Jacobite Support Crew and steam-enthusiast Dickon Chaplin-Brice shares his experience aboard the magnificent Jacobite steam train and explains why he thinks it remains so such a popular Scottish tourist attraction almost 40 years after opening. 

Tell us about your job and how it relates to the Jacobite? 

I am an engineer at the Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum in Keswick, Cumbria but having a lifelong love of railways I am fortunate to have access to some very exciting opportunities! So I now help on the main line for the West Coast Rail Company, helping run steam trains as part of the support crew.  

What does your role involve? 

I am officially Support Crew, which basically means I do all the dirty jobs and get the engine ready for the days’ work, which includes shovelling coal and oiling the engine. It is said the sign of a good engine man is a clean engine, so a good part of the day is spent cleaning the engine and cab of ash and soot. We take pride in our work and are always thinking of the guests wanting to take photos with the train, so we ensure it is gleaming for when passengers arrive at the station. 

Why did you want to work on the Jacobite? 

I had thought about it a very long time. It is just so special to work with a machine that has existed for so long, and to travel such a varied route with so much to see.   

I have been volunteering on the Jacobite since 2021, and I love every minute of it. The full Jacobite route is 42 miles each way, and I would happily travel either direction with a shovel in my hand loading coal! A big reward as Support Crew is a ride out on the engine on the footplate, which is really quite special. People would pay thousands to do that.  

What are your standout memories from your time on Jacobite? 

Gosh there are so many – it never ceases to amaze me that 20 years on from the first Harry Potter film being released, children still come to ride the train dressed as witches and wizards. People get so much joy from it. On account of me wearing glasses and short brown hair I am often introduced to guests as “Barry Potter”, the none-magical brother.  

For people who don’t know, what is the history behind this train? 

The Jacobite’s beautiful engine is a black five (owned by Ian Riley) – they were built in the 1930’s and known as “maids of all work”. I would like one as a pet, but they are rather big!  

I think most people don’t realise just how recently steam trains were still being used for regular, commercial routes. The ‘age of steam” only officially ended in 1960 but didn’t take long for the nostalgia of steam to creep in and we have been running steam trains for tourism on the West Highland Line since 1984, and the Jacobite is still full every single day all these years later.  

What can people expect when they take the Jacobite train? 

It is a very authentic experience. When you arrive at the station you are greeted by a load of red carriages and a gleaming black engine and if we have done are job right, a lot of steam! It is everything you would expect from an old-fashioned train, table seats for groups of four, perfectly laid out for chatting and enjoying the view. 

Why do you think the Jacobite’s route is so popular? 

Taking a steam train is an opportunity to explore beautiful places and see the sights in a different way, as well as experience the nostalgia of Great British rail. The route we take Travelmarvel guests goes through the prettiest parts of Scotland, and you get to see it all in just one day. 

It is a very bonny part of the world, which is truly lovely every time of the year. My personal favourite time is late September when the colours are starting to change, and the air is nice and crisp.  

Any top tips for someone thinking of joining a Jacobite tour?  

My advice for guests? Check with the team which side of train the coast will be on for your route, so you can pick a seat with the best view! 

What feedback do you hear the most about the Jacobite and its route? 

Everyone loves it. At the end of each journey without fail groups of people approach us and say thank you so much and tell us how nice it was. People also love the choo choo sound from the chimney, it is such a quintessential old-fashioned train noise, very nostalgic! 

What is involved in making the Jacobite run?  

What you have is a glorified kettle on wheels. We basically build a fire in the fire box, which is about 50sq feet, it takes about 4.5 tonne of coal to do the 84-mile round trip. Once the fire is going, it boils the water which is in a boiler above and around the fire box. The fire also goes through tubes, which passes through water in the boiler also, this results in the grey smoke coming out the chimney.  

As the steam is trapped, it builds pressure, when it reached a working pressure of around 225 pounds per square inch (roughly 6 times what is in a car tyre) the regulator opens a vale which lets out the high-pressure steam down to the cylinders. The steams force is powerful enough to push the piston, hence making the wheels go round. When the steam is used up, we then release it up the chimney which is the white clouds of steam you see as we along.  

Who would enjoy a ride on the Jacobite? 

Anyone! It appeals to all ages, there is sufficient changes of scenery to keep you interested looking out the window. Plus, wildlife if you are lucky! There are dear and golden eagles along the route. If you take a sea-side route you can also see whales and seals on a good day. There really is no rail route like it. 

Interviewee – Dickon Chaplin-Brice