Shunting the Southbound Sleeper at Edinburgh Waverley (The Highlander service)

Filmed from the Inverness portion, the process of assembling the 3 portions that make up the "Highlander" Caledonian Sleeper from Inverness, Fort William and Aberdeen to London Euston. Early hours of 8th Jan 2018.
For a companion film which shows the process in reverse, on the northbound service, see here:
• Shunting the Northboun...

[@davidreay5911]

Just seen this. Thanks for explaining this complex manoeuvre.

[@CambriaJunction]

Cheers. It's all a bit different now, of course!

[@clairesheppy8052]

I am so glad that you published this video. I and my friend did the journey northwards on 10 January 2019 and southwards on 15 January 2019. I did my best to video this operation in both the North run and the South run, but have yet to see how successful I was. It would be difficult to see how any real railway enthusiast could sit anywhere in this train other than in the seated coaches! We were in the Fort William portion, so therefore had to vacate briefly at Edinburgh, as described in your video. Incidentally, regardless of the actual total correctness or otherwise of your various descriptions (as queried by one of your comments), I found the whole set of descriptions throughout very helpful and certainly gave a very good insight as to the complexity of this operation, which as you point out is now unique within the British Isles. In some ways it will be sad to see the new stock come in where all of the windows will be such that it will be difficult (probably impossible?) to put a camcorder out of the side of the coach.

[@CambriaJunction]

Thanks for your comments. Yes it's a big shame that the new stock will have no opening windows at all so no possibility to put a camera out and also no possibility to get a breath of fresh air in the mornings. I made a few videos last summer to record the experience of making some of the sleeper journeys before we are confined to a sealed box; they are here if you are interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3jVd5iNg56nh5I kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZ3YnJdmpsSZbJo kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2KaYptpa7aZecU

[@TrainSpotterTVIndia]

Excellent 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@BevMattocks]

Superb! Although with all that noise going on, especially the brakes testing when fully coupled, I can't imagine passengers wouldn't be woken up!!! And hopefully the faulty sleeper coach left behind wasn't booked? But how interesting. I watched it twice.

[@BevMattocks]

I notice on another video (about the new rolling stock) that passengers are issued with earplugs. Now I know why!

[@AndYourPointWasWhat]

I slept like a log when I travelled on it. Left Aberdeen at one end of the train and woke up to breakfast at Euston at the other end!

[@al66class59]

Was 15 as well on the 12-13th april, when I was on it.

[@pj6641]

its actually called a pull away test to ensure the buckeye couplers have engaged and locked

[@CambriaJunction]

Yes, thanks, my mistake on that. It was already pointed out by another commenter - but I can't now change the text on the video.

[@pj6641]

@@CambriaJunction no worries awesome video though

[@williamradford8817]

Operation Night Sleeper, Fort William seating and lounge coaches unhooked and moved, to await the next northbound train,

[@train4905]

Superb

[@grob1904]

Terrific video. Thank you for forgoing your sleep to capture that intriguing insight into the working of the ""Highlander Caledonian Sleeper service. Geoff

[@CambriaJunction]

Cheers.

[@craftythio]

How much is it to travel on the sleeper?

[@rog1957]

awesome what an Op!

[@GWRProductions-kg9pt]

6:52 you've got that wrong. the buffers would have been retracted before coupling can take place & that was the pull away test & that is done to make sure that the added portion won't separate while in motion

[@CambriaJunction]

If that's the case why are we being pushed towards the added portion rather than pulled away from it? (Between about 7:03 and 7:05)

[@GWRProductions-kg9pt]

@@CambriaJunction to release the tension on the screw coupling between your coach & loco

[@CambriaJunction]

@@GWRProductions-kg9pt Ah I see. So the coupling between the carriages must have been done within about 7 seconds somewhere between 6:38 and 6:45 - that's pretty quick.

[@GWRProductions-kg9pt]

@@CambriaJunction well I've worked on railways long enough to know most things

[@CambriaJunction]

@@GWRProductions-kg9pt I'm sure you're right; I'm just impressed they can do it so quickly.

[@elainedryden7699]

dont know if youve been on the sleeper since getting the new mk5s but i take it the separation is the same as the mk2/3 sets were leaving the fortwilliam seated at edinburgh or has it all changed

[@CambriaJunction]

The basic arrangement is the same - the fort william lounge & seats only go as far as Edinburgh on the south bound and then return with the northbound train the same night. I think the shunting process/order is a little different now. Maybe some day I will manage to film the mk5 version of this video.

[@matthewrobertson95]

How long did it take?

[@WhiteCamry]

From which track did you depart?

[@CambriaJunction]

Platform 19 as you can see towards the end of the video.

[@MaxBarnish]

doubt anyone could sleep through this shunting operation

[@jonathanwade1214]

Oh yes they can. I've done the London - Inverness trip or vv a good few times.

[@TheSm0wman]

I did a return trip to Fort William and I had to giggle as the subtitle described how "gentle" the shunting operation was! It didn't knock me out of bed but it definitely woke me up!

[@TheArkamedBat]

I could sleep, but I put alarm just early enough to see the shunting

[@TheMicksterdee]

Actually, after the buck-eye couplings of the two portion have been coupled, the class 67 would have done a "pull test". This would have proved then that the coupling had securely operated. Only then would the shunter complete coupling by connecting all air pipes and electrical jumper cables. Once that is done, the class 67 could be detached and proceed to its next duty. The final act in the operation before departure would be a brake continuity test from the train loco (clas 92) , and if successful deprture could be masde.

[@CambriaJunction]

Thanks, yes, this error in my description was pointed out in another comment below. The fact that they are buckeye couplings (something I didn't realise when writing the description) explains how the coupling can be carried out so rapidly - no heavy links to be lifted onto hooks etc.

[@beagle7622]

The 1st time I travelled from Inverness,I knew their was shunting going on at Edinburgh but the train length had more than doubled.Got quite a surprise.

[@chrisporter7872]

That platform 2 is where we got to Edinburgh from King's Cross. Thanks for showing what happens to the sleeper service.

[@bobblue_west]

I work near Willesden Junction, north London. I can see the 16 coach train heading south at about 7:30AM each morning.

[@elljones6159]

It'll be such a shame when the new coaches are rolled out as the camera out of the windown shot will be no more :( though the comfort will eb imrpoved inside though!

[@CambriaJunction]

I know, it's a great shame, and sad that there wasn't the imagination to include some kind of open-able window in the new stock. I made a few videos during the summer to record what it's like being able to look out of the windows, before it's all gone - they are here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZ3YnJdmpsSZbJo kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3jVd5iNg56nh5I kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2KaYptpa7aZecU

[@GWRProductions-kg9pt]

times change

[@shahedmc9656]

Thank you for explaining the logistics.

[@krazium4886]

200th sub