The Jacobite 2018

If the conditions are right I'll be joining you in October.

 

Thanks Henry, just got very lucky with the weather!

 

'The Jacobite' hauled by LMS 5MT No.45157 'The Glasgow Highlander', filmed between the 1st and 3rd April 2018.

Sunday 1st April 2018

Monday 2nd April 2018

Tuesday 3rd April 2018

 

Beautiful images and videos from the first week.

I wonder why it is timed as 90mph on RTT

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P80170/2018/04/03/advanced

 

This familiar Jacobite video from WCR may have been recently updated, and uploaded recently.
Worth a view, very impressive photography.

If the link does not work, just copy and paste the URL.

 

0500 departure to Fort William on Loch Nan Uamh viaduct this morning:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/insearchofsteam/41605318404

 

I put some of the photographic section from last week. Nice to see the sun is still out

 

With an 0500 departure from Fort William Junction, there was no question about the worth of heading North again. A full sun forecast for the whole day meant a few shots in the bag of the special, however the morning Jacobite suffered from lack of exhaust syndrome. Only us Scots could complain about it not raining for a change....

Quite a day when you consider the first shot was 5:20am, the last shot being 4:20pm.

Some shots from the special, and then two from the afternoon train. All of No. 45407 as No. 45157 'The Glasgow Highlander':

Black 5 No. 45157 'The Glasgow Highlander' - Lochaber Wetlands by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

Black 5 No. 45157 'The Glasgow Highlander' - Loch Eilt Causeway by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

Black 5 No. 45157 'The Glasgow Highlander' - Arisaig by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

Black 5 No. 45157 'The Glasgow Highlander' - Glenfinnan by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

Black 5 No. 45157 'The Glasgow Highlander' - Morar by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

 

Great stuff Jonny good to see shots we cant normally get sunlit later in the day.How different Wetlands looks!

 

Thanks Henry. It certainly was an eye opening run. In one way, it is a pity it did not stick to the original 6am path in the system and instead was retimed with 12 hours to go for a 5am path. The slightly later one would have resulted in most locations North of the line in sun! However, the 5am path did mean that lovely silhouette in the fog at the Wetlands, so I'm entirely forgiving of the change as that's a shot I'll never manage to achieve again!

 

For anyone planning a trip to Fort William next week, I hear the trains will be diesel-hauled because of fire-risk

 

It doesn't surprise me it was very dry up there last week with a lineside fire at Loch Eilt on the Friday.

 

I understand there is now a mainline steam ban in Scotland owing to dry weather; obviously only really Jacobite effected by this as no other mainline operations here using steam!

Fingers crossed for rain soon but forecast doesn’t look all too promising!

 

I thought there was only 1 WCR 37 up there? They may have to cancel one train?

 

One went up with the Black 5 but ran out of fuel so a rescue loco was sent from Carnforth, if they are both still up there they should be OK

 

Shots both ways then !

 

47237 on route to Fort William this afternoon.

 

For the heathers maybe, I'm just pleased I went when I did!

 

While photography is the last importance when considering the change in product on the Jacobite this will enforce, it does make me more thankful that we struck lucky with the early morning run on Thursday.

Can only hope that some unexpected rain appears in the coming week, as I can't think the situation is at all preferable for West Coast, Rileys and the passengers.....but most certainly NELPG who will be looking at the lost days of workings so far and what repruccisions that has.