Let’s start off with a pair of travellers on the journey.
We made our way over a pass until we arrived alongside the waters of Loch Eilt – so reflective you hardly see them – unless you get some reflected sky.
They say still waters run deep, but at only about 100 feet deep Loch Eilt is quite shallow – so no surprise the reflective quality departed on gusts of wind.
We left the loch side and Lord of the Isles was able to chunter down to the sea loch – Loch Ail Ort.
I managed a silhouette picture of this loch.
Then came the most reflective little loch of them all – Loch Dubh. She was a real beauty.
What a beauty – and a small island with a stand of pines looked like perfection. I only just got my shot. Foreground is an ever-present problem when taking shots from a train.
A wayside chapel had been built and was now abandoned near Beasdale. Maybe it had something to do with the station at this location.
Our loco had hard work to do as we rounded curve after curve.
We reached the open sea and perforce started to head in a more northerly direction with just a little bit further west to go. But first we were doing a big curve around the bay.
We had crossed that viaduct heading from right to left now we were heading off to the right again.
Here’s a typical station on this line. Now this is one for quiz buffs. What is the most westerly railway station on the British system? The surprising answer is Arisaig or Arasaig in Gaelic. I am pleased to say I have arrived, by train, at Britain’s four extreme stations. Penzance is the most southerly, Lowestoft is the most easterly and Thurso the most northerly to join Arisaig as the most westerly.
We turned truly to the north now for the run up to Mallaig. We kept a moderately even distance between the Atlantic Ocean and the formidable Loch Morar which is truly deep – 1000 feet or so.
But sea views were possible and the pointy top out at sea tells me this was Rhum.
And these were the silver sands at Morar.
And there’s the two together from our 1970 visit.
As we approached Mallaig, the island of Rhum was more visible.
Lord of the Isles could take a well earned rest now for we reached Mallaig.
