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

828 & Maude double header anyone.....? Or on a similar theme Ivatt double header... I count at least 3 overhauls for that lot to happen...No harm in dreaming.

On a more realistic tone, noises being made up here about "Scots to be encouraged to help Tourism..." or words to that effect. Bodes well for WHL and wider tourism.

Rods down....lovely! Cracker of a shot.

 

A bigger dream would be to get the Glen out of that dreadful Glasgow Museum

 

A more familiar weather pattern seen in the Highlands, rain clouds threaten as the K1 crosses Britain's shortest river, the Morar which flows out of Loch Morar just behind the short viaduct and tips into Morar Bay 400 yards later.

 

An absolute belter of a photograph............IMHO

 

IIRC it was a May Bank Holiday special; a weekend of disasters following the Press Run behind 5407 on Thursday May 24. On the Saturday 37081+37264 arrived in Fort William with an SLOA charter from Euston with the planned 2 round trips from Fort William to run on the Sunday. Someone had the bright idea of running a photographers' bus between Fort William and Mallaig so that passengers could travel on the train for one trip and do lineside photography by chasing on the bus for the other. Bright idea but someone forgot (was not aware ?) that the road had many single track lengths and that there would be a lotta traffic - including caravans - coming from Mallaig. Suffice to say the morning trip was somewhat delayed and the second trip started some 2 hours late !!

The first public run was on the Monday when 5407 worked the service and 673 was the star performer on a charter. Sadly the load proved too much and 673 lost time and set fire to the lineside; by the time it reached Arisaig it was running 2 hours late and had involved most of the area's fire brigade in putting out the fires hence the decision was taken to truncate the run there and return to Fort William. As a further bonus 5407 was used the following morning (Tuesday) on a special troop train from Mallaig before the SLOA charter returned south. The consequence for 673 was that it was operated on only a couple of days per week - and only as far as Glenfinnan. IIRC it never reached Mallaig during that first season of steam running.

 

That's not quite true Fred. Maude did get to Mallaig in September that year, piloting 44767 on a special - I think this was the J36's last outing on the line.

Peter

 

This is worth watching, driver Paul Kane and Frank Santrian, who is just along for the ride, on 45407 tackling Beasdale Bank. Beasdale is probably the most challenging part of the Mallaig extension with over two miles and four tunnels on a gradient of 1 in 48 - 1 in 50. Well worth visiting just for the sound on an engine working flat out

 

The two coach special at Glenfinnan woth 5407.
Unlike the previous two days I photographed this train entirely on my own as the majority had already gone home.
For some reason I never went west of Glenfinnan, not sure I ever knew it was run as a troop train.

As for Maude the morning working the previous day had been expected to be cancelled as the loco had failed but was worked on overnight.
Staying mear Beauly I hadn't left early enough and was greeted by a succession of trackside fires as I headed for Glenfinnan to photograph the first public train, so ending up with only one shot of 673 arriving tender first back from Arisaig,

Peter is right that Maude eventually got to Mallaig in the company of 5407. I know of one shot of it in Tom Noble's book.

If I recall correctly when Glen Douglas was loaned to the SRPS in 1992 there was some talk of preparing it for the main line for the West Highland centenary in 1994, but nothing ever came of it and it remained a static exhibit until returning to the new museum in Glasgow,

As for the road I suspect many who went to Fort William that weekend had never experienced the Mallaig road before and it came as something of a surprise to find that an A road was in some places little more than a track.

 

I went out with that two coach special as support crew, the first of many occasions over the subsequent years. It was a one way trip (return ecs) put on for the Royal Navy for some reason and consisted of a Kitchen Car and a BSK. I rode on the loco west from Glenfinnan, again the first of hunderds of occasions that I have done so since then. And the fireman that day was one Alec Ian Macdonald.


That weekend really was the start of something that became an important part of my life and for many others too.

Peter

 

We always try to make the most of the Highland weather
Jacobite by Henry Elliott, on Flickr

 

Fantastic photographs on here guys thanks for posting.
Here's one from the other side with the late great Bobby Duncan on Beasdale

DSCF99832 by Apollo12 posted May 22, 2020 at 1:49 PM

 

A bit of experimental contre jour. Seen from the shoreline at Corpach Pier, 45407 departs Fort William in October 2009. 2009 Jacobite season Fort William 45407 by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

 

A rare doubleheaded working as the K4 and K1 cross Glenfinnan viaduct on August 10th 1994.The engines were facing east after working one of the Centenary specials from Glasgow the previous weekend

David Price
Cop Lane on Flickr

 

As Mr Gallagher once said 'A dream is all I need to get by'

 

Nice one, Matt. Welcome to the forum.

Peter

 

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Covid-19 has cost me two holidays so far. The May Irish International Steam Tour and the cancelled International Air Tatoo in July. If we're allowed to go to Scotland by then, I fancy an autumn trip to Fort William.

 

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