Although not a typical 'heritage line', a special steam service between Fort William and Mallaig operates each year during the summer months. This service is known as 'The Jacobite'.
West Coast Railways, operators of 'The Jacobite', provided the steam engine and carriages for the "Hogwarts Express" as seen in the 'Harry Potter' films.
Engine 45231, 'The Sherwood Forester', is seen here pulling into Glenfinnan Station.
Glenfinnan Signal Box, situated at the end of the platform.
The 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct, a location recently made more familiar in the'Harry Potter' films.
This structure measures 1248 feet in length and 100 feet high. Each arch spans 50 feet and is made wholly of concrete. The aggregate used was crushed rock quarried from the approach cuttings at each end of the viaduct.
Passengers waiting for the next train at Lochailort Station.
'The Sherwood Forester' pulling out of Mallaig Station.
End of the line and Mallaig Station.
Dr. Richard Beechings axe did hover over this line but thanks to support from local communities, the line was spared from closure during the infamous 1960's and 1970's railways culling.
Today the line survives with the upsurge of summer visitors, steam excursions and the awareness of the line brought about by the 'Harry Potter' films..
This structure measures 1248 feet in length and 100 feet high. Each arch spans 50 feet and is made wholly of concrete. The aggregate used was crushed rock quarried from the approach cuttings at each end of the viaduct.
Dr. Richard Beechings axe did hover over this line but thanks to support from local communities, the line was spared from closure during the infamous 1960's and 1970's railways culling.
Today the line survives with the upsurge of summer visitors, steam excursions and the awareness of the line brought about by the 'Harry Potter' films..
The development of the railways in the highlands, has always been an important part of the fabric of highland life. Whilst most were needed to help develop highland life, they also played apart in helping to ferry people from the cleared townships to awaiting ships in the ports to a new life in Canada, America and beyond. It is good to see exposure being given to the remaining old lines in the highlands and the important part that they still play, as so many have gone now the same way as many of the villages and townships of the west.
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