Hi, Welcome to my blog. It will contain my latest sightings, links to my latest photos and info pages and any relevant news updates. It will be updated when possible.
Network Rail Measuring train at Polmont 16.7.18
The network rail measuring train consisting of HST power cars 43013 top and tailed with 43062 accelerate through Polmont with the return leg of 1Q24 Heaton - Newcastle via Glasgow Queen Street 16.7.18
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| 43013 | 43062 |
Caledonian Railway no419 at Bo'ness 11.7.18
Nearing the end of a major overhaul, Caledonian Railway 439 class no 419 is seen being worked on outside the steam shed at Bo'ness 11.7.18
419 is due to be back in service at Bo'ness in time for the Autumn steam gala later in the year.
37668, 44871 and 37516 at Gartcosh 9.7.18
37668 top and tailed with 37516 and Black 5 44871 and support coach sandwiched in between, pass through Gartcosh with 5Z37 Fort William - Carnforth 9.7.18
Blackpool Heritage Trams 1.7.18-7.7.18
I was in Blackpool for a week long holiday from 1st - 7th July. The blue heritage service was in operation for the full week with 2 trams required to work the promenade service from Pleasure Beach to North Pier with 4 journeys per day extended to Cabin. The tram on Route A did the first 2 journeys to Cabin, while the route B tram did the final 2 journeys.
The weather was absolutely fantastic with blue sky and sunshine meaning that as boat 600 was the only open topped tram available for use during the week, it was used every day with either Standard 147(looking fantastic after it's repaint) or Bolton 66 working the other route.
Of the other open top trams: Boat 227(602) was still having work done to it's rewire and internal repaint, Boat 230 (604) is awaiting a rewire, Open topped Balloon 706 (Princess Alice) is out of service in need of a new underframe and an overhaul, Birkenhead 20 was still unavailable and Standard 143's overhaul (with open front ends) wont be complete until next year.
Balloon 717 was spotted reversing at Cabin on Thursday evening (5th) following a private hire.
On Friday (6th), the service was thrown into chaos when Boat 600 dewired at the Pleasure Beach, with the trolley wheel also coming off the pole. This meant that nothing could run south of Manchester Square for 2 hours while the overhead was repaired. 600's trolley wheel was refitted and the tram returned to service none the worse the wear.
All the flexity trams saw use at some point over the week, however it was good to see both 017 and 018 in service. Both are identical to 001-016 both externally and internally although the fresh paintwork on the new trams makes 001-016 look in need of a repaint, especially on the purple areas which look faded compared to that on 017 and 018.
A full gallery of photos from the week can be found at: http://scottishtrains.zenfolio.com/p548244318
| Date | Route A | Route B | Private Hire |
| 1.7 | 600 | 147 | |
| 2.7 | 66 | 600 | |
| 3.7 | 600 | 66 | |
| 4.7 | 600 | 147 | |
| 5.7 | 147 | 600 | 717 |
| 6.7 | 600 | 66 | |
| 7.7 | 600 | 147 |
First Class 365's enter service with Scotrail 24.6.18
The first pair of class 365's entered service on Saturday 23rd June with 365537+365517 operating on the 22.30 service from Glasgow Queen Street - Edinburgh Waverley returning with the 23.30 working back to Glasgow Queen Street.
On 24th June, 365537+365517 were back out on service again operating between Queen Street and Linlithgow as the line was closed beyond Linlithgow for engineering works. 365537 has kept it's name from it's time with Great Northern and is still called 'Daniel Edwards - Cambridge Driver 1974-2010'
8 units are currently based at Eastfield with the final 2 units due to arrive on Wednesday morning. Units currently in Scotland are: 365509, 365513, 365517, 365521, 365523, 365525, 365529 and 365537
92038 and 16 x Mark 5's at Carstairs 22.6.18
Caledonian Sleeper liveried 92038 and 16 mark 5's pause at Carstairs with 5Z26 Polmadie - Carlisle Upperby Sleeper test run 22.6.18
82113 at Bo'ness 16.6.18
During a shunting move, D2767 hauls DVT 82113 from the TMD at Bo'ness. 82113 is being converted by Artemis to a class 19 loco (19001) to trial an alternative hybrid traction system 16.6.18
37421 top and tailed with 37521 at Lanark 12.6.18
37421 top and tailed with 37521 arrive into Lanark with 1Q80 Mossend - Mossend via Lanark Network Rail Test Train 12.6.18
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37611 + 334017 + 37884 at Drumgelloch 11.6.18
Europhoenix liveried 37611 top and tailed with 37884 with Scotrail's 334017 sandwiched in between pass through Drumgelloch with 5Q10 Bathgate LMD - Polmadie.
334017 was being taken to Polmadie for repairs following a collision with some cows 11.6.18
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Adverts for Edinburgh Trams 265 and 268
On 4th June, a further 2 Edinburgh trams entered service wearing adverts.
265 has became the 20th tram to carry a CR Smith advert, being the recipient of an identical advert to 256, which received its advert on 21st May. Both trams advertise CR Smith's door window and conservatory upgrade and repair service. One of the panels has 'FIX' in large red letters with the other section listing the items that they can fix. The advert appears to be the same on both sides.
268 became the 2nd tram to carry an advert for Parabola, who are developing a new “community and architectural exemplar” at Edinburgh Park. The advert is identical to the advert that 254 received last week except that the colours are inverted with a mainly green base with the text and patches in the pinky colour (they are the opposite way about on 254).
265 and 268 become the 25th and 26th trams to receive adverts, meaning that tram 264 is now the only Edinburgh tram not currently wearing an advert.
Trams seen on 8th June were: 261, 252, 260, 265, 268, 273, 276
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| 265 | 265 | 265 | |
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| 268 | 268 | 268 | 268 |
