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Over the years, almost every part of the railway landscape has changed and seldom for the better. Once thriving stations have lost their staff, their buildings and loops and goods yards. Some have closed completely or cling to life as unstaffed reque…
Over the years, almost every part of the railway landscape has changed and seldom for the better. Once thriving stations have lost their staff, their buildings and loops and goods yards. Some have closed completely or cling to life as unstaffed request stops.
The trains have changed beyond all recognition and the signal boxes and their semaphores are now just memories.
I got to know the Kyle line in the days of class 26s and steam-heated Mk I stock, regulated by two signal boxes at each of the crossing points. Parcels, mail and freight were carried on a daily basis and the oil rig fabrication yard at Kishorn kept everything busy, even boasting it's own yard at Stromeferry with two privately-owned shunters. The gates at Balnacra were manned and trains had a crew of three.
The waiting room at Dingwall had a well-tended coal fire and you could buy a bacon roll in the buffet on the train.
As all this was going on, day in - day out, I never thought to record anything on film - something I will always regret. This website is my attempt to ensure that the same does not happen again. The vast majority of the images are everyday scenes, perhaps with the exception of the 'Railtours & Charters' section.
Not everything is doom and gloom though. Who would have thought, 15 or 20 years ago, that a 47 would reach Kyle, let alone a 50 or a Western?
The Royal Scotsman regularly turns up a 57 and 31s appear on test trains from time to time.
Unfortunately, today's regular traction is provided solely by class 158 units, perfectly suitable for Alloa or Dunblane but one of the world's 'Great Railway Journeys' surely deserves something a little more passenger-friendly?
Some of the shots in these folders may seem mundane or repetitive but, 15 or 20 years from now, who knows what else might have disappeared?
The aim is to record what is left today because nobody can know what will happen in future years - the line could close completely, or be electrified.
If a Western can reach Kyle, why not a class 08 or a 73?
All that remains is to say that I hope you enjoy this wee look at how things happen in the North-West Highlands and find something of interest.
