2. Arrival & Fort William to Inverness -11.08.15

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2015 > 49. Scottish tour-10-13.08.15 > 2. Arrival & Fort William to Inverness -11.08.15

After arrival, we were met in the station car park at Fort William by a nice man with our hire car. This first one was smashing little VW Up! that we made use of throughout the day ending up at Inverness where we stayed at a nice B&B. As usual, in the evening we participated in our customary Indian meal.

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Images 1-32 of 32 displayed.

67004, CS 21.16 London Euston-Inverness, Fort-William & Aberdeen sleeper (1S25 & 1Y11), Crianlarich station
67004 'Cairn Gorm' stands at Crianlarich station pausing at the head of the down Highland Sleeper from Euston to Fort William. I quite like the livery carried by Caledonian Sleeper locomotives and the Highland stag sitting atop a combined C and S.
Keywords: 67004 21.16 London Euston-Inverness, Fort-William & Aberdeen sleeper 1S25 1Y11 Crianlarich station Caledonian sleeper Cain Gorm

Stock, CS 21.16 London Euston-Inverness, Fort-William & Aberdeen sleeper (1S25 & 1Y11), Crianlarich station
Looking back along the platform at Crianlarich station sees the Mk. III sleeper stock of the Fort William portion of the down Highland Sleeper service pausing to wait for the passage of a train going in the opposite direction towards Glasgow. Notice that all the stock in this view has yet to receive Caledonian Sleeper's teal livery with the stock still wearing the former ScotRail blue. Along with the rest of the stations on the Highland Line Crianlarich was very smart and well-maintained.
Keywords: Stock 21.16 London Euston-Inverness, Fort-William Aberdeen sleeper 1S25 1Y11 Crianlarich station Caledonian sleeper Mk. III

67004, CS 21.16 London Euston-Inverness, Fort William & Aberdeen sleeper (1S25 & 1Y11), West Highland Line, near Bridge of Orchy
67004 'Cairn Gorm' passes through the Highlands near to Bridge of Orchy leading the 21.16 Highland Sleeper from Euston with this particular portion heading to Fort William. This picture is taken through the tiny window at the end of the Mk. III coach that was surprisingly clean thus making this image possible. 67004 is one of six Class 67s used exclusively by CS that has been adapted to work the sleeper services being RETB equipped and having modified braking systems. They are also speed restricted to eighty miles per hour. Their replacement is now overdue with a dedicated fleet of former Southern Region class 73s being completely rebuilt. However, as is usual with our railways, their introduction is now heavily overdue due to technical issues.
Keywords: 67004 21.16 London Euston-Inverness, Fort William Aberdeen sleeper 1S25 1Y11 West Highland Line Bridge of Orchy Caledonian Sleeper Cairn Gorm

67004, CS 21.16 London Euston-Inverness, Fort William & Aberdeen sleeper (1S25 & 1Y11) & Renton Cottage, Rannoch station
I stayed in Renton Cottage located off the platform end at Rannoch station with friends a couple of times taking winter breaks a few years ago. When we were there, our morning peace and quiet was broken by Class 37s on the sleeper and freight services rather than 67004 'Cairn Gorm' as seen here. Renton Cottage was built for James Renton who was one of the directors of the West Highland Railway who put a substantial amount of his personal fortune into the company in order for the railway to be completed in 1893. The technical problems of the constructing the line across Rannoch Moor nearly bankrupted him and the company costing an estimated one point one million pounds. There is a stone bust of James Renton carved into a huge lump of rock on the platform end at Rannoch station just to the left of where I am standing.
Keywords: 67004 21.16 London Euston-Inverness, Fort William Aberdeen sleeper 1S25 1Y11 Renton Cottage Rannoch station Caledonian Sleeper Cairn Gorm

Cab, 67004, CS 21.16 London Euston-Inverness, Fort-William & Aberdeen sleeper (1S25 & 1Y11), Rannoch station
With the driver out on Rannoch's platform taking the opportunity to stretch his legs I managed to capture this image of the cab of 67004 'Cairn Gorm' waiting to leave with the down Highland Sleeper to Fort William. Behind the ship-to-shore telephone laying on the desk is the ubiquitous tablet loaded with the Timetable Advisory System software. This indicates that the service arrived at this remote Scottish station on time and that it's scheduled to leave in thirty-four seconds. Unfortunately, this departure time was compromised due to the late arrival of the 06.03 Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street service.
Keywords: Cab 67004 21.16 London Euston-Inverness Fort-William Aberdeen sleeper 1S25 1Y11 Rannoch station Cairn Gorm RETB Caledonian Sleeper

