Beautiful scenery with magnificent railway bridges - thanks for bring these sights to the wider world. Back in a very foggy and freezing late November night in 1984, I did the Stranraer Harbour Boat Train from London Euston. It was the 21.15 departure and was booked to arrive @ 02.30, but thankfully it was an hour late, as I had to wait there until the 07.30 to Glasgow Central ! The boat train was, on that night, hauled by 86 102 to Carlisle, 47 414 to just south of Ayr, where 20 039 was attached (it was booked a Class 27 diagram), with the pilot loco coming off at Stranraer Harbour's Home Signal. The boat train was then drawn into Platform 1, with 20 039 already in one of the two middle roads (Siding 2). 47 434 hauled the 07.30 to Glasgow Central out of Platform 2 (alongside the sea wall, and with the signalbox on the end). This was formed of Mark 1s in Sealink Livery. The Class 27 diagram, which that night was 20 039, was to haul a freight back. She was sent down, on the front of the boat train, so the signalboxes could close earlier, rather than wait for the light loco to transverse the long signal sections. This was an economy measure, to allow the Stranraer line to be worked with just two shifts of signalmen. The boat train ceased working in 1990.
Thanks for that. I lived in Dumfries from 1987 to 1992 and one of my regrets was that I never went on the Boat Train, although I knew people from Stranraer who used it. It was killed off by cheap flights from Ireland of course.
@@Clivestravelandtrains Sadly the Stranraer Harbour Boat Train was not alone. Sleeper trains from the West Country to Scotland, London to Barrow-in-Furness, Liverpool, and the East Coast route all disappeared, along with Motorail, the Channel Islands Boat Rains to Weymouth Quay, Southampton Ocean Liner Terminal, Newhaven Marine, Folkestone Harbour, Dover Western Docks, and even the Irish Mail (London - Holyhead overnight), and stations with all-night buffets, like Crewe. I managed to do most of them before they went, even the Glasgow Nightrider that was routed via Dumfries.
Excellent video. The bridges, viaducts and other railway buildings are very impressive as is the surrounding Galloway countryside. It is a lovely area for exploring and hiking. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your comment, much appreciated. You can turn the volume down on your laptop - but the thing about music is that you can't please everyone and sometimes I agonise over whether to add music!
Beautiful scenery with magnificent railway bridges - thanks for bring these sights to the wider world. Back in a very foggy and freezing late November night in 1984, I did the Stranraer Harbour Boat Train from London Euston. It was the 21.15 departure and was booked to arrive @ 02.30, but thankfully it was an hour late, as I had to wait there until the 07.30 to Glasgow Central ! The boat train was, on that night, hauled by 86 102 to Carlisle, 47 414 to just south of Ayr, where 20 039 was attached (it was booked a Class 27 diagram), with the pilot loco coming off at Stranraer Harbour's Home Signal. The boat train was then drawn into Platform 1, with 20 039 already in one of the two middle roads (Siding 2). 47 434 hauled the 07.30 to Glasgow Central out of Platform 2 (alongside the sea wall, and with the signalbox on the end). This was formed of Mark 1s in Sealink Livery. The Class 27 diagram, which that night was 20 039, was to haul a freight back. She was sent down, on the front of the boat train, so the signalboxes could close earlier, rather than wait for the light loco to transverse the long signal sections. This was an economy measure, to allow the Stranraer line to be worked with just two shifts of signalmen. The boat train ceased working in 1990.
Thanks for that. I lived in Dumfries from 1987 to 1992 and one of my regrets was that I never went on the Boat Train, although I knew people from Stranraer who used it. It was killed off by cheap flights from Ireland of course.
@@Clivestravelandtrains Sadly the Stranraer Harbour Boat Train was not alone. Sleeper trains from the West Country to Scotland, London to Barrow-in-Furness, Liverpool, and the East Coast route all disappeared, along with Motorail, the Channel Islands Boat Rains to Weymouth Quay, Southampton Ocean Liner Terminal, Newhaven Marine, Folkestone Harbour, Dover Western Docks, and even the Irish Mail (London - Holyhead overnight), and stations with all-night buffets, like Crewe. I managed to do most of them before they went, even the Glasgow Nightrider that was routed via Dumfries.
Very Nice Video Sir
Excellent video. The bridges, viaducts and other railway buildings are very impressive as is the surrounding Galloway countryside. It is a lovely area for exploring and hiking. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your comment. I was back in Newton Stewart a fortnight ago. As you say, it's a good area for hiking.
Great stuff - thank you (maybe go easy on the music level)
Thanks for your comment, much appreciated. You can turn the volume down on your laptop - but the thing about music is that you can't please everyone and sometimes I agonise over whether to add music!