Aberdonian 2021

I think this is worth it's own thread, rather than cluttering up the main Tornado tours thread.

I travelled on the trip from Edinburgh on Sat 31 July, and am booked on the Sat 21 Aug trip from Glasgow Central.

Times are up on RTT. It's 09.15 off Glasgow Central with further pick up at Stirling. Looks like longer water stop at Invergowrie, then same path as previously beyond Dundee. 17.53 return from Aberdeen.

Out
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91050/2021-08-21/detailed

Back
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91007/2021-08-21/detailed

Assuming all goes well a fair bit of new steam track for me.

 

Times for Thu 12 Aug 2021 from Edinburgh

Out https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91013/2021-08-12/detailed

Back
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91019/2021-08-12/detailed

 

I suppose I better put my shots up in this thread now. Continuing the trend of one sunny photograph per run this evening.

July 22nd at Gleneagles:
Peppercorn A1 No. 60163 'Tornado' - Gleneagles by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

July 31st near Muchalls:
Peppercorn A1 No. 60163 'Tornado' - Perthumie Bay by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

And tonight, just South of Hilton Junction:
Peppercorn A1 No, 60163 'Tornado' - Kirkton Of Mailer by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

 

Tornado being turned at Ferryhill depot on the 12th August service...

 

Yesterday was the anniversary of the Carmont landslip/derailment. I was travelling from Oban to Glasgow and a minute silence at 09.43 was mentioned on the station indicator boards. Was the event marked on the train?

I see RTT showing 89 mins from Aberdeen to Dundee, so similar to 31 July. What was the load yesterday?

 

Yes. Departure was due 0941 from Edinburgh, however all trains across the network in Scotland were given permission to stop at the nearest fixed signal to observe the minute silence if they chose, remain on a station platform or announce over the PA if either was unsuitable/unavailable.

Instead, the Aberdonian was delayed by 3 1/2 minutes in Platform 19 at Waverley, with the crew positioned in front of the cab observing the silence. This was followed by much tooting of the horns from various ScotRail units in the station and replied from the chime of the A1.

 

Today's trip from Glasgow Central departed on time. 60163 with load 11 and no diesel.

 

Glasgow Central to Stirling in 67m 31s with many checks. But 69 max after Larbert and 54 min at Plean was good going.

Very impressive climb out of Stirling. Max 50 before Bridge of Allan (48), 40/39 through Dunblane and minm 35 before Kinbuck. Mid-high seventies down to Perth.

Hilton Jn pass 33m 52s but checked by late running mini HST. Thro Perth in 40m 23s, 67 max after and arrived Invergowrie 82s 20s from Stirling.

Edit: 62m 20s Stirling - Invergowrie.

 

Dundee to Aberdeen in 104m 48s. Followed mini HST out, slipped a couple of times on the climb up to Camperdown, then took it easy anticipating signal check at Carnoustie. Golf tournament on, lots of tooting and waving.

HST lost time, delaying the Montrose - Inverurie local which follows it, inevitably checking us a few times in the process.

But some nice work on the banks in the drizzle. Only a 9 minute wait outside Aberdeen this time.

 

Aberdeen to Dundee 90m 32s. Nicely judged run, but caught up the Montrose stopper at Carmont and checked by mini HST ECS at Dundee.

 

Well that was a good day out.

Followed another mini HST from water stop at Dundee, and got a check at Errol while it was clearing section ahead. Not quite as energetic getting away from Perth as 3 weeks ago, max 69 after Hilton Jn. But opened up towards the top of the bank and a fine minimum of 45 mph at Gleneagles. Dundee - Stirling 65m 46s.

So 6 mins late leaving Stirling, largely made up until strange diversion via up loop at Coatbridge, foliage battering coaches from both sides.

Reached Rutherglen with Pendo drawing alongside, but it was 4 mins early so we were switched in front of it. Stirling - GLC 63m 03s.

 

Sounds as though these trips have settled down in to a good routine. The diesel must have been insurance on those early runs.

How many to go before the season ends? I must make an effort to go see!

EDIT, am i reading this right? Its only over the Bridge on the northbound run? Return is back via Perth?

Also, there is no Tay Bridge running anymore is there?

 

In order:

If I remember correctly, the diesel only ever accompanied the first 'Aberdonian' in March 2019. Since then, it's been the A1 solo.

2 more runs to go in the '21 season, Thursday 2nd and Saturday 111th September.

Correct, Northbound is over the Forth Bridge and through Ladybank while the return is via Gleneagles. I assume, not just an increase in interest for the enthusiast fraternity on board, but it gives far more flexibility to run back via Stirling than tackle the single line from Hilton to Ladybank. If I recall from 2019, there were various occasions where delays from further up the return run meant a delay to the railtour and/or regular timetabled services awaiting pathing onto the single line once thrown off their original paths. There was certainly one occasion where WCRC control requested to go ahead of a local Fife service from Inverkeithing to ensure passengers on board made the last Southbound cross border connection at Haymarket, due to such delays.

The last I heard, the Tay Bridge currently has severe weight restrictions on it in very recent years.

 

Many thanks, that certainly clarifies matters.

 

The runs behind 60009 in 2019 also included a diesel, but this kept itself out of proceedings aside from a nudge out of Aberdeen. This may have had a lot to do with number 9's condition at the end of her mainline ticket as anything else.

 

As far as I know the solutions to the shunting issues at Aberdeen were only found in time for the summer trains with Tornado. I don’t believe there was any need for the diesel to provide number 9 assistance.

 

What are the solutions to the shunting issues that weren't available earlier?

 

2nd September Timings
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91013/2021-09-02/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91019/2021-09-02/detailed
11th September Timings
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91105/2021-09-11/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91111/2021-09-11/detailed
Return journey on the 11th is via Fife due to engineering work near Linlithgow.

 

Not sure.

 

An addition to the Sectional Appendix that permitted propelling the stock for shunting purposes.

Peter