by Mark Collins

This, along with the Kyle of Lochalsh line were the last items filmed in the series, but were the first things I put on my wish list.

I’d travelled to Inverness before but not on a Sleeper and I’d never been on the Kyle line so I was very excited despite just getting over a dreadful cold thanks to spending the night at St Phillip’s Marsh depot in Bristol.

We did most of the filming at Euston and just after we left the London terminus on our journey north. The piece with me lying in bed took about 10 takes to get right as I couldn’t stop laughing. Ever had a cameraman and a director with a stopwatch peering down on you when you’re supposed to be going to sleep?

I didn’t sleep much on the way to Inverness; what with the combination of excitement and anticipation about the next day plus the uncoupling at Edinburgh at 4am. Chris the cameraman got off at Edinburgh to film the split and then rode in the cab to Inverness from Perth.

You may scoff at the fact that we travelled first class, but in order to get across the fact that this is probably the best way to travel to Scotland and to promote the Caledonian Sleeper services, first class travel pales into insignificance.

Originally we had planned to film this item in July but I felt it rather fitting that the best should be saved until last. Don’t get me wrong! There wasn’t a single instance throughout the series of me not being excited and enthralled about any of the items I covered – after all I chose them all personally. However this was something I’d always wanted to do.

Many thanks to all the staff working on the Sleeper that night. Marion and her husband Keith, Paul Carpenter for supplying me with Single Malts and of course from Scotrail, Billy Black, Operations Manager for Sleeper services and Eddie Toal, Scotrail’s Media Relations Manager.

On the way home, as it had been the last item to be filmed, there should have been a bit of a celebration in the Lounge Car. Apparently there was but I missed it because I was too tired after the excitement of the day. What a party animal

Trainspotting.links (will open in a new window)

www.scotrail.co.uk
www.wcrm.co.uk