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15th
January 1983: Not so much a Scenic Land Cruise, indeed an element of risk was involved
in travelling to Fort Wiliam and Mallaig in mid-January, but a
"testing of the waters" for the future. The excuse was the SLOA
Annual General meeting, traditionally held at such places as York or
Dinting. Bernard (Staite) thought it would be rather a nice idea to take
the SLOA membership up the West Highland line. Possibly he was in the know about what was
"on the cards" for 1984. In fact the weather was kind and it turned out to be an excellent weekend. We had "Loch
Long" and "Loch Eil" on the outward journey, with an 11
coach load of 440 tons full. [view log of 37081 and 37027]
16th January 1983: Probably the highlight of the weekend was the
excursion from Fort William to Mallaig and back. Even in January a superb experience. The speeds of course were determined by the curvature
and steep gradients. Outwards our running times totalled 80 min 54 secs, and back 82 min 23 sec. The Log is station passing times and average speeds only. The scenic
views took precedence. [view log of 37081 and 37027]
Since
the return journey from Fort William south to Mossend was mainly in the dark, I did not time it, although I do recall that one of the 37's
was playing up, and we lost quite a lot of time.
26th May 1984: The "West Highlander" This was the "Big one". The launch of regular steam running on the Fort William to
Mallaig line. We were 39 late off Mossend, and suffered checks on the opening section to Craigendoran Junction. Then a brake problem caused another halt before Helensburgh. After that, we were clear. A double
dose of "Growling" from the front end, another brake stop beyond Rannoch, and we were 28 late in to Fort Wiliam. [view log of 37081 and 37264]
During the weekend we did 2 return steam trips to Mallaig and back on "Black
5" 5407. On the first, just beyond Glenfinnan Viaduct the train was stopped, and those who wished to detrain clambered down on to the ballast,
then found good hillside viewing positions to watch a couple of runpasts over the viaduct. On the Monday another treat was in store. "Maude", the 1891
built North British 0-6-0, was also doing a Mallaig trip. In deference to her size, the load was to be limited to 4 coaches. The story of "Maude's
Adventure" will have to wait for another time. Let us just say that we only got as far as Arisaig, and the round trip from Fort William took 7
hours 20 mins, which had repercussions on the return journey south.
28th May 1984: And so we were 166 mins late off Fort William, and
despite hard running, we were no less than 221 minutes late into Mossend. Having lost our path, we had several extra crossing stops on the single
line.
[view
log of 37112 and 37081]
14th August 1984: A weeks holiday at Fort William, and what better way
to get there than on the "sleeper", which we joined at Crewe. With my wife and 10 year old son claiming the sleeper berths, I was
consigned to the Mk2 TSO, which meant I got little sleep, but witnessed the West Highland scenery in the early morning sun. 37012 was the loco, and the
load, 7 coaches plus an "Ethel" (ET Heating vehicle), which amounted to 313 tons tare, 330 tons full, was probably a little too much for
the timings. We were 21 late from Glasgow, and despite hard work from the loco throughout, we ended up 39 late into Fort William, most of the lost
time being accounted for by a lengthy signal check at Partick. But a bright summers morning behind a hard working class 37 was an experience not easily
forgotten.
[view
log of 37012]
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