Created 21-Jun-21
Modified 18-Dec-22
It is nearly 20 years since I last visited the western highlands of Scotland, and plans over the past year were nullified by Covid. Even at the last minute, my plans to sample the new stock on the Caledonian Sleeper were thwarted by strike action, so it was an Avanti Pendolino and a Scotrail 156 which got me to Fort William.
The objective of course was to ride the Jacobite to Mallaig. At the head of a smart West Coast rake of seven coaches was Stanier Black Five no 45407, with owner Ian Riley driving. In social distancing terms the train was full, providing a much needed economic boost for the area.
High speed has never been a feature of this itinerary, but excellent enginemanship is needed to handle the steep gradients and sharp curves. This was appreciated qualitatively rather than by noting numbers, and the magnificent scenery could be enjoyed concurrently. The climbs to Glenfinnan and Beasdale, and to Arisaig on the return, elicited that dominating Stanier bark, whilst smart running (one could not call it fast) could also be noted on the downhill and lochside stretches.
After watching the stock movements at Mallaig I took a break on the harbour side in the steadily improving weather, observing the CalMac ferry Lord of the Isles leave for Skye. On the return run we passed the outbound afternoon train headed by the other Riley Five No 44871, unusually running tender-first, which completed the satisfaction of this excellent day out.
My Scottish journey continued the next day with a ride down to Oban, where another CalMac ferry Isle of Lewis was arriving. In the early days of British Railways, the ferries as well as the trains were under the ambit of the British Transport Commission. My final two days were spent on the main lines to Aberdeen, Inverness and Berwick, riding the LNER’s new Azumas and Scotrail’s Inter7Citys (refurbished HSTs). An excellent return to intensive rail bashing!
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© Peter Hewitt's Transport Pictures