MacRats!!!
Part 1: In service in Scotland
Welcome to a Class 26 & 27 special. MacRats, Small Engines, Lawnmowers and Hedgeclippers, whatever you want to call them, they were a key feature of any trip north of the border back in the day.
My first Freedom of Scotland was back in 1983, and I was there in time to enjoy having a 26 to Kyle, pairs of them (plus a 26/27 combo) on Inverness - Aberdeen services and a 27 to Stranraer. Sadly, I was not equipped with a camera back then, or for my 1985 Freedom (where there was still a pair of 26s working out of Inverness), so you'll just have to take my word for it.
However, I'd procured Pentax ahead of my 1986 week in Scotland, and captured several images of the wee beasties. The 27s had less than a year left in traffic, so the trip was rather timely.
That summer, due to a shortage of units the Edinburgh - Kirkcaldy locals were loco-hauled, mainly by 26s. Time to fill your boots! First up, we have 26014 at Inverkeithing on one such working on 3rd September 1986 - I took it to Waverley. Now preserved at The Caledonian Railway.
On the same day, 26010 was also on the circuit. I had it from South Gyle to Haymarket, where it is seen here. This example has also survived, now based at the Llangollen Railway.
Later the same day, over at Glasgow Queen St, 27001 waits to depart on 1L39, which I took to Larbert. Also preserved, after doing the rounds in England (see later posts) it is now at the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway.
The following day, and with a backdrop of semaphore signals and a gasholder, 27051 heads out of Stirling with some former trees. Withdrawn in July 87, I never had it for haulage.
A day later, while festering between moves on 37/4s, 26008 basks in the sunshine. Another loco that never received the red-pen treatment.
And finally from this selection, 26001 seen after arrival at Haymarket on the early morning commuter turn from Berwick. We had travelled down to Dunbar to get this for haulage, but 37041 working an overnight from Kings Cross meant a change of plan, so 001 was done for a scratch move from Waverley. Another loco that made it into preservation, it is at the Caledonian Railway, but needs to be fixed.
And that was the last time I saw them in traffic.