All aboard for last mini-railway ride

The final steam whistle will sound on A r b r o a t h’s seafront miniature railway this weekend following 10 decades in the dedicated hands of one family.

And the pandemic has dealt a final blow to plans to give the attraction the “send-off it deserves”.

Kerr’s Miniature Railway has been a fixture in the seaside town since Matthew Kerr Snr took passengers on their first run along the West Links line in 1935.

Tens of thousands of summer visitors travelled on the small-gauge track in its heyday as full- size counterparts thundered along the adjacent east coast main line, blasting their horns in appreciation of the miniature engines below.

Ho w e v e r, dwindling numbers led current owner John Kerr, whose father Matthew Jnr ran it before him, to take the painful decision to close the railway after 85 years and three generations.

There were hopes the swansong summer would have seen big numbers make a final journey, but the pandemic wrecked those prospects and Mr Kerr is now preparing for the emotional final weekend.

“We are extending the hours on Saturday from 9am to 6pm to give people the chance to come earlier or later in the day because we expect it to be quite busy,” said Mr Kerr.

“There are four visiting engines coming up for the weekend, two of which were previously at the railway and two which h av e never been here before.”

He was fearful of what this w e e k ’s stricter restrictions could mean for the grand finale.

“Unfortunately we already know the situation has already put off many of those who were planning to attend,” added Mr Kerr.

“The elderly, and sadly those who have most of the memories of the railway throughout its time, are worried about coming and we know many have decided not to make the journey from down south.”

Since the closure announcement, numbers visiting for a final farewell have rocketed.

“I t ’s ironic, but the number of people we have had over the last few months has been remarkable,” added Mr Kerr..

“A lot of folk are still struggling to come to terms with the closure, but unfortunately it was a decision I had to make.”

SALUTE: John Kerr on one of his trains as the Union of South Africa passes through Arbroath.