26045 Georgmas Junction 22nd March 1982
Having made my first visit to Thurso with Dave Palmer on an all line rail rover in 1981, it was now time to visit Wick with Mike Evans on the Mad March Young Persons Railcard free ticket to anywhere offer. 26040 was our loco from Wick to Inverness with load 2 picking up the load 5 portion the 11.48 from Thurso seen arriving here with 26045. Other far north services that day were worked by 26035 and 26042. I used to love the 26s as they were neat locos and so synonymous with the Scottish Highlands. Unlike Kyle where there was an opportunity to pop over to Skye, have a few beers and a chip supper there was never any time at the far north terminii due to the quick run rounds. That is unless you were prepared to spend six hours at these Highland outposts which were Fizz Central back then with gaseous tastless beers to wash down your scotch pies, bridie or stovies. Wick isn't much better nowadays with one of the few outlets for real ale being one of the better UK Wetherspoons The Alexander Bain and would you believe this was one of the sixteen Spoons recently slated for closure. Stick with the much better Thurso if you are staying this far north.
26045 Georgmas Junction 22nd March 1982
Having made my first visit to Thurso with Dave Palmer on an all line rail rover in 1981, it was now time to visit Wick with Mike Evans on the Mad March Young Persons Railcard free ticket to anywhere offer. 26040 was our loco from Wick to Inverness with load 2 picking up the load 5 portion the 11.48 from Thurso seen arriving here with 26045. Other far north services that day were worked by 26035 and 26042. I used to love the 26s as they were neat locos and so synonymous with the Scottish Highlands. Unlike Kyle where there was an opportunity to pop over to Skye, have a few beers and a chip supper there was never any time at the far north terminii due to the quick run rounds. That is unless you were prepared to spend six hours at these Highland outposts which were Fizz Central back then with gaseous tastless beers to wash down your scotch pies, bridie or stovies. Wick isn't much better nowadays with one of the few outlets for real ale being one of the better UK Wetherspoons The Alexander Bain and would you believe this was one of the sixteen Spoons recently slated for closure. Stick with the much better Thurso if you are staying this far north.