221129 departs Ladybank with Virgin Cross Country's first Aberdeen departure. The unit is starting the climb of Falkland Road Bank with 1M54 0818 Aberdeen to Birmingham New Street. 17/3/06
The occasional GBRf mud oil train that runs between Harwich and Aberdeen only runs through Fife on the return empty run. Here 66715 is seen between Ladybank and Kings Kettle with 8 empty PCA tanks on the drawbar. The train ID is 6L59 0759 Q Aberdeen to Harwich.
A close look at 66715 which carries the name "Valour" in recognition for all railwaymen and women who gave their lives during both World Wars.
The morning had improved weather wise and in sun light 170427 accellerates away from Cupar with 1A39 1010 Edinburgh to Aberdeen.
43119 speeds towards Cupar passing the up home sempahore with 1E14 0955 Aberdeen to Kings Cross GNER service.
The first GNER train to reach Aberdeen starts its journey from Leeds at 0710 and has the headcode 1S03. Here 43114 leads the train through Cupar with the station just out of sight to the left. 17/3/06
A south bound GNER working climbs Falkland Road Bank with powercars 43039 leading and 43106 pushing from the rear. This is the second of the morning Aberdeen to Kings Cross workings, 1E14 0955 off the Granite City. 17/4/06
Ex Hull Trains turbostar 170393 comes up the bank with 1B30 1108 off Perth to Edinburgh
Ex Hull Trains turbostar 170393 climbs towards Falkland Road station up the bank of the same name with 1B30 1108 off Perth to Edinburgh via Newburgh.
My first sighting of the new Blue Pullman train as reinvented by FM Rail. 47703 and 47709 lifts the 11 coach train and class 47, 47712 on the rear, up Falkland Road Bank. The train is 1Z28 0820 Inverness to Kings Cross.
FM Rail have dedicated two class 47 locos to the train and painted them in the Nanking Blue livery. But 47712, on ther rear, developed a fault and 47703 is called into use. 47703 was a backup loco in case of problems.
47712 developed a fault on the previous morning prior to the run to Wick and Thurso, so spare loco 47703 was used in its place. The loco is still not working properly.
The Blue Pullman comes to a stand in Inverkeithing up passenger loop against signal EV426. It is booked here for about 30 minutes.
Jamestown Viaduct at Inverkeithing has been fully refurbished and repainted. An unknown class 170 unit crosses with an up class 2 local working from Cowdenbeath to Edinburgh, 2G06 1226 off Cowdenbeath.
Virgin 57304 crosses Jamestown Viaduct heading for Aberdeen from Glasgow Polmadie shed. A class 221 unit had failed at Aberdeen earlier in the day and this was heading to rescue it and bring it back to Craigentinny. It is running as 0Z30 1030 Polmadie to Aberdeen.
On time the train got the road from the loop and passed through Inverkeithing station and now it climbs at 1 in 70 over Jamestown Viaduct heading south and the Forth Bridge.
The train is returning to London on the last of a four day tour of the Far North and Kyle of Lochalsh branches.
47712 brings up the rear. I can't recall if the loco was ticking over or not. 17/4/06
The Virgin class 57 Thunderbird 57304 returns south with the errant Voyager 221130 in tow. I knew about this return working but left home slightly too late and only managed this grab shot. 17/4/2006
The mid morning sun at Bow of Fife level crossing suits the north bound train. 170419 has just crossed the back road with 1A55 0910 Edinburgh to Aberdeen service. 18/4/06
Superb mid morning light illuminates the side of 221107 as it nears Bow of Fife level crossing working 1M54 0818 Aberdeen to Birmingham New Street.
This train is booked to run ahead of working 1M54 and gets looped at Thornton to allow the Voyager to overtake. On this day 66710 brings its train, 6L59 0730 Aberdeen to Harwich empty mud oil tanks, south running behind the Voyager. 18/4/2006
Ladybank station is the setting for a variety of trains that will pass within a short period of time. First up is 170432 with 1H07 0840 Edinburgh to Inverness. The train is not booked to stop here and will take the Newburgh line to Perth. 12/5/06
Train ID 1E10 is the first GNER working off Aberdeen to London, departing at 0755. Here rear powercar 43105 passes through Ladybank.
This is a "Q" train which means it runs As Required by the customer. 66714 bowls through Ladybank on a dull day with 6L59 0730 off Aberdeen to Harwich empty mud oil tanks.
