A Fifer will play a pivotal part in history today when he drives the steam train carrying the Queen on the Borders Railway for the first time.
The link is due to be given an official royal opening by the Queen this morning, the same day she becomes Britain’s longest-serving monarch, and John Cameron has a huge role to play.
Mr Cameron will be charged with driving his steam locomotive, Union of South Africa, from Edinburgh’s Waverley station, stopping off at Newtongrange in Midlothian, before carrying on to the final stop on the new railway at the Scottish Borders town of Tweedbank.
And to say that the 75-year-old railway enthusiast is delighted is an understatement.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=WOmohEGavs0%3Frel%3D0
“Anyone who is involved with the royal train, even when it is a diesel train, will tell you there’s an extra bit of importance involved, but when it’s one of the few steam trains left hauling the royal train …well, it’s a really special day,” he told The Courier.
“The Queen is the guest of honour, of course but she will be joined by Prince Philip at Waverley Station, and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, so there are quite a few important people around.
“My job is just to make sure the day goes smoothly any failure with any locomotive is a potential black mark so you have to make sure everything is right on the day.”
Mr Cameron, a farmer from Balbuthie, by Kilconquhar, bought the loco which he calls Number Nine after its British Rail number: 60009 after it was withdrawn from service in 1966.
From Thursday passengers will be able to travel on the Union of South Africa along the new Borders Railway line on select days over the next few weeks all in the comfort of a beautifully refurbished vintage carriage.