After recovering from the very early start of the previous day, a very sociable departure of 08.50 was scheduled for the Sunday return to Bo'ness. This gave the chance to have breakfast at the various hotels and eateries in Inverness as well as stocking up with provisions for the day, some had missed out the day before.

Arriving early at Inverness, the stock and locos were already in P4, with 37401+37403 double-heading. This gave me time to busily write down numbers as the rest of the platforms were filled with units, HSTs, an LNER Class 800 and, of course, the Sleeper stock with our train booked to be the first departure.

Departure was on time and we soon passed 66520 and 66517 on an engineer's train sitting in Milburn Yard and the first red-penning for me took place shortly after, Inverness Airport non-preferred P2 was completed (right in this direction of travel; both lines are bidirectional). It was followed by the loops at Nairn, Forres and Elgin which I've done before but for some others these may well have been required.

We were running 10 mins early, when we slowed for the loop at Keith. Now a bit of a set back! After a short pause, the two 37s on the front slowly propelled the train on to the Dufftown branch (severed at 53m 28ch from Aberdeen) past the branch platform to just short of the buffer stops. For a change, this enabled those people who like to walk to the back coach to have an uninterrupted bird's eye view from the rear vestibule with no locos in their way. Work seems to be starting on replacing the lifted track towards Dufftown so hopefully, in the future, trains may run through again to Dufftown, a place that, sadly, I have not visited. [The Keith & Dufftown Railway runs heritage DMUs between Keith Town (53m 65ch) and Dufftown (63m 78ch), of course.] Although we were early, there was no opportunity to alight at the disused platform, clearly due to its short length and overall unsafe condition.



After heading back to the 'Single' via Keith Loop, still early, the required Huntly Loop (P1) was covered before we paused at Inverurie North Jn. This was to wait for the 11.06 to Glasgow to depart from Inverurie P1 (ironically, one of the few service trains to depart from this Down platform for Aberdeen).

Once it had left, we crossed over to P1 for an unadvertised photo / leg stretch, so used the facing crossover at Inverurie North Jn then Inverurie South Jn trailing crossover, a nice bonus for many as was the sight of 'Teddy Bear' Class 14 D9500 at Port Elphinstone soon after. The stop at Inverurie replaced the one planned at Huntly, which meant our esteemed East Midlands BLN Editor (staying locally) saw the tour while he was held at the level crossing rather than photographing it at the station.



Back on time, we made for Aberdeen, where our tour crossed from north end of P6 to the south end of P7 (a much-requested move), then back again to the Up Main to traverse the needed Craiginches Up Yard Loop 1. On the way, a shunter was spotted on the right in the Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust site but I couldn't catch the number. Our only disappointment on the day came when we were held in Montrose station for several minutes before being told that the No1 Through Siding would not be available. Messages floated down the train that the train was too long for the signalling.

The disappointment soon disappeared when we crossed over at Camperdown Jn facing crossover to bypass Dundee platforms on the Down Through Road and crossed over at Dundee Central Jn to the (here) bidirectional Down Fife, then to the Up Fife at 58m 62ch. Next it was over the 2m 18ch (including approaches) second Tay Bridge; special permission had been required to double head over the structure.

Then, looking down on the reopened Leven branch, traversed a couple of days earlier, it was on through Thornton North Up Passenger Loop before our first set down at Inverkeithing. Many alighted to catch trains back south but those who stayed on were pleased to be routed on to the bidirectional Down Fife at North Queensferry, over the Forth Bridge to Dalmeny Down Passenger Loop.

(For those who wished they had stayed on for this, it was in the final timings sent out with the e-tickets.) This was for the front loco to run round to the rear of our train, returning to Bo'ness 'top & tail' as reversals were needed at Grangemouth Jn and Bo'ness Jn. This would also have been possible in Dalmeny Up Loop; we could only use the Down Loop and run bidirectionally over the Forth Bridge if everything was on time. It was!

With this achieved, after running via Bo'ness Down Passenger loop and the two reversals, we arrived at Bo'ness more or less on time, after what had been a fantastic three days exploring the scenic beauty of Scotland. We travelled in what is now classed as heritage Mk1 rolling stock, with heritage locos that were the norm on my past visits to The Highlands. We also gained required track (10 sections on this day alone for me) and, more importantly, enjoyed the company of my fellow travelling companions.



I would like to thank my three other companions, even if one spent a fair amount of time yawning and doing a very good impression of Chewbacca from Star Wars at the same time (thinking about it he has a lot of facial hair as well - could it really be him out of his work clothes‽). The third companion, sat next to me, was part of a group of five, so obviously drew the short straw to sit with me but I was very envious of him when he won not one but three prizes in our charity raffle, including the top two prizes of a Cab ride at Bo'ness and a SRPS Standard Class railtour ticket. I hope he finds a good occasion to use them but, if not, I'll gladly take them off your hands. Anyway, the gang of five were great company but I do wonder if you are stalkers as I have kept bumping into you on tours since then sitting close by.

As is usual, I want to thank all involved with making BWC3 happen, coping with the trials and tribulations when things went wrong, dealing with them as best they could with a smile. Huge thanks in particular to our Fixtures Secretary, Kev Adlam, without him these tours simply wouldn't happen. Thanks to all the participants for raising lots of money for: The Friends of the Far North Line (£250), SPRS Diesel Group (£1,000), Martin House Children's Hospice (£3,000) and Great Ormond Street (£23,878.74p).

All that was left for me was to take a taxi back to Linlithgow, have a lovely meal in the West Port Hotel (recommended) and return to Edinburgh, then climb 100s of steps to my hotel in the old town (I'm not booking that hotel again as oxygen was nearly required at one point). Early next morning it was a train to Helensburgh Central lesser used P1, then Glasgow Central for required track around the station and heading home to the Yorkshire Dales on the S&C. I am looking forward to what is planned for BWC4!

https://tinyurl.com/mrryshhn is a report from the John O'Groat (sic) Journal & Caithness Courier.