I started off at Inverkeithing and 158735 heads for Edinburgh with 2K04 0922 off Glenrothes with Thornton. The set passes the end of the up passenger loop.
The first up working from Aberdeen to London drops down from Dalgety Bay with 43257 leading with 43317 at the back.
This is a new location for me for rail photography although I have been here before for this historic day https://www.jules-merlin27.com/Aircraft/Concorde-Finale-at-Edinburgh-A/ 170394 passes the end of the runway at Edinburgh Airport at Turnhouse with 2K48 0952 Glenrothes with Thornton to Edinburgh Fife Circle working.
The north eastern end of the Pentland Hills form the far backdrop as 43313 approaches at speed with 1S03 0710 from Leeds to Aberdeen.
Turning round for the going away shot and rear powercar 43274. The train is passing the Runway 24 undershoot with its warning cables hanging from the wooden posts.
An unknown class 220 Voyager set heads south with 1V60 0820 Aberdeen to Penzance cross country service. I sooo want to do that trip!
Approaching from the south is sprinter pairing 158807 and 158727 employed on 1H11 1036 Edinburgh to Inverness.
The cables are connected to the signalling and if a plane catches them for whatever reason then all the signals go to red stopping the job. Meanwhile the job goes on and 158735 heads north on 2K09 1039 Edinburgh to Glenrothes with Thornton Fife Circle Inner. It passes 158731 coming south with 2G52 1023 Cowdenbeath to Edinburgh.
Another sprinter worked service is 1L58 0941 from Dundee to Edinburgh with 158729.
Heading north is 158871 rostered to the diagram that includes 2G65 1048 Edinburgh to Glenrothes with Thornton Fife Circle Outer. In the distance is the south tower of the Forth Road Bridge and two of the three towers of the new Queensferry Crossing.
Yet more sprinters on offer, 158738 leads an unidentified sister unit on a Fife Circle service, 2K21 1023 from Glenrothes with Thornton to Edinburgh.
And just for a change, a class 158 sprinter runs south for Edinburgh with 1L10 1002 off Perth.
Oh my word a turbostar to break up the constant stream of sprinters. 170394 works to Dundee with 1L61 1100 off Edinburgh.
Another class 170 unit is rostered to a longer distance working, 1B18 0907 Aberdeen to Edinburgh.
In between the trains I was also photographing the planes coming in and those photos can be found here.... https://www.jules-merlin27.com/Aircraft/Edinburgh-Airport-Arrivals/ I took the dogs out of the car for a run and a pee and I went down into the runway undershoot. A different perspective on the railway with 158704 working 2K69 1104 Edinburgh to Glenrothes with Thornton.
170407 comes over the tall embankment with a Fife Circle service 2G08 1038 from Glenrothes with Thornton to Edinburgh.
An unknown class 158 sprinter passes over the viaduct carrying the railway over the River Almond. The working is 2K50 1053 Glenrothes with Thornton to Edinburgh.
The set passes the end of the runway and the end of the Runway 24 approach lights.
This is NOT a composite image and I finally got the shot I really wanted. 170432 passes by with 1A30 1130 Edinburgh to Aberdeen train, while Boeing 737-783 aircraft LN-RPK operated by SAS airline is on short finals to land with Flight SK4601 from Oslo to Edinburgh. RESULT!!
170432 passes over the River Almond as thee now out of sight Boeing 737 has the reverse thrust wound up and brakes on hard as it slows on Runway 24.
A silhouette of 170410 passing the approach lights as it heads for Edinburgh with 1L60 1035 from Dundee.
Walking back to the car now that the poochies have stretched their legs and done other things that dogs do! 158786 runs for Edinburgh with 2G54 1123 from Cowdenbeath.
Back at the bridge on Lennymuir and turbostar 170407 heads north with 2G69 1148 from Edinburgh to Glenrothes with Thornton.
This turbostar has had a trip round the Fife Circle outer with a break at Glenrothes with Thornton. So it started from there at 1121 back to Edinburgh with headcode 2K24.
Looking north towards Dalmeny and the change in gradient is very noticeable, I must check what it is. 158870 approaches with a class 1 train from Perth to Edinburgh, 1L12, 1102 off.
