The West Highland Line

37022 stands in the sunshine at Oban on 22/07/1983 with 1T32 1225 Oban-Glasgow Queen Street.

37022 stands in the sunshine at Oban on 22/07/1983 with 1T32 1225 Oban-Glasgow Queen Street.

20097 prepares to shunt 97252 ETHEL3 and the Fort William-London Euston sleeping cars onto the 1550 Mallaig-Glasgow Queen Street at Fort William on 19/07/1985.

104325 'The Mexican Bean', comprising of 53434 (DMBS)+53424 (DMCL) stands at Crianlarich on 19/07/1985 having arrived with an Oban-Crianlarich shuttle service.

37416 restarts 1Y11 0450 Edinburgh Waverley-Fort William away from Bridge of Orchy in typical West Highland weather on 22/09/2001.

37427+37408 pass Achallader with the eight coach 1Z37 0527 Edinburgh Waverley-Mallaig SRPS charter on 22/09/2001. This tour had been postponed from August 4th due to emergency engineering work to replace a collapsed culvert near Ardlui.

Upon arrival at Fort William the buffet car was removed to enable the train loco to run round its train at Mallaig. 37427 & 37408 were replaced by 37416 for the Fort William to Mallaig and return legs. Here 37416 is seen at the western end of Loch Eilt with 1Z37 0527 Edinburgh Waverley-Mallaig SRPS charter.

37416 awaits departure time at Mallaig on 22/09/2001 with 1Z38 1450 Mallaig-Edinburgh Waverley SRPS Charter.

37416 awaits departure time at Mallaig on 22/09/2001 with 1Z38 1450 Mallaig-Edinburgh Waverley SRPS Charter.

37416 departs from Mallaig on 22/09/2001 with 1Z38 1450 Mallaig-Edinburgh Waverley SRPS Charter.

37416 approaches Loch Eilt with 1Z38 1450 Mallaig-Edinburgh Waverley SRPS Charter on 22/09/2001.

37416 is pictured at Corpach with 1Z38 1450 Mallaig-Edinburgh Waverley SRPS Charter on 22/09/2001.

37408+37427 arrive at Spean Bridge with 1Z38 1450 Mallaig-Edinburgh Waverley on 22/09/2001. The RETB would be exchanged here prior to the train continuing on its journey south.

The next three images show 62005 at work in the West Highlands of Scotland on the Fort William-Mallaig 'Jacobite' services. In this photo 62005 is pictured passing Fort William Mallaig Junction Yard shortly after departure with the 1020 Fort William-Mallaig on 02/08/2002.

37415 is pictured shortly after departing from Spean Bridge whilst in charge of 1Y11 0450 Edinburgh Waverley-Fort William (including sleeping cars from London Euston) on 02/08/2002. The train was a mere 2 hours late at this point.

37415 seen stabled between duties at Fort William on 02/08/2002. The trains next duty would be 1B01 1950 Fort William-Edinburgh Waverley, with the sleeping cars going forward to London Euston.

Here 62005 crosses the causeway at the western end of Loch Eilt whilst working the 1410 Mallaig-Fort William service on 02/08/2002. Proof that the sun does indeed occasionally appear in the Highlands. Both myself and my companion were being eaten alive by the midges, and it was blessed relief when the train appeared allowing us to begin the walk back to the car, and the chase to Corpach for the next shot.

Nearly at journeys end, 62005 slows for the level crossing at Corpach with the 1410 Mallaig-Fort William service on 02/08/2002. The photograph was taken from the lock gates at the western end of the Caledonian Canal.

156493+156499 pass the ruins at Kinloid with the 0812 Glasgow Queen Street-Mallaig service on 03/08/2002. The flat topped Inner Hebridean island of Eigg (with Rum behind it) is just visible in the distance across the Sound of Sleat.

The next ten photographs were all taken on the West Highland line during the weekend of 3rd & 4th August 2002. The weekend proved to be very popular with railway photographers as the SRPS operated a railtour to Mallaig on the Saturday, and both the Northern Belle & the Royal Scotsman luxury trains were about on the Sunday. Here 37411+37427 pass the ruins at Kinloid on 03/08/2002 with 1Z18 Edinburgh-Mallaig SRPS charter.

37427+37411 head 1Z11 1440 Mallaig-Edinburgh Waverley at Kinloid on 03/08/2002.

The 'classic' shot at County March Summit. 37411+37427 are pictured in typical West Highland weather about to crest the summit whilst working SRPS's charter 1Z19 1440 Mallaig-Edinburgh Waverley on 03/08/2002.

After a very sociable evening in the bar at Tyndrum with several members of the EMRPS, a morning hike was in order to clear the head. Here 37427+37411 power 1Z64 0910 Edinburgh-Oban 'Northern Belle' through Glen Lochy on 04/08/2002. After the shot was in the can the chase was on. Some of us walked back to the cars, some jogged, and more than one person actually sprinted. Passengers on the train had paid £170 per head for their dining experience, which also included a trip to the Isle of Mull.

37427+37411 'The Scottish Railway Preservation Society' approach Connel Ferry whilst working VSOE's 1Z64 0910 Edinburgh-Oban 'Northern Belle' on 04/08/2002.