| 30/06/1949 |
Highland Section |
The few ex H.R.locomotives, now less than twenty, are not nowadays (apart from the 'Barney's' at Corkerhill) often seen south of Inverness or Forres. The one remaining 'Clan,' No. 54767 Clan Mackinnon, and the surviving 'Clan goods' put in most of their time on freight work on the 'Far North' road. Forres has the last 'Loch,' No. 14385, and a small 'Ben,' No. 14410. Another of the latter, No. 14409, does pilot work and odd jobs at Helmsdale, whilst the remaining three, Nos. 14398, 14399 an 54404, are at Wick and Thurso. The two small 0-4-4T's, Nos. 55051 an 55053, have both recently been repainted, with 'British Railways' on the tank sides. These work a week at a time on the Dornoch branch, the 'spare' engine being found at Helmsdale. 'Clan goods' No. 57955 has also been repainted. with 'British Railways' on the tender sides, as also have the 'Barney's,' Nos. 57695 an 57698, but the other renumbered locomotives, Nos. 54404, 54767, 57954 an 57956, are still lettered 'L.M.S.' Local traffic around Inverness is now handled by ex C.R. 4-4-0's, of which Nos. 14439, 54455/63/66/70/71, 14472, 54473/80/81, 14482, 54484, 14487, 54488/91, 14493/95 an 54496 are allocated to Inverness, Forres, Dingwall, etc. No. 54471 was noted at Dingwall, while No. 14472 was working the Black Isle branch train. Dunrobin has been sold, and it is understood to be destined for New Romney, Kent, although for what purpose is not known. |
SLS/194908 |
| 29/06/1961 |
Highland line |
With dieselisation of the Thurso branch on Thursday, 29th June, steam haulage north of Helmsdale ceased, although 54482 re-appeared on the branch on 8th July. D5324 was noted on it on 3rd July. Congestion at Inverness on Summer Saturdays is always acute and is made worse by pigeon traffic and station turn-round time being exceeded. Double-heading is necessary between Inverness and Wick on all overweight trains but even so the 6-40 a.m. ex Inverness is a tough proposition-on 1st July it was 445 tone north of Helmsdale and on 15th July consisted of 14 vehicles although relieved by a 5-05 a.m. special. Both were about 1 hour late. Helmsdale shed stables only the diesel workings introduced at Summer t.t. and a 60% train-crew cut has taken place. All the ex-Helmsdale engines are working from Inverness except 54495 which was Dingwall pilot on 3rd July (replacing 54487), 57587 being on station pilot duties and 1646/9 in the yards. 40150 an 54482 were on Wick shed on 3rd July, spare. The diesels noted north of Inverness were mainly 53XX or 51XX. |
SLS/196108 |