156500, SR 06.03 Mallaig-Glasgow Queen Street (1Y42), Rannoch station
With a typical Highland backdrop, 156500 arrives into Rannoch station with the 06.03 Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street. I deliberately chose to include the wartime style corrugated iron hut off the platform end,. There are a number of these scattered about on this section of line that I suspect contains various maintenance equipment. Obviously, they are of this utilitarian but very practical design to withstand the rigours of the extreme winter weather experienced at locations such as this at just over a thousand feet above sea level. Also, notice the large RETB stop boards indicating a change of section controlled by the signalling Centre at Banavie just west of Fort William.
Keywords: 156500 06.03 Mallaig-Glasgow Queen Street 1Y42 Rannoch station ScotRail Sprinter

156500, SR 06.00 Mallaig-Glasgow Queen Street (1Y42), Rannoch station
Rannoch station is a typical island structure of the common design to the West Highland Railway. It was opened in 1894 and sees healthy numbers of passengers despite its very remote location at the end of a road just under forty miles from Pitlochry. Notice that the trains operate as right hand running through the station introduced by BR in 1987. The station café chairs and tables have already been put out on the platform ready for the day's visitors.
Keywords: 156500 06.00 Mallaig-Glasgow Queen Street 1Y42 Rannoch station

Sleeping compartment, 21.16 London Euston-Inverness, Fort William & Aberdeen sleeper (1S25 & 1Y11)
My wife would be horrified that I have failed to make my bed! My bunk is seen as the down Highland Sleeper rattles across Rannoch Moor. Despite the compact nature of the bunk, I did actually sleep rather well from when we turned with the train having passed Crewe waking up after leaving Glasgow.
Keywords: Sleeping compartment 21.16 London Euston-Inverness, Fort William & Aberdeen sleeper 1S25 1Y11 Caledonian Sleeper

Fort William Junction (ex. Mallaig Junction) signal box (NB,1849)
Fort William Junction signal box is a North British style 6b opened in 1894 and fitted with a thirty lever frame also fitted with an NX Panel for the controlling the signalling into the station some two miles from where it is located. The box is located in the vee of the Mallaig branch (in the foreground) and the Glasgow line behind. As well as being named Fort William Junction from March 1988, it was also been Mallaig Junction and prior to that in 1901 Banavie Junction. Please note that the colour of the brickwork is not due to a camera colour shift issue but that it really has been painted in some sort of strange semi-pink paint!
Keywords: Fort William Junction Mallaig Junction signal box North British

Fort William Junction (ex. Mallaig Junction) signal box (NB,1849) & latticed signal post
A superb example of a Caledonian Railway latticed signal at Fort William Junction. This one is controlled by the adjacent signal box of the same name (formally Mallaig Junction and prior to that Banavie Junction) that is seen sitting in the vee between the Mallaig and Glasgow lines.
Keywords: Fort William Junction Mallaig Junction signal box NB 1849 latticed signal post North British Banavie Junction

Banavie Signaling Centre signal box (BR, 1987)
I hesitate to call Banavie Signalling Centre a signal box but BR (Scottish Region) certainly made an effort to create a design that resembles one with its hipped slate roof and general design. At least it's not a portacabin unceremoniously dumped on the platform! This non-standard design was opened on 14.06.87 as a non-block post fitted with an individual function switch panel. In late 1987 it was upgraded to a block post controlling RETB all the way to Mallaig and the short distance to Fort William Junction. In the Spring of 1988, RETB control was extended to control the entire Oban line from Helensburgh and the Fort Willaim line via Tyndrum Upper. This final move precipitated the closure of all the mechanical signalling on the West Highland lines all except the strange anomaly of Mallaig Junction and, until 2011 Annat Junction, where the Corpach Scottish Pulp and Paper Mill had a crossing over the line at Lochaber. This crossing was converted to a CCTV remote crossing and led to the closure of a very unusual design of box.
Keywords: Banavie Signaling Centre signal box BR 1987

Banavie swing bridge
The Banavie swing bridge carries the est Highland line to Mallaig over the extreme southern end of the Caledonian Canal just to the west of Banavie station. It was opened in 1901 and has been in continual operation since. It is hand operated and has a pedestrian five miles per hour speed restriction.
Keywords: Banavie swing bridge

