2. Railways

Druimuachdar Summit, first to almost last.

A day at Druimuachdar Summit, 1,484 feet above sea level, on the Highland Main Line had been in my mind for several years before I did it. My intension was to get all traffic from the morning down sleeper to the evening up one. But the fading light and worsening weather brought the evening to a early close. 6/7/2006
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  • A new board has been placed at the 1,484 foot summit in Druimuachdar Pass.

    A new board has been placed at the 1,484 foot summit in Druimuachdar Pass.

  • At 12 minutes to 7 in the morning sun, 67007 approaches the highest point on the UK rail network with 1S25 2115 Euston to Inverness sleeper.

    At 12 minutes to 7 in the morning sun, 67007 approaches the highest point on the UK rail network with 1S25 2115 Euston to Inverness sleeper.

  • The view of Druimuachdar Summit from a couple of hundred feet up the hill to the east. An unknown class 170 Turbostar heads south with 1B08 0645 Inverness to Edinburgh, a journey of 3 hours 14 minutes.

    The view of Druimuachdar Summit from a couple of hundred feet up the hill to the east. An unknown class 170 Turbostar heads south with 1B08 0645 Inverness to Edinburgh, a journey of 3 hours 14 minutes.

  • The set passes the summit board in glorious morning sun. I spent the time on the hillside listening to the previous Saturday's Johnnie Lewis show from Radio Caroline on my mp3 player. What a way to pass the time!

    The set passes the summit board in glorious morning sun. I spent the time on the hillside listening to the previous Saturday's Johnnie Lewis show from Radio Caroline on my mp3 player. What a way to pass the time!

  • EWS type 5 67008 comes up grade at 1 in 78 with four parcels vans in tow. This service is operated by EWS for Securicor and carries parcels from Walsall to Law Junction. There the train splits with portions to Inverness and Aberdeen.

    EWS type 5 67008 comes up grade at 1 in 78 with four parcels vans in tow. This service is operated by EWS for Securicor and carries parcels from Walsall to Law Junction. There the train splits with portions to Inverness and Aberdeen.

  • The loco passes between the Summit board and the semi derelict bothy on the opposite side of the line. The working is 1H03 0607 Mossend to Inverness.

    The loco passes between the Summit board and the semi derelict bothy on the opposite side of the line. The working is 1H03 0607 Mossend to Inverness.

  • The sun was being kept away from the actual summit by a cloud that just wouldn't shift. But slightly to the north the sun warmed an area of peat and grass. 67008 runs on for Inverness.

    The sun was being kept away from the actual summit by a cloud that just wouldn't shift. But slightly to the north the sun warmed an area of peat and grass. 67008 runs on for Inverness.

  • About 40 minutes after the class 67 passed by, another loco hauled working grinds up "The Hill" towards Druimuachdar Summit.

    About 40 minutes after the class 67 passed by, another loco hauled working grinds up "The Hill" towards Druimuachdar Summit.

  • Freightliner Heavy Haul 66613 passes the top with 6H51 0308 ThO Oxwellmains to Inverness loaded cement.

    Freightliner Heavy Haul 66613 passes the top with 6H51 0308 ThO Oxwellmains to Inverness loaded cement.

  • The 24 tank train is caught in the sunlight that I was willing to move to the actual summit.

    The 24 tank train is caught in the sunlight that I was willing to move to the actual summit.

  • More variety is caught from the hillside, 1E12 0755 Inverness to Kings Cross GNER HST working climbs the last mile or so to the summit from the north. Powercars are 43096 leading with 43006 trailing.

    More variety is caught from the hillside, 1E12 0755 Inverness to Kings Cross GNER HST working climbs the last mile or so to the summit from the north. Powercars are 43096 leading with 43006 trailing.

  • 43096 "Stirling Castle" passes the Summit Board on the 581 3/4 mile journey from Inverness to London. The train has so far covered just 66 miles.

    43096 "Stirling Castle" passes the Summit Board on the 581 3/4 mile journey from Inverness to London. The train has so far covered just 66 miles.

