Locheilside and Lochailort Request Stops

[@Tpavra]

I'm a bus driver in East Anglia and we have stops like that, just flag it down and it will stop :) un-signposted stops are the norm in rural country areas :)

[@2H80vids]

The problem with a l;ot of the services in the Highlands, you have no idea what colour/livery coach will turn up. A Citylink is easy to spot but, like in this case, it could be just about anything. There are usually plenty of tour coaches on the road, just to confuse things further. With local knowledge, it 𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 works OK 𝒃𝒖𝒕 ............................... 😁 When it's one of only a couple of services, it can be a wee bit of a gamble for a visitor😁.

[@CheekyBandit]

It wouldn't have surprised me if the driver of the bus didn't know a stop actually existed there, especially if few people use it. I have known such a stop in Sheffield city centre that was marked on a map for and for many weeks had no flag. Few drivers seemed to know that one existed and they got confused when passengers actually asked for it. I got onto the local authority and it soon got sorted. The least that could be done there is for a flag on one side of the road stating its for both directions (I have used two stops like this). What you describe is more likely to be hail and ride - sections of route where buses can be flagged down anywhere that it is safe to do rather than an actual marked stop (even if they also exist on such a section of route).

[@MrMatavelhas]

If you look at the actual pdf timetable of citylink it says the driver will stop anywhere as long it is safe to do so.

[@neilbain8736]

it's a different sort of rural there. I remember when I was out on the bike there was a peacock in the middle of the road in rush hour holding up the bus somewhere ( Mattishall I think ) and a duck and ducklings doing the same thing during rush hour at Sutton Bridge when I was on the 505 to Spalding.

[@jackdobson4153]

There's a bus route just like that in Saddleworth

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

Rumour has it the ticket reader once accidentally 'read' the chip and Geoff was charged over £3,000 before he next tapped out in central London

[@DubGathoni]

TfL looks, "And that's what you get for causing all those headaches."

[@JamBar1873]

Lots of rural places here in Scotland have a ‘Hail and Ride’ bus service, where you can stop the bus anywhere on a section of road, no bus stop.

[@mccobsta]

We used to have a similar system where I live till the buss company gutted the routes and left our town

[@ragzaugustus]

Similar system in Denmark, the rules are basically, "Outside of a city zone, any area more than 600 meters away from a bus stop, is a hail and ride zone by default," which is a nice and elegant system.

[@caw25sha]

If it isn't thundering past at 50mph

[@tonyrulez69]

@@caw25sha I can imagine Geoff hailing the bus down and the driver floores the brake pedal, tires screetching and smoking, the bus turning a little sideways on the road, and when finally stopped, rocking a bit.

[@mtw227]

They do that in London as well

[@b00108982]

Welcome back to the Scottish Highlands Geoff 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@olivierkhoo]

welcome!!

[@rubbersteve123]

I just watching your wonderful trip to corrour on this great scottish railway journeys again. Always worth a great watch again on Channel 4, thanks

[@sabinebogensperger1928]

Hubby just said "Is that your train guy?" Can I watch too? 😄 Your video brought back lots of memories back, thank you!

[@eduardomurcia9940]

Hi Geoff, Greetings from El Salvador 🇸🇻🇬🇧, I like your Railways and Tube Videos. And the railway stops in the middle of the countryside

[@junglejamesie]

Been to both these stations. Always a bit nervous when the train's approaching in case it flies past. As for Shiel Buses, they will usually stop if you flag them down and there's a space for the bus to pull in. You can also phone/email them in advance and tell them where you'll be.

[@jennyreddaway2666]

Quite correct. I've also flagged down a Citylink service in the back of beyond in Scotland at a non-stop and been dropped off at the end of the drive to a friend's house.

[@headforthehillsuk]

The crossing to nothing at Lochailort looks very much like it's actually a road rail access point (RRAP) for on-railing and off-railing on track plant for maintenance jobs.

[@georgerutherford24]

Passed through Lochailort on the train a couple of weeks ago, there was work being carried out on the platform.

