A4 owner John Cameron ‘stable' in hospital following gardening accident

SCOTTISH farmer John Cameron, owner of A4 4-6-2 No. 60009 Union of South Africa and K4 2-6-0 No. 61994 The Great Marquess, was taken to hospital following a fall from ladder while working in his garden at Balbuthie in Fife on October 3.

A statement issued by the Cameron Trustees said: “He is being cared for in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, where his condition is described as serious but stable.

“The Cameron Trust has extended its thanks on behalf of his family to friends and neighbours whom it knows will be wishing John well.

“The family has requested privacy at this difficult time.”

John is known throughout railway circles as a leader in the Scottish steam who, as outlined in our feature on pages 41-45, bought No. 60009 out of BR service and created the former 1½-mile Lochty Railway on part of his home farmland.

Awarded a CBE in 1986, and a Doctor of Laws by St Andrew's University for his contribution to agriculture, transport and education, he was further honored by being awarded Doctor of Technology for safety on railways by the Napier University, Edinburgh, in 1998.

A qualified engine driver, John has served on the Board of ScotsRail as chairman, was a director of South West Trains, and served as a consultant to BR.

In a later bulletin, it was learned that he had been transferred from an intensive care ward to a general ward in Ninewells Hospital.

Meanwhile, No. 60009 – which John has earmarked for permanent static display on a proposed visitor centre in Fife – has been taken out of service on the East Lancashire Railway due to mechanical problems. It missed the line's October 15-17 gala and is not going to be repaired before its boiler ticket finally expires.