Passenger Train Formations

As part of the club's project to build Newcastleton various sources have been used to obtain details of train formations. It will be noted that trains still had pre-nationalisation stock in their formation up until the 1960's. For an explanation of the abbreviations used please see the Coach Codes page.

The Waverley

Originally called the Thames-Forth Express.
(Locomotive: Carlisle - Edinburgh generally an A3. After the end of steam 'Peak' Class 45/46's were used.)
The formations below are probably for the train leaving / arriving at St. Pancras. As the train reversed at Leeds in both directions the marshalling should be read backwards to be correct for the Waverley route.
1954
(Ex LMS Stock)
Corr Brake 3rd + Corr 3rd (FO) + Corr 3rd + Corr 3rd + Corr 3rd + Corr 3rd + Restaurant 3rd (12w) + Corr 1st + Corr Comp + Corr Brake 3rd.
1959 (source BR Passenger train marshalling booklet Central Lines LMR June - September 1959)
Edinburgh - St Pancras / St Pancras - Edinburgh [2 sets of coaches]
(BR Mk1 Stock, except where indicated)
BSK + SO + SO + SK + [LMS 12w Restaurant 1st] + FK + CK + CK + BSK.
BSK + SK + SO + SO + [LMS 12w Restaurant 3rd + CO] + FK + CK + BSK.
1960
(BR Mk1 Stock)
BSK + SO + SO + SO + 12w Dining Car [LMS] + FK + CK + CK + BSK
1965
(BR Mk1 Stock)
BSK + SO + SO + SO (48seats) + 12w Dining Car [LMS] + FK + CK + CK + BSK

 

St Pancras - Edinburgh Sleeper

(Locomotive: Carlisle - Edinburgh generally an A3. After the end of steam 'Peak' Class 45/46's were used.)
The formations below are probably for the train leaving / arriving at St. Pancras. As the train reversed at Leeds in both directions the marshalling should be read backwards to be correct for the Waverley route.
1953
BG + Sleeper Comp + CK + CK + TK + TK + TK + BG
1955
BG + Sleeper Comp + Sleeper Comp + Sleeper 3rd + Sleeper 1st + CK + CK + TK + TK + TK + BG
1959 (source BR Passenger train marshalling booklet Central Lines LMR June - September 1959)
BG + Sleeper 2nd + Sleeper 1st + CK + CK + SK + SK + SK + SK [MFSO] + BG
Notes: MFSO = Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays only
The source booklet seems to indicate the Northbound train always had 4 SKs
1963
BG + Sleeper 2nd + Sleeper 1st + CK + CK + SK + SK + SK + BG

The following information comes from studying photographs. The information is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate, but gives an indication of the stock used.

Waverley to Carlisle

Locomotive: Type 2 [Cl26]
1965
BSK + SK + CK + BSK + CCT + CCT

 

Hawick to Edinburgh
Locomotive: 4MT 2-6-0
1965
BSK + SK + CK + BSK

 

N/K (Southbound @ Riccarton)

Locomotive: Class 40
BSK + CK + SK + BG + Mk1 GUV

 

Carlisle - Hawick

Locomotive: B1
CK + 2nd Brake [LMS]

 

N/K

Locomotive: B1
non gangwayed brake + BSK + CK + [Gresley 2nd + Brake]

 

Edinburgh - Leeds via Carlisle

Locomotive: A3
1965
BSK + CK (1st @ front) + SK + SK + SK + BSK + Thompson 2nd

 

Hawick - Waverley

Locomotive: B1
1965
B1 + BSK + CK + SK + SK + Thompson composite(1st class @ rear end of composites)

 

Scott Country Rail Tour

Locomotive: Glen Falloch
1959
BSK + SK + BSK

 

Southbound to Carlisle

Locomotive: A1
1961
CCT (or possibly LMS 6w) + BSK + Thompson Composite + SK + BSK

 

Carlisle to Edinburgh

Locomotive: A1
Gresley Brake 2nd + CK + Gresley 2nd + Gresley Brake 2nd + 12t van

 

Edinburgh to Carlisle

Locomotive: V2
Gresley Brake 2nd + CK + Gresley 2nd + Gresley 2nd + BSK

 

Edinburgh to Carlisle

Locomotive: V2
Gresley Brake 2nd + CK + Gresley 2nd + Gresley 2nd + Gresley Brake 2nd

 

Below are some other passenger train formations for trains that ran through Edinburgh. Note: Where a description such as '2nd' or other information is given our sources did not indicated the exact vehicle type.

The Flying Scotsman

Northbound Train
Locomotive: Ex LNER Pacific
London - Newcastle: Possibly 2000hp Diesel (Class 40)
c1960
Aberdeen portion: BSK + CK
Edinburgh only: SK + SO (with miniature buffet) + Kitchen/Restaurant + RFO + FK + CK + 2nd + 2nd + BG
Southbound reverse order

 

The Elizabethan

Kings X - Edinburgh Waverley (Northbound Train)
Locomotive: A4 (Non-stop, therefore locomotive with corridor tender needed.)
c1960
Aberdeen portion : BCK + SK
Edinburgh only: 2nd + 2nd + 2nd + 2nd + 2nd + RSO + RF + FK (with ladies room) + BG Of the five seconds in the Edinburgh portion one contained a ladies room and one a small buffet

 

The Talisman

Kings X - Edinburgh Waverley (Northbound Train)
Locomotive: Ex LNER Pacific
c1960
MorningBSK + SK + SK + SK + 2nd/Kitchen + RFO + CK + FK + BSK
AfternoonBSK + SK + SK (Friday only) + SO + 2nd/Kitchen + Twin First (Ex Coronation) + CK + BSK

 

Heart of Midlothian

Kings X - Edinburgh Waverley (Northbound Train); Southbound - Same formation
Locomotive: Ex LNER Pacific
Aberdeen portion: BSK + CK (Worked to Aberdeen the following day)
Edinburgh only: BSK + SK + SK + SK + RF + FO + FK + CK + BSK

 

Queen of Scots (Northbound Train)

Locomotive: London - Leeds: A1Leeds - Edinburgh: A2, A3, A4 Edinburgh - Glasgow: B1c1960
Leeds Only: 2nd + 1st kitchen
Glasgow + 2nd Brake + 2nd Kitchen + 1st + 1st Kitchen + 1st Kitchen + 2nd + 2nd Brake