Euston-Inverness Sleeper - 1980's

[bigmacca1]

Having travelled on this train in the 1980's i was intrigued as to the route north of Carstairs.
Am I right to assume that the train diverted right at Law Junction to access Mossend Yard (where the Class 86 or Class 87) was replaced by a Class 47?
Also ,would the driver have changed at Mossend or continued with the new traction and for how far?
In addition, given that the train ran via Stirling and ultimately, Perth (around 04:00 from memory) would that have been via Garnqueen Junction and Cumbernauld or the circuitous route via Springburn and Lenzie - I cannot see if there is northbound access to the Springburn line on my Rail Atlas.

Why was the change made to re-route the train via Edinburgh?

 

[Mike395]

I would imagine (although don't know for sure) that the change was for practical reasons with regards to the shunting around of different portions - it's probably seen as much safer to do this at a large platformed station.

 

[Eagle]

Also of course the Fort William portion now picks up passengers at Edinburgh (once they've added the seated coaches after the other two portions are gone).

 

[heart-of-wessex]

The Fort William used to also run on the Inverness Sleeper to Mossend for 2 loco changes to Glasgow QS via Eastfields, and then continued with another loco as the 06xx Glasgow QS - Fort William 'day' service. Haven't got the 1981 TT to hand but it was 06 something. I believe it avoided Glasgow on the return though

 

[bigmacca1]

Hi
The train I was on didn't go via Glasgow; there was a separate - following - sleeper for Fort William. On one occasion I returned on the 'day train' - the Royal Highlander - and that also 'enjoyed' a loco change at Mossend, having travelled via Perth and Stirling.

I can understand the Fort William sleeper going via the route through GQS but the current necessity to trail via Edinburgh instead of the more direct north-east route via Stirling must add much 'dead' mileage to the journey.

I'm sure there must be some former BR / Scotrail drivers who can clarify the 1980's scenario.

 

[Bevan Price]

I think the diversion via Edinburgh may have started after the withdrawal of the Kings Cross - Scotland sleeper services.

From the 1984/85 timetable, northbound sleeper services to Scotland were:
20:55 (Summer only) Euston - Inverness (called at Motherwell)
21:00 (Summer only) Euston - Stranraer (via Dumfries & Ayr)
21:00 (Winter) Euston - Inverness & Stranraer (called at Motherwell)
22:10 (all year) Euston - Fort William & Inverness
22:40 (all year) Euston - Perth & Glasgow Central
23:30 Euston - Glasgow Central

20:25 Kings Cross - Aberdeen
22:15 Kings Cross - Aberdeen
23:20 Kings Cross - Edinburgh
00:05 Kings Cross - Edinburgh

21:34 Bristol (T.M.) - Glasgow Central & Edinburgh.

There were equivalent services southbound.