Located on the West Links at Arbroath (E Angus), Kerr's Miniature Railway is the oldest in Scotland. The railway was established in 1935 and run for the next 42 years by Matthew Kerr (1911-79). Initially it operated with smaller trains on a gauge of 18.4cm (7¼ inches), but was converted to its current gauge of 26cm (10¼ inches) within three years. Using a combination of steam and 'diesel' locomotives, this attraction runs for 365m (400 yards) next to the Dundee - Aberdeen mainline railway. Operating during the summer months, the railway has proved a popular attraction with holiday-makers since it opened, although it suffered and was threatened with closure as tourist numbers declined in the 1960s and 70s. Big Bertha a steam-powered Pacific locomotive was sold in 1960, with the service being provided by easier-to-maintain diesel-electric traction. However in 1985, a new steam engine, the Firefly was purchased and Big Bertha was bought back in 1995. Today, the popularity of the railway has returned and it has grown to include six engines, together with the rolling stock to carry passengers, a station and stone-faced tunnel.
While originally a commercial concern, the founder's family and a group of enthusiasts now run the railway, reinvesting any profits to enhance and maintain the venture.
