121-681: Plans are in place to construct a southern bypass that would link the A9, A82 and A96 together involving crossings of the Caledonian Canal and the River Ness in the Torvean area, southwest of the city. The bypass, known as the Inverness Trunk Road Link (TRL) , is aimed at resolving Inverness ’s transport problems and has been split into two separate projects, the east and west sections. Also proposed
242-453: A 900-metre (3,000 ft) bridge , the railway line instead follows the coast of the Firth. In fact, the railway does not return to an open coastline for another 40 route miles (64 km) until Golspie , even though the distance between Tain and Golspie as the crow flies is only 11.1 miles (17.9 km). There have been many unsuccessful proposals to build a new, shorter railway line between
363-545: A bridge keeper after 1965, and after being empty for some years, was converted into self-catering accommodation. A short distance to the south a second swing bridge was opened in June 2021, as part of the Inverness West Link project. A new control building was built between the two bridges, so that both could be controlled from a single location. The concept behind the second bridge was that traffic could be diverted to use one of
484-403: A decision to close the canal to allow repairs to be carried out, and the depth was increased to 18 feet (5.5 m) at the same time. The work was designed by Telford's associate James Walker , carried out by Jackson and Bean of Aston, Birmingham and completed between 1843 and 1847 at a cost of £136,089. However, not all of the traffic expected to return to using the canal did so. Commercially,
605-449: A handful of houses in the immediate vicinity of the station, accessed by a private dirt road , which is marked as a public cycle trail on Ordnance Survey maps. The line then turns gently to the northeast, passing by several small lochs en route, before passing under the B870 road (the first public road close to the line since Forsinard). This is the site of Scotscalder station , which is among
726-498: A little south of Helmsdale , in the county of Sutherland , but this development was more of a financial liability than an asset: the long-term viability of the line then depended on a Caithness willingness, not least from the 17th Earl of Caithness , to link the line to the population centres of Wick and Thurso. North of Helmsdale the line was built by the Sutherland and Caithness Railway . Turning inland, it reaches Forsinard in
847-464: A new wave of emigrants to leave. The engineer Thomas Telford was asked to investigate the problem of emigration in 1801, and in 1802 published his report, which suggested that the main cause was landowners who had previously kept cattle creating vast sheep-farms. Realising that direct government action to confront the issue would be seen as interference, he therefore suggested that a programme of public works, involving roads, bridges, and canals, would be
968-454: A number of problems. The entrance lock and the basin were built on rock, and this entailed excavating rock below the level of Loch Linnhe. A 20 hp (15 kW) steam engine was ordered from Boulton and Watt at Birmingham, to keep the work area dry, and an embankment was built beyond the sea lock, which served as a quay for incoming materials until the lock was constructed. Masons built several buildings at Corpach, but then moved on to building
1089-553: A permanent crossing over the Caledonian Canal and River Ness , sparked dismay among several Highland councillors and business leaders in Inverness who feel the bypass is vital for the city's future economic growth. Caledonian Canal The Caledonian Canal connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William in Scotland. The canal
1210-401: A poor state of repair. The canal to Kytra Lock and the lock itself are both scheduled monuments. The canal continues to Cullochy Lock, where to the north of the structure there is a single storey lock keeper's cottage on the west bank which dates from the building of the canal, and a pair of two-storey houses for the lock keepers, dating from around 1830, on the east bank. On the east side of
1331-419: A priority, because the steam engine had to be kept running until the gates could hold back the sea, and it was the first lock to become operational, being completed just before the sea lock at Clachnaharry. By 1816, the canal was complete as far as Loch Lochy, but could not be used until the level of the loch was raised, and that depended on work further along the canal being completed. The ground through which
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#17328584338901452-407: A problem, but that Loch Oich would need to be made deeper, as it was shallow in places. He established that Loch Garry , to the west of Invergarry , and Loch Quoich , beyond that, would provide an adequate water supply. He estimated that a canal suitable for ships with a draught of 20 feet (6.1 m) could be built in seven years, and would cost around £350,000 . An additional benefit would be
