Formartine and Buchan Railway
Encyclopedia
The Formartine and Buchan Railway was a railway in the north east of Scotland. It was built to link Fraserburgh
and Peterhead
with Aberdeen. It had a junction with the main line of the Great North of Scotland Railway
at Dyce
.
opened on 18 July 1861, with the 13 mile section from Maud to Peterhead
opening the following year. The final 15 mile long section north to Fraserburgh
opened on 24 April 1865.
The line was built by the Formartine and Buchan Railway Company, which was absorbed by the Great North of Scotland Railway
on 30 July 1866. In 1923 the GNoSR was incorporated into the London and North Eastern Railway
, which was in turn nationalised on 1 January 1948.
in 1965 as part of the Beeching cuts. Freight trains continued to operate to Peterhead until 1970 and Fraserburgh until 1979. The track was subsequently lifted and much of the route now forms the Formartine and Buchan Way
, a long distance footpath and cycle path.
Fraserburgh
Fraserburgh is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland with a population recorded in the 2001 Census at 12,454 and estimated at 12,630 in 2006. It lies at the extreme northeast corner of Aberdeenshire, around north of Aberdeen, and north of Peterhead...
and Peterhead
Peterhead
Peterhead is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is Aberdeenshire's biggest settlement , with a population of 17,947 at the 2001 Census and estimated to have fallen to 17,330 by 2006....
with Aberdeen. It had a junction with the main line of the Great North of Scotland Railway
Great North of Scotland Railway
The Great North of Scotland Railway was one of the smaller Scottish railways before the grouping, operating in the far north-east of the country. It was formed in 1845 and received its Parliamentary approval on June 26, 1846, following over two years of local meetings...
at Dyce
Dyce railway station
Dyce railway station is a railway station serving the town of Dyce, Aberdeen, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line, with some trains operating on the East Coast Main Line beginning or terminating at the station. This gives it direct services to...
.
History
The 29 mile long railway from Dyce to MintlawMintlaw railway station
Mintlaw railway station was a railway station in Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire.The 29 mile long railway from Dyce to Mintlaw opened on 18 July 1861, with the extension to Peterhead opening the following year....
opened on 18 July 1861, with the 13 mile section from Maud to Peterhead
Peterhead railway station
For the railway station in Adelaide, Australia, see Peterhead railway station, Adelaide.Peterhead railway station was a railway station in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire....
opening the following year. The final 15 mile long section north to Fraserburgh
Fraserburgh railway station
Fraserburgh railway station is a former railway station that once served the town of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. It formed a junction where two lines met, the main line from the south terminated here, where it was joined by a small coastal branch line from St Combs . It is now closed, and the site...
opened on 24 April 1865.
The line was built by the Formartine and Buchan Railway Company, which was absorbed by the Great North of Scotland Railway
Great North of Scotland Railway
The Great North of Scotland Railway was one of the smaller Scottish railways before the grouping, operating in the far north-east of the country. It was formed in 1845 and received its Parliamentary approval on June 26, 1846, following over two years of local meetings...
on 30 July 1866. In 1923 the GNoSR was incorporated into the London and North Eastern Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
, which was in turn nationalised on 1 January 1948.
Closure
Passenger services were withdrawn by the Scottish Region of British RailwaysScottish Region of British Railways
The Scottish Region was one of the six regions created on British Railways and consisted of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway and ex-London and North Eastern Railway lines in Scotland...
in 1965 as part of the Beeching cuts. Freight trains continued to operate to Peterhead until 1970 and Fraserburgh until 1979. The track was subsequently lifted and much of the route now forms the Formartine and Buchan Way
Formartine and Buchan Way
The Formartine and Buchan Way is a long-distance footpath in Scotland, extending from Dyce north to Peterhead and Fraserburgh. It follows the track of a former railway line, the Formartine and Buchan Railway, and is open to walkers and cyclists. Horse riders are also welcome on parts of the track...
, a long distance footpath and cycle path.
Connections to other lines
- Great North of Scotland RailwayGreat North of Scotland RailwayThe Great North of Scotland Railway was one of the smaller Scottish railways before the grouping, operating in the far north-east of the country. It was formed in 1845 and received its Parliamentary approval on June 26, 1846, following over two years of local meetings...
at DyceDyce railway stationDyce railway station is a railway station serving the town of Dyce, Aberdeen, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line, with some trains operating on the East Coast Main Line beginning or terminating at the station. This gives it direct services to... - Boddam Branch (GNoSR) at EllonEllon railway stationEllon railway station was a railway station in Ellon, Aberdeenshire.-Previous services:-Sources:*...
- St Combs Light Railway (GNoSR) at FraserburghFraserburgh railway stationFraserburgh railway station is a former railway station that once served the town of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. It formed a junction where two lines met, the main line from the south terminated here, where it was joined by a small coastal branch line from St Combs . It is now closed, and the site...