Loth, a closed station, viewed from the north.
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This line is open. Passenger services are provided by ScotRail from Inverness to Wick, Thurso, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh. |
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Loth, a closed station, viewed from the north. |
This line runs up the east coast in the far north of Scotland. There was formerly coalmining in Brora. There are towns at Golspie, Brora and Helmsdale and the Duke of Sutherland's castle at Dunrobin.
From Golspie to Helmsdale. The line was built by the Duke of Sutherland to both help develop his estate (he had coal mines at Brora which were not connected to the railway network) and continue the line of communication up the east coast of the far north of Scotland.
This station formerly had two platforms and a passing loop. One platform remains in use and the loop has been lifted. The station building is in a good state of repair and the former goods yard is to the south of the station. This was the northern terminus of the Sutherland Railway.
| Dunrobin |
Opened:1 November
1870 Closed:19 June 1871 (Becomes private halt) Closed:29
January 1965 Re-opened:30 June 1985 Closed:No
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86.15 miles from Inverness
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1956:G+PFH
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This station was provided for the Duke of Sutherland's castle. It has been known as Dunrobin, Dunrobin Castle and Dunrobin Halt. The Duke had his own engine (kept at Golspie) and carriage (kept at Dunrobin). The station is quite ornate and replaces a more 'log cabin' style building which stood here previously. The new station was re-built in 1902 when the signalbox was removed, replaced by a ground frame in the new building. The signalling was removed in 1906. The station has a single platform, never had a loop and had a bay platform at the north end. A dis-used carriage shed stands at the north end.
| Brora |
Opened:19 June
1871Closed:No
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90.48 miles from Inverness
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1956:GPFLHC30
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This is a two platform station with a passing loop. The goods yard was formerly access via a loop off the northbound track (the goods loop is now disconnected at one end). Goods sidings remain. Brora formerly had a coal mine and coal was handled in the goods yard. The mine led to one of the earlieast waggonways - the Brora waggonway. The 'Brora North' and 'Brora South' signalboxes have been demolished. The station also served the Clynelish Distillery.
| Loth |
Opened:19 June
1871Closed:13 June 1960
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1956:G*P*
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This station is closed. The photograph looks south at the station, which is now a house.
| West Helmsdale |
Opened:1 November
1870 Closed:9 June 1871
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This was the original terminus of the line. The terminus was at Gartymore (to the south of Helmsdale). The line was extended north and eventually reached Thurso and Wick. A new station was built at Helmsdale and this station was closed in 1871.
| Helmsdale |
Opened:19 June
1871Closed:No
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| OS 023 155 |
101.40 miles from Inverness
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1956:GPFLHC10
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The station buildings, a footbridge and the former 'Helmsdale South' signalbox still stand. This is a two platform station with a passing loop. There is a siding to the north of the station. The photograph to the left shows the turntable pit for the shed (a two road shed, 60C, closed in 1962), the location of which is shown in the right photograph. The 'Helmsdale North' signalbox has been demolished. The Sutherland and Caithness railway extended the Duke of Sutherland's Railway north to Thurso and Wick from Helmsdale. The current station was the new terminus on the extension of the line from West Helmsdale opened in 1871.