Double post, naughty me!
Just gotten back from Scotland, where I had been for SRPS' Routes and Branches railtour, from Bo'ness. Journey's are shown below.
Friday 1st June
0932 Manchester Victoria to York on 185142. Originally, I had been booked on a later train, however, due to the railtours departure being brought forwards by roughly 2 hours, I ended up on the first off-peak train (fortunately the tickets were off-peaks and not advances!)
1135 York to Edinburgh Waverley, hauled by 91130. Busy train, what with being the first northbound off-peak off London. Managed to get a seat so I could work on the way north at least!
1434 Edinburgh Waverley to Linlithgow on 170410.
1735 Bo'ness to Manuel hauled by 37703 (carrying 37067) with 86401 and 37025 dead in tow. Heck of a slow run between the two, but a nice one also.
1824 Manuel to Edinburgh Waverley hauled by 37025. Sat on the connection between the Bo'ness & Kinneil for a while to let trains pass, then also went into Linlithgow loop to let another pass.
1948 Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street High Level, hauled by 86401, via Falkirk High.
2128 Glasgow Queen Street HL to Ayr, hauled by 37025, via the City Union. 37025 was certainly struggling up the hill out of Queen Street, but made for a rather nice noise in the tunnel.
2305 Ayr to Largs, hauled by 86401, via the Byrehill Jn - Dubbs Jn curve.
Saturday 2nd June
0007 Largs to Glasgow Central HL, hauled by 37025. Due to a last minute possession being taken on part of our scheduled route, the train was diverted into Glasgow Central.
0125 (unscheduled) Glasgow Central HL to Larkhall, hauled by 86401, via Mount Florida. Due to the late running caused by the unscheduled reversal at Glasgow Central, the train was diverted to run via Mount Florida. There was then further delay at Haughead Junction after not originally being routed to Larkhall due to signallers concern that we wouldn't fit inside the signal. A lenghty argument then ensued, which was apparently resolved by sending the signaller some pictures of a similar length train there. However, on arrival at Larkhall, it was found we didn't actually fit! I'm sure we pleased the signaller and other members of staff greatly
0148 Larkhall to Haughead Jn, hauled by 37025. Due to the late running, roughly an hour down by this point, the run to/from Glasgow Central via the Cathcart Circle was cut, and we reversed at Haughead Jn, to pick up the schedule from there (briefly).
0304 Haughead Jn to Cumbernauld (Main line at the reversing siding), hauled by 86401. Due to the need to turn the train around again following the unscheduled reversal and an upcoming diesel section, a decision was made to run the train to Cumbernauld and reverse there.
0343 (unscheduled) Cumbernauld to Balloch, hauled by 37025 via Springburn, Maryhill and Westerton.
0422 Balloch to Dumbarton Central, hauled by 86401.
0442 Dumbarton Central to Helensburgh Central, hauled by 37025.
0520 Helensburgh Central to Edinburgh Waverley, hauled by 86401, via Yoker, Glasgow Queen Street Low Level and Airdrie. Both occasions where I've been over the Airdrie-Bathgate route, I've been asleep!
0810 Edinburgh Waverley to North Berwick, hauled by 86401. Due to the scheduled 1 hour stop at Edinburgh, we were able to eliminate our delay, however, this meant the toilets (several of which were already out of use due to lack of water) could not be completely refilled, so we soon ran out of water again! This was also the last action of the 86 on the tour.
0848 North Berwick to Millerhill, hauled by 37025. At Millerhill, 86401 was swapped out, with 37403 coupled on. It was also a great opportunity to see lots of brand new Class 385s, sitting in the sidings, awaiting modifications to their cab windows.
0945 Millerhill to Leith Docks/South, hauled by 37025 via Edinburgh Waverley and the Edinburgh Suburban. The Leith Docks branch was the full of several trees growing out of control close to the line, which could really do with a cutting back! They scratched the train rather severely!
1130 Leith Docks/South to Townhill Down Goods Loop, hauled by 37403 via the Edinburgh Suburban and Rosyth.
1250 Townhill Down Goods Loop to Mossend Up Reception, hauled by 37025 via the Inverkeithing North Curve, Kirkcaldy Loop, Dunfermline Town, Longannet, Stirling, Croy, Cowlairs North Curve, Anniesland, Glasgow Queen Street Low Level and Sunnyside Jn. Where to start with this part of the railtour... Left the loop at Townhill about 8 minutes late due to what I can only assume was a late running passenger, we were then held in Kirkcaldy Loop to let a train pass (this was scheduled, so no compliants). On returning to Dunfermline after doing the Fife Circle, we were held just outside Dunfermline Town station for roughly an hour due to a broken down train at North Queensferry. On the Longannet route, there were several people happy to see a train (it no longer gets regular train I believe?) on there, with video camera's and many of folk waving. Due to the delay earlier in the schedule, we were diverted via Croy and Cowlairs North Curve instead of the original routing via Cumbernauld. Other trains were regulated around us (I know regulating around a Railtour, rare thing!) and allowed us to recover 20 minutes, however, that was ruined by the signaller at Maryhill, who attempted to route us towards Westerton. We stopped just past the (green) signal after some very heavy braking, to get the route changed, and had to set back to allow the signaller to do so, and allow a 156 off the Anniesland route, so lost another 20 minutes. Trains were continued to be regulated around us however, and it was plain sailing to Mossend then. I was disappointed we didn't set the fire alarm at Glasgow Queen Street Low Level off when departing from our stop though!
1800 Mossend Up Reception to Glasgow Central, hauled by 37403, via Carmyle. After a shunting move to remove 3 carriages that took 10 minutes later than scheduled, we left Mossend 67 minutes late. I left the train at Glasgow Central due to being rather tired at this point, whilst the train carried on to Neilston before returning to Bo'ness (eventually arriving 30 late). There was a rather large number of Ed Sheeran fans and a TV news crew who were confused by the arrival of this train at Central, several of whom tried to board the train.
2018 Glasgow Queen Street High Level to Larbert on 158703 and 158733.
Sunday 3rd June
1008 Falkirk Grahamston to Edinburgh Waverley on 158703 and 170470.
1100 Edinburgh Waverley to York on 91110. Paid £15 for the weekend First Class upgrade deal, which included free drinks, biscuits, crisps and sandwiches, was certainly worth it for the comfier, larger seats! Far better than the West Coast's offering!
1509 York to Leeds on 185126. One of the last two 185s I needed for travelling, I now only need 185145. Bailed at Leeds as it was rather busy.
1553 Leeds to Manchester Piccadilly on 185121. The stopping TPE service, rather quiet until Huddersfield, and then Stalybridge. Stopped outside Morley for a few minutes due to reports of a Trespasser, then again at Mirfield for the same reason.
All in all, a busy, chaotic, tiring couple of days. However, they were very much enjoyed! Total mileage covered was 1,155 with 544 miles of them being on the railtour itself.