Strathspey Railway

Mainline connections from both ends, it would make a good cross country railway!

Its worth, it, its just complicated. Like all good endevours.

 

Tonight at 7 30

Speyside featuring a Rickety Suspension bridge that I had a hand in installing at Aberlour in1981

Blink and you miss it including Julia's comment about it being a bit wobbly.

 

If you start off from Forres, head south over Dava Moor, then back up the Spey Valley to Keith, before returning back to Forres on the ScotRail service, it would be the basis of a good day out.
It might just be possible on a pushbike!

 

Bit of archive footage popped up of possibly/ probably the first 66 on the railway delivering secondhand sleepers presumably for the Broomhill extension. Not sure of the year but its before the arrival of Beechgrove Garden so before 2002 anyway.

 

Nice video. I think these are probably the stack that's been at Milton since their arrival. By April 2002 the extension was already complete and we had run crew training runs over it, I can recall being on the footplate in the cold of March/April 2002 as the crew familiarisation began.

 

That stack was earmarked for Grantown I think. Do I have it right that the extension was technically finished for a while but needed a good bit of fettling and some spot relaying especially around Fisherman's Crossing? Its just a little before my time and my memories of that time are increasingly mushy.

 

Yes I think you're right. My, even more distant, memories are that it was done by about the end of 2001. The last thing that needed finishing was the ground frame for the sidings and dock at the station, which was done in the last week before it opened.

 

Is anyone able to advise which loco(s) will be out next week please? I've had a look on the website but can't see a loco roster. We're up in the Highlands for a week from Friday and this will help with the decision on which day to do the Strathspey. Also, are tickets returns rather than rovers? The website implies so but it's explicit.

 

I asked the question and have been told that it will be 46512. Owing to having a major fire on the moor a week last Sunday we have been having diesel assist since then, hopefully there will be some rain before your visit but you never know.
Rover tickets are usually available but apart from the occasional gala we don't get much call for them, which is probably why they are not advertised.

 

Thank you, that's super helpful. I had seen about the diesel assistance due to fire risk. Helpfully(?) it looks like it's going to chuck it down for the duration of our holiday, so that may help. Might wait til later in the week to see how things are.

On the rover ticket point, is it just a case of turning up on the day and asking as there isn't an option on the website? And is there a standard formation for the running set? We'll be limited to standard non dining as we're travelling with the dog.

Thanks again for your help!

 

good news.

Fresh hope for reconnection of historic Scots railway line featured in BBC's Traitors - Yahoo News UK

 

Well, it's a politician on an election tour - and he's only promising "a 'scoping exercise' which would examine the feasibility of reconnecting the rail line", at that.

Noel

 

Scoping excercise really means we'll wonder over, have a look at it, spend lunchtime in a pub, then quietly forget about it, citing "logistical issues".

 

Although the above has some truth...

1. The entire problem is viewable by standing in one spot.
2. The economic benefits should easily out weigh the costs.
3. Its making some adjustments to a two lane road.
4. The railway will be taking on the bulk of the work in reconnecting the community to the network.
5. The costs are a one time line item. The benefits last for decades.

Bluntly, like so many other projects, it just needs to happen.

 

You're looking at it logically - well and good, but most politicians look at things as 'what's in it for me?'

Noel

 

I'm not sure promising a "scoping excercise" is the kind of self-interest you suggest there. It's not like they've promised anything.
It's worth pointing out there is no money outside central govt, so no matter how much you think it "should just happen", it won't until investment (ie spending money) becomes fashionable again

 

Not helped by Transport Scotland kicking the can down the road due to finances and then making a dogs dinner of it by letting the distillery build across the proposed route the line was going to take. I'm sure this is all "Swilling the planters with bumbo" but if it means it moves up the priority list, I'm for it.
Perhaps the moany faced incumbent SNP MSP who had the power to make a change should have done more than fill his personal coffers and drink the wine lodge dry.

 

Rail Advent and Trackside reporting 76079 has been accquired by the Strathspey. An excellent get. 80105 was very much enjoyed by the Strathspey crews back in the day.

 

Is 80105 at Aviemore just now for boiler work or have I got that mixed up?