1573-423: A second time) and continue on to Wick. This procedure is mirrored for Inverness-bound services. Services between Inverness and Wick typically have a journey time of about 4 hours 20 minutes end-to-end. Georgemas Junction has been used for freight handling and had a new railhead opened in 2012 for the transportation of nuclear flasks , but the terminal has not attracted any commercial operators since. In 2020,
1694-507: A single train each way running all the way to/from Wick. With the exception of some Wick services, all trains are timetabled to stop at every intermediate station. Dunrobin Castle station is only open during the summer months; no services call there in the winter. The stations at Culrain , Invershin , Rogart , Dunrobin Castle, Kildonan , Kinbrace , Altnabreac and Scotscalder are designated as request stops : passengers wishing to board
1815-402: A supply route for Scapa Flow , Orkney . That the line extends beyond Ardgay in the county of Ross and Cromarty is due, to a large extent, to the railway enthusiasm (some might say madness) of the 3rd Duke of Sutherland . The duke realised his dream of running his own private train to and from his own station at Dunrobin Castle . The duke's enthusiasm took the line as far as Gartymore ,
1936-500: A temporary maintenance site at Muir of Ord. A new viaduct was opened in time for the 1990 summer season on 14 May 1990. All passenger trains are operated by ScotRail using Class 158 "Express Sprinter" diesel multiple units . The exact stopping pattern varies between each station, as not all trains run the full length of the Far North Line. All passenger services on the line start or terminate at Inverness . The service pattern
2057-626: A trial project funded by a £195,000 grant from the Scottish Government saw timber transported from Georgemas Junction to a processing facility near Inverness by Victa Railfreight. The London, Midland and Scottish Railway introduced two titled trains in 1936, the Orcadian and John O'Groat . In 1963, the line was listed for closure on the Beeching Report ; however, the Far North Line remained open due to pressure from protesters. Following
2178-648: A way to provide jobs for people who had been displaced by the sheep farming, and to stimulate industry, fishery, and agriculture. Telford consulted widely with shipowners, who favoured a canal instead of the hazardous journey around the north of Scotland via Cape Wrath and the Pentland Firth . He obtained advice from Captain Gwynn of the Royal Navy, who stated that Loch Ness and Loch Lochy were sufficiently deep for any size of boat, and had safe anchorages if winds proved to be
2299-527: Is also scheduled, and the designated area includes the weir for the River Ness, and the west bank of Loch Dochfour as far as Loch Ness. At its southern end is Bona Lighthouse, built as a house by Thomas Telford in 1815, and altered around 1848 to act as a lighthouse. The building is octagonal, with two storeys, and is a rare example of an inland light. There was once a ferry across the Bona channel at this point. In 1844,
2420-509: Is among the shortest in all of Britain. There is no direct road connection between the two sides of the Kyle at this location, and a public footpath was only built alongside the viaduct in 2000; prior to this, the railway was the only way to travel between the two stations without taking a 7-mile-long (11 km) detour via Bonar Bridge. The Kyle once also marked the boundary between the historic counties of Ross and Cromarty and Sutherland ; however,
2541-525: Is expected to be completed in 2021. In late 2008 the controversial decision by the Scottish Government not to include the full Inverness bypass in its transport plan for the next 20 years was made. The government's Strategic Transport Projects Review did however, include the eastern section of the route, which will see the A9 at Inshes linked to the A96. But the absence of the TLR's western section, which would include
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#17328584338902662-478: Is infrequent and very irregular, with intervals between consecutive trains at Inverness varying from just 15 minutes to as long as two-and-a-half hours. As of 2022, on weekdays (including Saturdays), there are 14 trains per day ( tpd ) arriving at Inverness from the north, and 12 northbound departures: On Sundays the services are even less frequent, with just 1 tpd (2 in the summer) to/from Kyle of Lochalsh, 1 tpd to/from Invergordon, 3 tpd to/from Tain, and just
2783-464: Is jointly occupied by HIE and UHI Executive Office. At the west end, two options for crossing the River Ness and Caledonian Canal were developed. One involving a high level vertical opening bridge which will allow the majority of canal traffic to pass under without the need for opening. The other involved a bridge over the river and an aqueduct under the canal. Both of these designs are technically complex and were considered in detail along by
