricity led to his next, most successful and enduring project: the Volk's Electric Railway! After gaining permission from Brighton Corporation for a 1/4 mile long 2 foot gauge line running from the Palace Pier to the Chain Pier, work quickly progressed and before long, the line was ready! The line was powered by a 2 horse power gas engine, which drove a Siemens D5 50 volt DC Generator. The original car, built by William Pollard in 1883, seated 10 passengers and resembled a coal wagon with drivers platforms, awning over the passenger area as well as curtains for the side. The 1 1/2 horse power motor allowed for a top speed of 6 mph. Magnus Volk unveiled this creation to a very interested public at 12 noon on 6th August 1883.

Early years

With the initial line being a success, Volk applied for permission to extend the line Westwards to the town boundary, unfortunately permission wasn't granted, however he did get permission to extend the line eastwards to the Banjo Groyne and rented out the 'Arch' at Paston Place, which was to become the VER Headquarters (remains so to this day) and the line's workshops. A line was built across the promenade to reach the Arch Workshops, which also housed the line's new upgraded power generator.

Over winter 1883/84 the line was relayed to the wider gauge of 2 ft 8 1/2 inches and the new stretch required some structures to be built in the form of timber trestles to bridge the gaps in the shingle and the section at the Chain Pier made on a gradient to allow the line to pass underneath the pier Initally the track was of the 2 rail variety with one rail being the live feed and the other was the return, however this proved unreliable especially in stormy conditions and the system was switched to run off the third rail in 1886. A 2 platform station was opened at the Banjo Groyne with a halt opening halfway along the line, where a passing loop was also built. Palace Pier station was also a 2 platform station. The line now had a total length of 1400 yards.

The original Pollard built car was unable to be converted to the new wider gauge so it was scrapped and replaced by two new cars (numbered 1 & 2). The new cars had a central passenger saloon with seating for 18 passengers on long bench seats with 12 passengers able to be seated outside on the open platforms. Similar to most trams of the time, the passenger saloon was accessed from the centre of the open platforms, which also featured the driver's controls.

The new extended line opened on 4th April 1884 and only Car 1 was in use at this time as Car 2 did not arrive till Summer 1885. With the installation of the 3rd rail in 1886, the line was also raised and placed onto a wooden viaduct. With the arrival of Car 2, the service level was increased to a car every 5 minutes. The line grew in popularity with it more cars with bigger capacity were required so in 1892, Cars 3 and 4 were built by the VER and initially entered service as open sided cars seating 40 people, however it was soon realised that the cars were unsuitable for winter operation as their canvas blinds were of no real use against the harsh winter weather and they were converted to semi-open trams that winter, with a further refurbishment in 1901 bringing them to the same shape / style that they are in today. A further car was built in 1896, car 5, which was built by the VER to a similar style as that of car 2, seating 30 passengers but with one difference, the window panes were detatchable, making suitable as a summer and a winter car where required.

The Daddy Long Legs

Magnus Volks wanted to extend the line eastwards towards Rottingdean, however a steep climb to the cliff top or the possibility of building a viaduct over unstable ground ruled this out, so ever being the inventor, he came up with an ingenious invention, 'The Daddy Long Legs'. The Daddy Long Legs was basically a cross between a tram and a boat with large legs reaching the seabed where rails were installed! There was an overhead wire installed with trolley pole giving the tram element. The rails were laid from Paston Place to Rottingdean through the water but reasonably close to the shore. Opening in 1896, the Daddy Long Legs proved popular, however the experiment almost ended in disaster as a massive storm shortly after opening caused serious damage including the vehicle ending up on its side. Volks percivered and repairs were completed, allowing the line to reopen in 1897.

Things wouldn't run smoothly for long as damage to the trackbed closed the line for 2 months in 1900, followed by the news that the line would have to be diverted deeper into the sea to make room for new sea defences between Paston Place and Black Rock essentially ended this unique railway, however the end of the Daddy Long Legs had good effects on the future of the Volks Electric Railway .....

Extension

Following the demise of the Daddy Long Legs, the Volks Electric Railway was extended further eastwards to Black Rock in 1901, thus allowing the creation of an enduring feature of the line, 'The Tunnel'. The Tunnel was a part of the original car sheds but converted to a through track so you were actually passing through the sheds! Heading eastward from the sheds at Paston Place, the line headed onto a steel viaduct at the Banjo Groyne then along wooden viaducts along the beach to a new 2 platform terminus at Black Rock. Volk intended on trying to extend to Rottendean, but there wasn't the funds to extend further. The extension to Black Rock required further cars, with Volk estimating that 7 cars would be required to operate the service so the railway built an additional cars numbered 6,7 and 8, giving an extra car for extra flexibility / cover for maintenance. 6,7 & 8 were all 40 seater Semi Open cars and had a similar look to cars 3 &4.

In 1926, a further two cars built by the VER joined the fleet in the form of open cars 9 and 10, both of which had seating for 40 passengers.

Cut Backs

The development of Maderia Drive in 1930, meant that the line was cut back at the west end from Palace Pier to opposite the Aquarium, with the station being renamed 'Aquarium' and being built with a 2 track layout. Volk decided at a winter car was needed and with the original Car 5 needing a rebuild, it was decided to scrap it and built a new one. In a complete change from the traditional wooden built cars, the new number 5, which had it's body built by G Kelsey Coachbuilders of Hove, had its bodywork completely fabricated from steel, with a wooden roof and wooden floor. No 5 had no outside passenger accomodation, all were seated indoors, in 2 long bench seats along the body sides, covered in blue leather and seating 24 passengers. The bodysides had 3 large sliding windows and the outside of the car was painted in a rather striking sky blue and primrose yellow colour scheme.

The line was also cut back at the East end in 1937 to allow the building of a new open air swimming pool, however this gave the opportunity a modern Art Deco style replacement station, which was officially opened by Magnus Volk and the Deputy Mayor on 7th May 1937. Unfortunately, just 13 days after Black Rock station was opened, Magnus Volk died aged 85, with his son, Herman taking over.

Corporation take over

In 1938, Brighton Corporation took control of the VER, initially leasing the line and operation back to Herman Volk, however, they assumed complete control on 1st April 1940. Unfortunately by this time Britain was at War and under the serious threat of Nazi invasion. By July 1940, the railway had closed for the duration, with the cars being transfered to Lewes Road tram / bus depot for storage and the stations at Aquarium and Black Rock being demolished. Later in the war, the depot was required for other purposes and the cars were moved out into secure open storage under the arches at Maderia Drive, with the outdoor storage causing irrepairable damage to cars 1, 2 and 5 which had to be scrapped.

Reopening

After the war, the line needed some serious work to get it operational again, Black Rock station was rebuilt again in the same art deco style as pre war, whilst a former tram shelter became the new station building at Aquarium. The full track was relaid as was the third rail. Replacement cars were sought for the scrapped cars and these came in the shape of 2 ex Southend Pier rail trailers, which seated 40 people and were converted to motor vehicles. They were fitted with ex milk float motors and became the fastest cars in the fleet!

A renumbering of the fleet occured to fill up the numbers left vacant by the scrapped cars with no 10 becoming no 1, no 9 becoming no 2 and no 8 becoming no 5 with the ex Southend cars becoming 8 & 9.

The line reopened on 15th May 1948 and from Winter 1954 became seasonal only.

In 1964, a successful experiment with the coupling of 2 cars together was successful and all cars were converted to allow them to be coupled, meaning less staff and less individual cars could be used, ultimately saving money and allowing for track rationalisation at both termini with only one platform and track required.

Moving on towards the 1990s and the 1948 built station at Black Rock was demolished and a new station was incorporated into the building of a new pump house built next to the station for a storm drain project.

New Millennium

Into the 2000s and the ex Southend cars were withdrawn as surplus and moved on with no 8 going back to Southend and being displayed in a glass box at the pier museum and no 9 going to the South Downs Heritage Centre. Cars 1, 2 and 5 then reverted back to their pre 1948 numbers of 10, 9 and 8.

After receiving Heritage Lottery funding in 2015, work was started on a major upgrade of the facilities on the line, which was badly needed as the car sheds had been condemned. The carsheds were completely flattened and rebuilt, with the Tunnel being retained through the car shed! Meanwhile the station building at Aquarium was also demolished and rebuilt, complete with a small visitor centre, ticket office and takeaway cafe built in. The car fleet also received some work with major restoration / rebuilt works being carried out on cars 4, 6 and 10. With car 3 also in the midst of a rebuild, the future of the VER is looking good!

