The Forth Bridge & Scottish Borders - August 2017

The SRPS are picking where Scotrail dropped out and are running trip over the Forth Bridge and around the Fife Circle before heading down the recently re-opened northern end of the Waverley Route to Tweedbank on Sundays throughout August.

Steam loco TBA, prices & booking available shortly at http://www.srps.org.uk/railtours/programme.htm

 

UK steam suggests 45407

 

Times for the ecs moves and the return from Tweedbank up on RTT, still no out times though.
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t17/t0806g.htm

 

Mr Riley has reported on the Works that 44871 will not be ready for the first one and 45407 will come down from Fort William. 44871 hopefully available for the second though.

 

The times for Linlithgow to Tweedbank:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54947/2017/08/06/advanced

 

times for 44871 move on RTT:-

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54956/2017/08/12/advanced

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54957/2017/08/12/advanced

 

The sunshine booked for yesterday's run appears to have come either 24 hours too early, or 24 hours too late!

However, the train looked very busy and there is limited availability on seating on the remaining trips. Certainly good news for the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, showing that a reworked journey can make all the difference in tapping in to the right markets!

Here's my brief 'yellow ball in the sky' appearance yesterday morning :

Black 5 No. 45407 - Forth Bridge by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

 

Heard there is an issue now with 44871 so I don't know where that leaves the tour now, diesel hauled ?

 

That's a huge shame if it's diesel hauled.
A couple of photos from last week with the Fusilier at the helm.


.

 

No. 45407 should be on her way down from Fort William as I type to fill in for her shedmate.

 

Great work to get 45407 in time for the tour, I'm sure the punters will have appreciated it.

My effort from Jamestown viaduct today as it leaves Fife.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/23006205@N07/36147899450/in/dateposted-friend/

Steven

 

My three shots from today. A sunny start was a joy, but sadly I was sidelined on my way to Gorebridge with a rear shunt incident!

However, found myself back out in the afternoon where the sunshine seemed to have disappeared, only to peek out at the very end of the journey.

Big thanks have to go to Ian Riley, the support crew and WCRC for mobilising No. 45407 at the eleventh hour. And a round of applause for all at SRPS Railtours for what looked like another sold out train!

Black 5 No. 45407 'The Lancashire Fusilier' - Halbeath Crossing by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

Black 5 No. 45407 - Burntisland by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

Black 5 No. 45407 - Winchburgh Chord by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

 

A fine performance put on today by fresh, out of the box, No. 44871. A real credit to @Ian Riley and his team, and nice to see the second Five back in action.

The tour saw sunshine for most of the day, albeit hazy at many moments, but sadly the Borders section once again avoided blue skies!

Black 5 No. 44871 - Forth Bridge by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

Black 5 No. 44871 - Bouprie Farm by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

Black 5 No. 44871 - Forth Bridge by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

Black 5 No. 44871 - Kirkliston by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

 

Loving your shots Jonny hope to see you up there next weekend

 

The last trip, and maybe one of the trickiest to catch in sun at the lineside!

Another full load, and No. 44871 handled it beautifully. Looking forward to 2018's programme. Well done to SRPS Railtours, West Coast and Riley & Sons!

Black 5 No. 44871 - Eskbank & Dalkeith Station by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

Black 5 No. 44871 - Burntisland by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

Black 5 No. 44871 - Jamestown by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr