West Highland Line - Corpach

[JMB99]

Everywhere you look in Fort William and Corpach, there seem to be
railway vehicles - Network Rail ("Scotland Railway", Rail Alliance ...
various contractors

Must be dozens of them!


https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72177720324167603

[JMB99]

Post by JMB99
Everywhere you look in Fort William and Corpach, there seem to be
railway vehicles - Network Rail ("Scotland Railway", Rail Alliance  ...
various contractors
Must be dozens of them!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72177720324167603

Driving past various hotels today, every one of them seemed to have car
parks full of rail related company vehicles. Makes me wonder if any of
the people working on the track actually travelled here by rail! I
suspect no one.

[Certes]

Post by JMB99

Post by JMB99
Everywhere you look in Fort William and Corpach, there seem to be
railway vehicles - Network Rail ("Scotland Railway", Rail Alliance
... various contractors
Must be dozens of them!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72177720324167603

Driving past various hotels today, every one of them seemed to have car
parks full of rail related company vehicles.  Makes me wonder if any of
the people working on the track actually travelled here by rail! I
suspect no one.

Perhaps they couldn't use the railway because it needed mending.

[M***@DastardlyHQ.org]

On Tue, 4 Mar 2025 09:49:36 +0000

Post by Certes

Post by JMB99

Post by JMB99
Everywhere you look in Fort William and Corpach, there seem to be
railway vehicles - Network Rail ("Scotland Railway", Rail Alliance
... various contractors
Must be dozens of them!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72177720324167603

Driving past various hotels today, every one of them seemed to have car
parks full of rail related company vehicles.  Makes me wonder if any of
the people working on the track actually travelled here by rail! I
suspect no one.

Perhaps they couldn't use the railway because it needed mending.

Makes you wonder how they fix tracks that are in the middle of nowhere with
no road access. Eg west highland line.

[Recliner]

Post by M***@DastardlyHQ.org
On Tue, 4 Mar 2025 09:49:36 +0000

Post by Certes

Post by JMB99

Post by JMB99
Everywhere you look in Fort William and Corpach, there seem to be
railway vehicles - Network Rail ("Scotland Railway", Rail Alliance
... various contractors
Must be dozens of them!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72177720324167603

Driving past various hotels today, every one of them seemed to have car
parks full of rail related company vehicles.  Makes me wonder if any of
the people working on the track actually travelled here by rail! I
suspect no one.

Perhaps they couldn't use the railway because it needed mending.

Makes you wonder how they fix tracks that are in the middle of nowhere with
no road access. Eg west highland line.

Road-rail vehicles. But one station (Altnabreac) was temporarily closed
because the local land owner denied road access to NR contractors.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8087nx5ed5o

[Coffee]

Post by Recliner

Post by M***@DastardlyHQ.org
On Tue, 4 Mar 2025 09:49:36 +0000

Post by Certes

Post by JMB99

Post by JMB99
Everywhere you look in Fort William and Corpach, there seem to be
railway vehicles - Network Rail ("Scotland Railway", Rail Alliance
... various contractors
Must be dozens of them!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72177720324167603

Driving past various hotels today, every one of them seemed to have car
parks full of rail related company vehicles.  Makes me wonder if any of
the people working on the track actually travelled here by rail! I
suspect no one.

Perhaps they couldn't use the railway because it needed mending.

Makes you wonder how they fix tracks that are in the middle of nowhere with
no road access. Eg west highland line.

Road-rail vehicles. But one station (Altnabreac) was temporarily closed
because the local land owner denied road access to NR contractors.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8087nx5ed5o

This article is about 18 months old.

When I read it then I wondered why they cannot access the railway
station by... Train.

[Recliner]

Post by Coffee

Post by Recliner

Post by M***@DastardlyHQ.org
On Tue, 4 Mar 2025 09:49:36 +0000

Post by Certes

Post by JMB99

Post by JMB99
Everywhere you look in Fort William and Corpach, there seem to be
railway vehicles - Network Rail ("Scotland Railway", Rail Alliance
... various contractors
Must be dozens of them!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72177720324167603

Driving past various hotels today, every one of them seemed to have car
parks full of rail related company vehicles.  Makes me wonder if any of
the people working on the track actually travelled here by rail! I
suspect no one.

