SRPS Polmont - Fort William - Polmont 24 October 2015

Times now on RTT:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63904/2015/10/24/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63907/2015/10/24/advanced

 

Good stuff in that its happening, although its even tighter (six minutes to be precise) for the 05:18 from Waverley- which worries me a tadge... The only good thing is that the ECS has to follow it to Polmont, so fingers crossed things will work out as planned, otherwise it will be an expensive peice of improvisation to shadow it by service train! Compared to that, getting back will be a doddle. The obligatory long wait for something to cross seems to be at Arrochar & Tarbet.

 

Has to cross the Northbound Alcans, which as from the end of 2013, has been extended in train length. This means it's now currently impossible for this train, plus a charter train longer than a loop, to pass. Results in what you see now, train runs to Arrochar and Black 5's plus POB's are detached and run in to the wood loading sidings while the diesel on rear pulls the stock back in to the loop entirely.

 

Thus we have made this our 'water stop', the only one of the day, so no time wasted

 

ECS Fort William to Carnforth now on RTT:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50710/2015/10/24/advanced

 

A wee shot of the return steam-hauled leg on the WHL today. Nice to catch up with a few today including Johnathon at County March.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/23006205@N07/22444195885/in/dateposted-public/

Steven

 

A beautiful picture Steven, lucked in there with that warm light in the foreground, makes for a very dramatic photo.

Cheers,

Alan

 

Excellent trip, and SRPS treated some standard class passengers to first class compartments due to the need to shorten the train for Arrochar and Tarbet on the return. The weather was variable, but there were some spectacular views to be had when the sun emerged, and three images I'll treasure are Monessie Gorge, curving around the Horseshoe Curve and the Crianlarich Hills. Had a slight hiccup with my camera when I discovered at Edinburgh Waverley that I'd left it on the charter, but managed to get it back. How I did is a story in itself...