A Ballachulish branch train has arrived at Oban behind Ex-CR 0-4-4T No 55230 in the late 1950s. On the skyline, McCaig’s Folly looks down over the town as it had done since being constructed in 1897-1902. In the middle distance there is some human interest with departing passengers, chatting bystanders and the ticket inspector -not to mention an elderly motor bus. The tank engine, built in 1915 (last of the batch) was finally withdrawn in September 1961, carrying its shapely original chimney to the end.

© David P Williams Archive / Rail-Online Original photograph by Donald Luscombe