10th - 12th May 1985

F + W Railtours
Skirl o'the Pipes 6

Locos Used 08571, 20102, 20149, 26002, 26006, 26027, 26036, 27054, 27206, 31175, 31178, 31280, 31286, 37121, 37180, 37186, 37189, 37219, 37241, 37256, 37259, 45013, 47016 & D9000
Stock Used [1] : Load 14 (mark 1's)
[2] : Load 11
[3] : Load 4

Route :

Date(s) Loco(s) Stock Route
10/05 31175 + 31178 [1] Plymouth - Totnes - Newton Abbot - Exeter St Davids - Bridgwater - Uphill Jn - Worle Jn - Bristol Temple Meads
10/05 37180 + 37189 [1] Bristol Temple Meads - Stapleton Road - Bristol Parkway - Westerleigh Jn - Yate - Standish Jn - Barnwood Jn - Cheltenham Spa - Abbotswood Jn - Norton Jn - Worcester Shrub Hill - Droitwich Spa - Bromsgrove - (1) - Kings Norton - Five Ways - Birmingham New Street - Proof House Jn - Landor Street Jn - Water Orton - Kingsbury Jn - Tamworth - Burton-on-Trent - North Stafford Jn - Derby
10/05-11/05 45013 [1] Derby - Sheet Stores Jn - Trent - Trowell Jn - Pye Bridge Jn - Clay Cross South Jn - Chesterfield - Beighton Jn - Treeton North Jn - Aldwarke Jn - Mexborough - Conisborough - Doncaster - (via ECML) - Newcastle
11/05 37121 + 37259 [1] Newcastle - (via ECML) - Monktonhall Jn - Millerhill (Waverly Route headshunt)

Train split at Edinburgh Waverley;

Portion 1 :

Date Locos Stock Route
11/05 27054 + 27206 [2] Edinburgh Waverley - Haymarket - Newbridge Jn - Polmont - ??? - Greenhill Upper Jn - Lenzie - Cowlairs East Jn - Cowlairs North Jn - Westerton - Drumchapel - Dumbarton Central - Craigendoran Jn - Garelochhead - Crianlarich - Dalmally - Oban
11/05 26027 + 26036 [2] Oban - (reverse of outward route) - Cowlairs North Jn - Cowlairs West Jn - Glasgow Queen Street
11/05-12/05 20102 + 20149 [2] Glasgow Queen Street - Cowlairs West Jn - Cowlairs East Jn - Lenzie - Greenhill Upper Jn - Greenhill Lower Jn - Falkirk Grahamston - Polmont - Newbridge Jn - Haymarket - Edinburgh Waverley

Portion 2 :

Date Locos Stock Route
11/05 20102 + 20149 [3] Edinburgh Waverley - Haymarket - Dalmeny - Inverkeithing - Dunfermline Lower - Cardenden - Thornton West Jn - Thornton Station Jn - Methil West
11/05 20102 + 20149 [3] Methil West - Thornton Station Jn - Thornton South Jn - Kirkcaldy - Inverkeithing - Dalmeny Jn - Winchburgh Jn - Falkirk Grahamston - Larbert - Stirling
11/05 26027 + 26036 [3] Stirling - Larbert - Carmuirs Jn - Greenhill Lower Jn - Lenzie - Cowlairs East Jn - Cowlairs North Jn - Westerton - Drumchapel - Dumbarton Central - Dalreoch - Balloch - Balloch Pier (2)
11/05 37256 [3] Balloch Pier - Balloch - Dalreoch - Dumbarton Central
11/05 26027 + 26036 [3] Dumbarton Central - Craigendoran Jn - Garelochhead - Crianlarich - Dalmally - Oban
11/05-12/05 27054 + 27206 [3] Oban - (reverse of outward route) - Dumbarton Central - Drumchapel - Westerton - Anniesland - Hyndland - Partick - Glasgow Queen Street Low Level - Bellgrove - Alexandra Palace - Cowlairs East Jn - Lenzie - Greenhill Upper Jn - Falkirk High - Polmont - Newbridge Jn - Haymarket - Edinburgh Waverley
12/05 08571 [3] shunt onto other portion 1 at Edinburgh Waverley

Portions rejoined at Edinburgh Waverley.

