Arbroath and Forfar Railway
Encyclopedia
The Arbroath and Forfar Railway was a railway that ran from the North East coast of Scotland at Arbroath
inland (north) to Guthrie on the Aberdeen Railway
and then west to Forfar
where is connected with the Scottish Midland Junction Railway
. It was incorporated on 19 May 1836.
The Arbroath and Forfar Railway opened initially as a single track on 3 January 1839. In common with the Dundee and Arbroath Railway
, it had a gauge of . This was a compromise, by the engineer Thomas Grainger
, between the Broad gauge
of the GWR
and the Scotch gauge
in use at that time. Apart from the terminal stations, there were six intermediate stops though, at the start, they were not provided with buildings.
The line proceeded roughly north west to Frockheim then curved westwards through Lunan Head where it turned southwestwards to Forfar, covering a distance of some fifteen miles. There were few sharp curves and the maximum gradient was 1 in 130 (0.85%) and there were five long substantially level stretches. In general very little in the way of earthworks was necessary except where the line crossed Rostennet Moss.
The line was extremely successful from the start, carrying around 500 passengers and 120 tons of freight a week, well in excess of expectations. The fares were set unusually low, such that ordinary workers, such as reapers, found it cheaper than walking, since the time saved could be applied to earning money.
At the beginning there were three locomotives, Victoria, Britannia and Caledonia, all six wheeled, with five foot drivers and 3 ft 6 in carrying wheels. They had outside cylinders and inside bearings. All three proved to be exceedingly reliable.
The carriages were of three types: "Mixed" with a central first-class compartment and second class at each end, "Second" class only and "Third" class only. The first class compartments were glazed, while the second class were provided with curtains. The third class were without roots but had seats.
and St Vigean's Junction operated primarily by First ScotRail
as the Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line
, the railway is closed.
Arbroath
Arbroath or Aberbrothock is a former royal burgh and the largest town in the council area of Angus in Scotland, and has a population of 22,785...
inland (north) to Guthrie on the Aberdeen Railway
Aberdeen Railway
The Aberdeen Railway was a railway that ran mainly along the North East coast of Scotland south from Aberdeen to on the Arbroath and Forfar Railway. There were branches to Montrose and Brechin...
and then west to Forfar
Forfar
Forfar is a parish, town and former royal burgh of approximately 13,500 people in Angus, located in the East Central Lowlands of Scotland. Forfar is the county town of Angus, which was officially known as Forfarshire from the 18th century until 1929, when the ancient name was reinstated, and...
where is connected with the Scottish Midland Junction Railway
Scottish Midland Junction Railway
The Scottish Midland Junction Railway was authorised on 31 July 1845 to link Scottish Central Railway at Perth to the Aberdeen Railway at Forfar. It opened on 4 August 1848, having incorporated the Newtyle, Eassie and Glamiss Railway and Newtyle and Coupar Angus Railway between Coupar Angus and...
. It was incorporated on 19 May 1836.
History
Dundee and Arbroath Railway
The Dundee and Arbroath Railway was a railway link between those two towns in Scotland.-History:The railway company received its Parliamentary Act on 19 May 1836. It was planned as a gauge railway, because, at that time, it was expected to be a purely local railway with no connection to the...
, it had a gauge of . This was a compromise, by the engineer Thomas Grainger
Thomas Grainger
Thomas Grainger FRSE was a Scottish civil engineer and surveyor. He was born in Ratho, outside Edinburgh, to Hugh Grainger and Helen Marshall. Educated at Edinburgh University, at sixteen he got a job with John Leslie, a land surveyor.He started his own practice in 1816. In 1825 he formed a...
, between the Broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
of the GWR
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
and the Scotch gauge
Scotch gauge
Scotch gauge was the name given to a track gauge, that was adopted by early 19th century railways mainly in the Lanarkshire area of Scotland. It differed from the gauge of that was used on some early lines in England; and from the standard gauge of...
in use at that time. Apart from the terminal stations, there were six intermediate stops though, at the start, they were not provided with buildings.
The line proceeded roughly north west to Frockheim then curved westwards through Lunan Head where it turned southwestwards to Forfar, covering a distance of some fifteen miles. There were few sharp curves and the maximum gradient was 1 in 130 (0.85%) and there were five long substantially level stretches. In general very little in the way of earthworks was necessary except where the line crossed Rostennet Moss.
The line was extremely successful from the start, carrying around 500 passengers and 120 tons of freight a week, well in excess of expectations. The fares were set unusually low, such that ordinary workers, such as reapers, found it cheaper than walking, since the time saved could be applied to earning money.
At the beginning there were three locomotives, Victoria, Britannia and Caledonia, all six wheeled, with five foot drivers and 3 ft 6 in carrying wheels. They had outside cylinders and inside bearings. All three proved to be exceedingly reliable.
The carriages were of three types: "Mixed" with a central first-class compartment and second class at each end, "Second" class only and "Third" class only. The first class compartments were glazed, while the second class were provided with curtains. The third class were without roots but had seats.
Connections to other lines
- Scottish Midland Junction RailwayScottish Midland Junction RailwayThe Scottish Midland Junction Railway was authorised on 31 July 1845 to link Scottish Central Railway at Perth to the Aberdeen Railway at Forfar. It opened on 4 August 1848, having incorporated the Newtyle, Eassie and Glamiss Railway and Newtyle and Coupar Angus Railway between Coupar Angus and...
at Forfar North Junction - Dundee and Forfar Direct Line at Forfar East Junction
- Aberdeen RailwayAberdeen RailwayThe Aberdeen Railway was a railway that ran mainly along the North East coast of Scotland south from Aberdeen to on the Arbroath and Forfar Railway. There were branches to Montrose and Brechin...
at the triangular junctions of Glasterlaw Junction, Friockheim Junction and Guthrie Junction - North British, Arbroath and Montrose Railway at St Vigean's Junction north east of ArbroathArbroath railway stationArbroath railway station serves the town of Arbroath in Angus, Scotland. The station is east of Dundee on the line between Dundee and Aberdeen.- History :There have been three stations called "Arbroath", two of which closed in 1848...
- Dundee and Arbroath RailwayDundee and Arbroath RailwayThe Dundee and Arbroath Railway was a railway link between those two towns in Scotland.-History:The railway company received its Parliamentary Act on 19 May 1836. It was planned as a gauge railway, because, at that time, it was expected to be a purely local railway with no connection to the...
close to Arbroath (new)Arbroath railway stationArbroath railway station serves the town of Arbroath in Angus, Scotland. The station is east of Dundee on the line between Dundee and Aberdeen.- History :There have been three stations called "Arbroath", two of which closed in 1848...
and Arbroath (Catherine Street)
Current operations
Apart for the section between Arbroath (new)Arbroath railway station
Arbroath railway station serves the town of Arbroath in Angus, Scotland. The station is east of Dundee on the line between Dundee and Aberdeen.- History :There have been three stations called "Arbroath", two of which closed in 1848...
and St Vigean's Junction operated primarily by First ScotRail
First ScotRail
ScotRail Railways Ltd. is the FirstGroup-owned train operating company running domestic passenger trains within Scotland, northern England and the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper service to London using the brand ScotRail which is the property of the Scottish Government...
as the Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line
Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line
The Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line is a railway line linking Edinburgh with Aberdeen via the Forth Bridge, the Tay Bridge and Dundee. Also it serves as an extension to the East Coast Main Line and the Cross Country Route...
, the railway is closed.