"The Skirl o'the Bagpipes" - 31st March 1995

Over the evening of Friday 31st March 1995 and the whole of Saturday 1st April 1995, Hertfordshire Railtours ran "The Skirl o'the Bagpipes" railtour. With the end of British Railways and the dispersement of the various BR business units in to private operators hands, the future of the Southern Region class 33s was in doubt given their age and diminishing work. This was also the last train worked by the BR Special Trains unit, which ceased to exist at midnight on 31st March.

The train was formed of 12 Mk.1 coaches and hauled by 33109 & 33116, two 33/1 locomotives converted to operate push-pull trains with TC & EMU stock. The high level pipes and jumpers on the cab front earned them the nickname "Bagpipes". The destination of Inverness was groundbreaking for a 33, definitely the furthest north on the British mainland that one had ever visited although the similar looking BRC&W built class 26 & 27 locomotives spent most of their working lives allocated to Scottish depots.

The train started from London Victoria and went round west London via North Pole junction, passing lines of 33s at Stewarts Lane depot. There was a routing issue at Mitre Bridge junction, which resulted in the train setting back to the previous signal. After that everything went very smoothly, the route out being via Nuneaton to Crewe, Preston, Carlisle, Mossend, Stirling and Perth where the train paused for 2½ hours.

After departing Perth the train continued north to Aviemore where it passed on to the Strathspey Railway and continued to the end of the line at Boat of Garten. For the return to Aviemore class 27 D5394 [former 27106/27050] was attached to the south end of the train with the 33s assisting from the rear as required. Seen during the visit were preserved 26002 and Caledonian Railway 828. 26002 & D5394 were arranged so that they could be pictured with the pair of 33s as a BRC&W family group, perhaps for the first time ever.

After the Strathspey Railway peregrinations the train continued north to Inverness where a couple of hours were allocated for fuel and train servicing.

On the return much Crompton clag was viewed as the train travelled south, the route between Inverness and Perth has plenty of uphill sections where full power was required.

Several preserved locomotives and items of rolling stock were seen as the train passed Crewe Heritage Centre.

There was enough camera battery left to capture the locos at London Euston.

All in all a good but long day with a total mileage of 1,153 for the trip - something that would probably be impossible in this day and age.

[Hi8 source]

00:00 Battersea
01:02 Stewarts Lane
01:36 Mitre Bridge Junction
02:18 Prestion Station
03:05 Perth Station
05:51 Strathspey Railway
11:40 Aviemore
15:41 Inverness Station
17:38 From the window
26:48 Blair Atholl
30:03 Stanley Junction
31:05 Crewe
31:31 London Euston Station


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