A murky afternoon in early February and my first railway photo of 2014 is on the card. 170412 heads for Edinburgh as 1L54 1434 off Dundee and the set wears the new ScotRail livery with small First Group branding. 5/2/2014
This is the first Linkswood working I was able to photograph this year. 56078 powers the usual 20 TTA tanks on 6N72 1448 WO Linkswood to Grangemouth empty aviation fuel tanks.
Colas bought several members of the withdrawn class 56 locos from DBS, overhauled them and put them to good work. 56078 is an excellent example of this policy. I have only one previous BR service photo of this loco taken on 7/3/1986 at York taking a dead 25037 to the station. 5/2/2014
A warm and sunny afternoon and the Linkswood tanks are running but for how much longer as RAF Leuchars is due to close as an RAF base during this year. But first is the train that runs ahead of it, 1L54 1434 off Dundee to Edinburgh. Here 170453 passes the down advanced starter as it drops down the 1 in 100 towards the station. 12/3/2014
The unit slows for its station stop passing the North British Railway built signalbox and behind the unit is the up home signal.
The departing shot of 170453 passing the up starter located away from the end of the island platform.
One of the last few remaining freight workings through Fife comes towards the station in wonderful sunlight with 56094 passing the down advanced starter with its rake of 20 empty TTA tanks.
56094 leads 6N72 1448 WO Linkswood to Grangemouth Refinery empty tanks with a clear road through the station.
The track that led into the RAF base can be seen heading into the undergrowth and passes in front of the 'box.
The train comes into the station and will pass below the footbridge. This was the first time of photographing this loco.
On walking back to the car the signalman pulled the down starter off so I waited for the train. 170411 gets away with 1L55 1400 off Edinburgh to Dundee. 12/3/2014
The prelude to the empty Linkswood tanks is service train 1L54, 1434 off Dundee to Edinburgh. 170412 comes over Lochmuir Summit and starts the descent of Lochmuir Bank. 19/3/2014
56078 is back on the Linkswood diagram and as it storms over the level track of Lochmuir Summit it passes a group of S&T men working on the signals at the top. 6N72 1448 Wednesdays Only Linkswood to Grangemouth Refinery is running out of time.
The train is on the drop now. At will turn right at Thornton and run to Dunfermline then take the Longannet branch to Alloa then Stirling and back to Grangemouth. There are not many of these trains left to run. 19/3/2014
Out again for the Linkswood tanks and this time I'm at Ladybank station. Work has been done clearing trees on the right of the shot and it has opened it up greatly. 56087 leans into the speed restricted curve which brings the line through a 90 degree east to south curve. 9/4/2014
Colas type 5 56087 has charge of 6N72 1448 WO Linkswood to Grangemouth empty fuel tanks. 9/4/2014
Major heritage traction now and National Railway Museum owned Deltic 55002 "The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry" passes over Sweetholme occupational crossing near Bow of Fife. 12/4/2014
A Deltic on the mainline is always worth a trip out for.
55002 has recently returned to the main line and is rostered to 1Z59 0624 York to Aberdeen The Deltic Aberdonian railtour.
Unlike the last Deltic through here 55022, or KOYLI as she is affectionately known as, is running on both powerplants. The tour will have a couple of hours in Aberdeen before returning home by the same route.
Later in the day and the tour is heading back to York as 1Z60 1544 off Aberdeen to York. Here it starts the descent of Lochmuir Bank.
The eleven mkI coaches are in maroon livery and it's a shame that 55002 is not in BR two tone green which is how I saw it on 31/10/1981 in Edinburgh in its last few months of BR service before being claimed for the Nation by the NRM.
A move to Dysart to wait for the tour which was put inside at Thornton to allow this train to overtake. 170420 passes by the site of the "Dubbie Shunt", the exchange sidings for the now long closed Francis Colliery, with 1B40 1524 Inverurie to Edinburgh service.
This is a scruffy location with wind blown rubbish caught in the trees to the left. The tour spent just a few minutes in the down loop at Thornton, enough for me to get ahead for another shot, and this isn't really a good one. 55022 approaches on the falling 1 in 114 gradient with a train in front of it which would be stopping at Kirkcaldy.