2904-465: Is next to the swing bridge, and is bordered by a smiddy and workshops, dating from the canal's construction in 1810, and extended in 1840–50. The smiddy still contains two hearths for forging metal. Muirtown Basin provides moorings at the eastern end of the canal, which takes a right-angled turn at the far end to pass under a swing bridge carrying the A862 road to reach the flight of four Muirtown Locks. From
3025-432: Is no requirement to stop, the train can maintain line speed through the station, thus improving reliability on the whole line. The first of these kiosks was installed at Scotscalder on 15 August 2022 on a trial basis. Following the successful trial, the system was expanded on 20 December 2022 to cover five more request stops on the line, namely Culrain , Invershin , Rogart , Kildonan and Kinbrace . A further kiosk
3146-572: Is only open during the summer months (one of only two such stations on the National Rail network, alongside Falls of Cruachan elsewhere in Scotland), corresponding to the castle's annual opening times. The station is also notable for its lack of lighting; as such, no trains are scheduled to call at the platform before 9 am or after about 6 pm. The line continues along the coast for another 15 miles (24 km), occasionally coming just metres away from
3267-604: Is the last place on the line where passenger trains running in opposite directions can pass each other . The station serves the Forsinard Flows National Nature Reserve , among other nearby parts of the Flow Country; an RSPB visitor centre is adjacent to the station platforms. At Forsinard, the line crosses the A897, turns east-northeast, and does not meet another public road for over 17 miles (27 km). Soon,
3388-399: Is the summit of the canal, at 106 feet (32.3 m) above sea level , and despite its relatively small size compared to Loch Ness and Loch Lochy, it provides most of the 41.2 million imperial gallons (187 Ml) of water that is required each day to keep the canal operating. The short section of canal between Loch Oich and Loch Lochy is crossed by a plate girder swing bridge carrying
3509-484: Is the upgrade of the existing B8082 Southern Distributor Road to dual 2-lane carriageway or single 4-lane carriageway, that will connect the two sections together. The east section will bypass Inshes Roundabout, and accommodate proposals for new development at the West Seafield Retail and Business Park and also a new Inverness Campus, which houses Inverness College UHI's main campus together with "An Lochran" which
3630-697: Is thought not to have been related to Thomas, but was known to him from Ellesmere. At the time, Telford's scheme for the development of the Highlands was the largest programme of works ever undertaken for a specific area in Britain. Telford was responsible to the Caledonian Canal Commissioners in London for the canal work, and to the Commissioners for Roads and Bridges for the construction of roads. He visited
3751-500: The Caledonian Canal Act 1804 ( 44 Geo. 3 . c. 62) which granted them £50,000 per year of government money, payable in two instalments, to fund the ongoing work. Provision was made for private investors to buy shares in the scheme, for any amount over £50, and as well as building the main line of the canal, the engineers could alter Loch Garry , Loch Quoich and Loch Arkaig , to improve their function as reservoirs. Telford
Inverness Trunk Road Link - Misplaced Pages Continue
3872-622: The A862 road towards the village of Beauly . After 10 miles (16 km), the line crosses the River Beauly and then takes a sharp, almost 180° right turn (from a west-southwest heading to north-northeast); Beauly station is located halfway along this curve. Closed in 1960, the station reopened in 2002 and its single operational platform has the distinction of being the shortest on the National Rail network, at just 15.06 metres (49 ft 5 in). The line then carries on north, crossing
3993-486: The A882 and B874 roads, and terminates at Wick station on the east coast. At 18 miles 35 chains (29.7 km), the distance between Georgemas Junction and Wick is the longest between any two adjacent stations on the line, although three other stations existed along this stretch until 1960. Wick is the nearest station to Wick Airport as well as to the village of John o' Groats (approximately 17 miles (27 km) to
4114-578: The A897 . Kildonan station , one of the least-used stations on the line, lies approximately halfway along the Strath; the station was the site of a second open level crossing until early 2022, when it was replaced with a more standard barrier crossing (ABCL) . The far end of the Strath, close to the point where the A897 meets the B871 road , marks the location of Kinbrace station . Beyond Kinbrace, in stark contrast to
4235-707: The Aberdeen–Inverness line (to Inverness Airport , Elgin and Aberdeen ), as well as for bus services to destinations throughout the Scottish Highlands . While the A9 leaves Inverness by crossing the Beauly Firth on the Kessock Bridge , the Far North Line instead heads west and runs alongside the Firth. The single track crosses both the River Ness and the Caledonian Canal before it leaves Inverness and parallels
