Visit to Strathclyde

The chosen mode of transport for this fixture was the Avanti West Coast 05:31 from Euston, arriving at Glasgow Central at 10:42. Four members joined the train from Warrington, Wigan and Preston.

The first surprise was that the train pulled into Glasgow five minutes early which enabled one member to make a very tight connection by class 380 unit to Largs, enabling him to take the ferry to Great Cumbrae, thence by coach to the capital Millport. He reported that it was noticeable that, since the last trip in 2018, Hunterston B Nuclear Power Station had been decommissioned.

The remaining three members walked from Glasgow Central to Queen Street station which brought home to them the immense damage which had been inflicted on the Central station area by the conflagration on 8 March.

At Queen Street a second member took a class 318/320 unit to Airdrie, alighting at Coatbridge Sunnyside for some not so sunny photography. Whilst England was sweltering in 30 degrees of heat Scotland lived up to its reputation by being cloudy and at least 10 degrees cooler, although the sun did come out in the afternoon. From there the member walked to Coatbridge Central station to catch a class 320 unit to Dalmuir, but only as far as Motherwell where photography continued unchecked, in particular a shot of the new West Coast Lumo service in action. He rejoined the homeward train at Motherwell.

Meanwhile, the remaining two members took a class 385 express to Edinburgh Waverley. This is a very impressive service, every half hour, and every train bang on time – at least it was the day we visited.

The members left the train at Haymarket in order to spot some Edinburgh trams with their tiny numbers in addition to everything else coming in and out of Waverley.

A cold Nor’easter eventually drove them into Waverley where it was much warmer under the glass roof. It was noted that the main station bar contained a neon sign in one cornersaying “Train-spotters beer club” which must seem close to heaven for some members.

Another class 385 ride back to Glasgow took the two members to the Glasgow “clockwork orange” underground and the circuit was completed on a couple of the 17 new units, of which 10 were on duty that day.

We had hoped to also visit Hyndland station but time did not permit in order for all members to get home that evening. The Malvern member just made it by 11:15pm.

All in all, an excellent and varied fixture. Here’s to the next time!