Borders Railway Steam Services - Autumn 2015

The Scottish A4 through the Borders 7 October 2015

Railway history was made in Scotland last month with the reopening of 30 miles of the old Waverley route south of Edinburgh. The special train which carried the Queen for the official opening ceremony was hauled by Gresley A4 4-6-2 No 60009 Union of South Africa. This was bought out of service on the Glasgow - Aberdeen expresses in the 1960s by a Scottish famer John Cameron, who still operates it today. He looked as pleased as Punch when talking to the Queen on opening day.

Number 9 has also operated almost all the special steam charters along the line during September and October, hauling ten maroon Mark 1s kept immaculate inside and out by the SRPS, with a Class 67 diesel at the rear. This was necessary because of the absence of a turning loop at the Tweedbank terminus. Sadly took the performance interest out of the long 1 in 70 climb from Hardengreen to Falahill, because it was providing some assistance.

We made a smart getaway from Edinburgh Waverley, touching 47 at Meadowbank before turning south at Portobello Junction and onto a new stretch of line beyond Newcraighall which avoids mining subsidence in the Millerhill area. We passed Shawfair at 35 and Eskbank at 36, beginning the 1 in 70 climb at Hardengreen at 34. We continued in the low 30s most of the way up, dropping to 27 before Gorebridge then accelerating past Tynehead (37) to breast Falahill at 39. I was near the diesel and heard little work, but these speeds were inferior to the two other logs I have seen of earlier steam runs in this series.

There is little to say of the downhill run into the Tweedbank terminus. Steam is restricted to 55 on the whole line (85 for diesel) but we were nowhere near even the lower figure. A final spurt to 48 and 49 between Stow and Galashiels was our maximum for the run. I did not time the return run as it was diesel-hauled, with a maximum speed limit of 45 because of the steam engine being in reverse. It was a good day out and we were relieved that the promise of heavy rain all day was unfulfilled until we got back to Edinburgh. If I go again next year I shall enjoy one of the lavish afternoon teas we saw set out for first class passengers!

12 photos are at http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/f731739511

Peter, on a sunny Manchester morning
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com

 

Good Lord, have they reopened the Border Counties Railway too ?

Nick M.

 

So sorry, I have mixed up my Tweed and my Tyne! I confirm that the terminus of the new Border railway is Tweedbank, and have amended my website accordingly! Unfortunately I cannot seem to edit Post 121.

It is good to know that at least one person reads my stuff carefully!

Peter in a still-sunny Manchester
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/f731739511

 

Thanks Al, you're a star

Peter

 

I believe the 45mph restriction when running tender first only applies if the engine is actually leading / working. If it is being 'dragged' so to speak by a diesel - as was the case here (or even by another steam loco working boiler first) then the speed can be higher

 

Most probably my last photograph of the services. I haven't been down much, put off really at the lack of interesting exhaust from the A4! So here's my shot today from Cowbraehill, a different angle from the usual which is done by at least 5 photters on each trip....

Gresley A4 No. 60009 'Union Of South Africa' - Cowbraehill by Jonathon Gourlay Photography, on Flickr

Bit of an anti-climax from my beginning of the week photos from The Jacobite!

 

It's a sign of a properly designed thoroughbred

 

Thanks for such a nice report.

 

Oh, I'm not so sure about that! (apologies for odd background, it's a scan of a print)

 

Battledown flyover isn't that odd a background! ;-)

Was that on a Southampton Docks VSOE? I was on the support crew for it, we had great fun the night before putting SR discs on the front. We even thought about getting extensions made to allow all 6 different disc positions to be catered for. At least the disc codes would've been correct then!

 

And thank YOU for the compliment, Yeti. Not really owl country but very nice allthe same.

It was good to meet your brother on a recent Tornado run, and I always enjoy reading of your exploits out of Waterloo in the sixties

Peter, on a grey Manchester morning
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/f731739511

 

Yes indeed - my picture was taken a long way from the Scottish borders at Battledown flyover - a VSOE working to Southampton Docks on 15th February 2003. I saw No 9 actually running with SR discs on a Surrey Hills trip, possibly later that same year, so you did have your bit of fun after all! It was great to see No. 9 in this neck of the woods when she was SVR-based. Still, although an A1 or an A3 is more historically appropriate for the old Waverley route, an A4 certainly looks the part up there. Thanks to all those who have posted their pictures and videos.

 

Some steam...



A4 issue by newshot., on Flickr

 

Sounds like the sh*t has hit the...
...track! http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...e-to-clean-steam-train-toilet-waste-1-3922992

Will

 

No different to all the heritage railways - perhaps PWay volunteers can step more lightly.

 

On both the Borders trips and the Jacobites, the toilets are locked out of use at the start and end of the journeys now, so the toilets can't be used in the stations. Whether retention tanks can be fitted easily enough, and at a reasonable price, to Mk 1 and Mk 2 stock, remains to be seen.