Sleeper Formations

[91111]

Hello all,

I'm interested in the Inverness area circa 1999. I've found out a good amount of information but can not seem to get an exact formation of the Inverness-Euston sleeper services. From pictures I can see the usual motive power is provided by a EWS 47/7 then usually a mk1 full brake but after that is where I'm getting lost as all the pictures I've found are of the front of the train heading north so the rear is not too clear. I understand the mk1 is usually followed by some mk3 sleepers (SLEPs?) then some mk2s but more information of the mk3's and mk2's would be gratefully received.

 

[jopsuk]

Has the formation changed since 1999? Current formation for the Inverness portion is:
1x Mark 2 BUO (Standard class seated sleeper)
1x Mark 2 Lounge car
6x Mark 3 SLE/SLEP

(this is a single "half train", the same as for Glasgow and Edinburgh on the Lowland service)

I'm pretty sure that between Edinburgh and Inverness, the Mark 2s are at the north end, and south of Edinburgh they're at the south end?

 

[91111]

Thanks for the information.

Not sure on the rules of posting links or pictures but here's a typical picture I'm working from:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/roddymacphee/7631148182/in/set-72157630710859460
Photo credit: Roddy MacPhee

From that it looks like the mk1 brake, x4 mk3's, a mk2, followed by x2 mk3's.

Is the mk2 just a normal first class coach or has it been converted for use with the sleepers?

Thanks.

 

[route:oxford]

Has the formation changed since 1999?

Probably...

In the olden days a News/Red Star Parcels coach would have been on the first train North in the morning.

 

[sprinterguy]

Has the formation changed since 1999?

Yes, as the lounge cars and Brake Opens used in the Caledonian Sleeper formations were only converted in time for the 2000 season, which is when the full sleeper rakes received the two-tone purple NatEx "Caledonian Sleeper" livery.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

From that it looks like the mk1 brake, x4 mk3's, a mk2, followed by x2 mk3's.

Is the mk2 just a normal first class coach or has it been converted for use with the sleepers?

Thanks.

I had more experience with the Fort William sleeper than the Inverness portion during this period, but from my limited observations and from photos that I have then this looks like the typical formation used on the Inverness portion throughout the second half of the nineties.

The seated vehicles were just standard Intercity mark 2 first opens. The mark 1 full brake utilised on the Inverness portion of the sleeper replaced the generator van that had been included in the formation from approx. 1992 - 1994 when pairs of no-heat 37s provided the traction, which is why four "heavyweight" 37/5s (and a handful of 37/0s) received full Intercity swallow livery. As soon as sufficient RES class 47/7s had been converted in the 1994/5 period the Inverness sleeper went back over to class 47 operation, which it retained until the 67s took over.