THE BIG DAY

It was a bright and sunny morning, with everything seemingly in place. 46512, the railway’s own Ivatt, which had been cleaned and prepared by Chris and Colin Boyd, assisted by Jan Litwin on Friday, also appeared to be in fine fettle.

The official unveiling of her smokebox numberplate was set for 22nd June 2024, to coincide with her 74th birthday. Her release date from Crewe Works was the week ending 23/6/1950.

46512 was the booked locomotive for the normal Saturday service train that day. However, shortly after her departure from the shed, she returned after a leaking superheater element had been discovered. The shed team and loco crews led by Nathan Lightowler pulled out all the stops to get 46512 back into operation. This did delay the departure of the first service train of the day and threatened to disrupt the rest of the day’s events. But to get her back up and running was truly a great bit of teamwork by all involved.

We were unaware it had been decided that the best way to try and make up for lost time was to attach 46464 to the service train as well, rather than have her follow it light engine as was the original plan. The passengers on the service train, together with those assembled at Boat of Garten, were treated to the rare sight of both Ivatts coupled chimney to chimney, a first for 46464 since 16th June 1960 when she and 46463 worked the Stephenson Locomotive Society/Railway Correspondence & Travel Society Scottish Rail Tour travelling over the Carmyllie branch.

46464 was duly detached and headed off to pick up our special train which had been delivered to Morley’s sidings north of Boat of Garten station the evening before.

I was given the task of saying a few words on behalf of the Carmyllie Pilot Company Ltd, which I will openly admit I found a bit emotional, I had to stop a couple of times as my involvement with 46464 goes back some 35 years in total. By all accounts it was very well received by all present. In fact, a few of us with the Company have more than just the last 24 years working with 46464. It also saw an official return to steam after a break of some 44 years.

A further short speech was given by Stephen Muirhead, Operations Director of the Strathspey Railway Company, who reminded the assembled crowd that 46464 was used at the start of full operations between Aviemore and Boat of Garten in July 1978 and that it was a delight to the Strathspey Railway that she had returned there once more.

To perform the unveiling of 46464's smokebox plate we invited along a special guest, Susan McDonald, whose Grandfather Alexander (Sandy) Whyte was 46464’s regular driver from Arbroath. It was Sandy Whyte’s long-continued hospitality that led to Ian Fraser’s close association with 46464 as Ian came to know 46464 very well. For some years apparently, Sandy’s order of the day to his fireman was “Awa you go hame, Mr Fraser’s here”. The invited guests were then given two return trips over the whole line along with a run double headed with 46512 in the early evening, before 46464 undertook one final run that day.

The Directors of The Carmyllie Pilot Company Ltd wish to thank the Board, staff and volunteers of the Strathspey Railway Company for all their efforts to give us a really special day and one to remember for years to come.

Also special thanks are due to the family of the late David Fraser, who sadly passed away on 15th June following a short illness, for their support of the restoration project over many years, and to all those people who made a vital contribution towards the restoration of 46464 but were unable to attend on Saturday 22nd June. In the words of Ian N Fraser, 'lang may her lum reek’.

- Iain Smith.