Argo Transacord - With 'The Mail' to Aviemore

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On the Perth-Inverness mail train hauled by two Caledonian Railway 72 Class 4-4-0
These recordings were made in May 1960 on the 6:50 a.m. Perth-Inverness mail train.
The train which, from Perth to Aviemore consisted of five coaches and for vans, one of them an Ex- Highland Railway mail van, was doubled-headed by two Ex-Caledonian Railway 72 Class 4-4-0, No. 54485 as pilot to No. 54486.
Side One
Recording made during the journey between Blair Atholl and Druimuachdar Summit. The individual sections of the recording are un-edited.
At Blair Atholl the two engines have taken water and are ready to leave for the seventeen mile climb to Druimuachdar Summit. A little after the scheduled time of 7:44 a.m. the train starts out of Blair Atholl on rising gradients of 1/800 - 1/500.
Now climbing at 1/80 the train approaches Struan. A very brief stretch of 1/300 through the station is followed by still rising gradients of 1/72 and 1/80.
Some eight miles from Blair Atholl, near Dalnaraoch signal box, the climb is now on a noticeably slower despite the strenuous efforts of both engines.
Having passed Dalnaspidal the two engines now tackle the final 1/78 climb to Druimuachdar Summit, 1,484 feet above sea level. From here they will have a well earned rest during the downhill run to the first stop at Dalwhinnie, twenty-three miles from Blair Atholl, where the train is due at 8:27 a.m.
Side Two
An editted version of the downhill journey between Dalwhinnie and Kingussie. The train is heard starting from Newtonmore Station, whistling a warning, then slowing for Inchlea, whistling again, the slowing for Etteridge signal box, accelerating away from Etteridge and finally, stopping in Kingussie Station.
From the lineside at Aviemore.
After one coach and a van have been detached from the rear of the train, No. 54485 and 54486 start out from Aviemore, heading for Inverness on a rising gradient of 1/350. The sound of changing signal arms and points is heard as the train goes away. On remaining thirty-four miles of the journey to Inverness the two engines face another formidable climb, five miles at 1/60-1/70 from Carr Bridge to Slochd Summit.
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My Christmas present, in about 1968

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Peter Handforth recording?