The support crew. Standing, Dominic McCall (Tuggy) seated from L-R me, Matt Earnshaw, Neil Smedley and Steve Hyman. One of the best crew's I've ever worked with.
The train at Mallaig about to set back over the replaced point-work. The Jacobite service was terminated at Arisaig for two days because on the Sunday morning one of the sprinter sets at Mallaig had run through this point whilst it was set against. It took two days of overnight activity to locate and fit two sets of switch blades, stretcher bars and locks.
A close up of the stretcher bars and lock. This point sets the road for the up and down platforms. The sprinters arrive and depart from the down platform but the steam train arrives in the down, runs round in the loop then pulls out to set back into the up platform. This is necessary to allow the sprinter to arrive before the Jacobite departs for the trip back to Fort William.
One of the damaged switches. The damage isn't that easy to see but the white marks indicate the area.
A view towards the line to Fort William. The line coming in from the right is the end of the run round loop. Frank Santrian, the WCRC fireman, is at the ground frame on the site of the old signal box. The man leaning over the fence is Stevie, the local radio expert. He has often come to the rescue of the Jacobite when the radio or RETB has failed. He does a lot of work on ship to shore radios for the local fishing community. He can usually be seen sitting on the rock visible at the top right hand corner of the picture as the steam train arrives and departs.
In readiness for Lifeboat Day at Mallaig, a couple of the crew came to FW on Friday to pose for the local newspaper photographer. Florence, the guard wanted to be photographed with these 'dishy' men but she was too busy for our pictures. She did make herself available for the official press photo! Neil and Harry walk by in the background.
We had forgotten the high intensity headlight so Matt ran the mile and a half to the depot and back. He looks quite relaxed here, but he would sooner have done the trip on his bike. Thanks Matt, you saved the day.
The two lifeboatmen done up in their fetish outfits. The chap in the middle is the Launch Secretary. He had borrowed Florence's green flag to 'launch' the Jacobite on its way. Frank was doing his best to immitate the sending up of two maroons but could only manage black smoke and blowing off steam.
Harry Scott (Basil Faulty), came for a ride out with us and stayed for a few days. Here he is taking a picture of the climb up Beasdale bank. The bloke on the rock is thinking "My picture spoilt by the prat sticking out of the window!"
Beasdale attack.
'Tuggy' (Dominic) on the lifeboat express. On the Saturday we gave the loco a real spit and polish for the Lifeboat Special. It was Lifeboat Day in Mallaig and two lifeboatmen were on the train with collecting boxes. Florence thought they weren't as 'dishy' as Friday's so they didn't warrant a photo!
Matt cleaning the previously polished buffer heads.
Ready for the off.
The support crew on our last (of eight) day. The quality of the picture isn't great. I think the chap who took the picture for us must have a shook the camera.
Frank Santrian taking his own picture of the loco.
One of the restrictions at Glenfinnan is that the public are not allowed forward from the platform end to take photos. Indeed the support crew are asked to prevent them from doing so. It causes a little friction from time to time so we offer to take the photos for them using their own camera. Steve found it a most useful way of 'test driving' various cameras before he buys himself a new one.
The sort of photo denied the public.
This rather plain photo shows the remaining "single track with passing places" road near Beasdale. The road out to Mallaig has, over the years, been steadily improved and this is one of the last stretches to remain.
The new road in process of construction. The trees cleared from the foreground might present a different photo opportunity in the future.
The new bridge under construction. The new road approaches from the bottom left of the picture, the old road can be seen coming down the hill, between the trees in the middle of the picture.
Matt, savouring the admiration of an appreciative crowd after a good run.
Some of the crowd waiting for the train. The man in the kilt is the local Mayor (or whatever the Scottish equivalent is). The man behind him, with the long hair, is Mo the press photographer. He has sent me a disc of his photos and has allowed me to put them on this site. Once the disc arrives, I'll post them.
Frank addressing his admiring public.
The young lassie in the kilt is trying to explain to the Far Eastern visitors, how the bagpipes work.
