23rd - 25th September 1983

F & W Railtours
The Skirl o'the Pipes 3

Locos Used 08717, 20043, 20097, 26032, 26035, 26037, 26042, 27036, 27056, 37176, 37177, 37204, 37261, 37288, 40029, 40044, 40090, 46025, 47143, 47283 & steam: 60 (0-6-0ST Hunslet Engine Co. 3686-1948)

Route (1) :
1Z49 : Plymouth to Aviemore
1Z39 : Aviemore (via Wick & Thurso) to Inverness
1Z40 : Aviemore (via Boat of Garten, Dufftown & Burghead) to Inverness
1Z49 : Inverness to Plymouth

Locos Route
46025 Plymouth - Bristol Temple Meads
37176 + 37177 Bristol Temple Meads - Gloucester
37177 + 37176 Gloucester - Worcester Shrub Hill - Bromsgrove - Camp Hill - Birmingham New Street - Crewe
37204 + 37288 Lickey bankers
40029 + 40044 Crewe - Warrington - Carlisle - Motherwell - Perth - Aviemore

Train was split at Aviemore, lead carriages going on northwards and the remaining carriages travelled over the Strathspey Railway before heading north.

Portion 1 :

Locos Route
40044 Aviemore - Welsh's Bridge Jn - Rose Street Jn
26032 + 26035 Rose Street Jn - Dingwall - Brora - Georgemas Jn - Wick
37261 Wick - Georgemas Jn - Thurso
37261 Thurso - Georgemas Jn
26032 + 26035 Georgemas Jn - Brora - Dingwall - Inverness

Portion 2 :

Locos Route
60 Aviemore - Boat of Garten
60 Boat of Garten - Aviemore
40029 Aviemore - Inverness
27036 + 26042 Inverness - Alves - Elgin - Keith Jn
26042 + 27036 Keith Jn - Dufftown
27036 + 26042 Dufftown - Keith Jn
26042 + 27036 Keith Jn - Elgin - Alves - Burghead
27036 + 26042 Burghead - Alves - Elgin
26042 + 27036 Elgin - Alves - Inverness
08717 shunt release of stock at Inverness

All together again :

Locos Route
26037 + 40029 (2) Inverness - Aberdeen - Dundee - Burntisland - Edinburgh - Portobello Jn - Niddrie West Jn - Craiglochart Jn - Slateford Jn -  Midcalder Jn - Shotts - Holytown - Carmyle - Polmadie
27056 (3) Polmadie - Glasgow Central
20043 + 20097 Glasgow Central - Uddingston - Mossend West Jn - Mossend South Jn - Motherwell - Hamilton Central - Kings Park - Cathcart West - Maxwell Park - Shields Jn
40029 + 40090 Shields Jn - Dalry - Kilwinning - Troon - Newton Jn - Mauchline Jn - Kirkconnel - Carlisle - (via WCML) - Crewe
37176 + 37177 Crewe - Bushbury Jn - Bescot - Perry Barr West Jn - Soho - Birmingham New Street - Camp Hill - Worcester Shrub Hill - Cheltenham Spa - Bristol Parkway - Bristol Temple Meads
47143 (4) Bristol Temple Meads - Exeter St. Davids
47283 Exeter St. Davids - Plymouth

Notes :
(1) Glossy tour brochure said 1Z47 for main train, duplicated timing sheet had it as 1Z49, in three separate places.
(2) 40044 required a change of brake blocks and 26037 was substituted.
(3) Class 40's not allowed into Glasgow Central. 37171 booked but unavailable (taken up later booked duty).
(4) 47143 failed at Exeter with a vacuum defect.

Some tour statistics :
Left Plymouth 17.50 on Friday evening, returned 01.15 Monday morning!
1,900 mile journey, 55 hours and 25 minutes

Sources : Contemporary sources, Stew Robertson, Ian Monkton & Kevin Driscoll

Photo Review
(all photos by Roy Lambeth)


40029 & 40044 storm through Kingussie en-route to Aviemore


The Thurso portion between Slochd Railway Cottages and Slochd Summit, traction in the shape of 40044.


Standing on the Dufftown line at Keith Junction


Passing Drummuir station, 26042 leading 27036.


...and passing Towiemore Halt which served Towiemore Distillery.
Note the old coach as a waiting room.


Awaiting departure from Dufftown back to Keith Jn, 27036 now leading.


