Scottish Rails in Camera – 1964-2025

9th October 2025

When the scheduled speaker has to cancel because of health problems, the branch was very grateful that the RO Managing Editor Mike Robinson, at relatively short notice, travelled over from Ayr to fill the breach with this specially prepared presentation of a great selection of his Scottish photographs going back over six decades.

Beginning at Corkerhill depot in 1961 with two Black 5s, 1965 in Aberdeen had a NB type 2 on the Fraserburgh and Peterhead train, then a EE Type 4/Cl.40 on the 10.30 to Edinburgh.  A Jubilee featured at Corkerhill, a Standard 5 at Stranraer, while A2 60532 Blue Peter was seen near Aberdeen Ferryhill depot, followed by 60004 William Whitelaw at Perth on an Aberdeen-Glasgow service.  In no particular order we were treated to late 1970s Inverness, Wick with MacBraynes buses, Glasgow Queen St. Low and High Level, Springburn, Crawford, Ardrossan Beach, Dunkeld & Birnam with the HST “Highland Chieftain”, and Stirling featured.  Interesting events included a southbound HST at Dundee on the northbound line, a Cl.314 touring the network prior to their withdrawal in 2019 and one of the final trains from Killoch Colliery.  Diesel & Electric locomotives included Classes 26/27, 50, 385, and 801 LNER Azumas.  Many other scenes were also included in this extensive tour of Scotland.

Many of the images had featured in past editions of the RO, while audience members had fun identifying some tricky locations and even, in one or two cases, gently correcting Mike’s original captions.  This was a most interesting collection covering the last 60 years of railways in Scotland and gave pleasure to those attending the meeting.