Steam Dreams, Highlands and Islands. 9/5 to 17/5/19

Timings as far as Kyle on Sunday are on RTT. Can't find anything beyond this yet.

9th May - 61306+60103 York – Edinburgh: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55412/2019/05/09/advanced
10th May – 61306+60103 Edinburgh – Inverness: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55420/2019/05/10/advanced
11th May – 61306 Inverness – Brora: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55392/2019/05/11/advanced
11th May – 61306 Brora - Inverness: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55393/2019/05/11/advanced
12th May – 61306 Inverness – Kyle: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U55397/2019/05/12/advanced

 

Thanks for posting, hoping the weather's good for the weekend...

 

Long hold in Tain en route to Dunrobin, useful for some.

 

There are no RTT movements for Mayflower light engine. Is it double heading with Flying Scotsman on Thursday and Friday or not?

 

I'm talking about north of York?

 

Yes it is.

Peter

 

It started from London Victoria rather than King's Cross.

 

60103 leads 61306 load 11, 37685 on rear.

 

Usual question: Who are the crews?

 

Item on the BBC radio news yesterday said that FS is now fitted with cameras to catch "trainspotters" who stray onto the tracks. Not sure I like the term "trainspotter" as it conjures up images of spotty teenagers with anoraks and duffel bags, but it's indicative of how railway enthusiasts get blamed for trespass incidents. I suspect most of the offenders are members of the "Great British Public". I assume that FS was leading yesterday or the cameras may just have picked up a great view of Mayflower's tender!

 

To be fair the 'Great British Public' are 'trainspotting' - we're Railway Enthusiasts and I dont feel tarred by the trainspotting brush.

 

Didn’t hear the 37 once today (I don’t even think it was switched on?) and the speeds over Drumochter and Slochd seemed to reflect that - steady but not rapid like you’d expect with diesel shovage. And given the heavy rain we had for most of the day, some very competent climbs.

Do we know what the loading are like for tomorrow and Sunday to Brora and the Kyle? With the rain we have had in the past few days, you’d hope if the load is light enough that the B1 could do it unassisted. Certainly no fire risk north of Perth today...!

James

 

I believe the plan that has been told to passengers is :

Saturday & Sunday - No diesel involvement.
Monday - Class 37 behind Mayflower.
Wednesday - Class 37 on rear.

Correct as of midday, but of course plans could have easily changed as the day progressed so don't shoot the messenger.....

 

We've had some sun and plenty of rain but both locos have performed faultlessly today, the 37 purely along for the ride as far as I have seen at the seven locations I have been at today. .
This was a rather special start, the sun just popping out in time to tick off another bucket list shot for me, taken from about 150 feet above the bridge rail level.


As famous as it gets ... by Phoenix Images, on Flickr

 

Mayflower at Tain, just before the rain came! No diesel, load 6.

James


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Is that from a drone or a hill that I don’t know about. If you had been a bit more wide angle you would have seen three of us in a very kind lady’s back garden. She even offered to make a cup of tea for us