Merchant Navy Class loco 35018 British India Line at Edinburgh Waverley with the Edinburgh Flyer tour. Firstly the empty coaching stock is brought into the station and then the tour departs for the south.
Despite it not being an LMS engine as it would have been great to see 46115 Scots Guardsman hauling the train OR had it still been in traffic Galberta Leone, but it was still a historic occasions on a number of reasons. No'1 it was the first time that 35018 had been north of Carlisle and visited Scotland aswell as Edinburgh. No'2 it was the first time ever that a merchant navy had visited Edinburgh as none visited during BR days or even Southern days, it was also the first time in preservation too that a MN has visited Edinburgh (35005 & 35028 have never visited). Finally no'3 it was to also be my first ever visit to Scotland too (I actually travelled on that tour and it was one hell of a great trip, especially going up Shap & Beattock as they weren't holding her back). That's actually me at 1:59 in the blue shirt with the rucksack and holding the video camcorder. I was seated in coach J which is the MK2 brake so I was in the passenger coach which was closest to the engine all day.
I have seen 46115 on numerous occasions so I was delighted when they decided to bring an MN north of the border for the first time. I believe that this is only the fourth time that a Southern loco has visited Scotland (30777 Sir Lamiel, 34004 Yeovil, and 34027 Taw Valley) if you exclude the fact that a batch of N15 King Arthurs were built for the SR by the NBL co. in Glasgow. GWR locos have also been extremely rare visitors with only 5043 Earl of Mount Edgecumbe and City of Truro being the only examples I can think of in recent history although a pair of 16xx pannier tanks were transferred to the far north to work the services on the Dornoch branch for several years. Great you enjoyed the trip and thanks for the comment.👍
It was indeed a first. Never in BR days or even Southern Railway days had a merchant navy visited Edinburgh & even in preservation it was a first as 35005 & 35028 have never visited. Was also BIL's first ever visit to Scotland too, infact it was also my first ever visit to Scotland too as I went on this tour. That's actually me at 1:59.
Thanks for the comment and just a pity the cylinder drain cocks were left open for so long spoiling the shot somewhat but that is what can happen with steam hauled departures at stations. Was it blow off or show off?
Firstly it would have had to head east to reach Niddrie West Jct to access the Edinburgh suburban loop which would then have taken it westwards to gain the route to the south at Slateford.
Route wise Chris we went from Preston over Shap and Beattock on the WCML and then before Carstairs we joined the Caledonian mainline to Slateford, from there it was into Edinburgh via Haymarket. For the return journey it was around the suburban circle via Portobello Jcn & then onwards to Slateford where we went back via the outward route to Preston. Going up Shap and Beattock they really weren't holding BIL back at all.
Great shots Stephen, perfect weather conditions just a shame they left the drain cocks open so long but that’s always a gamble worth taking at a station, still blowing well out of the station by the looks of it, cheers 👍
Thanks for the comment and I doubt if it was necessary to keep the drain cocks open for that long as many crews manage to close them soon after moving off with other tours but as you say its always a gamble with station departures. The safety valves went off twice under the station roof before departure while I was taking photos and that is the loudest I have ever heard from any loco. Deafening and they must have heard it along Princes street LOL.
