Formartine and Buchan Railway

Overview

Locale

Scotland

Operation

Opened

23 July 1858

Closed

3 July 1966

Technical

Line length

57 mi (92 km)

Track gauge

1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in)

Route map

Legend

Fraserburgh

St Combs Light Railway

(Great North of Scotland Railway)

Philorth

Peterhead Pier

Lenabo

Abbey of Deer Platform

Brucklay

(Great North of Scotland Railway)

Great North of Scotland Railway

to Inverurie

Dyce

Great North of Scotland Railway

to Aberdeen

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.

View from the cab heading north approaching Logierieve

Buchan Belle railtour on 1 June 1974 at Maud station with the line to Fraserburgh on the left and the trackbed to Peterhead on the right

Buchan Belle railtour on 1 June 1974 at Strichen looking north

Looking along a platform at Fraserburgh towards the remains of the station buildings. The former two road locomotive shed is on the left.

History

The 29 mile long railway from Dyce to Mintlaw opened on 18 July 1861, with the 13 mile section from Maud to Peterhead opening the following year. A 15 mile long section north to Fraserburgh opened on 24 April 1865.^[1] 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. On 2 August 1897, the GNoSR opened a section from Ellon to Boddam. Finally on 1 July 1903 a branch from Fraserburgh to St Combs was constructed. Being partly unfenced this was classified as a light railway and was the last line to be built by the GNoSR. In 1923 the GNoSR was incorporated into the London and North Eastern Railway, which was in turn nationalised on 1 January 1948.

Construction

These lines ran through farming country. Most of the promoters were farmers who wanted a line to transport their produce and livestock to market. The route of this railway was not chosen for engineering or traffic reasons. Since investment was sought^[2] from the local landowners their requests for the lines to be placed away from or near to their land was heeded. Indeed, Lord Saltoun invested £6000 but insisted in having a station for his sole use placed close to a road leading to his mansion. This was to be fully signalled and operated at the railway company's expense. His Lordship, his heirs and successors would have the right to have all passenger and goods trains to be stopped on request. A level crossing had to be provided and a gateman employed. Lord Saltoun had the right to sack him if he performed his duties in an uncivil fashion.^[2] On the other hand, the company was instructed to keep away from the Haddo Estate. But for the objections of The Earl of Aberdeen several more stations would have been constructed. The plans were changed many times during construction.

Usage

Traffic on this line was very seasonal. When the herring fisheries were active, whale and seal oil was being landed and at harvest time the line was very busy with freight. Several auctioneering businesses set up in Maud to take advantage of the line to transport livestock.^[2] In summer there were also many passengers trains for holiday makers; however, away from these seasons the line was very quiet. There was a considerable protest from certain members of the community when the railway company started offering cheap Sunday fares to golfers who were attracted to the new course which had opened at Cruden Bay. It was felt that these golfers were desecrating the sabbath. ^[2] As the line was largely unfenced the locomotives working it were fitted with cowcatchers.^[3] In winter this area suffers from a considerable amount of snow. In 1960 a train was stuck for 24 hours in a cutting at Newmachar.

Formartine and Buchan Way near the former Maud station where the path divides for either Peterhead or Fraserburgh

Closure and current use

Passenger services were withdrawn by the Scottish Region of British Railways in 1965 as part of the Beeching cuts. Freight trains continued to operate to Peterhead until 1970 and Fraserburgh until 1979. This was in spite of the fact a considerable amount of freight traffic was being generated by the off shore oil and gas industry. The track was subsequently lifted and much of the route now forms the Formartine and Buchan Way, a long distance footpath and cycle path. Transport Scotland is considering re-opening sections of this line. The population in the area, largely thanks to the oil and gas industry, has shown a considerable increase since the line was closed. For example, the town of Ellon has 50% more inhabitants than it had in 1979.

Connections to other lines

Great North of Scotland Railway at Dyce
Boddam Branch (GNoSR) at Ellon
St Combs Light Railway (GNoSR) at Fraserburgh

References

Notes

↑ Awdry, (1990). p.132
1 2 3 4 Thomas chapter 10
↑ Smith, page 24

Sources

Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0049-7. OCLC 19514063.
Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0508-1. OCLC 60251199.
Jowett, Alan (March 1989). Jowett's Railway Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland: From Pre-Grouping to the Present Day (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0086-1. OCLC 22311137.
Thomas, John (1976) Forgotten Railways Scotland Chapter 10 pages 169 - 171 David & Charles ISBN 0-7153-7185-1
Thomas, John & Turnock, David (1989) A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain. Volume 15 North of Scotland Chapter 5 pages 183 & 187 David & Charles ISBN 0-946537-03-8
Smith, W.A.C. Grampian's Last Day of Steam page 24 Stenlake Publishing Ltd ISBN 1-84033-3391.
RAILSCOT on Formartine and Buchan Railway

Great North of Scotland Railway

Constituent railways	Aberdeen and Turriff (originally Banff, Macduff and Turriff Junction) Aboyne & Braemar Alford Valley Banff, Macduff and Turriff Extension Banffshire (originally Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla) Deeside Formartine and Buchan Inverury and Old Meldrum Junction Keith and Dufftown Morayshire Strathspey

