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Inverness to Wick - The Far North Line
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- Опубліковано 16 лис 2023
- It's my second day based in Inverness and it's time to do the Far North line. Yes, the line that wiggles its way up from Inverness through the Highlands taking in firths, lochs, valleys, mountains, rivers, sea views and high moorlands. All on a day when Storm Babet is rolling in from the east!
As it turned out my train was "the last train outta Dodge" on the fateful day, as ScotRail closed the line immediately afterwards due to the impending storm!
This is definitely a "bucket list" trip for anybody that likes train, or indeed any kind of travel. I'm so pleased I managed to make this trip before the weather closed in, so do join me for this one.
Departure: Inverness, Scotland, UK
Destination: Wick, Scotland, UK
Distance: 280 km / 174 miles
Duration: 4 hrs 15 mins
Average speed: 66 km/h 41 mph
Example Costs:
+ Standard class advance return: £29.40 / €33,60
+ Standard class anytime return: £33.00 / €37,80
+ I was travelling on a Highland Rover 4 days in 8 pass: £95.00 / €109,00 (for 4 days travel)
Date of Travel: October 2023
Operator: ScotRail
Motive power: Class 158 2-car diesel multiple units. Built: BREL, Derby (1989-1992)
Thank you to everyone that supports the channel by subscribing, liking, commenting or just watching these videos. I really appreciate it!
I rode this line in 1965 on my way to spend the summer working at Dounreay. In those days it was a type 2 diesel with 4 mk 1 coaches. The train actually divided at Georgemas Junction. The journey time was pretty much the same and the scenery just as stunning.
@@TootlinGeoff great memories. And as you say, the journey time and scenery is pretty much unchanged.
Thanks for watching and sharing your memories of the line 👍
One of my favourite travel channels. You’ve found your niche. The photography is superb! You deserve a much larger audience!
Thank you. That's very kind of you to say. The audience is growing every month, so I have no complaints - I'm really enjoying the rides, the photography and the editing. so you keep watching them, and I'll keep doing them! 👍
Thurso Station was built by my great-grandfather's company. The trains no longer enter the terminus building since the 1980s because in certain winds fumes can build up to much.
@@PictureHouseCinema thanks for that interesting memory and thanks too for the clarification as to why the train now stops short.
Oh, and thanks for watching too 👍
Just done that trip. Awesome, and the train staff are so friendly. The service is 4 hourly with few trains each day, so not very practical to keep jumping on and off. Excellent heritage museum in Wick to kill a couple of hours.
Yes it is awesome. I agree it is a shame you cannot get off and investigate the different stops, but the most important thing is that some trains are still running!
Thanks for watching 👍
That was good timing then !! :)
@@andywillis2650 quite an eventful couple of days, what with the Kyle tree the next day too.!
The music, you selected was a very good addition to this video, added another sense , one of peace. Thank you. Patrick
Thanks Patrick. I don't use music too often, but I thought it fitted there. And actually it was fairly peaceful, just chugging along pointing my camera out towards the sea.
i went on that journey in the late 80s have family in thurso !... but i wanted to do the full run , also been to kyle for skye mmm wonderful route
I really loved that run. Even with the storm closing in (or maybe because the storm was closing in, it was very evocative.
Thanks for watching 👍
I’m planning on doing this route next week. Been on my bucket list for a while. Also planning to go to Dunnet Head at the same time
I hope the weather is clear for you and the windows are clean!
Do have a great time. It is so beautiful.
And thanks for watching 👍
One thing you can experience on the Far North and West Highland Line that you can’t experience on other lines is the good old clickety clack noise of the wheels as both these lines still use the old fashioned method of bolted rails as opposed to welded rails
Yes, there's a fair bit of clickety clack for sure!
Thanks for watching 👍
Am a new viewer to your channel and have to comment as to how interesting your videos are. Lots of scenery, trains along with a lot of history. Compared to a lot of channels you have a great format and so glad you do these trips. Hope that the channel grows!!
Thank you so much for those lovely words. I just try to make videos that I would like to watch and I talk about stuff that interests me. I'm so pleased that your taste matches mine, as for more viewers? Well that's up to those other viewers. But the channel is growing and I'm enjoying making the videos, so I think that's just fine!
Thanks for watching this one. There's a big back catalogue to fill in the days between my weekly uploads if you are short of something to watch 😃
On my to do list- great video have subscribed.
