Highland line shack scratching begun for me in 1972. 40 years! later in January 2012 Carrbridge was finally raked in, leaving Pitlochry to complete the 9 station set in November 2021.
As listed below i have had proper loco hauled moves at Perth, Dunkeld, Blair Athol, Newtonmore, Kingussie, Aviemore and Inverness, the rest being units. Each Highland Mainline station has a character of their own with just Dalwhinnie still feeling remote, the rest support vibrant small towns with plenty pubs, chippies and good walks etc.
Key – AM – Ancient move (1969-79)
OM – Old move (1980-99)
MM – Modern move (2000 onwards)
LM – Very latest loco hauled move
Shack scratching
Getting the Highland line shacks in first started for me in 1972. By 2012 with Carrbridge finally scratched it left Pitlochry to finally get visited on November 9th 2021..
Perth
AM – 5340} Inverness – Perth 0820 Inverness – Edinburgh 010872 onto 5344}
AM – 5116} Perth-Inverness 1725 Glasgow – Inverness 010872
5333}
OM – 26024 Stirling – Perth 2050 Carlisle-Perth 310582 onto
OM – 47109 Perth – Inverness 2305 Edinburgh/Glasgow – Inverness 310582
MM – 158705 Edinburgh – Perth 0626 Edinburgh – Perth 140125 onto
MM – 43152} Perth – Inverness 0838 Edinburgh – Inverness 140125
43031}
40145 at Perth with the Thurso bound Railtour that originated at Linlithgow on June 22nd 2007
Dunkeld
OM 47570 Kircaldy-Dunkeld 1710 Edinburgh-Inverness 300582 onto
OM 37035} Dunkeld-Perth 1745 Inverness-Edinburgh 300582
47434}
Me and Tony Ewer did this leap along with a good few of South Wales finest!
Dunkeld welcomes 37035 and 47434 on the 1745 Inverness – Edinburgh on May 30th 1982
Pitlochry
MM- 43032} Aviemore – Pitlochry 1249 Inverness – Edinburgh 09/11/21 onto
MM 43144}
MM -43150} Pitlochry – Inverness 1333 Edinburgh – Inverness 09/11/21
MM 43139}
The last one falls after 49 years!
The last Highland line shack in the book, 43144 with 43032 scream out of Pitlochry with the 1249 Inverness – Edinburgh on November 9th 2021
Blair Athol
OM – 47469 Inverness-Blair Athol 2350 Inverness-Glasgow/Edinburgh 29/1/85 onto
OM – 47610 Blair Athol-Inverness 2305 Edinburgh/Glasgow-Inverness 30/1/85
The classic (rancid) 2am leap at Blair Athol off the Internal overnight along with sleeper attendants and other train crew.
MM – 170396 Edinburgh – Blair Athol 1136 Edinburgh – Inverness 250408 onto
MM – 170393 Blair Athol – Perth 1441 Inverness – Edinburgh 250408
climbed the nearby Athol Hills, crossing the manically busy A9 a bit scary!
Dalwhinnie
MM – 170406 Inverness – Dalwhinnie 0918 Inverness – Glasgow 220109 onto
MM- 170393 Dalwhinnie – Aviemore 1011 Glasgow – Inverness 220109
67015 about to leave its booked Dalwhinnie stop with the Northbound Euston – Inverness sleeper on February 29th 2016
Did a bit of lochside walking then due late running, sheltered from the snow in the atmospheric brick bothy at Dalwhinnie station
The famous Dalwhinnie bothy has offered shelter to many a traveller over the years, seen here on a warm June 30th 2021
Newtonmore
OM – 40081 Aviemore-Newtonmore 0945 Inverness-Edinburgh 250980 onto
OM – 47104 Newtonmore-Aviemore 0905 Glasgow-Inverness 250980
Didnt want to get off 40081 as she was making a fine racket, my return North was much less rateable power!.
Kingussie
OM – 47544 Inverness – Kingussie 1642 Inverness – Edinburgh 250980 onto
OM – 40081 Kingussie – Aviemore 1525 Edinburgh – Inverness 250980
MM – 158719 Aviemore – Kingussie 0942 Inverness – Perth 220126 onto
MM – 43026/43028 Kingussie – Inverness 0838 Edinburgh – Inverness 220126
Brrrrr! The guards looks on as an afternoon Inverness – Glasgow at Kingussie with 170451 prepares to battle South through the snow on January 15th 2018
Aviemore
OM – 47141 Inverness-Aviemore 0815 Inverness-Glasgow 250980 onto
OM – 40081 Aviemore-Newtonmore 0945 Inverness-Edinburgh 250980
A 90 minute fester at busy Aviemore was rewarded with 40081 out of Aviemore
Late January 1985 due severe snow and low temperatures of minus 27C there were many interesting workings in the Highlands. On January 27th 1985 we were delayed some time at Aviemore awaiting the ploughs to clear the drifts over Drumochter. When 37287/47096 were uncoupled and moved forward to top up the 47s boiler, Wolverton Steve opted to get chips. On returning somewhat flustered he remarked how it was a 10 minute walk across a skate rink!, still he got chips for us all! Top man Steve!
OM – 37262 Inverness – Aviemore 1015 Inverness – Edinburgh 250894 onto
OM – 37088 Aviemore – Inverness 0925 Edinburgh – Inverness 250894
37170 stops at Aviemore with the 1430 Inverness – Edinburgh on August 24th 1994.The lead vehicle is the Kyle line observation car presumably going South for maintenance..
Carrbridge
MM- 170434 Inverness – Carrbridge 1722 Inverness – Glasgow 170112 onto
MM- 170402 Carrbridge – Inverness 1510 Glasgow – Inverness 170112
This was a tight plus but late running of the down service helped. Steve Wolverton bailed here in the mid 80’s and said how he whittled away the long fester watching red squirrels playing on the far end of the platform!
37610 tailing 37611 on a Georgemas bound flask at a snowy Carrbridge on January 21st 2015
Inverness
AM – 26013} 1740 Edinburgh-Inverness (40 failed Tomatin) Perth – Inverness 010977
AM 40123(d)}
MM – 67007} Waverly – Inverness 2116 (21/10) Euston – Inverness 221015
67011}
LM – 66304} 1S25 2100 (18/1) Euston – Inverness Edinburgh – Inverness 190126
73966}
Vintage Inverness 5330 and 5344 arrive with the overnight “Royal Highlander” from Euston on July 30th 1972,
47546 at Inverness with the 1620 to Glasgow on January 27th 1985, heavy snowfall and drifting was causing delays to all Highland Line services that winter’s evening.,
66304 and 73966 at a murky Inverness having arrived right time with the Caledonian sleeper from Euston on January 19th 2026
My Highland line loco haulages down the years linked here.
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