Recent content by Stathern Jc

Before taking early retirement in the early 80s my Dad was Head of Special Services (or a similar job title) in Nottingham and was involved in planning the Merrymakers and other tours / charters originating in the East Midlands including the popular Mystery Trips. He, or one of the others in the...

The twin engined Diesel Hydraulics (Warships, Westerns and the original D600s) all had a symmetrical arrangement with the Train Heating Boiler in the centre. The excellent book "Diesel Hydraulic Locomotives of the Western Region" by Brian Reed, in the David & Charles Locomotive Studies series...

Netherfield

Such reassurance is always very much appreciated. Thank you.

Interesting. Could a severe delay arriving in Inverness mean an inevitably late departure the following morning to guarantee a minimum rest period? And how much of a delay to the arrival would present a risk to the morning service's on time departure?

I was thinking of arranging a day out when things were a bit quieter after the New Year, and having breakfast on the train as you look out at Strathspey and Badenoch is a good start to any day. So it is disappointing to read that the "Chieftain" is doubtful for January, and any suggestion that...

I've never caught a train to or from there, but I quite like Dunrobin.

That's exactly how I read it. And having read it again, it still looks the same .....

An article on the BBC News website reports that charges are to be introduced for the use of electric vehicle charging points at Scotrail stations. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-67748404 I'm probably missing something here, but I can't help wondering why they have been free in the...

Thanks, That's what I imagined. Wasn't making any comparison with the type of level crossing at Bunchrew, just the effect of work on the availability to users. The work at Bunchrew is obviously well beyond routine and perhaps little if anything usually needs to be done at Altnabreac. But if...

What is the arrangement for traffic using the nearby level crossing? It makes me wonder whether there would be similar hostility to access if that were to need some maintenance or something beyond a relatively minor repair as I presume that the ownership of the track there is part of the same...

This article on the financial effect of the Flying Scotsman mishap on the Strathspey also interestingly refers to this season's Santa Specials being "currently on hold pending a review of the availability of staff"...

Much of interest here on this subject. But I do feel uncomfortable about a particular vehicle's Reg No being quoted, even if it can be seen elsewhere without too much effort.

Issuing refunds for the whole of what would have been one of the busiest days of the year will obviously be an administrative avalanche for some poor soul at the Strathspey. But would that necessitate the suspension of all sales for the Santa Specials including online sales? From the cash flow...

I stumbled on an article in last weeks Ross-Shire Journal saying that more services will have catering trolleys from November. https://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/news/food-trolleys-finally-set-to-return-to-trains-on-scotrails-326802/ This has to be something of a relief for travellers in the...