The Flying Scotsman

It may seem ironic that a Scotsman should travel to England to see The Flying Scotsman but I did, and had a very enjoyable visit to the North York Moors Railway.

The record breaking steam loco has just completed a ten year overhaul at a cost of £4.2 million and the public came out in their masses, both to travel on the train and also to see her along the entire length of the heritage line from Grosmont to Pickering.

The Flying Scotsman is due to come to Scotland in May and I'm sure the crowds will come out to see her when she comes north of the border.

Steam trains

With going down to North York Moors Railway next week to see the Flying Scotsman, I've been getting in the mood by looking over my past steam photos.

This has also given me an idea of what has worked previously and what wasn't so good.

Here are some of my favourites.

Caledonian Railways No 828 approaching Broomhill Station on The Strathspey Railway

Black fives 45407 and 44871 on the West Highland Line north of Tyndrum

Steam loco 60009 Union of South Africa crossing the Forth Bridge

46233 Duchess of Sutherland at Culross coastal path

NCB No 7 in her more common War Department colours as WD75254.
She is hauling a pair of  Calledonian Railway carriages from 1921

62712 Morayshire prepares for an evening trip at Bo'ness railway station

NCB No 19 passing the signal box at Bo'ness Station

K1 class steam loco 62005 at Dumbarton Central Station

60163 Tornado at Blackford

60163 Tornado crossing Jamestown Viaduct

60009 Union of South Africa on the Borders railway line

Furness Trust No 20 steam loco at Bo'ness Steam Gala day

Double header on the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway line

Bo'ness Steam Gala

October started with a visit to see 60009 on the borders railway, and ended with a visit to Bo'ness Heritage Railway for their Autumn Steam Gala.

Along with the resident locos we were hoping to see Ian Riley's Black 5, 44871 and a special visitor from Furness.

The day did not disappoint with 44871 hauling along with 62712 Morayshire, which is due to go out of service for overhaul.

The star of the day was No 20, a beautiful 0-4-0 tender engine built in 1863.No 20 is Britain's oldest working standard gauge steam loco.

Steam loco 62005

The Jacobite steam tour season has started between Fort William and Mallaig.

Last weekend two Black 5's went up and this weekend K1 class loco 62005 came up from Yorkshire to join them.

She traveled to Dumbarton on Saturday and continued to Fort William on Sunday morning.

I watched as the loco operated by the North Eastern Loco Preservation Group came into Dumbarton Central station and backed slowly in to a siding to lie overnight.

On the Sunday morning we headed to Garelochhead to catch her on the West Highland Line, free of overhead power lines and pylons.

The Royal Scotsman

Luxury train travel has arrived in Gourock, but not for commuters.

Costing over £3000 for a four day journey around Scotland, The Royal Scotsman provides the highest levels of comfort available.

Her locomotives for this journey were a pair of class 66 GB Railfreight diesel engines, which I had not seen before on this train.

The Royal Scotsman hauled by GBRf loco 66735 through Greenock Central Station

66735 sitting at Gourock Station

Observation car's veranda provides a unique way to enjoy the journey

The Royal Scotsman's Observation carriage

66732 arrived in the afternoon to haul the train on the next part of her journey

GB Railfreight loco 66732

66732, named after GBRf's first managing director

Luxury

66735 preparing for departure

Passing through Fort Matilda station

The Royal Scotsman heading for her next destination