WCR - Jacobite 2026

[hexagon789]

Which loco do you know

45407 The Lancashire Fusilier

 

[Isle of Mull]

45407 The Lancashire Fusilier

Will 44871 do an afternoon train?

 

[hexagon789]

Will 44871 do an afternoon train?

Don't think the afternoon one is running at the moment, presume 44871 is essentially spare loco.

 

[Isle of Mull]

Don't think the afternoon one is running at the moment, presume 44871 is essentially spare loco.

I’m not going to lie but having 44871 as spare is a bit stupid when Carnforth and Southall only have 2 locos combined

 

[matt]

Will 44871 do an afternoon train?

Only one set of coaches went to Fort William.

 

[hexagon789]

I’m not going to lie but having 44871 as spare is a bit stupid when Carnforth and Southall only have 2 locos combined

I could be wrong, but with the afternoon service not running, it's difficult to see what else the purpose of 44871 could be.

 

[Krokodil]

I’m not going to lie but having 44871 as spare is a bit stupid when Carnforth and Southall only have 2 locos combined

If they're going to run seven days a week they'll need a second loco to allow washouts to be done.

 

[Dave S 56F]

Early M.K.2 carriages as well with opening top lights on the Jacobite so I suppose it will make west coast railtours and railway touring Co tours when these are not in use on the jacobite and more appealing to the enthusiast who likes to hear the noise of the steam loco. Still though no sign of any M.K. 1 stock been outshopped at 10A C.D.L. fitted like everyone was anticipating.

 

[Rail Ranger]

Mark 1 99318 has recently been fitted with CDL at Carnforth. It is now at Fort William. More in the pipeline?

 

[The Bear]

Early M.K.2 carriages as well with opening top lights on the Jacobite so I suppose it will make west coast railtours and railway touring Co tours when these are not in use on the jacobite and more appealing to the enthusiast who likes to hear the noise of the steam loco. Still though no sign of any M.K. 1 stock been outshopped at 10A C.D.L. fitted like everyone was anticipating.

More in the pipeline?

In the short to medium term I wouldn't be surprised if 10A only do enough MK1s (or fresh air early Mk2s) to get the second Jacobite going.

This theory is based on........
57012 brought some stored air-con Mk2s (which have been graffitied & vandalised) north from Southall to Steamtown on 2/4/2026 in the consist of 5M43.

Then on 29/4/2026, using the 5M50 test run path 37516 took these demics from Steamtown across to Hellifield for storage in WCRC's siding.
Comparing youtube videos of both of these workings the aforementioned demics look to have been robbed of their CDL before being sent to Hellifield as they're missed their bodyside lights & lower release handles.

Mark 1 99318 has recently been fitted with CDL at Carnforth. It is now at Fort William.

I see 99318 has a new style of bodyside light (LED?) compared to the other stock which have the old BR style double-bulb ones.
It would be interesting to see what internal CDL lock it's been fitted with.....

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Can anyone tell me how long would it typically take for CDL to be installed on a Mark 1 Coach, please? This assumes that there are no problems in principle with the work and doesn't include any "non-railway" objections (such as we've seen over the past few years) to it.

Forgive me if this is a silly question, but I always ask questions about things when I don't know the answer.

Thanks.

Would someone like to answer my question, please? Thank you.

 

[DarloRich]

Would someone like to answer my question, please? Thank you.

There isn't an easy answer. Each vehicle is going to be different as are the skills and experiences of the fitters involved.

 

[martin butler]

Would someone like to answer my question, please? Thank you.

It would depend on how much extra work the fitment created, No two coaches are the same, on some it goes OK, no other problems, on others it will be difficult

For example the wiring, has most likely been chopped and changed, new bits grafted in, not always routed the same , The CDL will need its own circuits, it might not be possible to route the wires along existing conduit, so new wire runs, and plugs, I can remember fitting PA systems in Mk 1's and we had to literally strip the interiours each time, The early MK 2's were not that different internally from Mk 1's

 

[EbbwJunction1]

There isn't an easy answer. Each vehicle is going to be different as are the skills and experiences of the fitters involved.

It would depend on how much extra work the fitment created, No two coaches are the same, on some it goes OK, no other problems, on others it will be difficult

For example the wiring, has most likely been chopped and changed, new bits grafted in, not always routed the same , The CDL will need its own circuits, it might not be possible to route the wires along existing conduit, so new wire runs, and plugs, I can remember fitting PA systems in Mk 1's and we had to literally strip the interiours each time, The early MK 2's were not that different internally from Mk 1's

Ah, thank you, both; I must admit that I did think that it would be more straightforward than that, but obviously not. It just goes to show how little i know about these things!

Thanks again.

