fhs man 2
Member
I was just wondering has anyone done this because I am thinking about doing it, the thing I am afraid of is missing a train and getting stuck up there. So I was just wondering what is it like ?
I was just wondering has anyone done this because I am thinking about doing it, the thing I am afraid of is missing a train and getting stuck up there. So I was just wondering what is it like ?
Scenery and journey great, 158's make it enduring . Sad day when the 156's went.
I was just wondering has anyone done this because I am thinking about doing it, the thing I am afraid of is missing a train and getting stuck up there. So I was just wondering what is it like ?
Scenery and journey great, 158's make it enduring . Sad day when the 156's went.
I am afraid of ... getting stuck up there.
Tell the guard and he'll inform the driver.
What if you were at the station wanting to get on though would there be a free phone that would put you through to someone.
Make yourself clear on the platform as the train is pulling in. In darkness I think trains stop regardless.
I've never been on the Far North line - it's one of those things which I haven't really been, er, far enough North to do! Some time, I'd like to combine it with a sleeper trip, and bash the whole line during a day.
As far as I can see, this line takes in a bit of the "Flow Country", which is a bleak landscape (from the photos!) dotted with the odd tiny village, a number of nature reserves and SSSIs, and one or two nuclear installations. The rest of the scenery includes some hills and medium-sized mountains, mostly rocky or covered with bogs and evergreen trees.
There are several small stations on the line, including what would probably be my personal favourite of all the stations in Great Britain with low passenger numbers: Altnabreac. This station has no current realistic purpose, although I have noted that it possibly did have some sort of operational use involving water and emergency stabling for steam locomotives. It also has the station code "ABC", which I presume is some sort of private joke at ticket offices, because if a drunk or insane rail enthusiast ever tries to be clever and buy (and use) a ticket to "station code ABC", they'd probably end up stranded.
If you get off a train, you might want to use Forestry Commission paths for mountain biking or hiking.
Picture of Altnabreac, taken on a polaroid
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40011/6126853065/in/set-72157629229336713
I stayed on a family holiday here, back in the 70's. I believe the sation was built to serve a nearby hotel, that in turn served deer hunters.
Make yourself clear on the platform as the train is pulling in. In darkness I think trains stop regardless.
Platforms have lights, it's not that bad!!!!
Thanks for the tips, I do not plan on using this station I was just wondering.
What do people actually do in these communities? Like jobs and stuff? Or are they just places where most houses are holiday homes and empty most of the time?If there's one thing the journey up to Wick/Thurso makes you realise, it's what a bl**dy long way it is from civilisation..!! Inverness is pretty far north but it's still another four hour journey to Thurso. Sutherland and Caithness really are wilderness. Absolutly wonderful.
I agree that a bright torch waved at a nearby obstacle (in this case, the platform shelter would probably suffice) should give an indication of your presence, if the trains do stop in the dark.
What do people actually do in these communities? Like jobs and stuff? Or are they just places where most houses are holiday homes and empty most of the time?
It's rather too close to the emergency stop signal in darkness for my liking... The train will stop, but it'll probably do so short of the platform and subsequently contain a large number of shaken up, bemused passengers!
If there's one thing the journey up to Wick/Thurso makes you realise, it's what a bl**dy long way it is from civilisation..!! Inverness is pretty far north but it's still another four hour journey to Thurso. Sutherland and Caithness really are wilderness. Absolutly wonderful.
It would be considerably less disturbing than a red light, though! I said "wave", too, which would probably be more relaxed than the "violent" movement which I believe the Rule Book prescribes.
Mind you, I would use a very forceful signal if it was my only chance of a train before about 9am the next day. Remember that we are talking about one of the most remote and desolate stations in Britain, where the only alternative to a train is to hope that you can call a taxi company's number using the payphone, and this, naturally, probably doesn't work.
G'day
You probably haven't been on the Indian Pacific or The Ghan, if you think Thurso is the back blocks.
I went to Thurso in the mid 1980's, still not sure why, just to say I've been there I suppose, but the fish & chips were good
I met a London tube driver (who was a train nut) up at Thurso, in full uniform :roll:
Cheers
DJ737
Melbourne, Australia
It's rather too close to the emergency stop signal in darkness for my liking... The train will stop, but it'll probably do so short of the platform and subsequently contain a large number of shaken up, bemused passengers!
If there's one thing the journey up to Wick/Thurso makes you realise, it's what a bl**dy long way it is from civilisation..!! Inverness is pretty far north but it's still another four hour journey to Thurso. Sutherland and Caithness really are wilderness. Absolutly wonderful.
Inverness is pretty far north but it's still another four hour journey to Thurso. Sutherland and Caithness really are wilderness. Absolutely wonderful.
What do people actually do in these communities? Like jobs and stuff? Or are they just places where most houses are holiday homes and empty most of the time?