The West Highland - Glasgow Queen Street to Fort William Drivers Eye View

Climbing out of the 1 in 45 Queen Street tunnel, the journey takes us through the suburbs of Glasgow, largely under the wires of the Strathclyde electrics. At Craigendoran, the West Highland line diverges towards Helensburgh Upper, initially following the shores of Gare Loch and Loch Long before climbing high above the banks of Loch Lomond. By the time we reach Crianlarich, where the Oban branch separates, dense forest gives way to sweeping open landscapes.

The route continues over the famous Horseshoe Curve with its dramatic curved viaducts. Beyond Bridge of Orchy, the railway turns northeast across one of the UK’s last great wildernesses, Rannoch Moor, before reaching Corrour, Britain’s most remote station. Here we find the summit and the old signalman’s house, surrounded by little else, emphasizing the isolation and scale of this Highland journey.

Descending alongside the unspoilt Loch Treig, the line is captured from the driver’s cab and from the air, with a helicopter following the train to provide stunning perspectives. Emerging into the Spean Valley, the scenery gradually transitions back to habitation, with Spean Bridge marking the point where the former Fort Augustus branch once diverged.

The final approach runs past the foothills of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain, as the train arrives at the West Highland capital of Fort William. Along the way, Paul Coia narrates the fascinating history of the line and the immense challenges overcome during its construction, making this both a scenic and educational journey through some of Scotland’s wildest terrain.