Fleet List

Fleet List
Original Fleet Number	Fleet Number (1948-2000)	Current Fleet Number	Car Type	Year Built	Seating Capacity	Built By	Current Status	Notes	Photo
1 (I)	N/A	N/A	Open	1883	10	William Pollard	scrapped	Original car from the original demonstration line, could not be regauged from 2ft - 2ft 8 1/2 inches, scrapped 1884
1(II)	N/A	N/A	Semi-Open	1884	30	Unknown	scrapped	suffered the effects of outside storage for a long period during wartime, was too far gone for repair and scrapped in 1948	Photo Courtesy of the VERA
2	N/A	N/A	Semi-Open	1885	30	Unknown	scrapped	suffered the effects of outside storage for a long period during wartime, was too far gone for repair and scrapped in 1948	Photo Courtesy of the VERA
3	3	3	Semi-Open	1892	40	VER	undergoing restoration	Currently stripped awaiting restoration	Photo Courtesy of the VERA
4	4	4	Semi-Open	1892	40	VER	in service	received a major restoration between 2016-2018
5 (I)	N/A	N/A	Semi-Open	1896	30	VER	scrapped	Was in need of a major rebuild in late 1920s, was scrapped instead and replaced by 2nd no 5	Photo Courtesy of the VERA
5 (II)	N/A	N/A	Closed	1930	24	G Kelsey / VER	scrapped	Winter car, only car in fleet to have fully enclosed passenger saloons. Suffered the effects of outside storage for a long period during wartime, was too far gone for repair and scrapped in 1948	Photo courtesy of the VERA
6	6	6	Semi-Open	1901	40	VER	in servce	Received a major restoration 2016-2018, works as a pair with Car 10
7	7	7	Semi-Open	1901	40	VER	in service	Works as a pair with car 8
8 (I)	5	8	Semi-Open	1901	40	VER	in service	Was numbered 5 between 1948 and 2000, works as a pair with car 7
8 (II)	8	N/A	Open	1898	40	Falcon Works	preserved	Operational on VER from 1948 - late 1990s, now a static exhibit at Southend Pier Tramway	Photo courtesy of the VERA
9 (I)	2	9	Open	1926	40	VER	in service	Was numbered 2 between 1948 and 2000, works as a single car only
9 (II)	9	N/A	Open	1898	40	Falcon Works	preserved	Operational on VER from 1948 - late 1990s, now a static exhibit at South Downs Heritage Centre	Photo courtesy of the VERA
10	1	10	Open	1926	40	VER	in service	Was numbered 1 between 1948 and 2000, works as a pair with car 6

Trip Report

I visited the VER on 25th July 2022 whilst on a daytrip to Brighton. Having only intended to visit for a very short time, I actually ended up spending longer than I expected on the railway (about 3 hours!).

Having never been in Brighton before, I decided to catch the City Sightseeing bus round to get my bearings, it was an interesting experience, especially losing my baseball cap, which blew off on the top deck and was squashed by a passing car!

I arrived at the Aquarium station, which is a couple of minutes walk from the Palace Pier and the City Sightseeing bus stop and bought my ticket then had a look round the visitor centre at the interesting displays and artifacts from the history of the line while I waited for the train to arrive. I didn't have long to wait as the trains run every 15 minutes as 1901 built Semi Open Cars 8 + 7 soon arrived and I boarded the open section of car 8, which would be the rear portion of the train for the mile long journey to Black Rock. We soon departed at a leisurely pace heading to Halfway, where we would await the arrival of the other train in service, made up of 1926 built open car 10 and 1901 semi open car 6 to allow the drivers to swap tokens for each stretch of single line. We continued our journey, passing through the tunnel, where car 4 and some permanent way vehicles were visible on the right hand side of the shed. All too soon we reached the terminus at Black Rock, where we all had to leave the train and reboard it although the driver was kind enough to let me take some photos of the train before I left the platform.

I then joined the queue to reboard and this time I sat in the open section of car 7. On arrival at Halfway, I got off to take some photographs of the trains before heading to the workshop gallery to view the depot. Unfortunately the viewing gallery was closed, however I managed to photograph 1926 built Open Car 9 and a pw trailer, which were stabled in the left hand side of the depot from the station platform. Also out on the lineside at Halfway were some old wheels on axles and an old wooden underframe, which I assume was from Car 3 as it is currently undergoing an overhaul.

After taking some more photographs from different locations around Halfway station, I caught Open Car 10+Semi Open Car 6 back to Aquarium, and I decided to take some more photos around that area, when the heavens opened and there was a heavy shower! After getting a few photographs, I made my way back into Brighton to catch the tour bus.

I'd like to thank the Volk's Electric Railway Association for allowing me to use some of their archive photographs in this post. My photos from the trip can be found at: https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p588123192

I would definatley recommend a visit, the price of £5.60 for adults and £3.50 return for children is worth the money, the cars are all well kept and the staff are extremely friendly and helpful and will answer any questions that you have! To find out more about the Volk's Electric Railway (VER) and the Volk's Electric Railway Association (VERA), please visit their websites: https://volksrailway.org.uk/ VER: VERA: http://volkselectricrailway.co.uk/

Blackpool Jubilee Heritage Tram Parade 2.6.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 19:56:35 GMT

On Thursday 2nd June, I headed down to Blackpool for the day to see the Jubilee Heritage Tram Parade.

I arrived in Blackpool around 11.30am and it was already very busy and my usual car park of choice at Pleasure Beach was already full, however I managed to get parked outside the Solaris Centre at Harrowside. I walked up the prom to Manchester Square and round to Rigby Road depot where the trams for the parade were beginning to be shunted round and sorted into order before heading out to the Prom and down to Pleasure Beach for the parade.

The first tram out was red and cream liveried Boat car 227, which was to lead the parade, it was stabled on Hopton road, whilst Balloon 723 was shunted down to the far end of the depot fan and 717 was shunted onto the Electrical compound track to release Boat 600 to move off depot to be stabled on Hopton Road behind Boat 600. Next out was Brush Car 631, which was moved out onto Hopton Road and parked up behind 227 and 600. The fourth tram to leave depot was a nice surprise in 90s Green and Cream liveried Ex Towing Railcoach 680, which was making its first appearance since March 2020 (pre lockdown).

After the trams were checked over by their crews, 227 and 600 departed Hopton Road, turned on to Lytham Road and onto the prom. After being reversed at Foxhall, they made their way to Pleasure Beach for the parade. Once 227 and 600 were clear of Lytham Road, 631 and 680 followed suit.

Next the Frigate 'HMS Blackpool' 736 was brought out on to Hopton Road to reverse onto Blundell Street where it stabled alongside the Fitting Shop wall. Balloon 723, freshly out the Paint Shop in the modernised balloon version of the 90s Green and Cream with black window surrounds, was then shunted out onto Hopton Road and then shunted back into one of the depot roads to release Fisherman's Friend trawler 737. 737 was also shunted out onto Hopton Road and reversed onto Blundell Street in front of 736. 80s Green and Cream liveried Centenary car 648 was then brought out and headed straight to the prom to take up position 5 in the parade. 648 was followed by the Western Train (733+734), which came out with the carriage leading so that it was facing the correct way once it changed ends at Foxhall.

Once the Western Train was clear of Hopton Road, the trawler (737) was turned on the triangle so it was heading out in reverse, with 736 completing the same move with both trams then departing towards the prom. One final shunt move saw Balloon 717 moved off the electrical compound track and onto Hopton Road before being moved further back the depot fan to release Bolton 66. Balloon 717 would then be the next tram to depart towards the prom followed by Balloon 723, Balloon 700 and Millenium Balloon 707.

I then walked down to Pleasure Beach where the loop was choc-a-block with heritage trams, passengers, sightseers and enthusiasts! After a few photos on the loop, I took up position near the entrance to the loop and photoed the parade, which featured 13 trams. These were:

Boat 227
Boat 600
Brush Car 631
Ex Towing Railcoach 680
Centenary 648
The Western Train (733+734)
Fisherman's Friend Trawler (737)
Frigate 'HMS Blackpool' (736)
Bolton 66
Balloon 717
Balloon 723
Balloon 700
Millennium Balloon 707

Once the parade departed, I walked up towards Manchester Square to see the trams returning, with all bar Boat 227, Boat 600, Bolton 66 and Balloon 717 returning to depot. Rather than running straight in, The Western Train ran to Pleasure Beach and back to Foxhall where it reversed in.

Boat 227, Boat 600, Bolton 66 and Balloon 717 operated a Heritage service between Pleasure Beach and Bispham between 4pm and 7pm, however Boat 600 failed at Bispham and was replaced by Balloon 723. After 7pm, the Western Train operated two evening tours between Pleasure Beach and Little Bispham to round off an excellent day.

Well done to everyone at Blackpool Transport, Heritage Tram Tours and Tramtown for organising such an excellent event!

More photos from the day can be found at: https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p50243848

Blackpool Tramway Heritage Weekend and Depot tour 30.4.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Mon, 02 May 2022 18:27:02 GMT

Over the Bank Holiday weekend of 30th April - 2nd May, Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours held a Vintage Weekend with Heritage trams running along the prom every 15 minutes and hourly to Fleetwood. As well as the trams, there was vintage bus rides to Fleetwood and to Lytham St Annes!

I visited on Saturday 30th April and after a reasonably quiet journey down the M74, M6 and M55, I arrived at Blackpool and parked up at Pleasure Beach at 9.30am, in the reasonably warm sunshine! I walked from Pleasure Beach up to Manchester Square then round to Rigby Road depot to see the heritage trams coming off depot and going into service.

Heritage trams in Service were Route A: 631, B: Boat 600 (in place of the advertised Boat 227), C: Illuminated Frigate 736, D: Centenary 648, E: Balloon 715 and F: Bolton 66. Also out was Balloon 717 on a private hire.

At 10.30am I joined the first of two Tramtown tours of the day and as it was a good deal drier and sunnier than my last time on the tour in February when it snowed! The tour began outside in the yard where after the safety briefing, we walked along the side of the workshops past the depot fan and round to the Paint Shop.

