RMweb Premium Dava Posted June 28, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 28, 2015 (edited) It occurred to me the other day that Scotland had a fair number of light railways, ie those built after the Light Railways Act in 1896. They are an interesting source of ideas for modelling projects, and I have had one planned for a while. Many more lines were planned but those actually built are listed below. I don't think there is a single book which deals with them all, though there is a book on Scottish narrow gauge lines now (they were even rarer) including some fascinating grouse moor lines. https://amentapublishing.wordpress.com/history/scottish-narrow-gauge-railways/\ Also see https://hlrco.wordpress.com/scottish-narrow-gauge/ There is quite a lot of web based information on specific lines from http://www.railbrit.co.uk/ and http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/ as well as Wikipedia on most lines: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_Railways_Act_1896 Worth noting that Scotland had a number of Private Railways which were not the same thing and often much older, being built mainly for mineral working (not as public railways) across private lands, but not strictly light railways - eg: Wemyss, Fordell, Carmyllie Private railways (see post below). There were many industrial lines in the Lowlands & Central Scotland, some of length & complexity. There were also long branch lines such as the Lochty Railway which became a Private Railway after preservation but it was not built as a light railway. Some of the branch lines built after 1896 you might have expected to be built as light railways, but they were not, eg Ormiston-Gifford, Boddam-Ellon branches. Some light railways were independent and some built by the main line companies. So its a complicated field. WJK Davies 'Light Railways' (1964) and other writers did not list all the Scottish light railways. Here is the starter list based on Wikipedia. Please add comments on omissions , errors. Especially welcome photos & sources of information from books & articles on any of these: Bankfoot Light Railway Cairn Valley Light Railway to Moniaive Campbeltown & Machrihanish Light Railway (narrow gauge) Carmyllie Light Railway (passenger service) Cromarty and Dingwall Light Railway (not completed or opened) Dornoch Light Railway Fraserburgh & St Combs Light Railway Lauder Light Railway Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway Maidens and Dunure Light Railway Wick & Lybster Light Railway Dava Edited June 28, 2015 by Dava Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulzer27jd Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Although built as a private railway the Carmyllie Railway had a passenger service that ran under the Light Railways Act. The first in the country to do so apparently. There are a number of photos of the St Combs branch on this Flickr site - https://www.flickr.com/photos/38727358@N04/ John 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dava Posted June 28, 2015 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted June 28, 2015 Thanks John Your link is to the best set of Fraserburgh & St Combs photos I've seen, interesting to see 46460 with the angle-iron cowcatcher bolted on front & back. Sister engine 46464 was 'The Carmyllie Pilot' but also ran to St Combs, and has its own website http://www.br46464.co.uk/ It is now being restored at Bridge of Dun. I did not know the Carmyllie Railway passenger services were covered by the Light Railways Act. Carmyllie had a tiny station ideal for the space-starved modeller which can be seen in one of Ian Fraser's photos on this site: https://www.flickr.com/photos/93303764@N04/8496610405/in/photostream/ Dava Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulzer27jd Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Dava, 46464 and 46463 were known as the Carmyllie Pilots. Both Dundee engines and worked the line for years. I actually remember going round what was then Dundee diesel depot and to my surprise in amongst all the usual blue diesels was 46464, I can't remember the year but it must have been her move from Dundee to the Strathspey Rlwy. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JohnR Posted June 28, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 28, 2015 Dava, 46464 and 46463 were known as the Carmyllie Pilots. Both Dundee engines and worked the line for years. I actually remember going round what was then Dundee diesel depot and to my surprise in amongst all the usual blue diesels was 46464, I can't remember the year but it must have been her move from Dundee to the Strathspey Rlwy. John I think she moved to the Strathspey in 1975... Yes the Carmyllie branch had its passenger service operated under the Light Railwasy Act from 1900 to 1929 - the line itself was operated by the Dundee and Arbroath Joint Railway.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
upneysidings Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Especially welcome photos & sources of information from books & articles on any of these: Bankfoot Light Railway Cairn Valley Light Railway to Moniaive Campbeltown & Machrihanish Light Railway (narrow gauge) Carmyllie Light Railway (passenger service) Cromarty and Dingwall Light Railway (not completed or opened) Dornoch Light Railway Fraserburgh & St Combs Light Railway Lauder Light Railway Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway Maidens and Dunure Light Railway Wick & Lybster Light Railway The image from an original negative that I selected for my web site's "Picture of the Week" this week (2015/29) features ARGYLL on the C&MLR at Campbeltown: https://mikemorant.smugmug.com/Picture-of-the-week/PotW-2015/i-3DD59dr/A The thumbnail images for this year's PotW's is: https://mikemorant.smugmug.com/Picture-of-the-week/PotW-2015/ Mike M. https://mikemorant.smugmug.com/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 It occurred to me the other day that Scotland had a fair number of light railways, ie those built after the Light Railways Act in 1896. They are an interesting source of ideas for modelling projects, and I have had one planned for a while. Many more lines were planned but those actually built are listed below. ... Especially welcome photos & sources of information from books & articles on any of these: ... Cairn Valley Light Railway to Moniaive Maidens and Dunure Light Railway Dava Hi, these two lines have good books available. The Cairn Valley book has been around for a number of years, published by the Oakwood Press. The Maidens & Dunure line book is much more recent. I *think* it is also Oakwood Press, but I may be mistaken - despite it being home territory I have not yet got round to buying a copy. It looks good though, from a cursory flick through. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dava Posted July 27, 2015 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted July 27, 2015 Thank you, Oakwood Press also do a good book on the Lauder Light Railway and the Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway. Dava Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterR Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Another light Railway that was authorised, but was never built was the Loch Fyne Light Railway. This is mentioned, with a rough plan of the intended route in the book 'The New Railway, by John McGregor. Senically it would have been superb, but I can well understand why it was never built! