INTRODUCTION

Highland Railway Heritage has been developed by a team of volunteer enthusiasts for rail transport led by John Barnes of Glenfinnan Station Museum near Fort William in Scotland.  They saw that the scenic lines of the Highlands had great possibilities for tourism, for culture and for education. They also had unrealised potential for steam locomotive haulage.

Beginning in1997, a series of steam locomotive hauled excursions went to locations such as Wick and Thurso, and to Oban where such engines had been absent for many years. Highland Railway Heritage promoted these as 'Highland Rail Festivals'.

There was a breakthrough in 2001 with the first ever 'plandampf' on a mainline in Britain when services between Fort William and Mallaig were steam locomotive hauled for a day. This was to mark the centenary of the 42 mile long route which has been acclaimed as one of the great railway journeys of the world.

Since 2002, Highland Railway Heritage has supported photo charter activities in the Fort William area by arranging exhibitions, film and slide shows, lectures and study tours during some of these events.

In 2005 Highland Railway Heritage was actively involved in the 150th anniversary of the first public railway in the Highlands - the Inverness & Nairn Railway. This line set Inverness on course to become a major rail hub.

Highland Railway Heritage has also assisted the Railway Touring Company with its Jacobite tours  - in 2005  when BR No 45407 replaced B1 No 61264 at Fort William. Highland Railway Heritage was again represented when the Jacobite tour was repeated in 2006 with the K1 featuring on the Mallaig run. In 2007 Highland Railway Heritage again assisted the Railway Touring Company with its 'West Highlander' tour from Glasgow to Mallaig involving the K4 No 61994 The Great Marquess and K1 No 62005.

In 2006 Highland Railway Heritage co-ordinated events to mark the 150th year of the Perth & Dunkeld Railway, another step towards forming the Highland mainline. It also assisted with events at Keith for the 150th  anniversary of the arrival of the Great North of Scotland Railway there.

Highland Railway Heritage with its railway associates and partners has thus chalked up a notable series of  ‘firsts’, re-introducing steam locomotives to many outstanding routes. The group has also brought steam action and railway heritage to the attention of many communities, to a wide range of enthusiasts and to the media.