An unknown class 170 turbostar rumbles onto the North Viaduct of the Forth Bridge with 2K70 1251 Glenrothes with Thornton to Edinburgh class 2 local. 20/4/2015
Another class 2 local working has a class 158 sprinter on 2G29 1318 Edinburgh to Cowdenbeath. It is hard to identify the units from this location.
This unknown turbostar set is on a class 1 turn, 1A65 1320 Edinburgh to Aberdeen.
A piece of On Track Plant disturbs the peace as it comes over the North Viaduct high above North Queensferry. The headcode is not known but it came from Kilwinning and was going to Inverkeithing.
Sprinters meet on the north viaduct with the southbound pair forming 1B22 1045 Inverness to Edinburgh with the single unit running as 2K03 1340 Edinburgh to Glenrothes with Thornton.
The first Royal Scotsman tour of the 2015 season clears the north portal with GBRf 66732 providing the motive power. This i s 1H79 1343 Edinburgh to Keith on the first leg of a four night tour.
As a result of a serious SPAD on the Western Region with a steam hauled railtour, West Coast Railway Company had its operating licence revoked for a period of time and was unable to operate the Royal Scotsman. The company sub contracted GBRf to work the trains.
Therefore a , albeit very clean, freight loco hauls the most luxurious train in the UK network. The company hired in a class 55 Deltic to operate the train over the more restricted routes.
A quick drive to Lumphinnans and I get to the spot I want before the train. 66732 brings the train round past the former Cowdenbeath North Junction heading for Thornton North loop where it will go inside for a while.
The line is carried on an embankment to lift it clear of the marshy ground that for years was plagued by mining subsidence.
The train is timed at a leisurely pace so the 75mph speed limit of the class 66 will not be an issue. Most of the passengers would not be bothered about what is pulling them.
But the company DOES bother and insists that the loco hauling their train is painted in the same colour as the stock. Under the current circumstances I think an exception has been made. This section of line has a 40mph speed restriction due to previous subsidence and here it approaches the site of Lumphinnans Junction.
Moving on again and here 66732 is parked up in Thornton North loop as a few trains are booked to overtake it.
I move again to Welltree on Falkland Road Bank and this is one train booked to pass the Royal Scotsman. 1S11 is the 1000 Kings Cross departure for Aberdeen and powercars 43296 and 43307 bring the HST set down the bank.
The train descends the 1 in 92 gradient and reaches the point where the embankment goes into a cutting.
Turning round for the going away shot with the village of Kings Kettle ahead of the train.
One last shot of the HST which is in former East Coast Trains livery with Virgin stickers on the powercars.
On time 66732 brings the Royal Scotsman down Falkland Road Bank in glorious sunshine.
The train is booked over the Newburgh branch to Perth and onto Keith via Dundee and Aberdeen.
One last shot at Welltree and 170413 comes up the gradient with 1B31 1253 Inverness to Edinburgh. 20/4/2015.
A pair of DRS class 37's charge up Falkland Road Bank at Kirkfortharfeus with 6K37 0432 Nairn to Millerhill empty auto ballasters. 37607 and 37218 make the noise with 5 vehicles on the drawbar. 28/4/2015
I am out big cat hunting at Inverkeithing and 158728 passes over Jamestown Viaduct with 2K78 1651 Glenrothes with Thornton. The viewpoint is the top floor of the park and ride carpark. 14/5/2015
The first of the evening cats appear with 68002 emerging from the cutting and is about to run onto Jamestown Viaduct.
68002 carries the name "Intrepid" and the fleet are powered by a Caterpillar four stroke 3,800hp C175-16 powerplant. The loco has six mkII coaches in ScotRail livery on the drawbar and the service is 2G13 1708 Edinburgh to Glenrothes with Thornton.
The evening rush is starting to kick in and the units are strengthened to cope. 158731 and 158721 emerges from the cutting with 2K41 1711 Edinburgh to Kirkcaldy.
The pair cross over Jamestown Viaduct and will make its next stop at Inverkeithing shortly.
The next big cat is 68007 hauling 2L69 1720 Edinburgh to Cardenden. These locos were built in Spain by Vossloh and two are on hire to ScotRail, with a spare, and wear the ScotRail livery. Both sets operate morning and evening commuter services from and to Fife.
It is most strange why this service terminates at Cardenden and not Glenrothes with Thornton. After Cardenden the train returns to Motherwell ECS via Glenrothes with Thornton.
158733 climbs towards the Forth Bridge with 2T56 1724 Cowdenbeath to Newcraighall. The broom on the hill behind is in full bloom and the yellow is almost the same shade as the yellow on the cab. 14/5/2015
A southbound empty ballast working clears Ladybank station heading for Millerhill with 56078 and 56113 providing the power. The train started at Moy on the Highland Main Line at 0935, headcode being 6K10. 5/7/2015
The loaded working went north the previous day and I went out to see it but missed the photo by less than a minute, ah poop!!
The scream of the two Ruston Paxman 16RK3CT 3,250hp powerplants was wonderful to hear. Colas operate several heritage class locos 37, 47 and 56 as well as more modern class 66 and 70 locos. 5/7/2015
I have not done this shot since 1997 and it has changed somewhat. An unknown class 158 sprinter rumbles over the north viaduct with 2K09 1039 Edinburgh to Glenrothes with Thornton via the Fife Circle Inner line. 6/7/2015
A few minutes later come another class 2 for Glenrothes with Thornton formed by an unknown class 158 sprinter. This one is 2G65, 1047 off Edinburgh via the Fife Circle Outer route.
An up HST rattles the rafters as 431238 leads the diverted 1E13 0755 Inverness to Kings Cross service.
Due to engineering works at Winchburgh, this service which normally runs via Stirling was diverted through Fife via the Newburgh branch. The train is the same length as the north viaduct.
The rear powercar is 43277 and the set passes through the northern cantilever.
Class 170 turbostar 170425 passes high above North Queensferry with 1L61 1059 Edinburgh to Dundee. In the background work on the new Queensferry Crossing is ongoing.
A short time later and I'm looking down onto Jamestown Viaduct as 43313 with 43239 comes over it with 1E15 0952 Aberdeen to Kings Cross Virgin East Coast working.
158730 and 58729 come off the viaduct climbing hard at 1 in 90 with 1L12 1102 Perth to Edinburgh.
Dropping down grade is 170411 forming 1L51 1159 Edinburgh to Dundee service.
170401 works hard against the grade with 1L62 1130 off Dundee to Edinburgh. The bush opposite is getting big and starting to ruin this shot.
Does a class 2 local from Cowdenbeath warrant four coaches? Who knows, but 158871 and 158728 form 2G56 1223 Cowdenbeath to Edinburgh. 158871 wears the new ScotRail livery rather than that of the franchise holder.
Later in the day and I'm at Kingskettle as an unknown class 170 turbostar drops down the 1 in 111 towards Ladybank northbound. The unit is working 1L59 1600 Edinburgh to Dundee.
The second tour of the day under The Cathedrals Express headboard comes by behind 47746 and the working is 1Z77 1603 Edinburgh to Dundee tour.
The train is being signal checked so is running very slowly as it is close behind the turbostar seen previously which was booked to stop at Ladybank. 6/7/2015
A couple of days after the previous tours and I'm out again for another one. this time I start out at Bow of Fife level crossing. Here 170412 approaches with 1L61 1059 Edinburgh to Dundee. 8/7/2015
