Geograph - photograph every grid square

Built by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) at its Derby Litchurch Lane Works, the British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit (DMU). They were built between 1989 and 1992 to replace many locomotive-hauled passenger trains on key long distance cross-country routes.
An improvement on previous incarnations of the Sprinter series, the 158 offered luxuries such as air conditioning, an on-board payphone, power-operated interior doors, a toilet in each carriage, and provision for a refreshment trolley service. They also offered a top speed of 90 miles per hour (140 km/h) and a generally more comfortable ride for passengers. They have a range of up to 1,600 miles between refuellings.
Built for British Rail, they are currrently operated in the UK by, Abellio ScotRail, Arriva Trains Wales, East Midlands Trains, Great Western Railway, South Western Railway and Northern.

The Far North Line is the name given to the railway which heads north from Inverness to Scotland's north coast. Opened in stages between 1862 and 1874, the Far North Line takes a route of more than 150 miles through the counties of Ross & Cromarty, Sutherland and Caithness. The line splits at Georgemas Junction, a remote station in Caithness, with one branch going to Wick and the other to Thurso. Thurso is the northernmost railway station on the British railway network.

More information about the Far North Line can be found on the websites of Scotrail Link and the Friends of the Far North Line: Link

The town of Thurso, on the north coast of Scotland, is the northernmost town on the British mainland. The town expanded in the mid-20th Century, to house workers at the Dounreay atomic energy plant and testing facility, which were developed then but are now being decommissioned.

At such a northerly location, summer days are very long, with 18½ hours of sunlight in late June. Conversely, winter days are short, with less than 6½ hours of sunlight on the shortest day in late December.

Thurso is on the route of the North Coast 500 (or NC500) touring route: Link or see also Link

Barry The Barrel is the nickname given to the steam train shaped planters made from old whisky barrels which can be seen at many Scottish railway stations. Often Barry is provided and maintained by sponsors such as local Rotary Clubs and the likes.

Barry has a 2-2-0 wheel arrangement, a tall chimney and round buffers, all reminiscent of Robert Stephenson's "Planet" of 1830. Painted in Scotrail blue, with high visibility yellow ends, seen with varying numbers of trailing coaches and sometimes double-headed with another Barry.

Some 'imposter' Barrys exist (different shapes, gauges, wheel arrangements etc) these are included here for completeness.