@@derekpetrie6707 Thank you, that's very kind of you. Do go. It is a wonderful ride in any weather!
And thanks for watching 👍
What's not to like? The traction! That's another route that I could ONLY do behind a class 37 - maybe a 26 or 27 for someone a bit older. It's beautiful and I've done it many times, but I don't think I'll ever go back. It just wouldn't be the same on a 'plastic'. The English Electric thundering through those valleys and moors with all windows open on a Mk.1 Summer or winter.
And taking the last train north and, after a few pints of heavy, spending the night on the beach at Thurso or on the empty stock at Wick in winter. Yes, you have to go again in the snow! Drifts so high you can't see any scenery for miles over the moors and not a single cancellation then.
Ah great memories and thanks for sharing them. But to each his own, as I loved it even riding the 158...
Thanks for watching too 👍
A delightful watch. Of course I’m biased but I truly think this is one of the great lines. Shamefully under promoted by Scotrail in my opinion. I’m really glad you got to enjoy the FNL in all its glory.
I loved it all. And yes, you are right that it doesn't get the "pop" that other lines get, which is unfair.
Thanks Tim 👍
So I've just watched it for a second time because it was so good, - thanks again.
You are very welcome 👍
Dude, this is one of the best train trip journeys i seen. You have a new subscriber.
I like your explanation of the station and the route and you showed whole journey with information and good camera work too. I live in Dornoch firth area and you were spot on. In invergordon those are new wind turbines. I work in the construction of them at sea and a great Many are going into the moray firth just now and many other areas around the coast, the cromarty firth ports are where they get temporarily stored.
I like this route too, i sometimes take my dog to brora or Inverness on the train. i only wish the trains were in better condition, sometimes i find them quite dirty or unbearably hot in summer. I think its a problem with many of the class 158 s in the sun (sometimes there is actually sun onscotrail routes 😂)
@@macflod thanks for the very kind feedback. It is much appreciated. 😁
... and for your extra local information too 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels no problem, thanks for the video, ill be watching more!
Absolutely love your videos! Its so interesting looking at all these small lines I doubt I'll go on in my lifetime! Definitely one of my favourite UA-cam channels (perhaps only behind me but maybe thats me being biased 😅)
Haha that's very kind of you. And of course you should prefer YOUR channel. After all that's where you do the stuff you most like.
I'll be sure to pop over and watch some of your stuff 👍
Far North Line is stunning, did this once back in 2017, great video
Thank Simon 👍
Did it back in about 1964 with a pal of mine, a great adventure. Both our fathers were quite senior on the railways so we had free travel to anywhere in the UK until we left school, what a perk!
@@mervynrogers7354 wow! Lucky indeed. My mate at college got free travel everywhere too as his Dad was a bigwig at BR HQ at the time.
This line has been on my bucket list for so long, and has so much scenery
Def worth the ticket price!
Thanks for watching it 👍
This is one of your best! Really enjoyed this one!
Wow! Thank you so much 😃
And, of course, thank you for watching it 👍
I’m watching you weekly now, looking forward to each new video. It is a dream of mine, as a member of the Anglo-Scots-Irish diaspora, to visit the British Isles and travel by train. You’re helping me plan the trip!
Thanks Johnny,......what a fantastic journey and video. I had an over night stop in Brora in 1993. Being part of a team supporting a sponsored cycle run from John o Groats to Land's End Brora was our first stop.
Thank you, that is very kind. How many days to pedal to Land's End?
Red deer can often be seen in the area near Kildonan and Kinbrace. Worth looking out for them.
I did see some deer on both this run and the run the following day to Kyle of Lochalsh... but failed miserably to get them on video 🤷🏻♂
Thanks for watching 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels yes, before your eyes can register what you see, the train whisks you past them.
Excellent video
When I visited Scotland for many years ago there was a very plesant YIA in a castle in Culrain. The Norwiegan King lived there during the second world war
Thanks. Have a look in the comments. Somebody was just saying that they remembered the backpackers getting off at Culrain for the castle. It could have been you!
Thanks very much for that trimendous video - l have thurly enjoyed it, it was simply great, also great views across the water & away over to the hills, so many thanks to all those who have taken the time to make this great video. PS, think I will watch it again, it was so good ❤.
Thank you. That is very kind of you to say so 👍
Lovely scenery - you can just see all that wonderful fresh air, can`t you! And very smart to pack a nosebag :) Thanks for sharing another brilliant trip report, Mr. H.
