Flying Scotsman

Thanks for this. You live and learn.

 

Fair dinkums on RTC for keeping the show running. Don't know about anywhere else but it is /very/ wet here in central Fife. The stream down the back of work is up and rising. Reports that a months worth of rain is to drop in 24 hours. Which is an uptick from the month of rain in 4 hours we got in Chicago.

 

Just as wet down at the bridges Paul, before we even consider the water in the Forth.

Looks like Scotsman will be stuck behind a stopper, which is already losing time due to the blanket 40mph ESR across Scotland. Common sense may have to kick in and terminate the tour at Dundee, as I cannot see how they'll be in Aberdeen within any decent time to turn the engine and return South.

 

Isn't it working the return only? The times have been kept somewhat quiet so far but can see it on RTT now and it's due through Kirkcaldy and losing time. Hopefully it doesn't lose too much time on the outward. These things can't be helped but it's how theyre handled. Credit to RTC for keeping the show rolling, who knew the Scotsman Curse extended to weather?

 

Definitely working the Northbound.

Original plan today was diesel hauled to Inverness, where 60103 would then haul the return. On the basis that Network Rail advised WCRC that they would be closing the Highland Mainline on Saturday, 60103 did it's booked move to Inverness yesterday but merely for servicing and turning on the triangle. It then ran to Joppa yesterday evening, now at the head of the tour which has been rescheduled for Aberdeen.

 

Ah I missed that detail. It'll be at least an hour down at Perth at this rate. 30 late through Kirkcaldy.

 

Sassenach here. Can the loco be turned at Dundee if necessary?

 

No. In the olden days the train would probably get caped at Perth and the loco turned on the Perth turntable. There are no turning facilities at Perth or Dundee anymore and the next turning facility north of Thornton is Aberdeen.

 

Any idea what has happened to the return working?
Last reported Hilton Jn
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:00719/2023-10-07/detailed

As it's running VSTP I guess it's diverted via Ladybank and Kirkaldy. Just being interested or is it grounds to get a conspiracy theory started?

Cheers, Neil

 

Ran via Ladybank, made a nice noise climing out from Inverkeithing tunnel on it's way up the hill to the bridge.

 

Chat over on Scot-rail suggested that there had been a dearth of traffic through Gleneagles. Credit to RTC and Scotsman's crew for keeping the show rolling in what sounds like a challenging day. Hopefully today's Fife circle runs are easier going.

Edit: spoke too soon, 68 down out on the first run. Looks like some issues around Craigentinny. I feel for the RTCs frontline staff.

 

A photograph from Network Rail showing the state of play at Delmuir twin tunnels yesterday:

 

Fortunately Dalmuir is the other side of Glasgow. RTC saying a points issue unrelated to the weather.

 

We were notified at Dundee on the return that we would be the first train of the day over the Gleneagles route and therefore would have to prove the length of the line at caution. The driver was understandably not happy to do this in the dark from a steam loco with a passenger train attached. It was mooted that the diesel on the rear comes on the front of the A3 to provide the driver with an easier cab to see from, but this would have deprived the train of heat on what was a wet and cold night. In the end it was agreed that we would return by way of Ladybank instead. Unfortunately the only trains reaching Perth yesterday from the south were using this single line route from Fife so we had to wait for half an hour or so at Perth to get a path over it. Here it is standing in the pouring rain waiting to proceed.



Today when a light engine was sent over the Gleneagles line in daylight to prove the route it seems to have come across a significant washout somewhere north of Gleneagles

Peter

 

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailSCOT/status/1711004304729878821?t=-nVj01DVfWRQK7g5nCYWXQ&s=19

 

Cripes!

Tom

 

Why does my mind turn to Glanrhyd, with the words "lucky escape" coming close behind?

 

Absolute madness to even suggest inspecting the line at night, in a storm, with a steam loco on a passenger train. Even walking pace in daylight must've been a bit worrying.