In the paint shop was Balloon 723, which has been stripped of it's Christmas vynals and had the 80s livery that was underneath the vynals sanded down ready for a repaint into an as yet undisclosed livery. It was interesting to hear that the trams are still hand painted using brushes rather than being spray painted as the brushed on paint gives a thicker coat that lasts longer in the harsh salt and sand ladened environment of Blackpool. We also heard how there is now only one painter, who deals with all the heritage tram fleet as well as touching up bus panels as well, the painter does a fantastic job with some stunning paint jobs on display on the heritage fleet!

The tour then moved into the Body Shop where Brush Car 634 in its new Terror Tram advert was stabled awaiting attention prior to a potential entry into service later this year, also there were the bodies of Lytham 31 and Glasgow 1016, both of which are future major restoration projects. It was interesting to hear how both trams came to be snapped up by Heritage Tram Tours and the future plans for both trams. One current major restoration project on the tramway is that of Balloon 704. 704 has been stripped to its basic framework awaiting the fitting of a new underframe as it's current one is life expired and drooping at the ends. Once some repair work has been done on the current body frame, 704's frame will be transferred onto a new underframe that we will see in the next part of the tour, the fitting shop.

In the fitting shop, we see the large array of blacksmiths tools and the forge that alot of spare parts are made in. Due to the age of the fleet, parts are not available off the shelf so have to be made. One item that has been made recently from scratch is a complete replacement underframe, which will go under Balloon 704. The underframe for 704 which was built by one engineer working from a set of plans initially drawn up 90 years ago and found in the heritage archives. Again, this highlights the 'can do' attitude of the staff and volunteers at Heritage Tram Tours, Tram Town and Blackpool Transport.

Also in the Fitting Shop was Standard 143. Standard 143 was transferred to the Fylde Transport Trust in 2003 to restore from a fire damaged works tram back to its original condition as a 1924 built Standard Car. As it was discovered that there was an issue with one of 143s motors following restoration, the motors from Standard 147 have been transferred to 143 to allow the tram to enter service hopefully by the summer and 147 will also be back in service once the repaired motors have returned from the company who are repairing them.

Another feature of the Fitting shop that we got to see was the gas ring that is used to remove old tyres from the tram wheels and for the fitting of new tyres.

We then crossed over to the main depot building, where it is safe to say that the roof is in a sorry state and full of holes. Part of the reason for Tramtown being set up and the tours running is to help to raise some of the money required to replace the roof and to allow the tram fleet to be in a far more protected environment which will protect the heritage fleet from the elements. Future plans also include the current engineering facilities in the workshops being moved over into the main depot as well as the building being used as a visitor centre for the tramway, however not of the 'stuffed and mounted' variety where every tram in it becomes a non runner. Tramtown want the trams to be running out on the prom and also eventually to bring visitors to Tramtown by tram!

One thing you'll notice when you visit Tramtown is that there are always improvements from your last visit! In the space of 2 months, some new viewpoints have opened up within the sheds allowing you to get closer to and photograph more of the fleet, various parts of the depot have received a new coat of paint including the track numbers having been repainted on the ground on the depot fan. Last time we got to sit onboard Bolton 66, this time we got to sit on board Coronation 660 and found out some of the interesting history of the fleet of 25 Coronation trams that were meant to revolutionise the tramway in the 1950s but had a short working life and were mostly scrapped by the 1970s.

We were then taken to the first of the new viewing areas opened up where we heard some of the history of the illuminated fleet in front of the long stored Hovertram 735. The viewing area also gave the chance for a close look at Brush cars 625 and 632 as well as Twin Car trailers 681 and T2.

The next new viewing area gave a view of Princess Alice - Open topped Balloon 706, which is awaiting a new underframe and the long stored 'Tramnik 1' the Rocket tram 732. The final stop of the visit was to the Electrical Compound to see the Western Train and a visit to the shop, where I purchased a TramTown planter for my garden!

Before I left Tram Town, I asked our helpful guide if I could get a couple of photos of Balloons 700 and 703 and Railcoach 279, which is nearing completion of its restoration back to a series 2 EE Railcoach.

I would definately recommend a visit to TramTown for not just enthusiasts, but anyone who is interested in history! Tramtown run tours of the depot every Saturday and Monday both as a depot tour (approx. 1 hr 30 mins) or as a family tour (approx. 45 mins). Available dates and times can be found on their website: https://blackpoolheritage.com/guided-depot-tours/

After the tour, I made my way back to the prom and caught Centenary tram 648 to Pleasure Beach (to put my new planter in the car!). I then caught Bolton 66 to Bispham, where I got off to take some photos! Next I caught Balloon 715 to Little Bispham and back before switching to Boat 600 for a rather breezy run to Thornton Gate and back to Bispham! I then caught Centenary 648 to Little Bispham then back down to Pleasure Beach, where I took some more photos then headed home!

More Photos from my trip can be found at: https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p820301502

New Glasgow Subway Train on the M74 24.4.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 23:00:45 GMT

Today as I was driving along the M74 and passing Hamilton Services (Northbound only services between Junction 6 Hamilton / Motherwell and Junction 5 Raith Interchange) I happened to notice one half of one of one of the new Glasgow Subway Trains on the back of a low loader in the lorry park so decided to visit the services to investigate!

It so happened that the other half of the same set was also parked up at the far end of the lorry park! The as yet unidentified set number was enroute to Broomloan Depot from Altenrheim in Switzerland and was being held at Hamilton Services until later in the day when the remainder of the route into Glasgow was a bit quieter with less traffic.

Glasgow Subway have ordered 17 Stadler built 4 car Metro trains to replace the 32 1970s built Metro Cammell Motor Cars and 8 1992 built Barclay trailers which are currently used on the system. The new trains are made up of 2 longer outer cars with 2 shorter centre cars and should be roughly the size of the trains they are replacing, with the added advantages of being fully accessible and each vehicle being interconnected, which is not the case just now. Once fully in service, these trains will eventually operate in Driverless mode, with the stations being adapted to have platform screen doors, where the screen doors line up with the train doors and open and close at the same time as the train doors.

Sheffield Supertram 12.4.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 20:50:43 GMT

The Sheffield Supertram network is a series of three tram and one experimental Tram-Train line in the city of Sheffield, with the Tram-Train line also service the town of Rotherham.

The Supertram network opened in stages between 1994 and 1995 as follows:

21.3.94: Meadowhall - Fitzalan Square
22.8.94: Spring Lane - Fitzalan Square
5.12.94: Spring Lane - Gleadless Townend
18.2.95: Fitzalan Square - Cathedral
27.2.95: Cathedral - Shalesmoor
27.3.95: Gleadless Townend - Halfway
3.4.95: Gleadless Townend - Herdings Park
23.10.95:Shalesmoor - Middlewood / Malin Bridge

An additional extension in the form of a Tram-Train line, where the Tram-Train operated as a normal tram from Cathedral to Meadowhall South / Tinsley opened in 2018. Just past this stop, there is a junction which takes the tramway onto the Heavy rail network, and after a quick stop to change from Tramway control to Network Rail signalling, the TramTrain travels along the heavy rail line, with stops at Rotherham Central, where the stop is configured with tram train platforms and heavy rail platforms next to each other, before the line continues onwards to Rotherham Parkgate. If and when the heavy rail line to and through Rotherham is electrified, the built in switching equipment to allow the trams to change from the tramway's 750 volt power to the 25Kv Network Rail OHLE will come into use.

The services are formed with three colour coded routes and the Tram-Train serving the city centre, suburbs, shopping centres and park and rides with 50 tram stops around the city.

The 4 routes are:

The Purple Route: Cathedral - Herdings Park (hourly)
The Blue Route: Malin Bridge - Halfway (12 minutes)
The Yellow Route: Middlewood - Meadowhall Interchange (12 minutes)
Tram-Train Route (TT): Catherdral - Rotherham Parkgate (half hourly)

The routes themselves featured a mixture of on street running, seperate reservations and running on former / or alongside current heavy rail lines and all meet in the City Centre with all services serving the main stops of Cathedral, Castle Square and Fitzalan Square. Some impressive structures were built to carry the tramway over roads and existing railways with the bridge over Commercial Street and Park Square roundabout being particularly stunning. Just south of that bridge is also an impressive triangular junction allowing trams from the city centre / Malin Bridge / Middlewood to head left to Meadowhall / Rotherham Parkgate or right to Herdings Park / Halfway. The third end is rarely used and is mostly used for depot runs or diversions. Nunnery Depot, where the full fleet is maintained, can be found on the Yellow Route.

The Trams

The tram fleet is made up of two types of tram, these are the Duewags, consisting of 25 trams (numbered 101-125) and the Class 399 Stadler Citylink tram-trains (made up of 7 tram-trains numbered 399201-399207).

Siemens Duewags:

Built in 1992, the Siemens Duewag fleet have been the mainstay of the three all tram lines since the system opened. Each tram contains three articulated sections with two driving ends and a central section. The doors are found in the driving ends with 40% of each tram being low floor and step free access. Each tram holds 86 seated passengers with up to 155 standing passengers also accomodated.

Each tram has a maximum speed of 50mph and with every axle powered, can manage the gradients, some as steep as 10% across the network with ease.

Each tram underwent an overhaul between 2006 and 2009 with the majority being painted in the standard red, yellow and blue Stagecoach livery, with some exceptions.

Unfortunately due to not having the relevant Network Rail safety systems and crashworthiness, the Duewags cannot be used on the Tram-Train route between Meadowhall South / Tinsley and Rotherham Parkgate.

