Steam on the Highland Main Line

On 4/10/1997 BR Standard 4 75014 climbs the 1 in 102 1/2 gradient of Lochmuir Bank with a one way railtour from Edinburgh to Inverness. The train is running late by this early stage.

The train rolls off the Newburgh branch onto the former Caledonian main line at Hilton Junction. It will dive into Moncrieff Tunnel and run into Perth for a water stop.

Out on the road to Inverness, 75014 climbs the 1 in 125 gradient just to the south of Stanley. The train is running quite late now as the water stop at Perth was longer than planned due to the poor pressure from the hydrant at the diesel fuelling point.

The train lost even more time when the driver stopped for a blow up south of Dunkeld due to over firing. 75014 emerges from the Tay Viaduct at Dalguise and runs over the flood plain on an embankment.

Pitlochry is reached about an hour late and another water stop is due. Co owner Peter Proud shovels coal forward in the tender as water is taken from a road tanker courtesy of the railtour sponsors, Whyte and MacKay Whisky. The former Highland Railway signalbox is stil in use.

From Blair Athol to Dalwhinnie the track is double over the summit at Druimuachdar. Here John Lynch records 75014 emerging from below the new A9 road bridge over the railway near Calvine.

The 15 mile climb from Blair Athol north was known as "The Hill" by footplate crews. Here 75014 digs into the climb on Struan Bank for the long hard slog to the summit most of it at 1 in 70.

Chasing the train would have been possible on a push bike and we had plenty of time to get in front of it due to its slow progress. The train runs in front of "The Sow of Atholl" which rises to 2,650 feet as 75014 steams well passing by a ruin of possible railwayman’s cottages and the original A9 road.

Fireman Neil Young can rest now and put the shovel down as it is all down downhill to Kinguissie from here. Driver Willy Fox whistles up for the summit at 1,484 feet and the summit board just visible at the right of shot.

After a stop at Dalwhinnie to change firemen, the train sets off again. The line to the north of Dalwhinnie descends at 1 in 100 for several miles. Inspector Peter Kirk sits in the firemans seat and watches the road ahead.

Another water stop took place at Aviemore and afterwards the 12 mile climb to Slochd Summit starts in earnest. Here 75014 gets to grips with the 1 in 150 gradient at the point where the railway crosses over the old A9 road to the north of the town.

75014 charges through Carr Bridge station without stopping. The gradient through the station is 1 in 500 northbound stiffening to 1 in 100 off the end of the platforms and over the viaduct over the River Dulnain.

What a sight, a Standard class 4, 4-6-0 locomotive tops Slochd Summit at 1,315 feet, in stunning style. Fireman Stevie Fraser has done a great job in working the loco from Dalwhinnie and the sound of his efforts was music to the ears of the gathered photographers.

Journeys end and the sun has come out. Long shadows on the platform and a dark sky above the loco as Inspector Peter Kirk looks out of the firemans side window as the loco sets back out of platform 1. 4/10/1997

Ex LMSR Black 8 2-8-0 No 48151 heads north for Perth and Iverness on the Newburgh branch passing Collessie with a railtour from Edinburgh. It should have been BR Standard class 4 75014 but this was a last minute swap. The loco would be touring the Far North and Kyle of Lochalsh branch over the next few weeks. 3/10/1998

After the series of runs which took 48151 to Wick and the Kyle, it now heads south from Inverness to Polmont, 1Z25 was due off Inverness at 0930 but for what ever reason was late getting away. As it climbs the 1 in 70 grade to Culloden, a highland cow turns to look at the snorting beast approaching. 17/10/1998

48151 slipped to a stand climbing to Daviot and the support crew had to sand the rails by hand for the loco to get a grip on the wet rails. Then it was put inside at Moy for a southbound freight to overtake. It then got the road to Tomatin where it was put inside again to allow a southbound working to overtake. Here it finally approaches on the final slog to Slochd Summit.

48151 is now over two hours late and the gathered photographers are treated to the sight and sound of the 2-8-0 tackling the 1 in 60 slog with no sand and a wet and greasy rail. During the wait, rain and ice showers passed by........horizontally!

After passing over the 1,315 foot summit at Slochd, it is downhill to Aviemore. Here 48151 is seen passing the tall embankment just to the south of Carr Bridge falling at 1 in 100 with steam on. There is a short rise at 1 in 100 not far from here.

At Aviemore water was taken and coal brought forward, also passenger trains passed the steam working. A few miles south of Aviemore is Kincraig which has a loop but no longer a station. In the background is a snow covered Cairngorm mountain. The driver has shut the regulator and the valves have lifted as a result. It is possible the train is being put inside at the loop here where Kincraig station once stood.

The snow capped Carn Moirg forms the backdrop as 48151 climbs past Raliabeag, south of Newtonmore, at 1 in 95. It is uphill for 15 miles, bar two very short level sections, on the climb to Druimuachdar.

Dalwhinnie is a few miles away to the south and the road and railway come close togther. The driver is a ScotRail man and the inspector is Peter Kirk.

The white cottages to the right are Balsporran Cottages. 48151 climbs surely at 1 in 80 with the summit now just a mile away. A fine exhaust is is rising high above the train.

A stirring sight and sound as the 8F tears into the pull to Druimuachdar Summit 1,484 feet above sea level. Those gathered at the summit were blessed with a break in the clouds and the train passed in full sun.