The trains we did,… 1S81 remembered.

1S81 was a classic late evening passenger and mail servce from Carlisle to Perth. The formation was normally 2 MK I’s including a BSK with a TPO and various sundry vans behind. Electric hauled to Mossend it was famous for it’s g-force acceleration where an AC electric, light load and Scotrail driver keen to get home, sometimes had u thrown back hard against your compo seat as the 86 was whacked out of Carlisle and Lockerbie.

From Mossend normally a type 2 would work S81 forward with steam heat now ouzing into your compo. More shacks like Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Larbert and Stirling before a midnight arrival at Perth. A train we all took for granted perhaps, a train we all wish we did more , but when we did it always a pleasure to do. Sadly with sectorisation/privitisation/rancidification of our railway ,S81 was soon on the accountant’s hit list. Low passenger volumes (mainly cranks!) and needing the resources of various sectors it ceased running in May 85.

The last run on 110585 featured 86315 with an arranged 20125 and 20209 taking it forward, just to Larbert (due an engineers block) that late Spring night.

S81 in May 82 ran as follows..

Carlisle 2050, Lockerbie 2113, Carstairs 2154, Motherwell 2216, Coatbridge C 2243, Cumbernauld 2255, Larbert 2309, Stirling 2321, Perth 0001

Sample S81 gen – thanks to the usual gen men and the Timewarp website

300775 86017

110881 85040

300382 26034

310382 86324

310382 26014

270582 85025

010482 25079

010682 27206

190782 27023

190782 85039

200782 82008

200782 27032

300383 85012

300383 27056

130583 81003

130583 37043

060683 86239

060683 27023

270983 40047

071083 86224

071083 47707

070284 40122

100984 37125

100984 86220

250185 86252

250185 27056

260185 27051

280185 86101

280185 27020

290185 47461

010285 37027

040285 47578

060285 47124

120285 86328

120285 47270

110585 86315

110585 20125}

20209}

Phots of S81 because of its late hour working are, as yet a struggle to find. Creating the S81 scene is perhaps is this view of "tippie" 27054 on vans in Perth’s bay’s around midnight on a freezing 290185.