Back to the 40's at the Strathspey Railway

June 11, 2008; Hendy Pollock

Over the weekend of 14th and 15th June, the clock will be turned back 65 years on the Strathspey Railway when the atmosphere will be one of the railway in the forties. There will be aircraft flypasts, military and vintage vehicles, model displays, exhibitions and people in period military and civilian dress as well as one or two "suspicious" characters who may well be spies or escapees. Passengers wanting to enjoy the experience even more are asked to dress up in anything resembling forties military or civilian clothing. On Saturday night there is a "Grand Dance" with a live band in the Boat Hotel, guaranteed to get everyone "In the mood!". 

Each station will be "done up" to look the part with taped windows and posters from the forties.

At Aviemore Station there will be an Exhibition of World War II posters and memorabilia, plus model aircraft and tanks from the Forres and Kinloss Model Club.

At Boat of Garten Station there will be an Exhibition of period military vehicles and at 2pm, on both Saturday and Sunday, a flypast of three aircraft, a Tiger Moth, Piper Cub, and Cessna.  Given the right conditions these aircraft will give a 15 minute display.  There will also be re-enactors looking for escaped prisoners and spies with the odd "spiv" trying to flog stuff.  At 12 pm both days, children from Deshar Primary School will arrive by vintage bus to be processed as evacuees and travel to Broomhill on the 12.50 pm train, returning at 13.50 pm.

On Sunday, there will be a visit from the RAFA 1/3rd scale Spitfire as a static display. In the afternoon there will be Evening Hymn and Sunset with lowering of the flag at 4pm.

At Broomhill Station there will be an exhibition of  an American command post "somewhere in France".

On Saturday Evening at the Boat Hotel there will be a Grand Dance with live music. Tickets £6 each from each station (Tel:-01479 810725), Boat Hotel or Post Office 7.30 pm to 11 pm. Military/Civilian dress should be worn to best enjoy what promises to be a great evening! 

(Photograph:  Hendy Pollock (June 2008)).