Locos on the Strathpeffer Spa Express

[JinglingGeordie]

Hi,

 

A question about the above service.  We've mostly all heard of the Strathpeffer Spa express, from Aviemore to Strathpeffer, the only train which did not stop at Inverness.  We've probably seen the well know photo of the train, headed by a Loch near the start of it's journey, with headboard.

 

Question - would the Loch have run through to Strathpeffer, or would a smaller loco be substituted at Dingwall?

 

Thanks

 

JG

[uax6]

I don't see why the Loch would have come off, there was an engine release that would accommodate a loco such as this..

 

Andy G

[NCB]

I believe there was a turntable at Dingwall but not at Strathpeffer. So it was possible the Loch would have come off at Dingwall to be turned.

 

Nigel

[TheQ]

Peter Tatlow's book on the Dingwall to Kyle railway records that the Strathpeffer express ran direct from Aviemore to Strathpeffer with either a Loch or Castle class  .

[JinglingGeordie]

I realise the Loch (or Castle) could have run round at Strathpeffer, and working tender first back to at least Dingwall would not have been an issue. 

 

Was the line laid sufficiently strongly for a Loch or Castle?   

 

 The only other locos I've seen photos of at Strathpeffer have been ex Caledonian 439 class or the LMS sentinel railcar.

 

 

[pH]

6 hours ago, JinglingGeordie said:

 The only other locos I've seen photos of at Strathpeffer have been ex Caledonian 439 class or the LMS sentinel railcar.

 

Three more different classes here: http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/s/strathpeffer/ - 'Small Ben', 'Lochgorm tank' and 'Yankee tank'. 

 

Another here - https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/lowres-picturecabinet.com/43/main/20/99228.jpg - Highland Railway 0-4-4T.

 

I'm sure I've seen yet another class in a photo of Strathpeffer station, but I don't have access to the appropriate magazine at the moment.

 

(Edit - here's the other class I was talking about - ex-G&SWR '266' class:

https://www.ambaile.org.uk/en/asset/show_zoom_window_popup_img.html?asset=26719 )

Edited March 19, 2019 by pH

[pH]

I had also seen this picture, taken at Strathpeffer station, but couldn't identify the engine. 

http://www.rossandcromartyheritage.org/Community/Strathpeffer/Heritage/Heritage-images/SpfrOldStn.aspx

 

I've since found it was this:

https://www.ambaile.org.uk/detail/en/24790/1/EN24790-hr-13-strathpeffer.htm

 

a one-off built specifically for the Strathpeffer branch. (The wheel arrangement given in the caption is obviously wrong.)

 

[DOCJACOB]

Scottish Branch Line Steam has image of LMS Jinty 7541 on the branch 8/39 

[JinglingGeordie]

I would not have believed that such a  variety of locos could have ben seen on such a short branch line.  Amazing to think the G&SWR, Caley and so many various locos could have been seen.

 

Thank you all.

 

JG