1. Journey there & Glasgow-24.07.18

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2018 > 52. An Anglo-Scottish adventure-24-27.07.18 > 1. Journey there & Glasgow-24.07.18
After picking Andy up at an unhealthy hour, we got to Milton Keynes to catch the first train of the day to Scotland. A great journey on a Pendolino but arrival was a little late due to a diversion just south of Glasgow. At least Andy was pleased as he 'copped' some network! After dropping our kit at the amazing value left luggage facility at Buchanan bus station (that occupies the site of the old Buchanon railway station, closed in 1966) we undertook a very enjoyable and interesting tour of the northern suburban network. We bought one of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport's (SPT) fantastic value daytripper tickets. This allowed unlimited travel within SPT's network including trains, the underground and buses. This ticket has to be the best value out there and one not mentioned by Barry Doe in his recent railrover review in Rail magazine; but perhaps it's out of his remit? This ticket also covered our final trip of the day to Ayr and our base for the next two days. After a Pizza Hut meal in the evening, we prepared for the rigours that lay ahead!
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Images 1-29 of 29 displayed.

57307, stabled Thunderbird, Carlisle station 57307 'Lady Penelope' stands at Carlisle awaiting 'the call'! As one of the DRS Thunderbirds it sits until called upon to rescue a failed Pendolino or Voyager. This is a task that it and the others do not have to undertake very often. 57307 was new to Cardiff Canton as D1901 in September 1965. Under TOPS it became 47225 and spent many years as a Railfreight locomotive then becoming a Freightliner machine. It was rebuilt into 57307 in 2003. Keywords: 57307 Thunderbird Carlisle station
92038, stabled, Polmadie MPD Caledonian Sleeper 92038 sits stabled at Polmadie Depot just south of Glasgow. This livery looks smart but appears photographically a little drab in dull lighting. It's amazing to think that these locomotives were originally designed and constructed for international freight work through the Channel Tunnel. Keywords: 92038 Polmadie MPD
390043, VT 05.31 London Euston-Glasgow Central (1S37, 6L), Glasgow Central station With the train crew making their way along the platform at Glasgow Central looking more like they have climbed off a Virgin Atlantic plane at Heathrow, 390043 stands on the stops of platform one. Andy and I travelled on this, the 05.31 ex. London Euston from Milton Keynes. Keywords: 390043 1S37 Glasgow Central station
156447, SR 12.18 Glasgow Queen Street-Alloa (2N69, 1E) & 158867, SR 11.21 Anniesland-Glasgow Queen Street (2W70, RT), Glasgow Queen Street station The stops at Glasgow Queen Street proudly display an 1842 milepost. Behind it to the left is 156447 that will work the 12.18 to Alloa. To the right, 158867 has just arrived with the 11.21 from Anniesland with its passengers making their way along the platform. Keywords: 156447 2N69 158867 2W70 Glasgow Queen Street station
318265, SR 11.41 Springburn-Dalmuir (2F23, 2L), Jordanhill station 318265 is about to depart from Jordanhill station working the 11.41 Springburn to Dalmuir. Andy and I had travelled on this train from the depths of Queen Street Low Level station. These class 318s bear a striking resemblance to the diesel class 150s and were introduced in 1986 to replace many first generation DMUs. The ones wearing their smart ScotRail livery, as seen here, have had the second refurbishment of their thirty odd years' life. Keywords: 318265 2F23 Jordanhill station
320319 & 318267, SR 12.03 Dalmuir-Rutherglen (2R30, 6L), Jordanhill station Scotrail 320319 and 318267 come into Jordanhill station under the footbridge working the 12.03 Dalmuir to Rutherglen working. The intensity of service on the North Clyde section of the Glasgow network was a surprise given that that it was the middle of the day Keywords: 320319 318267 2R30 Jordanhill station
318259, SR 11.29 Cumbernauld-Dumbarton-Central (2V55, RT), Jordanhill station 318259 arrives into Jordanhill station forming the 11.29 Cumbernauld to Dumbarton Central. Andy and I took this train the short distance to Dalmuir. Keywords: 318259 2V55 Jordanhill station
320302, SR 12.25 Dalmuir-Dalmuir ECS (5L06), Dalmuir station 320302 draws into Dalmuir station with a short ECS working from the sidings just behind the train. It then sat at the platform from about half an hour before working off east. Keywords: 320302 5L06 Dalmuir station
320306, SR 11.46 Airdrie-Balloch (2E73, 8L), Dalmuir station Andy and I took this train, the 11.46 Aidrie to Balloch as far as Dumbarton Central. 320306 is one of a family of EMUs built in 1990. It is a three-car version of the four-car class 321 units that plied their trade past my house on the Euston to Birmingham route. Keywords: 320306 2E73 Dalmuir station
