Scotland day trip

[ash39]

After being genuinely flattered by the positive comments about my first report on London last week, here is another from a day out in Scotland on Monday.

My young persons railcard expires this Saturday, hence be cramming in these last minute cheap trips! I split this journey up into sections to give me flexibility and allow me to do to a few places in one day. My first section was a York-Glasgow, the cheapest being a very early departure via the WCML with 3 changes. When you can travel direct with XC I doubt this would appeal to most people, but I snapped it up, especially at under £30 in first class!


York Station 0500 by Flash_3939, on Flickr

When I said early, check out the clock at the top of the steps! Happily, Costa opened at 0500 so I got myself a much needed caffeine boost just after this shot. I got up even earlier than I needed to, as I wanted to catch 90029 on the southbound sleeper but realtimetrains showed it as running 20 early so I wasn't going to make it, I decided to stay in bed another 20 minutes instead!

Was suprised to see quite a bit of freight through the station at this time of day, not many passengers but plenty of rail staff around the station preparing DMU's for the rush hour peak. Plenty of pacers, 150's and 158's ticking over.

66434 and 66432 top and tailed an intermodal train through Platform 5. Not sure if this is normally run this way, the rear loco was running but couldn't see if anyone was in it. Not a great photo as I had to pan it to get a clear shot due to the speed.


66434 and 66432 by Flash_3939, on Flickr

Also saw 91113 pass through with an unusual ECS from Heaton to Leeds, presumably due to a shortage of 225's at Leeds for the morning runs to London.


82224 by Flash_3939, on Flickr

Anyway, the 185 in the distance in the first photo was my unit for the first leg to Manchester Piccadilly. I had the first class compartment of 185145 to myself through to Huddersfield. By Manchester it was about quarter full. I had 20 minutes or so to make my way over to the through platforms for the connection to Preston. Took a few shots around the station whilst I was waiting.

185145 reverses back out of Piccadilly to Manchester Airport.


Manchester Piccadilly by Flash_3939, on Flickr

More 185's! I must have seen about half the fleet by lunchtime. Here is 148 and 125 with 142 on the rear. Partially hidden in the background is Beetham Tower, the tallest building in the UK outside of London (and one of my favourites due to it's unusual shape).


185148 and 185125/142 by Flash_3939, on Flickr

185114 was my unit to Preston. First class was about half full and I was pleasantly surprised to be offered a danish and a coffee after my ticket was checked. However I was then asked for it again a few minutes later by the guard, which was a bit frustrating but I can see why it's done. Here it is leaving Preston for Blackpool North.


185114 by Flash_3939, on Flickr

My Pendolino was delayed by around 10 minutes so I took a few shots whilst I waited. The end of the south facing platforms are great for viewing trains heading out/coming in on the four track straight section. This is one of my favourites of the day, I like 185101 as it took me to Manchester Airport back in January for my trip to NYC and it's also the first one (as I said in my London trip I'm weird about pioneer numbers!). I lost my note of the number of the second unit but I'm hoping someone can check for me.


185101 and by Flash_3939, on Flickr

Hadn't realised there was a thunderbird stabled at Preston. A shabby looking 57311.


57311 by Flash_3939, on Flickr

390138 showed up shortly after, just as 221107 left for Birmingham New Street.


221107 and 390138 by Flash_3939, on Flickr

I was offered countless coffees and teas in the two hours or so I was on board, and a toast run was done just after Lancaster. Not having travelled on Virgin first class before I wasn't sure how it worked. A lady then came and asked me for an order for breakfast, but unlike East Coast there was no menu out which is a bit of a shame. I took the full grill option which took around 20 minutes to arrive. Now I know it'd be quite difficult to organise but it would have been nice to have toast with the meal rather than separately. Maybe it could be served with a bit of toast in addition to the separate run. Also the staff weren't particularly friendly but they did their job effectively.

The breakfast itself was very nice, I don't often eat full English but it was up there with anything I've had at a B&B and was a good portion, not too small but not so big that you don't feel like getting off at the other end and just want to go to sleep instead!

Think the driver was trying to make up the time we lost, as we really gathered speed in a hurry following station stops, and being in a motor vehicle you could hear quite a noticeable whine from the traction motors under power. It wasn't unpleasant though and a big improvement on the 185's I'd been on earlier, which are really quite loud (more on this later).

The plan was to spend a bit of time in Glasgow, as I'd never been, grab some lunch and then move onto Edinburgh. Not much to note about Glasgow, it was OK but knowing how nice Edinburgh was I decided to head over pretty early and caught the 1230 from Glasgow Queen St to Edinburgh, formed of 170431. Always liked these units and wasn't disappointed, despite being almost full it felt comfortable. I don't like the new 'Saltire' livery compared to the old First Scotrail (and even the original ScotRail with the purple and green!) but it's better than the Maroon and Cream PTE ones!

