Marly51 Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 (edited) Glorious day today after all the snow and popped down to Lairg Station to take some reference photos... Lairg Station looking south (Sadly the main station building has a mesh wire fence in front of the original low platform, the platform edge having been broken away. North of the main building the platform was raised, resulting in the lower step of the footbridge being embedded in tarmac) Waiting Room - Lairg Station (you can see here the original low platform which was typical of some of the Highland Railway Stations. A couple of platform footstools are still available for passengers) Some shots at the old oil depot at Lairg. The lower image is of the buffer stop on the siding used for loading and unloading livestock. Lairg Livestock Market is nearby to the east of the station. There were two old oil depots at Lairg Station, which were replaced by the third depot in 1969. All of the old sidings track has been lifted and stacked. I have photo prints from 15 years ago, which I shall scan and upload occasionally. At some point I am keen to build up a collection of my own drawings from surveying buildings, which I can also make available to anyone modelling the Far North Line. Edited March 8, 2018 by Marly51 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted March 8, 2018 Author Share Posted March 8, 2018 (edited) I've recently purchased a digital post-war aerial photograph of the area over and around Lairg Station for our local history society. I am not entitled to post it here as it is for research purposes only, but NCAP may add it to their online catalogue as I understand the licence fee pays for the digitising of the image. In which case, I shall post the link here later. Our archive has a number of old black and white photographs relating to the station but we are still checking out provenance on those which look like they are copies from specific collections such as George Washington Wilson Archive at Aberdeen University. Edited March 8, 2018 by Marly51 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corrour Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I've recently purchased a digital post-war aerial photograph of the area over and around Lairg Station for our local history society. I am not entitled to post it here as it is for research purposes only, but NCAP may add it to their online catalogue as I understand the licence fee pays for the digitising of the image. In which case, I shall post the link here later. Our archive has a number of old black and white photographs relating to the station but we are still checking out provenance on those which look like they are copies from specific collections such as George Washington Wilson Archive at Aberdeen University. In relation to Lairg M1.2.3.4 1946 DK.pdf a signalling diagram for every bodies interest. kind regards, Robert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted March 14, 2018 Author Share Posted March 14, 2018 In relation to Lairg M1.2.3.4 1946 DK.pdf a signalling diagram for every bodies interest. kind regards, Robert Thanks for this Robert - busy model making just now and hoping to have more time to focus on the research side after. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corrour Posted March 14, 2018 Share Posted March 14, 2018 Thanks for this Robert - busy model making just now and hoping to have more time to focus on the research side after. Give me a email if you need more signalling info. R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NCB Posted March 29, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 29, 2018 (edited) More Lairg pics, June 2015: Click to get a larger image, sharper and with better colour Nigel Edited March 29, 2018 by NCB 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted March 29, 2018 Author Share Posted March 29, 2018 Lovely photos Nigel. Wish we could get some refurbishment done on the fenced platform in front of the main building at Lairg Station. The present owners of the Station House have undertaken a great renovation of their building and garden. There are community grants available, so maybe that might be something we could support? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted April 6, 2018 Author Share Posted April 6, 2018 I am putting together a display, for our local history society, of old photographs relating to the history of Lairg Station and the railway companies associated with the station since it was built by the Sutherland Railway in 1868. More details to follow... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
84B Oxley Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 A gratuitous shot of Lairg in the 1980s. The little lad in shorts, my younger son, is now in his late 30s! Jeff 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted April 7, 2018 Author Share Posted April 7, 2018 Thank you Jeff. Old photographs and memories of Lairg Station are very welcome... Marlyn Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted April 28, 2018 Author Share Posted April 28, 2018 (edited) Already posted in 'Exhibitions' - To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Lairg Station, Lairg Local History Society currently has an exhibition of photographs, documents and railway memorabilia in Ferrycroft Visitor Centre, Lairg. Some models will be added to the display over the next couple of months. (Includes photographs and copies of plans, signalling diagrams, etc from the archive of the Highland Railway Society and the Dougie Kirk Collection, courtesy Robert Dey.) Edited April 28, 2018 by Marly51 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted May 13, 2018 Author Share Posted May 13, 2018 Yesterday a plaque to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Lairg Station was unveiled by Sally Mackenzie, the daughter of the last Stationmaster, Jimmy Taylor, who retired in 1968. Lairg Local History Society has been collecting old photos, documents and stories as part of the research for an N gauge model of Lairg Station based on the 1930s/1940s when there were two oil depots, a parcel store, goods shed, coal merchant, livestock loading bay with brickworks and a livestock market nearby. