Caroline Inspection Saloon

Scotrail344Lad said:

Hello

I wasn't sure if there was a thread for this already but I couldn't find one.

To start, does anyone know what Caroline's Location Is At The Moment

Secondly, when was the last time it went to Scotland and also last time to Bathgate

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mcmad said:

Goes to Scotland at least once a year, last time at Bathgate was couple of years ago passing en route to Edinburgh. Will be back at the end of the month and may pass Bathgate then.

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Tw99 said:

I'd be interested to know what is it actually used for ? Senior management and/or owner's jollies is sort of my impression ?

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Tw99 said:

I'd be interested to know what is it actually used for ? Senior management and/or owner's jollies is sort of my impression ?

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DarloRich said:

It is an inspection saloon. It is for inspecting things. Often looking at things like structures, signals, track loayout etc allowing visually assessment of asset condition, performance and defects

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ainsworth74 said:

And jollies though to be fair as well. Certainly on the trip I was lucky enough to have on Caroline it wasn't "inspecting" very much other than a few required sidings and a bit of rare (to passengers) track whilst enjoying the 37 thrash and whilst I can't be sure that maybe the other end of the vehicle had some inspections going on it looked and sounded rather more like the other end of the vehicle was the retirement party for a very long serving Local Operations Manager...

Not to say that it doesn't also play an important role in doing maintenance and inspection but it certainly doesn't seem to only do that

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cav1975 said:

It was at Derby earlier today.

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cav1975 said:

It was at Derby earlier today.

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Woolly said:

Going back to 1981 in pre Caroline days and in original condition, it transported Prince Charles and Diana after their wedding and in 1982 took Pope John Paul II around on his visit to Britain.

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D6130 said:

It did indeed....but to be pedantic, it was not in it's original condition then either. It was originally converted from a Hastings Line type 6B DEMU (Class 203) buffet car.

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trainmania100 said:

People above say it's used for track inspections - is it?

It doesn't appear to have any form of equipment on the front and the only times I've seen it have been private parties. I can't see how it can be used in any detail to visually inspect track at the speed it runs so I'm not sure why it's emphasised it's used for track inspection...

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trainmania100 said:

People above say it's used for track inspections - is it?

It doesn't appear to have any form of equipment on the front and the only times I've seen it have been private parties. I can't see how it can be used in any detail to visually inspect track at the speed it runs so I'm not sure why it's emphasised it's used for track inspection...

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D6130 said:

It did indeed....but to be pedantic, it was not in it's original condition then either. It was originally converted from a Hastings Line type 6B DEMU (Class 203) buffet car.

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Dfatcontroller said:

Due to pass through Bathgate at 14:12 tomorrow (30/06/26).

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:A24764/2026-06-30/detailed

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ainsworth74 said:

I believe it's official use is visual inspections of infrastructure rather than the physical track itself. So what's the interior of that tunnel look like (it's got a large steerable headlight fitted)? How is the signal sighting on approach to this junction? What's going on with the vegetation in this area? Etc etc.

Though I do agree, I think it's primary use really is for jollies generally speaking but I can see how it still has a role to play from time to time.

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