hexagon789

The 159s remained compatible with 15x. A few ex-SWT 158s transferred to EMT and ScotRail and no modification was required to operate with their 158 fleets. None of them had retention tanks as new, the 159s were the earliest retrofitted. ScotRail 158s were 2+2 First Class, both originally and refurbished during NatEx/First days. This took up 2 window bays. The XC pool 158s had high-quality 2+1 First Class fitted, just 9 seats over 2 and a Half window bays. The 159s had 2+1 First Class from new, taking up 5 window bays. TransPennine 158s also received First Class but during privatisation. 2+2, either 5 bays on 3-car units or 2.5-bays on 2-car.

455868, it was repainted by Bournemouth Depot and has been running around in an updated approximation of BR Blue/Grey since the 7th of March.

From the headcodes - J3344 1S53 0815 Birmingham to Glasgow Central/Edinburgh J3345 1M30 1140 Glasgow Central to Euston

The theoretical balancing speed for a 2+8 is about 136mph, and a 2+7 just about on the 140 mark. All on full diameter wheels of course. In the early 253 days on the GWML, there are many stories and logs of speeds at least into the low 130s being reached often enough. Of course limiters were subsequently fitted, and all the 254s had them before entering passenger service, so the maximum then became 132 on full diameter wheels before power cut out. I've never found out exactly when all the first batch 253s received them, but the few mentions of the subject seem to suggest within 18 months of 125mph service commencing.

To add to above: 1O59 - morning Cardiff to Portsmouth 1V23 - afternoon Leeds to Plymouth 1M28 - midday Paignton to Birmingham

Two of those headcodes might suit: Going off the 1970 timetable - 1A26 - 0635 Penzance to Paddington 1F46 - 1325 Paignton to Cardiff Gen. O is another interregional letter - to the Southern Region.

I'm sure someone will be along to correct me if wrong, but when the various planned volumes were listed somewhere I'm sure it was 37/4s after 37/0s. Either that or my brain is simply making the logical conclusion without the evidence!

37/4s I think?

Great Glaswegian selection there, Dave. I particularly like that you took one of the famous manual departures board.

They'd be rather more powerful in practice because the RBe4/4 quoted power is what they can produce for traction, the usually given 47 rating of 2,580hp is actually gross engine power - power for traction is only 2,080hp, proportionately less if supplying ETH. The RBe4/4s are also some 50 tonnes lighter...

Isn't it the Caledonian's 'Thomas' now?

The most recent ModelRail had am advertisement for the newest volume, the Steam-heat 37s. Email quoted as: sdeg.books@gmail.com

Except that one is the right way round and on the 'right' loco ;)

Is it not just a faded NSE logo sticker, applied upside-down?

Sorry I meant one set in the off-peak season. In the peak season I believe there were two, one with the observation car one without. Formations being load 3/4 in winter, 5/6 in peak season.

Not regularly, as the set was required 6 days of 7 on the Kyle Line with maintenance nominally done on Sundays. When the set was shortened in the off-peak season, spare vehicles may have been used on a scratch set. I know this happened on the Aberdeen Line in the early 1990s with the odd vehicle, not sure about the Far North.

Some 2Z were converted to air brake and some 2A to vacuum, so that might just be coincidental in that respect.

There were a few 45/1s so embellished towards the end.

It did, was done up with a few embellishments for railtours - silvered buffers, red-backed nameplates, 'whitewalled' tyres etc

There was an 'Express diesel service', with miniature buffet car, from Queen Street making limited stops to Oban by the early the 1960s. In 1962 it was 9.35am off Queen Street and 5.15pm back; Mon-Fri only.

Definitely need me glasses on. My apologies for my error 😔

Except for the Summer and Winter 1986 timetables, when it was briefly upgraded to an all-Mk3 set and became a portion of a standard 110mph Euston/Glasgow working each way, the Inverness portion joining/detaching at Carstairs. Intriguing that it appears to have reverted to a 100mph Mk2 set, its more what I'd expect for 1985 or 1987 than 1986.

Am I missing something or is that a light engine and not the Hull/Brighton? Or is that the joke? :)

Anything in particular? Mk1s were on most routes by that point.

If it was a standard BR Smiths one, they only went up to 100 as well ;)