Day 1: Mon 19 Jul 2021: Our party of six (of the original 13 members who had expressed interest) met on Edinburgh Waverley P13 and took the 09.23 to Dunblane as far as Larbert for the following train (from Glasgow Queen Street) to Alloa to give us the junction and P6 at Stirling. At Alloa half the group set off in search of the nearby circa 1768 Alloa Wagonway, now a 0.7km footpath starting to the right of the Station Hotel on the Ring Road (NS 8863 9305), with two tunnels, towards the River Forth at NS 8840 9237. Having successfully walked through both, a brisk walk back caught the 11.43 to Queen Street P6 via Stirling P9 then the Up Passenger Loop (the preferred route at 40mph as the alternative crossover to the Up Perth is 25mph). Alloa mostly retains two trains an hour in these now difficult times for railways.

From Queen Street we griced the Travelator to Buchanan Street Subway station and obtained our 'free' passes to work the gates that come with the Central Scotland Rover that most were using. We chose the Subway Inner Circle (anticlockwise) right round 14 stops to Cowcaddens. Time was against us so, after admiring the tiny humped platform, our group returned to Buchanan Street and the Travelator in the other direction to Queen Street. Then, from P3, came our first return trip to Croy, back to Queen Street P2 via Crossover 747 (It wasn't a 'jumbo' one either). Next (from Queen Street P1) was the first of the SIX routes to Edinburgh - 'taking Stepps' to go via Cumbernauld. A delay due to a Down train on the single track Cowlairs Chord resulted in us returning from Polmont rather than Linlithgow, but reaching Queen Street P5 in time for the planned 16.33 (from P6 via Crossover 748) to Stirling bay P7 and its 17.24 back to Larbert. A swift pint was enjoyed in the adjacent hostelry.

Our next service (17.54 from Larbert) was the 17.18 Edinburgh to Alloa, a 2 x 3-car Class 385 EMU which splits at Stirling P6. The rear unit forms the 18.15 Stirling to Dunblane, the only booked train to cross to the Down Main via the connecting line north of Stirling. However, there was great difficulty in splitting them and, amid much confusion, the Alloa portion was cancelled and the whole train ran to Dunblane (P2 rather than booked P3). Next a change at Haymarket P3 gave arrival at Edinburgh P10 for a trip from P7 via the South Line to Musselburgh (20.48/55), returning via the South Line through P7 to Edinburgh P11. Day 1 ended on the 21.15 from P10 to Linlithgow (21.37/39!!), returning to P14.

Day 2: Tue 20 Jul: There was an optional start either by the 09.08 Edinburgh P17 via Bathgate to Queen Street or the 09.17 direct from P14 before we reunited at Bellgrove for the 10.26 booked to use Springburn P4 - currently the rare one, and it did! Returning to Queen Street P8, it was on from P7 via Falkirk High using the 11.15 to Edinburgh via crossover 748; it is one of the few trains that cross to the Up North line at Haymarket Central Jn to arrive in P16. Our fourth route from P14 to Glasgow was the slow one via Shotts (but much faster than it was in the 1970s) on the 12.28, calling at most stations (even Breich which so nearly closed), reaching Glasgow Central P3 13.35. Breich recorded a 756% increase in passenger use from 2018/19 (342) to 2019/20 (2,550), the biggest percentage rise on the network! After a brisk walk our group caught the 14.15 from Queen Street P4 to Croy returning to P6.

From Low Level P9 the 15.29 was taken, to Airdrie bay P1 where it terminated, then onto the fortress Edinburgh Park - which does not have any parking and requires going through ticket gates just to use the footbridge! Again we headed to Larbert but for the 17.30 to Stirling P10 which stables at the buffer stop end. The next move, from Stirling P3 at 17.49, was by ex-GWR HST non-stop to Queen Street P4 via Crossover 753 in the station throat, completing everything south of Cowlairs South Jn.

