Achnasheen Station

The Belmond Royal Scotsman is a Scottish overnight luxury train, started in 1985 by GS&WR (Great Scottish and Western Railway Co.), and run since 2005 by Belmond Ltd. Its itineraries include 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7-night journeys[1] around the Scottish Highlands, visiting castles, distilleries and historic sites. Once each year, it also makes a 7-night journey around the whole of Great Britain.[2]

Train's history

Crossing the bridge over the River Tay at Perth

The first train was composed of Mark 1 sleeping cars and three vintage dining and lounge carriages. After the inauguration of the current train set in 1989, the vintage coaches have kept on running as the Queen of Scots charter train.

For the second train batch the train's former owner acquired Pullman cars, which were built in 1960 by Metropolitan Cammell for the East Coast Main Line. This train consisted of four sleeping cars, two dining cars, and one observation car.

The train's two dining cars have been replaced over the years. Dining Car 1, which used to be a Gresley kitchen car, was damaged in a shunting incident on depot and, as a wooden (Teak) bodied vehicle was deemed unsafe to continue passenger operations, it was withdrawn from mainline service. It was followed in 1992 by Pullman car Raven, acquired at the same time as the others in the train. Dining Car 2 used to be 99131, an ex-LNER SC1999 coach named Victory. It was replaced by the Pullman car Swift, which was acquired in 2011 and converted by Assenta Rail in Scotland. On 9 August 2011, the train hosted the very first wedding on an Orient Express train. [3]

Two former Mark 3 sleeping cars were added to the train in 1997 as service carriages, replacing two Mk1 coaches (99987 & 99966). One of them has also got double sleeping cabins.

Belmond acquired another Pullman coach in 2015 from CRRES (West Coast Railway Co Ltd) and again employed Assenta Rail to undertake outfitting and project management in order to create "State car - SPA". After provisional mechanical and body works at CRRES the coach was shipped to Mivan Marine in Antrim, where it was outfitted with two Bamford SPA rooms and 2 additional bedrooms (1 PRM Twin and 1 Double) with inter-connection. Upon completion the carriage was taken back to CRRES for final mechanical works and entry into the rolling stock library as 99337. The carriage entered service in September 2016.

In March 2023 the new accommodation category Grand Suite was announced, being available from May 2024. Similar to the namesakes of the Venice-Simplon Orient Express, the two compartments will feature double beds and a drawing saloon with a sofa. They will be located together with another double cabin in the carriage.[4]

Current train fleet

Carriage Current number Former number and name Layout[5]
Observation Lounge Car 99965 Pullman Kitchen First E319 Snipe Loose chairs and sofas with coffee tables, bar, outside observation platform
Dining Car 1 99967 Pullman Kitchen First E317 Raven 20 seat dining saloon, kitchen
Dining Car 2 99960 Pullman Kitchen First E321 Swift 20 seat dining saloon, pantry, cellar, linen closet, managers office.
State Car - Spa 99337 Pullman Kitchen Second E337 Two spa rooms, a Double and a PRM-accessible Twin cabin with inter-connection
State Car No. 1 99961 Pullman Parlour First E324 Amber Three Twin and two Single cabins
State Car No. 2 99962 Pullman Parlour First E329 Pearl Four Twin cabins
State Car No. 3 99963 Pullman Parlour First E331 Topaz Four Twin cabins
State Car No. 4 99964 Pullman Kitchen First E313 Finch Three Twin and two Single cabins
State Car No. 5 99968 10541 (Mk III Sleeper) SLEP Two Double cabins, Staff sleeping cabins, Staff toilet and shower, generator
Service Car 99969 10556 (Mk III Sleeper) SLEP Staff sleeping cabins, staff toilet and shower, staff mess, generator

The train length is 675 feet (206 m) without locos.

Haulage

66746 hauling the Belmond Royal Scotsman through North Queensferry

Until 2015, the Royal Scotsman motive power was provided by West Coast Railways, usually using Class 37, Class 47 or Class 57 diesel locomotives.

For the 2016 season, the haulage contract was taken over by GB Railfreight. Two of their class 66 locomotives, 66743 and 66746, being dedicated to the train. These were repainted into Belmond Royal Scotsman maroon livery with appropriate decals in April/May 2016, the work being carried out by Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh Works in Hampshire. 66746 appeared first, being released on 11 April with 66743 following on 30 May.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Belmond Royal Scotsman - Itineraries". Luxury-Trains.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  2. ↑ "Belmond Royal Scotsman - Luxury train travel in Scotland - The Grand Tour". Belmond Royal Scotsman. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  3. ↑ "Marriage on the Orient Express". thetimes.co.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  4. ↑ "Royal Scotsman Grand Suite" (PDF). Luxury-Trains.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "THE ROYAL SCOTSMAN". Luxury Train Club.
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