Advance Information Regarding Fort William

joy54.gen · 22nd November 2005, 06:51

Over the weekends of February 11th/12th and 18th/19th next year
engineering works will take place betwen Bridge of Orchy and Tulloch
so the Beds 1Y11 get diverted into Oban vice the Fort on the
Saturday morning of each weekend and stable for the weekend with
1B01 departing Oban on the Sunday night. Im led to believe though
that there is only one Oban driver who signs 37s now and he is
currently off long term sick.

I have been wanting to do Oban loco-hauled for ages and ages, but have always been unlucky usually by missing the railtour. Anyway as both these weekends are at the start and end of the School Half Term, I can feel a meet coming on.

Met Driver · 22nd November 2005, 07:03

There's no two ways about it - I must do this!

**yorkie** · 22nd November 2005, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth

There's no two ways about it - I must do this!

Same here.

Would it be best to take day trains up during the daytime and do the 37 back? (downside: it would be dark) or do it the other way round? (downside: crazily early start) or to do both (downside: what would we do for hours in the mean time?)

joy54.gen · 22nd November 2005, 15:05

I'm probably going to do both trips both ways, probably never have the chance again due to once the engineering work is done the track access charges can go down and 67s can run.

Met Driver · 22nd November 2005, 15:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by joy54.gen

I'm probably going to do both trips both ways, probably never have the chance again due to once the engineering work is done the track access charges can go down and 67s can run.

To do both trips, would it be a case of going up to Oban in the day, returning to Edinburgh on the sleeper, then back to Oban on the sleeper, finally returning south the same morning?

joy54.gen · 22nd November 2005, 15:23

Nope, would be a case of going up to Oban on the Friday Night/Saturday Morning, staying somewhere up there then going to Oban on the Sunday and returning on it. I may do both trips, or maybe I'll do the first trip and the last trip ie. the night of 11th up in Oban on 12th. Then next week head up there and return on the night of the 19th.

**yorkie** · 23rd November 2005, 09:37

We are currently looking into how this can be done, but the timings don't look great and it may not be feasible to turn this into a meet, unfortunately.

EDIT: The Fort William sleeper is bookable for departures on Friday 10 February, arriving on the morning of the 11th. Is that an error?

Techniquest · 1st December 2005, 15:43

Re: Doing Oban behind a 37, I am DEFINATELY doing this! Even better is I get paid only a few days before the trip (if I'm still employed then), so it's all good!

Surely once the sleeper arrives there's a DMU back to Glasgow or something to have something to do all day? That's what I'd do.

Met Driver · 1st December 2005, 15:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by FGWFan

Surely once the sleeper arrives there's a DMU back to Glasgow or something to have something to do all day? That's what I'd do.

One would have hoped so, but there isn't. Not for a couple of hours IIRC. The sleeper arrives at Oban half an hour after the first DMU departs.

We are thinking, and I stress thinking about combining this with the Far North line.

Techniquest · 1st December 2005, 16:16

Far North AND Oban? mmm. Maybe I should make this trip into my Freedom of Scotland trip.

Any updates, let us know post haste!

EDIT: To do this trip, I have NO intention of going via London. I would be going via Crewe from Hereford. I did nearly the same thing in June (except I went from Swansea, but still via Hereford and the Misery Line), is it likely to be possible still, and will a Hereford to Oban return ticket be the best course of action? Or perhaps Hereford to Edinburgh, then an Edinburgh to Oban CDR?

Of course, if I do combine this meet with my Freedom of Scotland Travelpass trip, then such a question is irrlevant. However, that decision isn't made yet.

Sprinter · 1st December 2005, 19:15

This is a MUST for me as well.

I am thinking about doing teh Megabus up to Glasgow. Do some local lines/spotting around Glasgow then head up to Oban to join the Sleeper back south to London (or vice versa, as the northbiound sleeper goes round the Northampton loop)

22nd November 2005, 06:51	#1
joy54.gen Member Join Date: 6 Jun 2005 Posts: 614	Advance Information Regarding Fort William Over the weekends of February 11th/12th and 18th/19th next year engineering works will take place betwen Bridge of Orchy and Tulloch so the Beds 1Y11 get diverted into Oban vice the Fort on the Saturday morning of each weekend and stable for the weekend with 1B01 departing Oban on the Sunday night. Im led to believe though that there is only one Oban driver who signs 37s now and he is currently off long term sick. I have been wanting to do Oban loco-hauled for ages and ages, but have always been unlucky usually by missing the railtour. Anyway as both these weekends are at the start and end of the School Half Term, I can feel a meet coming on.

1st December 2005, 15:43	#8
Techniquest Optare Basher Established Member Join Date: 19 Jun 2005 Location: Nowhere Heath Posts: 7,794	Re: Doing Oban behind a 37, I am DEFINATELY doing this! Even better is I get paid only a few days before the trip (if I'm still employed then), so it's all good! Surely once the sleeper arrives there's a DMU back to Glasgow or something to have something to do all day? That's what I'd do. __________________ Why not have a look at my trip reports? Latest one: Netherlands Bash/The Three Countries

1st December 2005, 16:16	#10
Techniquest Optare Basher Established Member Join Date: 19 Jun 2005 Location: Nowhere Heath Posts: 7,794	Far North AND Oban? mmm. Maybe I should make this trip into my Freedom of Scotland trip. Any updates, let us know post haste! EDIT: To do this trip, I have NO intention of going via London. I would be going via Crewe from Hereford. I did nearly the same thing in June (except I went from Swansea, but still via Hereford and the Misery Line), is it likely to be possible still, and will a Hereford to Oban return ticket be the best course of action? Or perhaps Hereford to Edinburgh, then an Edinburgh to Oban CDR? Of course, if I do combine this meet with my Freedom of Scotland Travelpass trip, then such a question is irrlevant. However, that decision isn't made yet. __________________ Why not have a look at my trip reports? Latest one: Netherlands Bash/The Three Countries

1st December 2005, 19:15	#11
Sprinter Yellow Arrow chappie Member Join Date: 14 Jun 2005 Location: Walthamstow, London Posts: 279	This is a MUST for me as well. I am thinking about doing teh Megabus up to Glasgow. Do some local lines/spotting around Glasgow then head up to Oban to join the Sleeper back south to London (or vice versa, as the northbiound sleeper goes round the Northampton loop) __________________ "This station is Oval. This train terminates at Edgware via Bank"

22nd November 2005, 07:03	#2
Met Driver Established Member Join Date: 8 Jun 2005 Posts: 1,626	There's no two ways about it - I must do this!

22nd November 2005, 15:05	#4
joy54.gen Member Join Date: 6 Jun 2005 Posts: 614	I'm probably going to do both trips both ways, probably never have the chance again due to once the engineering work is done the track access charges can go down and 67s can run.

22nd November 2005, 15:23	#6
joy54.gen Member Join Date: 6 Jun 2005 Posts: 614	Nope, would be a case of going up to Oban on the Friday Night/Saturday Morning, staying somewhere up there then going to Oban on the Sunday and returning on it. I may do both trips, or maybe I'll do the first trip and the last trip ie. the night of 11th up in Oban on 12th. Then next week head up there and return on the night of the 19th.

23rd November 2005, 09:37	#7
yorkie Fares Advisor Administrator Join Date: 6 Jun 2005 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 20,708	We are currently looking into how this can be done, but the timings don't look great and it may not be feasible to turn this into a meet, unfortunately. EDIT: The Fort William sleeper is bookable for departures on Friday 10 February, arriving on the morning of the 11th. Is that an error?