Plaque, Banavie signalling centre signal box (BR, 1987)
I have a pretty good knowledge of politicians and in particular transport minsters but I have to admit that the Rt. Hon David Mitchell passed me by! As can be seen in his ministerial capacity, he travelled from Westminster to the remote outpost of Banavie to open the signalling centre on 19.05.88. Searching for anything about this somewhat forgotten politician from the twilight of Thatcher's premiership reveals very little apart from references to the present day comedian of the same name! At the time of writing, his son Andrew Mitchell is an under-minister in the Cameron administration.
Keywords: Plaque Banavie signalling centre signal box 1987

Glenfinnan signal box (preserved), (WHE, 1901)
The preserved signal box at Glenfinnan station is now preserved and part of the railway museum in the old station buildings. By prior arrangement, the Railway Signal Company built box can be visited with it still containing its levers and frame. The box was opened in 1901 for the West Highland Railway's extension to Mallaig. Off course, the station is extremely popular with visitors who make the pilgrimage to Glenfinnan in search of their own Harry Potter experience often disappointed to find that Hogwarts does not actually exist being a creation of CGI!
Keywords: Glenfinnan signal box RSC WHE, 1901 West Highland railway Extension Railway Signal Company

156476, SR 08.21 Glasgow Queen Street-Mallaig (1Y41), Spean Bridge station
All the ScotRail stations are well maintained and Spean Bridge is no exception having well-manicured gravel with excellent signage and facilities. Running what appears to the wrong track, 156476 waits at the station with the 1Y41 Glasgow Queen Street to Mallaig service. It is pausing because Spean Bridge is a passing place and a Glasgow service was heading in the other direction.
Keywords: 156476 08.21 Glasgow Queen Street-Mallaig 1Y41 Spean Bridge station ScotRail Sprinter

156456, SR 10.10 Mallaig-Glasgow Queen Street (1Y44) & 156445, SR 08.21 Glasgow Queen Street-Mallaig (1Y41), Spean Bridge station
A busy scene at Spean Bridge station northeast of Fort William sees 156456 to the left pausing with the 10.10 Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street train. To the right, 156445 has been waiting for a few minutes with the 08.21 Glasgow to Mallaig. On the platform is the former signal box that tankfully was not knocked down when the line went over to RETB control in 1988.
Keywords: 156456 10.10 Mallaig-Glasgow Queen Street 1Y44 156445 08.21 Glasgow Queen Street-Mallaig 1Y41 Spean Bridge station ScotRail Sprinter

156456, SR 10.10 Mallaig-Glasgow Queen Street (1Y44), Spean Bridge station
Passing the RETB board at the end of Spean Bridge station, 156456 gets underway with the 10.10 Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street 1Y44 service. After a couple more stops, the train will then commence its climb up to Corrour station along the side of Loch Treig; one of the most dramatic stretches of railway in the country.
Keywords: 156456 10.10 Mallaig-Glasgow Queen Street 1Y44 Spean Bridge station ScotRail Sprinter

Spean Bridge signal box (Closed) (LNER, 1949)
Spean Bridge signal box was opened in 1949 by British Railways to a classic LNER design. It is characterised by having a square-plan, being constructed of red brick signal box with chamfered corner angles and a flat roof. It is a listed structure as is the adjacent station building being closed in 1988 when the RETB signalling was commissioned.
Keywords: Spean Bridge signal box LNER 1949

Interior, Spean Bridge signal box (Closed) (LNER, 1949)
Looking more like an arthouse scene than the interior of a former signal box. Spean Bridge signal box was closed in 1988 and has been in use as a greenhouse but now appears to be more of a minimal form of a living room! Notice the flat boarding on the floor to the left that marks where the levers emerged from the frame room below. Also, notice the hole in the ceiling where the chimney from the fire exited the box.
Keywords: Spean Bridge signal box LNER 1949

Dalwhinnie signal box (Highland, 1909)
Dalwhinnie signal box was opened by the Highland railway in 1909 and retains a twenty lever frame. In more recent years the box has been modified and extended. This full-width extension replaced a half-width porch and toilet facility and wooden steps. The box has the accolade of being the highest operational example in the country at one thousand two hundred and fourteen feet above sea level.
Keywords: Dalwhinnie signal box (Highland, 1909)

Kingussie signal box & down starter (HR, c.1894)
Kingussie signal box sits at the northern end of the station adjacent to the up line next to the level crossing. It controls and an array of signals including the oddly positioned down starter. There is some debate and a degree of uncertainty about the date that the box was constructed ranging from 1894 to 1922. Either way it is a Mackenzie and Holland Type 3 box that has had a dreadful ugly extension and galvanised steps added in recent years. This has been done despite that it is listed on the Scottish Highland Historic Environment Record.
Keywords: Kingussie signal box down starter Highland Railway