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted May 15, 2018 Author Share Posted May 15, 2018 For modern era fans, my daughter took these photographs at Lairg Station yesterday. The railway gang are working on the track and doing lots of new fencing work to the north of the station. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted May 17, 2018 Author Share Posted May 17, 2018 (edited) Unmanned Invershin Station today. The station buildings were gutted by fire years ago. Only the stone shell remains. Invershin Station was built by the Sutherland Railway in 1868, in the same Highland ‘cottage’ style as Lairg and Rogart. The remaining supports for the old timber section of platform, with the Kyle of Sutherland viaduct beyond. Edited May 17, 2018 by Marly51 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted May 17, 2018 Author Share Posted May 17, 2018 (edited) Another couple of small maintenance wagons at Lairg today. Old sleepers in foreground and stack of new rails behind. Station yard full of ballast. Photos were taken from the old loading bay which is now overgrown. Edited May 17, 2018 by Marly51 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted May 23, 2018 Author Share Posted May 23, 2018 (edited) Today I bought an N gauge Highland Bitumens Ltd tank wagon from the model shop in Dingwall. I was speaking to one of the former coal merchants who ran his business with his brother from Lairg Goods Shed - this was during the postwar years and he remembered bitumen being delivered and offloaded for roadworks. Highland Bitumen was refined by Shell at Ardrossan (which closed in 1988) and sent north by rail to sidings at Culloden Moor. The bitumen refinery was originally a WW1 aviation gasoline refinery. Both Culloden Moor and Tomatin sidings were used by Highland Bitumen of Ardrossan. Culloden Moor's sidings were still in use up to 1986. The only image I could find online is this one http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3345327 at Culloden. I would be interested to know if anyone on the Forum knows more about Highland Bitumen? Edited May 23, 2018 by Marly51 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Jim Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 .......... I would be interested to know if anyone on the Forum knows more about Highland Bitumen? 2BE909F4-CA47-427A-B76E-68A80FB1DA05.jpeg According to this link the company was incorporated in 1962 and is now dissolved. I couldn't find any more about the company on line. Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted May 23, 2018 Author Share Posted May 23, 2018 Thanks Jim, I am due to speak to one or two older folk in the community who had railway, station, livestock and brick works connections to try and find out a bit more about operations in and around the station during the last war and the postwar period. Marlyn Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Alder Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Here are a couple of shots of bitumen tanks - the named one taken at Culloden, IIR, 1970 or thereabouts and another at Wick. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveF Posted May 23, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 23, 2018 I've just noticed that I captured a little bit of one of the bitumen tankers at Lairg in June 1969. Lairg 25th June 69 C016 My other photos of the line are at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/albums/72157626232198549 I don't know if any of Ernie Brack's photos (irishswissernie) are any use, they are in his Farther North Line album on flickr, though they may be too recent. https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/albums/72157691625089715/page1 David 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted May 23, 2018 Author Share Posted May 23, 2018 Thanks Richard and Dave! Will show these to the two gents who worked at the station and the brickworks. We’ve just been contacted by someone, whose family firm built the Lairg Brickworks in the 1930s for Sir Edgar Horne of Lairg Estate - they also built RAF aerodromes, in Scotland, during WW2 - so hoping to have more history to share on this thread. What a great collection of photographs, Dave. Richard has also been very generous sharing his collection and knowledge of the Far North Line. Marlyn Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted May 23, 2018 Author Share Posted May 23, 2018 (edited) Memorabilia from Lairg Station: The last chalkboard before the station ceased to be manned. A goods accounts pouch made from canvas with leather straps and double option for closing with an Glasgow Office badge on one side and Highland Lines Lairg badge the other. Edited May 23, 2018 by Marly51 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NCB Posted May 24, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 24, 2018 Hornby did a Highland Bitumens tank wagon: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/Hornby-r6325b-highland-bitumens-20-537453057 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted May 24, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 24, 2018 Both of the Tourret bibles have a little information on Highland Bitumens tank wagons and and the company. Regrettably for Hornby, their wagons only numbered 1 to 3! Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marly51 Posted May 26, 2018 Author Share Posted May 26, 2018 (edited) That seems to be about it for Highland Bitumens - thanks everyone? Still to check out Anglo American Oil, Scottish Oils, coal, lime, Lairg bricks, livestock, post and parcels... Lairg handled the inward and outward dispatch of all kinds of goods, which were then distributed to the north and west by the bus service provided by the Sutherland Transport and Trading Co., based in Lairg. ‘The Sutherland Transport’ was at one time the largest employer in Sutherland. David Flett has a good photo of an ST bus parked on the track at the parcel shed! https://www.flickr.com/photos/9003948@N05/17406727386/in/photolist-fQxAQf-nZngjp-8qcMi7-KHyZKQ-oqzUMk-87uNYk-pcYvZt-HwgLCb-2rjo3i-51Dz5J-n3Zor4-6gJ1tY-bp7Ff4-brooNQ-bPXDC6-4sbGeJ-9UAmC1-8CjGwd-9Q1QXy-Toc1w1-ektcfV-caTGJU-4VWnTP-KtZ3S3-GehqnG-4riKeR-bEisMZ-rBp9YE-rGSW9Q-MTLyHg-RnRf5C-bDmM2s-ae3pNL-84nmRp-6FurFe-35kdgg-ae3oDy-adZvet-bPXDiz-6jd63V-NB1vos-TkZoH-eGVQnd-9Uxwea-SQxVUo-9ohZHv-afqzFz-bPXEnT-9YvsWi-swb2Bq Edited May 26, 2018 by Marly51 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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