Dumbarton signal box, closed now PW office (BR, 1960) Built by BR in 1960, Dumbarton signal box is still very much extant despite being officially closed in 1992 with control moving to the Yoker signalling centre. However, today it is used as a PW room. Keywords: Dumbarton signal box
156474, SR 12.21 Glasgow Queen Street-Oban & Mallaig (1Y24, 4L & 4L), Dumbarton Central station Dumbarton Central station is an impressive structure built atop the surrounding streets. Its architecture is in the classic Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Junction style being opened in 1850. I last visited the station in May 1977 as a young spotter and remember seeing two class 27s working trains to the Isles. Here, 156474 arrives into the station with the 12.21 Queen Street to Oban and Mallaig. Despite being a six-car unit, it was packed and so it was a good job we were only going as far as Hellensburgh Upper. Keywords: 156474 1Y24 Dumbarton Central station
156447, 156478 & 156474, SR 12.21 Gasgow Queen Street-Oban & Mallaig (1Y24, 4L & 4L), Helensburgh Upper station Three units in the form of 156447, 156478 and 156474 leave Helensburgh Upper station forming the 12.21 Glasgow Queen Street to Oban and Mallaig. The train will split at Crianlarich with one unit heading to Oban. The remaining two units will head over the West Highland line to Fort William where the train will split again with one heading on to Mallaig. Andy and I had travelled on this unit from Dumbarton Central. We then undertook the mile or so walk from Helensbugh Upper to the town down below. Keywords: 156447 156478 156474 1Y24 Helensburgh Upper station
334029, stabled, Helensburgh Central station 334029 sits stabled under the overall roof at Helensburgh Central station. Another lovely station befitting of the town in which it is centrally located. Andy and I took a very pleasant lunch sitting on the rocks overlooking the Clyde a short distance from the station. Keywords: 334029 Helensburgh Central station
334001 & 334036, SR 13.56 Helensburgh Central-Edinburgh Waverley (2H40, 1L), Helensburgh Central station 334001 and 334036 waits to leave the delightful station at Helensburgh Central with the 13.56 to Edinburgh Waverley. Andy and I took this train as far as Dalreoch station. For such new units, I was not impressed with their ride. It may have been the track but the ride was a bit jolty to say the least something akin to a Pacer of all things! Keywords: 334001 334036 2H40 Helensburgh Central station
318263, SR 14.07 Balloch-Airdrie (2E60), Dalreoch station 318263 comes off Dalreoch Junction and into the station of the same name. It's forming the 14.07 from Balloch to Airdrie 2E60 working. Keywords: 318263 2E60 Dalreoch station
334026, SR 13.16 Airdrie-Balloch (2E55, 4L), Dalreoch station 334026 comes to a halt at Dalreoch station forming the 13.16 Airdrie to Balloch. Andy and I took this train to its destination. Balloch is situated at the southern end of Loch Lomond and is a very popular international tourist honey-pot. Keywords: 334026 2E55 Dalreoch station
Former Balloch Central station building & level crossing (Closed 23.04.88) Andy and I took afternoon tea in Balloch before returning back towards Glasgow! On walking back to the station, we spotted the tourist information office and recognised it as the old station. The railway crossed the road in the immediate foreground on a level crossing with the platforms in the trees beyond. The line then continued the short distance to Balloch Pier station which, as its name suggests, was above the waters of Loch Lomond. Due to cost cutting by BR in the 1980s, Pier and Central were closed in April 1988 and a new 'bus shelter' station opened that is just behind where I am standing. I am not convinced that the present station is quite as becoming as it should be given the high number of visitors who come to Balloch, many from abroad? Keywords: Balloch Central station
318262, SR 15.37 Balloch-Airdrie (2E66, 9L), Balloch station 318262 sits at the buffer stops at the single platform Balloch station waiting to work the 15.37 to Aidrie. Andy and took this working from Balloch to Dumbarton Central a short distance of about five miles. Keywords: 318262 2E66 Balloch station
318259, SR 15.56 Dumbarton Central-Cumbernauld (2V62, 3L), Dumbarton Central station 318259 stands at Dumbarton Central waiting to work the 15.56 to Cumbernauld. Andy and I took this train all the way to its destination. This took an interesting route right through the middle of Glasgow, stopping at Queen Street Low Level and included a reversal at Springburn. Whilst basic, these 318s appear to do the job that they were designed for well. Keywords: 318259 2V62 Dumbarton Central station
