Dornoch Light Railway
ALSO VISIT |
Motive Power
The first engine used on the branch was built in 1896 at Lochgorm works in Inverness and was the prototype of Stroudley’s Terrier class. No.56 originally named Balnain was renamed Dornoch for the opening of the branch in 1902. In 1905 Peter Drummond designed a 0-4-4 tank engine for use on Highland Branches and number 45 was to spend all of its life on the Dornoch Line, later to be numbered 15053 by the LMS then 55053 by British Railways. By 1956 she was the only active Highland Engine and as this year marked the centenary of the Aberdeen and Inverness Junction Railway, British Railways gave her a major overhaul and repainted her in fully lined out I & A J Rail’y colours. Had it not been for a broken leading axle in the following year no doubt she would have worked the branch until closure in 1960. She was replaced by Western Region 16XX pannier tanks 1646 and 1649. Her sister 55051 was often to be seen on the branch while she was away for service. CONTENTS The Early Years | Working the Railway | Changing Times | Motive Power | The Route Described | A Journey in 1954 Last Loco | The Mound | Cambusavie | Skelbo | Embo | Dornoch | The Dornoch Hotel | More Images
|
