Loch Goil Trip

Been intending to go around to Loch Goil and Carrick Castle for a while now but never quite made it.

Rectified this today - myself and Maya made the drive round in fairly good weather.

Maya had the time of her life once we got out of the car - cavorting in the loch by the shore side at Carrick Castle.

All in all a good day out that took too long to come to fruition.

 Rest and Be Thankful

 Rest and Be Thankful

 Path Through the Trees

Loch Goil View

Maya - Wet but Happy

Road to Carrick Castle 

View Towards Carrick Castle 

 Carrick Castle

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to licence.

'Golden Cross' - Beached Restoration Tug

The 'Golden Cross' is a privately owned tug that was to be restored.

The story is fairly well documented elsewhere, but in brief - she broke free from her moorings and was beached by other tugs to prevent her sinking.

She has the boom around her to prevent pollution of the loch as she still has fuel and oils aboard.

She's been there for a while now, but no doubt there will be plans to rectify her situation.

My own view is she will probably be scrapped now, which is a great pity.

'Golden Cross' Tug - Loch Goil 

'Golden Cross' Tug with Boom 

'Golden Cross' Tug - Loch Goil 

'Golden Cross' Tug - Loch Goil

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to purchase.

(HMS) Queen Elizabeth 'Aft Island' Move

The 'Aft Island' section of (HMS) Queen Elizabeth left the BAE shipyard in Govan and will now head around to Rosyth to meet up with the other sections for completion.

The weather - for once - favoured those who gathered on the banks of the Clyde to document the passage.

(HMS) Queen Elizabeth 'Aft Island' Approaching Erskine Bridge

Tug Anglegarth Takes Up the Stern

(HMS) Queen Elizabeth 'Aft Island' Under Erskine Bridge

(HMS) Queen Elizabeth 'Aft Island' Heading Down River Past Bowling


Passing Port Glasgow 

Passing Port Glasgow 

Tug 'Keverne' on the Lead Tow

Heading Towards Greenock 

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to purchase.

West Highland Railway Line - Steam Train

Steam locomotive 'The Lancashire Fusilier' 45407 headed North today to take up her duties on the 'Jacobite' train tours that operate between Fort William and Mallaig over the summer months.

Here we can see her at Garelochhead station as she awaited the South bound Sprinters before she could continue her journey.

As usual she looked spick and span and as always she attracted a fair amount of attention from her admirers.

'The Lancashire Fusilier' Arrives at Garelochhead Station

'The Lancashire Fusilier' 45407 Cab Interior

'The Lancashire Fusilier' 45407 Cab Interior

'The Lancashire Fusilier' 45407 - Garelochhead Station

'The Lancashire Fusilier' Firebox 

Some Maintenance

Checks Before Departure


Sprinter Goes Through

'The Lancashire Fusilier' 45407 - Garelochhead Station

'Sam' Goes for a Walk

'Sam' Has a Nosey

Powering Uphill as She Heads North 

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to purchase.

Inchinnan Bascule Bridge

A quick dash from home to get here in time - made it with less than a minute to spare.

Really pleased as this bridge doesn't lift too often - first time I've ever seen it this way.

They are expecting it to be open again for the barge to depart on Wednesday 19 June 2013.

 Inchinnan Bascule Bridge

 Beaver Bay Approaching the Bridge

Barge and Stern Escort Pass Beneath the Bridge

Upright and Traffic Stopped

 Quite Noisy on the Way Down

 Maintenance Time

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to purchase.

Weekend Trip

Well my weekend aboard the SD Northern River comes to a close.

Up for breakfast at 07:00 - and a tasty breakfast it was too.

Then some fond farewells to the officers and crew who so kindly hosted the group.

Not such a sunny day for our trip back, but we're all in good spirits for the journey to Greenock on the SD Eva.

Cabin on the SD Northern River

NSRS NSRS 'Intervention Remotely Operated Vehicle

 Berthed at Glen Mallon Jetty

 Departing on the SD Eva

 My Fellow Travellers

 Moody Looking as We Head Down Loch long

Cold But Refreshing

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - and are also better resolution.

NSRS - SRV1 - NATO Submarine Rescue System

As part of my visit to 'SD Northern River' over the weekend I was very fortunate to witness some of the training with SRV1.

Based at Faslane on the Clyde, the unit was at Glen Mallon for training. It is owned owned jointly by the UK, France, and Norway.

SRV1 can be loaded on to aircraft for fast response anywhere around the world when required.

It has a crew of two pilots and can rescue up to 15 people at a time.

It is truly spectacular and I felt privileged to spend some time aboard  and see just what the unit was capable of - though we hope she is never needed.

 SRV1 Starting to Submerse

 Recovering from the Sea

 Looks Very Space Age

Multitude of Switches and Panels

 Space is Very Tight

Checks


SD Northern River Weekend Visit from Dougie Coull on Vimeo.

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - and are also better resolution.