Jacobite 2023

https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/steam-train-trip
West Coast have announced that the morning service will run with an additional first class open carriage.

 

"Described as the greatest railway journey in the world". Who by? It's a good scenic ride, to be sure, but it hardly compares with some of the really great ones.

 

CNN for one. But that does include the West Highland proper.

 

Would have thought that the DHR is a tad more scenic an d operationally more interesting, for starters! Cairns to Kuranda perhaps another?

 

2023 season underway: 45407 works down the Mhuie between Leachabuidhe tunnels 78 and 79 on Saturday 8th April 2023. Ian Riley driving 45407 with Matt Earnshaw on 37518 (out of site in the tunnel) due to fire risk status.

 

One from Friday passing Corpach with the marina extension evident. Good Friday was a stunning day. Of five days Monday to Friday on the line I got shots in sun every day. High fire risk with diesel assistance Monday, Tuesday & Friday ( and Saturday after I left). A superb week. Ian Riley driving all week. FW was very busy.

cheers

Dave

 

A quick one today from Essan, on the final bit of downhill. A light bit of arranged exhaust from No. 44871.


Black 5 No. 44871 - Essan by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

 

Has the fire risk abated?

 

No, very much still a risk. Typically April, while wet, is cursed by dead vegetation on the surface which dries out rather quickly in any sunlight. Will be another week or two yet where new growth may give confidence.

 

I was going to ask why is there a 37 on the back in a lot of videos, never seen it in previous years or maybe I haven't paid that much attention, has it happened before?

 

Common place during periods of high fire risk

 

Some results from a seven day stay in Fort William last week. I was lucky, diesel assistance only on the Saturday with overnight rain and fine days for the rest of the week, apart one wet morning and Morrisons had bottled Dark Island in stock!

Locations are - Morning and afternoon trains passing at Arisaig, near Glenfinnan Summit, Loch Nan Umnah Viaduct, Glenfinnan Summit, The Wetlands, anyone who has walked across there will know why its called the Wetlands! crossing The Lochy Bridge from the North Face Path at Torlundy, Polnish, approaching Polnish No 1 Tunnel, leaving Arisaig and Glenfinnan Summit from the radio mast.
I've been going up there since 2001 so I tried to find some locations away from the well known spots, most of which needed a lot of uphill walking. Perhaps it would have been a better idea to do them when I was 20 years younger!
Apart from the Saturday when 44871 worked the morning train it was 45407 morning and 45212 Afternoon.

 

Very nice John!!!

 

Thanks Pete, you need to be lucky up there but I’ve never come back with nothing.

 

Footage of 45407 & 44871 with the first ECS move at the end of March:

 

Looks as if they’ve done some lineside clearance in Glen Falloch. A location to remember

 

Yes I'd say so, hopefully other parts (Glen Douglas) will receive similar treatment.

 

Some of the lineside above Loch Long has been cleared

 

Great stuff David/Peter thanks for sharing

 

Was thinking more about the lower slopes down the Arrochar end; nice but mostly for the acquired taste of 'sound, smoke and trees'