Steam on the Fort William to Mallaig Line

Fort William station and the daily steam hauled service stands in platform 1. Former LNER K4 2-6-0 3442 "The Great Marquess" was designed especially for the West Highland Line by Nigel Gresley and introduced in 1937. The Severn Valley Railway based loco has come to Fort William for a three week stint on the Mallaig steam service. 23/7/1989.

After a fantastic run to Mallaig 3442 stands at the station and takes water. Gathered at the hydrant are Lindsay Spittal on the left, Alun Rees in the middle and John "Robbo" Robinson on the right. Three men I would later come to know well.

The servicing of the loco is complete and it has run round the train and shunted into platform 2 ready for the run back to Fort William. The loco was bought from BR for preservation by David, the Earl Lindsay and it was his great wish to see it running again on the West Highland Line. On the 15th of July 1989 he rode on the footplate from Fort William to Banavie despite being extremely ill, before joining his family and friends in the train for the run to Mallaig. Just 16 days later he died, his wish fulfilled. My later association with this loco came after I joined the A4 60009 support crew and owner John Cameron bought the K4 when the Earl Lindsay's family sold the engine. 23/7/1989

A general view of Fort William shed with 37424, 37428, 08630 and 75014 all present. The standard class 4 4-6-0 is being prepared for the day's trip to Mallaig. 27/6/1997

The empty coaching stock move from the shed to the station takes place with 75014 running tender first as 5Y61 0850 Fort William shed - Fort William station ECS.

In the station 75014 has run round its train using platform 2 and shunted the stock into platform 1 to await its 1035 departure time.

Out on the road 75014 crosses the viaduct over the River Lochy beside the ruins of Inverlochy Castle. The train ID for the steam turn is 2Y61.

Further out the railway runs along the northern shore of Loch Eil. Here the standard class 4 is seen at Fassfern.

The approach to Glenfinnan station is severe on a 1 in 50 climb. Despite the loco working hard, the fireman will be starting to cool his fire down for the 20 minute wait at the station.

Departing Glenfinnan station, the line continues to climb for a further 2 1/2 miles. 75014 is seen about half a mile from the summit going well, sounding and looking superb.

The other side of the summit has the line dropping down at a ruling gradient of 1 in 48 for just under 3 miles. 75014 coasts down the lower part of the descent on the south side of Loch Eilt.

A classic shot on the Mallaig extension is the chapel at Polnish. This little white painted building was made famous in the film "Local Hero".

At Mallaig fireman Stevie Fraser looks down the train to look for the tip from Florence the guard to say that the points have been set for the train to drop into the down platform and be shut in to await its departure time.

Arisaig is a service stop to exchange the radio token. With the valves lifting driver Calum McRaild gets 75014 away from the small station and loop. The signalbox is now empty other than the lever frame. The ID for the return trip is 2Y62 1410 off Mallaig.

75014 and its train drifts through a cut in the rock as it comes towards Glenfinnan. Sgurr a Mhuidhe fills the picture to a height of 1,826 feet.

At Banavie the line crosses the Caledonian Canal by means of a swing bridge, 75014 slowly eases onto the bridge. Beyond it is Neptunes Staircase which raises the Caledonian Canal 62 feet via 8 locks over a distance of a quarter of a mile. 27/6/1997

On shed at Fort William is Ian Storey's 1947 built Black Five 44767. It is unique in that it has Stephenson's link motion, it also has Timken roller bearings. The engine was been repainted for the 1997 season. I was on shed to start two weeks of support crew with the Black Five. 28/6/1997

The Paddle Steamer Waverley whistles up for the steam loco as it steams in Loch Eil at Corpach. The boat was built for the LNER in 1947 and is the last ocean going paddle steamer in the World. 30/6/1997

On shed in the evening as the sun drops down. Meall an t-Suidhe broods over Fort William shed in this long lens shot of 44767. 4/7/1997

44767 moves around the shed passing 75014 and one of the two snowploughs built on a steam tender chassis. 8/7/1997

Beasdale Bank is a most formidable piece of railway line, it twists and turns for a distance of 1 1/2 miles and a gradient of 1 in 48, a real test of man and machine. 44767 gives its all with thick black smoke from the front end as it tackles the bank with the late Dave Judd firing to the late Calum MacRaild under instruction from Stevie Fraser.

The end of the line is the fishing village of Mallaig and 44767 basks in the hot sun of a July day. The loco has been refilled with water and the coal brought forward and is ready to run round the train and shunt to the other platform. 8/7/1997

Fort William station and a chasing run to Mallaig with Richard Campbell driving. 44767 has run round its train in the station and is moving off to shunt into platform 1. 10/7/1997

A classic shot and a classic location, 44767 comes round the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct. Like all the bridges and viaducts on this line it is built of reinforced concrete.

Climbing at 1 in 50 near to Polnish, the white of the safety valves condradicts the black of the exhaust. The polarizing filter on the camera brings out the strong colours.

This was taken from the front of Richard's Land Rover doing about 50mph. 44767 crosses Loch nan Uamh viaduct right at the bottom of Beasdale Bank, get the power on NOW!

Beasdale station is at the top of the bank, 1 1/2 rail miles from the previous shot. 44767 comes over the summit at a little more than a walking pace and was barking away in sensational style. It could be heard long before it came into view. Note the headboard.

On the approach to Mallaig the line drops down to sea level. A small feather of steam fizzles from the safety valves and a a light haze of smoke drifts from the chimney as Stevie Fraser cools the fire down for the stop over at Mallaig.