The Friends of the Far North Line
Cairdean Na Loine Tuath
the campaign group for rail north of
Inverness - lobbying for improved services for the local user, tourist and freight
operator
On Friday 21 March I set off at 06:30 to catch a train to Wick. I usually get on at my local station, Bishopbriggs, if I'm heading north. This day was different - heading to Bo'ness with four supermarket 'bags for life' containing 174 copies of FNE 94, 296 copies of Richard Ardern's Window Gazer leaflet and 30 copies of Highland Survivor by David Spaven (well worth loading as Neil, our secretary, sold 19 copies on the train!). I'm afraid this required the use of a car - I'd have needed an assistant and an overnight stay to get to Bo'ness for 07:30 by public transport with all that stuff!
Last October Kev Adlam, Fixtures Secretary of the Branch Line Society, got in touch with us to let us know about the tour and to see whether we would like to advertise in the tour booklet - for which there was no charge. He also offered us the chance to put FoFNL members on the train to bring FoFNL to the attention of the passengers.
This was a golden opportunity for us, so we accepted instantly. Kev agreed that we could distribute free copies of our magazine and Window Gazer leaflets, and he was happy for us to sell David's books too.
I was unable to do the whole tour so Kev offered me the chance to travel from Bo'ness to Inverkeithing, one of the pickup stations. Meanwhile, Neil had kindly offered to be on the FNL leg from Dingwall northwards.
In his initial contact Kev had also asked whether we could help find a piper to welcome the train to Wick. I wondered whether my friend Stuart Gray, who also happens to be a volunteer at Bo'ness, might be able to help. This was a lucky thought because Stuart was able to link Kev to a bagpiper in Wick who would be 13 by the time of the tour, so on 22 March Will Fryer piped the train in and Eilidh Budge (12) gave a Highland dancing performance on the platform too.
Word about the tour's visit to the Far North Line soon got out and social media was buzzing on 22 March. The John O'Groat Journal came up trumps with two excellent articles by David Scott before and after the tour.
Becoming involved with a rail tour, very much on the periphery, was an eye-opener. When my copies of the itinerary documents arrived I began to realise how much work is involved in putting a tour like this together.
I had heard of the Branch Line Society, probably through photo captions in magazines, but I hadn't understood its purpose. On the BLS website it simply says, "It was established in 1955 and is widely recognised as Britain's leading amateur group for the study of railway infrastructure and history of networks", it goes on to explain, "Our emphasis is on the physical works and on operating arrangements, rather than motive power and rolling stock".
Kev sent me a copy of Network Rail's tour schedule and it was immediately obvious that one of the attractions for BLS members is to travel on track not usually used by passenger trains where possible. I didn't think I was interested in that side of things until, having been invited to join the train as it set off from Bo'ness and to stay on until Inverkeithing, I realised that that meant I would get to travel on the (normally closed-off with a gate) link from Manual on the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway to the E&G, and also to turn left at Winchburgh Junction and head directly to the Forth Bridge, which no passenger trains currently use - cool - as my grandchildren would say!
I was allocated a space in the 'Volunteers' Coach' and that's when I began to realise just how many people it takes to make sure a tour like this runs perfectly. On board were BLS staff who were stewarding, SRPS members whose rolling stock was being used and who looked after the catering and GBRf staff who were manning the controls and in charge of the safety aspects. I think over 30 people in total. The banter level was extremely high!
Alighting at Inverkeithing reminded me of a quirky connection I have with the station - the main building, which opened in 1986, was designed by the architect we used for our house extension the previous year!
One of the things which impressed me most was the amount of information about the train's route which was contained in the booklet every traveller received. Inserted in this were track diagrams of everywhere the train was going to go - absolutely fascinating. I was happy too that our advert was given the whole back cover!
Anyone who has this kind of interest in railways should consider joining the Branch Line Society - it would be £12.00 p.a. very well spent.
Not only did the BLS organise a whip-round on the train for the piper and dancer, who each received a substantial 'thank you', but FoFNL received a very generous donation too.
Beside being an adventure for railway aficionados the tour itself was raising money for two charities - Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Martin House Children's Hospice. An astonishing £25,000 was the final figure.
I'll never look at rail tours in the same way again. Every time I see one I'll be thinking of the massive amount of work which goes into every aspect of the planning and operation with great respect.
Whilst compiling this article I became intrigued by the tour's official title - BWC 3. After a considerable amount of time down an internet search rabbit hole I gave up and emailed Kev. "It stands for Because We Can." I think that sums it all up!
Day 1 The Wick-bound train's epic journey began at Bo'ness Station and headed up the hill to the other end of the B&KR at Manuel with a Class 37 locomotive at each end - handy for the amount of reversing the train was destined to do. 37403 Isle of Mull led, with 37401 Mary Queen of Scots at the other end.
After joining the main Edinburgh & Glasgow line and picking up at Linlithgow the train took a left at Winchburgh Junction and headed over the Forth Bridge to another pick-up at Inverkeithing.
From there the train ran round the western side of the Fife Circle, passed through Dunfermline and at Thornton Junction took the newly opened route to Leven making the first visit of a tour train since the line reopened last June.
After two reversals the train travelled to Perth, via the direct line from Ladybank through Newburgh. The tour's next diversion was at Aviemore, where it travelled the length of the Strathspey Railway before heading to Inverness.
Day 2 saw the train head for Wick, with a side trip up the line to Thurso. On its return to Inverness it traversed the Rose Street Curve and then reversed into the South platforms ready for its trip back to Bo'ness the next day.
Day 3 returning to Bo'ness via Aberdeen, Kirkcaldy and the Forth Bridge the train passed Bo'ness Junction and continued almost to Falkirk Grahamston, where it reversed at Grangemouth Junction to gain the up Edinburgh line in order to be able to reverse to Manuel and the B&KR at Bo'ness Junction. Arrival there was at the exact minute of Network Rail's published timetable for the tour - a tribute to both the planners and the operators.
An example of the level of detail provided - published with permission of TRACKmaps.
Enlargement of Ardgay Station area.
