| RTC's 'The West Highlander' three day Scottish tour needed water at several locations over the weekend. Duncan Hill Ltd played a key role in this at Abington and Cadder Yard on Friday and Sunday. Dave Dixon went up to Abington on Friday afternoon with 3000 gallons for Leander and on to Cadder on Glasgow's northern outskirts to top up John Cameron's 'wee engine' The Great Marquess having run light engine from its home at Thornton to take the train forward to Fort William on the second leg of the tour.
I went up on Sunday with a curtainsider for Dave to tip on Monday at Livingston, collected the tanker, topped it up with water and went to Cadder Yard to meet Chris Beet and his team with Leander to get them south over Beattock on the final leg of the tour. I filled the tender to the point where the water was lapping round Gordon Hodgson's ankles on the footplate, filled the header tank on the support coach and damped down the coal in the tender as well. Job done by 14.30 and I set sail for home. Driving south through Bishopbriggs I had a call from West Coast Railways' Ops Manager, Peter Walker to say that The Great Marquess had been unable to get all the water she needed at Crianlarich on its way back to Glasgow because someone had inadvertently parked their car over the hydrant where they had hoped to get water! The car was manhandled out of the way but precious pathing minutes had been lost. Lucky I had a standpipe with me! Nigel Dobbing would, I'm sure, be keen to hear from the inconsiderate motorist whose car caused the problem (you're bound to know who you are) as the bill for the watering at Cadder Yard had to go very slightly over quote for the extra time involved! |
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