2021 Jacobite

A superb comparison Peter. Looking closely at both pictures it's almost impossible to see anything that hasn't changed over the years. I think the only constants between the two pictures are the platform and the loading dock and some of the track alignment.
I have to admit the WR connection to the platform end starter had never struck me before , it would be interesting to know when it appeared there as there are plenty photographs from steam days in which it appears.

 

Thanks Scott. I was lucky with that first visit. Although the rails no longer went through to the quayside or to the loco shed, the station itself was largely in tact. My next visit, by means of an overnight Merrymaker excursion (remember them?) from Leeds the following April found the platform canopy in the process of demolition, as seen here:-

Not only is part of the canopy visible as a tangled mess on the platform, but some may recognise the then Mallaig line buffet car, Sc1806E, which has since been superbly restored at the Llangollen Railway and was displayed at the NRM for a while in 2016. Mallaig station never looked the same once that canopy had gone.

Peter

 

Thanks Peter. A disgraceful act of vandalism to remove the canopy, but quite typical...

 

Thankfully most of the station buildings along the line have survived, the only one on the extension to get one of the awful bus shelters is Lochailort. South of Fort William Ardlui and Arrochar were demolished due to subsidence but most of the others have been put to other uses.

 

In fact, we looked at replicating this method exactly for the now cancelled 45025 charters on Strathspey.

Unfortunately, now seeing that image, the height of the lettering looks much shorter than the few shots I was referencing from (quite possibly could be due to the white lettering having "Blown" on film and bleeding), so my own recreation is a bit off.

The headboard will still likely be used with 5025, in LMS, by one of the N.Irish firemen. There's also been suggestion by support crew for it to appear on a Riley 5's tour in the North West someday!

 

I think there may have been more than one headboard made. The one I saw was hand painted

 

WCR getting a bit tetchy on Facebook today. Apparently there were local rumours that today's train would be diesel hauled.

 

Not sure if this has been asked previously but is there a loco roster for this service albeit a provisional one ?? TIA for any help

 

I would not call that tetchy. They are a commercial operation correcting incorrect reporting. Why should they not put the public right?

 

Me and my family had a very enjoyable trip on the morning train yesterday. Black 5 45407 performed faultlessly. Plenty of noise from up front, especially up Beasdale bank. The carriages got a bit of a battering from the over hanging vegetation. Which seems to be pretty bad, compared to the last time we traveled over the line 2 years ago. We will definitely be back at some point in the future.

 

Today it's 45212 on the morning run, chimney first out of Fort William, with 44871 tender first on the afternoon run.

 

Has the K1 gone back down south?

 

Went back last week with 2 37s and a rake of coaches

 

Oh well.

Heading up mallaig way later on, from fort Bill, where is a good place to stop and watch the returning afternoon service?

I should probably re word this, where might those better informed than myself watch from? Glenfinnan?

 

Glenfinnan viaduct is wonderful, but these days it's very popular - something to do with Harry Potter ;-) Get there early. If there's no room in the car parks, don't attempt to park on the road - go further on. There's a good climb beyond Glenfinnan station, easily visible from the road. A little further on is Loch Eilt - very pretty, though the line's basically level. Again, easily visible from the main road.

<Edit> Just realised you want somewhere for the afternoon return. There's a stiff climb beside the east end of Loch Eilt. If you can get up the side of the hill (mountain!) marked on the map as "Druim Loch Eilt" a little way, you can see the whole of the loch and follow the line almost to the cuttings and tunnel at the top of the climb, though the last bit will be hidden in trees this time of year. My pals and I have videoed from there several times over the years.

 

I've been looking at having a ride in October but allowing for social distancing it appears to be sold out virtually every day.

 

Same here, I am after a ride in the penultimate week, and although there is some availability in 1st class you have to purchase 2 seats but if you change search to 2 people it is not available.

 

Spoke to one of the WCRC lassies at the station in Ft Bill when I was up.

1st class is really difficult to get, its sold out running in to 2022. Sometimes slots come up as cancellations.

Standard is less of a challenge, you can queue at Ft Bill to get a seat or two, and it should in theory become easier now we are past mid-summer. As above standard is available to book depending on date etc.

Think I will go back in October. The light and trees become more dramatic in autumn and monsoon season should have passed.

 

The Highland monsoon season lasts from 1st January to 31st December, you just need a bit of luck! The time to avoid is May-August, high midge season.

 

Its true, but in my mind, late autumn gives some of the best weather in the whole year. There are often cool, clear, dry days and the sun is getting low by that point which changes the dynamic a lot.