Object: Photo Archive
Date: 20th century
Description : Miniature Train at Ettrick Bay
This photograph of the miniature railway at Ettrick Bay was taken in 1938. After the withdrawal of the electric tram service to Ettrick Bay it was felt by the Rothesay Tramways Company that a new tourist attraction was required at Ettrick Bay to encourage visitors to use the bus service. The general manager had purchased a miniature railway for his son and had had it set up at their home at Irvine. This model steam railway was installed at Ettrick Bay and opened in 1937. The train could run either clockwise or anti clockwise supposedly to cut down on the wear and tear to the rails and when not in use the rolling stock was housed in the artificial tunnel. The attraction was closed in 1943 and removed in 1944 when it was taken to Millport and ran there in 1946 and 1947. The locomotive, Samson, can still be seen at the Strumpshaw Steam Museum in Norfolk. In the background can be seen a couple of the old tramway cars as when the line closed it was uneconomic to transport them off the island so they were sold off where possible but these two were retained at Ettrick Bay and used as a base for the bus regulator and the other one as a greenhouse. (P11-0227, A2.296) (Ettrick Bay)