DRUMOCHTER

Max. gradient: 1-in-70

Scotland, that land of bare mountains, dramatic passes and breathtaking lochs features some similarly exciting stretches of railway. The Highland Railway featured quite a few, as it pushed towards the very tip of the mainland. Dava and Slochd are impressive, but none more so than Drumochter. It’s a bleak place and even in a car, on the A9 dual carriageway, it feels remote. But it’s a beautiful remoteness, as befits the highest point on Britain’s railway network, at 1,484ft. Nowhere else symbolises the epic showdown of man and machine battling against the forces of nature.

IAN MCCREADIE Ian and John Mccreadie’s ‘OO’ gauge take on Blair Atholl, which lies at the foot of the climb to Drumochter. It starred in MR41 (March 2002) and is booked to appear at Perth & District MRC’S June 24/25 exhibition. An unidentified ‘Black Five’ powers north near Dalnacardoch on May 30 1950. An ex-caledonian Railway Pickersgill 4‑4‑0 gives the lengthy goods train a hand as it makes its way to the highest point on Britain’s rail network at Drumochter. RAIL PHOTOPRINTS Layout idea 55 60 40 45 50 35 40 45 50