The Invergordon Archive

I can remember when I worked on the railway when the sea mist was really thick having to walk out to the signal post (the black and white post)with one of the signalmen and putting detonators on the line to warn the trains that they were coming up to the distant signal and to slow down. Think I used to go out there with Bongie McKay (junior).

This path has now been replaced with a newer one that leads to the Golf Club carpark, but the view hasn't changed much (thankfully!!). I must take some recent photos & post them so people can compare the new & old Invergordon!

Are the large concrete square blocks still by the Donkey Bridge? They were supposed to be used to stop tanks etc moving down the road but it beats me how they would have moved them onto the road.

Hi Douglas, you are correct about the signalman you went with. It was my father Jimmy Mackay - Bongie as you called him.

Hi Brian, nice to hear from you. Yep, all the distant walking was done by me and your Dad. It was he who first introduced me to the very high signal post just below the old junior school. I froze about half way up and he had to throw stones at me to get moving. When you got to the top it really swayed right over the railway line. That was one signal lamp I hated having to change. Cheers. Doug Will

Hi Brian - are you the Brian Mackay who lived in the railway cottages at the side of the road on the seafront just west of the Slaughterhouse - would have started school in 1955???

Hi Doug Will, I am Brian's Granddaughter Sophie. We have just found this. Yes, that was him!
Regards,
Sophie and Brian

Sorry to say, Doug Will died about 2 years ago..
I remember Jimmy Mackay (Bongo) wonderful man as was his father also Jimmy..I worked with them at the railway station in Invergordon when it was manned.
The day before I left for Canada, Bongo took me in his car with his 2 boys to Aultnamain Inn on the Struie Road..a wonderful gesture,,that would have been 1959, I remember it well.

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