Jacobite 2026

Thanks!

 

Tour companies like Great Rail Jouneys, Leger, etc have continued offering Jacobite inclusive tours since last year, regardless of WCR public pronouncements. Suspect this was always going to be the fallback outcome.

 

So reservations for group bookings being taken whilst WC was going on record to say the train couldn't run unless ORR granted the exemption?
I wonder if the bookings were accepted on a "subject to" basis? Somebody upthread said they didn't think money would change hands for group bookings until after the event, so in that case maybe the tour firms were happy to take the risk and have a contingency.

 

Some of these bookings could have been made up to 12 months ago and are probably relating to business agreements going back many years.
This is guaranteed income and worth looking after and protecting - good business sense from West Coast.

 

Of course.
It just stands rather at odds with the public statements WC has been making this year.
If what you deduce is correct, and no reason to doubt it, those firms with long standing bookings must surely have received reassurances from WC during the time when outwardly the 2026 season has been thrown into some doubt.
Additionally if WC has planned to run the trains as it now is, why haven't they opened bookings to the public? Not good business sense .....

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EDs9Ec8Q7/

THE JACOBITE IS BACK.

Booking is now open for the 2026 season. Steam departs Fort William at 10:15 every morning, seven days a week, crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct on its way to Mallaig and the silver sands of Morar.

One train a day, to 23 October.

First Class and Standard, day returns from £76 (adult) £43 (child).

Book your seats: https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/book/jacobite/steam-train-trip

Afternoon departures will be announced soon. Voted the world's greatest railway journey, Wanderlust.
#TheJacobite #WestHighlandLine #Glenfinnan #SteamTrain #FortWilliam #Mallaig #ScotlandByRail #VisitScotland

 

"Afternoon departures will be announced soon."

Here's hoping...

 

Checked today for dates late October - runs up to 23rd October (typically England half term week is the week after...) with afternoon trains now visible.

 

It always finishes on the Friday before the clocks change

 

Yep, which is why I haven't traveled on the Jacobite for a while now - we are typically in Scotland the week after which is Welsh half term!!

 

Afternoon train now due to start on Wednesday 10th.

 

So there'll be a stock move in the next day or 2?

 

The newly renovated Mk 1s for sure.

 

Fingers crossed...

 

A nice thought but it doesn't really make sense. Note too that the WCR Jacobite website advertises "heritage Mk2 coaches".
If I had a nice shiny rake of CDL fitted Mk1's then why would I send it to work with air brake fitted locos in Scotland when my flagship Dalesman and SSE seasons are starting imminently (also the Waverley's) and I could use it for these with my available vacuum braked locos at 10A. That would leave Clangmere to concentrate on the Northern Belle.
Note that I have long since stopped trying to second guess the management at 10A. It's David Smith's operation and it's up to him what he does and I, for one, am indebted to him for what he has done for heritage main line steam. These are just my personal views and we will have to see what actually happens.

 

Wondering if its to be more mk2s, whether some of the ex Green Train/Steam Dreams rake have had CDL fitted. They were vac braked of course so that might permit for the K1 to head up there as son as its ready.
Or they could have converted the vac to air, as many early mk2s were.
Probably easier to install CDL on mk2s as there is a long-established method.

 

https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train/?c= 81162&d=09/06/2026

 

48151 on Facebok in steam at Carnforth today and mention of a stock move tomorrow. Some comments about the 8F for the Jacobite but also several reasons why not!

 

Going by timings for the move to Fort William its most likely diesel haulage. Apart from stop in Grayrigg loop there are no long stops , for water?, anywhere southnof Glasgow.

 

48151 would likely also need a test run before she goes out in service on the main line.