The West Highlander 21-24 Sept 2013

I guess 62005 is sans tender so couldn't pair up with the K4?

 

I just hope that the K1 is returned in time. That being said, covering the whole excursion with the exception of the Oban leg would be a "big ask" to say the least, but not impossible. The support crew would have one difficult 4 days, would need augmenting and maybe would wish they had the larger GS tender that goes with the K1 to make life a bit easier.
If the TGM delivers on this it might help to improve the chance of it getting to meet the challenges of the West Country.

 

I've heard the K1 should be heading back north at the end of this week. Fingers crossed!

 

Presuambly by road, since her tender is still at FW.

 

Presumably if it does indeed get to FW this week it will be later rather than sooner from what has been conjectured on here. Then has to be steamed, run 'about a bit' and a FTR exam. Hopefully it happens but I'm not holding my breath on this.

 

Times for the first day of this now up on UK steam info and guess what? 46115 from Preston! This is more up to date than RTC info, so what is correct?

 

Times are beginning to appear in RTT:
Sat 21:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54510/2013/09/21/advanced

Mon 23:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54572/2013/09/23/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54565/2013/09/23/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54564/2013/09/23/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54571/2013/09/23/advanced

Tue 24:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54577/2013/09/24/advanced

No sign of Sunday's trains yet, and I'm not convinced about Tuesday's since it terminates at Carlisle, but at the moment it's the only WCRC train through Carlise in RTT on Tuesday.

 

Selected times I have for Sunday:

GQStreet:08:12
Helensburgh U 09:23-48
Crianlarich 11:22-12:52
U Tyndrum 13:10-18
Rannoch 14:21-23
Fort Bill 15:40

Some then rather bizarre timings for the Mallaig (or should that be Arisaig bit?!)

Fort Bill 18:11
Glenfinnan 18:50-19:05
Arisaig 19:45-20:00
Glenfinnan 20:45-21:10
Fort Bill 21:50

No idea if these are final so "don't shoot the messenger!"

Mark

 

Sunday's times now available from RTT.
Glasgow-FW: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63003/2013/09/22/advanced
FW-Arisaig & return: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63010/2013/09/22/advanced
Basically as outlined by Alberta, except that the departure from Crianlarich is 1252, not 1152 as implied.

If it's a nice evening, there might be some good sunset shots to be taken on the Extention. However, the forecast is not encouraging. The best we can hope for is probably a silhouette on Glenfinnan viaduct against storm clouds!

 

All very odd. Looks like it will be getting pretty dark anyway on the way back. All you need on spectacular line like this. I know it stays lighter later too up north in case somebody needs to tell me.

 

I think that's a summer effect. This close to the equinox, there won't be much in it, and from now on, sunset will be earlier the further north you go. That's slightly offset by places like Oban and Arisaig being relatively far west.

 

Have edited my post to show 12:52 now,thanks for the note on that one.

 

Oh well, there goes the fish and chips at Mallaig but at least we seem to be getting closer as two years ago the extension got cut out completely. Maybe next year for the big breakthrough?

 

Not particularly odd - the tour arrives at Fort William at 15.40, but the single line between there and Glenfinnan is in occupied by service trains until 17..28 (16.03 arrival from Mallaig, then 116.19 departure to Mallaig which crosses a train at Glenfinnan which arrives in FW at 17.28), by which time there is insufficient time to get to Arisaig by 18.30 to cross the final train of the day from Mallaig, so it has to cross it at Glenfinnan.

 

So in reality there is the WH arrival at 15:40 and the Jacobite at 16:03??? That could be an interesting sight!

 

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63011/2013/09/22/advanced

Only if you can run out to the footbridge in time to see them pass! Pretty sharp operation to get in and out of Fort William in time to clear the platform, and the section, for the Jacobite to arrive. Isn't the sleeper already in the bay by that time?

 

http://www.railwaytouring.net/train-tours/west-highlander-steam-express seems to be showing some confirmed times for all four days now

 

Whats happened to 46115? It's been sidelined again from the West Highlander run.

 

The 'odd' bit surely has to be not getting to Mallaig. Done before or should I say not done?

 

Uksteam now showing 61994 over Shap on Saturday .