It had been decided that the opening date would be Tuesday 10 August 1852 but at the board meeting on 31 July, it was reported that the locomotives had not arrived from Messrs Neilson & Co of Glasgow—one day later the boat containing the engines docked at Lossiemouth. The two locomotives bought for the line were small 2-2-0 tank engines costing a total of £2622 7s. 8½d, and were named by the company, "Elgin" and "Lossiemouth". The Board of Trade Engineer inspected the line on 4 August and travelled in a locomotive a day later and declared himself satisfied with the railway and rolling stock.