6th - 8th May 1983

F + W Railtours
The Skirl o'the Pipes II

Locos Used 08754, 20100, 20101, 27002, 27003, 31187, 37135, 37176, 37183, 37186, 37187, 37189, 37262, 37268, 40068, 40084, 47198 & steam: 60 (0-6-0ST Hunslet Engine Co. 3686-1948)

Route : 1Z38 throughout

Locos Route
31187 + 37176 Plymouth - Taunton - Bristol Temple Meads
37186 + 37268 Bristol Temple Meads - Gloucester
37186 + 37268 Gloucester - Cheltenham Spa - Bromsgrove - (2) - Camp Hill - Birmingham New Street - Soho South Jn - Bescot - Wolverhampton - Crewe
40068 + 40084 Crewe - Preston - Carlisle - Motherwell -  Mossend - Larbert - Stirling - Perth - Pitlochry - Aviemore

At Aviemore the train split. Portion 1 (9 coaches) :

Loco(s) Route
60 Aviemore - Boat of Garten
60 Boat of Garten - Aviemore
40068 Aviemore - Inverness
08754 Inverness Platform 2  - Inverness Platform 3
27002 + 27003 Inverness - Alves - Elgin - Keith Jn
27002 + 27003 Keith Jn - Dufftown
27002 + 27003 Dufftown - Keith Jn
27002 + 27003 Keith Jn - Elgin - Alves - Burghead
27002 + 27003 Burghead - Alves - Elgin
27002 + 27003 Elgin  - Alves - Inverness

Portion 2 (6 coaches) :

Loco(s) Route
40084 Aviemore - Inverness
37183 Inverness - Wick
buses Wick - John O'Groats - Thurso
37262 Thurso - Georgemas Junction
37183 Georgemas Junction - Inverness

Portions re-joined :

Loco(s) Route
40068 + 40084 Inverness - Elgin - Aberdeen - Montrose - Arbroath - Carnoustie - Dundee - Leuchars - Ladybank - Dunfermline - Inverkeithing - Haymarket West Jn - (via Edinburgh Suburban Line) - Portobello Jn - Edinburgh Waverley - Haymarket - Slateford Jn - Midcalder Jn - Shotts - Mossend East Jn - Mossend North Jn - Mossend - Whifflet North Jn - Langloan Jn - Rutherglen East Jn - Polmadie
47198 Polmadie - Glasgow Central
20100 + 20101 Glasgow Central - Newton - Mossend West Jn - Mossend South Jn - Motherwell - Hamilton Central - Newton - Kings Park - Maxwell Park - Muirhouse Central Junction - Terminus Jn - Shields Jn
40068 + 40084 Shields Jn - Paisley Canal - Kilwinning - Newton on Ayr - Annbank - Mauchline Jn - Annan - Carlisle - Appleby - Settle Jn - Hellifield - Blackburn - Lostock Hall Jn - Farington Jn - Wigan NW - Crewe
37268 + 37186 Crewe - Wolverhampton - Bescot - Soho South Jn - Birmingham New Street - Camp Hill - Worcester Shrub Hill - Cheltenham Spa - Gloucester
37186 + 37268 Gloucester - Bristol Temple Meads
31187 + 37187 (3) Bristol Temple Meads - Taunton - Exeter - Plymouth

Notes :
(1) Banked up The Lickey by 37135+37189.
(2) On the Sunday the train was originally planned to do the line from Carmyle Jn to Newton, but didn't.
(3) David Harlott records that 31187 was not working between Bristol and Taunton...the jumper cables not being connected.

Sources : Paul Griffin (joined/left the train at Birmingham New Street, on portion 1),
David Harlott (joined/left the train at Taunton), Mike Hodge, Duncan Jennings & Ian Jordan

Photo Review
(all photos by Roy Lambeth unless otherwise stated)


The 40's passing Dalnacardoch Lodge on the way to Aviemore.


The Thurso portion at Aviemore behind 40084.


Almost 'Snap!' - 40068 leaves later on with the Dufftown portion.


The train was also caught on camera at Dufftown by Duncan Jennings.


Another view of the train, this one being taken at Keith.


