This is a companion page to Far North Express 94, January 2025.
Links mentioned in the magazine, and larger versions of some pictures:
All photos by Niall Laybourne.
Timber trial 2020 |
Lone Class 73 |
Northbound pipes train |
Ballast empties near Kildonan |
Class 222 |
Line closure...story
This poem, by Bryan Beattie, was read at Malcolm's funeral in St Mary's Cathedral Edinburgh:
"MGW"
that piano knew it had been played
that song knew it had been sung
that gin
that packet of Gold Leaf
knew they were in confident hands
there was
a grocer's delight
in cataloguing life's minutiae
a teacher's glee
in gossip
a trainspotter's frisson
in irregularity
an organiser’s hunger
in detail
and a pedant's relish
in the absurd beauty of names
Weem Foss Tummel
Murthly Spittalfield Caputh
every day a tightrope straddled between
open-mouthed joy
and open-eyed outrage
this life was full
unafraid to let the passion shine
he filled his lungs
stood on his balls
and let the music surge through
a Tilley Lamp dims
but the glow remains
14 November 2024
For Malcolm, who left us today
Until lockdown in March 2020 Malcolm had logged all lateness and cancellations on the FNL for a number of years - invaluable resource and worth doing again if we can find someone willing, with enough time to spare!
FNL percentage of lateness 2019-2020 |
FNL Cancellations 2019-2020 |
RETB desk |
Signalling blocks screen |
Binding screen |
Helmsdale interlocking |
Wick Railway Station 70s |
Mr McLeod - Wick Station |