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Page last Updated : 20-01-08
A Hellfire days recalled by Richard Weir ...
"August 1986 saw me embark on my first Freedom of Scotland,
having become a big fan of 26s and 27s. I was to spend most of my
week
on the “Circuit” (Edinburgh-Dundee line) and, three days
in, discovered that a fitters’ strike had caused the Scottish region to
replace
the Edinburgh-Kirkcaldy locals with locos and stock.
The stock was semi-demic mk 1s, hauled by whatever type 2s were to hand.
Thursday 14th was an outrageous day. Having headed
up from Carlisle, via a spoon, I headed across to Waverley to get out on
the Circuit.
A unit to Dalmeny saw me make 2K10, the 1031 Kirkcaldy-Edinburgh,
with 26010. This began approximately 6 hours on the same set
of stock, on 6 different trains. 27059 was powering 2K11,
the 1135 Edinburgh-Kirkcaldy and on arrival at Kirk., 26032 took over the
helm to work 2K02, the 1231 back. At Edinburgh,
the stock became 2K03, the 1335 ex-Waverley and 26028 was the beast in
charge.
At Kirkcaldy, the stock was always moved to the down
loop and the replacement loco attached to the Edinburgh-bound end.
In those pre-alcohol drinking days, this gave us plenty
of time to wander through the underpass, grab a brew and some
sustenance, usually a Cadbury’s Double Decker and re-join
the train! 26010 was the loco for 2K06, the 1431 to Edinburgh and
at Edinburgh, 27059 took over to work 2K07, the 1535
to Kirkcaldy. 26032 was waiting for us at Kirkcaldy, this was an
Inverness-based beast at the time, and took us back to
Haymarket on 2K10, the 1631 from Kirkcaldy - yes there is two 2K10s
on
the same route, on the same day! We leapt at Haymarket
hoping for something large on the fabled 1705 to Cardenden, a train which
was known to drop xos 26s etc……ironically, it was a DMU!!
So, it was into Edinburgh for 2G23, the 1805 to Cardenden,
which turned up 26028, we took this to Inverkeithing and then went
forward to Kirkcaldy behind 47209, on the 1815 Edinburgh-Dundee.
After returning to Waverley with 47117, on the 1830 from
Dundee we awaited the arrival of the loco for the 2015
Dundee. Despite having had a day of type 2 haulage, there had been
nothing past Kirkcaldy all day, type 2 wise. The Dundees
had been in the hands of duffs all day and the evening was not
looking too promising, until my all-time favourite, 27014,
appeared from the tunnel. At last a 27 to Dundee! 014 thrashed all the
way,
I distinctly remember the front half of the mk 2 being
full of cranks and the gripper appearing and asking 20-odd bashers,
”All on rovers lads?” A unanimous “yes” was the response,
although I assume that the majority probably weren’t!
On arrival at Dundee, it was a case of more type 2 haulage.
26029 was in the bay, with 2Y34, the 2156 to Perth and the train
resembled more of a railtour than a service train! There
followed a duff on 1M16 to Mossend, being replaced, disappointingly,
by 86208, but after a day like that, I wasn’t complaining
too much.
Even 17 years on, the Kirkcaldys remain a fond memory,
particularly the grotty set of mk 1s I spent far too long on and it was
the highlight of an outstanding week. Hellfire days indeed!!"
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