Number	Livery	Status	Notes
101	Stagecoach Standard	In service
102	Stagecoach Standard	In service	Following an accident in 1995, 102 was reformed with a driving end from 111
103	Stagecoach Standard	In service
104	Stagecoach Standard	In service
105	Stagecoach Standard	Accident Repairs	Currently at Kilmarnock Bonnyton works for accident repairs
106	Stagecoach Standard	In service
107	Stagecoach Standard	In service
108	Stagecoach Standard	In service
109	Stagecoach Standard	In service
110	Stagecoach Standard	In service
111	Advert for Prettylittlething.com	In service	Following an accident in 1995, 111 was reformed with a driving end from 102
112	Advert for Stagecoach Supertram: on track for a greener future	In service
113	Stagecoach Standard	In service
114	Stagecoach Standard	In service
115	Stagecoach Standard	In service
116	Advert for XPO Logistics	In service
117	Stagecoach Standard	In service
118	Advert for Prettylittlething.com	In service	Following a collision in 2015, 118 was reformed with a driving end from 120.
119	Stagecoach Standard	In service
120	Sheffield Corporation Blue and Cream	In service	Following a collision in 2015, 120 was reformed with a driving end from 118.
121	Stagecoach Standard	In service
122	Stagecoach Standard	In service
123	Stagecoach Standard with 21st Anniversary Window vynals	In service
124	Stagecoach Standard	In service
125	Stagecoach Standard	In service

Stadler Citylink Tram-Trains:

Built in 2015, the Stadler Citylink Tram-Trains have two main uses, numbers 399201-204 are allocated to operate on the Tram-Train service between Cathedral and Rotherham Parkgate , with numbers 399205-207 being used as Tram only and can operate on the Blue, Purple or Yellow routes to provide additional capacity.

Due to 201-204's wheels being profiled for heavy rail and 205-207's wheels being profiled for tram track, 201-204 are confined to the Tram-Train route and 205-207 are confined to tram routes.

The TramTrains consist of three sections and are fully low floor. They hold 96 seated and 150 standing passengers and have a maximum speed of 60mph.

Number	Livery	Status	Notes
399201	Stagecoach Standard	In service	Tram-Train line use only
399202	Stagecoach Standard	In service	Tram-Train line use only. Named 'Theo' 399202 reformed with part of 399204 following a collision with a road vehicle on a level crossing.
399203	Stagecoach Standard	In service	Tram-Train line use only
399204	Stagecoach Standard	In service	Tram-Train line use only. 399204 reformed with part of 399202 following a collision with a road vehicle on a level crossing.
399205	Stagecoach Standard	In service	Tram line use only
399206	Stagecoach Standard	In service	Tram line use only. Initally used on Tram-train route, wheels reprofiled to tram profile 2020.
399207	Stagecoach Standard	In service	Tram line use only

My trip:

I only had just over 3 hours to spend in Sheffield on the 12th on my first ever trip to the area so had to make the most of it. I met up with @JamesTGlossop from Twitter, who showed me round! Firstly from Sheffield Station, we bought Day Tickets from the onboard conductor for the excellent price of £4.60 and headed into Sheffield onboard 108 on a Blue Route service towards Cathedral.

After a short time photoing here, we caught Tram 122 on a yellow route service to Meadowhall South / Tinsley, where we caught 399201 to Rotherham Parkgate then back to Meadowhall South/Tinsley. We then walked round to Meadowhall Interchange and caught 120 on a Yellow service as far as Netherthorpe Road.

After a few photos there, we caught 106 on a blue route service to Park Grange Croft, then 112 to Granville Road, where we got off and walked back to Sheffield station taking a few photos on the way!

On the day of my visit, trams on the Blue Route were terminating at Beighton / Drake House Lane due to overhead line issues.

Trams Seen:

Tram-Train 399201, 399203

Yellow Route: 122, 103, 101, 120, 102, 113

Blue Route: 115, 108, 112, 111, 117, 106, 123

Purple Route: 124

Not In Service (0): 109

On depot: 116, 119, 121

I'd definately recommend a visit to Sheffield for the trams and the Tram-Trains and hope to go back there sometime soon! For photos from my trip, either click on the links in the fleet lists above or visit my gallery at: https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p1025895743

47614 + 47593 at Carluke 27.2.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 19:53:29 GMT

BR Blue liveried 47614 and BR Large Logo liveried 47593 'Galloway Princess' are seen heading south through Carluke with 0Z42 Mossend - Carlisle High Wapping Sidings light engine move 27.2.22

82136 and 87002 at Carluke 27.2.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 19:47:14 GMT

Looking fantastic in Intercity livery, DVT 82136 is seen at the head of 1Z42 Inverness - London Euston 'The Clansman' railtour as it passes through Carluke. 87002 is powering the train from the rear 27.2.22

https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p372662983/e1066f23a

Looking fantastic in Intercity livery, 87002 is seen powering from the rear of 1Z42 Inverness - London Euston 'The Clansman' railtour as it passes through Carluke. DVT 82136 is leading the set at the front 27.2.22

47593+47614 at Greenfaulds 26.2.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 19:38:18 GMT

BR Large Logo liveried 47593 'Galloway Princess' and BR Blue liveried 47614 and a set of Intercity Mark 3's pass through Greenfaulds with 1Z59 London Euston - Inverness 'The Clansman' railtour 26.2.22

Blackpool Heritage Gold Day and Depot Tour 19.2.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 22:37:31 GMT

The weekend of 19th and 20th February saw Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours first 'Gold Weekend' of 2022. The weekend was due to start of Friday 18th with an evening tour onboard the Western Train, however the tail end of Storm Eunice put paid to that and an additional tour operated on Saturday 19th instead.

The Gold Weekend saw the use of 6 heritage trams on a series of workings from Pleasure Beach to Little Bispham, Thornton Gate or Fisherman's Walk in Fleetwood. Due to gas pipe works in Fleetwood, both the service and heritage trams could not reach Fleetwood Ferry so terminated at Fisherman's walk instead. There was also the chance for a twice daily run by heritage bus to Fleetwood and back on both the Saturday and Sunday and twice daily tours of Rigby Road Depot.

The initial allocation for the Heritage Fleet on the Saturday was Diagram A: Balloon 717, Diagram B: Brush Car 631, Diagram C: Millennium Balloon 718, Diagram D Boat 600, Diagram E: Bolton 66 and Diagram F: Centenary 648. This was to be Centenary 648's first run in service since pre pandemic in early 2020. Due to the poor weather, Boat 600 and Bolton 66 were removed from the roster and replaced by the more suitable enclosed Brush Car 621 and Balloon 715.

I arrived in Blackpool around 10.15am to torrential rain. By the time I got parked at Pleasure Beach and made my way to Rigby Road depot, the rain had turned to rather large flakes of snow and spotted enroute were Brush Car 621 and Balloon 717! I was booked on to the 11am tour at Rigby Road and luckily we were allowed in early to take shelter in the main tram shed!

The tour began with a trip to the Fitting Shop, which incidentally was the warmest building on the tour! In the Fitting Shop was Standard 143, which had been getting attention to it's motors and was being prepared a potential return to service at Easter!

We were also shown the Blacksmith's forge and some of the tools used. Due to the uniqueness of the heritage fleet and the lack of spares, many of the replacement parts are home made in Rigby Road depot, an example of homemade parts was also layed out in the fitting shop in the form of a brand new underframe for Balloon 704, which was built by only one person!

Balloon 704 has been stripped to a shell for a heritage restoration back to 1950's style. It was good to hear that a second new underframe was also in the pipeline, this one being for open top Balloon 706, which is currently withdrawn.

We also saw the gas burner that is used for the removal / fitting of tyres to the wheels. Also seen in the Fitting shop was a couple of refurbished truck frames from a Centenary car.

Next we were taken into the Paint Shop, it was interesting to hear that all the buses and trams are still hand painted, being worked on at the time was a single and a double deck Palladium bus as well as the replica tank tram. The replica tank tram was a project by some local colleges to replicate a vehicle that would have been created from the body or around the frame of a disused tram on many systems across the country during World War 1 to raise money to buy tanks. There was also an interesting array of art work and posters on the wall.

After the Paint Shop we moved next door and visited the body shop where the body and frames of Lytham 43 and Glasgow 1016 are stored along with a large scale model of Standard car 40, which was used as part of a display back in 1985 for the Centenary year.

In the Body Shop, Work was well underway on the bodyframe being carried out on Balloon 704, which as mentioned above had been stripped to a shell for restoration to commence. Once its new underframe is complete, the old underframe will be rolled out from underneath it and scrapped, whilst the new frame is rolled underneath the body frame and work can commence on the restoration. Also in the body shop was Brush Car 634, which was repainted into Terror Tram advert during 2021, complete with skulls on the end, a recreation of an advert carried by the tram in the late 1990s. 634 was awaiting the fitting of a trolley tower and pantograph, to allow it to re-enter service for the first time since 2004.

One of the main reasons the tours are taking place is to help to raise funds to repair the roof of the main tram shed, which is in a terrible state with holes and leaks everywhere and that's where we headed next! We were firstly taken into the Electrical compound, which being the driest part of the main depot is used to store the boat cars and some others that are awaiting attention. Boats 600, 227 (602) and 230 (604) along with Centenary 642, Standard 147 and Millennium Balloon 707 were seen in there. We were then taken along the rear of the main sheds, where we saw some of the withdrawn trams such as Balloon 726, Coronation 304, Balloon 720, Brush car 290, Twin Cars 676+686 and 272+T2. We were then taken into Bolton 66 for a heat! At this point the main tour was over, though I would like to thank Paul, who took me round to the far side of the sheds to photo the hovertram, Balloon 708, Brush 625 and 632.

