HMS Queen Elizabeth - First Clyde Visit

Picking up on my Blog after a long absence.

Very early start this morning to ensure I was in good positions to get shoreside images.

Light couldn't have been better making things more enjoyable.

Berthing at Glen Mallan Jetty

Approaching Glen Mallan

Approaching Cove

Passing Innellan

Passing Cloch Lighthouse

Tugs in Attendance

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.com - better resolution and options to licence.

HMS Gannet - Farewell Flight

HMS Gannet's search and rescue helicopters had their final farewell flypast over Scotland today and passed Faslane Naval Base on the route.

Here are a few images from above the Naval Base.

 SD Reliable Prepares Her Salute

 Three Sea Kings Approach

 Flying Past Faslane Naval Base

 Overhead at Faslane

Passing the Base

 Heading Off

Bound for Tyndrum

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.com - better resolution and options to licence.

Royal Scotsman Train Tours - Inverclyde

Another Sunday, another 'Royal Scotsman' tour arrives in Inverclyde with it's passengers enjoying the local scenery and activities.

I firstly stopped off at Greenock to get the Class 57 that was heading to Gourock to meet up with the train.

Then on down to Gourock station to see the train and other locomotive that had come down from Bridge of Orchy earlier in the day.

As I departed the station some of the passengers had disembarked from their their coach and were heading for the train to dine and carry on down to Kilmarnock.

I opted to catch her as she headed through Fort Matilda before heading home for my own dinner.

Class 57 - 57316 - Approaching Greenock 

57316 - Through Greenock Central

57316 Arrives in Gourock 

 Class 47- 47854 - Rear Traction

Welcome Aboard

Class 47- 47854 Awaits Departure

Opulence

 Dining Car

'Royal Scotsman'

Chink

 Tour Coach for the Passengers

Approaching Fort Matilda Station

Through Fort Matilda

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.com - better resolution and options to licence.

Red Arrows at Prestwick Airport

The Red Arrows arrived right on time at Prestwick Airport this evening.

We saw them do a flypast before turning and landing one at a time.

They later departed three at a time at 18:40 and headed south to perform a display in Whitehaven returning at 19:35.

They then overnight until 09:00 tomorrow morning.

 Reds Arrive and do a flypast at Prestwick Airport


Reds Overhead


Touchdown

XX219 Safely Landed 

All in a Row

Departing Prestwick Airport

Dream Girl Departs 

USAF K10

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.com - better resolution and options to licence.

Royal Scotsman Tour

Another visit to Gourock for the Royal Scotsman Rail Tour today.

Nice bright sunshine as I arrived at Gourock Station to get some images.

Some of her passengers were delayed due to a problem with the Rothesay to Wemyss Bay Calmac ferry so did not arrive in time.

They were reunited with the tour later in the evening.

Front Loco Ready for Departure

Rear Loco Ready to Go

Bright Sunshine

 Departing Gourock

Bound for Kilmarnock

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to licence.

'Royal Princess' Departing Greenock

The 'Royal Princess' paid us another visit today arriving at around 06:30 and canting off the Ocean Terminal ready to sail straight off this evening.

Too early for me to get some images this morning, but popped down to see her depart for Kirkwall this evening.

 Berthed at the Ocean Terminal


Esplanade Before Departure

 Pilot Cutter ' Mount Stuart'

 Speed Building

 Outward Bound

Heading for Kirkwall

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to licence.

HMS Argyll - River Clyde

HMS Argyll passed Greenock this morning on her way upriver to the KGV docks in Glasgow. This is her first visit in five years.

She is the longest serving type-23 frigate in the Royal Navy fleet.

Originally built at Yarrows up in Scotstoun she was launched in 1989 and commissioned in 1991. 

Last year she completed a successful deployment to the Caribbean where £77 million worth of drugs were seized with her assistance.

Earlier this year she tracked a Russian frigate off the coast of France and monitored her movement through the English Channel.

HMS Argyll, a Type 23 frigate fitted with advanced Artisan radar, used her Lynx helicopter and sensors to locate and monitor the movement of the Russian warship as she returned from a Mediterranean deployment.

HMS Argyll is expected to slip her berth at 11:00 on Tuesday next week.

Thereafter she enters a period of maintenance to repair and enhance systems and the hull.


Approaching Greenock


Passing Greenock Bound for Glasgow

Passing East India Harbour

 Glasgow Bound

 MOD Police Escort

 Lookout

Flags in the Wind

Approaching KGV Docks in Glasgow 

Friendly Wave for Glasgow

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to licence.