Timings (Booked Only)
(from Kevin Driscoll)

M.C Location Booked (Actual)   Booked M.C
0.00 Plymouth 17.50d   23.05a 867.40
6.65 Hemerdon 18/01   22/58 860.55
16.15 Brent 18/13   22/45 851.25
23.12 Totnes 18.22a ~ 18.24d   22.29a ~ 22.31d 854.28
31.69 Newton Abbot 18.38a ~ 18.40d   22.13a ~ 22.15d 845.51
41.41 Dawlish Warren 18/52   22/03 835.79
52.03 Exeter St. Davids 19.04a ~ 19.06d   21.50a ~ 21.52d 825.37
71.75 Whiteball Tunnel 19/28   21/30 805.45
82.63 Taunton 19.37a ~ 19.39d   21.14a ~ 21.16d 794.57
94.28 Bridgwater 19/50   21/05 783.12
110.64 Worle Jn 20/03   20/53 766.56
127.39 Bristol Temple Meads 20L21a ~ 20L38d   20L21a ~ 20L36d 750.01
132.09 Filton Jn 20/47   20/11 745.31
133.28 Bristol Parkway 20.50a ~ 20.52d   20.07a ~ 20.09d 744.12
137.78 Westerleigh Jn 20/58   20/01 739.42
146.11 Charfield 21/05   19/52 731.29
159.36 Standish Jn 21/17   19/41 718.04
?? Gloucester Yard Jn ??   19/35 711.74
166.47 Gloucester 21.23a ~ 21.35d   xxx xxx
173.07 Cheltenham Spa 21.44a ~ 21.45d
(??.?? ~ 22.10)		   19.25a ~ 19.27d 705.44
180.18 Ashchurch 21/53   19/16 698.33
191.05 Abbotswood Jn 22/02   19/06 687.46
194.79 Worcester Shrub Hill 22.10a ~ 22.12d   18.54a ~ 18.58d 683.52
200.58 Droitwich Spa 22/20   18/44 677.73
204.73 Stoke Works Jn 22/26   18/38 673.58
207.06 Bromsgrove 22L30a ~ 22L33d   18/36 671.45
209.59 Blackwell 22/40   18/34 668.72
210.49 Barnt Green 22/45   18/33 668.02
215.39 Kings Norton 22/50   18/27 663.12
219.36 Camp Hill 22/58   18/21 659.15
222.69 Birmingham New Street 23.06a ~ 23.08d
(00.04 ~ ??.??)		   17c59a ~ 18c01d 655.62
224.75 Soho South Jn 23/14   17/53 653.56
226.53 Galton Jn 23/17  
230.18 Dudley Port 23/21  
235.58 Wolverhampton 23/28  
- Perry Barr North Jn   17/43 650.65
- Bescot   17/38 646.28
- Portobello Jn   17/30 642.11
- Bushbury Jn   17/25 639.43
251.09 Stafford 23/47   17/09 625.76
256.38 Norton Bridge 23/52   17/04 620.47
267.40 Madeley 00/02   16/56 609.45
275.08 Crewe 00L14a ~ 00L26d   16L36a ~ 16L47d 601.37
291.47 Weaver Jn 00/43   16/16 584.78
299.31 Warrington Bank Quay 00/52   16/07 577.14
302.44 Winwick Jn 00/55   16/04 574.01
310.77 Wigan North Western 01/03   15/57 565.48
320.51 Euxton Jn 01/13   15/48 555.74
326.07 Preston 01/21   15*36 ~ 15*40 550.38
347.05 Lancaster 01*43 ~ 01*48   15/12 529.40
352.61 Carnforth South Jn 01/55   15/08 523.64
366.13 Oxenholme 02/08   14/59 510.32
378.62 Tebay South 02/20   14/35 497.63
398.25 Penrith 02/47   14/17 478.20
416.14 Carlisle 03.07a ~ 03.22d   13c33a ~ 13c51d 460.31
424.71 Gretna Jn 03/31   13/05 451.54

 

M.C Location Booked
442.00 Lockerbie 03/46
455.54 Beattock South 03/57
474.04 Abington 04/18
489.67 Carstairs 04/31
492.22 Lanark Jn 04/33
500.23 Law Jn 04/39
505.54 Motherwell 04c44a ~ 04c50d
508.11 Mossend Yard 04/59
510.65 Coatbridge Jn 05/02
513.21 Garnqueen North Jn 05/10
522.71 Greenhill Lower Jn 05/20
526.33 Larbert 05/24
534.40 Stirling 05/32
539.35 Dunblane 05/42
549.44 Blackford 05/54
565.33 Hilton Jn 06/15
567.41 Perth 06c19a ~ 06c33d
574.60 Stanley Jn 06/44
577.67 Murthly 06/48
583.03 Dunkeld & Birnam 06/56
591.33 Ballinluig 07/04
595.73 Pitlochry 07/09
602.61 Blair Atholl 07/26
626.19 Dalwhinnie 08/00
636.34 Newtonmore 08/09
639.15 Kingussie 08/14
651.04 Aviemore 08.27a

 

