Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh operations

[pfx]

Hello folks.

I'm currently working on a project relating to the above route and I would like to know some details regarding how the route was operated in the 70s.

• It's all DMUs now, but when it was loco hauled stock, how was this run? Was push/pull stock used or did the loco have to switch ends?
• If it was the latter, where and how was this done at each end of the route?
• I know 24s, 26s and 37s were all in use but what would the average passenger consist have been and how many carriages would be in a rake?
• I ask the same for timber consists and also where these services originated before unloading at Kyle.
• Currently there are 3 or 4 services each way dependant on the time of year. What was the service interval during the 70s?

Help with any of these questions would be grately appreciated.

Thanks.
PFX

 

[tmz06003]

Hi pfx, here's some info that may be helpful.

Push-pull was never used on the Kyle Line, if you look at the layout of the Kyle station I sent you there are run round facilities at Kyle to allow the loco to switch ends. At Inverness, a class 08 shunter would draw out the stock to release the loco or another loco would attach at the free end and haul another train northwards.

During the 1970s only mk1s would be used, a typical consist would be 3 or 4 coaches but I do have a pic of a class 26 hauling 7 on 1754 Kyle- Inverness (peak time train)!

The RA of the Kyle line was actually higher than that of the Wick/Thurso line, and class 40s were actually allowed to Kyle. This happened in the 1970s on only a few occasions, but more recently preserved 40145 worked all the way.

Class 24s were the common motive power with the class 26s, until the 24s were withdrawn in the mid 1970s. Class 26s fitted with the twin headlights (needed due to the number of unguarded level crossings on the route) dominated after that. The first class 37s recorded were in 1982, but only a few.

I've a 1982 pic of a 26 hauling the following: Vanwide containing naval supplies, open wagons loaded with bags of fertilizer for the forestry commission, MCV coal wagons and ballast hoppers.

Here's a great site with lots of useful pics:

http://rniescottishailwayrchive.fotopic.net/c845118.html

I'm not sure about the timber trains, I'll do some checking though.

Don't forget the traffic to the Howard Doris site at Stromeferry (1975-1987) including cement in Presflos tripped from Inverness (served from Oxwellmains cement plant near Dunbar).

 

[pfx]

Thanks for that info.

Was trying not to pester you too much with regards to this. It was just in conversation I started to wonder what the operations on the line were like. I'm a long way from actually implementing any of them!

Thanks also for the link. I found some good photos of Kyle in the 70s including one of a 24 hauling a mixed train. A couple of flat cars ahead of 4 or 5 MkIs by the looks of it.

 

[stovepipe]

In the 70's there would have been a few 16t coal wagons a week going to Kyle for house fires and maybe a few steamboats. Also 12t Van types for fish and general goods. Probably a few TTAs as well for oil deliveries.

There was also a GUV or CCT put on some passenger trains to handle the parcel traffic, always behind the loco it seems.

 

[pfx]

Interesting. I found a photosite with a few pics of TTAs. None of the others though a GUV is possibly in one pic which is taken to close to directly head on to tell.

Thanks. Any info I can get is greatly appreciated.

 

[tmz06003]

Thanks for that info.

Was trying not to pester you too much with regards to this. It was just in conversation I started to wonder what the operations on the line were like. I'm a long way from actually implementing any of them!

You're welcome, feel free to contact me if you need any more information, I'll answer when I can.

Sometimes there may be a delay; like last weekend I'm coming off the back of a family disaster...

Regards,

Tony.

 

[Vern]

I made a couple of trips over the Kyle line in the "26" days and can basically confirm what has been said. Average train length was three to four elderly steam heat Mark One's, sometimes with a BG in the formation (occasionally mid-train). The mid-morning (1040ish) Down train from Inverness which returned @1710 from the Kyle loaded up to seven bogies in the summer as these were the busiest tourist services.

I'm trying to rack my brains if a RMB was included in the 1040/1710 but I don't recollect seeing one. AFAIR only the Far North line trains had refreshments.

In terms of Mark One coach types, second class were predominantly open stock - i.e. TSO's - with CK's BSK's and BCK's tending to make up the rest. All of which excellently catered for by the Railsim UK collections.

I've come over all warm and nostalgiac now!

 

[tmz06003]

Here are some more great pics of Kyle:

http://www.railbrit.co.uk/location.php?loc=Kyle of Lochalsh

Interesting to see the 24/1s still being used in 1976.

This shows the freight variety (even cattle wagons!!) between 1970 and 1984, one even shows a loco about to run round.

I'm not sure why the 26 on Presflos for Stromeferry was at Kyle as they could run directly from Inverness, the siding entrance pointed this way. Maybe cement was being imported via Kyle at the time?

Note the siding with unloading platforms to the north where the MCV coal wagons were handled, and the excavator that was used to unload them.

The photos of the siding layout to the south of the station are very interesting as I've never seen pics showing the original extensive track layout here.

The built in TRS2010 mk1s would be very appropriate.

 

[pfx]

Excellent. Thanks again folks. The more info I get, the better. I don't need to make use of it at the moment but I definitely will do in months to come.

Ah the glorious days of loco hauled services. Give me the 70s and 80s any day.

 

[wholbr]

Ah the glorious days of loco hauled services. Give me the 70s and 80s any day.

Oh God you got him reminiscing again. The next posting will have pictures of a haggis and a lone piper playing " Scotland the brave"

Well, it's nice to know that the colonials still remember the great days of Westminster, obviously their best.

Bill:hehe:

 

[pfx]

I'm having a couple of problems with Dingwall station. Obviously I can see the track layout as it is today via the wonders of Google haggis. I've checked out the old-maps.co.uk site and the 1974 bagpipe isn't entirely clear. Photos seem to show there is double track in place but the map shows single track. I just want to confirm this before starting to work on the station.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to stick rigidly to prototype gradients but I'm trying my best. 19 miles down, 63 to go. Phew!

Bill - lay off the cider. Haha.