The Jacobite Steam Train West Highland Railway

Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Harry Potter Train in Scotland

Oct 10, 2009

The spectacular Jacobite Steam Train railway journey from Fort William to Mallaig was popular long before it became part of a famous route for the Hogwarts Express.

One of the most picturesque railway journeys in Scotland, the legendary steam train begins its journey on ‘The Road to the Isles’ at the sound of a whistle at Fort William station in the West Highlands. The station itself is in the shadow of the mighty Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the United Kingdom.

It is called The Jacobite Steam Train because it passes through much of the area associated with Bonnie Prince Charlie (Prince Charles Edward Stuart) during the Jacobite Rebellion. The following points of interest are some of the highlights mentioned in the excellent little route guide given to passengers.

The whole rail journey is a 42-mile tour through some of the most dramatic scenery in this part of Scotland. One of the first interesting sights comes as the train crosses the 1901 swing bridge over the Caledonian Canal. Linking the east and west coasts of Scotland, and designed by Thomas Telford, the canal was opened in 1822 with a series of eight locks, known as Neptune’s Staircase.

The next section takes passengers past the Field of the Dead at Corpach, where the bodies of Highland nobility were kept on the way for burial to the island of Iona. Along the six-mile stretch of Loch Eil, there are seventeen sea walls protecting the railway from gales, while further on the mountains rise up to 2,900 feet.

It was in this area that Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed the night in 1745. He evidently picked a wild white rose to put in his hat, and thus it became the White Cockade symbol for the Jacobite cause.

Glenfinnan Viaduct and Harry Potter

Along the sixteen miles of Finnan’s Glen is the stunning 416 yard Glenfinnan Viaduct which was built by Robert McAlpine. It is 100 feet high with twenty one arches and is built on a 12-chain curve.

Made even more famous by the Harry Potter films which show the Hogwarts Express travelling across the Viaduct, it is a magnificent sight. With views to Loch Shiel on one side and the hills on the other, it is a photographer’s dream to capture the train on the curve with steam trailing from the engine.

The train stops at Glenfinnan on the outward journey for about twenty minutes. The restored station is a museum and the Glenfinnan Monument, which commemorates the raising of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s standard, is within walking distance.

Glenfinnan to Arisaig

The next stretch of the railway reaches a summit at the twin tunnels of the Crag of Goats, before making its descent along a mountain ledge to Loch Eilt. On the way, it passes a cave where Bonnie Prince Charlie is supposed to have hidden after his defeat in 1746.

The journey to Lochailort passes the first Commando training centre, from 1940, and the biggest camp for the navvies who worked on the construction of the railway. It also had the first fully manned hospital set up on a British construction site. Some miles on, as the train reaches Polnish, there is the lovely hillside church of ‘Our Lady of the Braes’, which was in the film Local Hero.

Loch nan Uamh (loch of the caves) is where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed in 1745 from a French frigate. He departed again in 1746, after his defeat at Culloden. This is the steepest part of the line, at Beasdale Bank, where the gradient is 1 in 48 to reach the summit. This is followed by the longest tunnel of 349 yards.

Arisaig to Mallaig

It is known as Britain’s most westerly station and its name means Bay of the Rivermouth. Arisaig is unique in having a mild climate due to the Gulf Stream, which allows it to grow sub-tropical plants. The islands of Rhum and Eigg are visible from here. Some miles further on is the famous Morar white sands where Local Hero and Highlander were filmed.

As the train chugs its way towards the final station, it passes the along the Sound of Sleat, with the Isle of Skye and the Cullins mountain range in the distance. There are another couple of miles of scenery before it reaches Mallaig, which means Bay of the Gulls.

Passengers have about an hour and forty minutes to enjoy the pretty little fishing village of Mallaig, before the return journey. Although a busy terminal for the car ferries to Sky and the Outer Hebrides, there are restaurants, a Marine World and a Heritage Centre for visitors to enjoy around the village.

A day out on the Jacobite Steam Train is an unforgettable experience, through dramatic mountains, past deep lochs and across the stunning Viaduct. It may be an area of great historical interest with its connections to Bonnie Prince Charlie, but there is no doubt that the Harry Potter films have added to the attraction of one of the Greatest Train Journeys in the World.

The copyright of the article The Jacobite Steam Train West Highland Railway in Scotland Travel is owned by Rosemary Gemmell. Permission to republish The Jacobite Steam Train West Highland Railway in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.