170452, SR 12.09 Glasgow Queen Street-Inverness (1H51), Aviemore station
The up starter, AV28, is pulled off to allow the departure of 170452 working the 12.09 Glasgow Queen Street to Inverness. The signal posts, both those in and out of use are of a typical Caledonian Railway latticed design but al are devoid of their finials. Notice the track to the right of the fence, this is the track of the Strathspey Railway leading to Broomhill.
Keywords: 170452 12.09 Glasgow Queen Street-Inverness 1H51 Aviemore station ScotRail

46512, 14.45 Aviemore-Broomhill, Aviemore Strathspey station
At the Strathspey Railway's Aviemore station former LMS Ivatt 2-6-0 46512 waits to leave with the 14.45 service to Broomhill. This highly successful design of Class 2 locomotive numbered some one hundred and twenty-eight with this one being a late example built at Swindon in 1953.
Keywords: 46512 14.45 Aviemore-Broomhill Aviemore Strathspey station LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0

Frontage, Invergordon station
The rather impressive and well-maintained entrance to Invergordon station is seen with our VW Up! hire car parked in front. The station was opened by the Inverness and Ross-shire Railway in 1874 and is on the far north line to Turso and Wick. Whilst it has pretty healthy passenger numbers, in recent years these have been in a slow decline.
Keywords: Frontage, Invergordon station

158726, SR 12.34 Wick-Inverness (2H62), Alness station
The town of Alness has a proud history of entering and winning the Scotland and Britain in Bloom competitions with this extended to the railway station that was adorned with numerous hanging baskets, boxes and manicured grass off the platform end. ScotRail's 158726 arrives at the station with the 12.34 Wick to Inverness service.
Keywords: 158726 12.34 Wick-Inverness 2H62 Alness station ScotRail

158726, SR 12.34 Wick-Inverness (2H62), Alness station
158726 leaves Alness station to continue its journey to Inverness as the 1234 from Wick. Notice the manicured grass on the platform end with the town authorities taking great care of the station and its environs. The footbridge over the train leads to the Alness Academy a large high school in this area.
Keywords: 158726 12.34 Wick-Inverness 2H62 Alness station ScotRail

Frontage, Dingwall station
The Inverness and Ross-shire Railway opened the station at Dingwall in 1862 with the Highland Railway opening the station building in 1886. Today the station is in use as a pub named The Mallard, a Christian Bookshop and a tearoom oh, and you can get a train from there too! The last time that I was at Dingwall station was in April 1984 during my Scottish railrover travelling behind 26034 and 26040 double-heading the 06.40 Inverness to Wick service.
Keywords: Frontage Dingwall station

67007 & 67009, CS 20.44 Inverness, Aberdeen & Fort William-London Euston sleeper (1M16), Inverness station
The evening's up Highland Sleeper waits at Inverness station. It will leave at 20.44 joining portions from Fort William and Aberdeen at Edinburgh Waverley in the 'wee small hours'! The sleeper is headed by two EWS locomotives, 67007 and 67009. Notice the subtle Saltire attached to the front of 67007 just above the number.
Keywords: 67007 67009 20.44 Inverness Aberdeen Fort William-London Euston sleeper 1M16 Inverness station Caledonian Sleeper Mk. 3 III stock Highland Sleeper

67009 & 67007, CS 20.44 Inverness, Aberdeen & Fort William-London Euston sleeper (1M16), Inverness-station
67009 and 67007 sit stabled at Inverness at the head of the Up Caledonian Sleeper. In a couple of hours time, the service will depart at 20.44 running as 1M16 for Euston.
Keywords: 67009 67007 20.44 Inverness Aberdeen Fort William-London Euston sleeper 1M16 Inverness-station Caledonian Sleeper Mk. 3 III stock Highland Sleeper

10504, 10520 & 10605 Mk. III sleeper stock, Inverness station
The Mk. III sleeper stock is due for replacement in the next few years that will precipitate the withdrawal of this somewhat elderly nocturnal accommodation. Numbers 10504, 10520 and 10605 are seen at Inverness as part of the 1M16 20.44 to London Euston.

Caledonian Sleeper office, Union Street, Inverness
The Caledonian Sleeper office is seen at the junction of Union and Academy Streets in Inverness. This is opposite the town's station that is to my immediate left in this view. Such is the popularity of the sleeper services that many of the stations that they serve have dedicated lounges and that offices such of this are maintained; long may this continue.
Keywords: Caledonian Sleeper office Union Street, Inverness

Images 1-32 of 32 displayed.