History Brechin and Edzell District Railway

1 history

1.1 proposals
1.2 aberdeen railway
1.3 railway edzell
1.4 closure

history
early proposals

system map of brechin , edzell district railway

brechin important town manufacturing output, , requirement coal , agricultural minerals, stifled because of difficulty of transport , nearest harbour coastal shipping available: montrose. robert stevenson commissioned in 1819 report on means of transport between brechin , montrose. brechin natural distribution centre locality, , local sandstone in demand construction of buildings in london. canal proposed topography of district problem, , stevenson recommended consideration of iron railway. primitive locomotives of day inadequate gradients encountered, stevenson proposed several alternatives, including route consisting of level sections intermediate inclined planes worked stationary engines, , route descended brechin on steady gradient of 1 in 414. stevenson admitted of proposals technically unproven, , passenger revenue forecast £50 per annum. stevenson s plan not adopted.

promoters in brechin revived idea of railway in 1836, when called in engineering consultants grainger , miller. viable survey presented, not adopted, , revised scheme surveyed in 1839 time new wet dock being built in montrose. 1839 scheme not adopted , once again nothing done.

the aberdeen railway

the frenzy of railway speculation in 1840s led number of railway schemes in northern areas of scotland. thought important link aberdeen planned network further south, , began become clear perth going focus. perth lowest crossing point on river tay, , bridging firth @ lower point presented challenges beyond technological capability of time.

railways existed dundee forfar: dundee , arbroath railway , arbroath , forfar railway had been opened in 1838, although planned link @ arbroath had not been constructed. railway planned run perth forfar: became scottish midland junction railway (smjr) , authorised parliament in 1845. line promoted reach aberdeen, , there controversy on route. 1 scheme run forfar aberdeen way of brechin, alternative leave existing arboath , forfar line near friockheim, few miles arbroath , take course by-passed brechin. second scheme shorten mileage of new construction required, brechin served branch line. population of brechin in 1841 3,951.

the second scheme 1 adopted, , aberdeen railway obtained parliamentary authority on basis on 31 july 1845, same day smjr.

the aberdeen railway opened part of main line on 1 february 1848, friockheim bridge of dun , dubton; there branches, opened @ same time, brechin (from bridge of dun) , montrose (from dubton). although brechin not on main line, had connection montrose. aberdeen railway had run out of money @ point , not until 1 february 1850 reached aberdeen, , temporary terminus @ ferryhill, on outskirts of burgh. brechin station on east side of town, facing montrose.

a railway edzell

brechin had railway, , in later decades of nineteenth century, edzell, small village few miles north of brechin, had established popular holiday centre, , led thoughts of connecting railway network @ brechin. population of edzell parish less 1,000 in 1891. railway proposed in 1889, , brechin , edzell district railway act given royal assent on 4 august 1890. capital £50,000.

in same parliamentary session, forfar , brechin railway (f&br) authorised. seen possible alternative main line route aberdeen (although later difficulties agreeing route in forfar prevented design of route avoiding reversal there). existing brechin terminus built aberdeen railway, absorbed caledonian railway, not suitable altering through station, , f&br join brechin bridge of dun line east of brechin. cut across authorised edzell line, , brechin , edzell company had act of parliament modifying route make compatible; did in 1893 (the brechin , edzell railway amendment act 1893). had intended independent terminus, 1893 act authorised use of caledonian station.

the short line took time build; inspected colonel york board of trade on 30 may 1896 , passed; opened goods trains on 1 june 1896 , passengers on 8 june 1896. there 1 intermediate station, @ inchbare, , caledonian railway worked line 50% of gross receipts.

there 8 daily return passenger trains in 1920s.

the railway worked caledonain railway branch of own network; original b&edr company remained independent, collecting lease charge, until grouping of railways in 1923, following railways act 1921. company absorbed new london midland , scottish railway.

closure

the passenger service on line never developed, , passenger trains discontinued after 27 april 1931. experimental resumption took place on 4 july 1938 unsuccessful, , final passenger closure took place on 27 september 1938.

a light goods service continued, sustained in later years upgrading of raf edzell air force base; on 7 september 1964 goods service ceased, , edzell branch closed completely.