Royal Scotsman 2023

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A list of journeys operated by The Royal Scotsman train during 2023.
The trains are usually hauled by GBRf Class 66 locos 66743 or 66746 in Royal Scotsman livery
(except between Aviemore and Boat of Garten where a Strathspey Railway diesel, 37674 or D5862, is used).

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

  • Classic (Scotland's Classic Splendours) 5 Day/4 Night Tour
    • Day 1: 1H79 1345 Edinburgh - Keith via Aberdeen
    • Day 2: 1H80 0840 Keith - Kyle (or 1H77 1250 Elgin - Kyle)*
    • Day 3: 1H81 0840 Kyle – Boat of Garten (or 1H78 0659 Kyle - Boat of Garten)*
    • Day 4: 1H82 1115 Boat of Garten - Dundee (reverse at Perth)
    • Day 5: 1H84 0807 Dundee – Edinburgh
  • The 'Scotch Malt Whisky' tour* and the 'Heritage Homes & Gardens' tour are variations of the Classic.

  • Western (Western Scenic Wonders) 4 Day/3 Night Tour
    • Day 1: 1H85 1345 Edinburgh - Spean Bridge (via Falkirk High)
    • Day 2: 1H86 0823 Spean Bridge - Fort William - Mallaig - Fort William, 1643 Fort William - Bridge of Orchy
    • Day 3: 1H87 0749 Bridge of Orchy – Wemyss Bay (via City Union), 1829 Wemyss Bay - Kilmarnock (via Glasgow C HL)
    • Day 4: 1H88 0554 Kilmarnock - Edinburgh (via Shotts & Niddrie W Jn)
  • The Western Tour 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 (Taste of the Highlands) 3 Day/2 Night Tour
    • Day 1: 1H89 1345 Edinburgh - Boat of Garten (via Kirkcaldy)
    • Day 2: 1H90 1200 Aviemore - Inverness - Aberdeen - Dundee
    • Day 3: 1H91 0807 Dundee – Edinburgh

Between tours, the train is serviced at Craigentinny Depot.
On days the train arrives back in Edinburgh, but does not have an afternoon departure (shown 'N/A' = None Advertised), the empty stock may run as 5D91 1003 Edinburgh to Hamilton sidings for maintenance work. The return working before a tour usually runs as 5B79 from Hamilton to Craigentinny.


% indicates changes for engineering work.
  • Engineering work near Barrhead from 24-Jun to 03-Aug will affect Western Tours, requiring reversal at Barassie to and from Kilmarnock.

Departure Date, Tour

  • MARCH 2023
  • 27-Mar-23, Mon, Test run 5Z79, 5Z91 Pink 66734 'Platinum Jubilee'.
 

  • APRIL 2023, Royal Scotsman
  • 03-Apr-23, Mon, Private Tour (Gleneagles), 66746
  • 05-Apr-23, Wed, (N/A) ECS to Hamilton
  • 10-Apr-23, Mon, Classic, 66746
  • 14-Apr-23, Fri, Western, 66743 & 66746
  • 17-Apr-23, Mon, Classic / Whisky, 66743
  • 21-Apr-23, Fri, Western, 66743 & 66746
  • 24-Apr-23, Mon, Classic
  • 28-Apr-23, Fri, Western
 

 

  • JUNE 2023, Royal Scotsman
  • 02-Jun-23, Fri, Western
  • 05-Jun-23, Mon, Classic
  • 09-Jun-23, Fri, Classic
  • 13-Jun-23, Tue, (ECS to Hamilton)
  • 14-Jun-23, Wed, Highlands
  • 16-Jun-23, Fri, Western - Diverted to Oban (66775 on 1Z87 to Wemyss Bay)
  • 19-Jun-23, Mon, Highlands
  • 21-Jun-23, Wed, Highlands
  • 23-Jun-23, Fri, Classic / Whisky
  • 27-Jun-23, Tue, Highlands
  • 29-Jun-23, Thu, (ECS to Hamilton)
  • 30-Jun-23, Fri, Western %
 

  • JULY 2023, Royal Scotsman
  • 03-Jul-23, Mon, Classic
  • 07-Jul-23, Fri, (ECS to Hamilton)
  • 10-Jul-23, Mon, Classic
  • 14-Jul-23, Fri, Western %
  • 17-Jul-23, Mon, Highlands
  • 19-Jul-23, Wed, Classic / Whisky
  • 23-Jul-23, Sun, (ECS to Hamilton)
  • 24-Jul-23, Mon, Classic
  • 28-Jul-23, Fri, Western %
  • 31-Jul-23, Mon, Highlands
 

  • AUGUST 2023, Royal Scotsman
  • 02-Aug-23, Wed, Highlands
  • 04-Aug-23, Fri, Western
  • 07-Aug-23, Mon, Classic, 66746
  • 11-Aug-23, Fri, Classic ECS to Doncaster 66743+66746 (DH)
  • 14-Aug-23, Mon, ECS Doncaster to Hamilton 66746 (& 66743 OR)
  • 16-Aug-23, Wed, Highlands, 66746
  • 18-Aug-23, Fri, Western
  • 21-Aug-23, Mon, Classic 66743 replaced by 66746 on 1H82
  • 25-Aug-23, Fri, Western
  • 28-Aug-23, Mon, Classic
 

  • SEPTEMBER 2023, Royal Scotsman
  • 01-Sep-23, Fri, Western
  • 04-Sep-23, Mon, Highland
  • 06-Sep-23, Wed, Clans, Castles & Isles (Oban) 66743 & 66746
  • 11-Sep-23, Mon, Classic
  • 15-Sep-23, Fri, Western
  • 18-Sep-23, Mon, Classic
  • 22-Sep-23, Fri, Western 66743 & 66736
  • 25-Sep-23, Mon, Classic
  • 29-Sep-23, Fri, Highland 66736. Accident at Aviemore with steam loco 60103.
 

  • OCTOBER 2023, Royal Scotsman
  • 02-Oct-23, Mon, Classic / Whisky Cancelled
  • 06-Oct-23, Fri, Highlands Cancelled
  • 08-Oct-23, Sun, Classic / Whisky Cancelled
  • 12-Oct-23, Thu, Classic Cancelled
  • 14-Oct-23, Sat, ECS Aviemore - Hamilton 66736.
  • 16-Oct-23, Mon, Highlands Cancelled?
  • 25-Oct-23, Wed, Western Cancelled?



See Also