There's no doubting it's a beautiful journey on a nice day, through stunning scenery, but when I think of others through high mountain passes, across barren plains, over grand bridges, past wildlife and picturesque lakes, through areas wrapped in history, literature and romance.......well, no, I don't think I agree the Jacobite probably justifies its claim as the best railway journey in the world.

I've no idea what this viaduct is called. It's well north of Glenfinnan. I made a pano shot which is why the viaduct has a slight curve to it: straight in real life!

Tags:   peanmeanach jacobite steam train fort william mallaig highlands scotland Gleann Mama Viaduct Loch Nam Uamh viaduct Loch Nam Uamh viaduct 44871 like a trainset

© All Rights Reserved

The Jacobite, out of Lochailort, pulls hard past the Polnish Chapel towards Mallaig. This is close to home for me. Only 18 miles over the hills to Acharacle behind that lump of An Stac.

Tags:   polnish highlands jacobite steam train scotland 45407

© All Rights Reserved

Back to do the shot at Glenfinnan again whilst a little snow still capped the mountain tops, but this time from the other side of the valley, looking down Loch Shiel towards 'home' in Acharacle. The tourist season is only just warming a little with Easter not far away and I heard an expectant roar from the crowd at the right hand end of the viaduct as the Jacobite "Hogwarts Express" blew its whistle to announce its arrival.

Tags:   jacobite glenfinnan viaduct loch shiel scotland highlands lochaber hogwarts express

© All Rights Reserved

A sure-fire sign summer's on the way.

1) The first Jacobite steam train journey of 2022
2) It's pissing down. I got totally soaked for my efforts

The Jacobite "Hogwarts Express" passes over the famous Glenfinnan viaduct on its way from Fort William to Mallaig. I bought some tickets in mid-December 2021. The earliest seats I could book on the morning service is 3rd August 2022.

Tags:   glenfinnan loch shiel express steam train jacobite hogwarts express viaduct scotland highlands lochaber igotPWT

© All Rights Reserved

I've wanted to capture the Jacobite, the steam train made famous as Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter, on the iconic Glenfinnan viaduct because it is local to our new home which will be at the other end of Loch Shiel.

I estimated that the train would take about 45 minutes to get from Fort William to Glenfinnan so set off with what I hoped would be enough time to get up behind the viaduct. However the viaduct is quite a long way back from the end of the Loch and it took me some time to find my way to the base of the viaduct, cross the river and hike up a steep forest track to a point where I was level with the viaduct top. In fact I was just scoping out the view when I heard the shrill whistle of the train as it trundled onto the viaduct. No time to set up tripod or plan what I was going to do so I just started shooting hand held, a series of shots to create a stitched panorama. But that doesn't work so well with a moving subject..... Anyhow this is the result. I was alone on this side of the viaduct. But if you look closely there must be 100+ people ranged on the other hillside to catch the moment. But I specifically wanted the Loch in my shot.

There is a problem in the pic....see if you can work it out.

Tags:   jacobite hogwarts express steam train Glenfinnan viaduct highlands scotland loch shiel 45407

© All Rights Reserved