To the far right of the shot is the remains of the exchange sidings which are now well overgrown. 55022 comes slowly round the curve with the returning railtour to York. Hopefully it will get the chance to run and run fast once it gets onto the ECML after Edinburgh. I will be seeing this loco again in a few weeks time at the 2014 Swanage Diesel Gala! 12/4/2014
The first sign of spring on the railways in Scotland is the start of the Royal Scotsman season and the 2014 series of tours kicks off with the four night Classic tour. West Coast Railways provide the motive power and train crew and 37685 and 37516 lead 1H79 1342 Edinburgh to Keith seen here at Lumphinnans Junction, this is not the shot I actually wanted. 21/4/2014
The houses on the right in the distance are built on the formation of the line to Kinross and onto Perth.
Usually the Royal Scotsman would be hauled by either a class 47 or 57601 but Network Rail had changed the rules on the route availability for the classes and were banned from the Kyle of Lochalsh branch so two class 37 locos were used instead.
The wonderful late April sun shines down on the single line Newburgh branch from Ladybank to Hilton Junction. 170456 in the new ScotRail livery passes by Lindores Loch with 1B31 1253 Inverness to Edinburgh, what a lovely location.
Also wearing the new generic colour scheme is 158789 passing over bridge 11 with 1L05 1435 Edinburgh to Perth. The set looks smart in the new livery for ScotRail as a whole and not the franchise holder.
Bringing the lens right out to record the whole vista at this wonderful location by Lindores. The railway, once double track, skirts the western shore of Lindores Loch with its blue waters popular with fishermen.
Having spent some 40 minutes in the down loop at Thornton Junction to allow several trains to overtake, 37685 and 37516 continue their leisurely journey. With the previous sprinter clear of the section signal at Newburgh, the Royal Scotsman is allowed onto the branch at Ladybank.
The destination this evening is Keith and no doubt the passengers will have a distillery visit somewhere. All accommodation is on board the train and this tour will cost around £4000 a head, in 2023 it is now from £7,500. 21/4/2014
A week later and I'm back at Lumphinnans Junction to get the shot I really wanted the previous week. A long lens shot of 37685 with 37516 with the Royal Scotsman between Cowdenbeath North Junction, where the line to Kinross and Perth went north, and Lumphinnans Junction, where the Cowdenbeath cut off line and a colliery branch joined. 28/4/2014
This section of line has a 50mph speed limit due to mining subsidence. Although mining no longer takes place here or in Fife, its legacy remains. Like last week this is 1H79 1342 Edinburgh to Keith first leg of a four night Classic tour.
Moving to Thornton and the train is seen sitting in the down passenger loop for its booked 40 minute pathing stop. This allows several trains to overtake the train.
An unknown turbostar comes south with 1B31 1253 off Inverness to Edinburgh.
One of two trains booked to overtake the Royal Scotsman is 1S11 1000 Kings Cross to Aberdeen HST working. 43311 is the lead powercar passing by 37685 and 37516.
The East Coast operated service speeds on with Leuchars as its next stop. The line is carried on a high embankment climbing at 1 in 160 stiffening to 1 in 129 just by here.
On the back of the train from London is 43307.
The second train to pass the tour is 1L05 1435 Edinburgh to Perth and the unknown class 158 shoots past the two type 3 locos and their train. Both of these trains are booked over the Newburgh branch.
The sprinter set is now climbing at 1 in 126 for a short distance then drops down to Markinch before more climbing to Lochmuir summit.
The driver has had a break and no doubt a cup of tea in the train and now returns to his charge ready to get under way again.
Very slowly 37685 and 37516 start to lift the train out of the loop and onto the main line.
The pair power up and gather speed on the rising 1 in 126 gradient. It will follow the previous class 158 to Perth. 28/4/2014
A horrible murky afternoon at Bow of Fife level crossing and this was tipped as a special day, but not for 170429 working 1L55 1400 Edinburgh to Dundee. 30/4/2014
An up working approached the level crossing out of the gloom and 170401 forms 1L54 1434 Dundee to Edinburgh service. Why could this not be a class 27 on a set of mkI coaches.
Storming towards the crossing is 56094 with 6N72 1448 WO Linkswood to Grangemouth empty aviation fuel tanks.
