Royal Scotsman 2018

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A list of journey operated by The Royal Scotsman train during 2018.

The trains are usually hauled by GBRf Class 66 locos 66743 or 66746 in Royal Scotsman livery.

There are three regular tour itineraries, plus a few special tours during the season.

Note that from 12 May to 19 August the route between Aberdeen and Dyce is blocked for engineering work.

Classic 5 Day/4 Night Tour
Day 1: 1H79 1345 Edinburgh - Keith via Aberdeen (or 1H89 1345 Edinburgh - Aviemore.)
Day 2: 1H80 0833 Keith - Kyle. (or 1H80 0835 Aviemore - Kyle)
Day 3: 1H81 0839 Kyle – Boat of Garten
Day 4: 1H82 1110 Boat of Garten - Dundee (reverse at Perth)
Day 5: 1H84 0807 Dundee – Edinburgh


Western 4 Day/3 Night Tour
Day 1: 1H85 1345 Edinburgh - Spean Bridge (reverses at Dalmeny Loop and Springburn)
Day 2: 1H86 0823 Spean Bridge - Fort William - Mallaig - Fort William, 1640 Fort William - Bridge of Orchy
Day 3: 1H87 0746 Bridge of Orchy – Wemyss Bay, 1827 Wemyss Bay - Kilmarnock
Day 4: 1H88 0545 Kilmarnock - Edinburgh

The Western Trip operates in top and tail mode due to the length of the train on the Mallaig extension. On arrival back at Fort William, one loco stables and runs light (as 0H87) to Wemyss Bay on Day 3 to re-attach to the train. This means the veranda coach is at the rear for the journey over Rannoch Moor.

Highland 3 Day/2 Night Tour
Day 1: 1H89 1345 Edinburgh - Boat of Garten
Day 2: 1H90 1208 Aviemore - Inverness - Dundee Dalwhinnie (then 1H92 to Dundee)
Day 3: 1H91 0807 Dundee – Edinburgh

On days the train arrives back in Edinburgh, but does not have an afternoon departure (shown N/A), the empty stock may run south on the ECML as 5E89 1320 Craigentinny to Tweedmouth.


% indicates changes for engineering work.

Departure Date, Tour
12-Apr Thu Classic Day 1, % Day 5
16-Apr Mon Classic
20-Apr Fri Western Day 1.
23-Apr Mon Classic
27-Apr Fri Western
30-Apr Mon Classic

04-May Fri Western %
07-May Mon Classic
11-May Fri Highland
14-May Mon Classic % Day 1&2 (Start of Dyce Block)
18-May Fri Clans, Castles & Isles (73s to/from Oban)
23-May Wed Highland % Day 2.
25-May Fri Classic
29-May Tue Private Charter (from Gleneagles)
31-May Thu Classic

04-Jun Mon Homes & Gardens
08-Jun Fri Western
11-Jun Mon Classic
15-Jun Fri Whisky Classic. (Timings) 66736.
19-Jun Tue N/A
20-Jun Wed Highland 5Z89/1H89
22-Jun Fri Western
25-Jun Mon Scottish Golf
29-Jun Fri Classic

03-Jul Tue Highland
07-Jul Thu N/A
06-Jul Fri Grand Tour of Great Britain
13-Jul Fri N/A
14-Jul Sat Highland
16-Jul Mon Classic
20-Jul Fri Western
23-Jul Mon Highland (not advertised)
25-Jul Wed Whisky Classic
29-Jul Sun Classic

02-Aug Thu Highland
04-Aug Sat London (Private charter)
06-Aug Mon Whisky Classic
10-Aug Fri Classic
14-Aug Tue N/A
15-Aug Wed Highland
17-Aug Fri Western
20-Aug Mon Classic (1H79 WTT to Keith via Aberdeen)
24-Aug Fri Western
27-Aug Mon Classic
31-Aug Fri Highland

02-Sep Sun Western
05-Sep Wed N/A
07-Sep Fri Dales, Lakes & Gardens (% not Girvan)
11-Sep Tue N/A
12-Sep Wed Clans, Castles & Isles (73s to/from Oban)
17-Sep Mon Classic
21-Sep Fri Western
24-Sep Mon Classic
28-Sep Fri Western

01-Oct Mon Classic
05-Oct Fri Western
08-Oct Mon Whisky Classic
12-Oct Fri Highland
14-Oct Sun Whisky Classic
18-Oct Thu N/A