Perhaps they couldn't use the railway because it needed mending.

Makes you wonder how they fix tracks that are in the middle of nowhere with
no road access. Eg west highland line.

Road-rail vehicles. But one station (Altnabreac) was temporarily closed
because the local land owner denied road access to NR contractors.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8087nx5ed5o

This article is about 18 months old.
When I read it then I wondered why they cannot access the railway
station by... Train.

I assume they needed to bring tools and equipment that wouldn’t fit on the
regular passenger DMUs. NR probably didn’t want to stump up to hire a
specialist maintenance or freight train for such a lightly used station,
none of whose customers actually *need* it. It might also have been
necessary to close the single-track line while that work was going on,
which would inconvenience a far larger number of customers. Far better to
persuade the land-owner to cooperate.

[JMB99]

Post by Recliner
I assume they needed to bring tools and equipment that wouldn’t fit on the
regular passenger DMUs. NR probably didn’t want to stump up to hire a
specialist maintenance or freight train for such a lightly used station,
none of whose customers actually*need* it. It might also have been
necessary to close the single-track line while that work was going on,
which would inconvenience a far larger number of customers. Far better to
persuade the land-owner to cooperate.

They all appear to be staying in Fort William and going to various sites
where working.

Just shows why many never use rail to get somewhere because inconvenient
if you are carrying any more than a briefcase.

[Recliner]

Post by Recliner

Post by Coffee

Post by Recliner

Post by M***@DastardlyHQ.org
On Tue, 4 Mar 2025 09:49:36 +0000

Post by Certes

Post by JMB99

Post by JMB99
Everywhere you look in Fort William and Corpach, there seem to be
railway vehicles - Network Rail ("Scotland Railway", Rail Alliance
... various contractors
Must be dozens of them!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72177720324167603

Driving past various hotels today, every one of them seemed to have car
parks full of rail related company vehicles.  Makes me wonder if any of
the people working on the track actually travelled here by rail! I
suspect no one.

Perhaps they couldn't use the railway because it needed mending.

Makes you wonder how they fix tracks that are in the middle of nowhere with
no road access. Eg west highland line.

Road-rail vehicles. But one station (Altnabreac) was temporarily closed
because the local land owner denied road access to NR contractors.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8087nx5ed5o

This article is about 18 months old.
When I read it then I wondered why they cannot access the railway
station by... Train.

I assume they needed to bring tools and equipment that wouldn’t fit on the
regular passenger DMUs. NR probably didn’t want to stump up to hire a
specialist maintenance or freight train for such a lightly used station,
none of whose customers actually *need* it. It might also have been
necessary to close the single-track line while that work was going on,
which would inconvenience a far larger number of customers. Far better to
persuade the land-owner to cooperate.

Follow-up:

I believe the station remains closed.

https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/stations-and-facilities/abc

[JMB99]

Post by Recliner
I believe the station remains closed.
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/stations-and-facilities/abc

I know people in the South get into a panic over a light dusting of snow
but sure people in the Highlands can cope if the railway can get them to
the station. Some will be prepared to walk and other will have friends
with tractors and All Terrain Vehicles to meet them.

Very unlikely someone is going to travel to the station in town clothes
and shoes.

[Ulf_Kutzner]

Post by JMB99

Post by Recliner
I believe the station remains closed.
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/stations-and-facilities/abc

I know people in the South get into a panic over a light dusting of snow
but sure people in the Highlands can cope if the railway can get them to
the station. Some will be prepared to walk and other will have friends
with tractors and All Terrain Vehicles to meet them.

Is it completely legal to take friends on tractors?

[Roland Perry]

Post by Ulf_Kutzner

Post by JMB99

Post by Recliner
I believe the station remains closed.
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/stations-and-facilities/abc

I know people in the South get into a panic over a light dusting of snow
but sure people in the Highlands can cope if the railway can get them to
the station. Some will be prepared to walk and other will have friends
with tractors and All Terrain Vehicles to meet them.

