Class 101 Met-Camm 2,3 & 4-car DMUs
Observation Saloon 6300
The line from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh has a long history of conveying an obervation saloon during the summer season, and from 1987 to 1994 a converted Met-Camm driving-trailer would be used.
It would be on the rear of the train leaving Inverness, and be behind the loco for the return from Kyle.
Background
In 1986 the Scottish Region received a number of units from the around the country to help with the sudden withdrawal of the Class 107 fleet due to axle problems.
Amongst these vehicles were two Driver Trailers, 54356 and 54337. Both had been stored unservicable at Cardiff before being transferred to Haymarket. Their use at Cardiff was brief (three months before being put in store), long enough to earn a Cardiff set number on the cab front but not long enough to have the M vehicle number prefix from their previous allocation at Chester replaced by a W.
The image shows M54337 and M54356 on Haymarket depot. Neither would enter service while at the depot. Note M54337 had a shallower grey band than M54356. S Saunders.
Both were withdrawn from Haymarket in September 1986, and in Spring 1987 moved to Aberdeen Ferryhill with a view to converting one to an observation saloon for the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh line.
54356 was chosen for this and Ferryhill depot stripped out some the original seating and fitted a ledge around the interior. Also one door was replaced on the (once) drivers side, the mismatched level of grey shows this likely came from 54337 (which had a door missing when it was at MC Metals for disposal).
After moving to Inverness depot they fitted carpets and some random seating, through ETH cables, a PA system, the jumper cables/sockets, high vacuum and air pipes were removed. Exterior work was limited to painting the cab front rail blue and applying vinyl stag logos to the cab front and sides. It initially kept the number M54356.
1987 Season
At Inverness on 02/06/87, with the stag on the bodyside only, the right-hand lamp bracket and jumper sockets are still in place and there is no signs of the ETH socket. Roddy MacPhee.
The Highlands and Islands Development Board supplied half the cost of the £6,000 conversion, their Deputy Chairman Ronnie Cramond flagging of the saloon on the 10:15 Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh for an inaugural press run on Thursday 21 May 1987. It began regular operations from Saturday 23 May, leaving Inverness on the rear of the 10:15 and returning on the 17:10 between the loco and coaches. A £3 supplement was charged, with a hostess on board providing a commentry for the 81-mile trip. The saloon did not run on a Friday to give the hostess a day off. [1]
The next image, taken in Inverness station on 12 August 1987, clearly shows the mis-matched door. The stag logo has now been added to the cab front. The red marker lights were not used but a tail lamp would be carried, the right-hand lamp bracket has now been removed, probably for easier access to the ETH cable. The partition into the cab is still in place, it seems to have been used as a staff compartment for the 1987 season.
The promotional leaflet for the service measured 3 7/8" x 8 1/4" as it did for all future issues.
1988 Season
For the 1988 season the vehicle was given a proper repaint, into what was described as 'LNER tourist livery', an apple green with a cream band that wrapped around the cab. The two were separated by white lining, and at the cab door on the number one (ex-driver) side there was a step in the top lining (illustrated) — but not on the other side.
The image (by Steven Clements) shows the vehicle in Inverness on April 21st, facing the opposite direction than normal (it was easily turned in the triangle at Inverness).
There was large Scottish Highlands and Islands logos on the lower cab front and at the rear of both bodysides. The partition to the cab was now removed, and there was additional ETH equipment added to the bufferbeam.
It now carried the vehicle number 6300 in gold, and on the centre of both sides was 'Hebridean' in large gold capital letters which was the name of the service it worked, the 10:15 Inverness - Kyle and 16:40 return. It would also carry a maroon board on the cab front with the lettering 'Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh', padlocked in place.
It is seen on the rear of a Kyle of Lochalsh service departing from Dingwall in 1988. Paul Moxon. The rest of the coaching stock seemed to remain in blue and grey for this year.
1989 Season
Although Sprinters would take over most of the services from the May 1989 timetable, the Hebridean service remained loco-hauled, and the coaching stock was painted into similar colours and also given names on the sides. At the start of the year the services ran from Dingwall due to a bridge being out over the River Ness in Inverness.
Changes to 6300 for this season included the removal of the electrification flash from the left cab window, removal of the 'Scottish Highlands & Islands' logos, and the white lining (between the green and cream) was replaced with grey lining — the mismatch on the (ex-)drivers door remained.
The image shows 6300 next to 37419 at Kyle of Lochalsh with the additional Hebridean service to Inverness in September 1989, the full coaching rake in the new colours. Stephen Burdett.
1990-1994
The only notable change over the next few years was new windows were fitted to the sides of the vehicle for the 1991 season, the standard Met-Camm frames with quarter/sliding lights were replaced by a single window.
47 532 at Allanfearn on 22/07/92 with 1Z50 1815 Inverness - Elgin, a rare view of 6300 (the first vehicle) on a route other than the Kyle line. Roddy MacPhee.
37240 heads past Craig Highland Farm, Duncraig, with the 15:00 Kyle of Lochalsh - Inverness on 13/8/92, with 6300 as the first vehicle behind the loco. Russell Moorhouse.
6300 with the replacement windows at Inverness after arriving from Kyle of Lochalsh on September 1st 1994. Andy Cole.
A view into the front saloon of 6300 on a Kyle line journey in September 1994. Russell Moorhouse.
I'm not sure if a leaflet was produced for the 1991 season specifically for the observation saloon but it does have a section in this Kyle Line leaflet. Can anyone help fill some gaps with scans of the 1990/2/3/4 leaflets? Please get in touch.
1994 would be the last year of the 'Hebridean' service, the line would be fully ‘sprinterised’ in 1995, and 6300 would be withdrawn. It would languish at Inverness depot for a while, being noted there at the end of February 1996 with many broken or removed windows[2]. It would enter preservation.
More images can be found on the vehicle page.