37183 on portion 2 pauses for photos at Lairg (photo: Ian Jordan)


Timings (Booked Only)
(from Duncan Jennings)

M.C Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn) M.C
0.00 Plymouth 17.55d 00.04a 1923.59
6.65 Hemerdon 18/05 23/56 1916.74
23.12 Totnes 18.25a ~ 18.27d 23.32a ~ 23.34d 1900.47
27.76 Dainton 18.34 ??/?? 1895.63
31.69 Newton Abbot 18.40a ~ 18.42d 23.12a ~ 23.14d 1891.70
39.68 Dawlish Warren 18/52 23/00 1883.71
52.03 Exeter St Davids 19.03a ~ 19.05d 22.42a ~ 22.44d 1871.56
71.75 Whiteball S.B. 19/24 22/23 1851.64
82.63 Taunton 19.35a ~ 19.37d 22.08a ~ 22.10d 1840.76
94.28 Bridgwater 19/47 21/54 1829.33
110.64 Worle Jn 19/59 21/42 1812.77
127.39 Bristol Temple Meads (2) 20L17a ~ 20L35d 21L13a ~ 21L25d 1796.22
133.31 Bristol Parkway 20.46a ~ 20.48d 21.00a ~ 21.01d 1790.30
138.01 Westerleigh Jn 20/55 20/54 1785.60
146.14 Charfield 21/03 20/46 1778.47
159.39 Standish Jn 21/13 20/36 1765.22
166.50 Gloucester 21.22a ~ 21.35d 20.15a ~ 20.28d 1758.11
173.10 Cheltenham Spa 21.44a ~ 21.46d 20.04a ~ 20.06d 1751.51
180.21 Ashchurch 21/54 19/58 1744.40
191.08 Abbotswood Jn 22/03 19/49 1733.53
195.02 Worcester Shrub Hill 22.10 ~ 22.12 19.42 ~ 19.44 1729.59
200.61 Droitwich Spa 22/20 19/38 1724.00
204.76 Stoke Works Jn 22/26 19/25 1719.65
207.09 Bromsgrove 22B29a ~ 22B32d 19/23 1717.52
209.62 Blackwell 22/41 19/21 1714.79
215.60 Kings Norton 22/50½ 19/12 1709.01
220.27 Camp Hill 22/59 19/06 1704.34
222.58 Birmingham New Street 23.07a ~ 23.09d 18.51a ~ 18.56d 1702.03
224.59 Soho South Jn 23/15 18/46 1700.02
227.50 Perry Barr North Jn 23/22 18/39 1697.11
232.07 Bescot 23/28 18/34 1692.54
235.14 Portobello Jn 23/33 18/30 1689.47
238.08 Wolverhampton 23/38 18/25 1686.53
253.39 Stafford 23/56½ 18/03 1671.22
258.70 Norton Bridge 00/01½ 17/57½ 1665.73
269.72 Madeley 00/11½ 17/47 1654.71
278.00 Crewe 00L23a ~ 00L33d 17L24a ~ 17L34d 1646.63
294.39 Weaver Jn 00/49½ 17/04½ 1630.24
302.23 Warrington Bank Quay 00/55 16/58 1622.40
305.36 Winwick Jn 00/58 16/55 1619.27
313.69 Wigan North Western 01/05½ 16/48½ 1612.74
323.43 Euxton Jn 01/16 16/39 1603.20

 

M.C Location Booked
328.79 Preston 01/23½
349.77 Lancaster 01/44
355.53 Carnforth 01/49
369.05 Oxenholme 02/02
381.53 Tebay 02/20
401.17 Penrith 0241½
419.06 Carlisle 03*02a ~ 03*22d
427.63 Gretna Jn 03/31½
444.71 Lockerbie 03/46½
459.09 Beattock 03/57
476.06 Abington 04/18
492.59 Carstairs 04/31
495.14 Lanark Jn 04/33
503.13 Law Jn 04/39
508.44 Motherwell 04c44a ~ 04c50d
511.01 Mossend Yard 04/59
513.68 Coatbridge Jn 05/02½
516.10 Garnqueen North Jn 05/10
525.60 Greenhill Lower Jn 05/20
529.22 Larbert 05/23
537.29 Stirling 05/32
542.24 Dunblane 05/40
552.33 Blackford Crossing 05/51
568.22 Hilton Jn 06/08
570.30 Perth 06c12a ~ 06c14
577.49 Stanley Jn 06/23½
580.56 Murthly 06/27½
585.72 Dunkeld 06/35
594.22 Ballinluig 06/43½
598.62 Pitlochry 06/48½
605.50 Blair Atholl 07/00
629.08 Dalwhinnie 07/34
639.23 Newtonmore 07/43½
642.04 Kingussie 07/49½
653.68 Aviemore (3) 08*04a

