Jacobite 2025

Usual morning and afternoon paths in RTT, plus new for this year there's an extra evening one in the system for Mon-Fri, currently showing from 19th May until 24th October. 17.43 from Fort William, Glenfinnan 18.25-19.05, Arisaig 19.43-20.03, Fort William 21.18. Interesting!

 

The evening path was included in last year's WTT but, as far as I'm aware, was only utilised for a public service once (diesel hauled).

 

I think the evening one is a diesel hauled dining train.

 

Correct. Was in there all last year and only saw use the once. Shame really as would be a nice addition, but then so would MK1s!

 

They need the Mk1s back asap. I was up there for the last week of operation last year. They were using the diesel on the ECS to overheat the coaches for the outward run and hoped they wouldn’t be too cold on the way back! It’s not really the way to run their flagship service.

 

Ian Riley just popped this on Facebook, how odd!

 

Could be, just seems very odd to bang a total block on steam from the start

 

In previous years during dry periods the steam loco has usually still been at the front but shoved round by a diesel at the back.

 

I found this fire alert from a local Hampshire BBC news item.
https://www.dwfire.org.uk/news/amber-wildfire-alert-extended/
I would assume similar conditions apply over much of the country.

Without seeing Control Logs for what has happened with the last few tours and decisions made by Network Rail National control, we're just guessing.

Cheers, Neil

 

BBC Scotland News screened an item about fire risk this evening.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g2xx40gw1o

 

Fire risk extreme (highest category) in Highland Region.

 

Three weeks ago we had a lineside fire near Four Marks (MHR). It was a sunny day and it had been dry enough even by then to set a fire that required two fire engines from Alton. I cannot recall a lineside fire at all this early on of any kind let alone requiring assistance. Now it appears to have been a one off, but even so the lineside is tinder dry and there isn’t much new growth yet either, so when stuff catches it spreads so rapidly.

 

Even so. Normally they allow the steam to run pushed by the diesel. Lots of comments made by a number of people on the socials who would be “in the know” sayings it’s NR being over the top.

 

Perhaps, but no one is going to thank them if 250,000 acres of moorland are set alight. It’s really early in the year to be this dry and there has been no growth yet so it’s probably dryer over a wider area than seen for a very long time.

 

Maybe so. Sad though when Mr Riley has had to comment “It could well force us out of business” on his Facebook post. Poor position to be put in really.

 

https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/22/559/2022/

Interesting article. Over the period studied, the total burned area peaks in April. Not sure this year is tremendously exceptional.