Is it completely legal to take friends on tractors?

Probably not, but I have a photo of a JCB with three people being given
a lift in the bucket at the front.

[Marland]

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Ulf_Kutzner
Is it completely legal to take friends on tractors?

Probably not, but I have a photo of a JCB with three people being given
a lift in the bucket at the front.

A lot of tractors can be fitted with an additional seat correctly designed
and fitted for another person
.
<Loading Image...>

Some are better than others, my mate has an after market one and I get to
use it regularly when we go off on the brewery run to collect a trailer
load of the spent grains for cattle food . The drivers seat has a degree of
in built suspension but the after market buddy seat is just bolted firmly
and you feel every bump and the airline style lap belt it comes with is
needed.
He went on holiday recently so I got the drivers seat and was able to
inflict pain on another mate,
the job takes two as there are a lot of sacks to lift.

As for legality I haven’t time to research the law but the general opinion
is if it is a correctly fitted buddy or pillion seat inside. the cab with a
belt that is worn it is legal.
An ancient Iron seat off a horse drawn implement retrieved from doing
retirement duty as a bar stool bolted to the mudguard of an ancient grey
Ferguson or even just sitting on the mudguard or standing on the drawbar of
the towed trailer like was common when I grew up on a farm probably isn’t.
And anyone under 13 isn’t allowed on a tractor in use at all, another law
that is frequently ignored.
Inheritance tax issues or not its a wonder some still have anyone to
inherit.


GH

[Graeme Wall]

Post by Marland
Some are better than others, my mate has an after market one and I get to
use it regularly when we go off on the brewery run to collect a trailer
load of the spent grains for cattle food .

Ringwood's?

[Marland]

Post by Graeme Wall

Post by Marland
Some are better than others, my mate has an after market one and I get to
use it regularly when we go off on the brewery run to collect a trailer
load of the spent grains for cattle food .

Ringwood's?

Ringwood has gone , swallowed up by the present day Marstons which is far
removed from the old Marstons.

Bit far by tractor anyway , its this one .
<https://sixpennybrewery.co.uk>

GH

[Graeme Wall]

Post by Marland

Post by Graeme Wall

Post by Marland
Some are better than others, my mate has an after market one and I get to
use it regularly when we go off on the brewery run to collect a trailer
load of the spent grains for cattle food .

Ringwood's?

Ringwood has gone , swallowed up by the present day Marstons which is far
removed from the old Marstons.
Bit far by tractor anyway ,

That's what I thought!

Post by Marland
its this one .
<https://sixpennybrewery.co.uk>

After my time I suspect.

[Ulf_Kutzner]

Post by Graeme Wall

Post by Marland

Post by Graeme Wall

Post by Marland
Some are better than others, my mate has an after market one and I get to
use it regularly when we go off on the brewery run to collect a trailer
load of the spent grains for cattle food .

Ringwood's?

Ringwood has gone , swallowed up by the present day Marstons which is far
removed from the old Marstons.
Bit far by tractor anyway ,

That's what I thought!

Post by Marland
its this one .
<https://sixpennybrewery.co.uk>

After my time I suspect.

We do have class T tractors here for 60 kph maximum speed...

Regards, ULF

[Marland]

Post by Graeme Wall

Post by Marland

Post by Graeme Wall

Post by Marland
Some are better than others, my mate has an after market one and I get to
use it regularly when we go off on the brewery run to collect a trailer
load of the spent grains for cattle food .

Ringwood's?

Ringwood has gone , swallowed up by the present day Marstons which is far
removed from the old Marstons.
Bit far by tractor anyway ,

That's what I thought!

Post by Marland
its this one .
<https://sixpennybrewery.co.uk>

After my time I suspect.

Small over lap possibly started 2007 at another premises nearby, but quite
a localised trade and a fair way from Soton. We, that being a few of us
who like cask beer * as there are 4 small independent breweries within 10
mile radius. There were 5 but Guy Ritchie has closed his for the moment .
* Actually it doesn’t actually have to be cask as defined by Camra , some
of the drinks are served from a keg but are a world away from the products
churned out by Coors etc.

