The 3:40 Express
Three class 40 railtours from 2007 on one disc. All tours were organised by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society and in conjunction with class 40, 40145s owners, the Class Forty Preservation Society.
The Far North Explorer
On Friday 22nd June 2007 and Saturday 23rd June 2007, SRPS Railtours ran a great tour with class 40, 40145, to the Far North of Scotland. This would be the first time a class 40 reached Wick. The train started at Linlithgow late on the Friday evening to travel up overnight through Fife, Perth and the Highland mainline to Inverness. At Inverness station the train took the Rose Street curve and headed to Dingwall where the track divides for either Kyle of Lochalsh or to Wick and Thurso. The tour took the latter along the shores of the Cromarty Firth through Alness and Invergordon to Tain. This is where the train now follows the Dornoch Firth heading inland towards Ardgay and then over the River Oykel on the impressive Shin Viaduct. After Lairg Summit (488ft), it's down hill to the North Sea coast via Rogart. Hogging the coast until Helmsdale the tour goes inland once more. Climbing into the moors of Caithness to reach Georgemas Junction where the tour reverses for the run to Britain's most Northerly station at Thurso. On the rear of the train is West Coast Railway Company's 57601 to provide power for the coaches and top 'n' tail engine for the trip to Thurso and Wick. This would also be the first visit for the class 57. The return working to Linlithgow is reached by the reverse of the outward route.
The West Highlander
On Saturday 25th August 2007 SRPS took the CFPS's class 40, 40145, freshly painted into BR large logo blue livery on a trip from Carlisle to Fort William. Travelling via the Glasgow and South West route via Dumfries and Kilmarnock to reach Glasgow. The tour then cuts under the city centre to reach the start of the West Highland Line at Helensburgh Upper. The train continues through the wonderful Scottish landscapes climbing to both CountyMarch summit and over Rannoch Moor to reach Fort William. Top n tail loco was provided by WCR class 57, 57601.
The Inverness & Speyside
SRPS railtours made use of the CFPS's class 40 again on Saturday 22nd September 2007. This time the route was from Linlithgow to Inverness. 40145 still looking good in its new colours heads East from Linlithgow and branches to the North at Winchburgh Junction for Dalmeny and onward to Fife. The tour reaches Perth via the East coast route through Fife and then through Ladybank and Newburgh. Climbing both Drumochter and Slochd summits 40145 breathes easy over Culloden Moor before descending to Inverness. After a good break the tour returns via Elgin, Aberdeen and Dundee. Top n tail loco was again supplied by WCR. This time the recent arrival of class 47, 47787
Total running time 88 minutes
On screen captions. No Commentary.
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