Tour No. 40 : The Western Chieftain (Pathfinder)

Friday 19^th - Sunday 21^st June 2009.

(Bristol – New Street) - Bescot - Crewe - Carlisle - Mossend - Perth - Inverness

Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh - Inverness

Inverness - Perth - Cardenden - Edinburgh - Suburban Lines - Carstairs East to South Junction - Carlisle - Crewe - Bescot - New Street - (Bristol)

This tour was the most ambitious attempted by D1015, over 1,250 miles including positioning moves, from its new home at DBS Eastleigh to the North West coast of Scotland and back. The tour started at 07.03 on the Friday morning from Bristol behind ‘Royal’ Class 67, 67005. After picking up at Cheltenham, Worcester and New Street D1015 took over from the ‘skip’ at Bescot for the daunting 455 mile run to Inverness. The tour picked up along the West Coast main line to Carlisle before crossing the border into Scotland for only the second time, however this time not for a brief flirtation but the real McCoy to the Highland Capital of Inverness The locomotive performed impeccably all day and the Highland main line was dispatched with consummate ease, including the challenging climb to Druimachdar. Apart from a brief shower at Dalwhinnie the weather had been kind and the tour participants retired to their hotels in Inverness hoping that the following day would bring more of the same.

Saturday morning saw a very sociable departure time of 11.23 and there was plenty of time for a relaxed breakfast and a look around Inverness. Departure, like virtually the whole weekend, was pretty much to time and the scenic trip to Kyle started in pleasant weather and only got better as we headed West. Arrival at Kyle was around 2.30pm and D1015 had reached its ultimate destination, the loco had been breaking new ground since Larbert the day before but the site of a ‘Thousand’ with the Isle of Skye in the background was quite surreal. Our passengers now had the luxury of a four hour break to enjoy the veritably tropical West Highland weather, sink a pint or two, eat a meal and generally enjoy the beauty of the setting. Return was again to time and without incident arriving back in Inverness around 10pm.

10.20am on Sunday saw our final departure from Inverness as it was time to head South. ‘Champion’, impressive as ever, made light work of the climb to Slochd Summit as the twin Maybachs disturbed the peace of a quiet Highland Sunday morning. After a photo stop at Aviemore D1015 set about the southbound assault of Druimachdar, a notice on Aviemore station had stated ‘No Loitering’ and this seemed to have been heeded as Druimachdar was topped with ease. The stop at Perth revealed that we had a coolant leak on the leading engine but the engineers were confident it wouldn’t be a problem. However things got worse as we headed towards Edinburgh and the engine was shut down to try and effect a repair. As the passengers sat back and enjoyed the view from the world famous Forth Bridge, it was anything but relaxed in the engine room as DTG Engineers, Williams and Vial, attempted to sort out the coolant leak. Departure from Edinburgh saw the loco only a few minutes late and back on two engines, a successful repair having been carried out with minimum disruption and few on the train realising that anything was amiss. The remainder of the journey South was without mishap and the train was back on time by Preston. As 66206 relieved D1015 at New Street the job was done and D1015’s most ambitious tour had proved to be a massive success. More than a few have declared this tour the best one that they have ever travelled on and on reflection they may very well be right.

Below : Taking a well earned break at Perth before departure to Inverness.  Photo : Paul Winter 

Another short break in Scotland sees D1015 at Dalwhinnie.  Photo : Paul Winter.

Below : Saturday Morning Day 2 of the Tour and D1015 is getting ready to propel the tour backwards out of Inverness before going forward to Kyle. Photo : Paul Winter.

Below : DTG Seminar shot showing DTG Committee and Shareholders as well as Pathfinder Supremo Pete Watts shortly after arrival at Kyle. Photo : Neil Morgan.

Below : D1015 at the front of the stock at Kyle prior to taking the tour back to Inverness. Photo: Paul Winter.

Below : Another shot taken at Kyle prior to departure back to Inverness. Photo : Paul Winter.

D1015 caught at lochcarron en route to Inverness. Photo : Neil Morgan