  • A final train viewed from high above the Pass, an unknown class 170 Turbostar forges north with 1H05 0708 Glasgow Queen Street to Inverness.

    A final train viewed from high above the Pass, an unknown class 170 Turbostar forges north with 1H05 0708 Glasgow Queen Street to Inverness.

  • Back down at the lineside and 170414 passes the Summit board, now bathed in sunshine, flipping typical!! Why couldn't the cloud have moved when I was up on the hillside? The working is 1T16 0920 Inverness to Glasgow Queen Street.

    Back down at the lineside and 170414 passes the Summit board, now bathed in sunshine, flipping typical!! Why couldn't the cloud have moved when I was up on the hillside? The working is 1T16 0920 Inverness to Glasgow Queen Street.

  • The driver of 170414 has powered down for the downhill run to Blair Atholl

    The driver of 170414 has powered down for the downhill run to Blair Atholl

  • A short while later 170426 comes north with 1H07 0840 Edinburgh to Inverness. The hill in the background is The Sow of Atholl which rises to 2,610 feet above sea level.

    A short while later 170426 comes north with 1H07 0840 Edinburgh to Inverness. The hill in the background is The Sow of Atholl which rises to 2,610 feet above sea level.

  • A class 170 and 158 combination come over the summit with 170393 leading 158712. The train ID is 1B22 1052 Inverness to Edinburgh.

    A class 170 and 158 combination come over the summit with 170393 leading 158712. The train ID is 1B22 1052 Inverness to Edinburgh.

  • A north bound Turbostar runs up the final few hundred yards of the climb with ex Hull Trains 170394 forming 1H09 1010 Glasgow Queen Street to Inverness.

    A north bound Turbostar runs up the final few hundred yards of the climb with ex Hull Trains 170394 forming 1H09 1010 Glasgow Queen Street to Inverness.

  • The loco that works the sleepers north comes south with the empty vans from 1H03. 67007 speeds south with the empty parcels vans working as 4D05 1137 MX Inverness to Mossend.

    The loco that works the sleepers north comes south with the empty vans from 1H03. 67007 speeds south with the empty parcels vans working as 4D05 1137 MX Inverness to Mossend.

  • About a quarter of a mile to the south of the actual summit is a bridge that carries the railway over one of the streams that comes off the hills to the east. 170426 heads south with 1B31 1240 Inverness to Edinburgh. The hill in the background is Creagan Doire Dhonaich.

    About a quarter of a mile to the south of the actual summit is a bridge that carries the railway over one of the streams that comes off the hills to the east. 170426 heads south with 1B31 1240 Inverness to Edinburgh. The hill in the background is Creagan Doire Dhonaich.

  • Turning round to face south at the same location as the previous shot and another ex Hull Trains Turbostar speeds north as best it can against the 1 in 78 pull. The train is 1H11 1140 Edinburgh to Inverness. These sets are used on the Inverness road as they have a small refreshment counter area.

    Turning round to face south at the same location as the previous shot and another ex Hull Trains Turbostar speeds north as best it can against the 1 in 78 pull. The train is 1H11 1140 Edinburgh to Inverness. These sets are used on the Inverness road as they have a small refreshment counter area.

  • A reverse angle view of Druimuachdar Summit taken from the lower flanks of the Boar of Badenoch and an unknown class 170 Turbostar comes south with 1B34 1440 Inverness to Edinburgh.

    A reverse angle view of Druimuachdar Summit taken from the lower flanks of the Boar of Badenoch and an unknown class 170 Turbostar comes south with 1B34 1440 Inverness to Edinburgh.

  • The set passes over the summit and passes the summit board. I didn't go as far up as I did earlier on the other side just for two trains, also the hillside is much steeper!

    The set passes over the summit and passes the summit board. I didn't go as far up as I did earlier on the other side just for two trains, also the hillside is much steeper!

  • The set drops downhill and twists around the landscape. Just above it is the old road no longer used by traffic after the new A9 was built and opened higher up.

