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While the main focus of the Strathspey Railway is running steam trains for the paying public, a small but dedicated group of volunteers has been restoring other items of heritage interest in spare moments between working on the loco fleet and improving locoshed infrastructure and facilities.

The current project is a Ruston Hornsby 48DS diesel shunter of 1948 which worked at Longmorn distillery until 1980 (even though Dr Beeching had closed the adjacent main line in 1967). Because it was presented to the Strathspey Railway repainted with advertisements for Queen Anne blended scotch whisky, it is known to most people as “Queen Anne”.

To find out more about our aims, follow this link or click the [About] button above.

This Blog was started over 5 years after the project began, so most of the initial blog entries are retrospective.

Friday, 24 October 2025

Queen Anne at Rail 200 Event at Boat of Garten

The Strathspey Railway held a Rail 200 Event in October 2025. The specail Rail 200 Exhibition train was stationed at Boat of Garten on the 16th and 17th and a Gala Day was held on Saturday 18th featuring an intensive timetable involving all 3 steam locomotives and all 3 main line diesels. Cab rides were also available on Queen Anne and diesel shunter D3605.

Trip to Boat of Garten Monday 13th

After a thorough wash and polish, Queen Anne was towed at a steady pace from Aviemore to Boat of Garten by diesel locomotive 37674 and placed in the bay platform, ready for duties later in the week.

A shiny Queen Anne in Aviemore ready to go to BoG

Queen Anne arrives at BoG

The Footplate Crew

Rail 200 Exhibition Train

Queen Anne played an important part in the visit of the Exhibition Train. Apparently the train coaches have an unusual type of handbrake which can sometimes jam on. To get over this possible problem, they prefer to park the train with the handbrake off and coupled to a locomotive with its own handbrake. Thus the train was placed in the bay platform at the buffer stops and Queen Anne was stationed at the head of the train with its handbrake on. There is a slight gradient toward the buffers so the exhibition train would definitely not be going anywhere.

Queen Anne at the head of the Exhibition Train

The Exhibition Train departed on Friday 17th for its next stop at Aberdeen.

Footplate Rides at the Saturday Gala

On the Saturday, Queen Anne was stationed in the now vacant bay platform and provided footplate rides up and down the length of the platform throughout the day. There was no charge but it was suggested that participants could make a voluntary donation for locomotive restoration.

The footplate rides were well received and donations totalling £120 were taken.

Queen Anne at the Stop Board

Ready to return to the buffer stops

Footplate Crew

Queen Anne and

Here are some videos of the footplate rides :-

Return to Aviemore Monday 20th

One small step for a diesel, one giant leap for Rustonkind....

It was decided that Queen Anne would return to Aviemore under her own power. This certainly would be the longest non-stop trip she has ever made, as the distance is about 5 miles and the rail network at Longmorn distillery was much shorter than that.

Not many Ruston 48DS shunters can have travelled so far in a single journey.

Everything went well and the journey was made in 26 minutes at an average speed of 10 mph, which is the top speed for a 48DS.

This video shows starting up, passing the Kinchurdy foot crossing, going over the level crossing at Dalfaber (Aviemore) and arriving at the yard in Aviemore.

Back home outside

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