5th September 1970

British Rail
Scottish Grand Tour No.11

Locos Used 261 & 364

Route :

Loco Route
364 Edinburgh Waverley - Haymarket - Polmont - Falkirk Grahamston - Larbert - Stirling - Alloa - Dunfermline - Cowdenbeath - Thornton Jn - Ladybank - Leuchars - Dundee - Arbroath - Montrose - Stonehaven - Aberdeen - Dyce - Keith - Inverness
364 Inverness - Aviemore (2)
261 Aviemore - Dalwhinnie - Blair Atholl - Perth - Hilton Jn - Newburgh - Ladybank - Kirkcaldy - Burntisland - Inverkeithing - Dalmeny Jn - Saughton Jn - Haymarket - Edinburgh Waverley

Notes :
(1) After an initial delay due to the stock being late into Waverley station from Craigentinny, this scenic tour kept good time until Inverness where a defect on the restaurant car caused a ninety minute delay. However this was made up by cancelling a scheduled stop of similar length at Aviemore. With Aviemore being the main destination of the day, passengers were allowed to travel forward to Aviemore on the 16.35 Inverness - Glasgow / Edinburgh service train (hauled by 5115 and 5342).
(2) In attempting to leave Aviemore 364 lost oil pressure and became a total failure. The nearest power was at Inverness and it being a Sunday night the block sections were longer than normal adding to the delay. Assistance in the form of 261 arrived on the front of a relief Euston service headed by 5119/5127. Aviemore was left over three hours late, with the final arrival at Edinburgh at 1.43am, 222 minutes late.


Nairn - 364 is passed by the 14.35 Inverness to Aberdeen serice which was
 led by a single-car unit (photo: Bill Jamieson)

Sources : David Hills (compiled from contemporary reports) & Bill Jamieson

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Bill Jamieson)

Location Booked Action
Edinburgh Waverley 08.03d 08.39
Winchburgh Jn 08/18 08/54
Polmont Jn 08/28 09/06
Larbert ? 09/19
Stirling 08.51a ~ 08.52d 09.33 ~ 09.35
Alloa 09/08 09/52
Oakley 09/23 10/06
Townhill Jn 09/35 10/15
Thornton Jn 10/02 10/35
Ladybank 10/11 10/47
Dundee 10/40 11/15
Arbroath 11/06 11/33
Montrose 11/27 11/49
Stonehaven 11/54 12/13
Aberdeen 12.12a ~ 12.15d 12.29 ~ 12.32
Dyce 12/27 12.44 ~ 12.56
Inverurie 12/42 13/09
Insch 12/54 13/22
Huntley ??.?? ~ 13.16 13/37
Rothiemay 13.24 ~ 13.36 13.44 ~ 13.50
Keith ??.?? ~ 13.52 14/03
Orbliston Jn ? 14/16
Elgin 14/14 14/23
Forres 14/29 14/39
Nairn 14x43 ~ 14x55 14.51 ~ 15.01
Inverness 15.12 ~ 15.35 15.23 ~ 17.20
Aviemore 16.36a ~ 18.15d 18.15 ~ 21.22
Newtonmore 18/34 21.43 ~ 21.46
Dalwhinnie 18/51 22.04 ~ 22.19
Blair Atholl ??.?? ~ 19.36 22/50
Pitlochry 19/46 23/00
Dunkeld 20/01 23/13
Perth 20.21 ~ 20.30 23.38 ~ 23.39
Hilton Jn 20/34 23/43
Bridge of Earn 20/37 23/47
Newburgh 20/49 23/58
Ladybank 21/05 00.14 ~ 00.15
Thornton Jn 21/17 00/26
Kirkcaldy 21/23 00.34 ~ 00.35
Burntisland 21/30 00.44 ~ 00.46
Inverkeithing 21/41 00.57 ~ 00.58
Dalmeny Jn ??/?? 01.08 ~ 01.15
Haymarket 21.58a ~ 21.59d 01.38 ~ 01.39
Edinburgh Waverley 22.02a 01.43


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