"Travelling Classroom" project - Kingussie

HML CRP had intended to run a "Travelling Classroom" project, providing schools along the Main Line with educational books, toys and games relating to railway safety and take the children on the train for a short trip. Unfortunately, this was "derailed" (if you'll excuse the pun) by Covid, so it never actually got off the ground. What was not derailed was the creation of purpose made wooden "Travelling Classroom Resource Boxes", containing the afore-mentioned collection of educational books, toys, and games intended for P1/2 Primary School children.

Although due to Covid and now the ongoing industrial action we are no longer able to take the children on the train, we were keen to ensure that they still received the resource boxes we’d created especially for them.

The pictures show Kingussie Primary School P1/2 pupils being presented with their resource boxes by Ailsa Schofield, on behalf of HML CRP. The children were also delighted to receive railway safety books kindly supplied by Alan Brooking from Network Rail, and John Wilson from ScotRail.

Pictures taken by Frances Porter, Strathspey & Badenoch Herald.

The Highland Chalet building

The Highland Chalet building on the Northbound platform at Pitlochry Railway Station dates from 1898 and is Grade A listed. Over winter 2019 and Spring 2020 it had a complete external renovation by Network Rail, supported by the Railway Heritage Trust. Cracked chimney stacks were rebuilt, chimney pots had buddleia removed, new roof coverings, replacement roof finials, all glazing was replaced and the entire building painted. We are now looking at how we can restore internally and best use the two Victorian offices in each wing of the building.

World Book Day

Today on World Book Day, March 5th 2020, we launched our “Travelling Classroom” project for P5. Using the book “Catch Us If You Can” by Catherine MacPhail, who had visited Pitlochry High School and wrote of her journey on the train.

We would like to thank Mary Sherriffs, School Librarian and her Assistant, Hazel Renton, both dressed glamorously as crayons for leading the session! We were joined by Michel Lintermans from the Netherlands Railway who is over visiting to see how Community Rail works on our line. The children now have to read the whole book, do some creative activities and are very excited about their train journey to Kingussie and the creative writing they will do. And so are we! Logierait and Blair Atholl Primaries are joining us and we are using our Line Guide, seen on screen as one of the learning tools.

National Rail Awards News!!!

After being judged earlier this year, we are delighted to announce that Pitlochry won the Best Medium Station in the UK at the National Rail Awards which took place on 19th September in London.

The criteria was operations, including safety, infrastructure and customer friendly presentation. Particular emphasis is placed on initiative and innovation. We are delighted for the Station staff, volunteers and Station Adopters to hear this wonderful news.

View Scotrail Press Release

Sally Spaven HML CRP Chair and Station Adopter with Jamie, one of our brilliant ScotRail staff back at Pitlochry with our plaque.

Sally Spaven and Kate Howie, Pitlochry and Highland Perthshire Station Liaison Group Convenor and HML CRP Treasurer.

Tracy Stevenson - ScotRail Community Rail and Sally Spaven

Scotland - The World's Most Beautiful Railway

We have just been advised that this series is commencing on More 4 on the 26th August at 9pm, we understand there are 6 hour long episodes. Highland Mainline Community Rail Partnership were involved in the making of this series last summer and earlier this year.

HML CRP AGM at Blair Castle

Highland Mainline CRP were delighted to have Alex Hynes MD attend their AGM at Blair Castle on Wednesday 7th of August, a great opportunity to discuss and talk about the future." Many thanks to Blair Castle for use of the private library for our AGM.

ACORP Awards 2019

Highland Mainline was delighted to hear that two of our Projects have been shortlisted for a Tourism and Heritage Award.

The Heritage Line Guide which was launched last summer and "Highland Fling", our Community Rail in the City event at King's Cross Station in May 2019 have both made the shortlist.

We look forward to the Awards in Telford in October and congratulate all the other shortlisted entries.

Community Volunteer of the Year

Roy Brown (pictured below on the right) from the Highland Mainline Community Rail Partnership was named Community Volunteer of the Year at the inaugural ScotRail in the Community Awards yesterday. A real champion of community rail!

Neil Sinclair

You will recall following on from the AGM in September we welcomed renowned author Neil Sinclair, to give a series of talks on the Highland Main Line in our smaller communities; Blair Atholl, Dunkeld & Birnam, Kingussie and Carrbridge. Neil wrote a very good article on the Highland Mainline Community Rail Partnership for publication in the Highland Railway Magazine. Thank you Neil, we hope to see you again at some point.

Read article here