4356-572: The Beauly Firth (between Inverness and the Black Isle ), the Cromarty Firth and the Dornoch Firth . As a result, at some locations the railway is now a long way inland from the modern route of the A9. The railway also loops a long way inland between Tain and Golspie , running via Lairg , which has never been on the A9; it was envisaged at the time of construction that this diversion would open
4477-627: The Ellesmere Canal and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct to move north to Scotland. He ensured that Jessop became the consulting engineer, while Matthew Davidson, who was a stonemason from Dumfrieshire and had been Superintendent of Works on the Ellesmere project, became the resident engineer at the Clachnaharry end, near Inverness. The Corpach end, near Fort William, was managed by John Telford, who
4598-525: The Flow Country . The building of the line through the Flow Country – one of the most scarcely populated parts of Scotland – was to avoid the Berriedale Braes . North of Helmsdale as far as Lybster, it would have been impractical to build a railway without massive civil engineering projects. Thus coastal villages such as Latheron and Lybster are not served by the line. In 1902, under the provisions of
4719-547: The Great Glen Rally, cycling along the tow-paths, or cruising on hotel barges . Download coordinates as: 57°06′45″N 4°44′19″W / 57.112478°N 4.738541°W / 57.112478; -4.738541 ( approx middle ) Far North Line The Far North Line is a rural railway line entirely within the Highland area of Scotland , extending from Inverness to Thurso and Wick . As
4840-535: The Great Glen "), Sligh'-Uisge na h-Alba ("Waterway of Scotland") and a literal translation (An) Canàl Cailleannach . In 1620, a Highland prophet called the Brahan Seer predicted that full-rigged ships would one day be sailing round the back of Tomnahurich, near Inverness , at a time when the only navigable route near the location was the River Ness , on the other side of Tomnahurich. Engineers started to look at
4961-521: The Jacobite rising of 1715 . By 1773, they had turned their attention to helping the fishing industry, and commissioned the inventor and mechanical engineer James Watt to make a survey of the route. He published a report in 1774, which suggested that a 10-foot (3.0 m) deep canal from Fort William to Inverness, passing through Loch Lochy , Loch Oich , Loch Ness and Loch Dochfour, would require 32 locks, and could be built for £164,032. He emphasised
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5082-566: The Light Railways Act 1896 , the standard gauge Wick and Lybster Railway was built along the east coast of Caithness, running south from Wick to Lybster . This line was never profitable, and it closed in 1944. Historic branch lines also served Dornoch and the Black Isle . On 7 February 1989, Ness Viaduct, just west of Inverness station, collapsed in unprecedented flooding. The remaining 270 miles (430 km) of network to Kyle of Lochalsh and The Far North line had to be operated from
5203-575: The A82 over the canal. A single-storey three bay cottage designed by Telford once provided housing for the bridge keeper. Nearby is the old bridge that carried the road over the River Oich, which was probably designed by James Dredge in the 1850s. It is a chain suspension bridge, and a long dry stone causeway provides access from the east. The A82 crosses the river on a three-arched concrete bridge designed by Mears and Carus-Wilson and constructed in 1932. Loch Oich
5324-436: The A82 road at its northern end, and ends at a pair of locks at its southern end. Two jetties project out into Loch Lochy, and much of the structure is built on reclaimed land. A single-storey store with basement stands to the east of the locks, which was probably used to store materials and to provide stabling for horses while the canal was being constructed. On the west bank is Glenjade Cottage, dating from 1840 to 1860, which
5445-606: The Allt Sheangain in two of the arches, with the third used as a roadway. Mount Alexander aqueduct only has two arches, one used by the Allt Mor, and the other a footpath. Soon the canal arrives at the top of Neptunes Staircase, a flight of eight locks that drop the level of the canal by 64 feet (20 m) in the space of 500 yards (460 m). Halfway down the flight to the west is another house similar to that at Gairlochy, but split to provide accommodation for two lock keepers. On
5566-565: The Earth's crust . There are 29 locks (including eight at Neptune's Staircase , Banavie ), four aqueducts and 10 bridges in the course of the canal. The canal starts at its north-eastern end at Clachnaharry Sea Lock, built at the end of a man-made peninsula to ensure that boats could always reach the deep water of the Beauly Firth. Because the peninsula is built with mud foundations, it has required regular maintenance ever since. Next to