GH

[Ulf_Kutzner]

Post by Marland

Post by Graeme Wall

Post by Marland
Some are better than others, my mate has an after market one and I get to
use it regularly when we go off on the brewery run to collect a trailer
load of the spent grains for cattle food .

Ringwood's?

Ringwood has gone , swallowed up by the present day Marstons which is far
removed from the old Marstons.

This week: Carlsberg Britvic, former
Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC).

[Ulf_Kutzner]

Post by Marland

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Ulf_Kutzner
Is it completely legal to take friends on tractors?

Probably not, but I have a photo of a JCB with three people being given
a lift in the bucket at the front.

A lot of tractors can be fitted with an additional seat correctly designed
and fitted for another person
..
<https://www.masseyferguson.com/content/dam/public/masseyfergusonglobal/markets/en/assets/tractors/mf-9s/key-benefits/MF9S_CABINTERIOR-9197-Edit_SPACIOUS_CAB_COMBINES_COMFORT_ERGONOMICS_AND_CONNECTIVITY_WITH_EASE_OF_USE.jpg>
Some are better than others, my mate has an after market one and I get to
use it regularly when we go off on the brewery run to collect a trailer
load of the spent grains for cattle food . The drivers seat has a degree of
in built suspension but the after market buddy seat is just bolted firmly
and you feel every bump and the airline style lap belt it comes with is
needed.
He went on holiday recently so I got the drivers seat and was able to
inflict pain on another mate,
the job takes two as there are a lot of sacks to lift.
As for legality I haven’t time to research the law but the general opinion
is if it is a correctly fitted buddy or pillion seat inside. the cab with a
belt that is worn it is legal.
An ancient Iron seat off a horse drawn implement retrieved from doing
retirement duty as a bar stool bolted to the mudguard of an ancient grey
Ferguson or even just sitting on the mudguard or standing on the drawbar of
the towed trailer like was common when I grew up on a farm probably isn’t.
And anyone under 13 isn’t allowed on a tractor in use at all, another law
that is frequently ignored.
Inheritance tax issues or not its a wonder some still have anyone to
inherit.

Well, grains for cattle food - this activity is related to agriculture
while being met at a train station might or might not be related.

Winemakers tend to organise excursions a bit similar to
Loading Image...
- which tends to be semi-legal, and accidents do occur on hilly wineyard
terrain.

In some cases, authorities intervened even without
accidents caused by a given winemaker's tractor, see:
https://www.swr.de/video/sendungen-a-z/landesschau-rp/aus-fuer-weinbergsfahrten-mit-dem-planwagen-100.html

[JMB99]

Post by Marland
As for legality I haven’t time to research the law but the general opinion
is if it is a correctly fitted buddy or pillion seat inside. the cab with a
belt that is worn it is legal

BBC's Countryfile regularly have films with someone riding as a
passenger in a tractor interviewing the driver. Usually off the road
but sure they have also done it on the road.

[Marland]

Post by JMB99

Post by Marland
As for legality I haven’t time to research the law but the general opinion
is if it is a correctly fitted buddy or pillion seat inside. the cab with a
belt that is worn it is legal

BBC's Countryfile regularly have films with someone riding as a
passenger in a tractor interviewing the driver. Usually off the road
but sure they have also done it on the road.

That’s a programme that dropped off my watch list ages ago due to it
becoming a vehicle for Wokeness.

What helps with having a second seat on many tractors now is their size so
you can fit one in , and the safety cab has become so integral much of it
has various controls fixed high up so it leaves more room to get a second
seat in.
The tractors of my youth like the MF 35 would have been just too small.

GH

[Graeme Wall]

Post by JMB99

Post by Marland
As for legality I haven’t time to research the law but the general opinion
is if it is a correctly fitted buddy or pillion seat inside. the cab with a
belt that is worn it is legal

BBC's Countryfile regularly have films with someone riding as a
passenger in a tractor interviewing the driver.  Usually off the road
but sure they have also done it on the road.