There was now an hour's break in our proceedings; your reporter took a noisy 156453 from Queen Street P2 to Anniesland bay P3 then back to Central Low Level (you might as well get your money's worth with a Rover). Upstairs we regrouped on the 19.47 to Edinburgh from P7 and even enjoyed a slice of pizza (for rail enthusiasts it should, of course, have been from Pizza Express...). This service surprised us all by running via Bellshill, Motherwell, Wishaw and Carstairs - as booked though (our 6th route between the two cities). By changing at Haymarket P3 to P1, we claimed Waverley P18. Some made further traction moves to/from Waverley while others refuelled with a pint!

Day 3: Wed 21 Jul: For the last day, there was the eastern side of Edinburgh Waverley, North Berwick, Tweedbank and Fife to do, especially the much altered P3 to P6. This meant starting from Edinburgh P7 at 08.41 via the South Line to Musselburgh returning via the North Line to the new lengthy bay P6 (usually used by LNER and CrossCountry, like adjacent P5). We then hurried over to P1 for the 09.24 to Newcraighall, returning to the east (London) end of P4. A quick dash to Haymarket P2 gave the facing scissor, followed by the facing crossover (No165) at 0m 27ch; return was back to Edinburgh P14.

Our 10.41 to North Berwick left from P4 stop blocks; the return was to P2. To follow was the 12.24 to Tweedbank from P11 - ahead in P7 was an empty TPE Class 802 but we bypassed it via the facing scissor (No132) and Carleton South Tunnel. We went as far as Gorebridge, returning to Waverley P3. We then encountered our only cancellation - the 13.49 clockwise Fife Circle; however the 13.41 anti-clockwise service was waiting at P19 which gave good coastal views as well as the overgrown Thornton Yard. Return was to P17 allowing time for a trip from P20 to Haymarket P2, where the group was able to join the 16.41 from P1, one of the peak through trains from Fife to, unusually, Tweedbank P2. It ran through Waverley P20 and P1. The Tweedbank branch is up there with the Scottish scenic routes and 170415 was driven flat out on the long twisting climb to Bowshank Tunnel. At the terminus there was no sign of the promised micro pub so, returning from P1, we paused at Galashiels (18.32/48) and, still finding no refreshment, went back to Tweedbank. We were glad to return to the air conditioned comfort of the 18.52 Tweedbank to Dundee which took us through Waverley P8 & 9, then right across to Haymarket P2. A few more moves mopped up all the track not previously covered in the City. These were Haymarket P3 to Edinburgh P10, returning from the double platformed P18 to Haymarket P2. Arrival was at 20.45 and we made the 20.46 from P3 to Edinburgh P12, for the 21.09 from P17 to Haymarket P2. The final move, completing the layout, was 21.28 from P3 to Edinburgh P11 at 21.33.

Extra Moves: Some very interesting moves take place at Waverley during the morning peak SSuX (not covered by the Rover). Participants took advantage of these at extra expense over the three days:

Haymarket P3 07.12 - through Waverley P20 to P1 via the two facing crossovers at 0m 32ch.
Edinburgh Park 07.18 - Haymarket P1 via two facing crossovers at Edinburgh Central Jn.
Brunstane 07.12 - Waverley P20 (scissors crossover from P2 to P20 as there is a train booked in P1).
Brunstane 07.48 - Haymarket P2 (scissors crossover Waverley P1 to 19, with a train booked in P20).

Thanks to Tom Gilby for his meticulous work in planning this excellent itinerary.

The three day :Central Scotland Rover,: which most participants used, covers the Glasgow Subway plus extremities: Partick, Dunblane, Alloa, Markinch, Drem, North Berwick, Tweedbank, Carstairs, Lanark, Larkhall and between. It includes all Glasgow - Edinburgh routes and the Fife Circle. ScotRail services only, three consecutive days, after 09.15 SSuX, Adult £55, Railcard only £36.30.

The Queen Street to Buchanan Street travellator.
[© Tom Gilby 2021]

Airdrie Bay P1 (right) looking east to Bathgate.
[© Tom Gilby 2021]

Airdrie Bay P1.
[© Tom Gilby 2021]

Stirling - a train in bay P10.
[© Tom Gilby 2021]