5687-758: The Highland Railway was grouped into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway , under the Railways Act 1921 . Like railway lines generally in Britain , the line was not a product of any strategic plan, but was an ad hoc development, facilitated by Private Acts of Parliament (which were themselves a significant expense for developers) and dependent on cooperation between companies and individuals, each with their own private vested interests. The line became strategically important during World War I and World War II as part of
5808-618: The Highlands twice a year, to plan the work and inspect the progress, and was always on the move, to the extent that the Canal Commissioners allowed him to choose the dates when he would find it convenient to meet with them. In the Highlands, Telford faced a number of problems, in that the canal was to be built in an area where people lived a subsistence lifestyle, managing by keeping a few cows and paying low rents. They had virtually no knowledge of wheeled vehicles, and no construction skills, but were hardy and willing to learn. While surveying
5929-544: The Highlands were depressed as a result of the Highland Clearances , which had deprived many of their homes and jobs. Laws had been introduced which sought to eradicate the local culture, including bans on wearing tartan, playing the bagpipes, and speaking Scottish Gaelic . Many emigrated to Canada or elsewhere, or moved to the Scottish Lowlands . Crop failures in 1799 and 1800 brought distress to many, and prompted
6050-530: The Ministry of Transport in 1920, and then to British Waterways in 1962. Improvements were made, with the locks being mechanised between 1964 and 1969. By 1990, the canal was in obvious need of restoration, with lock walls bulging, and it was estimated that repairs would cost £60 million. With no prospect of the Government funding this, British Waterways devised a repair plan, and between 1995 and 2005, sections of
6171-634: The Muirshearlich aqueduct, the Sheangain aqueduct and the Mount Alexander aqueduct. The Loy aqueduct consists of three parallel arches, 260 feet (79 m) long, with the River Loy passing through the centre arch, and the side arches used for pedestrians and animals, although they sometimes carry flood flow from the river. Torcastle aqueduct is similar but slightly shorter at 240 feet (73 m), and carries
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#17328584338906292-512: The Sum of £20,000, towards defraying the Expense of making an Inland Navigation from the western to the eastern Sea, by Inverness and Fort William; and for taking the necessary steps towards executing the same. The act appointed commissioners, to oversee the project, and some funding to enable the work to start. Less than a year later, on 29 June 1804, the commissioners obtained a second act of Parliament,
6413-547: The aqueducts to carry the canal over rivers, since the lower canal needed to be completed to enable materials to be brought to the great flight of locks at Banavie. The work was to prove a serious challenge to John Telford's health and he died in 1807, to be replaced by Alexander Easton. He was buried in Kilmallie churchyard, where his ornate grave, now in dilapidated condition, can still be seen. At Banavie, two houses for lock keepers were built by Simpson and Wilson before work on
6534-405: The banks. By the time the banks were completed, the price of foreign timber to construct a coffer dam had risen so much that work was postponed. The four Muirtown locks were finished in 1909. During this time, Davidson noticed that the sea banks were settling into the mud, and the idea of turning the two banks into a peninsula and then excavating the lock into it was formulated. It is unclear whether
6655-423: The basin into Inverness was renamed Telford Street, and Simpson and Cargill built a row of houses for overseers and contractors to live in, including themselves. To build the sea lock, two banks were built out into the Beauly Firth across mud which was 56 feet (17 m) deep. Two tramways with a gauge of 3 ft 3 in ( 991 mm ) were constructed along the banks, to bring rubble and earth to extend
6776-399: The benefits to the fishing industry, of a shorter and safer route from the east to the west coast of Scotland, and the potential for supplying the population with cheaper corn, but again, thought that winds on the lochs might be a problem. William Fraser, when proposing his own scheme for a canal in 1793, announced that "nature had finished more than half of it already". At the time, much of
6897-444: The bridges while the other was open for canal traffic. The canal from Muirtown Locks to Dochgarroch Lock is a scheduled monument, as is Dochgarroch Lock, which was designed to protect the canal from flooding caused by fluctuating levels in the River Ness , which flows over a weir to the south of the lock. A two-storey lock keeper's cottage and barn dating from the 1850s overlooks the lock. The final section of canal to Loch Dochfour
7018-521: The canal is the Mucomir Cut, which delivers water from the loch to Mucomir hydroelectric station and the River Lochy. There are two locks at Gairlochy, the upper one being the only lock which was not built for the opening of the canal. It was added in 1844, and was constructed by Jackson and Bean. Between the locks is Telford House, a large lock keeper's house built in 1811–13, and much larger than most of
