The Jacobite 2020

Cracking set of videos Simon.

 

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. Last week has to have been one of the best weeks I’ve had up there, I can’t ever remember having so many still and sunny days.

Fingers crossed you can still get up this year

 

Great stuff Simon and take care pal

 

Note from WCRC on Facebook.

We are delighted to announce that we have been able to extend our Jacobite season to the 13th November!
Our train will be operating our morning service daily (including Saturdays and Sundays) until the 25th October 2020 then Monday to Friday from Monday the 26th October to Friday the 13th November.

 

Well, not far off from Christmas. Would be a pity to bring the stock down this side of the New Year now .

 

I think the locos may need a bit of winter maintenance.

 

But remember the locos completed their winter maintenance in early March and then were stood down for over 3 months. Still going strong.

 

I just assumed the curves and gradients of the Mallaig road would have knocked hell out of them by now.

 

That’s what Jan,Feb & March will be for

 

Gentle drivers you see

 

Out of interest, how many miles would a loco up there do in a season on the Jacobite?

Tom

 

The K1, which returned south last week, did a total of five weeks running this year. That is 35 days at 85 miles per day which by my calculation equates to 2975 miles. In a "normal" year it usually does nine weeks running which works out at about 5500+ miles a season. Matt (@Apollo12) will have a better idea of the Black 5 mileages as there is a less regular pattern to their use.

Peter

 

A bit of bias there Matt, but its true I'm sure!

 

However, some heritage railway locos (SVR for example) can clock 10,000 miles in a season, the NYMR locos also work similar mileage and have to work very hard for a living too. The Welsh Highland Garratts clocked over 20,000 each last year with severe gradients and taxing loads! Tremendous reliability if you think about it.
I think tyre wear is more of a concern on the Mallaig extension, however there seems a reluctance to work tender first to Mallaig to even this out through the season - is there a reason for this?

 

The line starts at sea level, finishes at sea level having climbed steeply to two summits on the way with a couple of lesser ones too, so you could say that for travelling in either direction.
I think Matt has already explained why they prefer tender first running For the climb to Glenfinnan Summit from the west