 

[DarloRich]

Ah, thank you, both; I must admit that I did think that it would be more straightforward than that, but obviously not. It just goes to show how little i know about these things!

Thanks again.

I have only have second had experience with this sort of thing but old railway vehicles tend to be very, er, "individual"! That's before you find the rust that needs treating or the spares not being available.

 

[martin butler]

I have only have second had experience with this sort of thing but old railway vehicles tend to be very, er, "individual"! That's before you find the ruts that needs treating or the spares not being available.

I'm a former loco, and carriage fitter, and worked at two preserved railways, carrying out coach overhauls, and no job is ever simple, not even two vehicles will be the same especially when dealing with wiring, its largely hidden from sight,

 

[Krokodil]

I have only have second had experience with this sort of thing but old railway vehicles tend to be very, er, "individual"! That's before you find the rust that needs treating or the spares not being available.

It's certainly not unheard of with Mk1s for it to be necessary to ensure that each of the supposedly identical doors goes back in the same place on the same carriage, otherwise they may not fit.

 

[hexagon789]

It's certainly not unheard of with Mk1s for it to be necessary to ensure that each of the supposedly identical doors goes back in the same place on the same carriage, otherwise they may not fit.

To be fair, I've heard that has even happened with Mk3 vehicles, but ultimately yes - for a mass-produced and notionally "identikit" design, each vehicle has a fair degree of individuality which can only extend any work to make alterations.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Thanks again, folks .... I'm glad that I haven't got to deal with problems like that!

 

[47286Dan]

Thursday morning Jacobite

98507 MBSL FTWILIAM 062Y61MG04 O * MALLAIG N
Coaches
5239 5229 99318 9539 5419 5453 5487

Dan

 

[NB5025]

Thursday morning Jacobite

98507 MBSL FTWILIAM 062Y61MG04 O * MALLAIG N
Coaches
5239 5229 99318 9539 5419 5453 5487

Dan

Thank you, that's satisfied my curiosity as to what they have on the train this year!

I looked them up, and they are:

5239 5229 Mk2 SOs, so those will be used as the first class coaches.

99318 Mk1 TSO, converted to a buffet / shop at one end.

9539 Mk2f BSO, so no compartments on this year's train. Does anyone know how is the a/c powered, or have they fitted hopper windows?

5419 5453 5487 Mk2/a/b TSOs

 

[Hairy Bear]

9539 no hopper windows, no train supply so will be working off batteries. Therefore no a/c, heat or battery charging.
Not the best choice to be included in rake. Do they not have any mk2 a/b brakes cdl fitted ?

 

[Towers]

In the short to medium term I wouldn't be surprised if 10A only do enough MK1s (or fresh air early Mk2s) to get the second Jacobite going.

This theory is based on........
57012 brought some stored air-con Mk2s (which have been graffitied & vandalised) north from Southall to Steamtown on 2/4/2026 in the consist of 5M43.

Then on 29/4/2026, using the 5M50 test run path 37516 took these demics from Steamtown across to Hellifield for storage in WCRC's siding.
Comparing youtube videos of both of these workings the aforementioned demics look to have been robbed of their CDL before being sent to Hellifield as they're missed their bodyside lights & lower release handles.

Absolutely amazed that any of that lot were fit to move by rail, been dumped at Southall for donkey’s years haven’t they?

 

[Isle of Mull]

99318 Mk1 TSO, converted to a buffet / shop at one end.

Does the shop sell souvenirs etc and can passenger sit and eat in the carriage

 

[3RDGEN]

It’s still not bookable

Now open for general bookings for the morning service running seven days a week until late October;

"https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/news/jacobite-seats-available-to-book" - "
The Jacobite, our world-famous steam journey between Fort William and Mallaig, is back up and running, with morning departures now operating seven days a week. Dates for the afternoon service will be announced shortly. Tickets for both Standard and First Class are now on sale."

 

[Isle of Mull]

Now open for general bookings for the morning service running seven days a week until late October;

Ooh I might hold out for the afternoon train though

 

[alexl92]

Do we know if a second set of coaches is planned to move up at any point? There was at some point talk that a schedule was in for an overnight move up to Tom na Faire depot but I think that was replaced by the move we've all seen footage of?

 

[SECR 65]

Is there the motive power for a second train - maybe only at weekends?? With two Black 5s they will need washouts. Is water quality good enough to go 28 days between washouts or do they have to be more regular than that?

 

[dmkc]

Ooh I might hold out for the afternoon train though

I do wonder how long the wait for that may or may not be... In a similar thinking

 

[Isle of Mull]

I do wonder how long the wait for that may or may not be... In a similar thinking

As long as the mk1s come I say