Arbroath and Forfar Railway.html



Arbroath and Forfar Railway

Legend    Dundee and Arbroath Railway Arbroath (new) Arbroath Catherine Street St Vigean's Junction    North British, Arbroath and Montrose Railway Collinston Leysmill    Aberdeen Railway Glasterlaw (Aberdeen Railway) Glasterlaw and Friockheim Junctions Friockheim Guthrie Junction Guthrie Auldbar Road Clocksbriggs    Dundee and Forfar Direct Line Forfar East Junction Forfar North Junction Forfar Playfield Forfar (new) (SMJR)    Scottish Midland Junction Railway

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.

History

James Stirling and Co 2-2-2 locomotive for the Arbroath and Forfar Railway

It opened initially as a single track on 3, January, 1839. In common with the Dundee and Arbroath Railway, it had a gauge of 5 feet 6 inches. 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 Lunnan 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 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 3'6" 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.

Openings

Closures

Connections to other lines

• Scottish Midland Junction Railway at Forfar North Junction
• Dundee and Forfar Direct Line at Forfar East Junction
• Aberdeen Railway 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 Arbroath
• Dundee and Arbroath Railway close to Arbroath (new) and Arbroath (Catherine Street)

Current operations

Apart for the section between Arbroath (new) and St Vigean's Junction operated primarily by First ScotRail as the Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line, the railway is closed.

References

Notes

Sources

• Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0049-7. OCLC 19514063. 

• Jowett, Alan (March 1989). Jowett's Railway Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland: From Pre-Grouping to the Present Day, 1st, Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0086-1. OCLC 22311137. 

• Whishaw, Francis [1840] (1842). The Railways of Great Britain and Ireland practically described and illustrated, 2nd, London: John Weale (1840 publisher - Simpkin, Marshall & Co.). OCLC 36383414. 

• RAILSCOT on the Arbroath and Forfar Railway