A joint venture between the Scottish Railway Preservation Society and Locomotive Services Limited is starting to bear fruit, with a series of charter trains announced for 2025.
The highlights will be a pair of Class 20s visiting Kyle of Lochalsh and a Class 50 debuting at Oban.
The trains will use mostly Mk 1 coaches, supported by some LSL Mk 2s as required, and haulage from the LSL heritage traction fleet of Classes 20, ‘37’, ‘45’, ‘47’, ‘50’ and AC electrics, along with the SRPS’s own 37403 Isle of Mull.
The first train is set for February 8 with a Carlisle to Inverness trip featuring 37401/403.
A month later (on March 8) comes an Edinburgh to Preston trip via Carlisle featuring two Class 20s, two Class 37s and 50050 Fearless.
The first charter to start from the new Leven station is set for May 10, using 50050. It will head to Oban - the first time a Class 50 has been to the West Highland terminus, and the last lengthy section of track north of the border to be covered by the class.
Two weeks later (May 24), a Newcastle to Wemyss Bay trip will also feature 50050, and commemorate the 160th anniversary of Wemyss Bay station and the 55th anniversary of SRPS Railtours.
By far the most exciting trip of the programme is set for June 21-23, when Class 20s will break new ground in West Scotland with a Crewe-Kyle of Lochalsh charter. The ‘20s’ will replace an LSL AC electric locomotive at Carlisle.
37403 will play a supporting role in all these three trains, as well as providing insurance.
The final train in the programme for the first half of the summer is set for June 28, with a Crewe to Glasgow Central train to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the ‘37/4s’. It will feature 37401/403/409.
Finally, LSL’s own InterCity operation is heading to Scotland twice with heritage locomotives. February 15 is planned for a Crewe to Oban trip - a first visit by a ‘40’ to the town. And March 29/30 is set to be a Crewe to Inverness trip with 45118 The Royal Artilleryman - the first known visit by a Class 45 to the city.
Combined with trains already announced by Pathfinder Railtours, as well as UK Railtours’ plan for an August 22-25 Landcruise to Edinburgh and Stranraer, Scotland is certainly set to be the place to be to enjoy ex-BR locomotives at work on charter trains.
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