This is a companion page to Far North Express 95, May 2025.
Links mentioned in the magazine, and larger versions of some pictures:
Satellite Broadband - P6
On Monday 12 May ScotRail's satellite broadband trial was launched by Richard Lochhead MSP, MInister for Business in the Scottish Government.
The event was attended by FoFNL Secretary, Neil Wallace, who spotted the minister holding a copy of our January magazine. He will receive a copy of this issue as soon as it arrives from the printer.
Richard Lochhead MSP launches ScotRail's satellite broadband trial. Photo: Neil Wallace"
Mystery - P17
Here are the four images - the original mystery and the three which help to confirm the location as Golspie.
Mike Wedgewood's photo, from which the crop was taken for the magazine, is the second image here.
The map image is taken from the National Library of Scotland's georeferenced maps facility.
This is the photo which was posted on Facebook, showing The Orcadian crossing a southbound service, probably in the 1970s
On 27 June 2002, 66114 passes with the 02:00 Mossend Yard to Georgemas Junction with a load of five vans, two Safeway containers and two flat wagons. Photo: Mike Wedgewood"
This is from the Ordnance Survey 6-inch 1888-1915 map seen on the National Library of Scotland website showing the sidings visible in the 'mystery' photo
Golspie Station seen in Google Street View, which confirms that Loch Fleet is not visible from here
Value of Rail - P18
Letters to the Press - P25
Kevin McKenna's article referred to in the letter to The Herald.
A Railway Fit for Britain's Future - P26
BWC 3 Tour - P30
BWC 3 Approaches - On the CIS! Photo: Neil Wallace
Heading North - a brief stop at Tain. Photo: Neil Wallace
The classic S-bend location at Kinbrace. Photo: Kyle Tricker
Another brief stop - Scotscalder. Photo: Henri Towe
Caithness - nearing its destination. Photo: Kyle Tricker
Pure enjoyment in First Class. Photo: David Scott [Highland News & Media]
Great welcome at Wick! Dancer Eilidh Budge and piper Will Fryer. Photo: Neil Wallace
BWC 3 seen at Helmsdale. Photo: Betty Grieve
One of four detailed track diagrams provided for tour passengers. (Reproduced with permission of TRACKmaps [
https://trackmaps.co.uk].)
To get a flavour of the amazing rail tours operated by the Branch Line Society, and to join up if you wish, pop along to their website.
Altnabreac Lament - P34
The photos on these pages were taken by Colin Baird who travels all over Scotland on his bike and writes a blog as The Cycling Scot.
Colin is a featured writer in the Lonely Planet Experience Scotland guide, for which he wrote about the Far North Line.
