[otd] 22nd May 1983 - First Steam Locomotive runs on a Scottish Island

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From Wikipedia

The Isle of Mull Railway was a 260 mm gauge line, 2.0 km long, which ran from the ferry terminal at Craignure to Torosay Castle.

The line was marketed as Scotland's original island passenger railway. The line opened in 1983 and closed in October 2010. A limited service operated over the 2011 Easter holiday and during summer 2011. The company's lease expired in October 2011. The track was lifted in October 2012.

In 1975, the then-owner of Torosay Castle, David James decided to open the house and gardens to the public. Local businessman Graham Ellis, a railway enthusiast, suggested that a narrow-gauge railway might be the ideal way to transport visitors from the ferry terminal, whilst also becoming a tourist attraction in its own right.

Although planning permission was granted in 1975, it was not until April 1982 that construction got under way. The line was completed in May 1983, with the first test run taking place on the 22nd of that month.

And in the archive at https://web.archive.org/web/20170106191841/http://mullrail.co.uk/railhistorymore.htm

[PhilWakely]

From Wikipedia

n 1975, the then-owner of Torosay Castle, David James decided to open the house and gardens to the public. Local businessman Graham Ellis, a railway enthusiast, suggested that a narrow-gauge railway might be the ideal way to transport visitors from the ferry terminal, whilst also becoming a tourist attraction in its own right.

Blowing your own trumpet, grahame, or a total coincidence?

[grahame]

Blowing your own trumpet, grahame, or a total coincidence?

Common name.  Also shared by a rocket scientist from Brighton, a maths professor from Galway, a BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Radio producer and this chap from Mull who, sadly, passed away a few years ago and resulted in my getting a number of messages from worried friends.