Jacobite 2026

At least this time of year there is plenty of daylight to work in.

 

Five hour delay and a late night for the passengers assuming they weren't bussed back to FW.

 

I know it’s possible to hide the coffins at some locations but there are some beautiful shots to be had of the whole train at places along the line and the blue and grey would rule those positions out in my opinion.

 

Agreed, its absolute stupidity to have to spoil shots for the sake of the coaches on the extension!!!

 

I realise that these trains are not run for the benefit of the photographer so it won’t matter one jot to WCRC if I don’t go to Scotland to photograph them.

 

Shouldn't speculate I know, but that looks like a catch points overrun. Is the signalling at Mallaig entirely centrally controlled or are points operated on site by train crew?

 

You are right - you shouldn't speculate. That is not how the loop at Mallaig would work anyway.

Peter

 

It's a ground frame, but from what I've read the loco was moving perfectly within its authority.

 

Sky News this morning.

Harry Potter fans warned to stay off tracks at Glenfinnan Viaduct as 'Hogwarts Express' returns to service
https://news.sky.com/story/harry-po...-hogwarts-express-returns-to-service-13559747

 

They always used to leave a carriage unbooked for pay on the day, first come first served.

 

Although there isn't mention of that option on the website. On the assumption that anyone who is interested in taking a ride on the Jacobite would ordinarily look at the website for times and booking arrangements it seems odd not to mention that there may be limited available tickets to be bought on the day.
Presumably the firm knows at least a coach load of people will just turn up on spec each day, irrespective?

 

Having looked myself there seems to be some limited availability in August and September in all classes.
Also the solid bookings appear to bely the reports from WC earlier in the year that the modern mk2s are unpopular?

 

I suspect it is demand management, they don't want several hundred people queuing down Fort William platform each morning. As it stands at the moment they easily sell the coach each day, with the little advertising it gets. The last time I travelled on the Jacobite (in 2021) we did just this, arrived around 09.30 at FW and joined the queue that had formed. We missed out on the AM departure, but were accommodated on the PM one.
The poster asked about day to day availability. On this basis around 70 - 80 seats are available first come, first served, every day (cash useful!).

 

"Harry Potter fans ‘make our lives hell’, say Glenfinnan residents" - Times Scotland edition
https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotlan...glenfinnan-viaduct-hogwarts-express-td5zfj6cp

 

Last year they had police there issuing tickets all over the place for dangerous parking. Even out of season if you are not there by 9.30 forget it. The other hazard is the quality of driving, especially by the numerous Chinese tourists who are Harry Potter mad and seem to have no sense of danger at all.

 

It's a few years since we last went to Glenfinnan and it was pretty bad then.
It's the counterpoint to the "outcry" from local businesses when the Jacobite wasn't running earlier in the season though.

 

I think the outcry was from those in Fort Bill and Mallaig. There aren’t many businesses in Glenfinnan to be affected