Yes it really is a beautiful run. And that sandwich was excellent!
Very picturesque and beautiful. Scotland is an amazing country.
Yes it is !
😄
I did this trip in the Spring. Doing it again with you I got a lot more info, and it was good to relive the excitement of heading far north.
Thanks Colin. And yes, it IS exciting!
Kyle of Lochalsh next week...
Thanks for such a fascinating intro to this wonderful old line. Back in the 70's I did the Kyle to Dingwall run and now wish I'd taken the time to do this one too.
Thank you for watching too! It really is a very long run (especially there and back in a day), so I wouldn't beat yourself up too much for not doing it when you were there.
The big white things at the port of Nigg are wind turbine towers, the port has pretty much pivoted to renewables rather than oil and gas now.
Ah. I suspected that would be the case. Thanks for the clarification 👍
What a lovely journey and the autumn colours were beautiful. Our leaves are all down now and we’re bracing for winter.
Yes, it was wonderful and the colours were lovely. Thank you for watching another 👍
Also, putting a large piece of matt black card behind the Go-Pro can substantially reduce those annoying reflections of the carriage interior that one gets as the daylight starts to fade. The size is a matter of trial and error and it may look a bit odd, but it definitely improves the quality of the image.
I used to have a concertina rubber lens hood for my SLR which did the same thing. You had to press it against the glass for it to work properly, but I did get some great shots of trees and rooftops silhouetted against the night sky for my album.
That's great advice. I've been thinking about fashioning some kind of black concertina thing, but I do like the black card idea.
Absolutely stunning journey. Superb video. Thank you 👍
You are very welcome. Thank you so much for watching. As you could tell, this was not a difficult job making this video! 😃
Lovely video. I enjoyed traveling the line in winter with snow on the ground.
Yes. I was musing what it would be like all snowy as we went along.
Thank for watching and for the kind words 👍
Love this line I stay in the central belt of Scotland and sometimes Scotrail offer a £17 fixed fair and I use this ticket to travel from Glasgow to Wick on a day trip leaving at 7am getting back at midnight long day but well worth it on a nice day. Funnily enough I was in Inverness that day and was on the 20.23 to Glasgow. Hope you enjoyed your trip
I loved the trip! And yes, I saw those deals. Is it an over 50s club ticket or somesuch? Anyway, that's a lot of travelling for £17!
And thanks for watching 👍
Loved it! Marvellous! Cheers from Oz.
Thanks Jim! Next week, I do Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh, so more lochs, rivers and mountains to come!
Fabulous! Thanks for sharing.
...and thank you for watching 👍
What a wonderful channel.. Well done :-)
Thank you so much. Very kind of you to say that 👍
And thank you for watching too 👍
Another good video 👍. The Highland Rover ticket looks excellent value for money
Thanks! And yes it is. I get 1/3 off the price quoted with my senior railcard so it makes it even better!
Excellent video as always!! Very interesting too. beautiful scenery Hope all is well and hope you have a great weekend
Thank you. I loved the trip and was so pleased to squeeze it in before Storm Babet!
Have a great weekend too 👍
Welcome to Scotland, glad you enjoyed your trip here😊
Thanks. I loved it 😍
We were trying to get to Wick a few days after you but got waylaid by missing ballast near Helmsdale and never got on the line! Perfect excuse for another visit
Absolutely. Such a great place to visit. I'm already plotting a return too 😃
Fantastic. Many thanks!
You are very welcome. Thank you for watching 👍
The views from the windows were like framed paintings.
Thank you. What a lovely thing to say! 👍
Love your videos. The photography is amazing.
Thank you that is very kind. And thank you for watching 👍
Excellent video
Thanks. And as always, thanks for watching too 👍
Absolutely great views, thanks!
It really is a wonderful ride! Thank you so much for watching 👍
As I expect you'll know, Johnny, the original Ness Viaduct actually collapsed after a major flood in 1989, severing the line for an extended period until the bridge was rebuilt and opened again in 1991. Fortunately, five of the then new Class 156 units were stranded on the northern section and British Rail decided it would establish a temporary, light maintenance depot for these at Muir of Ord, which was then the most southerly station on the line, apart from Inverness itself*; and this allowed these units to run a twice-daily service to both Wick and Kyle of Lochalsh during this period.
