News - West coast railways

Contact the news and picture editor. Twitter feed    RSS Feed

Themes   Ayr Station Hotel   Levenmouth Line   West Coast Railways   Electrification   The Jacobite   Slam door   Far North Line   Altnabreac   Aberdeen   Caledonian Railway [Preserved]   Boxing Day   Belfast Grand Central   Bawbee Bridge   Fallen tree   East Kilbride   Barrhead   Leven   Arrochar and Tarbet   Ardlui   

Bookings can now be taken on the iconic steam engine after fears about the future of the service.
(Permalink) Slam door The Jacobite West Coast Railways

The operators of the world-famous Jacobite steam train have been given permission to continue the service ahead of a judicial review.
(Permalink) Slam door The Jacobite West Coast Railways

The iconic steam journey from Fort William to Mallaig could hit the buffers if a judicial review fails.
(Permalink) Slam door The Jacobite West Coast Railways

Fort William's Jacobite Express is at the centre of a judicial review into upgrading the carriage doors at a cost of £7million.
(Permalink) Slam door The Jacobite West Coast Railways


Banavie Swing Bridge: On my first visit to the West Coast since 2020 I managed to capture K1 No.62005, easing over the swing bridge at Banavie with the morning Jacobite service for Mallaig on 27th May 2021. Neptune's Stair ...
John Gray 27/05/2021


Brockenhurst: The last week of slam door stock on the Lymington branch - July 2010.
Ian Dinmore 01/07/2010


Arnabol Viaduct: 62005 crosses Arnabol Viaduct with The Jacobite on 1 October. This viaduct is not so well known as Loch nan Uamh about half a mile away. The picture would not have been possible a few years ago ...
John Gray 01/10/2013

The Scottish steam train known as 'Hogwarts Express' has suspended all services over safety concerns. Jacobite operators West Coast Railways announced that an issue with the popular train's hinged door has caused it to axe all its passenger services.
(Permalink) Doors ORR Prohibition notices The Jacobite West Coast Railways


Glenfinnan: Having drawn forward to allow a ScotRail service to pass, passengers are allowed to stretch their legs at Glenfinnan. The train has its own Souvenir Shop. The station enjoys a burst of activity unriva ...
Beth Crawford 02/05/2017

West Coast Railways announced the Jacobite steam train would not run due to 'unforeseen circumstances'.
(Permalink) Cancellations ORR Prohibition notices The Jacobite West Coast Railways

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Jacobite service will not run on 15th, 16th & 17th July 2023 as planned.

Unfortunately, West Coast Railways are unable to offer any alternative dates to transfer trips to, therefore the reservations team will process a full refund within the next 5 working days.
(Permalink) ORR Prohibition notices The Jacobite West Coast Railways

The future of the Flying Scotsman [carriages] is in doubt over the rail watchdogs demands that modern door locks are fitted, The Telegraph can reveal.

Carriages hauled by the 100-year-old steam locomotive, run by West Coast Railways, are currently locked and unlocked using an old-fashioned bolt above each door.
(Permalink) Office of Rail and Road Slam door West Coast Railways

The Jacobite 2023 season will start on Monday 3rd April 2023. Tickets will be on sale soon. Morning Service: The Jacobite morning service runs from Monday 3rd April until Friday 27th October 2023 (running 7 days a week). Afternoon Service:
The Jacobite afternoon service runs from Monday 1st May until Friday 29th September 2023 (running 7 days a week).
(Permalink) 2023 The Jacobite West Coast Railways

Unfortunately, due to continued strike action by Network Rail, we are unable to operate our Spirit of the Lakes trip on the 5th November. We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused however this situation is completely out of our control.
(Permalink) West Coast Railways

Unfortunately, due to continued strike action by Network Rail and ScotRail staff, West Coast Railway is unable to operate trips on the 8th October. The drivers' strike on the 5th October will not affect trips and so all trips on the 5th October will run as normal.
(Permalink) Strikes The Jacobite West Coast Railways

West Coast Railways is aware of reports in the news regarding a planned rail strike in September. Unfortunately, this has affected two Jacobite trips running on the Thursday 15th and 17th September (both morning and afternoon trips). WCR has sent out communications to all affected passengers, detailing the affected trips and the action taken regarding their bookings.
(Permalink) West Coast Railways