Date Loco(s) Stock Route
12/05 37121 + 37186 [1] Edinburgh Waverley - Haymarket - Slateford - Midcalder Jn - Shotts - Holytown - Mossend South Jn - Motherwell - (via WCML) - Carlisle - Haltwhistle - Blaydon - High Level Bridge Jn - Newcastle
12/05 47016 [1] Newcastle - (via ECML) - Peterborough - Fletton Jn - Orton Mere
12/05 D9000 [1] Orton Mere - Wansford
12/05 D9000 [1] Wansford - Orton Mere
12/05 47016 [1] Orton Mere - Fletton Jn - Peterborough - Stamford - Leicester
12/05 37169 + 37189 [1] Leicester - Hinckley - Nuneaton Midland Jn - Abbey Jn - Water Orton - Landor Street Jn - Proof House Jn - Birmingham New Street
12/05 37169 + 37189 [1] Birmingham New Street - Proof House Jn - St Andrews Jn - Bordesley Jn - Kings Norton - (reverse of outward route) - Bristol Temple Meads
12/05 31280 + 31286 [1] Bristol Temple Meads - (reverse of outward route) - Plymouth

Notes :
(1) Banked train up The Lickey by 37219 + 37241.
(2) Balloch to Balloch Pier was closed to regular passenger trains in 1983.
(3) Whilst on the NVR, French kettle 230D116 was also out, working a service train. Some passengers travelled on this between Wansford & Yarwell Jn.
(4) Route confirmation required - above is from booked timings.

Sources : Trevor Cockram (joined/left train at Bristol Temple Meads, on train 2 in Scotland),
Ian Monkton, David Harlott (joined/left the train at Taunton) & Adrian Bullock

Brief Review :


31175 & 31178 approach Bristol (photo: Peter Cooper)

One of a series of F&W Railtours Skirl rail tours around mid May. Load 14 mostly SK, but split into two loads of 7 between Edinburgh, Oban and return. Note of stock used (above) suggests an 11/4 split of the portions which does not add to 14! Can anyone clarify?

Day 1 was a straight forward late evening and night to Newcastle which was spent consuming quantities of beer

Highlights day 2 were the trip via Millerhill yard to the loop on the formation of the Waverley route, The pair of slow speed fitted 26's around the Edinburgh suburban route and the Bombs to Methil.


20102 & 20149 on the Methil branch (photo: Peter Cooper)

One of our party (an ex-RAF type) had decided that the direct portion to Oban was most likely to travel via Cowlairs East to North which he needed so he changed into that half, missing the trip around Fife. Close inspection of the timing sheet however, suggested that it was unlikely as it was booked a loco change at Cowlairs, which it did at Cowlairs West. Our portion was booked via Cumbernauld and Springburn, so would not do the curve. This was not the case because at Greenhill Lower Junction the driver stopped the train at a green signal. After a short call on the signal telephone it turned to red and then we were routed direct via Lenzie and the Cowlairs curve (not that I needed it having done the Sundays Edinburgh-Oban). Needless to say considerable fun was had at Oban when we saw him again. Loco haulage to Balloch Pier was unusual to say the least, and the drivers were not as experienced at top and tail working as now, with walky-talky radio communications between the 26's at the front and the 37 in the rear, all three engines powering at times. The return run with the 27's through Queen Street low level was noisy, with a lot of bellowing.

The third day started on a low note with 37186 steam heat Cardiff engine being provided from Edinburgh (Its a Skirl therefore it must be 37186 - I had over 1000 miles behind it on Skirl's). Early Sunday morning and the Peak had gone, so a steam heat 47 from GD (it was the only time I had it). D9000 only recently in preservation replaced the 47 at Orton Mere to Wansford. To get the track in as far as Yarwell Junction the Nord 4-6-0 had to be taken, but only back to Wansford, for the Deltic back to Orton Mere. At least one of the 37's was changed for the return from Leicester.

21 loco's - not bad for a weekend tour.