7139-466: The canal was cut was variable, and further difficulties were experienced with the construction of the locks, the largest ever built at the time. There were also problems with the labour force, with high levels of absence, particularly during and after the potato harvest and the peat cutting season. This led to Telford bringing in Irish navvies to manage the shortfall, which led to further criticism, since one of
7260-399: The canal were drained each winter. Stainless steel rods were used to tie the double-skinned lock walls together, and over 25,000 tonnes of grout were injected into the lock structures. All of the lock gates were replaced, and the result was a canal whose structures were probably in a better condition than they had ever been. In 1993, British Waterways and Parks Canada agreed to twin
7381-658: The canal with the Rideau Canal in Ontario , Canada . The canal is now a scheduled monument , and attracts over 500,000 visitors each year. British Waterways, who work with the Highland Council and Forestry and Land Scotland through the Great Glen Ways Initiative, were hoping to increase this number to over 1 million by 2012. There are many ways for tourists to enjoy the canal, such as taking part in
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#17328584338907502-554: The canal, and a steel bow truss swing bridge, built in 1901 by Simpson and Wilson, carries the West Highland Line from Fort William to Mallaig . The canal turns to the west to reach a pair of staircase locks at Corpach, which is followed by a small basin and the final sea lock to allow boats to access Loch Linnhe . The canal has several names in Scottish Gaelic including Amar-Uisge/Seòlaid a' Ghlinne Mhòir ("Waterway of
7623-429: The canal. Similarly, heading north from Loch Oich, parts of the canal would be constructed in the bed of the River Oich, which would be diverted to the east. At the northern end of Loch Ness, the channel through Loch Dochfour would have to be made deeper, and a weir was to be constructed at its northern end, to maintain the loch at the same level as Loch Ness. Telford and Jessop had a long list of things to do, because of
7744-487: The canal. The first bridge at the site was designed by Joseph Mitchell for the Inverness and Ross-shire Railway, and was constructed of wrought iron in 1862. This was replaced by a similar structure in 1909, made of steel, which is 123 feet (37.5 m) long. The bridge, together with the adjacent signal box, designed by Mackenzie and Holland for the Highland Railway in 1890, is a category B listed structure. Clachnaharry lock
7865-457: The capacity of the lines. Between 2022 and 2023, the Far North Line became the first railway line in the United Kingdom to implement a new "Press & Ride" system for its request stops . Under the traditional system (still in use on the rest of the National Rail network), passengers wishing to board the train at a request stop had to flag the train by raising their arm; this meant that
7986-536: The centre of Sutherland to trade. It also takes a large inland detour north of Helmsdale , running via the Flow Country , which the A9 also never passed through; this diversion was dictated by the unfavourable terrain of the Caithness coastline. The railway line begins at Inverness station , where passenger connections are available for the Highland Main Line (to Perth , Glasgow , Edinburgh and London ) and
8107-417: The channel was made deeper and wider when barges pulled by horses were replaced by steam tugs, and there is evidence that the building once included four stables. The canal section from Clachnaharry Sea Lock to Bona is 9.7 miles (15.6 km) long, and from there it is over 20 miles (32 km) along Loch Ness to the next canal section at Fort Augustus. At the foot of Loch Ness, the Caledonian Canal leaves
8228-405: The coast at Golspie , with the station located at the western end of the village. Just east of Golspie, the line meets Dunrobin Castle station , which was built as a private, single-platform halt for the Duke of Sutherland to serve Dunrobin Castle a short distance south of the track. The station closed in 1965 but reopened in 1985; today, the station is a public request stop, although it
8349-437: The concept was Telford's, Jessop's or Davidson's, but it saved the expense of building a coffer dam. The peninsula was allowed to settle for six months before excavation began, and a 6 hp (4.5 kW) Boulton and Watt steam engine was used to keep the lock pit dry during the work. The structure was completed in 1812, three years later than Davidson's original estimate. At Corpach , near Fort William , John Telford faced
8470-427: The driver needed to reduce the train's speed before a request stop (to look out for any potential passengers on the platform and be able to stop if necessary), even if the platform was empty. The new system, developed by Transport Scotland , envisaged the installation of an automatic kiosk (with a button for passengers to press) at each request stop. This alerts the driver about any waiting passengers in advance; if there
