Dornoch Light Railway
Encyclopedia
Dornoch Light Railway was an historic railway in Scotland
that ran from 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.
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.
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; there was a small shed at Dornoch for overnight stabling.
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. It was specially renamed Dornoch for the branch; it had previously been named Balnain. This locomotive was used on the branch until at least Summer 1919.
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, and BR Standard Class 2 2-6-0
no. 78052, which was based at from February 1957.
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. 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.
Nos. 1646 and 1649 were later transferred to , where they remained until both were withdrawn from service in December 1962.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
that ran from on the Sutherland Railway
Sutherland Railway
The Sutherland Railway was a railway worked by, and later absorbed in 1884 by the Highland Railway running through Sutherland, Scotland. Sutherland is a former county, and former districts of the Highland region....
to the county town of Sutherland, Dornoch
Dornoch
Dornoch is a town and seaside resort, and former Royal burgh in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Dornoch Firth, near to where it opens into the Moray Firth to the east...
. 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
Wick and Lybster Railway
The Wick and Lybster Light Railway was a light railway worked by the Highland Railway in Caithness, Scotland following a coastal route south from Wick to Lybster. It was intended to profit from the fishery based in Lybster but the harbour declined not long after the line opened...
), this allowed the line to be built to lower standards to save cost.
The route
The Railway started at a south-facing junction with the Sutherland RailwaySutherland Railway
The Sutherland Railway was a railway worked by, and later absorbed in 1884 by the Highland Railway running through Sutherland, Scotland. Sutherland is a former county, and former districts of the Highland region....
at The Mound station
The Mound railway station
The Mound railway station was a former railway station on the Far North Line near the head of Loch Fleet in Scotland. For more than half of its life it was the junction for .-History:...
, 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
Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford FRS, FRSE was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason, and a noted road, bridge and canal builder.-Early career:...
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
Loch Fleet
Loch Fleet is a sea loch on the east coast of Scotland, located between Golspie and Dornoch. It forms the estuary of the River Fleet, a small spate river that rises in the hills east of Lairg.-Geography and geology:...
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
Dornoch
Dornoch is a town and seaside resort, and former Royal burgh in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Dornoch Firth, near to where it opens into the Moray Firth to the east...
. 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 RailwayHighland RailwayThe Highland Railway was one of the smaller British railways before the Railways Act 1921; it operated north of Perth railway station in Scotland and served the farthest north of Britain...
). - 1 January 1923 - Became part of the London Midland and Scottish Railway.
- 13 June 1960 - Closed to all traffic.
- 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; there was a small shed at Dornoch for overnight stabling.
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. It was specially renamed Dornoch for the branch; it had previously been named Balnain. This locomotive was used on the branch until at least Summer 1919.
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, and BR Standard Class 2 2-6-0
BR standard class 2 2-6-0
The BR Standard Class 2 2-6-0 is a class of steam locomotive, one of the British Railways Standard classes of the 1950s. They were physically the smallest of the Standard classes; 65 were built....
no. 78052, which was based at from February 1957.
In April 1957, ex-Great Western Railway
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...
(GWR) 0-6-0PT no. 1646 of the GWR 1600 Class
GWR 1600 Class
The Great Western Railway 1600 class is a class of 0-6-0 pannier tank steam locomotive.-History:The class was based on the 2021 class designed by Dean and built from 1897 onwards...
was sent to Helmsdale for the Dornoch branch, and 78052 became spare, used when 1646 was unavailable. 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.
Nos. 1646 and 1649 were later transferred to , where they remained until both were withdrawn from service in December 1962.