[@ajwffc]

I agree that that it looks like RRAP

[@HatterDave]

Cue the "man who famously visited all the stations admits to being at a station before" comments

[@HighlandMike325]

Watched this laughing Geoff as this is my territory! Lochailort is my local station. Yes, I can only think of two or three bus stops beyond Corpach - you do just flag it down. Just a point about Locheilside - it is the railhead station for the communities on the vast peninsulas of Morven and Sunart, the A861 road which leads to these has it's junction with the road you were on just a few hundred yards further along. The gate at Lochailort station is also there for a barely visible footpath which drops steeply onto the back of the disused platform - it is so overgrown it is never noticed.

[@onlycompetitions5083]

A nice wee video. Seriously impressed that you took the time to record yourself talking to your other camera!

[@k6kaysix675]

The taxi ride edit reminded me of getting a taxi in Grand Theft Auto and skipping the taxi journey for some completely random reason!

[@mats7492]

K6 Kay Six did. cost more to skip

[@100SteveB]

I love the stunning scenery around Lochailort. I don't know why but railway stations always look so at home in such locations.

[@ArthurTK26]

Very nice Geoff, very interesting to see these request stops. Nice to see these trains, living in London, I don’t see much of these local small trains. Can’t say they are my favourite but I still like to see them.

[@notcarrotnose258]

I was NOT expecting the glenfinnan viaduct at the end, wow

[@barvdw]

It's a thing of beauty.

[@2H80vids]

@@barvdw And made of concrete, which everyone loves to hate.😁

[@chuckboyle8456]

A very beautiful structure, with that curving & rolling shot of the train moving along...brilliant. Sounds like a new topic of exploration, “The Railway Viaducts & Bridges of Scotland”.

[@Justin-hh9ro]

the harry potter bridge with the cortina?

[@Alexander.Al.]

O-o-oh, for long time haven't been to Scotland. Many thanks for showing me Mallaig line!

[@hughmnyks]

Just what I needed, a wee trip to Scotland!

[@finnohare]

Lovely editing, Geoff! Really enjoying these videos. There's something quite beautiful about old stations like those being kept open for use!

[@MaJoRMJR]

One of the holidays I was planning this summer prior to the pandemic was a trip to Fort William on the train, from Manchester to Glasgow change and get the train on to Fort William, admire the views on the way, stay for a couple of days doing a couple of trips on the train and then stay in Glasgow for a couple of days before going home again, hopefully next year 🤞

[@ellssreeder2411]

Currently sat in the sun at Locheilside. Look at what you have done Geoff, I’m ticking off Request stops - very pleasant! Thanks!

[@77smp]

"I've been here before". 🙄. Oh, ok it's not an ATS gag! Lovely video but it brings me a little sadness. I often like to get the sleeper from Edinburgh to Fort William as a day trip & really enjoy then going to Mallaig. It's quite a long journey for a day trip but the scenery is beautiful and I prefer Spring & Autumn as it's less busy. In fact that was my last journey prior to lock down & I haven't been able to do it since.😞 So I shall live vicariously though your video🙂👍

[@DurhamGooner]

These request Stop videos are so relaxing. Scotland is so beautiful.

[@JackieCarv]

Just watching ‘yesterday’ and seen your Mrs on the telly Geoff!

[@Ella-jk7rq]

What programme was it? :)

[@davidconnell1959]

Geoff is one of the best things in life.

[@combinedagent]

Love the engine rumble of the Scotrail trains.

[@MrGrumpygit488]

That's the sound of a 14 litre Cummins engine.

[@newcoz2420]

I live by a station called Posile park and park house and the 158 156 and the 170 are the only trains to run down the branch line

[@OneKnifeYeHand]

Cummins sucks.

[@Claire-ue2oe]

Scotland again! Been in this line before, it’s a beauty!

[@laurieinjapan]

Hiya Geoff! You've inspired me to make some videos about my local trains! We don't have any request stops, but we have a great deal of fun abandoned train lines.

[@voidwrld26]

Hi Geoff, from a Scottish person, you pronounced it correctly 👌

[@michaelpilling9659]

That was lovely Geoff - thank you very much for the wonderful film.

[@robertseaman9680]

Nostalgia! In summer of 1965 I was young student hitch-hiking from Mallaig to Glasgow. Gave up the effort at Lochailort and took the steam train to Fort William. Late arrival at FW..asked at police station for advice and understanding officer flagged down a van for me and requested ride to Glasgow. Which was granted by the friendly Scots driver! Never forgotten trip..

[@FormallyknownasE100]

Cooked a pot noodle with my camping stove on Lochailort Platform a couple of years back haha.

