We were delighted to welcome John B. Cameron of Balbuthie, CBE FRAgS, as speaker on the 15th May. John Cameron is both a leading Scottish farmer and a man with a passion for railways!

What emerged was the fascinating story of how these two very different interests intertwined throughout a very busy life. The story is of a man who was perhaps the largest sheep farmer in Europe, but who also created his own (full size!) private railway at Lochty Farm - and is owner of two former LNER class A4 steam locomotives - the Union of South Africa and The Great Marquess. This all being kept in balance with office as president of both the Scottish region of the National Beef Association and the National Sheep Association.  Chairman too of the quality standards committee of Quality Meat Scotland and former President of the National Farmers Union of Scotland.

But it was the love of railways and especially steam locomotives that made the evening. Anecdote followed insight to the economics and politics of a time recalled, but now long gone. Personal recollections of business with the towering personalities of those times made for fascinating listening. As Chairman of ScotRail and a member of the British Railways Board from 1990 to 1996, as well as a member of the Safety Review Group, it is unlikely that anyone else can match both the breadth and depth of insight that we were privileged to share. Now a non-executive director of Stagecoach plc, a Director of both South West Trains and the Island Line, Isle of Wight, he is also president of the Gresley Society.

We were treated to a history of UK railways from the days of steam, to diesels and to privatisation. Not just in the Board Room either, but also some of the work done with drivers, trackman, union representatives and the many others needed to make a railway work.

Interesting too was to hear of the work needed to run, maintain and preserve these personal locomotives - the complexity and difficulty at times of transporting them by road to new locations.

A glorious finale for the Union of South Africa, was as the locomotive to haul HM The Queen and party at the opening of the new rail link from Tweedbank to Edinburgh - with John Cameron at the controls. As the BBC reported - ‘after a quick wave to the crowds, the royal couple were quickly aboard the train and, amid a puff of steam and blast of the whistle, were off on a landmark journey to the Borders’.

The end of the story came with thoughts of a new venture. Plans are being made to withdraw both A4 locomotives from service and for them to be housed at an open-access museum to be built at Balbuthie. This new project includes plans for farm access too - once again combining both aspects of John Cameron’s life.

Altogether a remarkable, unique and intriguing story and, following questions an appreciative vote of thanks was proposed by John O’Neill.