Times (Booked Only)
(from Paul Griffin)

M.C Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn) M.C
0.00 Plymouth 17.20d 22.12a 127.39
6.65 Hemerdon 17/31 22/04 120.54
16.15 Brent 17/42 21/52 111.24
23.12 Totnes 17.51a ~ 17.53d 21.35a ~ 21.37d 104.27
31.69 Newton Abbot 18.08a ~ 18.10d 21.19a ~ 21.21d 95.50
41.41 Dawlish Warren 18/22 21/07 85.78
52.03 Exeter St Davids 18.34a ~ 18.36d 20.54a ~ 20.56d 75.36
71.75 Whiteball 18/57 20/35 55.44
82.63 Taunton 19.12a ~ 19.14d 20.19a ~ 20.21d 44.56
94.28 Bridgwater 19/26 20/06 33.11
107.71 Uphill Jn 19/39 19/55 19.48
110.64 Worle Jn 19/41 19/53 16.55
127.39
0.00		 Bristol Temple Meads 19L59a ~ 20L15d 19L16a ~ 19L35d 0.00
133.70
4.50 Filton Jn 20/24 19/08 129.20
5.69 Bristol Parkway 20.26a ~ 20.28d 19.04a ~ 19.06d 128.01
10.39 Westerleigh Jn 20/34 18/58 123.31
18.52 Charfield 20/42 18/49 115.18
31.77 Standish Jn 20/51 18/38 101.73
38.07 Gloucester Yard Jn 21/00 18/32 95.63
44.37 Cheltenham Spa 21.08a ~ 21.10d 18.18a ~ 18.20d 89.33
51.48 Ashchurch 21/18 18/07 82.22
62.35 Abbotswood Jn 21/26 17/57 71.35
66.29 Worcester Shrub Hill 21.32a ~ 21.34d 17.48a ~ 17.50d 67.41
72.08 Droitwich Spa 21/42 17/41 61.62
76.23 Stoke Works Jn 21/47 17/35 57.47
78.36 Bromsgrove 21/51 17/33 55.34
81.09 Blackwell 21/58 17/31 52.61
81.79 Barnt Green 22/00 17/30 51.71
86.69 King's Norton Jn 22/09 17/23 47.01
- Camp Hill - 17/17 42.04
- St Andrews Jn - 17/14 41.22
91.10 Church Road Jn 22/19 - -
92.47 Birmingham New Street 22.27a ~ 22.32d 16.54a ~ 17.09d 39.51
93.35 Proof House Jn 22/35 ? ?
94.12 Landor Street Jn 22/37 16/50 38.06
100.29 Water Orton East Jn 22/43 16/39 31.69

 

M.C Location Booked
104.13 Kingsbury Jn 22/47
109.74 Tamworth 22/52
117.22 Wichnor Jn 22/57
122.65 Burton-on-Trent 23/02
129.02 Stenson Jn 23/08
133.66
0.00		 Derby 23L18a ~ 23L33d
2.50 Spondon 23/39
8.59 Sheet Stores Jn 23/45
9.20 Trent East Jn 23/47
11.17 Toton 23/50
14.42 Trowell Jn 23/54
23.22 Pye Bridge Jn 00/04
28.42 Moreton 00/10
31.43 Clay Cross South Jn 00/17
35.53 Chesterfield 00/21
45.00 Beighton Jn 00/34
48.52 Treeton North Jn 00/41
51.70 Rotherham 00/48
54.30 Aldwarke Jn 00/52
57.59 Mexborough 00/59
60.01 Conisbrough 01/05
64.64 Doncaster 01c13 ~ 01c25
69.03 Shaftholme Jn 01/32
77.74 Temple Hirst Jn 01/39
83.68 Hambleton North Jn 01/45
91.66 Colton Jn 01/52
97.27 York 01c58a ~ 02c04d
119.43 Thirsk 02/32
127.23 Northallerton 02/40
141.37 Darlington 02*52 ~ 03*04
154.17 Ferryhill 03/20
162.40 Durham 03/32
175.69 King Edward Bridge South 03/47
176.43
0.00		 Newcastle 03L49a ~ 04L04d
16.50 Morpeth 04/24
34.69 Alnmouth 04/46
51.46 Belford 05/02
67.00 Berwick-upon-Tweed 05/17
77.22 Reston 05/37
83.22 Granthouse 05/43
95.31 Dunbar 06/00
107.56 Drem 06/08
119.32 Monktonhall Jn 06/28
121.70
0.00		 Millerhill 06L37a ~ 07L25d
1.51 Niddrie West Jn 07/33
6.67 Craiglockhart Jn 07/45
7.42 Gorgie Jn 07/48
7.73 Haymarket Central Jn 07/51
9.59 Edinburgh Waverley 07L55a

