A Tayside tourist attraction began laying the groundwork for “stage one” of its long-awaited expansion.
It is hoped Kerr’s Miniature Railway in Arbroath, dating from 1935, will flourish into a third generation of ownership with a 250-metre extension to its line along the town waterfront.
Its owner told The Courier his dreams for expansion are only just in the offing.
John Kerr, the 18-year-old owner and grandson of the railway’s founder, applied to Angus Council last year to lay more track and add two platforms and a ticket booth, which have now been approved.
Preparing to lay the track yesterday, Mr Kerr said he was “excited” about the years ahead for Scotland’s oldest miniature railway.
He added: “This is what we are calling stage one of what we want to do. I’m proud to be able to keep the railway alive and build on what my grandfather started in 1935 and my dad took over in 1977.
“This is my time to help make it better.”
Mr Kerr attended a meeting of the local authority’s development standards committee with his agent Callum McLeish.
The Arbroath Skatepark Project, recently funded but yet to be built, would also add to a suite of attractions along the water at the West Links.
The owner assured officers that children and dogs would be safeguarded “with sufficient signage”, that drivers are trained for emergencies and safety work is being undertaken on carriages and engines.
“The engines will be able to brake in less than a metre and, once they are fitted with continuous brakes, it will be even less than that,” he said. “It will be safe.”
Fares were 3d for adults and 2d for children when it opened, which has risen to £1.50 and £1 for today’s visitors.
Photos by Angus Pictures