    The set drops downhill and twists around the landscape. Just above it is the old road no longer used by traffic after the new A9 was built and opened higher up.

  • A short while after the south bound train is a north bound one comprising of a class 158 in former National Express livery with a First Group coloured class 170 on the back, 1H13 1340 Edinburgh to Inverness.

    A short while after the south bound train is a north bound one comprising of a class 158 in former National Express livery with a First Group coloured class 170 on the back, 1H13 1340 Edinburgh to Inverness.

  • The pair pass over the top.

    The pair pass over the top.

  • The five vehicle train hurries on to Inverness falling at 1 in 80 at this point down hill to Kingussie. The A9 road is in the background.

    The five vehicle train hurries on to Inverness falling at 1 in 80 at this point down hill to Kingussie. The A9 road is in the background.

  • Back again at the line side and a return to a spot visited earlier. A patch of sunlight shines on Creagan Doire Dhonaich as 170395 tears by with 1T36 1655 Inverness to Glasgow Queen Street.

    Back again at the line side and a return to a spot visited earlier. A patch of sunlight shines on Creagan Doire Dhonaich as 170395 tears by with 1T36 1655 Inverness to Glasgow Queen Street.

  • 170414 is seen again, this time coming north with 1H15 1612 off Edinburgh to Inverness. The driver gives a cheery wave to the crazy photographer as he passes.

    170414 is seen again, this time coming north with 1H15 1612 off Edinburgh to Inverness. The driver gives a cheery wave to the crazy photographer as he passes.

  • The daily Kings Cross to Inverness GNER HST working approaches about the right time, coming round the reverse curves climbing hard with 43118 leading the set. This is 1S15 1200 off the famous London East Coast Main Line station.

    The daily Kings Cross to Inverness GNER HST working approaches about the right time, coming round the reverse curves climbing hard with 43118 leading the set. This is 1S15 1200 off the famous London East Coast Main Line station.

  • As the lead powercar goes over the top, the trailing powercar is still on the rising 1 in 78, it is 43039.

    As the lead powercar goes over the top, the trailing powercar is still on the rising 1 in 78, it is 43039.

  • A few minutes after the HST went north and 66613 is caught bending over the gradient change from level to 1 in 78 falling with its train of 24 empty PCA cement tanks.

    A few minutes after the HST went north and 66613 is caught bending over the gradient change from level to 1 in 78 falling with its train of 24 empty PCA cement tanks.

  • 66613 works its train back to Oxwellmains, near Dunbar. The working is 6B31 1700 from Inverness.

    66613 works its train back to Oxwellmains, near Dunbar. The working is 6B31 1700 from Inverness.

  • The line twists and turns as it follows the shape of the land, built so to keep the cost and amount of earth works down.

    The line twists and turns as it follows the shape of the land, built so to keep the cost and amount of earth works down.

  • In perfect evening light, an unknown class 170 Turbostar heads north with 1H17 1740 from Edinburgh to Inverness.

    In perfect evening light, an unknown class 170 Turbostar heads north with 1H17 1740 from Edinburgh to Inverness.

  • Following the train along, it catches the glint.

    Following the train along, it catches the glint.

  • And finally another unknown Turbostar set runs south after the sun had gone behind a cloud. This train is 1B44 1831 off Inverness to Edinburgh. Time to go home, I had an early start!

    And finally another unknown Turbostar set runs south after the sun had gone behind a cloud. This train is 1B44 1831 off Inverness to Edinburgh. Time to go home, I had an early start!

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    A short while later 170426 comes north with 1H07 0840 Edinburgh to Inverness. The hill in the background is The Sow of Atholl which rises to 2,610 feet above sea level.
    A class 170 and 158 combination come over the summit with 170393 leading 158712. The train ID is 1B22 1052 Inverness to Edinburgh.
    A north bound Turbostar runs up the final few hundred yards of the climb with ex Hull Trains 170394 forming 1H09 1010 Glasgow Queen Street to Inverness.