Kilts and railway preservation - a whimsy.

**neloon** · 29th January 15, 08:17 AM

Queen Victoria would not allow the 40-mile long Royal Deeside Railway to get quite as far as Balmoral Castle but, nevertheless, for 100 years it provided the penultimate transport leg for royal holidays on Deeside. In recent years, a section next to Crathes Castle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crathes_Castle
has been re-opened with a wee tank engine for family fun days out. A couple of years ago - and I don't know the story behind this - some dancers demonstrated on the platform "Royal Deeside Railway", a recently devised country dance. (The caption says that they are "Canadian Highland Dancers" but, since they're not Highland dancers, they may not be Canadian either!) Country dances have proliferated away from tradition in recent years and, like new tartans, can even be generated by computer. This one looks particularly challenging. Anyway, plenty of kilts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY__U9Btfd8
By the way, the second dance is "Shiftin' Bobbins", composed in the north of England to mimic the actions of the jute mill. Here it is being danced here, there and everywhere
http://www.scottish-country-dancing-...n-bobbins.html

Alan

**cessna152towser** · 29th January 15, 08:53 AM

I definitely approve of the kilted driver of the steam engine at the start of the video. Something I've not tried. We only have diesels at our local heritage railway and when I've been to Swanage to drive the steam engines I normally wear overalls.
I've passed the Royal Deeside Railway on my way home from Aboyne Highland Games but never had a ride on it.
There are indeed lots of new Scottish Country Dances, there's also another steam train related one called "The Flying Scotsman"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJsfQuJunVU

**McClef** · 29th January 15, 09:01 AM

I am always kilted when on duty at my local preserved steam railway, the Pontypool and Blaenavon.

**neloon** · 29th January 15, 10:40 AM

Alex/Cessna,
I think, to be pedantic, "The Flying Scotsman" would be regarded as a ceilidh dance - I've certainly played for it often at ceilidhs but I think our friends in the RSCDS might regard it as too rumbustious.
Alan

**The Q** · 5th July 15, 11:55 PM

At our first Sailing Club Ceilidh down here in Norfolk, one of the dances was the Flying Scotsman, I don't remember that dance from school 40 years ago, but the Flying Scotsman was L.N.E.R. and I model G.W.R
There must be something in common with xmarks members interests as I'm a member of SRPS and used to volunteer at Bo'ness when i lived there.
I'm also a member of the Swindon and Cricklade railway as my English Grandfather used to work on that line and I model his station. My Scottish grandfather married the coal merchants daughter from that town.
Also I have a connection with the North Norfolk where I now live, but have too many other commitments to volunteer.

**tundramanq** · 6th July 15, 09:44 AM

Sorry, off topic side track here. Rewatch this and note the pleat action. The guys have a lot better action - unsure whether is heavier weight fabric or shorter length or better fitting. The gals have plenty of hip action that just isn't making near the pleat action. Better legs though.

"By the way, the second dance is "Shiftin' Bobbins", composed in the north of England to mimic the actions of the jute mill. Here it is being danced here, there and everywhere"
http://www.scottish-country-dancing-...n-bobbins.html

SORRY - fixed it! Had copy and pasted from above and didn't see that the whole link wasn't displayed.

**The Q** · 6th July 15, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by tundramanq

Sorry, off topic side track here. Rewatch this and note the pleat action. The guys have a lot better action - unsure whether is heavier weight fabric or shorter length or better fitting. The gals have plenty of hip action that just isn't making near the pleat action. Better legs though.

"By the way, the second dance is "Shiftin' Bobbins", composed in the north of England to mimic the actions of the jute mill. Here it is being danced here, there and everywhere
http://www.scottish-country-dancing-...n-bobbins.html "

Sadly with IE 11 latest version I get the message "This message cannot be displayed"

**Julia Elliott** · 6th July 15, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by tundramanq

Sorry, off topic side track here. Rewatch this and note the pleat action. The guys have a lot better action - unsure whether is heavier weight fabric or shorter length or better fitting. The gals have plenty of hip action that just isn't making near the pleat action. Better legs though.

"By the way, the second dance is "Shiftin' Bobbins", composed in the north of England to mimic the actions of the jute mill. Here it is being danced here, there and everywhere
http://www.scottish-country-dancing-...n-bobbins.html "

I really need to either get my eyes checked or my head..or possibly both.
read this 3 times and was sure you said "Peat" action.. I know you said it was off topic, but really.. lol

**tundramanq** · 6th July 15, 12:03 PM

SORRY - fixed it! Had copy and pasted from above and forgot that the whole link isn't displayed.

A good RR journey should involve some peat action - shouldn't it. Make mine Talisker.

Neat saddle tank engine - steam freak had to look it up:
"Milton of Crathes is also home to the former Aberdeen Gas Works steam locomotive: 0-4-0 "Bon Accord", which is stopped for repair." ( as of Wikipedia 2014 and March 2015 updates.)
Was/is it petrol/diesel fired? I don't see any coal tender...