Diesels on the Highland Line PART 1 The 1960s and 1970s

摘要

The Highland Main Line (HML) is one of, if not the, toughest routes for traction in the UK. The line includes the highest point on the BR network at Druimuachdar Summit, standing at 1,484ft above sea level, and further north Slochd Summit reaches 1,315 ft. Both summits have fearsome approaches in both directions. With these, coupled with the cost of getting coal to Inverness and factoring in the bleak winter weather, it was not surprising that the route was a priority for dieselisation. On June 18, 1958, Brush Type 2 D5511 was sent north from Edinburgh to Perth for trials in the Highlands. After being used for crew familiarisation it was noted working the morning Inverness-Perth parcels on July 5, before undertaking a stint in the Edinburgh area. It was back on Inverness shed on August 4 and powered the afternoon freight to Wick the next day. It also worked on the West Highland Line during its trials but was back on the Eastern Region at the start of September. It would be another 15 months before diesels arrived at Inverness permanently.