The Orcadian

Back in 2006, Pathfinder Railtours ran a four day rail land cruise tour to the Highlands of Scotland with a pair of English Electric class 50s. Friday 16th June 2006. The tour started at Swindon and travelled up the West Coast mainline. This DVD concentrates on the Scottish sections of the tour. We catch our first sight of the train at Perth, the gateway to the North. Two magnificently turned out class 50s at the head of the train roll into Perth for a two hour stop to allow the passengers to sample the sights of Perth. The tour then heads North over the Highland mainline to reach Inverness, whilst those onboard enjoy their evening meal. Saturday saw a journey along the scenic Kyle line to Kyle of Lochalsh. The passengers enjoyed a seven and a half hour break with coach trips to Skye and other locations. Leaving Kyle of Lochalsh at six pm the tour returns to Inverness. The Sunday was a trip to the top of Scotland to Wick and Thurso travelling over the Far North line. At Georgemas Junction many passengers boarded coaches to head to John o'Groats and then to the ferry for Orkney. For those with a liking to railways had the chance to visit both Wick and Thurso behind a class 50. They were also witness to two 50s side by side at Thurso as the train is split and shunted out of the platform to allow a ScotRail service train to use the only platform. The final day was the return trip South from Inverness to Swindon with our filming finishing at Perth to the sound of horns.

The highlight of the tour for the railway enthusiast was the use of two class 50 locomotives. The class 50s had been as far North as Inverness before, but new ground was to be covered with both the Kyle line and the Far North line sampling the sight and sound of these majestic locomotives. Also of interest was the renumbering on one side of each 50 to a long gone classmate. 50031 "Hood" was numbered to 50028 and named "Tiger" whilst 50049 "Defiance" was 50012 "Benbow". The adornment of Highland Rail insignia under the cab side windows was an appropriate touch.

Thanks go to Pathfinder Railtours, West Coast Railway Company and the Class 50 Alliance

Running time 70 minutes. No commentary. On screen captions

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