Dornoch Light Railway

Dornoch Light Railway
Traces of the railway line at Skelbo. The dark green line through this field is the path of the railway. A 1912 Railway Clearing House map showing (upper left) part of the Dornoch Light Railway (blue) and the junction at The Mound Locale Scotland Dates of operation 2 June 1902 – 31 December 1922 Successor line London Midland and Scottish Railway Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Length 7.75 miles
Legend
Sutherland Railway (to Golspie) The Mound    Sutherland Railway (to Ardgay) Cambusavie Halt Skelbo Embo Dornoch

Dornoch Light Railway was an historic railway in Scotland that ran from The Mound on the Sutherland Railway to the county town of Sutherland, Dornoch. This railway is closed.

This Railway was one of two railways in the North of Scotland built under the 1896 Light Railway Act (the other being the Wick and Lybster Railway), this allowed the line to be built to lower standards to save cost.

Contents 1 The route 2 History 3 Connections to other lines 4 Current operations 5 References 5.1 Notes 5.2 Sources

The route

The Railway started at a south-facing junction with the Sutherland Railway at The Mound station, departing trains turning right on a sharply falling gradient. Immediately bridging the River Fleet by a four-span viaduct the gradient brought trains to the Mound itself, actually a causeway built across the River Fleet by Thomas Telford in 1816 as part of road development in the region. Sharing the Mound with the road, the Railway crossed it at the Southern end of the causeway at a gated crossing, the first of several. The Railway then turned South-East to skirt the Southern shore of Loch Fleet coming to its first stop at Cambusavie Halt.

Throughout its existence the pace of services on the line was slow, accentuated by the need for the train to stop for the gated crossings, the guard to dismount and open the gates, the train to proceed through and stop to pick up the guard having closed the gates again. The next station was Skelbo, equipped with a goods siding, whereupon the line bore inland slightly and turned South, climbing to the fishing village of Embo, where the station was furnished with a building and a goods yard.

Following the coast of the Moray Firth on its last leg, the line passed the Royal Dornoch Golf Club before crossing the road and terminating in Dornoch. By the station was the engine shed - the line always operated on the 'one engine in steam' principle - and a goods shed. The terminus was overlooked by Dornoch Cathedral.

History

• 2 June 1902 - Opened (worked by the Highland Railway).^[1]
• 1 January 1923 - Became part of the London Midland and Scottish Railway.^[1]
• 13 June 1960 - Closed to all traffic.^[2]
• Spring/Summer 1962 - Track lifted.

Locomotives used on the Dornoch branch needed to be carefully selected for a light axle loading, and they operated both passenger trains and pick-up freight. They were based at Helmsdale, where the running maintenance was carried out;^[3] there was a small shed at Dornoch for overnight stabling.^[4]

The first locomotive used on the branch was Highland Railway "Lochgorm Tank" 0-6-0T no. 56, which had been built in 1869 and rebuilt in 1896.^[5] It was specially renamed Dornoch for the branch; it had previously been named Balnain.^[6] This locomotive was used on the branch until at least Summer 1919.^[5]

Other locomotives used at different periods included: Highland Railway 0-4-4T (BR no. 55053), which was the last Highland Railway locomotive to remain in service,^[7] and BR Standard Class 2 2-6-0 no. 78052, which was based at Helmsdale from February 1957.^[8]

In April 1957, ex-Great Western Railway (GWR) 0-6-0PT no. 1646 of the GWR 1600 Class was sent to Helmsdale for the Dornoch branch, and 78052 became spare, used when 1646 was unavailable.^[7] A second engine of the 1600 Class, no. 1649, was sent to Helmsdale in July 1958, so no. 78052 became redundant and was sent elsewhere that September.^[9]

Nos. 1646 and 1649 were later transferred to Dingwall, where they remained until both were withdrawn from service in December 1962.^[10]

Connections to other lines

• Sutherland Railway at The Mound

Current operations

The line is closed.

References

Notes

Sources

• Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0049-7. OCLC 19514063. 
• Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0508-1. OCLC 60251199. 
• Cormack, J.R.H.; Stevenson, J.L. (1988). Greenwood, William. ed. Highland Railway Locomotives Book 1: Early Days to the 'Lochs'. Locomotives of the LMS. Lincoln: RCTS. ISBN 0 901115 64 9. 
• Cormack, J.R.H.; Stevenson, J.L. (1990). Greenwood, William. ed. Highland Railway Locomotives Book 2: The Drummond, Smith & Cumming Classes. Locomotives of the LMS. Lincoln: RCTS. ISBN 0 901115 72 X. 
• Jowett, Alan (March 1989). Jowett's Railway Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland: From Pre-Grouping to the Present Day (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0086-1. OCLC 22311137. 
• Rowledge, J.W.P. (1986). GWR Locomotive Allocations: First and Last Sheds 1922-1967. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0 7153 8820 7. 
• Walford, John (2003). Taylor, R.K.. ed. A Detailed History of British Railways Standard Steam Locomotives - Volume Two: The 4-6-0 and 2-6-0 Classes. Peterborough: RCTS. ISBN 0 901115 93 2. 
• RAILSCOT on Dornoch Light Railway

