Small is Beautiful –

Scotland’s Highest Adhesion Railway

I’ve written about the Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railway before. It is Scotland’s highest adhesion railway running on a 2 ft gauge . It reaches a dizzying 1,498 feet above sea level. And now it has been given the go-ahead for an extension remote narrow-gauge railway is finally being extended to Scotland’s highest village. The  railway, run completely by volunteers, follows an agreement with the  Buccleuch Estates last year which allow so access the track bed so they can dig test pits to find out where the track drains need to be dug for the quarter mile extension. This new section is expected to be completed by 2020 and will no doubt be a boom to tourism in Wanlockhead.

New Tracks for Old

The new track will  further follow the track bed of the former Caledonian Railway line, which linked Elvanfoot with Leadhills and Wanlockhead. This branch line closed in 1938. The train enthusiasts run trains every week end in the summer and most delightfully run Halloween and Santa specials on their stretch of track which takes about 25 minutes for the trip. It passes the disused Glengonnar Mine which dates from the 1450's.  It is an area which saw gold prospecting in the 1970s and is rich in minerals. I have to say that this day out is something that will mostly excite the younger male members of the family, but it is a bit of fun for all the family. The area is making a come-back!

Santa Specials in September!

All this talk of Santa specials makes the prospect of Christmas shopping more real than ever. I’m not one of these people who buy presents from the petrol station on the way home. A decent present should have something of you and something of the recipient in it. And we have more than a century’s experience in gift ideas and fine glass ware. Take a look at the lovely china items we have- often with a little reduction to tempt you more. Have a browse.

https://www.jamespirie.com/china.html