8591-413: The eastern bank is a smithy and sawpits, dating from the 1820s, and a workshop dating from 1880 to 1890. Neptunes Staircase was originally fitted with 36 capstans each of which had to be rotated 20 times to operate the lock gates and sluices, but progress through the structure was sped up in the 20th century when the flight was mechanised. At the foot of the locks, a swing bridge carries the A830 road over
8712-400: The eastern end of the canal, being completed in 1807 by Simpson and Cargill. Simpson was another of Telford's recruits from the Ellesmere project. Muirtown Basin was also completed in the same year. It was 800 by 140 yards (730 by 130 m), and construction was aided by the fact that its bottom was above the level of low tides, and so it was relatively easy to keep the works dry. The road from
8833-425: The elimination of steam traction by the early 1960s, trains on the line were normally hauled by Inverness allocated Class 24 diesel locomotives (D5114-32), then subsequently by Class 26 diesel locomotives. In the 1980s these were replaced by more powerful Class 37 locomotives, still with Mark 1 rolling stock. These were replaced by Class 156s in the 1990s by British Rail . Three trains each way per day (Mon-Sat)
8954-560: The feasibility of a canal to connect Loch Linnhe near Fort William to the Moray Firth near Inverness in the 18th century, with Captain Edward Burt rejecting the idea in 1726, as he thought the mountains would channel the wind and make navigation too precarious. The Commissioners of Forfeited Estates had originally been set up to handle the seizure and sale of land previously owned by those who had been convicted of treason following
9075-482: The government. Telford had convinced them that it was feasible, and that employing local people on it would help to stop the tide of emigration, but no one considered whether it would pay its way when it was completed. On 27 July 1803, an act of Parliament , the Caledonian Canal Act 1803 ( 43 Geo. 3 . c. 102) was passed to authorise the project, and carried the title: An Act for granting to his Majesty
9196-492: The historic county boundary from Inverness-shire into Ross and Cromarty just before reaching Muir of Ord station , which has two platforms and is the site of the first passing loop on the line. The line continues to parallel the A862 as it passes through Conon Bridge station , which reopened in 2013 in a similar style to Beauly and whose platform is just 2 centimetres (0.8 in) longer than that at Beauly. Shortly afterwards,
9317-434: The introduction of steam-powered iron-hulled ships , many of which were by that time too big to use the canal. The Royal Navy did not need to use the canal either, as Napoleon had been defeated at Waterloo in 1815, and the perceived threat to shipping when the canal was started was now gone. Before long, defects in some of the materials used became apparent, and part of Corpach double lock collapsed in 1843. This led to
9438-550: The key stakeholders involved in the project. Ultimately it was decided that a bridge over the river and a tunnel under the canal were the best option, although more expensive. Following a public consultation, 8 route options were put forward for consideration by Highland Council from which one was chosen. This route passes through the canal park area of Inverness, and remains highly contentious. An Inverness Courier poll indicated that 85% of residents would choose an alternative route, most popularly one through Torvean Quarry. This section
9559-431: The lack of construction skills in the region where the canal was built. As well as the normal surveying, inspection and payment duties, they had to train local people in how to become workers. They were required to source all of the building materials, to construct workshops and settlements for the workers, design tools and waggons to be used by the workers, and in some cases, ensure they had supplies of food and drink. All of
9680-445: The least-used stations on the line, typically averaging less than 1 passenger per day. After another two and a half miles (4.0 km), the track passes south of Halkirk – the first unscattered village in over 44 route miles (71 km), although there is no longer a railway station serving it (the old station having closed in 1960 along with 19 others on the line). The line reaches its penultimate station, Georgemas Junction , at
9801-418: The lighthouse at the entrance to this section of canal. At the top of the locks, a road beside the canal is spanned by a railway bridge, which was constructed to carry an intended line from Fort Augustus to Inverness. The bridge was in use from 1903 to 1906, when the railway project was abandoned. As well as the bridge, some piers built to carry the line over the River Oich can also be seen, although these are in
