The June issue of Practice & Performance covered a journey in the cab of a Class 92 from Euston to Glasgow. Thanks to the good offices of Serco Caledonian Sleeper and GB Railfreight. John Heaton FCILT resumes the story with a Class 73 cab ride from Aberdeen to Edinburgh.
THE distinctive noise of an MTU engine ticking over at Aberdeen station in the semi-darkness of anearly April evening comes from Class 73 No. 73970 standing in the bay platform at the head of a five-coach sleeper portion – destination Edinburgh for combination with the Inverness parent train and Fort William through coaches. Booked arrival in London Euston is at 07.47 the following morning. The tare weight of the trailing load is well within the 1,600hp capability of the refurbished former Southern Region electrodes, but the coastal road to the Scottish capital is by no means an easy proposition.
Dale Williams introduces me to GBRf Craigentinny driver Paul Beasley as we watch the 21.31 ‘Voyager’ depart for maintenance at Paul’s home depot, having arrived here at 20.48 on the 09.25 from Plymouth.
The freight company’s portfolio of Scottish work justifies a separate depot in the Edinburgh area nowadays and there is some discussion of the special arrangements for the ‘Royal Scotsman’ prestige charter programme which is about to start. Dale is also on the lookout for suitable recessing locations for its future use.
The signal clears, the ‘right away’ sign illuminates and driver Beasley eases his train onto the main line. The first obstacle is the 1-in-118 climb up through Nigg Bay with speed eventually reaching 57mph on the 1-in-154 and then dropping to 55mph at Cove Bay on the 1-in-102. Paul says he does not rush this section as he is likely to be checked, somewhat incongruously, by the preceding ‘Voyager’. However’ the length of block sections means that, after touching 67mph at Portlethen, we find Newtonhill’s colour light distant ‘on’.
Bu hikaye The Railway Magazine dergisinin August 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Railway Magazine dergisinin August 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Ro-railers Ahead Of Their Time Or Overtaken By Events?
A new type of vehicle for use on both road and rail was trialled in the early 1930s, but never caught on. Alan Dale considers whether early road-rail vehicles were too advanced for their time.
From Upminster To Upcycled: Vivarail's D-train
Ben Jones visits Long Marston to find out how redundant District Line trains are being rebuilt to provide cheaper and greener alternatives to brand new multiple units – and how Vivarail is looking to the future with new methods of propulsion.
Fatal Fracture
In the fourth of our series looking back at major railway accidents, Fraser Pithie recalls what was a terrible accident in terms of loss of life – an event that took place 50 years ago, in 1967. Much was learnt from the tragic and profound events that arose from a fateful Bonfire Night at Hither Green, London on what was then British Rail’s Southern Region.
ECML Power Supply Upgrade Complete
THE first phase of Network Rail’s programme to upgrade 25kV AC power supplies on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) is on track for completion in time for the introduction of new train fleets in 2018.
Tyseley Launches £3million Share Offer For New TOC
FROM the moment Tyseley unveiled its newly overhauled flagship locomotive No. 7029 Clun Castle at the end of October, fans of the Collett 4-6-0 began to ask when the famous BR(W) ‘Castle’will double-head with sister No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe on the main line.
Bredgar's Little Gem
Gareth Evans visits the Bredgar & Wormshill Railway to discover the latest developments at the 2ft-gauge line in Kent, run by a group of friends, and open once a month to the public.
South Yorkshire Tram-Train Project 400% Over Budget
South Yorkshire Tram-Train Project 400% Over Budget
Rebirth Of The Corris Railway
In the latest instalment of our periodic Lazarus Lines features Cliff Thomas describes the resurrection the Corris Railway, previously owned by the GWR and Nationalised in 1948.
Tornado Hits Cornwall
In a P&P extra, Keith Farr rides behind ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado on an epic journey from London to Cornwall – the first visit of the class to the Duchy.
Steam & Heritage
Thousands at Mid-Hants for gala marking 50 years since Southern steam bowed out
