When did the last passenger steam Scotrail services stop?

[Gadget88]

With the introduction of special steam services I seen an article which said stream ran until 14 years ago I think? Did they really run passenger stream services right up until 2000? If so that's staggering. I know they still run those old trains on the Fife Circle did they have steam ones before that?

Am I right in thinking the same diesel locomotives run at the Boness railway as run on the Fife circle today? I know the carriages at the Boness one are maybe a decade behind those old Virgin ones they use today on the Fife circle though?

 

[yorkie]

With the introduction of special steam services I seen an article which said stream ran until 14 years ago I think?

The Jacobite steam service has been operating regularly since 1984, and there will have been other services running over the years in Scotland...

Did they really run passenger stream services right up until 2000? If so that's staggering.

I don't think Scotrail would have run any steam trains; any that ran in 2000 would have been operated by West Coast probably, as today. Perhaps Scotrail promoted some of West Coast's steam services in 2000? Without knowing what is being referred to it's hard to say!

I know they still run those old trains on the Fife Circle did they have steam ones before that?

They do indeed lease a train from West Coast Railways for use on the Fife Circle, but I am unsure what the question is. The Fife Circle isn't for tourists but for commuters, so it's quite a different market.

Am I right in thinking the same diesel locomotives run at the Boness railway as run on the Fife circle today?

That's not the case; the Fife Circle trains are run by modern Class 67 locomotives (diagrams here). It will be many years before a Class 67 is preserved.

I know the carriages at the Boness one are maybe a decade behind those old Virgin ones they use today on the Fife circle though?

The Bo'ness stock ranges in age; a list is here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo'ness_and_Kinneil_Railway. Most of their stock appears to be Mk1s, which will pre-date West Coast Railway's Mk2s (which were, as you say, previously on lease to Virgin Trains)

I'm unsure of the exact details of the coaches used on the Fife Circle, but I am sure someone will know.

 

[sprinterguy]

I don't think Scotrail would have run any steam trains; any that ran in 2000 would have been operated by West Coast probably, as today. Perhaps Scotrail promoted some of West Coast's steam services in 2000? Without knowing what is being referred to it's hard to say!

In 2001 (and possibly also in 1999?) Scotrail arranged a plandampf on the West Highland line in conjunction with Highland Railway Heritage, where a steam loco took over the Fort William to Mallaig portion of a regular 156 diagram:
http://www.highlandrail.com/HISTORY.htm

That is probably where Gadget88s' source is getting confused: The last regular, main line steam workings in Scotland finished in around April 1967.
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I know they still run those old trains on the Fife Circle did they have steam ones before that?

The Fife Circle loco-hauled service was only introduced in 2008 to provide additional capacity. Prior to that, it was worked by a mix of Scotrails DMUs.

 

[Strathclyder]

I'm unsure of the exact details of the coaches used on the Fife Circle, but I am sure someone will know.

They are Rivera owned ex-Virgin Mk2s. Formerly, EWS examples were used, but these were in a appalling state (holes in the bodywork, peeling paintwork, corroded window frames etc). They failed an inspection/audit sometime this year, so the ex-Virgin examples were brought in to replace them.

 

[scotsman]

They are Rivera owned ex-Virgin Mk2s. Formerly, EWS examples were used, but these were in a appalling state (holes in the bodywork, peeling paintwork corroded window frames etc). They failed an inspection/audit sometime this year, so the ex-Virgin examples were brought in to replace them.

Gone back to DB stock. Not sure how long 'til this batch get red carded as well.

 

[Strathclyder]

Gone back to DB stock. Not sure how long 'til this batch get red carded as well.

Is it the same batch or a different one?

 

[higthomas]

Have their been any regular timetabled steam-hauled trains on which standard National Rail tickets are valid since the sixties, perhaps as some kind of tourist exercise?

 

[sprinterguy]

Have their been any regular timetabled steam-hauled trains on which standard National Rail tickets are valid since the sixties, perhaps as some kind of tourist exercise?

Yes, as I mentioned in post 3, on the Mallaig extension in 2001 although only for one day:

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t01/t1002a.htm

 

[QJ]

Originally Posted by higthomas
Have their been any regular timetabled steam-hauled trains on which standard National Rail tickets are valid since the sixties, perhaps as some kind of tourist exercise?

The once regular pre ERTMS steam hauled excursions on the Cambrian Coast also had an element of this. The morning departure from Machynlleth to Aberystwyth took the path of a service train. Not realising this I bought a ticket when I could have travelled for free.

The VofR was BR operated for many years after standard gauge steam hauled services ceased.

There have been instances where, because of service disruption, passengers with national rail tickets for the stations the charter train was running between were conveyed without additional charge (London to Kent during a snow storm comes to mind as does a run behind Clan Line between Yeovil and Salisbury though I don't recall the exact dates).