Travel

We spent most of the day on trains - left Edinburgh at 09:30 and it was uneventful up as far as Inverness where we changed on to the train for Thurso. But this train was not up to it (defective power unit) and we all had to be decanted at Ardgay and swapped with the passengers on the passing southbound train, so that they could switch the trains' directions. (I hope you're keeping up.....). After a while we proceeded northwards but it was apparent that the train wasn't going to arrive in Thurso in time for the 7 pm ferry at Scrabster, so they decanted the ten ferry passengers at Helmsdale where we had another wait, this time for taxis which Scotrail ordered to take us to Scrabster. Still only made it in time to see the ferry sailing away. Fortunately, Northlink had put on an extra sailing at 11.30 pm. So we got something to eat in Scrabster with one of our fellow travellers and eventually got to Stromness at 1 am tomorrow. Although it's only a short walk up the street to Mary's house, we were very grateful that big D had brought the car down to transport us.

The photo is of the passengers all looking down the track to see the previously southbound train heading down to the single track and changing direction.