Portion 1 Timings :

M.C Location Booked
0.00 Aviemore 08L30d
5.03 Boat of Garten 08.50a ~ 09.40d
10.06 Aviemore 10L00a ~ 10L10d
16.54 Carr Bridge 10/35
25.52 Tomatin 10/51
31.22 Moy 10*55½a ~ 11*02d
37.06 Culloden Moor 11/11½
43.76 Millburn Jn 11/20
44.59 Inverness 11L22a ~ 13L09d
45.42 Millburn Jn 13/11
59.70 Nairn 13/25½
69.36 Forres 13*40a ~ 13*46d
81.54 Elgin 14/01
99.68 Keith Jn 14.25a ~ 14.35d
110.43 Dufftown 15.08a ~ 17.20d
121.18 Keith Jn 17.53a ~ 18.03d
133.36 Elgin 18*26a ~ 18*29d
139.28 Alves GF 18*36a ~ 18*37d
144.32 Burghead 18.57a ~ 20.00d
149.36 Alves GF 20*20a ~ 20*21d
155.28 Elgin 20.30a ~ 20.50d
167.46 Forres 21P04½ ~ 21P13
177.12 Nairn 21/27
191.40 Millburn Jn 21/34½
192.33 Inverness 21.46a

Main Train Timings (continued) :