Thank goodness for a total change from the relentless sprinter and turbostar units. Virgin Trains East Coast service 1E15 0952 off Aberdeen to Kings Cross comes by with 43308 leading and 43319 on the back of the nine mkIII coaches.
Griffin looks out of the window of car. If it was any lower he would try to get out. The front windows were right down so there was plenty of air.
Looking south the line is in a slight cutting and the view is restricted to head on. 158740 approaches the overbridge with its next train, 2K71 1210 Edinburgh to Glenrothes with Thornton via the Inner Circle, sometimes known as anti-clockwise.
A few years previously the Fife Circle trains ran right round as one working starting at either Edinburgh and terminating at Newcraighall or vice versa. Now they run from Edinburgh only and terminate then restart from Glenrothes with Thornton station as a new service. This is one such train, 2G10 1138 Glenrothes with Thornton to Edinburgh.
And one last shot at Turnhouse before moving on, and 170474 forming 5Y67 1214 Haymarket to Carmuirs East Junction to Haymarket Route Learning train. It has just passed a green signal with the next showing a double yellow aspect and the one after that a single yellow. Out of sight will be a red signal protecting Dalmeny Junction. The train will go inside the loop at Dalmeny I suspect.
I am now on a bridge over the line at Dalmeny just south of the station with the junction right behind me. 158704 passes the up and down loops with 2K26 1221 Glenrothes with Thornton to Edinburgh class 2 woking.
Turbostar 170452 runs south with a long distance ScotRail service, 1B52 0941 off Inverness to Edinburgh.
Griffin keeps an eye on me.
Looking south and 170455 heads for Dundee with 1L53 1300 off Edinburgh. The set is passing over the turnout for the single lead junction of the line to Winchburgh.
Up and down units pass at the south end of the loops. 158871 forms 2K73 1308 Edinburgh to Glenrothes with Thornton Inner Fife Circle, whilst 158867 works 2G12 1230 Glenrothes with Thornton to Edinburgh also on the inner circle.
Another pair of units pass each other by the road over bridge which carries the A90 dual carriageway into Edinburgh. Southbound 170407 runs 2K70 1252 Glenrothes with Thornton to Edinburgh and northbound is 158731 on 2G29 1318 Edinburgh to Cowdenbeath.
Approaching the junction at Dalmeny is 170452 with 1H13 1334 Edinburgh to Inverness. This was once a very busy junction with a branch to South Queensferry and onto Port Edgar running off to the left as we look, and also beyond the bridge was the line to Ratho via Kirkliston. Today just the Winchburgh line remains.
The 1045 off Inverness to Edinburgh is headcode 1B22 and this service is formed by two sprinter sets, 158716 and 157707.
Turbostars pass each other with 170453 heading for the Bridge working 1L55 1400 off Edinburgh for Dundee. Coming the other way is 170408 on 1B28 1133 from Inverurie to Edinburgh.
Something different as 170474 comes off the Winchburgh line with its route learning trip, 5Y67 1214 Haymarket to Carmuirs Eat Junction back to Haymarket. Being a supporter of the excellent Railcam I get access to the signalling diagrams which show train locations and headcodes so I knew this was going to happen.
Crossing the bridge as 170474 enters the up loop from the south having crossed over the running lines from the Winchburgh line. The train will reverse here.
As the crew change ends on 170474, 158738 passes with 2G02 1339 Cowdenbeath to Edinburgh. This was the only train booked to overtake 5Y67.
170407 forms 2K75 1408 Edinburgh to Glenrothes with Thornton while the crew on 170474 await the road.
Now all is set and 170474 departs the up loop for the run back to Haymarket shed.
This is the third time I have seen this unit. 15878+6 clatters over the pointwork of turnout to Winchburgh with 2G27 1427 Edinburgh to Cowdenbeath.
The last train of the day for me and 1S11 1100 off London Kings Cross to Aberdeen passes by with 43311 leading. It has the new VTEC livery which has earned the nickname of "Coke Tin". Who came up with that??
On the rear is 43302 and the set will pass through the station at Dalmeny without stopping. Time to let the dogs have a run before heading home. A great day and I got to grips with the new camera too.
