BR in the 1980s - The Golden Era of Scotrail and Local hauled Trains at Edinburgh Waverley

[@Skorpychan]

Just hearing the turbo screaming on the Intercity 125s takes me back to when I was little, and trains were something to get excited over.

[@kartwheelkarl]

I couldn't agree more SC. When the HSTs first arrived, we all disliked them because they replaced our beloved Deltics and Class 50s. But now, we look back with such fondness on that Valenta scream! Thank you for your great comment and really glad the video brought back such great memories.

[@ClydebridgeStation]

Great commentary Karl, and I'd like to add a few things. Firstly, during the summer of 1986, the Commonwealth Games were being held in Edinburgh. I don't know if Alan was filming there at the time, but there was a regular shuttle service, using a class 101 DMU, from Waverley, to a temporary "Meadowbank Stadium" station. We also see the 26 and 37 combo, with the Royal Scotsman stock. 37011 didn't have much time left; in early 1987, an EMU ran away, and collided with 37011 at Singer. As a result, 37011 became only the second 37 to be withdrawn. And, when you were above Calton Hill, the building on the left, with the triangular glass roof, was the Eastern Scottish New Street bus depot in Edinburgh. Once home to 120 buses, it was closed in the early 1990s, after Eastern was sold to its employees, and they moved to Westfield, with an allocation less than half the 120 vehicle fleet at New Street.

[@kartwheelkarl]

Thank you for your kind words and fabulous comments CS. That large building to the left of Carlton Hill actually had me baffled. It was clearly a huge place, but I could find no evidence of it on google maps, so thank you for clearing that one up. Is it now a car park? Despite visiting Edinburgh many time during he eighties, I’d never actually been to that corner of the station precinct which is a shame; I’d have loved to have seen a bus depot of that magnitude. Am I right in thinking that buses around Edinburgh wore a sort of dark maroon livery at that time or is my memory playing tricks on me again?

[@ClydebridgeStation]

@kartwheelkarl for a while it became a covered car park, but it's all new offices on the site.

[@ClydebridgeStation]

@@kartwheelkarl Eastern Scottish was green, and Lothian buses are madder, as they were in 1986.

[@kartwheelkarl]

@@ClydebridgeStation Well, I’ve learned a new word today CS! Thank you for your fabulous feedback. When you said that the Lothian buses were madder, I had visions of angry public transport vehicles. I had no idea that madder was a colour! Needless to say, I’ve spent the last twenty minutes looking at pictures of Lothian buses over the years - all painted in a variation of madder and white (the new versions are really very nice!) I’m pleased that my memory hadn’t played tricks on me mind you, and that some of the buses in Edinburgh were (and are) painted that colour. Isn’t that the colour that one of the football teams wear as well? ( Hearts??) I’m therefore guessing that this colour has some association with the city?

[@jongpw50]

Used to drive these! Was a Secondman/Driver at Haymarket at the time and may well be driving some of the rolling stock you see here.

[@kartwheelkarl]

What a great job JPW. Thank you for the great comment and hope the video brought back happy memories.

[@jongpw50]

Yes.they did thanks.

[@Thunderer0872]

The 47/7's push pull were used with 'DBSO's' not DVT's That's Driving Brake Standard Open or second open DVT's came on the WCML in 1988/9 & ECML in 1991. great video otherwise.

[@kartwheelkarl]

Thank you so much for pointing that out Thunderer, and well done for picking up on it. Can’t believe I made that mistake! Very embarrassing!! Rookie error eh? I’ve now edited the video with a subtitle correction.

[@kartwheelkarl]

Really glad you enjoyed the video though, and thank you again for your great comments.

[@Thunderer0872]

@@kartwheelkarl No problem I was like nope DBSO I was always corrected when I asked what they were going to do with them post SC, they ended up on Anglian of course.

[@kartwheelkarl]

@@Thunderer0872 I'm really pleased people are actually listening to what I say Thunderer 😀 I'll be honest, this is the first video I've ever made with a full commentary. I was so nervous about it that I checked every part over and over again. So imagine how much I kicked myself when I read your message and realised what a basic mistake I'd made and not picked up on. I'm really pleased that you did though and that I was able to add a subtitle to correct my mistake. Even adding the subtitle was something I'd not done before - this video has really upped my skill set!!

[@kartwheelkarl]

On the subject of the DBSO - I was delighted to read about one of them being preserved, repainted into Scotrail and out working with 47712. Shame it's not quite in original condition having lost its gangway connecting door during its time with Anglia and having had the lights altered during it's time with Network Rail, but that's a very minor thing. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would ever see a preserved 47/7 and a full Mk 3 + Mk2 DBSO set operating on the mainline. Wonderful! Only wish I could see and ride it in person! @@Thunderer0872