Jacobite 2026

And currently has no mainline warning flashes or tender step guards by the looks of it

 

Also not beyond the bounds of possibility that a certain loco owner might be planning to celebrate upcoming 80th birthday by using his pet engine in some way.

 

Maybe its in steam for "14 monthly"? Must be at least that since it was reportedly returned to steam.

 

8151 is vacuum only and I don't think Mr Smith would want it knocked to bits on the WHL when its straight out of the box after overhaul.

 

Indeed - I would be astounded to see her head north.

 

37516 with mk2/mk1 rake

Information courtesy of the below website;

37516 Loch Laiodon, 5Z37, Carnforth, Tues 9 June 2… - North west trains, 2026 - andrewstransport

5Z37 Jacobite ecs to Fort William 9 June - 37516, red 21266, blue /grey 6158. 5985 & 6054 (all with opening windows) and 3333, red 3232 with opening windows & buffet 1860.

 

So after all the exemption hot air WC has added CDL to fresh air mk2s and fresh air to coffins with CDL. Neat ....

 

Should give you something else to moan at for a while

 

Clearly it could just be a temporary arrangement to get the afternoon train rolling. And why not. At least it’s mainline steam running. Very much looking forward to the annual photting week in the Highlands in September and glad both trains are on

 

You're hardly a silent observer Harry.
It's great to see the Jacobite back up to full strength but pardon me for not going overboard when it's two months behind schedule without any of the reasons given for the delay being obvious in the latest mode of operation.
You'll no doubt have a smart answer as to why it is, after all, feasible to run a 2 train Jacobite without the need for exempted mk1s ....

 

The more optimistic view would be that mk1s will reappear on Dalesmans etc

 

Whilst I’m pleased that the Jacobite is now up to 2 trains a day so that more people can enjoy the ride, I won’t be rushing up there to photograph the dog’s dinner of a rake that’s forming the afternoon train.

 

The way it’s formed should mesn always guaranteed the 3 maroons behind the tender, assuming the brake gets run to the middle.

Plenty of scope up in Scotland for loosing those back 4 and surely invites the challenge.

 

If you want to travel First Class you need to buy two tickets. They don't allow single bookings in First Class. Is that new? I don't remember it in previous years.

 

Given the evidence so far, I think that is very likely to be wishful/delusional thinking. Only a few months ago we had some, including yourself if I recall, declaring that WC had fitted a rake of Mk1s with CDL that would suddenly appear for the GB/Jacobite, yet the reality is there is no real evidence of that happening especially if the reporting about the exemption request was in any way accurate. If they were fitting a Mk1 rake surely the buffet that is part of the set going up would have been a prime candidate to be done first so it could be used to carry passengers as well as providing a catering facility.

West Coast are very good at some things but resolving this is not one of them.

If WC don't get an exemption my bet is on a full Mk1 set with CDL on the Jacobite next year at the earliest if ever. If they do get an exemption clearly there probably will be Mk1s back on the Jacobite but depending on the agreement it may be that they never do so with CDL, at least while David Smith is still around.

 

I think that's a reasonable deduction, allied to the quotes in the latest Trackside from DS stating that none of the mk1s has been fitted with CDL. Taken alongside the reported application for a 13 year R5 exemption, beginning with 3 years "technical evaluation" it could reasonably be judged that there is limited intent towards fitting CDL despite recent press releases stating the firm has "decided to fit CDL".