11th March 2025 “A Wee Look Around Scotland” by Robin Mathams
Robin Mathams was our guest speaker for March 2025, with a talk entitled ‘A Wee Look Around Scotland’ which, being unable to join us on the day, was delivered over Teams. Covering mainly more recent years, with some views dating back to the 1970s and the steam era, Robin began his talk with a selection of images in his current home territory of the West Midlands.
On completion of this prelude, we entered Scotland with Scotrail Calss 156 No. 156485 at Gretna Green. Various views of both the former Glasgow and South Western line via Dumfries and the Caledonian line over Beattock then followed, including the very rare sight of newly-built Class 87 No. 87018 pulling the Royal Train (and test coach ‘Iris’) over Beattock Summit on the inauguration of electrically-hauled services on May 7th 1974. We were treated to steam-era views on Carstairs shed, including Britannia Class Pacific No. 70036 ‘Boadicea’, as well as preserved BRCW Class 26 No. 26040 at Whitrope Siding on the former Waverley Route and a 2019 view of Bombardier-built Class 170 No. 170430 at Tweedbank on the new ‘Borders’ route.
Our attention then turned to the Clyde and the magnificent architecture of Wemyss Bay station, with its 2023 “World Cup of Stations” award. Desiro unit No. 380017 was seen in the station, as well as a rare 1973 view of E3072 (later 85017) on crew training runs in preparation for electric services over the West Coast Main Line. After the 3-foot gauge Ailsa Craig railway, whose purpose was to transport granite used in the manufacture of curling stones, we called briefly at the Glasgow Museum of Transport to see former North British Railway ‘K’ Class 4-4-0 No. 256 (latterly 62469) ‘Glen Douglas’ and the delightful Jones Goods 4-6-0 No. 103.
Moving further North, we travelled along the former Caledonian line passing Dunblane, Greenloaning and Blackford (with its unusual bay-windowed signal box), before pausing to admire the delightful Gleneagles station buildings. At Perth we saw 1965 views of the last two in-service Class A4s: 60019 ‘Bittern’ and 60024 ‘Kingfisher’, as well as the last A3, No. 60052 ‘Prince Palatine’.
Continuing North, after Stanley Junction we saw views of the former Aberfeldy Branch crossing the River Tay, the unusual fountain at Pitlochry station and the 1920-built 2’ 6’’ gauge Glenlochsie Grouse Railway, used to convey shooting parties to and from the hills. ‘The Clansman’ was seen behind a Class 47 at Drumochter Summit, followed by various views on the Strathspey Railway, including Ivatt Class 2 No. 46512.
Moving over to the West Highland Line we covered the Crianlarich to Fort William section with General Motors Class 66 No. 66740 on the Fort William to Blyth empty alumina tanks, various 1984 views of Fort William shed and 37413 heading toward Mallaig past the classic ‘Our Lady of the Braes’ church at Polnish. The inaugural ‘West Highlander’ was pictured behind Black 5 No. 5407 on May 30th 1984, completing the West Highland section with Scotrail Class 156 No. 156500 at Oban and 1993-built 2-6-2T ‘Victoria’ on the now-closed 10 ¼” gauge Isle of Mull railway.
The final section of Robin’s ‘Wee Look Around Scotland’ took us to the Edinburgh area, with a 1963 view of Fairburn Class 4 2-6-4T No. 42058 at Princes Street station, A4 No. 60011 ‘Empire of India’ at Waverley station (Robin’s first photograph), Deltic No. 55018 ‘Ballymoss’ departing for Kings Cross and a rare 1976 view of newly-built High Speed Train set No. 254001, in which Robin enjoyed a cab ride to Newcastle.
Concluding views of Millerhill Yard, the Forth Bridge and of Class A4 No. 60009 ‘Union of South Africa’ on the Lochty Private Railway brought the evening to a close at just after 10 pm, with all present showing their appreciation to Robin for a very enjoyable evening touring the railway delights of Scotland.