The Jacobite over the years - A Photographic Celebration. Information in Post 1

Introductory Note from the Moderation Team

This is a collection of images from across the years to celebrate 'The Jacobite' train that has operated between Fort William and Mallaig under the West Coast Railways banner since 1995 after starting with ScotRail in 1984 when it was called the West Highlander.

Pictures can be added at any time and it would help if the location and date could be included. There is no particular order to how the images are shown and the first is below with a note from the photographer.
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I'll start the ball rolling with the 2008 Scottish Bash.

2008 Scottish Bash Loch Eilt 76001 (76079) by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

 

Optimism, that’s what we need. Great shot Ian. Let’s all try and be a bit more positive....

 

Now that is a cracking shot! And a rare twist of fate that No. 76079 was up there, having only made the trip to replace No. 45407 after the latter was pulled after just the one trip that August to Mallaig. Very fair call by Mr Riley, to have the 5 taken back to base to ensure no in service failure and disruption to the operation.

2008 was actually my first chance at experiencing the operation side of The Jacobite, I went up with 45407 after support crewing the 1T57 recreation. The first day in service on the Jacobite that Wednesday was also my first meeting of the legendary duo of Paul Kane and Frank Santrian. It sticks out fondly in my mind as the former was quick to point out my Roman shaped nose, and then proceeded to then have me in a roman handshake and stated "That lad, means we're friends". Since then, I've often carried that moment with Paul and the laugh from Frank as a summary of the whole operation and our visits up there. Lots of laughs, plenty of stories and friendships which will last a lifetime!

 

I'm surprised Ian that this thread hasn't produced thus far a welcome range of shots of the Jacobite and the various Scottish steam bashes of recent years. Therefore, I'll add this contribution; not because it's anywhere near my favourite shot from various visits to FW - it was a pretty dark and gloomy day for the most part - but because we obviously pressed our shutters almost simultaneously!

 

Me also
76001 by Henry Elliott, on Flickr

 

Beasdale with the B1

 

Black 5 Kinloid
Jacobite by Henry Elliott, on Flickr

 

K1 at Glenfinnan

 

75014 Glenfinnan
Jacobite by Henry Elliott, on Flickr

 

Charter time but not the charter.
A signallers strike on 7th October 2008 cancelled the Jacobite but the following day the train ran on a later path after the strike finished.




Two years later on 16th October 2010 at Loxhailort quite possibly the best charter day on the Mallaig line.

 

Agree about 2010 Scott,the morning wasn't bad over at Corrour either!

 

Just caught up with this thread. Anyone remember that misty day in 2012. There are many days when the top of Ben Nevis is covered in cloud, this was the only time I’ve known when the summit was clear but you couldn’t see the bottom. K1 passing Corpach

 

Saturday was stunning Henry but Sunday brought us back down to earth !

 

The not very often photographed Arnabol Viaduct. It’s downgrade towards Mallaig but I asked the crew to provide a bit of exhaust and they remembered, driver was Ian Riley. Thanks to Jonny Gourlay and Jon Bowers for showing me how to get to this remote location

 

The misty day John
62005 Glenfinnan by Henry Elliott, on Flickr

 

Great stuff Henry. One of the attractions of the Highlands is you get weather patterns you never see anywhere else. I’ve been soaked and chilled to the bone by horizontal rain at Glenfinnan, then an hour later sat outside the pub in Arisaig in a T-shirt

 

Ain't that the truth John.
Early morning on 26th August 87, rain at Fort William and sun at Loch nan Uamh, probably no more than an hour apart.

 

Unfortunately I was rather late to the photography game compared to most on the forum, however, I can take claim to a few unique shots!

The first two are from the early morning run in May 2018. I travelled up the evening before, timing it for the arrival of the afternoon ECS into the Yard for a cuppa with fireman Titley. With a heads up that the ECS may move slightly earlier than the 5am path to Mallaig was booked for, I opted to sleep in the car outside of the yard. The hope of the Black 5 shunting being my wake up alarm a few hours later worked as well as I had planned, as it left about 45mins ahead of schedule with me and very few others in pursuit!

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

I'll then add in one of the Santa Specials from 2017. Sadly I never made it up for the snowy run the previous day, but would love another go if Mr Shuttleworth could be persuaded.....

Black 5 No. 45407 - Morar by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

 

Cold morning ...


Steam under the Ben ... by Inspiring Images, on Flickr

The elusive Kinloid in sun with steam shot ...


Kinloid's grand view of Eigg and Rum by Inspiring Images, on Flickr

Glenfinnan Grandeur


"Concrete Bob's" finest monument at Glenfinnan by Inspiring Images, on Flickr

Whatever the politics of getting the Jacobite running are I will try and find a way back to the Highlands as soon as possible once it's up and running. Wide-open mountain vistas and daily steam have seemed a long way away in the last couple of months.

 

I’ve been going up there for so long I now most of the locations I want to do involve a lot of leg work, most of it vertical! This is a lazy shot, 45407 crossing Loch Nan Umnah Viaduct from the car park at Prince’s Cairn