Lochaber Times, From our Files: May 7 2026

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
Thursday May 10 2001

Horse and cart viaduct mystery solved

A century-old Lochaber legend has been confirmed by a team of civil engineers using state-of-the-art technology.

The story of a horse and cart entombed in Loch nan Uamh Viaduct dates back to 1899 when the Fort William to Mallaig railway line was under construction.

Folklore had it that a horse and cart fell into the central leg, or "pier", of the viaduct and could not be saved so was covered with rubble.

Professor Roland Paxton of Heriot Watt University has been leading an investigation into the legend since 1984 and has found proof the story is true.

He said: "The cart was probably being backed up to the edge of the hole to tip rubble in, went too far and plummeted down 40 feet pulling the unfortunate horse with it.

"There is evidence the horse’s neck was broken, presumably in the fall, and that back-filling continued."

Experts using radar equipment found iron-shod cartwheels and bones when they scanned the bridge earlier this year. However, they were only able to confirm their findings last week.

The £5,000 scan was paid for by engineering magnate, Sir William McAlpine whose great-grandfather Robert was the contractor who built the viaduct 100 years ago.

Civil Engineer Jim Shipway, who’s great-grandfather designed the Mallaig line, was also involved in the project.

"We think the mystery is solved," he said.

FIFTY YEARS AGO
Thursday May 13 1976

5p to spend a penny!

It will cost 5p for all those wishing to spend a penny at Fort William’s superloo this season if a recommendation from the environmental health services committee is accepted by Lochaber District Council.

Up until now the facilities have been free, while councillors have tried to figure out the best system of collecting money from the public.

Also, they have been waiting for British Rail and Highland Omnibuses to come up with just how much they are prepared to pay towards the annual cost of maintaining the toilets.

At the committee meeting last week, members were told that the bus company was still refusing to pay anything and although British Rail had made an offer it was not considered enough as their share of the costs.

At Mr Ballantyne’s suggestion it was decided to ask the Scottish Development Department to call a meeting between all the different bodies concerned,. so that something could be done to try to settle the matter.

Meantime the committee would recommend engaging two extra people to collect the 5p charge for the coming season.

All agreed it was essential to start getting in some revenue as quickly as possible, in view of the increasing costs of electricity bills, water, etc for this highly expensive facility.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
Saturday May 8 1926

The General Strike

For the first and only time since its founding in 1861 The Oban Times failed to appear.

The 1926 General Strike lasted for nine days in May and was called by the Trades Union Congress to support coal miners facing wage cuts and longer hours.

Around 1.7 million workers across transport, printing, heavy industry, and other sectors stopped work.

The government mobilised volunteers and emergency measures to keep services running. The strike ended without securing miners’ demands, but it became a defining moment in British labour history.

The following week the editor wrote:

To Our Readers

By the sudden strike of the Trades Union printers of the country, ordered by the Trades Union Congress, on Monday, the 3rd May, we were unable to publish the "Oban Times" last week and as the strike was only declared "off" on Wednesday, the 12th May, it is impossible to give a full paper on this occasion.

Indeed, but for the strenuous exertions of a few of our staff, who feeling that it was unworthy to break their engagements, have resumed work, the present sheet, - incomplete as it is - could not have been printed.

We trust that our Readers will understand the reason for the break that has occurred in the continuance of the "Oban Times," the first one in sixty-five years, and that our Readers will consider the present paper as an earnest of our determined efforts to keep faith with them.

To our advertisers

On account of the General Strike among the Trade Union printers, it was impossible to issue the "Oban Times" of date 8th May, and for the same reason we are unable to publish a full paper this week. Many announcements have therefore been held over.

We regret exceedingly this state of matters, but we are confident our friends will understand that what has occurred was not from any action of ours. There was no dispute between the "Oban Times" and its printers, and the agreement to give a fortnight’s notice for the termination of service was unwarrantably broken.

•More about the strike and how it hit the West Highlands next week.