A heavy double headed train from Fort William has arrived at Crianlarich en-route to Glasgow. (Confirmation of direction needed). The train engine is a Black Five 4-6-0 and Class K2 No 61794 ‘Loch Oich’ of Eastfield is the pilot. On ex NBR lines including the West Highland the Pilot engine was always coupled inside the train engine. The other Scottish lines ie ex CR, G&SWR, LMS would follow usual 'pilot leading' rule. The GNSR later LNER tended to work also this way with the exception being Aberdeen workings to and from the South routed over ex NBR lines.

Use of K2s on the West Highland came to an end in 1959 when it is thought this picture was taken. The K2s were worked very hard on the steep gradients and evidence of burnt smokebox doors, as seen here, was all too common.
No 61794 built 1921; w/d July 1960.

© David P Williams Archive / Rail-Online Original photograph by Donald Luscom