I then headed back to the prom and by this time, the snow had halted and had began melting. It was a strange sight seeing Brush Cars 621 and 631 with their fronts covered in snow! I caught Brush Car 631 up to Bispham for a few shots of the trams in the snow, then caught 718 down to North Pier. On reaching North Pier, Balloon 711 had appeared in the loop and was being used as the shop tram and the sun had came out! After getting a few photos at North Pier, I walked back along the prom in the wall to wall sunshine, taking photos of the t rams on the way. I reached Pleasure Beach at 3.20 and was hoping to catch a couple of photos of 648, however the tram had suffered from a loss of power fault and by the time it was repaired, it was over 20 minutes late in reaching Pleasure Beach. 648 was returned to depot and Balloon 711 took over the remainder of 648's duties. It was at this point it was time for me to head back home.

Overall, it was an enjoyable day, I'd thoroughly reccomend the depot tour though you will need to be quick to book as they are fully booked up for months! More photos from the day can be found at: https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p490848536

My entire collection of Blackpool Tram photos from 2003 to today can be found at: https://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/f595940839

303 and 314 journey log from 2000-2001

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 06 Feb 2022 22:48:35 GMT

I was clearing out my Portable Hard Drive and came across a list of some of my journeys of class 303s and 314s from 2000 and 2001. It's not a complete record as it only features the days that I actually remembered to keep a note! It does however give a snapshot of what was operating on both the Argyle and Cathcart Circle lines in the final years of 303 operation.

Class 303s in service during this period were: 303001, 003, 004, 006, 008, 009, 010 (till Dec 2000), 011, 012, 013, 014, 015, 016, 019, 020, 021, 023, 025 (till Sep/Oct 2000), 027, 032, 033, 034, 037, 043, 045, 047, 054, 056, 058 (till Sep 2000), 065, 070, 077, 079, 080, 083, 085, 087, 088, 090, 091.

29th August 2000:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden Express: 303070+303034
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314208
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314205
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303045

30th August 2000:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden Express: 303025+303021
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314203
16.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314210+314206
16.44 Dalmuir - Lanark: 303085

1st September 2000:

8.02 Carstairs - Garscadden Express: 303033
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314205
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 303008
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303083

4th September 2000:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden Express: 303006+303065
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314207
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314206
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303019

5th September 2000:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden Express: 303077+303054
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314216
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314206
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303087

6th September 2000:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden Express: 303016+303043
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314205
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314207
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303001

7th September 2000:

8.02 Lanark - Garscadden Express: 303021
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314213
16.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 303014+303077
16.44 Dalmuir - Lanark: 303020+303088

8th September 2000:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden Express: 303025+303012
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314216
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314213
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303001

11th September 2000:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden Express: 303020+303013
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314214
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314214
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303033

13th September 2000:

8.02 Carstairs - Garscadden Express: 303013
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314202
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314212
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303087

14th September 2000:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden Express: 303006+303045
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314205
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314204
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303004

8th September 2000:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden Express: 303025+303012
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314216
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314213
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303001

5th December 2000:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden Express: 303025+303083
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314206
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314206
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303047

6th December 2000:

8.02 Lanark - Garscadden Express: 303083
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314213
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314213
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303043

7th December 2000:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden Express: 303085+303032
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314206
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314206
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303014

8th December 2000:

8.02 Carstairs - Garscadden Express: 303001
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314206
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314206
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303014

11th December 2000:

8.02 Carstairs - Garscadden Express: 303003
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314206
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314206
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303009

12th December 2000:

8.02 Carstairs - Garscadden Express: 303003
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314213
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314214
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303016

13th December 2000:

8.02 Carstairs - Garscadden Express: 303008
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314204
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314208
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303033

15th January 2001:

7.50 Motherwell - Dalmuir: 303070+303088
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314209
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314212
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303023

23rd January 2001:

7.50 Motherwell - Dalmuir: 303088+303077
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 303021
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 303027
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303047

30th January 2001:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden express: 303003
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314209
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314212
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303085

7th February 2001:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden express: 303083+303033
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314216
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314203
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303088

13th February 2001:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden express: 303020+303043
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314209
15.50 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 318258
16.44 Dalmuir - Lanark: 303045

19th February 2001:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden express: 303013+303012
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314204
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314204
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303020

20th February 2001:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden express: 303014+303034
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314205
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314204
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303037

25th February 2001:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden express: 303037+303027
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314201
16.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 303011
16.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303085
16.44 Dalmuir - Lanark: 303009+303019

6th March 2001:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden express: 303014+303090
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314204
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314209
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303047

7th March 2001:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden express: 303070+303090
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314204
16.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314206+314213
16.44 Dalmuir - Lanark: 303008

8th March 2001:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden express: 303090+303011
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 303004
12.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314214
12.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303011

19th March 2001:

7.44 Lanark - Garscadden express: 303023
8.50 Glasgow Central - Neilston: 314213
16.13 Mount Florida - Glasgow Central: 314209
16.38 Dalmuir - Motherwell: 303085
16.44 Dalmuir - Lanark: 303088+303011

87002 at Carlisle 14.1.22

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 15 Jan 2022 23:10:56 GMT

Locomotive Services Limited's Intercity Swallow liveried 87002 'Royal Sovereign' along with matching set of Mark 3s and DVT 82136 visited Carlisle on 14th January.

They worked as 5Z50 from Crewe and as 5Z51 back to Crewe mid afternoon as ECS workings as test runs and route learning prior to working on tour duty to Glasgow Central on Thursday 26th January. 87002, the coaching stock and DVT 82136, looked fantastic in their heritage livery and a massive well done goes to all those who restored the vehicles back to this livery.

303032 at Bo'ness 29.12.21

(Scottish Trains Website) — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 17:21:51 GMT

303032 is one of the original set of 35 class 303s (Then known as class AM3) built in 1959 by Pressed Steel of Elderslie for the electrification of the North Clyde lines, a subsequent order of 56 sets raised in 1960 took the number of units up to 91. 303032 wore a succession of liveries starting with Caledonian Blue, then BR Blue and Grey then Strathclyde Transport 'Red' and Black livery from the 1980's through till withdrawal, receiving it's final repaint in the mid 1990's. 032 would operate on the North Clyde lines, Argyle Lines, Cathcart Circle and Clyde Coast lines over 42 years until withdrawal around June / July 2002.

After withdrawal, 303032 was taken to Immingham along with a number of sets that were going for scrapping. 303032 was the lucky one however as it was going for asbestos removal prior to preservation at Bo'ness. Unfortunately 303032's original Motor Coach (the centre coach) 61512 was damaged at Immingham and was scrapped, however 61512 was substituted for Carmine and Cream liveried 61503 from set 303023, which was there for scrapping. Both driving trailers (75597 and 75632) are 303032s originals. 303032 was returned to Bo'ness by low loader from Immingham for preservation in April 2003.

303032 is still occasionally hauled up and down the line at Boness by a Class 26, 27 or 37 working in blue star mode. A ride on the set during the diesel galas brings back memories including the sound of the door closing alarm, the hiss of the air brakes and the driver having to get out and force a set of doors closed before the set will move! 303032 is still in the same coat of paint as it was when it arrived at Boness with the trailers in Orange and Black Strathclyde Transport livery and the motor coach in the SPT Carmine and Cream livery. 303032 hasn't been used for many years and has been on display in the display shed. It was extracted from the shed and placed in the display siding for the Diesel Gala at Bo'ness on 29th December 2021.

Bo'ness Diesel Gala 29.12.21

(Scottish Trains Website) — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 16:31:07 GMT

The Bo'ness Diesel Gala took place on Wednesday 29th December. The gala featured the home fleet with BR Large logo liveried 37403 making its debut at Bo'ness following its time on hire to DRS, BR Blue liveried 37703 making its last appearance on loan from DRS, 47643 in its Scotrail Intercity livery and 27001 in BR Blue livery.

The visiting locomotive was supplied by GBRF and was 66773 'Pride of GB Railfreight' with Pride rainbow branding.

On display was DRS liveried 20302+20305, which will shortly be leaving Bo'ness as well as Hydrogen Multiple Unit 614209 and former Blue Train: 303032, which was making it's first appearance out in the open for around 6 years.

It was torrential rain for most of the morning, which made photography difficult (and meant having to take most photographs on my phone instead of the camera), however the highlight was seeing 303032 out on display and having a look round the interior and seeing 37403+37703 double heading the 12.30 working.

Wartime livery repaint for Balloon 700 28.12.21

(Scottish Trains Website) — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 00:17:06 GMT

After 10 years in Blackpool Transport's 'Flexity' Purple and White livery, Balloon 700 has been repainted back into the Wartime Green and Cream livery that it carried during the 2nd World War and into the 1950's then again following a major overhaul in 1997 till it was sidelined for the addition of the door pods to make it compatable with the Flexity platforms in 2010.

700 was initially due to make it's debut run back in Green and Cream at the Anniversary Weekend in September, however was sidelined with a door fault. On 28th December 2021, 700 was used for the FTS Christmas tour along with Atlantean bus 334 (which did a run along the long abandoned former street routes on Lytham Road and the former Marton summer extension terminus on Station Road opposite South Pier.