Successor railway	London and North Eastern

Heritage railways	Alford Valley Keith and Dufftown Royal Deeside Strathspey

Rail trails	Deeside Way Formartine and Buchan Way

Aberdeen to Inverness Line List of Great North of Scotland Railway stations Locomotives of the Great North of Scotland Railway

Historical Scottish railway companies

Primary companies	Caledonian Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Great North of Scotland Railway Highland Railway North British Railway

Caledonian Railway	Aberdeen Railway Alloa Railway Alyth Arbroath and Forfar Busby Railway Cathcart District Clydesdale Junction Crieff Junction Crieff and Comrie Crieff and Methven Junction Dumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerbie Dunblane, Doune and Callander Dundee and Perth Dundee and Perth and Aberdeen Forfar and Brechin General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Garnkirk and Glasgow Glasgow Central Railway Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Greenock and Wemyss Bay Hamilton and Strathaven Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Leadhills and Wanlockhead Lesmahagow Railway Lochearnhead, St Fillans and Comrie Paisley and Barrhead District Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Polloc and Govan Rutherglen and Coatbridge Scottish Central Scottish Midland Junction Scottish North Eastern Solway Junction Symington, Biggar and Broughton Talla Railway Wishaw and Coltness Lines built by the Caledonian Railway Balerno line CR Cleland and Midcalder CR Main Line CR Douglas Branch CR Hamilton Branch CR Hamiltonhill Branch CR The Switchback Independent lines worked by the Caledonian Railway Callander and Oban Killin Railway

Glasgow and South Western Railway	Ardrossan Railway Ardrossan and Johnstone Ayr and Dalmellington Ayr and Maybole Junction Ayr to Mauchline Ayrshire and Wigtownshire Barrhead Branch Bridge of Weir Railway Cairn Valley Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Junction Castle Douglas and Dumfries Dalry and North Johnstone Darvel Branch Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Greenock and Ayrshire Kilmarnock and Troon Largs Branch Maidens and Dunure Maybole and Girvan Paisley and Renfrew Paisley Canal Line

Great North of Scotland Railway	Aberdeen and Turriff Aboyne and Braemar Alford Valley Banff, Macduff and Turriff Junction Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Boddam Branch Deeside Denburn Valley Formartine and Buchan Inverury and Old Meldrum Junction Keith and Dufftown Moray Coast Morayshire St Combs Light Railway Strathspey Railway

Highland Railway	Buckie and Portessie Branch Dingwall and Skye Duke of Sutherland Findhorn Railway Fortrose Branch Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Inverness and Aviemore Direct Inverness and Nairn Inverness and Perth Junction Inverness and Ross-shire Kyle of Lochalsh Extension Perth and Dunkeld Sutherland and Caithness Sutherland Railway Independent lines worked by the Highland Railway Dornoch Light Railway Wick and Lybster Light Railway

North British Railway	Aberlady, Gullane and North Berwick Anstruther and St Andrews Railway Ballochney Bathgate and Coatbridge Blane Valley Border Counties Railway Border Union Railway Campsie Branch Carlisle and Silloth Bay Railway and Dock Company Charlestown Railway and Harbour Company Coatbridge Branch Devon Valley Railway Dunfermline and Queensferry East of Fife Railway Edinburgh and Bathgate Edinburgh and Dalkeith Edinburgh and Glasgow Edinburgh and Hawick Edinburgh, Leith and Newhaven Railway Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway Edinburgh and Northern Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Esk Valley Eyemouth Railway Fife and Kinross Railway Forth and Clyde Junction Gifford and Garvald Glasgow, Bothwell, Hamilton and Coatbridge Glasgow City and District Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Glasgow and Milngavie Junction Glasgow, Yoker and Clydebank Kelvin Valley Railway Kincardine Line Kinross-shire Railway Kirkcaldy and District Railway Leadburn, Linton and Dolphinton Leven Railway Leven and East of Fife Railway Macmerry Branch Monkland and Kirkintilloch Monkland Railways Montrose and Bervie Mallaig Extension Newburgh and North Fife Railway (worked by NBR) Newport Railway North Berwick Branch North British, Arbroath and Montrose Peebles Railway The St. Andrews Railway Stirling and Dunfermline Strathendrick and Aberfoyle Slamannan Slamannan and Borrowstounness Wemyss and Buckhaven Railway West Highland Railway West of Fife Mineral Railway Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness

Joint lines	Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Junction City Union Dundee and Arbroath Darvel and Strathaven Glasgow and Paisley Joint Glasgow and Renfrew District Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Kilsyth and Bonnybridge Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint

Other lines	Brechin and Edzell District Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway Cromarty and Dingwall Light Railway Dundee and Arbroath Hagdale Chromate Railway Invergarry and Fort Augustus Lealt Valley Diatomite Railway Lochaber Narrow Gauge Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Rothesay and Ettrick Bay Light Railway Skye Marble Railway Tranent to Cockenzie Waggonway

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