Steam Train To Kyle of Lochalsh October 1997

The special train for the 100th anniversary of the Inverness to Kyle line was hauled by ex BR Standard Class 4 Steam Locomotive 75014.

The magnificent steam engine which usually runs between Fort William and Mallaig, arrived at Inverness Station during the afternoon of 5th October 1997, it had come from Edinburgh and Perth.

My Mum took my brother and me to see the train pull into the station. The fireman asked if my brother and I would like to come on the footplate. On the footplate the fireman blew the whistle for us. My brother Fionnlagh who is only 5 was frightened of the loudness of the whistle as he had never heard a working steam train whistle. There were older men at Inverness waiting for the steam train with their cameras and video cameras.

The following day at 9am, my Dad and I were waiting on the railway bridge at Dingwall Station for the steam train. You could hear it a mile away before seeing it from the bridge.

People boarded the train for the trip to Kyle, the train was made up of six coaches one of them was a dining car every one wanted to get on board the steam train.

My brother and I were saving up for a Standard Class 4 steam locomotive for our train set and its number happened to be 75014.