A K4 on the West Highland Line

A private charter by Stagecoach conveying shareholders to Fort William sees John Cameron's K4 61994 pilot David Smith's Black 8 48151 with a rake of West Coast Railways stock. Here the train passes over Horse Shoe Viaduct on the famous Horse Shoe Curve. 6/5/08

The train is 1Z81 1130 Crianlarich to Fort William and here is comes off the Horse Shoe Curve and will stay on the lower flank of Beinn Dorain all the way to Bridge of Orchy. The passengers were bussed to Crianlarich to join the train.

After a stop at Bridge of Orchy to exchange the radio token, the train sets out onto Rannoch Moor climbing hard at 1 in 74 for some 8 1/2 miles to Gorton Loop.

Gorton Loop is reached and the track levels out for a stretch. The platform in the foreground once held a coach body that was used in the 1930's as a school for the children who lived trackside. Today the school and the pupils are long gone.

To the left of roughly where the locos are can be found the foundations of the two houses that once stood here for the signalmen who worked this lonely outpost. At least any kids didn't have far to go to school.

Looking back on the loop and to the right behind the sign is the rubble from the signalbox, including the remains of a signal arm. In June 1999 I spent 24 hours here because I could! See http://www.jules-merlin27.com/Trains/24-hours-at-Gorton-Loop/ and also April 2000 edition of Railway Magazine.

Onwards to the Fort and Rannoch station is not far away now. The two locos are lit to perfection by the morning sun as they climb at 1 in 50 towards the station.

Rannoch station is reached and an up ScotRail service is crossed. Sprinter 156447 forms 1Y44 1140 Fort William to Crianlarich. On arrival at Crianlarich it will join up with 1Y24, 1211 from Oban to Glasgow Queen Street.

Heading away from Rannoch and the train climbs at 1 in 50 crossing Rannoch Viaduct, which is being worked on by Network Rail, on level track then climbing again at 1 in 53.

The pair get to grips with the train after the restart, climbing hard on the curving track with the 8F blowing off.

The view from the back of the train is impressive as the line twists and turns over Rannoch Moor.

Once clear of Rannoch station area, the line opens out into the vast and bleak landscape that is Rannoch Moor. The warm sun shines down on the dry ground which is not good when the 8F has a 3/4 of an inch gap at the bottom of the ashpan screen. The resultant fire was huge and widespread and on our return there were six fire engines at Rannoch.

The line swings left and right as it works its way across the moor, the line floating on the boggy ground on a carpet of heather and brushwood.

The line takes a swinging turn to the left as it nears the snow shed. A photographer can be seen on the high ground to the left.

Cruach Snow Shed is unique in that it is a roof over a rock cutting that prevents the cutting from filling with snow. A stream of light shines in from a hole in the metal roof.

As well as the line swinging left and right it also has a switchback gradient profile. Here the train has just left the snowshed and the 1 in 53 climb eases to a level gradient.

The snow capped mountains dominate the far distance on this warm and sunny spring day.

The sky and loco exhausts are clear just the smoke from the burning moor behind us. We found out later that a photographer on the moor had to RUN to get away from the flames which were moving that fast. He had seen coals roll out from beneath the 8F.

The train passes a speed limit sign, 45mph for loco hauled trains and above is a 50mph sign for MU, multiple units.

Coming into view are the buildings at Corrour which is even more desolate than Gorton, a 15 mile long track from Dalwhinnie leads to the station.

Corrour station with the former North British signalbox visible above the front of the train. It is empty and the stone base of the water tower is used as a waiting room. The occupants of the house offer a bunkhouse facility.

After passing over the summit of the line just beyond Corrour at 1,350 feet, the line drops downgrade for 19 miles to Spean Bridge. The gradient here is falling at 1 in 67 for 8 3/4 miles.

Both regulators will be closed as the weight of the train is enough to keep the momentum and speed up. Black smoke is emitted from the chimneys and the 8F's safety valve is feathering as neither loco is working.

Back in the land of civilisation and the train is approaching Tulloch and is about to pass over Tulloch Viaduct and the River Spean. Tulloch station is just beyond.

The pair pass over the viaduct and the train is slowing for the station stop to exchange the token.

The landscape is not so wild and isolated and the road is visible on the opposite side of the railway.

The famous Monessie Gorge which was cut by the River Spean and the train is the only proper way to see the beauty that is the gorge.

The view of the gorge from the back of the train. In times of severe flood it has been known for the line to be closed as the level of the river has risen to the extent where it has covered the tracks. Fort William is 14 miles away and then the hard work of servicing and turning the locos for the trip back to Crianlarich and onto Thornton and Carnforth for the 8F and stock. A good trip apart from the 8F setting fire to a large swathe of Rannoch Moor. 6/5/2008