Highland railway to welcome blast from the past as 1960s Class 37 locos return to old haunts on Scotland railway tour excursion
Highland rail passengers will be able to witness a blast from the past this weekend, when a once familiar class of train returns to the region.
Two Class 37s, which date back 65 years, will be hauling a special rail tour from Carlisle to Inverness on Saturday.
The classic diesel electric locos' design will be instantly familiar to generations of older rail passengers - with the units once plying their trade on regular Highland services in the 1980s before being phased out in favour of more modern rolling stock in the 1990s.
However, these work horses are still active elsewhere on the UK network with 65 of the original 309 engines still in use today with the likes of rail hauliers like Colas Rail, spot-hire companies like Europhoenix, and charter train operators like West Coast Railways.
This weekend’s special visit to the Highland capital, which has been dubbed the Capital Highlander, will see a rail tour train hauled by two of the Class 37s that are still in operation.
It will be Scottish Railway Preservation Society Railtours’ first tour of the 2025 season, and is expected to feature the locos 37403 “Isle of Mull” and 37409 “Loch Awe”.
And fans hoping to catch a glimpse of them on their journey, or at rest in Inverness, will have plenty of chances.
Barring delays its northbound leg is expected to see it pass Aviemore at around 12.35pm Carrbridge at 12.49pm, Culloden at 1.33pm and arrive at Inverness at around 1.44pm.
After nearly three hours in Inverness, the train will then leave the Highland capital at 4.42pm, and passing the likes of Aviemore at around 5.35pm on its way back to Carlisle.
