BR in the 1990s Visit to Scotland and the Highlands in July 1993 Part Two

BRITISH RAILWAYS IN THE 1990's
Visit to Scotland and the Highlands in July 1993
Part Two
Continuing with my archive of video recording between the years of 1986 to 2001 this clip is of my first trip of this year to Scotland and the Highlands. Initially to capture on film the sleepers being double headed with class 37s and the Perth to Inverness services, loco hauled with 37s. A visit also to the Fort William Route to see the class 37 hauled sleeper service from Ft William to London Euston. The video is in three parts due to the overall length of material so I hope the video takes you back to this period with fond memories. Moving into the Highlands for some spectacular scenery and great locomotive action albeit at a leisurely pace I first take you to Blair Atholl for the Down Sleeper from London Euston to Inverness and then chasing it to Dalwhinnie. This train was made up with an impressive load of 15 on ! . A class 37 hauled is spotted at Slochd Summit before going to Dingwall to capture the summer daily service from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh in the hands of a pair of class 26s. A visit to the Highland capital of Inverness was inevitable, lots of stock movements and the arrivals of services from Perth with class 37s. To Tulloch next and finally for this part back to Dalwhinnie to see the Up Sleepers from Inverness to London Euston. Feel free to comment, good or bad, all comments are read and greatly appreciated, but it is not always possible to answer each individually. Sit back and enjoy this latest production remembering all those now long gone Locomotive classes and other types of traction. Many thanks for all subscriptions and all of those viewers who have kindly shown an interest in my material.

[@Waverleywest]

Another great video. Looking forward to part 3 too!

[@spompey]

Many thanks and sincere wishes...Mark

[@johnreyortiz]

cant we go back in them days so depressing now

[@spompey]

We can by means of video...many thanks...Mark

[@DavidChild-ty2od]

I wish we could.

[@andrewmcilwraith1997]

It's not that bad. There's still engines and coaches with the sleeper from Euston to Inverness and a frequent service (of DMUs I grant you) between Inverness and Dingwall. More than one every two hours! There's the IC125s for Scottish routes sometimes. It could have been so much worse. I find it hard to believe there's still a Class 08 shunter working at Inverness pulling and pushing the sleeper and Avanti stock around. Where are other such shunters working? I'd like to know.

[@spompey]

@@DavidChild-ty2od Like so many of us, but maybe in another lifetime....Mark

[@spompey]

@@andrewmcilwraith1997 Actually the Highland line still is of great interest as you say the HSTs that run and the occasional freight which I was lucky enough to catch on digital last year and yes the Avanti does make an interesting sight....best wishes Andrew and again many thanks for your interest in the channel.....Mark

[@Dangerous-Brian150]

Absolutely awesome 👌

[@spompey]

So many thanks and part 3 being uploaded.....best wishes...Mark

[@creepingjesus5106]

Forgot the Inverness line was singled as far back as '93, I had it in mind that it was a year or two later, for some reason. It was a really short sighted bit of cost cutting. Fun fact - at 690 something miles, London - Inverness is the longest capital to regional capital journey in Europe!

[@spompey]

Many thanks for watching...just to note that the "Clansman" which used to run from Euston to Inverness (WCML and Mossend Yd) was 568 miles and also were the sleepers which took the same route. If my memory serves me correct the majority of the Perth - Inverness was single track way before 1993 and even when I used to work over it in the late 1970s, which is why we had incredible waiting times at places like Blair Atholl on the up and several on the down road. I seem to recall the longest service train was around 1982 (Do not know the exact mileage) but it ran from Dyce-Aberdeen-Edinburgh-York-Sheffield-Birmingham-Bristol-Plymouth-Penzance and was an HST. I once caught it from Edinburgh - Penzance in January 1983. A fantastic journey, which could be the train that was 690 miles......Someone will correct me on my sketchy info but once again many thanks and best regards to you....Mark

[@limeyfox]

@@spompey That sounds about right, wasnt Dalwhinnie to Blair Atholl redoubled in about 1978 when the North Sea oil fields were being developed?

[@spompey]

@@limeyfox Yes Blair Atholl to Dalwhinnie was double track...Best regards....Mark

[@BenDover-ln6ns]

Hope there’s a part 3.

[@spompey]

Part 3 being uploaded as I write and another 3 or 4 part of Scotland and Highlands to follow very soon....many thanks and keep visiting....Best wishes to you BD....Mark

[@BenDover-ln6ns]

@@spompey brilliant, can’t wait. My favourite bashing years in my youth 88-94. Then they privatised it all and it went down hill.