[@Karlinski73]

7:40 Ah, the dreaded noise you get when you tap your Metrolink smart card on the machine [same readers here in Manchester] and realise it has expired...and you have forgotten to renew it. 😀

[@caw25sha]

They expire? Oyster cards live forever, you just need to top them up.

[@Karlinski73]

@@caw25sha Not *quite* the same system in Manchester as Oyster. There's no PAYG option with the 'Get Me There' card (but you can do PAYG with a contactless bank card). The 'Get Me There' card can be used to store travel cards, weekly, monthly, annual tickets etc. Don't get me started on the utter mess that is the ticketing in Greater Manchester.....

[@caw25sha]

@@Karlinski73 I see. I think!

[@kriss_b]

I hate the get me there system, and don't understand how and why we pay so muchfor a worse service. Sorry angry northerner here

[@WelshMullet]

@@Karlinski73 Get Me There I believe uses the glorious system that it ITSO. If someone ever offers you the specification to read, decline and run as far away as you can

[@IIVQ]

I love the effect you do with the train rolling in or out doubling over itself.

[@wilfbm9067]

Southwesttrains merch and first scot rail merch!

[@southcalder]

You’re only not allowed to sit two abreast on the bench, which is why the poster is offset to the right. Nearly every bench on the system has at least one of them. But most platform shelters are out of use across the ScotRail network. The West Highland Extension is a beautiful line, even in a Sprinter. Went from Fort William to Mallaig and back on a Christmas Eve a couple of years back. Just me, my wife and another passenger with her son, along with the driver, guard and catering host. We all went to Mallaig from the Fort and a few hours later (after some lunch and a couple of pints in a pub by a roaring fire) we all went home again. Lovely day out.

[@HenrysAdventures]

I was up here myself last week to do The Jacobite! I was wondering what was at some of those smaller stations I passed through so thank you for showing us!

[@iankr]

Great video. Love the typeface on the station name signs.

[@stevegoodwin7138]

Nice to see you up North again Geoff keep the videos varied for your " not Londoners " & I can watch every one.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Very convenient for them to build a station for the spiders

[@shauntodd7123]

Geoff that was the back of the back of beyond. Great stations though and great memory.

[@christopherbraiden6713]

Thanks for the video Jeff. Lovely part of the world!!😎🚃🚃🚃🇬🇧

[@petermunford5248]

I’ve ridden this line on the steam train, this has to be one of the prettiest train rides in the world!!

[@PeterNancarrow]

4:52 The sign was right, the bench was 'not in use' at the time!

[@2H80vids]

If Geoff had sat down, I wonder if the "not" would disappear.

[@anon3988]

why do I love watching these so much

[@josephturner4047]

Back in my day, the train was a 37 & mk 1's. And the bus was an SMT.

[@tonywallow964]

Nice to see you out n about 👍

[@Hatchet898]

Loch eil outward bound is (or was) a request stop too. I remember getting the train back to leeds after a 3 week expedition. The views were amazing!

[@LB1973]

Was, it isn't now. My parents live next to the outward bound and I remember it being built in 1985 when i was a kid and having to request it numerous times coming back from uni, It swapped with Locheilside as the request stop as its more frequently used. (though less than Lochailort which I'm surprised is a request stop now)

[@Hatchet898]

@@LB1973 it was so much fun flagging the train down at the end of my course!

[@mhunter709]

One of the nicest trips I took was Easter 2005 and travelled along that route.

[@wefounddove]

The barrow point that you pointed out is actually a road rail vehicle access point. It’s where they put the road rail vehicles onto the tracks when doing maintenance works.

[@geofftech2]

ooh! good knowledge .. thanks Rhanna. i'd assumed because of the old platform it was linked to that. thanks!

[@wefounddove]

It’s probably why there is a large car park too, it must be a strategic point along the line for doing work! You need 3 sleeper lengths to put on a road rail vehicle so any crossing smaller than that is unusable 😊

[@petersmith4455]

hi geoff, i remember lots of stations in sussex in the early 60s which were like this. not crowded, it was a joy to travel then with no do gooder annoucements coming through on the train or station.!

[@joshtalks1611]

Absolutely love all these videos.

[@geofftech2]

Thank you Josh! very kind.

[@acozkan]

Me too (and btw I watch your videos with happiness)

[@priestland1]

You are now definitely famous, watching you on Channel Four right now.

