7 February 2025, ‘To Scotland for Steam’, by Branch Chairman Brian Arman.

After a short AGM Brian Arman presented part two of his talk ‘To Scotland for Steam’.
The presentation started with the Highland Line in Eastern Scotland at Keith and following it to Kyle of Lochalsh. At Keith a SLS ‘Special’ with a LMS 2P 4-4-0 at its head was going west to Forres. North of Inverness two Black Fives were travelling north over the Ness Bridge which subsequently got washed away in floods. Onwards to Dingwall, a Caledonian 4-4-0 was seen bound for the branch line to Portrose and the Highland Railway ‘Jones’ 4-6-0 was spotted. We arrive at Kyle with a classic view of the station including a goods train bound for Dornoch. We then travel to Thurso where there was a train at the station behind a Stanier 2-6-2T. Returning to Inverness shed, the Jones 4-6-0 looked resplendent on the turntable. Going down the main line two Black Fives were on a passenger train heading south. There were also two Black Fives on freight passing Slochd signal box. At Delwhinnie the Jones 4-6-0 was spotted again.
On the Caledonian Railway several locos were seen at Perth, these being a Gresley A4 No.60010‘Dominion of Canada’, a Royal Scot and a Black Five and on the Perth shed turntable was a Duchess pacific No 46247 ‘City of Liverpool’. Travelling south at Gleneagles junction a Caledonian 0-6-0 (3F) was noted and just south of Gleneagles a diesel Class 40 was spotted. We were then taken along the Killin branch to Loch Tay where another Black Five was hauling a rake of carriages and fish vans. At Oban there was a Black Five and a Pickersgill 3F 0-6-0 in the station. From Oban, we travel to Sterling with a nighttime view of the station where we saw a Gresley A4 No.60011 ‘Empire of India’ on an Aberdeen train. At the south end of the station there was a nice view of a signal gantry where a Black Five was waiting for the road. We then move on to Sr Rollox works where several diesels were in various stages of overhaul. At Motherwell shed a WD 2-10-0 was seen. At Glasgow Central Stanier pacific no 46201 ‘Princess Elizabeth, along with a Royal Scot was spotted. At Polmadie shed there was a view of many classes of steam engines. Travelling on to Weims Bay a Fairburn 2-6-4 tank was witnessed. At Carstairs LMS Duchess No 46247 was noted. Going south at Beatock an unrebuilt Scot with a banker was seen.
On the Glasgow and South Western Railway at St Enoch a Baltic tank was observed. At Falkland junction Britannia No.70007 ‘Coeur-de-Lion and two Caledonian 0-6-0’s were seen at Mossblown with a service to Ayr. At Waterside colliery, a Barclay industrial was seen hauling a coal train. North of Stranraer a Black Five was seen on Pinmore viaduct with another at Stranraer station. At Kilmarnock station two LMS 2Ps were spotted and at the shed a Pickersgill 4-4-0 was awaiting scrapping. At Kingmoor shed Black Five no 44767 was noted. This was the only Black Five to have Stephenson link valve gear. Finally, at Carlisle a pair of Ivatt 2s on a rail tour together with a pair of diesel Class 50s.
Brian, as usual gave an informative and entertaining presentation to an appreciative audience of 39.