Rail Traffic on the A9 today

[Cheshire Scot]

Driving south on the A9 today on the Pitlochry to Ballinluig dual carriageway section we overtook a low loader with a freight wagon on it - looked like a cement wagon presumably unfit to return south on the return empties.

A few miles further south and now on single carriageway we met a northbound railway carriage on the back of a low loader. Firm identification difficult with a passing speed of around 100mph - me at 50 to 60mph, the lorry (with escort) I assume at 40 to 50 mph - on the adjacent lane, but from that brief viewing I would have said Caley Sleeper livery with the word Generator on the side. Is this sleepers solution to avoid of last years very expensive burst pipe scenario when the sleepers spent three frostynights unheated in Millburn Yard resulting i the cancellation of the first post Christmas southbound sleeper from Inverness and consequent expensive repairs to plumbing carppets and bedding?

I assume Scotrail must have first bid on Inverness shore supplies for overnight stabling.

 

[scotraildriver]

Driving south on the A9 today on the Pitlochry to Ballinluig dual carriageway section we overtook a low loader with a freight wagon on it - looked like a cement wagon presumably unfit to return south on the return empties.

A few miles further south and now on single carriageway we met a northbound railway carriage on the back of a low loader. Firm identification difficult with a passing speed of around 100mph - me at 50 to 60mph, the lorry (with escort) I assume at 40 to 50 mph - on the adjacent lane, but from that brief viewing I would have said Caley Sleeper livery with the word Generator on the side. Is this sleepers solution to avoid of last years very expensive burst pipe scenario when the sleepers spent three frostynights unheated in Millburn Yard resulting i the cancellation of the first post Christmas southbound sleeper from Inverness and consequent expensive repairs to plumbing carppets and bedding?

I assume Scotrail must have first bid on Inverness shore supplies for overnight stabling.

One of the ex Nightstar MK3 generator coaches has appeared at Inverness in Caledonian Sleeper livery. Purpose unknown.

 

[43096]

One of the ex Nightstar MK3 generator coaches has appeared at Inverness in Caledonian Sleeper livery. Purpose unknown.

Shore supply for the Caledonian Sleeper stock?

 

[fgwrich]

One of the ex Nightstar MK3 generator coaches has appeared at Inverness in Caledonian Sleeper livery. Purpose unknown.

It's not quite Caledonian Sleeper livery but it is close. It's Mk3 96371 owned by Eastern Rail Services which has been overhauled and repainted into CS Midnight Teal (and branded Eastern Rail Services / Generator Car with a big plug on the side) - and will be providing ETS duties up there.

 

[scotraildriver]

Shore supply for the Caledonian Sleeper stock?

Maybe, but there are already shore supplies at Inverness.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Maybe, but there are already shore supplies at Inverness.

Which Caley Sleeper were unable to or chose not to use during the 2021 Christmas layover with significant consequenses.

 

[43096]

Maybe, but there are already shore supplies at Inverness.

Have they worked out that it's cheaper to run a generator van than be charged current rates for the shore supply?

 

[Bill57p9]

It's not quite Caledonian Sleeper livery but it is close. It's Mk3 96371 owned by Eastern Rail Services which has been overhauled and repainted into CS Midnight Teal (and branded Eastern Rail Services / Generator Car with a big plug on the side) - and will be providing ETS duties up there.

Have Dellner couplers been fitted?

 

[John Bishop]

Driving south on the A9 today on the Pitlochry to Ballinluig dual carriageway section we overtook a low loader with a freight wagon on it - looked like a cement wagon presumably unfit to return south on the return empties.

A few miles further south and now on single carriageway we met a northbound railway carriage on the back of a low loader. Firm identification difficult with a passing speed of around 100mph - me at 50 to 60mph, the lorry (with escort) I assume at 40 to 50 mph - on the adjacent lane, but from that brief viewing I would have said Caley Sleeper livery with the word Generator on the side. Is this sleepers solution to avoid of last years very expensive burst pipe scenario when the sleepers spent three frostynights unheated in Millburn Yard resulting i the cancellation of the first post Christmas southbound sleeper from Inverness and consequent expensive repairs to plumbing carppets and bedding?

I assume Scotrail must have first bid on Inverness shore supplies for overnight stabling.

The wagon is an old PCA wagon from the Rio Tinto bulk flow at Fort William smelter. They’ve been stored there for yonks. Heading south to be scrapped.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

The wagon is an old PCA wagon from the Rio Tinto bulk flow at Fort William smelter. They’ve been stored there for yonks. Heading south to be scrapped.

Thanks for that, interesting it must have come via the A86 to reach the A9 rather than via the A82 then possibly A85/A84.