2021 Jacobite

And yet... https://twitter.com/BBCScotlandNews/status/1398285753982111750?s=19

 

It wouldn’t have been caused by the train, they don’t open up until they are halfway across the viaduct

 

While not wanting to attribute it to the train, remember they do have to work past that section on the return.

 

It started about 20 minutes after the train had passed and looked to be a fair way from the track. Thankfully the reports don’t mention the train being the culprit.

 

Excuse if posted elsewhere, but I see 45212 has trekked off from Fort Bill to Toton ?


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Odd she went to FW first ?


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Well she has performed for several weeks on the Jacobite since the season restarted, perhaps better to use up the remaining milage on the *then* current tyre turn than waste potentially 3000 miles getting a fresh cut pre season?

And as I mentioned in the movement thread, it is perhaps all down to when a wheel lathe became available.

 

Having seen footage on Flickr I can confirm that 44871 worked the afternoon Jacobite smoke box first out of Mallaig. So why wasn’t it turned at Cowlairs?

 

I don’t know but that’s good news having one facing the other way. Hope it’s still like that when I’m up there at the end of September

 

The Steam Road to the Isles 16 June 2021

It is nearly 20 years since I last visited the western highlands of Scotland, and plans over the past year were nullified by Covid. Even at the last minute, my plans to sample the new stock on the Caledonian Sleeper were thwarted by strike action, so it was an Avanti Pendolino and a Scotrail 156 which got me to Fort William.

The objective of course was to ride the Jacobite to Mallaig. At the head of a smart West Coast rake of seven coaches was Stanier Black Five no 45407, with owner Ian Riley driving. In social distancing terms the train was full, providing a much needed economic boost for the area.

High speed has never been a feature of this itinerary, but excellent enginemanship is needed to handle the steep gradients and sharp curves. This was appreciated qualitatively rather than by noting numbers, and the magnificent scenery could be enjoyed concurrently. The climbs to Glenfinnan and Beasdale, and to Arisaig on the return, elicited that dominating Stanier bark, whilst smart running (one could not call it fast) could also be noted on the downhill and lochside stretches.

After watching the stock movements at Mallaig I took a break on the harbour side in the steadily improving weather, observing the CalMac ferry Lord of the Isles leave for Skye. On the return run we passed the outbound afternoon train headed by the other Riley Five No 44871, unusually running tender-first, which completed the satisfaction of this excellent day out.

My Scottish journey continued the next day with a ride down to Oban, where another CalMac ferry Isle of Lewis was arriving. In the early days of British Railways, the ferries as well as the trains were under the ambit of the British Transport Commission. My final two days were spent on the main lines to Aberdeen, Inverness and Berwick, riding the LNER’s new Azumas and Scotrail’s Inter7Citys (refurbished HSTs). An excellent return to intensive rail bashing!

20 photographs are at https://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/p833322955

Peter on a distinctly chilly midsummer Day in Manchester

https://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com

 

I've been going to the Highlands for 12 years now and always wanted to capture something chimney first out of Mallaig. So, when I got the text to say 44871 was facing east it was instantly sod the weather, cancel everything at work and stick some annual leave in.

Drove up early hours of Friday, the weather was 70%+ chance of rain throughout the 4 days I'd planned to visit.... Each evening (apart from Sunday) was rather spectacular, with lovely evening light.

Video Available Here

 

I’ve got a friend who is going up to Fort William at the weekend, is there an idea as to which locomotives will be running please and on which train?

Thanks in advance,
James

 

Don't know which locos on which trains, but it's a 100% Black 5 roster for the rest of the season now. It doesn't seem to have been reported on here previously that the K1 has been withdrawn with tyres down to the minimum allowed to run on Network Rail, and will be going to Carnforth to start its overhaul, subject to NELPG membership ratification.

 

45212 cannot work the afternoon train as it’s not airbraked

 

45212 working the afternoon train in 2019 !!

 

i thought it was....

 

Maybe I’m mistaken then

 

All three Riley-operated 5s are compatible with both air- and vac-braking.