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| When I set off for Aviemore on September 15th 2006 the last thing I expected to see at Boat of Garten was the Royal Scotsman train coaches which had been parked up overnight. There was also the heritage diesel 31327 which I said originally was making a guest appearance. However, the owner contacted me, in the nicest possible way, and put me right. He told me 31327, now repainted and restored to its original number D5862, and, "will have the duty of hauling the Royal Scotsman during 2007, as it has done since July 2003. The loco is under the care of the Strathspey Diesel Group, and, at present is the only mainline Diesel Electric on SRC metals that has the dual role of being the standby Thunderbird for steam loco failures, as well as the rostered loco for Royal Scotsman duties." I would offer my thanks to the owner for the information. I've never had a real engine owner e-mail me before! | |||
| The City of Truro wasn't the only engine having difficulty getting started on the day. Class 31 Diesel 31327 also had a need of a wee battery boost to fire it up. Whoops sorry! You don't fire diesels! For more pictures and information about 31327, or D5862 as it was in its earlier incarnation with BR, visit the site linked to above. You can also visit the Rail Blue site - an excellent source of information about diesel engines. 31327 (or D5862 as it is now) owner also advised me he was looking for a new set of batteries for the coming season. | Anyway along to the rescue comes the diesel shunter D2774. Having gone up the yard to clear the appropriate points then comes back and connects up with 31327. It then procedes to tow it off to, presumably the nearest charging unit to put a bit of life in the poor things batteries! It also looks as if D2774 was suffering from adhesion problems as well, although it's more difficult to tell with a diesel. If you watch the wheels closely it looks like a bit of slipping occurs. | ||
| The video on the left shows 31327 backing up on the train prior to its departure for Aviemore. As I said before as I was in Boat of Garten at the time I never did find out what the Royal Scotman's train engine was. One person told me it was a Great Western Castle Class, but that was quickly shot down in flames by another person. So I guess it's just one of life's little mysteries. If I were a betting man I would bet it was a Class 47! | |||
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