Balloon 700 then took over and ran first to Starr Gate, then north to Fleetwood before returning to Rigby Road. Millennium Balloon 707 was then used for the third part of the tour, which consisted of an evening tour of the illuminations.

The repainting of Balloon 700 means now that only two of the 'B' fleet Balloons now retain the purple and white livery: 711 and 719.

The current status of the B Fleet is as follows:

Number	Type	Livery	Current Status
700	Balloon (original shape with twin destination screens)	Wartime Green and Cream	Operational
707	Millennium Balloon	Millennium Green and Cream	Operational
709	Millennium Balloon	Sea Life Centre All over advert	Stored since 2013
711	Balloon (refurbished 1990's)	Flexity Purple and White	In paint shop
713	Balloon (refurbished 2005)	Hounds Hill Centre all over advert	Operational
718	Millennium Balloon	Millennium Green and Cream	Operational
719	Balloon (refurbished 1997)	Flexity Purple and White	Currently unavailable
720	Balloon (refurbished 2011)	Walls Ice Cream all over advert	Stored since 2011
724	Millennium Balloon	Lyndene Hotel all over advert	Stored since 2013

Some shots of 700

The Magical Express Tour Tram (Blackpool Balloon 723) 18.12.21

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 00:17:55 GMT

A very quick stop off at Blackpool this afternoon allowed me the chance to grab a couple of photographs of Blackpool's most recent Heritage Fleet tram to receive an all over advert!

Balloon 723 has been branded as the 'The Magical Express Tour' tram and has been revynaled on the outside with mainly black vynal with a white strip along the base of the tram. Along the white base and onto the black are various characters including people ice skating, snowmen and Christmas Trees. On the panel on either side where the stair case is located, there is an image of a full moon with Santa on his sleigh being hauled by his reindeers passing it. On the between deck panelling, there are slogans for 'I love BP (Blackpool)', 'Christmas by the sea' and 'The Magical Express Tour'. The destination blinds have been vynaled over and also feature the text:'The Magical Express Tour'. The 'Christmas by the sea' event is taking place at the Tower Headland from 19th November until 3rd January. The event has the 'Star Flyer' ride, an Ice Rink and Christmas Market set up on the Tower headland. 723 is operating tours, which are running from North Pier / Tower heritage stop to Pleasure Beach (non stop) and return with it only being possible to board at the North Pier / Tower stop. See further info and times at: https://blackpoolheritage.com/tours/the-magical-express-tour/

723 is one of Blackpool's iconic Balloon tram fleet and is a regular performer on Blackpool's heritage tram tours and Illuminations tours. Having received a major refurbishment in the 1990's, which involved the removal of it's curved end upper deck windows, curved roof windows and swing over seats, 723 received many other modifications including the fitting of flourescent lighting, high intensity headlights and heating, making it ideal for winter use. 723 was regularly seen in use either on the Fleetwood or Cleveleys services or even on specials until withdrawal in 2011 prior to the completion of the tramway upgrade and introduction of the Flexities in 2012. 723 was not chosen for conversion to one of the 'fat door' 'B' fleet balloons due to it having remedial repairs done to its underframe rather than the full replacement carried out on subsequent refurbishments / overhauls and would join the heritage fleet, first as the 'scruffy surprise' in 2015 when it was used during the Anniversary event, having been stripped of its advertising vynals revealing a rather scruffy coat of 80's green and cream underneath. After a repaint with a fresh coat of 80's green and cream in 2016, 723 became a permanent member of the heritage fleet.

The photos below show Balloon 723 in it's 'Magical Express Tour' livery at Pleasure Beach on 18.12.21

Also seen were Flexity 2 trams 006, 001, 003 and 017 also at Pleasure Beach and at Rigby Road Depot OMO 8, Centenary 645, Brush Railcoach 632, Balloon 717, Millennium Balloon 707 and Coronation 663 which were all prominent at the front of the depot.

DRS Liveried 20302+20305 at Bo'ness 26.11.21

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 22:04:53 GMT

I was late in leaving work on Friday (3pm is late for a Friday!) which meant I didn't have time to go very far before darkness fell so I decided to head home via Bo'ness. I was wanting to have a look to see if any of 614209 (former 314209), was visible next to the fence at the rear (it was). As I was approaching the rear of the yard, I noticed that one of the DRS class 20s was visible near the TMD, so I headed there and found that the gates were open and 20302 and 20305 were sitting out on the track in the car park / public footpath with 26038 'Tom Clift' within the gates. The reason they were shunted out there was that one of the steam locos, NCB No 1 'Lord Roberts', was being driven up and down the yard multiple times either on test or on driver training.

Both in original DRS 'Compass' Livery, 20302 and 20305 have been at Bo'ness since 17th July 2020, when they arrived as part of a convoy with 37038, 37424 and 37403, however both of the class haven't run since.

DMSO 64600 from 614209 (ex 314209) was parked up next to the fence at the end of the main line headshunt. Work is still under way on the conversion of the unit from an EMU to a unit powered by Hydrogen, with Arcola Energy carrying out the work.

A class 230, a class 614 and a class 799: COP 26, Glasgow Oct&Nov 2021

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 20:03:11 GMT

During the COP 26 Climate Summit, the eyes of the world were on Glasgow and it was seen as a chance to show off some advances in some more eco friendly advances in rail technology such as hydrogen and battery power to a wider audience, including Royalty and heads of Government.

Visiting Glasgow was Viva Rail's battery powered three car ex District line D Stock: 230001 and Porterbrook Rail's bi mode multiple unit 799201, whilst at Bo'ness Arcola Rail's former class 314, now 614209 and converted to Hydrogen power was also on display.

230001

Viva Rail's class 230: 230001 (vehicles 300001 / 300201 / 300101) was developed from ex London Underground District line D78 stock (LU vehicles 7058 / 17128 / 7511), originally as a DEMU, but now as a battery unit with a range of up to 100km, with the batteries able to be recharged in 10 minutes!

The Grey, purple and black with Vivarail “Clean Energy/Fast Charge” slogans liveried 230001 arrived at Polmadie by low loader on 24th October and began test and press runs between Glasgow Central and Barrhead / Kilmarnock from 27th October to 29th October. The unit did manage a trip further afield with a trip from Polmadie - Inverkeithing Yard on Friday 29th October and a return trip over the Forth Bridge back to Polmadie, which doubled as a Press run, following a naming ceremony, where 230001 was named 'Viva Venturer'. On weekdays during the COP 26 conference, 230001 would make the short journey into Central Station from Polmadie and would operate between Glasgow and Barrhead either 2 or 3 times per afternoon. During the course of the conference, both Prince Charles and Prime Minister, Boris Johnson were amongst the visiting dignatories to have a look on board.

230001 at Glasgow Central	Vivarail's battery powered Class 230 three car 'D' train 230001, which was converted from former London Underground 'D78' stock, is seen arriving at Glasgow Central with 5Z09 ECS working from Barrhead. 230001 is in Glasgow to demo different forms of renewable power sources during the COP 26 conference 29.10.21
230001 at Glasgow Central	Vivarail's battery powered Class 230 three car 'D' train 230001, which was converted from former London Underground 'D78' stock, is seen at Glasgow Central having arrived with 5Z09 ECS working from Barrhead. 29.10.21
380110 and 230001 at Glasgow Central	380110 is seen at Platform 12 in Glasgow Central awaiting it's next departure as Vivarail's battery powered protoype unit 230001 is seen having arrived with 5Z09 ECS working from Barrhead 29.10.21
230001 at Glasgow Central	Vivarail's battery powered Class 230 three car 'D' train 230001, which was converted from former London Underground 'D78' stock, is awaiting departure from at Glasgow Central with 5Z07 ECS working to Polmadie. 29.10.21
230001 departing Glasgow Central	Vivarail's battery powered Class 230 three car 'D' train 230001, which was converted from former London Underground 'D78' stock, is seen on the complex track layout outside Glasgow Central with 5Z07 ECS working to Polmadie. 29.10.21
230001 at Dalmeny	Vivarail's battery powered Class 230 three car 'D' train 230001 'Viva Venturer', which was converted from former London Underground 'D78' stock, is seen arriving at Dalmeny having just crossed the Forth Rail Bridge with 5Z12 Inverkeithing yard to Polmadie working. 30.10.21
230001 at Dalmeny	Vivarail's battery powered Class 230 three car 'D' train 230001 'Viva Venturer', which was converted from former London Underground 'D78' stock, is seen pausing at Dalmeny with 5Z12 Inverkeithing yard to Polmadie working. 30.10.21

799201

799201 is the second of two tri-mode multiple units adapted from class 319 EMUs (799001 was adapted from 319001 and 799201 was adapted from 319382). The existing 25KV overhead line and 750V Third rail equipment has been retained with both units featuring a full carriage sized hydrogen fuel cell. Porterbrook hope to eventually be able to make the fuel cell to fit in the underframe of the units.

The adaptation of 319001 into 799001 began in 2018 and the unit was unveiled on 20 June 2019. The project became known as 'Hydroflex' and 799001 made its first mainline appearance on testing in September 2020, reaching 50 mph through Warwickshire.

The project evolved and a second unit was required so 319382 became 799201 for showcasing at COP 26. 799201 features a Green livery with COP26 branding and earth vynals around the cab sides. One of 799201's Driving Trailers contains the hydrogen cells, while vehicle 71980 was fitted out with a boardroom styled interior for the COP26 Summit.