[@baruchpinnick811]

This great video would have been worth watching just for the views of the train arriving and of the viaduct at the end. Beautiful.

[@Sim0nTrains]

You possibly needed Superman to stop that bus/coach on request! But a brilliant request stop video indeed.

[@chriswilkes236]

Very nice, Geoff. Stay safe and well.

[@LB1973]

I know this is a year old but i can answer the question of why these stations exist. On the west highland line pretty much all the stations that seem to be nowhere are near highland estates and non residentual staff would use them to get back and forth to work, when the A830 was built it was single track all the way from Fort William to Mallaig and the trains were much faster all the way to the 80's! Locheilside station and Lochailort station are also located at the two junctions to get down to the Ardnamurchan and Moidart peninsulas so they would be the loading points for goods too. Beasdale is near Arisaig house Lochailort near the sadly now derelict Inverailort house and estates towards Acharacle Locheilside served Fassfern estate as well as Duisky etc on the south side of the loch. it used to be further along the loch too iirc. Glenfinnan served Glenfinnan estate, Arisaig Morar and Mallaig were just hamlets really though each have estates nearby too. Even going from Fort William to Glasgow Tulloch (Inverrair), Corrour, Rannoch and Bridge of Orchy are all near large highland estates too.

[@sideshowmatt7119]

0:11. I wonder if that is the furthest north that one of the SWR branded bags has made it?

[@markwringe2826]

Pretty well anywhere in rural Scotland you can request a bus to stop for you, by signalling like you do at a rail request stop. Just pick a spot where the bus can stop safely, not just after a bend for example. Even Citylink long-distance buses will stop in areas where no formal stop is provided. And we don't use the word 'coach' except for things drawn by horses!

[@seeitsayitdoggo]

7:40 Ahhhhh yes, my old friend; the error sound of a Vix validator. That sound haunts me in my dreams. *shudders*

[@MostlyLoveOfMusic]

"Geoff, and I like trains" XD

[@davidcollins9512]

9:10 Aha - we are going to see an old photo of a younger Geoff... 9:45 Aw - no we are not... 9:50 Ooh - Is Geoff going to slip in a photoshopped version of what's in his memory? 10:00 No !! Missed opportunity there, Geoff...

[@jonathancombe9991]

I actually used Lochailort on my coastal walk in this area. I was the only passenger getting on though someone did get on at Beasdale too (they were dropped off there by car, from where I don't know).

[@oober2004]

Ahh I needed this after my last few days. Thanks Geoff... As always!

[@HighlandMike325]

Hope all is well. Hello from Lochailort

[@POTThaesslich]

I got confused by the bench signs in Scotland recently too. The sign is in fact not for the whole bench but only for that side, so you could have sat on the other end but nobody else would have been allowed in it.

[@GenialHarryGrout]

You need either a folding bike or a folding scooter so you can whizz between stations.

[@PineappleSkip]

Can we have another Scottish request stops video also featuring hailing and boarding a bus - sorry, Coach - at a not-bus-stop? BTW loved this video!

[@moonkeele]

Lochailort has got a station, a pub hotel and the junction with the A861. It's the closest station to Ardnamurchan. I've gone on and off there on cycling tours.

[@HighlandMike325]

Yep, it's actually quite busy for the location. I live here, and the late evening train from Fort William is great for a night out.

[@Saint_Dan132]

trust me bro back up 20 years ago not a sinch on it now x love you geoff

[@joncalon7508]

I was through that station about a year and a half ago, but not on the DMU's that Scotrail has, rather it was on the Harry Potter steam train.

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

Ooooh....so close to Corrour you can almost smell the heather.....

[@transitcaptain]

Nethertown has an abandoned platform, but it's where the travel information is and you can be on the platform, but Lochairlot's abandoned platform looks like it can't be accessed

[@markweir2988]

A very beautiful part off the country. Looks like you have to put your life on the line trying to catch the bus/coach drivers attention to stop.

[@dw3275]

BTW Geoff tfl has decided to add thameslink to the tube map! I hope that makes you happy! (PS I don't know when they will release the tube map with thameslink on it

[@ajs41]

Nice to know it's still okay to be a tourist in Scotland. I wasn't sure.