Historical Scottish railway companies Primary companies Caledonian Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Great North of Scotland Railway Highland Railway North British Railway Caledonian Railway Aberdeen Railway Alloa Railway Alyth Arbroath and Forfar Busby Railway Cathcart District Clydesdale Junction Crieff Junction Crieff and Comrie Crieff and Methven Junction Dumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerbie Dunblane, Doune and Callander Dundee and Perth Dundee and Perth and Aberdeen Forfar and Brechin General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Glasgow and Garnkirk Glasgow Central Railway Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Greenock and Wemyss Bay Hamilton and Strathaven Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Leadhills and Wanlockhead Lochearnhead, St Fillans and Comrie Paisley and Barrhead District Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Polloc and Govan Rutherglen and Coatbridge Scottish Central Scottish Midland Junction Scottish North Eastern Solway Junction Symington, Biggar and Broughton Talla Railway Wishaw and Coltness Lines built by the Caledonian Railway CR Cleland and Midcalder CR Main Line CR Douglas Branch CR Hamilton Branch CR Hamiltonhill Branch CR The Switchback Independent lines worked by the Caledonian Railway Callander and Oban Killin Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Ardrossan Railway Ardrossan and Johnstone Ayr and Dalmellington Ayr and Maybole Junction Ayr to Mauchline Ayrshire and Wigtownshire Barrhead Branch Bridge of Weir Railway Cairn Valley Caledonian and Dunbartonshire Junction Castle Douglas and Dumfries Dalry and North Johnstone Darvel Branch Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Greenock and Ayrshire Kilmarnock and Troon Largs Branch Maidens and Dunure Maybole and Girvan Paisley and Renfrew Paisley Canal Line Great North of Scotland Railway Aberdeen and Turriff Aboyne and Braemar Alford Valley Banff, Macduff and Turriff Junction Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Boddam Branch Deeside Railway Denburn Valley Formartine and Buchan Inverury and Old Meldrum Junction Keith and Dufftown Moray Coast Morayshire Railway St Combs Light Railway Strathspey Railway Highland Railway Buckie and Portessie Branch Dingwall and Skye Duke of Sutherland Findhorn Railway Fortrose Branch Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Inverness and Aviemore Direct Inverness and Nairn Inverness and Perth Junction Inverness and Ross-shire Kyle of Lochalsh Extension Perth and Dunkeld Sutherland and Caithness Sutherland Railway Independent lines worked by the Highland Railway Dornoch Light Railway Wick and Lybster Light Railway North British Railway Aberlady, Gullane and North Berwick Ballochney Bathgate and Coatbridge Blane Valley Border Counties Railway Border Union Railway Campsie Branch Carlisle and Silloth Bay Railway and Dock Company Coatbridge Branch Dunfermline and Queensferry Edinburgh and Bathgate Edinburgh and Dalkeith Edinburgh and Glasgow Edinburgh and Hawick Edinburgh, Leith and Newhaven Railway Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway Edinburgh and Northern Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Forth and Clyde Junction Glasgow, Bothwell, Hamilton and Coatbridge Glasgow City and District Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Glasgow and Milngavie Junction Glasgow, Yoker and Clydebank Kelvin Valley Railway Kirkcaldy and District Railway Kincardine Line Leadburn, Linton and Dolphinton Monkland and Kirkintilloch Monkland Railways Mallaig Extension NBR North Berwick Branch North British, Arbroath and Montrose Stirling and Dunfermline Strathendrick and Aberfoyle Slamannan Slamannan and Borrowstounness West Highland Railway Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness Joint lines Caledonian and Dunbartonshire Junction City Union Dundee and Arbroath Darvel and Strathaven Glasgow and Paisley Joint Glasgow and Renfrew District Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Kilsyth and Bonnybridge Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Other lines Brechin and Edzell District Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway Cromarty and Dingwall Light Railway Denburn Valley Line Dundee and Arbroath Invergarry and Fort Augustus Lochaber Narrow Gauge Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Tranent to Cockenzie Waggonway

Constituent railway companies of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Constituent companies Caledonian Railway Furness Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Highland Railway Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway London and North Western Railway Midland Railway North Staffordshire Railway Subsidiary companies Arbroath and Forfar Railway Brechin and Edzell District Railway Callander and Oban Railway Cathcart District Railway Charnwood Forest Railway Cleator and Workington Junction Railway Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway Dearne Valley Railway Dornoch Light Railway Dundee and Newtyle Railway Harborne Railway Killin Railway Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway Knott End Railway Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway Maryport and Carlisle Railway Mold and Denbigh Junction Railway North and South Western Junction Railway North London Railway Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Railway Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company Solway Junction Railway Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway Tottenham and Forest Gate Railway Wick and Lybster Light Railway Wirral Railway Yorkshire Dales Railway Former joint railways Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway Citadel Station Joint Committee Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Railway Furness and Midland Joint Railway Goods Traffic Committee Lancashire Union Railway North Union Railway Preston and Longridge Railway Preston and Wyre Joint Railway Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway (Full list of constituents)