18th September 1976

B.R.
Speyside Express

Locos Used 47037 & steam: [4]5025 & 60009 'Union of South Africa'
Stock Used 9 mark 1 coaches vb90mph
(10 coaches Aviemore to Boat of Garten only)

Route :
1Z76 : Edinburgh to Boat of Garten
1Z27 : Boat of Garten to Edinburgh

Loco Route
60009 Edinburgh Waverley - Haymarket - Linlithgow - Polmont - Falkirk Grahamston - Larbert - Stirling - Dunblane - Perth
47037 Perth - Pitlochry - Aviemore
5025 Aviemore - Boat of Garten
5025 Boat of Garten - Aviemore
47037 Aviemore - (reverse of outward route) - Perth
60009 Perth - (reverse of outward route) - Edinburgh Waverley

Notes :
(1) Gordon Lacy comments: Signal stops, checks & pw slowings meant that 60009 had to work far harder that the actual times suggest. Northbound, speed recovered from 10mph at Dunblane to a phenomenal 45mph at Kinbuck - performance of the highest order. A 10mph restriction (both ways) around mp 143½ gave us no opportunity to 'storm the bank' to Gleneagles on the return, either. In the event 36mph at the summit was a fine achievement! In contrast, the oldest surviving "Black 5" struggled somewhat with load 10 'up the hill' to Boat of Garten!


From Gordon Lacy's ticket collection.


Perth - 60009 hands over to 47037, on the right (photo: Gordon Lacy)
The tender used by 60009 is the unique example from 1000/60700.

Sources : David Hills (from contemporary sources) & Gordon Lacy (on the train throughout)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Gordon Lacy)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Edinburgh Waverley 10.05d 10.06   21.06a 21.17
Haymarket ? 10/09½   ? 21/12
Winchburgh Jn ? 10/23   ? 20/59
Linlithgow ? 10/28½   ? 20/50½
Polmont ? 10/33½   ? 20/43½
Falkirk Grahamston ? 10/39   ? 20/36½
Larbert ? 10/50½   ? 20/31
Stirling 10.51a ~ 20.53d 11.02 ~ 11.05   20.14a ~ 20.17d 20.17 ~ 20.19
Dunblane ? 11/13½   ? 19/59½
Gleneagles ? 11/31   ? 19/55
Hilton Jn ? 11/46   ? 19/33
Perth 11L48a ~ 12L00d 11.50½ ~ 12.04   19L00a ~ 19L27d 18.59½ ~ 19.27
Dunkeld & Birnam ? 12/22½   ? 18/38
Pitlochry 12x28 ~ 12x49½ 12.32½ ~ 12.55   ? 18/25
Blair Atholl ? 13/05   ? 18/16
Dalnacardoch ? 13/19½   17x58 ~ 18x01½ 17.56½ ~ 18.03
Druimuachdar ? 13/31   ? 17/44
Dalwhinnie 13x40 ~ 13x42 13.40 ~ 13.43½   ? 17/37
Kingussie ? 13/59   ? 17/23
Aviemore 14L11a ~ 14L22d 14.10 ~ 14.28   16L20a ~ 17L04d 16.50 ~ 17.06
Boat of Garten 14.42a 14.55½   16.00d 16.34


Back to "The Railtour Files - 1976"