799201, consisting of vehicles 77975, 63094, 71980 and 77976 was hauled from Long Marston, where it is based to Mossend on 3rd November 2021 by 57312 and made it's debut run on 4th November, traveling from Mossend to Glasgow Central and travelling 2-3 journeys non stop around the Cathcart Circle (via the outer track) before returning to Mossend, 799201 ran on electric power for the duration of the summit. 799201 made daily runs on weekdays up to 11th November, with the unit returning south on 12th November. Over the course of the conference, both Prince Charles and Prime Minister, Boris Johnson were amongst the many visiting dignatories to have a look on board.

799201 at Maxwell Park	Porterbrook Rail's HydroFLEX prototype unit 799201 is seen passing through Maxwell Park on the Cathcart Circle with 2Z02 13.50 Glasgow Central - Glasgow Central via the Cathcart Circle. 799201 is in Glasgow to demonstrate Hydrogen powered technology 5.11.21
799201 at Maxwell Park	Porterbrook Rail's HydroFLEX prototype unit 799201 is seen having passed through Maxwell Park on the Cathcart Circle with 2Z02 13.50 Glasgow Central - Glasgow Central via the Cathcart Circle. 5.11.21
799201 at Whifflet	Porterbrook Rail's HydroFLEX prototype unit 799201 is seen pausing at Whifflet with 5Z01 14.39 Glasgow Central - Whifflet. 5.11.21
799201 at Whifflet	Porterbrook Rail's HydroFLEX prototype unit 799201 departs Whifflet with 5Z01 14.39 Glasgow Central - Whifflet. 5.11.21

614209

The third and final unit, 614209 (vehicles 64599, 71458 and 64600), was still being worked on at Bo'ness during COP 26, however a series of visits was set up by Arcola Energy to showcase the progress made on the former class 314 unit during its conversion from an EMU to hydrogen power.

314209 was withdrawn from service on Friday 13th December, a day before the final withdrawal of the class 314 fleet, having worked on evening peak Neilston services with 314210 and was probably the unit which was in the best condition compared to the then remaining 314 fleet. Despite the scrapping of the other units, 314209 remained stored at Yoker for almost, until it was transferred under it's own power from Yoker to Shields depot on 16th December 2020 for onward transport by low loader to Bo'ness over 17th and 18th December 2020.

Work started on the conversion of the 314 to Hydrogen power in January 2021 and has involved the removal of most of the original electrical equipment from the 314 either for refurbishment or for replacement. New equipment fitted has included AC motors (314209's original motors were DC), a new system of batteries to allow it to run off battery power if required and hydrogen tanks fitted below the underframe. The interior of the unit is also being refurbished with the old seating having been removed and replaced with Pendolino style seating and new flooring. The original wall panels and lighting has been maintained. The Pantograph trailer has been completed, however work is still ongoing on the DMSO vehicles.

314209 became 614209 in October 2021 and has been outshopped in Scotrail Saltire Blue with 'Scottish Hydrogen Train project' branding. The aim is for 614209, to move under its own power around the yard at Bo’ness in March 2022 and and over the full length of the 5 1/2 mile long line in May 2022. 614209 was on static display at Bo'ness station during COP 26.

314209 at Gourock	314209 seen at Gourock having arrived with 1G05 11.55 Glasgow Central - Gourock 6.4.18
314209 at Yoker	Seen from the Kelso St overbridge, the final remaining fully intact Class 314, 314209, is seen stabled in a siding at Yoker Depot 24.7.20
314209 at Bo'ness	Vehicle 64600 from 314209 is seen being delivered by low loader to Bo'ness, where conversion to hydrogen power will begin 18.12.20
71458 at Bo'ness	Pantograph trailer 71458 from the newly renumbered 614209 the former class 314209 at Bo'ness 29.10.21
614209 at Bo'ness	DMSO Vehicle 64600 with Pantograph trailer 71458 behind from Arcola Energy's new hydrogen train, 614209 (formerly 314209) are seen at Bo'ness on display for visitors at COP 26 4.11.21 (photo taken through the fence from a public footpath)

Scottish Power / COP 26 advert on Glasgow Subway stock 16.10.21 & 22.10.21

(Scottish Trains Website) — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 23:21:59 GMT

A full set of Glasgow Subway vehicles formed of Metro Cammell Power Car 125, Barclay Trailer 201 and Metro Power Power Car 118 have been reliveried into an all over advert for Scottish Power and COP 26.

The advert features the slogans 'Join us on a faster journey to a greener future' and 'On track to help Scotland reach net zero by 2045'. The logos for Scottish Power and COP 26 also feature on the body sides.

The train, with 125 leading, was running on the Outer Circle on route 2 on 16th October 2021. Photos taken at St Enoch and Buchanan St. On 22nd October, the set were seen working route 15 on the Inner Circle, again 125 was leading.

125 front view
125 rear view
201 view
118 view

Glasgow Subway visit 3.10.21 and 8.10.21

(Scottish Trains Website) — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 00:16:56 GMT

The Glasgow Subway is the third oldest underground Metro railway system in the world, behind London and Budapest. Opening in 1896, the Subway was first cable hauled before switching to electric traction from 1935, using the original rolling stock. Following a major refurbishment from 1977-1980, the current configuration of stations and the current Metro Cammell power cars entered service.

Today's system consists of the inner circle and outer circle serving 15 stations over their 6 1/2 mile route and it is possible to travel around a complete loop of the system in 25 minutes. The stations are a mix of the more traditional narrow island platforms at most stations (Kelvinhall, Kelvinbridge, St Georges Cross, Cowcaddens, Bridge Street, West Street, Shields Road, Kinning Park and Cessnock), with the busier stations of Buchanan St, Ibrox and Hillhead having a combination of side platform and centre platform while St Enoch, Govan and Partick have a pair of side platforms to ease congestion.

The service levels vary from every 4 minutes at peak times (6 trains per circle), every 6 minutes (4/5 trains per circle) or every 8 minutes (3 trains per circle).

The services are operated by trains of the unique 4ft gauge 1978 built Metro Cammell power cars and 1992 Hunslet built trailer cars. The cars are usually run in three car formation, although 2 car is also possible if short of stock. Formations are usually as follows:

Power Car / Trailer / Power Car
Power Car / Power Car (acting as trailer) / Power Car
Power Car / Power Car

There are currently 32 Power Cars in service and 8 trailers, mostly in SPT Orange, Grey and White livery, however there are 2 special liveries, these being on Number 101, which carries a retro Glasgow District Subway Maroon and Cream livery and 130, which carries a special grey livery to celebrate the 120th Anniversary of the Subway in 2016. The only car you won't see is 122 as it was scrapped in 2017 to provide spare parts to keep the others in service.

With the introduction to service of 17 new Stadler trains expected during 2022, it is a case of catch the Metro Cammell and Barclay cars while you can.

Having recently started reading the excellent 'Circles under the Clyde' book, which gives a fascinating history, particularly of the original pre 1977 system and the rolling stock, I was inspired to visit for the first time since 2014 and take photos of the system for the first time!

On both occasions the 6 minute service was in operation using 4 trains per circle, though on my second trip, this was ramping up towards the 4 minute service with 6 trains per circle. As well as having a ride round both the Outer and Inner circles, I stopped off at various stations including St Enoch, Buchanan Street, Govan, Bridge Street and Cowcaddens to take photographs. I would recommend a visit to this small, clean and well kept system.

I have added a fleet list below, which has details of the current Metro Cammell and Hunslet vehicles. Any of the vehicles that I have photographed, I have linked them to the relevant number on the fleet list below:

Number	Vehicle Type	Built by	Entered Service	Current Livery	Status	Notes
101	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	Retro Glasgow District Subway Company Maroon and Cream livery	In Service
102	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
103	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service	First vehicle to be delivered to upgraded Subway and first to run under it's own power.
104	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
105	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
106	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
107	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
108	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
109	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
110	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
111	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
112	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
113	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
114	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
115	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
116	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
117	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
118	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	Scottish Power / COP 26 advert	In Service
119	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
120	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
121	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
122	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	N/A	Scrapped	Withdrawn 2015 and scrapped circa 2017 to provide spare parts for other vehicles
123	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
124	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
125	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	Scottish Power / COP 26 advert	In Service
126	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
127	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
128	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
129	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
130	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	Glasgow Subway 1896-2016 120 years All over Grey livery with orange doors	In Service
131	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
132	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service	Used for the Inaugaration of the new system by the Queen 1.11.79
133	Motor Car	Metro Cammell	1980	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service	Used for the Inaugaration of the new system by the Queen 1.11.79
201	Trailer Car	Hunslet	1992	Scottish Power / COP 26 advert	In Service
202	Trailer Car	Hunslet	1992	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
203	Trailer Car	Hunslet	1992	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
204	Trailer Car	Hunslet	1992	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
205	Trailer Car	Hunslet	1992	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
206	Trailer Car	Hunslet	1992	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
207	Trailer Car	Hunslet	1992	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service
208	Trailer Car	Hunslet	1992	SPT Orange, Grey and White livery	In Service

Merseyrail trip 11.9.21

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 22:37:25 GMT

I made my 3rd trip of the year to the Merseyside area to catch some more of the 507 and 508 fleet before they are replaced by the class 777. I'd planned the trip to co-inside with one of the new class 777 fleet being put on display at Birkenhead North.

As I drove down to Merseyside and expected the roads into Liverpool to be busier with it being the weekend, I parked at Maghull North park and ride, this was less than 1 mile off Junction 3 of the M58 and had ample parking. It is on the Ormskirk and just a 20 minute journey into Liverpool Central.