At Edinburgh, I was keen to see which 90 was stabled in the bay platform. It was 90018, which made up for missing 029 earlier in the day as at least I got to see my first DBS one. I took more photos than strictly necessary, especially as the sun came out at just the right time. Almost needed my sunglasses...


90018 by Flash_3939, on Flickr


90018 by Flash_3939, on Flickr

I spent the next couple of hours around Edinburgh shopping and photographing architecture. Did get a few rail related shots along the way though...


Edinburgh Waverley by Flash_3939, on Flickr


Edinburgh Waverley by Flash_3939, on Flickr

Waverley seems to have been under redevelopment for the past decade or so. It's finally starting to show signs of completion with sections of glass roof now finished and scaffolding removed, the platforms are a lot lighter than I remember and it's lovely for photography when the sun comes out


170432 by Flash_3939, on Flickr

I then took a short hop to North Queensferry on 158728 (with 158734 on the front). It was my first time on a 158 for a few years and it brought back memories of trips across the Pennines in the days before 185's came along. Although the new units are very powerful and accelerate well, the 158's are definitely more comfortable and much, much quieter. It's as if the 185's have less soundproofing, but they actually weigh more, so I'm not sure why but the 158 is definitely a better train to be on for a longer journey.

I love the Forth Bridge and have only been once before, some 14 years ago. I walked down to the riverside through the village to get some bridge shots.


Forth Bridge by Flash_3939, on Flickr


Forth Road Bridge by Flash_3939, on Flickr

Also had to get some shots of trains coming off the bridge, including the 67 hauled evening train...


170472 by Flash_3939, on Flickr


67007 by Flash_3939, on Flickr

A filthy 67007 was doing the honours. Seems to have lost it's black numbers off the front leaving a white backing!

158703 took me back to Edinburgh shortly after. I was ready for some tea and my phone battery was flat so I went to Starbucks. I also used the time to delete some of my duplicate photos and 'non-keepers'. The camera I use produces massive files and it's easy to come back from a day out with 8gb of photos if you're not careful, so I try to keep numbers down.

I realised 67007 was also doing a return trip (not familiar with the timetable) so I got a few shots at Edinburgh too.


67007 by Flash_3939, on Flickr

Skyfall 91 seems to be following me everywhere at the moment, amazed to see it all still as one set!


91007 by Flash_3939, on Flickr

As night fell it produced a nice deep blue dusky sky so I couldn't resist another shot of 90018 before my train home.


90018 by Flash_3939, on Flickr

43312/314 arrived on the Aberdeen-Leeds service which would get me back to York at 0017 - a long day by anyones standards especially as I was up for work at 0600 the next day!

All the shots can be seen full size on my Flickr page, as usual.

 

[Searle]

You seem to be doing the same days as me at the moment (I went up to Birmingham on Monday), maybe one day I'll see you in York

A great report as before, the pictures out of Preston are stunning! Makes me want to upgrade from my small digital camera (if only I had the money)

 

[ash39]

You may, although it's one of those things isn't it? York is a great place for most people to photograph trains - nice station and a fair variety of traction, but because it's on my doorstep I don't tend to go unless something special is coming through!

It wouldn't make a great report either sadly. Drove to town, went to the station, saw some trains, went home. Haha!

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Thanks for posting, and another appreciation for the photos.

Not much to note about Glasgow, it was OK ...

Glasgow does have some architecture too you know, (and rather more of a railway network) so don't write it off completely.

 

[ash39]

Sorry I didn't mean to offend with that comment! What I meant was, as I had a lot to cram in I didn't get around much of it. I did deliberatley go to Edinburgh from Queen St so I got to see both stations. Central station is a really nice building itself but I didn't take any photos as I couldn't get through the ticket barriers.

 

[Aldaniti]

Enjoyed reading your report - and some very good photography too - I like the effect from panning the nightshots at York!

 

[telstarbox]

Great pics again - I particularly liked the shot of the two 185s. The building in the background is actually the recently completed "Student Castle"; Beetham Tower is further west by Deansgate station and looks like this.

 

[Lee_Again]

Another excellent report. Keep them coming. Where you off to next?

 

[ash39]

Great pics again - I particularly liked the shot of the two 185s. The building in the background is actually the recently completed "Student Castle"; Beetham Tower is further west by Deansgate station and looks like this.

Apologies, you're right. I thought that was beetham tower poking out of the top.

Lee, sadly probably not anywhere for a while now my railcard has expired! I want to do London again soon though.

 

[Crossover]

Great report and excellent photos too

For the record, the evening 67 loco hauled runs the whole Fife Circle, hence it being on the front on the return as well. It used to be an Edinburgh - Edinburgh service, but it now "terminates" at Glenrothes with Thornton, I believe to eliminate the "through train" rule on ticketing which ScotRail initially seemed to dispute!