318259, SR 17.26 Cumbernauld-Dumbarton Central (2V55, 1L), Cumbernauld station Having arrived at Cumbernauld we had a decision to make. Did we wait for a couple of a freights heading this way or head back towards Glasgow and then on to Ayr for what would be a pretty late shower and a meal? We decided to head straight back so, after it had gone into a refuge siding and reversed back into the station we took 318259 working the 17.25 to Dumbarton Central as far as Stepps station. Keywords: 318259 2V55 Cumbernauld station
170427, SR 17.17 Falkirk Grahamston-Glasgow Queen Street (2J75, 1L), Stepps station Stepps station opened in 1844 as Stepps Road. It survived until 1962 when British Railways closed it. However, after a deal was struck between BR and the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive it was reopened as Stepps in May 1989. It is now an important transport hub for the area with a significant number of passengers using at, largely commuters. Here, 170427 arrives into the station working the 2J75 17.17 Falkirk Grahamstown to Glasgow Queen Street that Andy and I took to its destination. Keywords: 170427 2J75 Stepps station
334030, SR 18.11 Springburn-Dalmuir (2F09, 1L), Partick station After collecting our bags from the excellent value left luggage facility at Glasgow's Buchanan bus station Andy and I made our way to Central station via Queen Street Low Level, Partick and Central Low level. Having alighted from 334030, it waits to leave Partick station forming the 18.11 Springburn to Dalmuir. We had travelled the short distance from Queen Street Low Level on this train. Keywords: 334030 2F09 Partick station
318270, SR 17.56 Dumbarton Central-Cumbernauld (2V46, RT), Partick station ScotRail 318270 arrives at Partick station working the 17.56 Dumbarton Central to Cumbernauld. Partick station, just to the west of the city centre on the north bank of the Clyde was particularly busy at this time of the evening. Unfortunately, for these commuters most trains heading east were quite heavily delayed, the reason being given by the automated announcers was the 'cover all' of 'operational difficulties'. I think that I would rather not have any reason given but that one that, when you actually think about it, means very little! Keywords: 318270 2V46 Partick station
320412, SR 18.33 Dalmuir-Rutherglen (2R16, 6L), Glasgow Central Low Level station In the catacombs that is Glasgow Central Low Level station, 320412 pauses working the 18.33 Dalmuir to Rutherglen. Andy and I took this train from Partick and alighted here in order to make our way up to High Level and on to Ayr. Keywords: 320412 2R16 Glasgow Central Low Level station
380106, SR 19.30 Glasgow Central-Ayr (1K57, RT), Glasgow Central station 380106 waits at platform 14 at Glasgow Central station. This was our final train of the day, the 19.30 to Ayr that we took all the way its destination. Despite travelling over what was going to fairly new track, the ride on this relatively new class 380 was not very impressive. However, the acceleration and general ambiance was pretty good and the free wifi worked! Keywords: 380106 1K57 Glasgow Central station
314204, SR 19.05 Paisley Canal-Glasgow Central (2D52, 1E), Glasgow Central station 314204 crosses the bridge over the River Clyde as it enters Glasgow Central station forming the 19.05 from Paisley Canal. The track work is incredibly complicated in the throat at Glasgow central, this has lead, for many years, to a strict 20mph speed restriction. Keywords: 314204 2D52 Glasgow Central station
380009, stabled, Ayr station On arrival at Ayr, 380009 is pictures sitting in one of the bay platforms ready for its next turn of duty, probably a morning commuter working. During our visit, the main station building was cordoned off due to masonry recently falling on to the platforms. Extensive emergency work was being undertaken to repair the building that meant complete closure. Just to my right in this image, ScotRail had set up a temporary ticket gate line. Keywords: 380009 Ayr station
Tickets, Milton Keynes Central-Glasgow central When I initially went to book these tickets, the cheapest seats that I could secure were going to cost in excess of £160. I left it for a few weeks and tried again. Low-and-behold, suddenly a split-ticket arrangement on our preferred train was under £90 for the pair of us. Obviously, a tranche of fresh seats had been released as the early ones had not all sold. So, it goes to show once again, the crazy situation with regard to the UK rail ticketing arrangements that leads to the unknowing general public being relentlessly ripped off.
Daytripper ticket SPT's excellent Daytripper ticket. This cost Andy and I £21.80 and gave us total freedom on the rail, underground and bus network for one day. A great value ticket that we would throughly recommend.

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