Portion 1

M.C Location Booked
0.00 Edinburgh Waverley 09L33d
1.19 Haymarket 09.35a ~ 09.36d
8.45 Newbridge Jn 09/44
12.50 Winchburgh Jn 09/47
22.24 Polmont 09/55
29.75 Greenhill Upper Jn 10/01
41.04 Lenzie 10/10
45.36
0.00		 Cowlairs 10L18 ~ 10L25
0.21 Cowlairs North Jn 10/27
4.12 Westerton 10/33
7.77 Dalmuir Park 10/38
14.10 Dumbarton Central 10/50
21.08 Craigendoran Jn 11x00 ~ 11x10
29.78 Garelochhead 11x28 ~ 11x40
36.23 Glen Douglas 11/53
40.47 Arrochar & Tarbet 12/07
48.50 Ardlui 12/16
57.27 Crianlarich 12/35
74.44 Dalmally 13/00
86.23 Taynuilt 13x16 ~ 13x27
99.12
0.00		 Oban 13.53a ~ 20.40d
12.69 Taynuilt 21x07 ~ 21x15
24.48 Dalmally 21/31
41.65 Crianlarich 21/56
50.42 Ardlui 22/12
58.45 Arrochar & Tarbet 22/25
62.69 Glen Douglas 22/35
69.14 Garelochhead 22/45
78.04 Craigendoran Jn 23/01
85.02 Dumbarton Central 23/11
91.15 Dalmuir Park 23/21
95.00 Westerton 23/27
99.09 Cowlairs West Jn 23.34 ~ 23.37
100.76
0.00		 Glasgow Queen Street 23L42a ~ 23L52d
6.20 Lenzie 00/03
17.29 Greenhill Upper Jn 00/12
17.77 Greenhill Lower Jn 00/13
20.58 Carmuirs East Jn 00/17
22.37 Falkirk Grahamston 00/20
25.57 Polmont 00/26
35.31 Winchburgh Jn 00/34
39.36 Newbridge Jn 00/37
46.62 Haymarket 00/47
48.01 Edinburgh Waverley 00L50a

Portion 2

M.C Location Booked
0.00 Edinburgh Waverley 09.45d
1.19 Haymarket 09.48 ~ 09.49
9.02 Dalmeny Jn 10/00
13.12 Inverkeithing 10c06 ~ 10c07
14.52 Rosyth 10/11
16.68 Dunfermline Lower 10/15
22.41 Cowdenbeath 10/25
26.70 Cardenden 10/32
31.55 Thornton West Jn 10/40
32.44 Thornton North Jn 10/44
39.43 Methil 11.19 ~ 11.39
46.42 Thornton North Jn 12/16
51.34 Kirkaldy 12c22 ~ 12c24
64.12 Inverkeithing 12/42
68.22 Dalmeny Jn 12/49
72.51 Winchburgh Jn 13/01
82.25 Polmont 13/13
85.45 Falkirk Grahamston 13/18
87.24 Carmuirs East Jn 13/22
88.36 Larbert 13/24
96.43
0.00		 Stirling 13L35a ~ 14L12d
8.07 Larbert 14/21
9.28 Carmuirs West Jn 14/23
11.49 Greenhill Lower Jn 14/26
21.19 Garnqueen North Jn 14/36
22.52 Gartcosh Jn 14/38
29.04 Sighthill Jn 14/46
30.05 Cowlairs North Jn 14c50 ~ 14c52
33.76 Westerton 15/00
37.61 Dalmuir Park 15/07
43.74 Dumbarton Central 15L21a ~ 15L50d
44.26 Dalreoch Jn 15/51
48.31 Balloch Central 16/05
48.70
0.00		 Balloch Pier 16.07a ~ 16.28d
0.39 Baloch Central 16/30
4.44 Dalreoch Jn 16/35
4.76
0.00		 Dumbarton Central 16L36a ~ 16L42d
6.78 Craigendoran Jn 16/52
15.68 Garelochhead 17x07 ~ 17x10
22.13 Glen Douglas 17/23
26.37 Arrochar & Tarbet 17p33a ~ 17p45d
34.40 Ardlui 17/59
43.17 Crianlarich 18/16
60.34 Dalmally 18x40 ~ 18x45
72.13 Taynuilt 19/02
85.02
0.00		 Oban 19L27a ~ 20L00d
12.69 Taynuilt 20/22
24.48 Dalmally 20x43 ~ 20x55
41.65 Crianlarich 21/20
50.42 Ardlui 21/36
58.45 Arrochar & Tarbet 21/49
62.69 Glen Douglas 21/59
69.14 Garelochhead 22/09
78.04 Craigendoran Jn 22/25
85.02 Dumbarton Central 22/35
91.15 Dalmuir Park 22/43
95.00 Westerton 22/49
97.25 Hyndland 22/54
98.27 Finnieston West Jn 22/56
101.32 High Street Jn 23/02
101.70 Bellgrove 23/04
103.67 Sighthill Jn 23/10
104.50
0.00		 Cowlairs East Jn 23L16 ~ 23L26
4.08 Lenzie 23/32
15.17 Greenhill Upper Jn 23/41
22.68 Polmont 23/47
32.42 Winchburgh Jn 23/55
36.47 Newbridge Jn 23/58
43.73 Haymarket 00/08
45.12 Edinburgh Waverley 00L11a