Another north bound turbostar comes through the junction station non stop with 1A55 0910 Edinburgh to Aberdeen.
Finally Virgin Cross Country service 1M54 0818 from Aberdeen to Birmingham New Street. Super Voyager 221105 comes round the sharp curve to run through the station without stopping. 12/5/06
A railtour operated by the SRPS approaches coming down Falkland Road Bank behind two tone green 47851 complete with its pre TOPS number D1648. The tour is an SRPS working from Linlithgow to the Kyle of Lochalsh and back, 1Z43 0817 from Linlithgow. 28/5/2006
On a morning of patchy sun, 47851 crosses over the bridge above the River Eden between Kings Kettle and Ladybank with 1Z43 0817 Linlithgow to the Kyle of Lochalsh.
The tour is powered by West Coast traction with the lead class 47 hired in and on the back is their own 47/0 47245 in West Coast Railways livery. The train is slowing for its Ladybank stop.
This is a new location for me, Kiersbeath with Crossgates in the background. A ScotRail turbostar heads for Cowdenbeath with 2G21 1647 off Edinburgh. 2/6/2006
Another unknown class 170 Turbostar passes Kiersbeath running a full Fife Circle service, 2K31 1613 Edinburgh to Edinburgh via the Circle anti clockwise.
This is a busy spot as it takes in the Fife Circle traffic and local services to and from Cowdenbeath. This unit was seen earlier going to Cowdenbeath, now it returns to Edinburgh running empty as 5G15 1736 Cowdenbeath to Edinburgh.
The village of Crossgates forms the backdrop to this empty stock working.
As the evening rush hour is gearing up and Fife Circle trains are strengthened. A class 158 and 170 combination head east past Kiersbeath with a clockwise or outer Fife Circle service, 2G13 1710 from and to Edinburgh.
A loaded coal train comes by with 66032 fronting 7B71 1714 Thornton to Millerhill. This coal comes from one of the several open cast pits in Central Fife. The land in the foreground was an open cast pit around 1996, it is now back as agricultural land. 2/6/2006
This coal may go to Cockenzie Power Station or it may go south to an English power station. I would suspect that this will be for Cockenzie as the hoppers do not have collars fitted to prevent the coal being blown away.
On the odd occasion a class 37 will turn up on the Linkswood tanks and for two trips on one week it was PURE tractor haulage. On the Monday 37417 climbs to Lochmuir Summit at New Inn with the empty tanks, 6D71 1225 off Linkswood to Mossend. 12/6/06
Another sunny day and I'm out again for some more loco hauled action. But first 170406 climbs to Lochmuir Summit from the south with 1A65 1310 Edinburgh to Aberdeen. 13/6/06
Class 170 units in National Express colours are getting thin on the ground as more of them are given new vinyls. 170421 is one such set and it works 1B28 1225 Aberdeen to Edinburgh see at the top of Lochmuir Bank.
Storming Lochmuir Bank behind type 4 traction is The Royal Scotsman. 47854 fronts 1H82 1424 off Edinburgh to Keith . This is the first leg of the Classic Tour.
West Coast Railways have had the haulage contract for two years now. Class 47s are used except on the Oban branch. 47854 sounded great as it came up the bank. 13/6/2006
Kirkfortharfues is the location, just to the north of Lochmuir Summit and 170416 starts the descent to Ladybank with 1A71 1110 Edinburgh to Aberdeen. 14/6/06
170432 approaches on the climb to Lochmuir Summit with a south bound working from Dyce for Aberdeen Airport. The train is 1B19 1008 off Dyce to Edinburgh.
The first of two trains booked for a pair of class 37s. 37401 and 37405 come up the 1 in 105 grade with 10 auto ballasters on the drawbar, two of which are still loaded. The train is 6K16 0500 Invergordon to Millerhill. It went north the previous day.
Ex Hull Trains turbostar 170394 is now used by ScotRail on its Inverness workings. The sets diagram includes train 1H11 1140 Edinburgh to Inverness.
20 minutes after the first pair of tractors passed, the second pair could be heard climbing the 1 in 105 of Falkland Road Bank with 6D71 1225 Linkswood to Mossend empty tanks. Fantastic! 14/6/06
An unknown class 221 Super Voyager gathers speed away from Wormit having crossed the Tay Bridge with its trip to Birmingham, 0820 off Aberdeen, 1M54. 26/6/06
