The Autumn Higlander

Friday 17th to Monday 20th October 2008 saw UK Railtours organise a rail landcruise to the Highlands of Scotland. At this time of year and with the weather conditions favourable, the views and colours of the Scottish landscapes are spectacular. The landcruise started out from London King's Cross early on Friday morning with an EWS class 90 locomotive, 90029 "The Institution of Civil Engineers". We catch our first view of the train as it arrives at Edinburgh Waverley. The patrons on board have a few hours off train to sample Edinburgh, whilst the train heads to the depot to change locomotives for the next part of the journey. The locomotives for the rest of the weekend are a pair of veteran English Electric type 3s. Both of which were built over 40 years ago. The EWS owned class 37s are 37401 and 37417. Having left Edinburgh the tour heads North and crosses the Firth of Forth over the magnificent Forth Bridge. Onward through Fife to Perth as the daylight begins to fade. After a short break we continue North via the Highland mainline to reach Inverness on time at 2205.

Saturday starts slightly wet, but spirits aren't dampened for the trip along the Kyle line to Kyle of Lochalsh. The sun breaks through by the time the train reaches Garve. The colours in the scenery are at their best. Kyle is reached by 1045 and the patrons go on their various coach tours. Departing just before 4 o'clock we see the tour passing Badicaul just outside Kyle with views to Skye in the background. Glorious sunshine graces us on the return with light beginning to fade from Garve. Arrival back at Inverness was on time.

Another early start on Sunday sees us this time heading to the Far North line for Wick and Thurso. Weather was supposed to be really bad, but it was much better than expected. The tour heads North through Dingwall, Tain and Lairg before stopping at Dunrobin Castle. The home of the Duke of Sutherland. After a hour and 45 minutes with all patrons back on board from their visit to the castle, the tour continues North to Wick. Coaches were laid on to visit John o'Groats. The most Northerly point in mainland Britain. The tour picks up the patrons again at Thurso for the return to Inverness.

Monday is the journey home from Inverness and the class 37s take the strain for the final time. Yet again the weather is giving those onboard some great views and we don't miss out either. Climbing to Slochd Summit we see the train running a few minutes early basking in the bright autumn sunlight. Spirited running sees the train reach Perth early and allows those onboard to inspect the Caledonian station architecture. Our last views of the train are at Edinburgh Waverley where the class 37s are relieved of their duties and 90029 continues back South with the tour back to London King's Cross.

Total running time 110 minutes. On screen captions. No commentary.

Cost: £ 20.00 including P&P.  To purchase via PayPal click add to cart. Alternatively send a cheque or Postal Order made payable to "MD Rail Productions" to the address on the contact us page.

Spitfire "The West Highlander" and "The Meridian Mariner"
Sunday 13th July 2008 and Saturday 16th August 2008

DRS class 37 action on two Spitfire Railtours. The first tour was from Glasgow Central to Fort William and featured 37423 and 37608. This tour was piggybacking onto a Stobart Pullman weekend tour called "The West Highland Waverley". The train made a spectacular sight through the West Highlands of Scotland. 37423 was returning to its old stomping grounds of the 1980's, where it work both passenger and freight services. Many photographers were line side as a pair of DRS 37s on the West Highland line are rare. The second tour saw DRS type 3's, 37059 and 37423 travel from Wolverhampton in the West Midlands to the East coast seaside town of Cleethorpes. 47712 was on the rear of the train to assist during empty stock movements between Cleethorpes and Barnetby, one of the best freight hotspots in Britain.

Total running time 75 minutes
On screen captions. No commentary.

Cost: £ 14.95 including P&P.  To purchase via PayPal click add to cart. Alternatively send a cheque or Postal Order made payable to "MD Rail Productions" to the address on the contact us page.

SRPS "The Highland Fling"
Saturday 24th May 2008

The Highland Fling is first of two tours featuring BR EE Deltic 55022 'Royal Scots Grey' on this DVD. The tour started at the East Lothian town of North Berwick and took SRPS Railtour train to the West Highlands for Fort William and Mallaig. Departing at 0534, the tour headed back up the North Berwick branch to Drem where it followed the East Coast Mainline to Edinburgh Waverley. From here the charter powered along the mainline via Falkirk High to Cowlairs East Junction and then via Westerton to Helensburgh Upper to join the West Highland Line. Branching to the right at Crianlarich the train starts for the climb through Tyndrum Upper to County March Summit. Through spectacular scenery the tour reaches Fort William and after a quick run round with the locos departs for Mallaig with more amazing views. West Coast Railway Company class 37, 37248 supplies the traction from Mallaig back to Fort William. 55022 the takes control and retraces the route of the outward journey.

The Lorn Special
Saturday 6th October 2007

Starting at Dundee at 0628, 55022 takes charge of the SRPS Railtours coaching stock for a trip Oban. Heading South through Fife via the coast route, the tour reaches the Forth Bridge. 1½ miles on the train pauses at Dalmeny to pick up passengers before taking the Winchburgh branch to reach the E&G mainline. From here the trip is the same as The Highland Fling as far as Crianlarich. This time we branch left for Oban. With poor and wet rail conditions, 55022 climb to Tyndrum Summit is quite spectacular. However better progress is made from Dalmally onwards. Oban is reached within 5 minutes of booked time. At 1645 the tour departs Oban to retrace its steps back to Dundee. We take our last look at the tour at Dumbarton. West Coast Railway Company class 37, 37248 was at the rear of the train to assist with empty stock movements.

Total running time 80 minutes.
On screen captions. No commentary.

