37417 Fosinard 1212 Wick 1214 Thurso Inverness. 7th September 1988.
Taking a photo lineside as a 17 year old at a place like this was a drawn out affair. Sometime before 7am the first trains left the Far North platforms at Inverness. I took the one going to Wick and Thurso and got off maybe three and a half hours later at Forsinard. At Forsinard, the station sits on a high moor. A road crosses the line at around 90 degrees to the south of the station where there is a fancy old shooting lodge hotel. I went in for a cup of tea, served on a tray in a beautiful porcelain teaset. Thick tartan carpet, thick rendered stone wall, polished woodwork. The Scottish Highlands, rather nice. A young lad served it, keen to chat to a customer his own age. He had yet to travel south of Inverness. After the tea, which pushed hard my £28.50 a week Youth Training Scheme budget, I walked out onto the moor, alone. Eventually the train I arrived and on passed by, on its way back south. Back to the station to await the next train north, no money spare for more tea. A lone track ganger arrives, having walked and inspected the line from the next station north, Altnabreac. He lives alone, in a caravan tied down at each corner to prevent it from being blown over in the winter months. I travel on to Wick, get a bus to Thurso and return on the same train, which split and reformed at Georgemas Junction back then, using an outbased Inverness class 37 for the Thurso portions. Eventually after a long but beautiful journey back I arrive back at Inverness around 10:30pm. One lineside picture, if only for a week up here then.
37417 at Forsinard with the 12:12 Wick to Inverness, 8th September 1988.
37417 Fosinard 1212 Wick 1214 Thurso Inverness. 7th September 1988.
Taking a photo lineside as a 17 year old at a place like this was a drawn out affair. Sometime before 7am the first trains left the Far North platforms at Inverness. I took the one going to Wick and Thurso and got off maybe three and a half hours later at Forsinard. At Forsinard, the station sits on a high moor. A road crosses the line at around 90 degrees to the south of the station where there is a fancy old shooting lodge hotel. I went in for a cup of tea, served on a tray in a beautiful porcelain teaset. Thick tartan carpet, thick rendered stone wall, polished woodwork. The Scottish Highlands, rather nice. A young lad served it, keen to chat to a customer his own age. He had yet to travel south of Inverness. After the tea, which pushed hard my £28.50 a week Youth Training Scheme budget, I walked out onto the moor, alone. Eventually the train I arrived and on passed by, on its way back south. Back to the station to await the next train north, no money spare for more tea. A lone track ganger arrives, having walked and inspected the line from the next station north, Altnabreac. He lives alone, in a caravan tied down at each corner to prevent it from being blown over in the winter months. I travel on to Wick, get a bus to Thurso and return on the same train, which split and reformed at Georgemas Junction back then, using an outbased Inverness class 37 for the Thurso portions. Eventually after a long but beautiful journey back I arrive back at Inverness around 10:30pm. One lineside picture, if only for a week up here then.
37417 at Forsinard with the 12:12 Wick to Inverness, 8th September 1988.