Portion 1 : 1Z39
M.C Location Booked (out)   Booked (rtn) M.C
0.00 Aviemore 08.37d  
6.48 Carrbridge 08/48  
15.46 Tomatin 09*00 ~ 09*08  
26.78 Culloden Moor 09/21  
33.68 Millburn Jn 09/29  
34.24 Welsh's Bridge Jn ??  
34.48 Rose Street Jn 09.31 ~ 09.33  
34.67 Inverness 09L35a ~ 10L27d   23.00a 371.31
- Welsh's Bridge Jn   22.55 ~ 22.57 371.04
35.05 Rose Street Jn ??   22/53 370.69
36.37 Clachnaharry 10/32   22/42 369.29
40.56 Lentran 10/42   22/39 365.10
47.71 Muir of Ord 10/52   22/31 357.75
53.45 Dingwall 11/01   22/22 352.21
66.16 Invergordon 11/16   22/05 339.50
79.10 Tain 11/33   21/46 326.56
92.57 Ardgay 12/00   21/30 313.09
101.65 Lairg 12p08 ~ 12p23   21/14 304.01
111.72 Rogart 12/38   20/55 293.74
125.35 Brora 12/58   20/33 280.31
136.27 Helmsdale 13*p13 ~ 13*p33   20*12 ~ 20*19 269.39
160.56 Forsinard 14/08   19/38 245.10
182.07 Georgemas Junction 14.39a ~ 14.40d   19.00a ~ 19.15d 223.59
196.23 Wick 14.58a ~ 16.00d  

 

Portion 2 : 1Z40
M.C Location Booked
0.00 Aviemore 08L45d
5.03 Boat of Garten 09.05a ~ 09.30d
9.63 Speyside 09.50a ~ 10.15d
10.06 Aviemore 10L30a ~ 10L48d
16.54 Carrbridge 10*58 ~ 11*18
25.52 Tomatin 11/31
37.04 Culloden Moor 11/45
43.74 Millburn Jn 11/54
44.57 Inverness 11L56a ~ 13L09d
45.40 Millburn Jn 13/11
59.68 Nairn 13/25
69.34 Forres 13*40 ~ 13*46
81.52 Elgin 14/01
99.76 Keith Jn 14.25 ~ 14.35
110.78 Dufftown 15.08a ~ 17.20d
122.00 Keith Jn 17.53 ~ 18.03
140.24 Elgin 18*26 ~ 18*35
146.00 Alves GF 18.42 ~ 18.43
150.68 Burghead 19.03a ~ 20.00d
155.56 Alves GF 20/21
161.32 Elgin 20.30a ~ 20.50d
173.50 Forres 21*04 ~ 21*20
183.16 Nairn 21/24
197.44 Millburn Jn 21/51
198.27 Inverness 21.53a

 

M.C Location Booked
0.00 Inverness 00.01d
0.63 Millburn Jn 00/03
15.11 Nairn 00/18
24.57 Forres 00/28
36.75 Elgin 00/41
55.09 Keith 01/02
67.41 Huntly 01/21
75.37 Kennethmont 01/31
80.61 Insch 01/44
91.29 Inverurie 01/55
102.17 Dyce 02/06
108.30 Aberdeen 02c14a ~ 02c28d
124.41 Stonehaven 02/47
138.56 Laurencekirk 03/01
148.76 Montrose 03/10
151.11 Usan 03/13
162.45 Arbroath 03/25
168.55 Carnoustie 03/32
179.47 Dundee 03c54 ~ 03c56
187.74 Leuchars 04/08
199.54 Ladybank 04/20
208.00 Thornton North Jn 04/29
212.68 Kirkcaldy 04/35
218.52 Burntisland 04/42
225.50 Inverkeithing 04/52
229.60 Dalmeny Jn 04/58
236.34 Haymarket West Jn 05/18
238.62 Edinburgh 05c21a ~ 06c00d
242.21 Portobello Jn 06/05
243.18 Niddrie West Jn 06/08
248.34 Craiglockhart Jn 06/16
249.02 Slateford Jn 06/18
258.48 Midcalder Jn 06/36
280.31 Holytown 06/58
281.03 Mossend East Jn 07/00
281.38 Mossend North Jn 07/02
284.00 Whifflet North Jn 07/07
284.60 Langloan Jn 07/11
289.39 Carmyle Jn 07/18
293.52 Rutherglen East Jn 07/21
295.35 Polmadie 07L26 ~ 07L42
297.47 Glasgow Central 07L48a ~ 09L15d
301.42 Rutherglen East Jn 09/22
304.02 Newton West Jn 09/25
305.75 Uddingston 09/28
309.22 Mossend West Jn 09/32
309.63 Mossend South Jn 09/36
311.33 Motherwell 09/44
314.43 Hamilton Central 09/48
319.66 Newton 09/53
324.11 Kings Park 09/59
325.04 Cathcart West Jn 10/01
327.15 Maxwell Park 10/05
327.78 Muirhouse Central Jn 10/08
328.34 Terminus Jn 10/11
329.04 Shields Jn 10L15 ~ 10L30
334.45 Paisley Gilmour Street 10/37
336.64 Elderslie 10/40
343.64 Lochside 10/47
347.61 Glengarnock 10/50
350.40 Dalry 10/53
353.78 Kilwinning 10/59
357.26 Irvine 11/06
361.07 Barassie Jn 11/12
365.50 Prestwick 11/17
367.56 Newton Jn 11/19
371.67 Annbank Jn 11/31
378.44 Mauchline 11/46
390.37 New Cumnock 11/58
397.73 Kirkconnel 12p05a ~ 12p15d
413.20 Thornhill 12/30
423.73 Holywood 12/37
427.20 Dumfries 12/43
442.61 Annan 12/57

Timings continue in first table.

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