Welcome
To Inverness from Glasgow. There can be no more civilised way than the ‘Chieftain’ – which requires a quick run from Queen Street in a Turbostar and a change at Perth. What a splendid edifice Perth station is: more Brief Encounter than British Rail. The London, Midland & Scottish haunts its cavernous spaces and one expects a ‘Jubilee’ to appear at any moment. It is, however, no ‘Jubilee’, but a Virgin Trains East Coast HST that hoves into view from the south, the ‘Highland Chieftain’ bang on time.
Once nestled comfortably in a window seat, it is time to sit back and enjoy the climb into the mountains. On the right, the feisty Tay, which will be our companion for many miles to come. And then the abandoned yards owned by DB Cargo, the suggested site for a combined ScotRail/Network Rail depot looking after HSTs and track machines.
Out into the countryside where, in these northern climes, the grain still waits to be harvested in late August. Stanley Junction: a simple wooden box, where our double track will elide into one for the journey north. Stanley is set to become more important, taking in control of the loop at Pitlochry under the Highland main line modernisation plans.
Next is Dunkeld &a…