Re-combined Train

M.C Location Booked
0.00 Edinburgh 01L50d
1.19 Haymarket 01/54
2.45 Slateford Jn 01/58
11.74 Midcalder Jn 02/18
23.75 Benhar Jn 02/32
33.76 Holytown 02/48
34.48 Mossend East Jn 02/49
34.79 Mossend South Jn 02/50
36.49 Motherwell 02c54 ~ 02c56
38.48 Shieldmuir Jn 03/00
39.60 Wishaw Central 03/02
42.02 Law Jn 03/06
50.01 Lanark Jn 03/17
52.36 Carstairs 03/23
68.19 Abington 03/36
76.25 Beattock Summit 03/44
86.49 Beattock South 03/51
100.23 Lockerbie 04/01
117.32 Gretna Jn 04/19
126.09 Carlisle 04.29 ~ 04.31
127.01 Petteril Bridge Jn 04/35
137.06 Brampton 04/53
149.14 Haltwhistle 05/09
165.39 Hexham 05/28
182.24 Blaydon 05/50
187.51 High Level Bridge Jn 06/07
188.11
0.00		 Newcastle 06L09 ~ 06L24
0.54 King Edward Bridge Jn 06/26
14.03 Durham 06/42
22.26 Ferryhill 06/54
33.52 Norton South Jn 07/20
35.39 Stockton 07/24
38.42 Eaglescliffe 07/30
53.13 Northallerton 07/50
60.73 Thirsk 07/57
83.09 York 08.22 ~ 08.24
88.50 Colton Jn 08/31
96.48 Hambleton North Jn 08/37
97.13 Hambleton East Jn 08/38
99.73 Selby West Jn 08/44
100.25 Selby Canal Jn 08/46
104.77 Temple Hirst Jn 08/52
113.68 Shaftholme Jn 08/59
118.07 Doncaster 09p06a ~ 09p25d
135.35 Retford 09/40
153.76 Newark Northgate 09/55
168.46 Grantham 10/07
174.23 Stoke 10/23
189.20 Tallington 10/37
197.55 Peterborough 10c50 ~ 10c52
199.02 Fletton Jn 10/57
200.75
0.00		 Orton Mere 11L13 ~ 11L20
4.58
0.00		 Wansford 11.35a ~ 13.10d
4.58
0.00		 Orton Mere 13L25 ~ 13L30
1.74 Fletton Jn 13/45
3.20 Peterborough 13c50 ~ 13c52d
8.48 Helpston Jn 14/00
15.28 Stamford 14/09
21.28 Luffenham Jn 14/18
25.39 Manton Jn 14/23
28.77 Oakham 14/30
40.38 Melton Mowbray 14/40
50.20 Syston East Jn 14/56
50.44 Syston South Jn 14/57
55.35
0.00		 Leicester 15L14 ~ 15L50
3.11 Wigston North Jn 15/56
17.64 Midland Jn 16/16
19.36 Abbey Jn 16/19
29.15 Whitacre Jn 16/31

Timings continue in first table.

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