Jacobite 2025

Yes because if it had gone wrong on the S&C it would have only been “one individual” affected…..You know the driver of a train if they hit him wouldn’t have been. Nor the 20/30 people who’d have witnessed it from the platforms. Nah just the one!

My view on this Jacobite thing is, it’s odd. I have no further information to suggest otherwise. Normal scenario is diesel pushes the steam round, but this year it’s completely different.

From what I’ve read elsewhere, and comments from people like Ian Riley on his post, etc is that Network Rail are being OTT with this, and there’s more bureaucracy involved than meets the eye. But that’s not my opinion, that’s just what I’m reading from others. Odd that you’ve confused it as such!

 

https://www2.sepa.org.uk/rainfall



Rainfall totals for last three months below average, massively so for January. Only three months in the last year above average. No rain forecast for the next week, and temperatures in the high teens and light winds. Absolutely perfect conditions for drying out dead undergrowth.

 

Agreed Al,the remoteness of certain parts of the Extension demands extra precautions.

 

I cannot understand why he wasnt confronted when he got back on platform,I certainly would have had at least had words with him.

 

He was. He walked straight past us and ignored us.

 

He took is photo of tangmere and left. If it’s who I think it is he ironically got a shot of 45596 in a sunny patch down the road.

 

Opposite end of the country, but for both LSL 'Golden Arrow' tours around Kent this week and last there have been delays to South Eastern services after the train passed. Both times due to a fire on or next to railway property. (Last week between Otford Jn and Maidstone East, yesterday was between Ashford and Canterbury West.) I was half expecting Braunton to not be on the front on the return legs from Canterbury, but thankfully not. Clan Line is due out on the Pullman this time next week, if the weather doesn't change then I expect a Class 67 will be coming along too.

 

Someone should have stopped him and told him what he is,there were plenty there.

 

Again we tried. Everybody said something. He carried on. His words were “It’s done now” and he walked off.

 

Sounds and looks an ugly chap,his car reg would have been handy, Harry

 

There are different issues with necessary fire precautions in the Highlands. There are vast areas of uncultivated land with layers of dead scrub from previous seasons, if that ignites it’s a hell of a job to put out. By June the new growth is established and the fire risk lessens.
I got this in a conversation with a fireman a few years ago alongside Loch Eilt watching a fire by the railway on the opposite side of the loch. They made the decision to let it burn out.

 

Didn’t get that far sadly. Managed to provide the Network Rail chap with details of clothing, etc. they did say they’d pull the CCTV

 

Good to hear,making an example of him would be the way forward. Maybe a firing squad lol.

 

John a few years back at the start of the season I reported a fire that had started behind the house at Craigag that used to be a B&B.That could have been nasty.

 

I'm unsure why anyone should be surprised, it's nothing new.
Back in 1984 on its first and only solo trip west of Glenfinnan the J36 set fire to a very large stretch of countryside. To quote Tom Noble's book 'the ground was particularly dry after a long period without rain'. And there have been numerous instances since of early season fires.