The Royal Scotsman

Belmond Royal Scotsman is a Scottish luxury charter train run by Belmond Ltd.

The Royal Scotsman hauled by class 37 heading east along the Kyle of Sutherland

The train is composed of ten cars; two dining cars, one SPA car, five state cars, one crew car, and one observation car. The two dining cars are named Swift" and Raven with seating for twenty people in each coach.

The observation car was converted from Pullman Kitchen Car - Snipe - built in 1960 by Metropolitan Cammell. Along with the other Pullman cars, Amber, Pearl, Topaz and Finch they were acquired by GS&WR (Great Scottish and Western Railway Co.) in 1989 and converted into the observation saloon and passenger sleeping cars.

Pullman car Raven, acquired at the same time as the other Pullman cars, was converted in 1992 as a replacement for the Gresley car that formed the kitchen. The Gresley car was damaged in a shunting incident on depot and as a wooden (Teak) bodied vehicle was deemed unsafe to continue passenger operations and was withdrawn from mainline service.

Pullman car Swift, was acquired in 2011 as a direct replacement for Dining Car 2 99131 Ex LNER SC1999 “Victory”. Converted by Assenta Ltd in Scotland, it entered service in 2012.

Belmond acquired another Pullman coach in 2015 from CRRES (West Coast Railway Co Ltd) and again employed Assenta Ltd to undertake outfitting and project management in order to create "State car - SPA". After provisional mechanical and body works at CRRES the coach was shipped to Mivan Marine in Antrim where the coach was outfitted with two Bamford SPA rooms and 2 additional bedrooms, 1 PRM room and 1 Double room. Upon completion the carriage was taken back to CRRES for final mechanical works and entery onto rolling stock library as 99337. The carriage entered service on 26/9/16.

Carriage data

Train Length (including locos) varies depending on loco type used
Train Length (excluding locos) 675 feet (206 m)

Observation Lounge Car 99965 Pullman Car E319 “Snipe”
Dining Car 1 99967 Pullman Car E317 “Raven”
Dining Car 2 99960 Pullman Car E321 “Swift”
State Car -SPA 99337 Pullman car
State Car No.1 99961 Pullman Car E324 “Amber”
State Car No.2 99962 Pullman Car E329 “Pearl”
State Car No.3 99963 Pullman Car E331 “Topaz”
State Car No.4 99964 Pullman Car E313 “Finch”
State Car No.5 99968 10541 (Mk III Sleeper) SLEP
Service Car 99969 10556 (Mk III Sleeper) SLEP

Haulage

Until 2015, the Royal Scotsman was hauled by West Coast Railways, usually using Class 37, Class 47 or Class 57 diesel locomotives.

For the 2016 season, the haulage contract was taken over by GB Railfreight. Two of their class 66 locomotives - 66743 and 66746 - are being dedicated to the train. These were repainted into Belmond Royal Scotsman maroon livery with appropriate decals in April/May 2016, the work being carried out by Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh Works in Hampshire. 66746 appeared first, being released on April 11th with 66743 following on 30th May.

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