It had been 18 months since the last serious Scottish trip and we were beginning to get withdrawal symptoms. Much loco haulage had disappeared but some was still possible north of the border. It was always a pleasure to visit as the scenery was spectacular. We had decided to use the same winning formula as before going out in two day blocks to enable sleep to be taken at home every other day.  The nights in between would be spent on an overnight train.

In terms of ticketing we had to purchase a 7 Day Freedom of Scotland and a 7 Day North West Rover, this allowed travel between home and Scotland.

Monday 04 June 1990

On the first day we had decided to stay close to home and have a ride around locally covering the loco hauled diagrams operating in the North West. At this time Regional Railways North West were operating a number of loco hauled trains on particularly busy trains around Manchester, Liverpool and North Wales Coast. The day was spent with virtually every train being loco hauled including a trip round the Oldham Loop. It was home for a quick pit stop and back to Preston for the sleeper to Inverness.

Tuesday 05 June 1990

The new order at Thurso 156446 05/06/90

During this timetable period the sleeper train split at Carstairs with the Inverness portion then going forward through Mossend Yard and continuing north through Perth and on to Inverness.

On arrival in Inverness there was time for a quick loco hauled trip to Nairn and back before the next leg.

We then continued north over the newly reopened bridge over the River Ness. This journey was not the same with the route now operated by Class 156 units. We travelled all the way to Thurso and back to Inverness.

There is then time for another loco hauled excursion to Keith and back before the overnight train to Glasgow.

Wednesday 06 June 1990

311102 at Helensburgh Central 06/06/90

Things were changing in Scotland and the 47/7s on the Glasgow – Edinburgh shuttles have been replaced by Class 156s. We head to the 4 car 156 to Edinburgh, this manages to make it into Queen St tunnel before it fails and we have to return to Queen St. Plan B join the HST to Kings Cross and travel as far as Linlithgow as it is not possible to get to Edinburgh for the train we intended to come back on. In 1990 the Kings Cross trains used to go from Queen St not Central which is the norm today.

We come back to Glasgow on one of the few remaining loco hauled trains between the cities.

The plan now is the cover the North Clyde branch lines. If you have read about the trip in January 1989 you will know we covered many of the South Clyde branches then.

We spend the best part of the day visiting Helensburgh Central, Balloch and Milngavie before returning home.    

Thursday 07 June 1990

304010 at Manchester Pic 07/06/90

We have decided today to have our first ride on Class 91s on Mk4 stock recently introduced on the Leeds to Kings Cross route. The plan is a trip to Manchester and Leeds then Doncaster and back on a 91. We then return on a direct train between Leeds and Preston. We then have a brief visit home and then back to Preston for the overnight back to Scotland.

Friday 08 June 1990

We are on the same train as on Monday night but we join the Fort William portion not the Inverness portion.

37423 shunts the Motorail vans at Fort William 08/06/90

This train used to follow a very unusual route. The train would split a Carstairs with the Inverness portion then the electric loco would continue towards Glasgow but would not quite reach there. The route between Larkfield Jn and Shields Jn would be taken and the train would stop outside Glasgow Shields Road depot. Another loco would be attached to the rear of the train and it would be dragged back to Glasgow Central. The electric loco now on the rear would be removed and the Class 37 attached. The train would then go forward via Rutherglen West and North Jn before passing through Glasgow Central Low Level and onwards towards the West Highland Line.

This may have seemed like a lot of messing around with the train it could have just gone directly into Glasgow Central and the 37 attached to the rear of the train. This was possible but would have created another problem. The train used to convey motorail and if the train had gone straight into Central the orientation of the train would have been reversed and the cars would have had to be backed out rather than driven out of the motorail vehicles. Another train reversal was required so that the cars would still be facing in the same direction and could be driven straight out.

A very pleasant trip to Fort William. It was back to Glasgow and home.

Saturday 09 June 1990

26035 at Kilmarnock 09/06/90

On summer Saturdays the direct train between Carlisle and Stranraer Harbour used to see very heavy loadings between Carlisle and Ayr. Scotrail used to run a relief train in from of it to take the pressure of the normal train. This train used to be interesting as it used to use whatever loco was available and you were virtually guaranteed a freight loco. This was the train we were going out for with the intention of travelling all the way between Carlisle and Ayr. We were not to be disappointed as a Class 26 was provided.

Following this train it was home via Glasgow.

The Rovers were not used on the Sunday because of the very restricted train service.  

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