M.C Location Booked
653.68 Aviemore 08L35d
660.36 Carr Bridge 08/46
  Slochd 08/54
669.34 Tomatin 08*58a ~ 09*00d
675.04 Moy 09/08
680.66 Culloden Moor 09/16
687.56 Millburn Jn 09/24
688.27 Rose Street 09.27a ~ 09.29d
688.46 Inverness 09L31a ~ 10L27d
690.16 Clacknaharry 10/32½
694.35 Lentran 10/42½
701.54 Muir of Ord 10/52½
707.28 Dingwall 11/01
719.79 Invergordon 11/16½
732.73 Tain 11/33½
746.40 Ardgay 12/00½
755.48 Lairg 12P08a ~ 12P22d
765.55 Rogart 12/38
779.18 Brora 12/58
790.10 Helmsdale 13*13a ~ 13*22d
814.39 Forsinard 13/57
835.70 Georgemas Jn 14.28a ~ 14.29d
850.06 Wick 14.47a ~ 16.00d
864.22 Georgemas Jn 16.18a ~ 16.19d
870.72 Thurso 16.32a ~ 18.47d
877.42 Georgemas Jn 19.00a ~ 19.15d
898.73 Forsinard 19/38
923.22 Helmsdale 20P12a ~ 20P19d
934.14 Brora 20/33
947.57 Rogart 20/55½
957.64 Lairg 21/14½
966.72 Ardgay 21/30
980.39 Tain 21/46½
993.33 Invergordon 22/05½
1006.04 Dingwall 22/22
1011.58 Muir of Ord 22/31½
1018.73 Lentran 22/39½
1023.12 Clacknaharry 22/42½
1024.43 Rose Street 22/53
1024.67 Welsh's Bridge 22.55a ~ 22.57d
1025.14 Inverness (4) 23L00a ~ 00L01d
1025.77 Millburn Jn 00/03
1040.25 Nairn 00/18½
1049.71 Forres 00/28½
1062.09 Elgin 00/41½
1080.23 Keith Jn 01/02½
1092.56 Huntly 01/21
1100.51 Kennethmont 01/31
1105.75 Insch 01/36½
1116.43 Inverurie 01/47½
1127.31 Dyce 01/58½
1133.44 Aberdeen 02*03½a ~ 02*28d
1149.55 Stonehaven 02/47
1163.70 Laurencekirk 03/01
1174.10 Montrose 03/10½
1176.25 Usan 03/13
1187.59 Arbroath 03/25
1193.69 Carnoustie 03/42
1204.61 Dundee 03c54a ~ 03c56d
1213.11 Leuchars 04/08
1219.33 Cupar 04/14
1224.70 Ladybank 04/20
1232.79 Thornton North Jn 04/29
1238.45 Cardenden 04/39
1243.00 Cowdenbeath 04/47
1248.68 Dunfermline Lower 04/55
1252.44 Inverkeithing 05/01
1256.19 Dalmeny 05/07
1263.19 Haymarket West Jn 05/18
1263.55 Gorgie Jn 05/22
1264.30 Craiglockhart Jn 05/25
1269.46 Niddrie West Jn 05/33
1271.28 Portobello Jn 05/39
1274.28 Edinburgh Waverley 05.44a ~ 06.00d
1275.41 Haymarket 06/03
1276.70 Slateford Jn 06/06
1286.36 Midcalder Jn 06/19
1308.19 Holytown 06/41
1308.71 Mossend East Jn 06/43
1309.26 Mossend North Jn 06/45
1311.69 Whifflet North Jn 06/50
1312.48 Longloan Jn 06/54
1317.27 Carmyle Jn 07/01
1319.06 Rutherglen East Jn 07/04
1320.69 Polmadie 07L09a ~ 07L22d
1323.01 Glasgow Central 07L28a ~ 08L55d
1325.13 Rutherglen East Jn 09/02
1326.72 Carmyle Jn 09/08
1329.47 Newton West Jn 09/25
1334.07 Uddingston 09/28
1337.26 Mossend West Jn 09/32
1337.67 Mossend South Jn 09/36
1339.37 Motherwell 09/44
1342.39 Hamilton Central 09/48
1347.62 Newton 09/53
1352.07 Kings Park 09/59
1353.00 Cathcart West Jn 10/01
1355.11 Maxwell Park 10/05
1355.76 Muirhouse Central Jn 10/08
1356.32 Terminus Jn 10/11
1356.78 Shields Jn 10L15a ~ 10L30d
1363.08 Paisley Canal 10/38
1365.04 Elderslie No. 1 10/42
1372.03 Lochside 10/50
1376.01 Glengarnock 10/53
1378.60 Dalry 10/56
1383.18 Kilwinning 11/00
1386.46 Irvine 11/06
1390.07 Barassie Jn 11/12
1394.50 Prestwick 11/17½
1396.56 Newton Jn 11/19½
1400.65 Annbank 11/31
1407.42 Mauchline 11/46
1419.35 New Cumnock 11/58
1426.71 Kirkconnel 12P05a ~ 12P15d
1438.73 Carronbridge 12/28
1452.71 Holywood 12/39½
1456.19 Dumfries 12/43
1471.60 Annan 12/57
1480.53 Gretna Jn 13/05
1481.46 Mossband 13/08
1487.31 Kingmoor 13/26
1489.30 Carlisle 13*33a ~ 13*53d
1490.22 Petteril Bridge 13/56
1520.12 Appleby 14/32½
1537.57 Ais Gill 14/56
? Dent 14P57a ~ 15P07d
1548.75 Blea Moor 15/14½
1562.72 Settle Jn 15/33
1566.20 Hellifield 15/37
? Clitheroe 15/56½
1590.00 Daisyfield Jn 16/14
1590.47 Blackburn 16c16a ~ 16c18d
1592.39 Cherry Tree 16/21½
1599.47 Lostock Hall Jn 16/26½
1600.44 Farrington Jn 16/34

Timings continue in first table.

Key;
a : arrival time
c : crew change
d : departure time
L : loco change
B : attach Lickey Bankers
P : Photo Stop
* : operational stop
/ : passing time
(2) Additional portion attached / removed at Bristol Temple Meads
(3) Train split into 2 portions at Aviemore
(4) Train recombined at Inverness

All distances, in miles and chains (M & C), are taken from the timing sheet given out on the train. No attempt has been made to verify the mileages given.

Back to "The Railtour Files"