Review of 2006
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A summary of 2006 as reported on scot-rail.co.uk
2006 saw a varied and attractive selection of railtours and special traffic:
among the several SRPS charters, we had:
other SRPS railtours included:
more Deltic action in october...
2006 saw Class 50 locos on the far north and Kyle line for the first time:
Other irregular but special workings included:
Additionally, the following trains operated during 2006:
Details to be added
Some very interesting events in 2006, both at Bo'ness and Strathspey...
Rolling Stock
- Class 67s replace Class 37s on the West Highland Sleeper from June. Messages: June, July
- 37416 and 37427 stored at Motherwell in May, 37401 stored in June.
- 37405 reallocated to Motherwell in May.
- Re-organisation of EWS sees the three 37s at Motherwell (37405/406/417) 'reallocated' to Toton in November, although they still work in Scotland.
- 37410 arrives in Scotland in November after the end of Welsh passenger work.
- Class 90s appear in ScotRail livery: Further details
- Class 156 units visit Derby for repaint: Further details
- DRS Class 66s used on the autumn north Scotland RHTT
- MTU-engined HST power cars 43300 and 43290 appear for GNER: Further details
- Virgin Cross Country hire MML HST for Edinburgh - Birmingham from December timetable change.
- ScotRail borrow 'Alphaline' 158863: Photo
- Fastline Class 56 visits Shettleston: Photos
Glasgow Works
- Continuing repaints of Class 158s (Further details)
- Overhauls of Class 156 and Class 142 DMUs for Northern Rail
- Final ever Orange SPT unit (314202) enters works for refurbishment and relivery
Hunslet Barclay, Kilmarnock:
- Class 318 Refurbishment: 7 more units done
- Class 322 Refurbishment 05-07: First refurbished unit emerges in April
- Class 321/9s for Northern Rail: Photos
Freight
- Launch of Stobart Rail train for Tesco (operated by DRS) on September 19th
- Launch of infrequent VFM freight service
- New Middleton Towers - Mossend 'sand' traffic for EWS
- Upturn in EWS 37/4 use on freight services Jun 2006 - ? including regular use on 6B41/6B44 Edinburgh bins
- Transfer of J.G. Russell's services from EWS to DRS.
Infrastructure
- Works at Edinburgh Waverley begin in January, new platforms open in December.
- New platform at Haymarket, open in December
- Stabling sidings at Slateford, open in December
- Extension of Haymarket Depot,
- Track laying on the Stirling Alloa Kincardine Railway
Switch and Crossing Renewals (done by STRC):
- Glasgow Central (May 2006)
- Haymarket Central Jn. (June 2006) With diversions via the Edinburgh Suburban Line
- Larbert Junction (September 2006)
- Innerwick and Reston (October 2006) with diversions via Carlisle
- Cowlairs West Junction (December 2006) with diversions via Cumbernauld
Railtours and special trains
2006 saw a varied and attractive selection of railtours and special traffic:
among the several SRPS charters, we had:
other SRPS railtours included:
- 47826 and 47851 - North Berwick-Mallaig and return - 6 May
- 40145 (replacing 55022) on Linlithgow-Lincoln, 8 December
more Deltic action in october...
- 40145 visits with 55022 on the 'Autumn highlander' tour between 6-9 October
2006 saw Class 50 locos on the far north and Kyle line for the first time:
- 50031 and 50049 on the Orcadian to Kyle, Wick and Thurso 16th-19th June
Other irregular but special workings included:
- Virgin's 390047 makes the fastest ever Glasgow - Euston trip on 22 September (3h 55m 27s)
- LMS 6201 'Princess Elizabeth' at Glasgow Central, 16 and 17 November
- EWS 'Company' train...
- Cotswold HST set (including 'Hornby' red 43087) on a Bristol - Edinburgh tour, 5th Aug.
Additionally, the following trains operated during 2006:
- The Blue Pullman (July 7-10th, August 5-6th, and 12-13th, December 2nd-4th)
- The VSOE 'Northern Belle', including Sunday trips to Oban on 13th Aug, 3rd and 23 September.
- The 'Green Express' (26 & 28th August)
- King's Cross - Prestonpans annual charters 4th, 15th Aug (EWS Class 90 and EWS MK2 stock)
The Royal Scotsman
Some notable traction and 'firsts' on the 2006 season:- First Class 57 to visit the WHL (57601) on several runs
- DRS 37029 hired in several times for use on the train
- Class 33 use in 2006 for the first time on the train
- WCRC Class 37s used early in the year
Network Rail and Inspection Trains
- More regular use of MPV? units on RHTT workings...
- DRS Class 37 use on OSG train ('Mentor')...
- DRS Class 37 use on NR ultrasonic test trains
- Class 33 used on Officer's Special with observation saloon...
NMT HST - summary
Details to be added
- DRS Class 37 and EWS Class 67 use on NMT HST replacement...
Preserved Railways
Some very interesting events in 2006, both at Bo'ness and Strathspey...
- 33207 attends Bo' Ness spring diesel gala
- 55022 and 40145 attend Bo' Ness autumn diesel gala
- 26010 moves to Bo'ness for overhaul prior to going to Whitrope
- 'Morayshire' adds colour to Bo' Ness services
- 'City of Truro proves an immense attraction during it's extended visit to Strathspey
Bad Weather and Other Incidents
- Container train derails at Fouldub Jn, Grangemouth, 1st December
- Flooding on the Far North Line, October
- Landslides on West Highland Line, December 2006
- Kilmarnock Signal box burnt down, December 25th
Railways in Parliament
- Launch of Transport Scotland
- Bill for Waverley Line Project receives Royal assent
- Bill for Airdrie Bathgate
- Bill for EARL
- Bill for GARL
- Bill for Edinburgh Tram