SCOTLAND - Steaming through the Highlands

Today as a special treat I have been given permission by The Ministry of Magic to take a ride on the Hogwarts Express.

Come on folks - after that picture a couple of days ago of the steam train crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct did you really think I would miss out on that?

West Coast Railways have been running steam trips between Fort William and Mallaig  (marketed as The Jacobite) alongside the normal Scotrail service for many years now and it is one of the rare instances of being able to regularly travel by steam on the main line in the UK (Another is to Whitby, Yorkshire). It has always been popular but ever since the train, the landscape and that viaduct appeared in the Harry Potter movies it has become very busy and they now run two return trips a day throughout the summer.

Todays loco was Black Five number 45212

At Fort William

At Mallaig

And lets face it if you are going to do it you might as well do it properly so I went First Class.

You know all about Glenfinnan by now, but after that the train goes along the side of Loch Eilt.

It then reaches the sea at Arisaig which is the most westerly railway station in Great Britain - you weren't expecting that were you? Look on a map and you will see Scotland is very lopsided and sticks out much farther west than Wales or Cornwall. 

During the trip, while I watched the stunning scenary go by, I was served with a cream tea. Now you know I like a cream tea and although it came in a box - Covid meant no white linen and china - I was very pleased to see that the Scots have to rely on good old Rodda's Cornish Clotted Cream.  Of course wherever I am, I always lead by example in showing the locals how its eaten - JAM FIRST 

The end of the West Highland Extension Line and the steam train journey is Mallaig, still very much a fishing port - the railway line was originally built to transport herring south. Ferries also leave from Mallaig for the Small Isles - Rum, Muck, Eigg and Canna - in addition to Armadale on Skye. Not a lot there but on a fine September evening a very nice spot.

This last picture is not the best because of the evening light and the moving train but I wanted to show you how amazing Loch Eilt looked on the way back. The surface of the water was like a mirror and the reflection was perfect