[@TypicalDutchSaysHi]

Well, looking at a map, it seems Locheilside at least serves a B&B a few houses and the Kinlocheil Post Office is nearby too :)

[@lanmastersassistant659]

the crossing will probably be used by network rail in scotland for mounting on track machines for maintenance

[@mattevans4377]

I've been pass those stations when I stayed over at Fort William for the Jacobite train as a late 21st Birthday present. Beautiful place. Shame Fort William is.....well, how to put this nicely......noticeably designed around bringing in as many tourists as possible.....

[@muzzath]

The "not in use" sign was on one end of the bench, so you couldn't have 2 people on the bench at the same time. You could have sat at the other end. Most Scotrail stations have individual seats where the "in use" and "not in use" signs make more sense. For a bench a "one person only" sign would have been more appropriate.

[@JohnTaylorMusicClips53]

Lochailort looks so dreamy, but I'd be afraid of getting lost in the middle of nowhere

[@michaelocyoung]

I just love the idea of Geoff accidentally discovering Lochailort is in Oyster Zone 999

[@sherondalewis8053]

Aww, crap...would have loved to have seen you 19 years earlier to see what you looked like then and the car you had! Oh well...but, the 2nd station was very pretty.

[@jonathangurd4642]

That is not a crossing, that is a RRAP - Road Rail Access Point, used to ‘on track’ RRV - Road Rail Vehicle

[@geofftech2]

ah thanks Jon. i'd assumed because of the old platform it was linked to that. thank you!

[@psp0guy]

I believe falls of cruachan is also a request stop on the Oban like

[@neilbain8736]

8:11 Was it really that quiet there? That's amazingly tranquil! The thing about London is that 30 odd miles from say Marlylebone or Kings X by road to Amersham will be a constant conurbation, people, traffic, traffic lights, lamposts, constant buildings and hubub, but try that in Scotland and you'll soon be in the sticks. Even in the populated bit you'll soon enter that twiglight zone of existence, the no mans land between towns, slap right in the Buckie Triangle in Central Scotland, where strange things occur, Aliens land, Iron Bru is brud and Tunnocks happen. Another way to think of it is that busy road you were beside was busy because it was the only road (quite probably). The best way to sort the pronunciations is to ask a local. Failing that, as they tend to be scarce, look at the Gaelic original, which has obviously been anglicised to give you the current form, give up, and take an educated guess.

[@davidclements7141]

Enjoyed the short film.

[@deathbygrapes5]

I'm Geoff. And I like trains. Famous last words.

[@clthreeoneeight]

We once had to flag down a fast coach-rural-bus in Cowal, and the bus stopped just after the bus stop due to v. poor visibility.

[@davidb3979]

Always store backups... everything should be saved on external hard drives which you store in a led lined box!

[@DC4444]

7:40 I had this happen with my university ID card on my city's card readers (not in the UK).

[@viking1236]

Crossing is probably a maintenance rrap (Road rail access Platform) to allow access for track maintenance.

[@visitslovenija]

A fun video, thanks. Long time ago, when I was a small boy, Lochailort was home. And I can say, yes, there was a signal box at the north end - where tokens were exchanged.... Indeed there was a station building, two platforms and a bridge in those days. Pity it’s all gone. (And yes, you could do with some practice on the pronunciation. :) )

[@roxannarose8632]

Love this Geoff!

[@barrygower6733]

I used to take the 502 Red Arrow from Broad Street Station to Waterloo.

[@L0L3897]

I didn't realise that flagging down a bus wasn't a widespread thing? Up in North/rural Scotland you can do it wherever

[@duncankelly852]

the thing is right, I've flagged a train down from Locheilside station before, i think i was 15 at the time.

[@migiboinkers]

man, i miss taking these trains.

[@BruzoDragonius]

I wonder if you could cross the barrow crossing in one of these stations to the abandoned platform.

[@fauzirahman3285]

I think only the bus stop shelter is not in used, you could probably still flag the bus down but don't quote me on that. However at those speeds, I would completely understand if the bus driver failed to notice you and not stop. It doesn't look safe at all for traffic (and pedestrians). I personally find the concept of request stops odd, but with so little things going on at Locheilside, I can see why. I wonder if there are trains out there with bus-like stop bells for the purpose of request stops.

[@markgaughran4374]

Hoping to be near there in the summer

[@Leoleo-dz2xs]

Stunning scenery