No.3 March 2010 - Intercity Railway Society

The Rise & Fall of 66048 - update
by Trevor Roots
66048 and the remaining wagons were finally moved overnight on the 13 th / 14 th February from where
they had lain for 6 weeks. A 200 yd long compound was created between the railway line and the A9,
where only light scrub needed to be removed. Access was via the lane passing under both to the north
of the station (just beyond the platform ends), off which the station access also lead. A further access
was constructed off the A9 at the south end of the compound, using steel sheets. This facilitated
movement of large vehicles without needing to traverse narrow roads through Carrbridge. A heavy lifting
crane was constructed opposite the loco at the north end of the compound. Only a few trees needed to
be felled between 66048 and the station to allow a straight lift. The wagons and loco were then
deposited in the compound from where the wagons have been moved south by road. The last box can
be seen in the photo below to the right of the loco, which is completely shrouded in tarpaulins.
The trackwork has been reinstated and work was underway to tidy up the crash site. The platforms had
yet to be repaired. As far as I am aware, 66048 is still there as it couldn’t be moved south by road and
was going to move north to Inverness, then south by rail on replacement bogies. The scene below as I
write though is once again covered in deep snow with the A9 closed due to drifting.
66048 in compound with remaining box behind
Carrbridge 14 February 2010
access off A9
Carrbridge 14 February 2010
crane at north end of compound on west of line
note fresh ballast in reinstated loop
Carrbridge 14 February 2010
10
66048s resting place showing more clearly
how far it was below track level
Carrbridge 14 February 2010