Archive Article: 2001/02/16

16 February 2001

Farm manager Tommy Cowie (below left) and shepherd Hugh Mackenzie got a warm welcome, despite the Arctic conditions, when they struggled through snow up to 10ft deep last week to help rescue 15 people stuck on the Inverness/Wick train. The train came to a halt

on an uphill section of the line in the Highlands, leaving passengers and crew to watch snow drifts mount around the windows. Fearing they might disappear from sight, they were relieved to see lights shining through the snow – Mr Cowie and Mr Mackenzie speeding to the rescue in an

ex-army snow cat that is usually used to take feed to the sheep on the hills.