A 158 Sprinter from Inverness almost at the same spot in 1997. Along with the signal box and old oil/coal storage shed the two electric wire posts are about the only original items still existing.

Inverurie Loco Works

As the loco works came under Kittybrewster there were times when Kittybrewster crew would be sent out on loan when short of staff. As a 'passed-cleaner' I was sent to the works a number of times. usually to clean a few locomotives and fire lighting of a steam engine or two. One two occasions I managed to get out on trains as second man. One trip was to Old Meldrum, which was a nice experience and I enjoyed seeing the branch and looking around the station area. Trains were quite short usually consisting of a '350' shunter and four or five wagons and brakevan, which included at last one whiskey wagon. We also visited the works with locomotives with light locomotives that required servicing or repairs.

The second trip was on the Turriff tripper, again, which consisted of a '350' shunter and half a dozen wagons. I remember it as being quite an undulating line with some nice views from embankments and most of the stations still having their platforms and fittings. One interesting thing was that a lady staff worker was picked up along the way (I think Rothienorman) and traveled with us in the cab to Turrif where she dealt with the aministration owrk. I was disappointed that the line didn't go right through to McDuff, but that closed two years before I joined the railway. There was a stop block just past Turriff Station. The signal box was interesting as it had a wooden walkway that connected at road level. I remembered too, a large crane on the down platform.

I always regret not having a camera with me on those occasions but usually you had these turns on an early booking when thoughts of taking photographs would not occur to you.

Another interesting experience while being on lone to the works was having my only 'firing' turn while at Kittybrewster. Kittybrewster was virtually an all diesel depot at that time. The 03.25 Elgin goods was booked a steam loco, but that usually went by seniority, and beside, I was never trained on