Deltic Royal Scot, Fort William.

Deltic in charge of ‘Royal Scotsman’, Fort William, 2015

Mallaig – Fort William summer service passes along south shore of Loch Eilt, June 2021

Mallaig – Fort William summer service passes along south shore of Loch Eilt, June 2021

Loch nan Uamh from water, 2017

Loch nan Uamh from water, 2017

44871 leaving Mallaig with the Jacobite with Skye in the background, July 2021

Leaving Mallaig with the Isle of Skye in the background, July 2021

MonessieClass47

Class 47, 47826, heads a Statesman tour through the Monessie Gorge, 2012

14.10 from Mallaig behind 44871 crossing the 12.50 from Fort William at Arisaig behind 45212, May 2023

14.10 from Mallaig behind 44871 crossing the 12.50 from Fort William at Arisaig, May 2023

Stoneblower on 6U35 approaching Achallader Viaduct, August 2024

Stoneblower on 6U35 approaching Achallader Viaduct, August 2024

Two Class 73 locos head a southbound SRPS Charter north of Rannoch Station, 2018.

Two Class 73 locomotives head a southbound SRPS charter north of Rannoch Station, 2018.

12

Glenfinnan Station, 2015

43046+43055 09.12 Fort William – Reading at Pulpit Rock 25.10.21

43046+43055 09.12 Fort William – Reading at Pulpit Rock, October 2021

44871 North of Bridge of Orchy August 2022

44871 north of Bridge of Orchy, July 2022

156458 approaching Ewich Viaduct between Tyndrum Lower and Crianlarich, March 2023

156458 approaching Ewich Viaduct between Tyndrum Lower and Crianlarich, March 2023

London – Fort William Caledonian Sleeper between Tyndrum & Bridge of Orchy

London – Fort William Caledonian Sleeper between Tyndrum & Bridge of Orchy, 2020

The Midland Pullman crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct, October 2021

The Midland Pullman crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct, October 2021

Bubble Car “Flora” at Spean Bridge on first proving run from Tom na Faire, September 2023

Bubble Car “Flora” at Spean Bridge on first proving run from Tom na Faire, September 2023

Slider 20

K4 passes Loch Eilt, west of Glenfinnan, in late October, 2014

66740 ‘Sarah’ with 6E45 the empty Alcans about a mile from Glen Douglas Summit. Ben Narnain and A’Crois overlook, June 2022.

66740 ‘Sarah’ with 6E45 the empty Alcans about a mile from Glen Douglas Summit. Ben Narnain and A’Crois overlook, June 2022.

The Jacobite passing the wetlands near the start of the westbound climb to Glenfinnan, October 2023

The Jacobite passing the wetlands near the start of the westbound climb to Glenfinnan, October 2023

LSL ScotRail Express at Glen Falloch, March 2024

47712 with 1z62 08.23 Edinburgh-Oban passes Ewich just west of Crianlarich, Ben More in the background, March 2024

45407 at Kinloid 2021

45407 at Kinloid 2021

Locomotive Services TOC Ltd’s private train empty stock from Fort William to Arisaig, March 2022

Locomotive Services TOC Ltd’s private train empty stock from Fort William to Arisaig, March 2022

Royal Scotsman, Pulpit Rock, Loch Lomond

66746 heads south with ‘The Royal Scotsman’, near Pulpit Rock, south of Ardlui, 2017  

14

Mixture of liveries, Locheil Outward Bound, 2017

K4_LochEilt

K4, 61994, ‘The Great Marquis’, Loch Eilt, 2014

Highland Explorer arriving in Oban, July 2021

Highland Explorer at Oban, July 2021

Thompson B1, 61306, heads a charter train south near Whistlefield above Loch Long, 2019

Thompson B1, 61306, heads a charter south near Whistlefield above Loch Long, 2019  

SRPS/LSL Leven-Oban worked by 20132 & 118 with 37403 on the rear, Awe Viaduct, May 2025

SRPS/LSL Leven-Oban, Awe Viaduct, May 2025

Friends of the West Highland Lines

The West Highland Lines, the Top Rail Journey in the World. Britain’s railways of superlatives which take you to the:

  • Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain

    Highest mountain (Ben Nevis)

  • Loch Lomond, the largest loch in Britain

    Largest loch (Loch Lomond)

  • Loch Awe, the longest loch in Britain

    Longest loch (Loch Awe)

  • Loch Morar, the deepest loch in Britain

    Deepest loch (Loch Morar)

  • Corrour, the highest mainline station in Britain

    Highest mainline station (Corrour)

  • Arisiag, the most westerly station in Britain

    Most westerly station (Arisaig)

  • Oban, the gateway to the Hebrides

    Gateway to the Hebrides (Oban & Mallaig)

  • Fort William, Britain's outdoor capital

    Britain’s Outdoor Capital (Fort William)

 

The West Highland Lines are world-class railways making a major contribution to accessibility for residents, tourists and freight in this uniquely beautiful part of Scotland. ScotRail trains link the West Highlands with Glasgow and there is also an overnight Caledonian Sleeper linking Fort William and intermediate West Highland stations with London.

ScotRail West Highland TIMETABLE (18 May 2025 – 13 December 2025)

This website gives an introduction to the line, with pictures of the spectacular scenery brought to you by Norman McNab and others as attributed.

To join the Friends of the West Highland Lines CLICK HERE

Keep up to date with latest News by visiting our News Page, X Feed or Facebook Page.

 

This is the 10:10 Mallaig to Fort William/Glasgow Queen Street service passing the head of Loch Eilt west of Glenfinnan.  Travelling on this ScotRail service may not have the romance of the Jacobite Steam Train and ‘Harry Potter’, but you travel the same route and have the additional bonus of viewing all the same wonderful scenery for a great price.

This site includes Information on the History, Politics and Engineering features of the West Highland Lines, authored by railway historian, Dr John McGregor and railway author, Gordon Webster.  This website was originally built by Norman McNab with help from John McCormick and Jimmy Powdrell Campbell.