 

[IanD]

Sounds like a good day out. Must get out more myself, only done 3 trips this year and 2 of them were to Margate!

 

[Techniquest]

Wow, some of those photos are stunning. Must be a really beasty camera you've got to do that! I severely doubt that photos like those at Preston are easily done without a massive lens!

 

[ash39]

It is quite a heavy beast, but it's only 200mm focal length. Those particular photos have been cropped quite a bit in photoshop as I couldn't zoom in any further, would like a teleconverter to extend the focal length but not got the cash at the moment.

All the photos were taken on a Canon 5D mkII with either a 24-105mm or 70-200mm. I also use a polarising filter to help manipulate reflections.

Thanks for looking!

 

[Techniquest]

All that sounds expensive! I've little choice but to make do with my Nikon Coolpix L25, not rich enough to get a DSLR or know how to use one. Mind you, my camera does a good job and a most welcome birthday present it has been

 

[RailProfileUK]

Hi Ash,

Some great pictures there... Specially the one of the Forth rail bridge! I spent many of night on the bridge replacing longatudinal timbers and the holding down straps when I worked out of Network Rails Inverkeithing depot and then I was then given the job to patrol it and sign it off on a Sunday night.

The bridge itself has alot of sentimental for me, as a kid I used to travel from Leuchars to Stockport changing at Preston every month on a intercity pulled by a class 47 to visit my poorly nan. When I knew I was close to the bridge I would run along the carridge then pull down window on the door and stick my head out looking all around at the structure (like we all probably did).

The first night I got onto the bridge during work I felt happy and sad at the same time as it brought back alot of memories. The novalty never wore off with the bridge and it never will for me, I spent months on there in the winter sometimes for 6 weeks of nights in a row in extreme weather. Any one who's worked on there will know the rain doesn't come down it blows across and there is very little shelter on there.

As for 67007, it does the rounds of the Fife circle in the morning and in the evening. It used to stable up in Miller Hill depot in the day time after the morning run. I used to see it coming off the Fife circle in a morning behind Inverkeithing depot (before the depot moved) and it would sit at a signal before just before inverkeithing juction for quite a while and eight out of ten times the driver would have to get out and call up the signal box before joining the ECML.

Good thread mate, and some quality pictures!

 

[ScottMathew]

Your pics are amongst the best I have ever seen; especially the pic of 91113, it's amazing! And the first pic of the platforms at York during night-time is stunning. Thanks for this thread, I really enjoyed very much !!

 

[ash39]

Hi Ash,

Some great pictures there... Specially the one of the Forth rail bridge! I spent many of night on the bridge replacing longatudinal timbers and the holding down straps when I worked out of Network Rails Inverkeithing depot and then I was then given the job to patrol it and sign it off on a Sunday night.

The bridge itself has alot of sentimental for me, as a kid I used to travel from Leuchars to Stockport changing at Preston every month on a intercity pulled by a class 47 to visit my poorly nan. When I knew I was close to the bridge I would run along the carridge then pull down window on the door and stick my head out looking all around at the structure (like we all probably did).

The first night I got onto the bridge during work I felt happy and sad at the same time as it brought back alot of memories. The novalty never wore off with the bridge and it never will for me, I spent months on there in the winter sometimes for 6 weeks of nights in a row in extreme weather. Any one who's worked on there will know the rain doesn't come down it blows across and there is very little shelter on there.

As for 67007, it does the rounds of the Fife circle in the morning and in the evening. It used to stable up in Miller Hill depot in the day time after the morning run. I used to see it coming off the Fife circle in a morning behind Inverkeithing depot (before the depot moved) and it would sit at a signal before just before inverkeithing juction for quite a while and eight out of ten times the driver would have to get out and call up the signal box before joining the ECML.

Good thread mate, and some quality pictures!

Fascinating stories and thanks for sharing, I can imagine it being bloody terrifying standing on that bridge in the middle of the night in the wind and rain but quite an experience and something not to forget. It has sentimental value to me too as my late mum bought me a video (VHS!) of trains in Scotland around 1998. I saw the bridge on the video for the first time and obviously was impressed by it. We ended up going to Edinburgh for the day and went up to Queensferry to do a trip over the bridge. The photos in this thread are the first time I've been back.

 

[RailProfileUK]

Fascinating stories and thanks for sharing, I can imagine it being bloody terrifying standing on that bridge in the middle of the night in the wind and rain but quite an experience and something not to forget. It has sentimental value to me too as my late mum bought me a video (VHS!) of trains in Scotland around 1998. I saw the bridge on the video for the first time and obviously was impressed by it. We ended up going to Edinburgh for the day and went up to Queensferry to do a trip over the bridge. The photos in this thread are the first time I've been back.

Good stuff mate! Keep up the pic's... I also like the pictures of the 91 one of my favourite loco's, its still a good looking machine for this day and age.