Night trains in bygone eras

[khib70]

Hi,
In 1968, while I was still at school, we used to travel quite often on the 1900 from Glasgow Queen St, to Edinburgh for the 2020 Edinburgh to Kings Cross on a Friday night. This train was normally a Toton Peak to Newcastle and a Deltic forward to Kings Cross. It had about 5 passenger coaches and 6 vans. It arrived in Kings Cross just before 0500 usually. We then spent the day in London and returned overnight on Saturday night from St. Pancras to Glasgow getting into Central about 0900 on Sunday morning. The good old days.

Travelled a few times on the 2020 Edinburgh-Kings Cross in the 60s and 70s. It wasn't a train for getting much sleep on due to frequent jolting starts and stops and bright station lighting. I remember it had a very long stop in Newcastle (presumably for the loco change you mention), and a refreshment trolley was always waiting on the platform. In fact, on several occasions I managed a pint in the station buffet!

 

[Bodiddly]

Does anyone remember the headcode and timings for the sleeper that departed Glasgow Central on a Saturday night bound for Plymouth around the late 80's?
I remember this was a particular favourite for English based Scottish bashers making their way home and was quite a lively train!
I vaguely remember the headcode starting with 1Vxx and the time of departure around 10pm.
Any info on traction,stock,timetabling and routing would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Darren R]

Does anyone remember the headcode and timings for the sleeper that departed Glasgow Central on a Saturday night bound for Plymouth around the late 80's?
I remember this was a particular favourite for English based Scottish bashers making their way home and was quite a lively train!
I vaguely remember the headcode starting with 1Vxx and the time of departure around 10pm.
Any info on traction,stock,timetabling and routing would be greatly appreciated.

I can't give any information on traction or headcodes, but the service I think you're remembering is the 2205 from Glasgow Central/2150 from Edinburgh (joining at Carstairs) Saturdays Only to Plymouth arriving 0957. After Carlisle it ran non-stop to Birmingham New Street (0518), Bristol Parkway, Temple Meads, Taunton, Tiverton Parkway, Exeter St David's and Newton Abbott. The train also conveyed sleeping cars from Edinburgh to Poole, although passengers from Glasgow to Poole were advised to take the 2210 and change at Carstairs.

During the same period there was also a 2150 FO "Holidaymaker Express" from Glasgow Central/Edinburgh to Paignton arriving 0717. The train was Second Class only and conveyed seated passengers only. I wonder how many people made that long overnight journey: what does one do in Paignton at 0717 on a Saturday morning? It would be too early by several hours to even check-in to the B&B.

 

[Taunton]

During the same period there was also a 2150 FO "Holidaymaker Express" from Glasgow Central/Edinburgh to Paignton arriving 0717. The train was Second Class only and conveyed seated passengers only. I wonder how many people made that long overnight journey: what does one do in Paignton at 0717 on a Saturday morning? It would be too early by several hours to even check-in to the B&B.

See the end of post #19!