Always off-road I think you will find.

[Sam Wilson]

Post by M***@DastardlyHQ.org
On Tue, 4 Mar 2025 09:49:36 +0000

Post by Certes

Post by JMB99

Post by JMB99
Everywhere you look in Fort William and Corpach, there seem to be
railway vehicles - Network Rail ("Scotland Railway", Rail Alliance
... various contractors
Must be dozens of them!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72177720324167603

Driving past various hotels today, every one of them seemed to have car
parks full of rail related company vehicles.  Makes me wonder if any of
the people working on the track actually travelled here by rail! I
suspect no one.

Perhaps they couldn't use the railway because it needed mending.

Makes you wonder how they fix tracks that are in the middle of nowhere with
no road access. Eg west highland line.

The recovery of 66734 and the WHL at Loch Treig might be an example. There
is lots of stuff on the web about it. This video has a slightly grating
commentary but shows roughly how they did it.

Sam

[M***@DastardlyHQ.org]

On Wed, 5 Mar 2025 12:22:17 -0000 (UTC)

Post by Sam Wilson

Post by M***@DastardlyHQ.org
Makes you wonder how they fix tracks that are in the middle of nowhere with
no road access. Eg west highland line.

The recovery of 66734 and the WHL at Loch Treig might be an example. There

For a certain definition of "recovery". Not sure I'd call it that :)
I'm surprised they didn't have some kind of heavy duty winch they could have
hammered into the cliff face and drag it up that way after maybe taking the
engine and other heavy components out instead of just cutting it up.

[Sam Wilson]

Post by M***@DastardlyHQ.org
On Wed, 5 Mar 2025 12:22:17 -0000 (UTC)

Post by Sam Wilson

Post by M***@DastardlyHQ.org
Makes you wonder how they fix tracks that are in the middle of nowhere with
no road access. Eg west highland line.

The recovery of 66734 and the WHL at Loch Treig might be an example. There

For a certain definition of "recovery". Not sure I'd call it that :)
I'm surprised they didn't have some kind of heavy duty winch they could have
hammered into the cliff face and drag it up that way after maybe taking the
engine and other heavy components out instead of just cutting it up.

Other videos show them putting rock anchors of some kind just above the
track to hold the loco in place during the recovery[1]. I guess most of
the hill is less stable and subject to landslides, as that was the proximal
cause of the incident in the first place.

[1] Well, 85% recovery for parts, anyway.

Sam

[JMB99]

Post by Sam Wilson
Well, 85% recovery for parts, anyway.

So they claim, but would not be surprised if most was just 'recycled'
but the PR like to claim things are re-used.

[Sam Wilson]

Post by JMB99

Post by Sam Wilson
Well, 85% recovery for parts, anyway.

So they claim, but would not be surprised if most was just 'recycled'
but the PR like to claim things are re-used.

Or sat in stores collecting dust and waiting for something to break.

Sam

[Marland]

Post by M***@DastardlyHQ.org
On Wed, 5 Mar 2025 12:22:17 -0000 (UTC)

Post by Sam Wilson

Post by M***@DastardlyHQ.org
Makes you wonder how they fix tracks that are in the middle of nowhere with
no road access. Eg west highland line.

The recovery of 66734 and the WHL at Loch Treig might be an example. There

For a certain definition of "recovery". Not sure I'd call it that :)
I'm surprised they didn't have some kind of heavy duty winch they could have
hammered into the cliff face and drag it up that way after maybe taking the
engine and other heavy components out instead of just cutting it up.

A winch which was sufficiently heavy duty may have itself have been
difficult to install and need a winch to get it into position, and that
winch would need one and so on.

GH

[JMB99]

Post by JMB99
Everywhere you look in Fort William and Corpach, there seem to be
railway vehicles - Network Rail ("Scotland Railway", Rail Alliance  ...
various contractors
Must be dozens of them!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72177720324167603

According to BBC News, they have been extending platforms to allow long
trains.