We are aware of reports in the news regarding a planned rail strike August. Unfortunately, this has affected two of our Jacobite trips running on the Thursday18th and 20th August (both morning and afternoon trips). We have sent out communications to all affected passengers, detailing the affected trips and the action we are taking regarding their bookings.
(Permalink) Network Rail RMT Strike West Coast Railways


Arnabol Viaduct: 62005 crosses Arnabol Viaduct with The Jacobite on 1 October. This viaduct is not so well known as Loch nan Uamh about half a mile away. The picture would not have been possible a few years ago ...
John Gray 01/10/2013

We are aware of reports in the news regarding a planned rail strike at the end of July. At this moment in time our journeys are unaffected. Should this change, we will notify any affected passengers as soon as we find out from Network Rail.
(Permalink) Network Rail Strike West Coast Railways

The Jacobite 2022 season will start on Monday 4th April 2022 and tickets will go on sale from the 24th November 2021.
(Permalink) The Jacobite West Coast Railways


Corpach: K1 No.62005 races away from Corpach with The Jacobite on a sunny October morning.
John Gray 21/10/2016


Arnabol Viaduct: Black five no 44871 crossing Arnabol Viaduct near Loch nan Uamh with The Jacobite on its way to Mallaig on 12 October. Arnabol Viaduct is inland from the head of Loch Beag and about half a mile ...
John Gray 12/10/2010


Fort William: 45231 poses with 'The Jacobite' for a group of admirers on 28 July prior to departing from Fort William.
John Steven 28/07/2011

There are excursion trains and preserved lines you can ride today. Here are a few favourites, also including the 'Hogwarts Express' and the line made famous by The Railway Children.
(Permalink) Dartmouth Steam Railway Glenfinnan Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Mallaig Extension Mid-Hants Railway Railway Touring Company Strathspey Railway Swanage Railway The Jacobite The Watercress Line West Coast Railways


Boat of Garten: Caledonian Railway 812 Class 0-6-0 No.828 departs Boat of Garten for Aviemore on the Strathspey Railway on 14th July 2019.
John Gray 14/07/2019


Keighley: RS&H 0-6-0T Nunlow in Platform 3 at Keighley station on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway on 3 May 2010 during their weekend celebrating 40 years since the film The Railway Children wa ...
John McIntyre 03/05/2010


Arnabol Viaduct: 62005 crosses Arnabol Viaduct with The Jacobite on 1 October. This viaduct is not so well known as Loch nan Uamh about half a mile away. The picture would not have been possible a few years ago ...
John Gray 01/10/2013

The famous steam train used in the films will start summer trips this month. The Jacobites first scheduled run this summer will be Monday 26 April, the day the Scottish Government lifts restrictions on travel following the coronavirus lockdown.
(Permalink) Jacobite Mallaig West Coast Railways


Corpach: K1 No.62005 races away from Corpach with The Jacobite on a sunny October morning.
John Gray 21/10/2016


Loch nan Uamh Viaduct: After days of heavy rain, today dawned fine and clear, with light winds. I deployed the drone for this shot of K1 No.62005 crossing the viaduct at Loch nan Uahm with the morning Jacobite for Ma ...
John Gray 07/06/2019


Beasdale No 118 Tunnel: The noise can be heard for miles around as Black 5 no 44871 emerges from the first tunnel on the climb up Beasdale Bank on 13 October. The locomotive is at the head of The Jacobite on its way t ...
John Gray //

After everything that we have all gone through this year with the pandemic, it makes a change to bring good news!

The bookings for the Jacobite 2021 season have now gone live.
(Permalink) 2021 Jacobite West Coast Railways

Fuming council chiefs have kicked up a stink with bosses of the Harry Potter train - over claims the iconic loco is spraying poo all over the tracks. The Highland authority wrote to Jacobite operators West Coast Railways warning them to stop dumping human waste on parts of the scenic railway.
(Permalink) The Jacobite Toilets West Coast Railways

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the current restrictions that are being imposed throughout Scotland, we have had to bring forward the end of the Jacobite season for 2020 to Friday 6th November. The Morning service will now run each day Monday to Friday to Friday 6th November.
(Permalink) COVID-19 Fort William Jacobite Mallaig West Coast Railways

The world-famous steam train featured in the Harry Potter film series is to travel through Scotland today.

(Permalink) Harry Potter Jacobite West Coast Railways


Cardross: Basking in sunshine, 62005, with a support coach, ambles south by the Clyde.
Ewan Crawford 28/09/2020

KML version