*The former stations at Clachnaharry, Bunchrew, Lentran, Clunes and Beauly had closed by 1960, together with Conon Bridge, Fowlis, Evanton, Alness, Delny, Kildary, Nigg, Edderton, Meikle Ferry, Mid-Fearn Halt, The Mound, Loth, West Helmsdale, Salscraggie Platform, Borrobol Platform, Halkirk, Hoy, Bower, Watten & Bilbster; when the remaining local services were withdrawn (some had closed much earlier). Muir of Ord was also closed between 1968-1972. Thus there had been 45 stations or platforms north of Inverness, not including the 18 on the Strathpeffer and Kyle of Lochalsh branches, 5 on the Muir of Ord - Fortrose, 3 out of 5 planned for the Conon Bridge - Cromarty, six on the Mound - Dornoch and 8 on the Wick - Lybster branch lines! So far there have been four reopenings: Muir of Ord (1972), Beauly, Conon (212st Century) and Alness (in 1976), with talk of at least one more to serve the nowadays much larger village of Evanton, to be served by the recently re-introduced Inverness - Tain/Ardgay/Lairg local services.
Kildonan was the unlikely site of a Gold Rush in 1869-70. The Helmsdale, in common with many Scottish rivers, produces small quantities Two temporary townships were built to house the prospectors, but all was abruptly terminated when the Duke of Sutherland found deer stalking to be more lucrative in 1870. Within the last couple of weeks, Scotrail has announced that Altnabreac station is "temporarily closed until further notice." This is because the line's unstaffed stations are have a passenger-operated radio signalling device fitted - and road access is being denied by the landowner - without which there is no way that the necessary materials can be transported in.
Lead to to local joke that the new ‘sprinters’ were to be re branded ‘long jumpers’
Thank you that very full and informative comment. I knew about the loss of the Ness bridge/viaduct but chose not to weave it into the script. But if I'd known about the Kildonan goldrush of 1869 that would surely have got in!
Thanks so much for that 👍
This is one that just has to be done, will get to it at some stage.
Don't put it off too long 😀
Thanks for watching 👍
Its interesting. i watched this again tonight, and its magic: and that comes across not only in the video but in your final summary. Why? Why will I watch this again, in preference to wonderful alpine scenery and trains running to a clock face timetable.? I cant explain it. There is something about the UK network that sets it apart, and its not just chaos, inefficiency, and under funding: or is it?
That's ok Colin. You are welcome to watch whichever videos you prefer 😃
And that one really is a wonderful journey, which i enjoyed immensely- both the trip and the editing afterwards.
Best wishes to you 👍
The thing about that is not everyone likes this stuff I love it btw
Well yes. Reflects the breadth of all the content on UA-cam! Pleased you love this stuff! 👍
Did this journey a few years back and although I'd like to do it again, I think that the next time I will overnight in other Wick or Thurso. Although that could possibly turn into an extended stay should the weather turn bad, similar to what you experienced here!
Yes, it was a long trip going there and back in a day. And by staying over, as you say, you could see a bit more of the place(s).
Thank you for watching 👍
I haven’t done the far north yet but I have done the west highland line. It’s stunning too
Yes, the west highland line is a cracker too. I've done it before, but not since I started my channel. So maybe I should go back!
Thanks for watching 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels I rode the full length between Glasgow and Mallaig on the ScotRail class 156s and I’ve also rode between Fort William and Mallaig on the Jacobite Steam Train
@@gftyhify Most excellent! I'd like to get off at Glenfinnan and watch the train cross the viaduct - I think that would make a good part to the video (especially if the next train along was the steamer!)
@@JohnnyHooverTravels there is a tourist information centre nearby that lets you know when the next steam train is going to pass. Although given the steep terrain and the fact that the line is single track there could be delays
On one occasion on the Wick service the train was late having hit a cow resulting in a large dent to the front of the train which did not have a cowcatcher fitted.
I was on the return service and realised why the dent was so large - the cow was a huge Charolet. No doubt it wasn’t too impressed by the encounter.
Haha. I doubt the cow had much to say at all after being hit by a train!
If you think Shinty is savage have you ever watched Hurling (Iománaíocht)-Ireland’s oldest (3,000 years and counting) and one of our national sports? The other being Gaelic Football. These are the two most popular sports here and both are quite ‘robust’.
I've never seen it live but I have watched it on UA-cam. When I travelled in Ireland it was clear the sport was huge. I would happily go to a game!