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Argos Posted November 28, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 28, 2015 Peter, The Caley also proposed a competing line to Inveraray built to be built to light railway standards. I've always assumed this was a "land grab" to prevent incursion by the North British into Caley territory. Given the circuitous nature of the route I would have thought the steamer service would have provided a quicker route to Glasgow and onward. The proposed line was to leave the C&O mainline at Dalmally and run down the side of Loch Awe. I believe the primary objection to the line was from Inveraray Castle, the terminus would have been just out side the walls. This objection meant the land could not be secured. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted May 21, 2018 Share Posted May 21, 2018 (edited) Just found this topic Dava. I have ordered a second hand copy of Iain Sutherland’s ‘Wick & Lybster Light Railway’ after reading the article in the April issue of ‘BackTrack’. I passed the interesting, and somewhat dilapidated, Thrumster Station every year when I took my daughter to Highland dancing competitions in Caithness. Glad it has now been restored by the local community. I did wonder back then about the history of the railway. Planning to spend a couple of days up there this summer to see what remains are still visible in the landscape of the line and it’s buildings. Will post some photos here if there is anything of interest. This is another great topic for modelling! All the best, Marlyn Edited May 21, 2018 by Marly51 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dava Posted May 21, 2018 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 21, 2018 Thanks Marly, That's interesting as I wasn't even aware of that book! It goes on my 'books to track down list' and aim to go & see someday. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Alder Posted May 21, 2018 Share Posted May 21, 2018 Its a bit of a ramble through the life and times of the line and the community rather than a "proper" railway history as done by the likes of Oakwood. The author is a local amateur historian rather than a railway aficionado but it does have a place on the shelf if interested in the history of the place. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted May 21, 2018 Share Posted May 21, 2018 Thanks, Ben Alder. I am also quite interested in the social side of railway history, as you know. Are there any other publications or articles specifically about the Wick and Lybster Light Railway which you could recommend? Marlyn Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Alder Posted May 21, 2018 Share Posted May 21, 2018 There have been several magazine articles over the years on it, all saying much the same thing really. I know I have one or two stashed away somewhere but laying my hands on them might take time...I'll see what I can find..e Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corrour Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 There have been several magazine articles over the years on it, all saying much the same thing really. I know I have one or two stashed away somewhere but laying my hands on them might take time...I'll see what I can find..e I think there was an article in one of the railway magazines recently....will see if I can find. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium keefer Posted May 22, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 22, 2018 See post #11 - April issue of Backtrack Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium keefer Posted May 23, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 23, 2018 The current (May) issue of 'Railway Bylines' has an article on the Dornoch Light Railway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 (edited) The current (May) issue of 'Railway Bylines' has an article on the Dornoch Light Railway.Although I have not seen it, Historylinks Museum in Dornoch produced a 90 minute DVD about the Dornoch Light Railway. http://www.historylinks.org.uk/dvdsAlso check out Ben Alder's blog on this Forum for his notes about his layout based on The Mound, which was the junction from the main line for the Dornoch Light Railway. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/blog/62/entry-4066-moundwork/ Edited May 23, 2018 by Marly51 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Signaller69 Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Another light Railway that was authorised, but was never built was the Loch Fyne Light Railway. This is mentioned, with a rough plan of the intended route in the book 'The New Railway, by John McGregor. Senically it would have been superb, but I can well understand why it was never built! Hi Peter, have you any further info on this book, availability or ISBN etc; a Google search drew a blank? TIA. Martyn. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pH Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Hi Peter, have you any further info on this book, availability or ISBN etc; a Google search drew a blank? TIA. Martyn. https://www.bookdepository.com/New-Railway-John-McGregor/9781445647326 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Signaller69 Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 https://www.bookdepository.com/New-Railway-John-McGregor/9781445647326 Brilliant, thanks very much! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NCB Posted May 24, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 24, 2018 Other proposed railways included the Hebridean Light Railway. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebridean_Light_Railway_Company Isleornsay to Uig on Skye, and Stornaway to Carloway on Lewis. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold John B Posted May 24, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 24, 2018 There was a narrow gauge slate railway on the island of Easdale. Details are hard to track down but remains of the quarry (and wagons) can be found at the Easdale Folk Museum. Not really a Light Railway in the "act" sense of the word, but a fascinating relic and story nonetheless. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted May 24, 2018 Share Posted May 24, 2018 There was a narrow gauge slate railway on the island of Easdale. Details are hard to track down but remains of the quarry (and wagons) can be found at the Easdale Folk Museum. Not really a Light Railway in the "act" sense of the word, but a fascinating relic and story nonetheless. Do you know if the slate railway on Easdale was powered by an engine, gravity or horse power? The old quarry and brickworks at Lairg had a small tramway set-up where bricks were loaded onto small flat wagons and manually transported into the autoclaves. As you say, these are not ‘Light Railways’ in terms of the ‘Act’ but possibly another interesting subject for modelmakers? Marlyn Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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