Operations
WHEN the aptly named‘Beast from the East’struck Britain, starting overnight on February 27-28, one line badly hit by drifting snow was the West Coast between Carlisle and Glasgow.
The following day a pair of DRS Class 66s propelled snowploughs south of Carstairs, with the line remaining closed to normal traffic as blizzards hit the area.
The next day, Class 66 Nos. 66433+66302 were observed at Thankerton with the Motherwell Independent snowploughs at 18.41. The same pair was again in use the following day once again attempting to keep the lines clear of drifting snow. On the same day, WCRC Class 47 No. 47760 was also out on the route.
DBC Class 66 No. 66126 was observed passing Thankerton at 12.20 on Thursday, March 1 running as 1Z99, checking the route for potential hazards prior to a possible resumption of services.
The route was finally reopened on Sunday, March 4 at shortly after 14.00, albeit with a severe speed restriction on the Carstairs to Symington emergency crossover section.
The first trains observed passing Thankerton were 5Z24 a Polmadie to Carlisle e.c.s. move at 15.00 comprising of an unidentified Class 390; 4Z44 heading towards Coatbridge hauled by Class 90 Nos. 90047 and 90048.
Class 47 No. 47760 then passed light engine (0Z48), followed by 4Z48, the 15.40 Polmadie Clydesdale Loop-Daventry (Tesco), hauled by Class 68 No. 68006. This in turn was followed by the 4S43 15.20 Carlisle New Yard-Mossend Euroterminal, hauled by Class 66 No. 66426, followed by‘Pendolino’ No. 390141 on a 5Z25 1630 Carlisle-Glasgow e.c.s.
PLAIN blue-liveried DBC Class 90 No. 90034 was in charge of 07.35 King’s Cross-Leeds and 10.15 return on February 1 and 8.
CLASS 43 power car No. 43206 ran on its own via Leeds, Castleford and the ECML as 0Z43, the 14.15 Neville Hill-Craigentinny on February 8.
THE 09.52 Aberdeen-King’s Cross VTEC service was noted running in reverse order on Thursday, February 8. On board staff, providing coverage to Edinburgh, were as puzzled as passengers as to why reversal had occurred. The train was due to be turned at Newcastle.
The 09.52 was diverted via Perth because of a fatality at 09.30 that day at Cupar station, rejoining the Fife line at Ladybank. However, the train was held at Bridge of Earn signalbox for some time to allow a diverted northbound Abellio ScotRail service to clear the single-line Bridge of Earn-Ladybank section, and arrived at Edinburgh Waverley 32 minutes late.
As a result of the Cupar incident, services between Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh were delayed or cancelled for some hours.
Passengers travelling on the 09.52 intending to alight at Leuchars were taken forward from Dundee to Leuchars by Abellio ScotRail services.
CLASS 91 No. 91009 headed south through St Neots at around 14.40 on February 9, blunt end first on a King’s Cross service on the front of the train instead of the usual arrangement at the rear, pushing.
HIRED-IN EMT’s HSTs Nos. 43043 and
