Steam Through the Scottish Highlands (Prima magazine)

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Summary

The north of Scotland is blessed with some wonderfully scenic railway lines. The challenge of building railways through some of the most difficult terrain in the British Isles was taken up by the great engineers of the Victorian age. Their legacy is in the sweeping curves and majestic viaducts of the single-track lines which cross wild moors and lonely glens and continue to provide important links to the north and west Highlands. Using scheduled diesel train services, we will travel westwards to Kyle of Lochalsh, by Strath Bran and Strath Carron to the shores of Loch Alsh, and eastwards to the cathedral city of Elgin. We have the added attraction of steam haulage for our two other journeys. The ‘Jacobite’ ensures that the haunting sound of a steam whistle continues to echo around Glenfinnan, as the train crosses ‘Concrete Bob’ McAlpine’s magnificent viaduct on its way from Fort William to Mallaig. At Aviemore we take the train to Boat of Garten on the preserved Strathspey Line, which provides an authentic taste of the Golden Age of rail travel in the Highlands.