Thanks for watching 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels You should also take a look at a game of Camogie-a version of hurling played by girls. And if you think the guys are savage, well….!! I watch all of your videos as I really enjoy them. They’re great for getting travel ideas and of course ‘experiencing’ journeys that I’ll never get to make myself. This current video is lovely as well as informative. Waiting with interest for the next one!
Not been up that line in many years since loco hauled trains that divided at Georgemas. The road bridges have probably killed off traffic.
Well I do wonder whether locals would prefer to take an hour less on the coach for sure. But there is still the people that need to board/alight at the intermediate stations I suppose 🤷♂️
@@JohnnyHooverTravels indeed there are yes. There was significant traffic in the 80s to Carbisdale Castle for which Culrain was the stop for all the back packers. That closed but I am hearing might reopen again. There was of course oil to Lairg but that little depot has been demolished. A really pretty line especially around Brora - Helmsdale with that one wonderful beach section you have highlighted. In former years the Class 26s and latterly Class 37s used to hammer along that the route and I had a few cab rides up there, no names of the driver to protect the innocent!
@@simonpilk great memories! Thanks for sharing!
Try the Irish sport of Hurling similar to Shinty
Definitely want to watch a game next time in Ireland 👍
It is stunning, that's true, but why Wick rather than Thurso, which is much more interesting?
I wanted to go all the way to the end of the run, and I knew I was just going to have to go straight back again anyway, so I stayed on to Wick. I also suspected that Wick station would be more photogenic as the train goes all the way into it.
They were my only reasons. I would have liked to spend some more time in both towns, so I hope the good people of Thurso understand.
Helmsdale has a geological fault. The Fault line forms a weak zone in the rock which has been eroded into a linear valley now occupied by the Helmsdale River. Glaciation exploited this weak zone, deepening the valley further"
Haha! Thanks for the excellent clarification. Most helpful 👍👍
Geological intuition at work. The flat valley floor with River went on in your video for miles. So I immediately thought is there a straight fault there. Checked Claude AI sure enough there was. Loved your video.
@@melvynbuckton6881 thank you 👍
You're pressing my "to do" button again, sir.
Next year's list is getting longer and longer. Maybe I'll treat myself to two 7-Day tickets instead of one. - One in the spring and one in the autumn.
Or perhaps I'll do the Scottish leg on rover tickets instead, to be able to use the buses as well.
Thanks! And yes, there's sense in using the Scottish ticket rather than a full national rover if you are spending 4 days (or maybe even just 3) up in the Highlands.
You can get the bus on into Skye on the Scottish ticket. I just couldn't risk it with Storm Babet coming in.
I gotta ask, as a Packers fan, how the heck did you get into American football?!
There's a lot of fans in the UK. I started watching on UK TV way back in the 1980s. I'm loving playing flag football as there's much of the tactics and complexity without the regular trips to the hospital!
Hmm Packers eh. My mate that lives across from me is one of them. It's been a quiet year what with Love only starting to look half decent. Mind you, Aaron Jones is beginning to get me some better fantasy point production so it aint all bad!
Thanks for watching 👍
No trains are stopping at Altnabreac now, due to disputes.
Yes, I heard that. Seems a bit sad for the locals that they can no longer access their station.
Thank you for watching 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravels
There is no community at Altnabreac - the station gets occasional use by cyclists and walkers. Pity you didn't spot the fences made from Caithness flagstone, particularly visible by the lineside towards Thurso. Fearn station house was until recently the home of novelist Michel Faber (Under the Skin, the Book of Strange New things...)
@@markwringe2826 those stone fences? I recall i did see some and very interesting they are too. Would have been good to mention them, so I'm pleased you did here in the comments 👍
I Looking in Google Maps and Its Sooooo Long!
@@oumimrane4470 Yes it is!
Thanks for watching 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravelsI Sub You :)
Can you do the Kyle line
I did - the very next day - that video will be out next week! 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravelsfantastic
Do you play American football (versus coaching)? What position?
I play "flag" American football 🏈. Which is a 5-a-side non-contact variant. And I generally play as a cornerback on the defence (defense). I started playing aged 57 and I'm just entering my sixth year. Just pleased I'm still fit enough to play at a reasonable level.
@@JohnnyHooverTravels wow! Good for you, I'm about your age and watching sports tires me out!
2 ads a Nuisance at start not again