Jim’s “out and about with GBRf” thread

[big jim]

some proper camera pics

 

 

 

 

 

[big jim]

One from this morning, too early for proper camera pics

 

Had to assess someone to bidston on the rhtt, couple of issues en route with axle counter failures but we got there!!

 

 

Then it was briefly home and up to carlisle in readiness for my job the rest of the week, somewhere I've not been before, ever, conducted all the way once I get north of carlisle Kingmoor

 

Proper camera and tripod at the ready for a few pics, won't be home for almost 2 weeks though what with half term so I'll have to wait to upload them, i'll hopefully post some iphone pics while I'm up there though

[CovDriver]

Have fun on your travels Jim I'm not jealous at all really I'm not

[big jim]

Have fun on your travels Jim I'm not jealous at all really I'm not

At least you still know what your house looks like!

 

Gonna be a long one tomorrow, carlisle to Oban

Edited October 17, 2016 by big jim

[Richard E]

Whilst it is hard I agree, how many folk would appreciate a different, and changing, view from their office each day. A lot i imagine.

[rockershovel]

Re #3635, aw shucks, I was going to save one or more as screen backgrounds but they are photobucket links...

 

Wish I'd known they were iPhone pics at first, I've never managed anything like that with MINE. I was at Maxey Crossing last night as two HST and a local went through, I must try some photography there...

[big jim]

PM me your email address and let me know which pics you want and I'll send them to you

[big jim]

well that was an exciting afternoon

 

started in carlisle, drove the train to mossend....

 

 

my conductor then took over for the run to Oban

 

helensborough, start of the west highland line RETB area

 

and away to Oban, from what ive experienced in the dark, full moon though, im looking forward to seeing it in daylight, i cant believe the climb from helensborough mainline jn to the token point at the upper station and the drop into Oban is pretty awesome

 

oban

 

 

then a shunt into the sidings

 

 

 

Oban to fort william later this afternoon

[big jim]

and to todays job, oban to fort william

 

nice walk from the hotel into town, far to nice to take a taxi!

 

the ferry to mull departing

 

 

and to the train

 

we needed to record one of the platforms so did a quick shunt in and out of the sidings to get it done

 

 

 

 

one last look at oban

 

then it was waiting until the passenger train arrived before getting the ground frame to depart for fort bill

 

 

 

and into crainlarach where we changed ends

 

popped down to take the tail light off, stupid single bracket loco! at least i could get a piccie

 

drew forward to get a better radio signal

 

once you get the token you push the plunger to give you the signal to wherever it is you are going, M for main to fort william of B for the branch to Oban

 

and into bridge of orchy

 

 

and into rannoch where we had to wait for the up local to pass, by that time it was dark so piccies stop here

 

old coach used by an angling club

 

the old signal cabin still has the levers inside and a display

 

 

 

 

and down the sun went!

 

so that was it for today, off to mallaig tomorrow afternoon, may get a few pics before it gets too dark, were not departing til 16:00ish though

Edited October 20, 2016 by big jim

[Jack374]

Excellent photos Jim...we went to the highlands this summer and the scenery was second to none. We didn't go on any railway journeys but saw the Jacobite a couple of times at Mallaig, and the sleeper(s) in Fort William and Inverness. If you've got time, there's a railway museum in Mallaig near the station, and the port itself is worth a look round. Look forward to more!

 

Thanks,

Jack.

[CovDriver]

Well worth a look around Mallaig especially for some fish an chips and stroll around the port but beware of the kamikazie gulls diving for the fish and chips I found that out on my last visit!!

[5BarVT]

Lovely pictures. Was my patch for about a year just before privatisation so the plungers at Crianlarich and the old stone signal mechanisms brought back memories. Your first experience of RETB? Prior to RETB the stations were Tyndrum Upper and Tyndrum Lower, but Upper Tyndrum was renamed to avoid misinterpretation on a distorted radio channel. 25 years since I have cab ridden the West Highland in a 37, but it takes a lot of beating. Thanks for the memories.

Paul.

[big jim]

i used to do the cambrian under RETB so its a familiar concept to me, although i've not worked it this week, the conductor driver has, the system is practically the same as the cambrian, it all came flooding back!

[roundhouse]

The last itme I stayed in Oban was new years eve bakc in 19913. The few late night take aways open after we had been out drinking, upped all their prices!

[eldavo]

Stunning views Jim. Looks like you've been very lucky with the weather.

 

Cheers

Dave

[The Stationmaster]

I look forward to the section from Fort William to Mallaig - which I did in the cab of a Class 29, hmm 47 years ago.  Absolutely amazing in the dark as over some of it there is absolutely no artificial light at all so very easy back then to pick out the gloomy distant signal lamps.

[Iron Horse]

Just reminds me of All-Line Rovers and bashing 37's like mad in the 80's (it was a long way from Oxford but so worth it), nice pics Jim......thanks for helping to recall the memories

[lmsforever]

Lucky you these lines are some of my favourites one day I will get there thanks for the photos.

[Swifty11]

Although certainly far from home that looks like a brilliant job, great photos as usual!

[big jim]

and a few from today, fort william to mallaig, again dark about 1/2 way through the trip but not before glenfinnan viaduct luckily, got some proper camera pics of it as we stopped on it briefly as we werent going to delay anything as we had 1.5 hours in glenfinnan while we waited for the up train to arrive from mallaig!

 

first move was from the yard to the station to record that and back along the branch and into the yard to await departure time

 

 

and into the station, be interesting to find out the last time 37421 was in fort william, im thinking EWS days but it must have been a while

 

 

 

and away to glenfinnan, the famous harry potter viaduct

 

and there we sat until the southbound train came in

 

which by then had gone dark

 

mallaig

 

 

and that was it, back to fort william ready to head back to glasgow tomorrow

Edited October 20, 2016 by big jim

[Mike 84C]

Thanks for the pictures Jim, an amazing railway through staggeringly beautiful scenery. My wife and I have been up there for the past five years running. It never fails to thrill.

[big jim]

here we go, proper camera pics mainly

 

carlisle on tuesday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

crainlarich

 

 

Oban

 

 

next day, oban to start

 

crainlarich again

 

 

 

rannoch

 

 

 

 

 

next day fort william

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

glenfinnan viaduct

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mallaig

 

 

 

and this morning, ready to head back to mossend

 

 

rannoch

 

 

and away

 

 

 

 

and into mossend

 

all i can say is i had a great week, somewhere i probably wont get to go again any time soon, let someone else have the chance next time, my conductor driver was a superb guy, certainly knew the route like the back of his hand a pleasure to work with all week

 

one job early next week then annual leave for a few days, glad to be back in my own bed tonight!!

[bruced2]

Hi Jim, looks like you had a good week weather wise up here in Scotland this week,I have been in all the plces you visited this year to Oban only 4 weeks ago. Glad you enjoyed your time up here.

 

Bruce

[scottishlocos]

Jim

 

Great pics glad you enjoyed the Scottish trip it really is a beautiful line the WHL good to see some 37's on it again also I am sure I had 421 on the sleeper in the mid 2000's it was not the best of health then glad Colas taking better care of her.

 

Maybe you will get to drive the Far North and Kyle lines soon as well

 

Dave

[TheSignalEngineer]

Must be one of the best lodging turns ever.