10th August 1983

My first visit on the Road to the Isles and to the West Highland Line, and what a gloriously sunny and warm summer it was when I arrived here at Mallaig! I was so lucky, as subsequent visits have generally been during rather more inclement weather. This is 37190 on the 12.25 Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street, waiting patiently at the platform after running around. Behind the loco can be seen a ruined building, which I’m pretty sure was the engine shed, closed in 1962, after which it was used as a private store. The building would be demolished in 1987 to make way for a new road. This picture brings back a lot of happy memories, touring the northern Scottish network.