43003 at Larbert43003 top and tailed with 43148 arrive at Larbert with 3H02 Perth - Eastfield HST driver training run 31.8.18 43003 top and tailed with 43148 arrive at Larbert with 3H02 Perth - Eastfield HST driver training run

43003 at Larbert43003 top and tailed with 43148 arrive at Larbert with 3H02 Perth - Eastfield HST driver training run 31.8.18

43003 tnt 43148 at Larbert43003 top and tailed with 43148 pause at Larbert with 3H02 Perth - Eastfield HST driver training run 31.8.18

43148 at Larberta closer look at the Scotrail 7 cities livery on 43148 31.8.18

66023 at Camelon66023 passes through Camelon with 4N30 Mossend - Grangemouth containers 31.8.18 Shortly after 66528 passed through Camelon on 31.8.18, 66023 appeared on 4N30 Mossend - Grangemouth containers, unfortunately the sun disappeared behind a cloud and didn't reappear until a few minutes after 66023 passed!

66528 at Camelon66528 approaches Camelon with 6Kxx Mossend - Huntly autoballasters 31.8.18 I made a brief visit to Camelon on Friday 31st August to catch Freightliner liveried 66528 passing through heading north with a train load of Autoballasters going to Huntly from Mossend.   There had been full sunshine just a minute before 66528 approached, however it disappeared behind a cloud before reappearing just as the train was passing through!  

1017 at SummerleeGlasgow Corporation tram 1017 is seen stabled outside the depot at Summerlee 25.8.18 I went to Summerlee for a quick wander round late yesterday afternoon, as I walked round, I saw Glasgow 1017 stabled just outside the depot. 

Glasgow 1017 has a long and fascinating history, she was built in 1904 by the British and Electric Car Company by the Paisley and District Tramways as number 17.   The tram was originally a double decked open top unvestibuled tram.   When the Paisley system was bought over by Glasgow Corporation Tramways, 17 became 1017 and still operated in it's original form for a time.  

1017 was cut down to a single deck tram and fitted with a short trolley tower and enclosed driver's platforms around 1930 and found it's way onto the Clydebank - Duntocher route (later service 20), which required single deck trams due to a low railway bridge on the route.   After the route closed in 1949, 1017 found a new role as the Motor School (Driver Training) car and paint shop shunter at Coplawhill depot, where it served until 1960 in this role.

On withdrawal, the body of 1017 found a new use as a hut and meeting room for the STMS in a garden in Cambuslang.   In the 1990's 1017 found it's way to Summerlee, where it was restored to 1930's condition and entered service on the 1/2 mile long tramway in 2002.   T

he tram still sees regular use along with Lanarkshire 53 and Dusseldorf 392.   They should be joined in the future by Glasgow Coronation 1245.

Gibb and Hogg Ltd loco at SummerleeGibb and Hogg Ltd steam loco, built in 1898 and the only loco built by that company still in existence is seen in the museum at Summerlee. The loco spent most of it's working life at Longlea Collery in Midlothian before moving to Cordowan Collery in 1965. In 1967 the loco moved to Pittencreiff Park in Dunfermilne before moving to Summerlee in 1989. 25.8.18 Gibb and Hogg Ltd steam loco, built in 1898 and the only loco built by that company still in existence is seen in the museum at Summerlee. The loco spent most of it's working life at Longlea Collery in Midlothian before moving to Cordowan Collery in 1965. In 1967 the loco moved to Pittencreiff Park in Dunfermilne before moving to Summerlee in 1989.

43135 tnt 43036 at Bridge of Allanplain blue liveried 43135 top and tailed with Scotrail 7 cities liveried 43036 with 4 former First Great Western Mark 3's sandwiched in between pass through Bridge of Allan with 2W46 Dundee - Stirling training run 24.8.18 plain blue liveried 43135 top and tailed with Scotrail 7 cities liveried 43036 with 4 former First Great Western Mark 3's sandwiched in between pass through Bridge of Allan with 2W46 Dundee - Stirling training run 24.8.18

Sunday 19th August saw Centenary Car 642 make a return to service for the Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours after just over 2 years out of service.   642 had been sidelined awaiting repairs to a fault following one of the Gold weekends in 2016 (prior to the September Gold weekend as it didn't see any use then).  The tram's paintwork had badly faded as it consisted of a yellow basecoat, which was applied in 2005 after it lost it's Mecca Bingo overall advert and had seen 6 years of constant exposure to the elements when in regular everyday service until 2011.

Prior to re-entering service 642 was fitted with retro style radiator grills, headlights and indicators, but retaining the basic shape of it's 1998 overhaul.   The tram was repainted into a modern representation of it's 1995 Travelcard livery but advertising a number of different tickets for the Heritage service.   The cab ends were repainted in the 1990's Green and Cream livery like the original did.

642 re-entered service working on Heritage route A between Pleasure Beach and Cabin / Bispham and Little Bispham

642 at Pleasure BeachCentenary car 642 waits at Pleasure Beach prior to departing with a heritage service to Little Bispham. The tram returned had just returned to service after a 2 year layoff. 642 is wearing an up to date recreation of it's 1995 Travelcard advert with 90's Green and Cream ends. 19.8.18

642 at North PierCentenary car 642 waits at North Pier with a heritage service from Pleasure Beach - Little Bispham. The tram returned had just returned to service after a 2 year layoff. 642 is wearing an up to date recreation of it's 1995 Travelcard advert with 90's Green and Cream ends. 19.8.18

642 at Pleasure BeachCentenary car 642 waits at Pleasure Beach prior to departing with a heritage service to Little Bispham. The tram returned had just returned to service after a 2 year layoff. 642 is wearing an up to date recreation of it's 1995 Travelcard advert with 90's Green and Cream ends. 19.8.18 I was in Blackpool from 17th - 19th August.   I arrived mid afternoon on the Friday and the promenade heritage service was in operation with Balloon 717 and Brush Car 621 operating between Pleasure Beach and North Pier.  Standard 147 was due to be working on the service however, 621 was a late replacement working on route B (operating the 2 extended afternoon journeys to Cabin).   Balloon 715 operated the evening ghost tour to Fleetwood and back.

During the first three weekends in August, the heritage trams were extended to operate from Pleasure Beach - Bispham or Little Bispham on a 20 minute frequency (30 minutes between 12 and 2pm) using 4 trams instead of the usual 2.   On the Saturday, the service was operated by Blackpool and Fleetwood 40 (route A), Standard 147 (route B), Bolton 66 (route C) and Balloon 717 (route D).

Sunday saw the return to service of Centenary car 642, which was making it's passenger debut in an up to date recreation of the Travelcard advert that the tram carried in 1995. 642, which hadn't ran since 2016, had previously carried a faded yellow basecoat, which it had carried since 2005.   642 debuted on Route A, with Balloon 715 on route B, Brush Car 621 on route C and Blackpool and Fleetwood 40 on route D (instead of the advertised Standard 147).