Scotland’s oldest miniature railway line is set to be extended, for only the second time in its history.
Kerr’s Miniature Railway has been one of the country’s best-loved attractions since it was set up in 1935. Running along Arbroath’s seafront, nearly two million people have enjoyed a ride on the railway run by the Kerr family for the last 76 years.
With a £500,000 development proposed for the town’s West Links, it has been confirmed there are plans to double the length of the track.
Schoolboy John Kerr was thrust to the helm of the family business in 2006 following the untimely death of his father, Matthew, at the age of 62. His grandfather, Matthew Sr, started the railway.
John revealed an extension was planned for the site, confirming he had met officers from Angus Council to discuss the development.
He said: ”A year-and-a-half ago we were called into a meeting with Angus Council to discuss the changes at the West Links, with a view to forming a partnership with the council and the snack bar there.
”We are trying to raise funds for the project and it was decided it would be easier to apply for grants that way. The plans are still at the early stages, but we are expecting to double the length of the track itself and have a new station called the West Links Central.”
The existing track starts near the Red Lion caravan park and runs as far as the Westway retail park. The new plans would see the route extended north towards the town, stopping near the crazy golf area.
”I think the whole development is a great idea,” John said. ”Our main customers are the people who go to the playpark and because the plans would have seen us moving, it was suggested we could extend.
”We thought if there is money out there that we can access, then why not?”
Kerr’s are looking at linking up with the road train that tours Arbroath in the summer and plan to provide carriages that allow disabled access.
The proposed new route would include bends in the track and level crossings.
John added that nothing would be done to change the historically important existing section. The last addition to the route came just a few years after it first opened.
Other than that, little has been altered on the famous old railway down the years, over a period that has seen the fare rise from 3d per journey to £1.50.