Racing the Jacobite

The Jacobite is a steam train that runs along the West Highland Railway from Fort William to Mallaig and back again during the summer months.

The area has strong associations with Bonnie Prince Charlie and his followers, known as Jacobites as they supported Charlie's father, James, in his claims to the crown of Britain as James VIII and also the previously deposed James VII. Their name, Jacobites, comes from the Latin for James, Jacobus.

Walking along the White Sands of Morar looking across the river to Morar itself we spotted the steam from the Jacobite steam train as it made its way towards Mallaig.

As we approached Mallaig we spied the train being prepared for its return journey to Fort William. We did not have enough time to get to the station itself so instead made our way back to the one at Morar where it would cross the road at the level crossing.

Our plan was for one of us to stand on the platform to get a photograph of the train approaching the station, and then the camera was to be passed over the fence so that another picture could be taken as the train crossed the road. We did consider practising this before the train arrived in the few minutes we had spare, but this proved to be unnecessary as the crossing lights are in fact operated by the driver of the train – something that gave us a bit of extra time!

So we waited, and soon enough heard the train approach. Everything went well and we, along with another couple of people that had also stopped, prepared to move on once the train had passed. We continued on our way back to Fort William.

Just after crossing the River Morar and rejoining the main road, we spotted the train to our left. So it was decided that, as we were clearly going faster, we would make our way to another point on the line where it would be possible to get another photograph. This was to be at a small, white church, near Loch Ailort, which is the halfway point on the Road to the Isles. We arrived just in time, having parked the car in a lay-by and walked up the hill to get a photograph. Just as we were returning to our car we noticed another one had drawn up behind us, but they left again before we got back. We figured they had the same idea as us, but were too late!

Off we set again for Glenfinnan and the magnificent viaduct there. However, we were to stop a few more time before we got there, as we were able to see the train at various locations. At one point it was on the opposite side of Loch Eilt, to our right (the road and the railway cross each other many times), and a few pictures were taken of its progress. Each time we stopped it seemed that another car had joined us!

Next stop was to be at the viaduct at Glenfinnan as we didn’t feel like we had time to stop at the station first – and neither, it seemed, did anyone else in the impromptu convoy! We arrived at the viaduct with time to spare before the train arrived and discovered that this is one very popular place to view the train. To get a better view it was decided to climb the hill behind the visitor centre there. Eventually the train made its way, very slowly, across the viaduct with the driver stopping half way over and letting off steam to delight the spectators.

Once the train had crossed all twenty-one arches and the crowd dispersed – some to climb the monument, others to continue their journey, either east or west. We, on the other hand, had a train to catch – at Fort William!

However, as part of this stage of the journey the railway line is obscured by trees, we had no idea where the train was until, in a clearing, there it was right beside us! There are other places we would like to see the train pass, such as at the point it crosses the Caledonian Canal at Banavie – location of the series of locks on the canal known as Neptune’s Staircase. However, we decided that Fort William would be our only destination and, yes we did make it, but only just!