I haven’t heard of an LNER service running that way for many years, so I would say no as the crews will not have appropriate route knowledge. In any event the Chieftain didn’t run to Inverness yesterday.
The last Azuma to run between Aberdeen and Inverness was on 5th February 2021, to recover 800112 which had been trapped at Aberdeen Clayhills for nearly a month following the collapse of a bridge parapet on the line to Dundee; it ran empty to Craigentinny. Prior to that, 800113 also ran empty from Aberdeen to Craigentinny via Inverness on 20th August 2020 due to the line closure after the Carmont crash.
Neither of those were running in service though, and I would guess those movements were achieved by having Scotrail* drivers act as pilots for the LNER driver.
The 2021 run was a Newcastle driver with no route conductor as he signed the road. The 2020 one did, I think, require a route conductor.
I knew pilot was wrong, but just couldn't bring the right term to mind!!
The last Azuma to run Inverness to Aberdeen across the top was this year, 2024,following flooding on the highland mainline.
Oh, I totally missed that one! I try to keep a record of odd one-off workings like this in Scotland. Do you know the date, out of interest?
Not any more, it hasn't been the case for a while now (May 2023 if I remember correctly).
Reported as being 66122 on 4D47 Inverness to Mossend containers. Failed around north end of Pitlochry / Blair Atholl area. Cause reported as brake issues (Real Time Trains) or seized axle. May be visible on Traksy? Info taken from the Scot-Rail Io.group.
It's at Blair Atholl. The loco has a seized traction motor and requires a wheelskate. The plan is once the skate is fitted, to take it to Dunkeld and recess in the siding there.
Scotrail diverting passengers via Aberdeen. LNER normally use buses if they can get hold of them but you'd need to check with them what they have in place.
Driver who works up to Inverness lodges Inverness and then works back south form Inverness the following morning.
Thanks for the update, presumably they have an agreement for 'short rest' on the lodging turn. By the time they have been for fuel and wash plus prep time in the morning I assume the 'rest' will be circa 9 hours?
They do indeed. The agreement is 9 hours, I asked a driver this last week when he said he'd come up the night before
The unit stables in the station and no longer goes into depot for fuel, CET or water.
I don't know the details but I do know that a late arrival into Inverness can result in a late departure the following morning so that the driver has the correct rest time.
Presume the Northbound sleeper (to Inverness) did run via Blair Atholl this morning. But, how about last night's Southbound sleeper (from Inverness)? Did that run? If so, what route did it take between Inverness and Edinburgh?
Looks to have ran, likely via Elgin and Aberdeen aswell as Inverkeithing and Dundee.
Wow. I guess that's an advantage of them being bi-modes: they don't have to do 1,100+ miles without fuelling.
Normally works Harrogate to Kings Cross then to Inverness’s stables over night, then Inverness London, then I think it’s the Hull or Harrogate service works.
Thanks. The majority of that will be under the wires though. Would be struggling to do that with a HST, methinks.
Oh yes, definitely. But water, CET etc is still an issue as it operates for 2 full daysThanks. The majority of that will be under the wires though. Would be struggling to do that with a HST, methinks.
It was the Hull working in HST days, so I doubt that's changed.
For water, there are various stations where it can be tanked.