Cost: £ 16.95 including P&P.  To purchase via PayPal click add to cart. Alternatively send a cheque or Postal Order made payable to "MD Rail Productions" to the address on the contact us page.

SRPS "The Sutherland Special"
Saturday 21st June 2008

On the day with the longest hours of daylight, SRPS Railtours organised a trip from Edinburgh to Dunrobin Castle and Brora on the Far North Line. The tour was to feature EWS class 37/4s at the helm, which was a welcome return for many enthusiasts. The start from Edinburgh was to have been at 0607 with 37422 "Cardiff Canton" and 37401, but a minor problem arose with one of the locos. All credit to the train crew who in time fixed the fault and the railtour departed at 0648. The train then travelled via Linlithgow, Polmont, Falkirk Grahamston, Larbert, Stirling and Dunblane. It continued to Perth for its last pickup. Luckily there was a booked 30 minute break in the timetable at Perth. The train arrived just after the departure time and departed as soon as passengers were aboard, this enabled the tour to gain back most of the lost time. The EWS duo powered their way North up the Highland Mainline and managed to reach the outskirts of Inverness a few minutes earlier than planned. Once the train had moved onto the Rose Street curve at Inverness, the locomotives were detached from the train to allow 37401 to be left at Inverness station. 37422 reversed back onto the stock and departed solo to the Far North lines. Making good time the train arrived at Dunrobin Castle, the home of the Duke of Sutherland, where many of the passengers alighted to go and have a tour of the castle and its grounds. Those who remained with the train enjoyed another 4¼ miles behind 37422 to reach Brora on time. The return departed Brora at 1600 and then collected those who had visited Dunrobin Castle. Again 37422 made good time back to Inverness. 37401 was reattached at Inverness and the pair blasted away to assault the climb to Culloden. So far the weather had been good but by the time the tour had passed through Kingussie the rain had started. At Blair Atholl in heavy rain the train was held to allow a North bound ScotRail service to pass. Once this had arrived, the 37s pulled the train away onward to Perth. After a leg stretch the tour continued back via the reverse of the outward journey as far as Polmont, arriving at 2359. Due to engineering works this was where the tour ended and those who had boarded at Linlithgow and Edinburgh were transferred there by road coach. Another great day out with some classic diesel traction.

Total running time 60 minutes.
On screen captions. No commentary.

Cost: £ 14.95 including P&P.  To purchase via PayPal click add to cart. Alternatively send a cheque or Postal Order made payable to "MD Rail Productions" to the address on the contact us page.

SRPS "Alloa Stirling Specials"
Thursday 15th May 2008

For the re-opening of Alloa to Stirling railway on Thursday 15th May 2008, Transport Scotland chartered the SRPS Railtour train for the inaugural passenger train to leave the new station at Alloa. The first return journey to Stirling departed at 1130, and was steam-hauled by LNER K4 61994 "The Great Marquess" and carried the 300 guests for the official opening of the new Alloa station and the line to Stirling. Preserved BR EE Deltic 55022 "Royal Scots Grey" was on the rear of the train and hauled the return journey from Stirling back to Alloa. Hundreds of locals and railway enthusiasts lined the route from Alloa as the train headed for Stirling. Following the inaugural run SRPS Railtours organised three public return trips along the line with the same traction and these attracted as much attention as the earlier special train. With all seats sold, a total of 1,200 passengers were able to travel on the re-opening day of the line which had been closed to passengers in 1969. First ScotRail services commenced running on Monday 19th May 2008.

SRPS "Forth Bridge & Fife Circle"
Sunday 18th May 2008

On Sunday 18th May 2008, LNER K4 61994 "The Great Marquess" hauled the SRPS Railtour coaches around the Edinburgh South Suburban line, over the Forth Bridge and round the Fife Circle. Two trains were run. Following the recent electrification of the centre Mound Tunnel, Network Rail has currently prohibited steam from departing West out of Edinburgh Waverley. So the train had to leave and return to Edinburgh Waverley via Portobello and the South Suburban line. The first train departed Edinburgh at 1020 and the other at 1612. Both of the trains were almost full to capacity. The weather was very good and attracted many line side photographers. The K4 performed well and the train kept excellent time throughout the day. Preserved BR EE Deltic 55022 "Royal Scots Grey" was used to haul the train into Edinburgh before the first train, and to take the steam loco and carriages to Brunstane for watering. It then went via Niddrie South Junction and Niddrie West Junction to turn the train.

Total running time 60 minutes.
On screen captions. No commentary.

Cost: £ 14.95 including P&P.  To purchase via PayPal click add to cart. Alternatively send a cheque or Postal Order made payable to "MD Rail Productions" to the address on the contact us page.

Spitfire "Cumbrian Coast Explorer"
Saturday 8th March 2008

2 DRS Class 37/5 locos, 37667 and 37688 on a Spitfire Railtour from Birmingham Intl. to Carlisle via the West Coast Mainline. Returning via the Cumbrian coastline through Maryport and Barrow avoiding line. WCRCs 57601 on the rear of the train for train heating.

Spitfire "The Wey-farer"
Saturday 19th April 2008

2 DRS Class 20/3 locos, 20307 and 20310 on a Spitfire Railtour from Crewe to Weymouth via Westbury, Salisbury and Southampton. Returning via Micheldever and Reading West Curve. WCRCs 57601 on the rear of the train for train heating.

Total running time 55 minutes
On screen captions. No Commentary.

Cost: £ 12.95 including P&P.  To purchase via PayPal click add to cart. Alternatively send a cheque or Postal Order made payable to "MD Rail Productions" to the address on the contact us page.