At Maghull North, I caught 507025 into Moorfields and changed to the deep level platform for the Wirral services. The deep level line is a one way circular line under the city centre with both ends meeting at James St (runs James Street, Moorfields, Liverpool Central, Lime Street, James Street). At Moorfields deep level platform, I caught 508141+508114, which was on an Elsmere Port service to Hamilton Square, here I changed to a New Kirby service led by 507032 to Birkenhead North. After a look round 777010, I caught 508120 to New Brighton.

Travelling to New Brighton, I saw 2 of the Welsh line class 230s, however as the train windows were too dirty, they were hard to photograph. At New Brighton the train arrived into Platform 2. The station its self had a 1930's style canopy which ran around half way up the curved platform. At either side of the lines into the island platform, there was storage sidings, (2 to the left of platform 1 and 1 to the right of platform 2) where four units, 507012+508130 on the left and 507020+507011 on the right. I think that extra units not required are stored here at the weekend. I caught 508104 back to Birkenhead and after another quick look round 777010, I caught 507018 on a New Kirby service back to Moorfields.

I then caught 507001 to Kirkdale for a few photos of the 777s and 507006 which were stabled there. 507006, which was accident damaged following a derailment and collision with a bridge back in March, would be taken away for scrap only a few days later. I then caught 507019+507021 to Maghull North. Rather than head straight home, I drove to Ainsdale, which is only 20 minutes drive from Maghull and photoed a few units there before catching 507030+507002 to Southport, where I photoed a pair of 769s and also 507003 and an unidentified unit in the sidings. After catching 507002+507030 back to Ainsdale, I headed home.

Merseyrail Class 777 on public display 11.9.21

(Scottish Trains Website) — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 22:42:18 GMT

On 9th and 11th September, Merseyrail put one of their brand new class 777 trains on public display on the rarely used Platform 1 at Birkenhead North on Merseyrail's Wirral Line.

A healthy number of people went along to view unit 777010, the first of the inital class of 53 units to be accepted for use on the network. The most unique feature of the class is the fitting of sliding steps which allows for wheelchairs users to board without a ramp being needed. Also on the cab ends there is LED lighting in the form of a letter 'M' which light up white or red depending on the direction of travel.

The interior of the units looked bright, airy and spacious with the sections between the bogies lower than the remainder. The units have Wi-fi and USB and electrical sockets. There are bike racks and space for more passengers than carried on the current fleet, however these are more likely to be standing passengers. The corridor connections between each vehicle are almost the full width of the coach, making it more like the interior of a tram.

Overall, I likes the look of the units and look forward to sampling one in service!

A week on the West Highland line 26.7 - 30.7.21

(Scottish Trains Website) — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 22:52:45 GMT

I was on holiday up at Arrochar on the West Highland Line for a week. Arrochar is a lovely part of the country with some stunning views around Loch Long and a massive array of wildlife to see as well. The train service its self is spread out with a train every couple of hours and mainly features Class 156s with the new class 153 'Active Carriages' added on to some of the Oban workings. Adding interest to the timetable is the morning/ evening sleeper and the North Blyth - Fort William Alcan tanks working. There is also the occasional ECS working of Mark 1 stock to / from Fort William / Carnforth for Jacobite workings as well as occasional steam loco moves again for the Jacobite.

West Highland Line workings around Arrochar and Tarbet 26.7.21-30.7.21

Monday (from 2pm)

Loco / Unit Numbers	Headcode	Working	Coaches	Time	Notes
156477+156492+156446	1Y44	10.10 Mallaig and Oban - Glasgow Queen St	6	14.08	156446 joined at Crianlarich from Oban
156474+153377	1Y26	14.41 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street	3	16.27
37668+37669 tnt 62005	5Z61	12.18 Fort William Junction - Carnforth	8	17.18	97 late in passing
153305+156457	1Y29	16.36 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban	3	17.48
156477+156492	1Y27	18.23 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban and Mallaig	4	19.37	156477 splits at Crianlarich to Oban
156453+156450+156458	1Y48	16.01 Mallaig - Glasgow Queen Street	6	20.06	156458 joins at Crianlarich from Oban
156457	1Y32	20.39 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street	2	22.18
66740+73967	1B01	19.50 Fort William - London Euston Sleeper		22.46

Tuesday
156446	1Y31	5.20 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban	2	6.32
66740+73967	1Y11	21.18 London Euston - Fort William		7.04
156477+153305	1Y20	5.21 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street	3	7.12
156450+156453+156445	1Y21	8.23 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban / Mallaig	6	9.38	156450 split at Crianlarich for Oban
156492	1Y42	6.03 Mallaig - Glasgow Queen Street	2	10.06
156446	1Y22	8.57 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street	2	10.43
153305+156477	1Y25	10.34 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban	3	12
156499+156492	1Y23	12.23 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban / Mallaig	4	13.4	156499 split at Crianlarich for Oban
156500+156474+156450	1Y44	10.10 Mallaig and Oban - Glasgow Queen St	6	14.08	156450 joined at Crianlarich from Oban
66741	6S45	North Blyth - Fort William Alcans		16.06
156477+153305	1Y26	14.41 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street	3	16.27
153377+156457	1Y29	16.36 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban	3	17.48
156500+156474	1Y27	18.23 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban and Mallaig	4	19.37	156500 splits at Crianlarich to Oban
156453+156445+156450	1Y48	16.01 Mallaig - Glasgow Queen Street	6	20.06	156450 joins at Crianlarich from Oban
156457	1Y32	20.39 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street	2	22.18
66740+73967	1B01	19.50 Fort William - London Euston Sleeper		22.46

Wednesday
156457	1Y31	5.20 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban	2	6.32	actual arrival 8.15
66740+73967	1Y11	21.18 London Euston - Fort William		7.04	actual arrival 8.29
156500+153377	1Y20	5.21 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street	3	7.12
156453+156450	1Y21	8.23 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban / Mallaig	4	9.38	156450 split at Crianlarich. Oban portion cancelled
156474	1Y42	6.03 Mallaig - Glasgow Queen Street	2	10.06
156450	1Y22	8.57 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street	2	10.43	Started at Crianlarich
153377+156500	1Y25	10.34 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban	3	12
66741	6S45	North Blyth - Fort William Alcans		12.3
156477+156450+156474	1Y23	12.23 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban / Mallaig	6	13.4	156477 split at Crianlarich for Oban
156492+156499+156457	1Y44	10.10 Mallaig and Oban - Glasgow Queen St	6	14.08	156457 joined at Crianlarich from Oban
156500+153377	1Y26	14.41 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street	3	16.27
153305+156476	1Y29	16.36 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban	3	17.48
156499+156492	1Y27	18.23 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban and Mallaig	4	19.37	156499 splits at Crianlarich to Oban
156450+156477	1Y48	16.01 Mallaig - Glasgow Queen Street	4	20.06	156477 joins at Crianlarich from Oban
156476	1Y32	20.39 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street	2	22.18
66740+73967	1B01	19.50 Fort William - London Euston Sleeper		22.46

Thursday
156457	1Y31	5.20 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban	2	6.32
66740+73967	1Y11	21.18 London Euston - Fort William		7.04
156499+153305	1Y20	5.21 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street	3	7.12
156477+156458+156453	1Y21	8.23 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban / Mallaig	6	9.38	156477 split at Crianlarich for Oban
156492	1Y42	6.03 Mallaig - Glasgow Queen Street	2	10.06
156457	1Y22	8.57 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street	2	10.43
153305+156499	1Y25	10.34 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban	3	12
156457+156492+156500	1Y23	12.23 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban / Mallaig	6	13.4	156457 split at Crianlarich for Oban
156450+156474+156477	1Y44	10.10 Mallaig and Oban - Glasgow Queen St	6	14.08	156477 joined at Crianlarich from Oban
66741	6S45	North Blyth - Fort William Alcans		16.25
156499+153305	1Y26	14.41 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street	3	16.27
153377+156445	1Y29	16.36 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban	3	17.48
156450+156474	1Y27	18.23 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban and Mallaig	4	19.37	156450 splits at Crianlarich to Oban
156458+156453+156457	1Y48	16.01 Mallaig - Glasgow Queen Street	4	20.06	156457 joins at Crianlarich from Oban
156445	1Y32	20.39 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street	2	22.18
66740+73967	1B01	19.50 Fort William - London Euston Sleeper		22.46

Friday till 12pm
156447	1Y31	5.20 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban	2	6.32
66740+73967	1Y11	21.18 London Euston - Fort William		7.04
156450+153377	1Y20	5.21 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street	3	7.12
156456+156478+156453	1Y21	8.23 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban / Mallaig	6	9.38	156456 split at Crianlarich for Oban
156474	1Y42	6.03 Mallaig - Glasgow Queen Street	2	10.06
156477	1Y22	8.57 Oban - Glasgow Queen Street	2	10.43
153377+156450	1Y25	10.34 Glasgow Queen Street - Oban	3	12

Staycation express debut run 15.7.21

(Scottish Trains Website) — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 21:59:47 GMT

Making it's debut run for Locomotive services Ltd, 43059 top and tailed with 43058 depart Carlisle with 1Z81 to Settle. This was a VIP preview run for the 'Staycation express' which starts running from Monday 19th July. 15.7.21