9th June 2018

S.R.P.S. Railtours
Plockton & Kyle of Lochalsh

Route :
1Z73 : Paisley Gilmour Street to Kyle of Lochalsh
1Z74 : Kyle of Lochalsh to Burnside

Notes : 
(1) 73966 + 73967 on rear.
(2) 73968 + 73969 on rear.
(3) This tour had originally been advertised as leaving about an hour later and returning about an hour earlier with a class 47 as the traction. The class 47 was replaced by class 73/9s and a class 66 after 47749 failed on Old Hill bank on 21/04/18. The 66 was then dropped in order to obtain 90mph paths. The tour was also originally advertised as setting down and picking up at Plockton. This was refused by Network Rail shortly before the train ran.
(4) Jon Piesing comments: The departure of the return was delayed due to a problem with the R.E.T.B. on the leading loco, which meant that the two locos had to be swapped round. Network Rail set a deadline for this to be completed of 16.40 if the tour was to run in front of the 17.13 service train, however it was only finished by 16.42. The tour passengers were advised that the tour would not be leaving for an hour and they could go back into the town. At approximately 17.00, Network Rail and/or GBRf realised the delays to other service trains that would likely occur with the tour an hour late, and decided that the tour should leave immediately in front of the 17.13 service train. The tour organisers refused to leave the passengers behind who were still in the town. The 17.13 service train left on time. The service train lost time between Kyle and Strathcarron and the tour was eventually 111 minutes late leaving Kyle of Lochalsh. The tour lost further time for no obvious reason reaching a maximum delay of 134 minutes at Garve, before slowly making up time. With all trains going the other way being held for the tour, it ended up 77 minutes late at Perth. Passengers for Paisley Gilmour Street and Maxwell Park were put on a bus from Cumbernauld via the motorway, leaving Burnside as the last set down stop. After Burnside the E.C.S. is believed to have run into Glasgow Central for a class 66 on the back, ending up in Mossend Yard for what remained of the night. Even if the tour had been on time, it may not have been able to return to Paisley Gilmour Street, due to issues with running round at Elderslie which were addressed for the E.C.S. in the morning but were not / could not be addressed for the E.C.S. in the evening.

Source : Jon Piesing (on the tour from Paisley to Kyle of Lochalsh and back to Cumbernauld)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Jon Piesing & Realtime Trains)

 
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