9922-531: The line crosses the River Conon and passes through the village of Maryburgh before reaching Dingwall station – the busiest station on the line aside from Inverness, with just over 80 thousand passengers recorded in the 2019–20 financial year. At Dingwall Junction just north of the station, the Kyle of Lochalsh line diverges to the west. The Far North Line, meanwhile, rejoins the coast and continues northeast along
10043-409: The line leaves the county of Sutherland and enters Caithness . As the track passes through Caithness countryside, it eventually reaches Altnabreac station . This single-platform halt is often listed as one of Britain's most geographically isolated railway stations, being about 11 miles (18 km) from the nearest village and 6.8 miles (11 km) from the nearest paved road. There are, however,
10164-518: The line takes a sharp turn northwest and heads inland towards the Flow Country – the largest expanse of blanket bog in Europe. This is by far the most remote section of the entire line: the majority of the intermediate stations along this stretch are request stops , and each station only serves a handful of isolated houses. Initially, the single track follows the course of the Strath of Kildonan together with
10285-405: The lock is a single-storey storehouse dating from 1815 to 1820, which has three bays and internally is divided into a store and an office for the lock keeper. The final part of the canal on this section runs from the lock to Loch Oich, and includes the abutments of a small swing bridge which formerly provided an accommodation crossing over the canal. The more modern Aberchalder swing bridge carries
10406-464: The lock is the former lock-keeper's house, a two-storey building with a single-storey bothy at its western end and an enclosed garden. At an unknown date, the house was divided into two, and in 2005 the eastern half became offices for Scottish Canals. The building is a category C listed structure. At the opposite end of the peninsula to the sea lock, a swing bridge carries the Far North railway line across
10527-455: The lock keeper from Gairlochy opens the eastern half by operating a capstan, and then crosses the canal by punt to perform a similar action on the western half. A three-bay single-storey cottage, dating from around 1820, survives on the eastern bank of the canal next to the bridge. The section below Moy Bridge includes four aqueducts which carry the canal over local rivers. These are the Loy aqueduct,
10648-400: The locks started, which were occupied by masons during the estimated four years that it would take to finish the flight. The stonework was largely completed by 1811, three and a half years after work started. By early 1810, the steam engine at Corpach was ready, and the coffer dam to enable the sea lock to be built was completed by mid-1810, after considerable difficulty. Completing the lock was
10769-399: The main aims of the project was to reduce unemployment in the Highlands. The canal finally opened in 1822, having taken an extra 12 years to complete, and cost £910,000. Over 3,000 local people had been employed in its construction, but the draught had been reduced from 20 to 15 ft (6.1 to 4.6 m) in an effort to save costs. In the meantime, shipbuilding had advanced, with
10890-517: The modern boundary between the respective lieutenancy areas lies several miles to the south, putting both stations in modern-day Sutherland. The track then continues northwards along the River Shin for another 5.5 miles (8.9 km) until it reaches Lairg station , located about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) south of the village itself . This is the furthest point away from the coast on the Lairg loop; beyond
11011-468: The money provided by Parliament passed through Telford's personal bank account. Because of the remoteness of the location, construction was started at both ends, so that completed sections could be used to bring in the materials for the middle sections. In order to help the Highlanders to learn the habits of paid employment, Telford appointed organisers and pace-setters, who would impart skill and activity to
11132-411: The mostly mountainous Scottish Highlands , there are no tunnels on the line. The line is almost entirely single-track, but there are 10 double-track passing loops along the route, which allow trains to pass each other: these are at Muir of Ord , Dingwall , Invergordon , Tain , Ardgay , Lairg , Rogart , Brora , Helmsdale and Forsinard . The loops at Rogart and Brora are not timetabled to be
11253-473: The name suggests, it is the northernmost railway in the United Kingdom. The line is entirely single-track, with only passing loops at some intermediate stations allowing trains to pass each other. Like other railway lines in the Highlands and northern Lowlands, it is not electrified and all trains are diesel-powered. The line links the city of Inverness , the largest city in the Scottish Highlands, with
11374-534: The north) at the northeastern tip of mainland Britain, which is linked to the town by a bus service operated by Stagecoach Highlands . The full line between Inverness and Wick (excluding the Thurso branch) is 161 miles 33 chains (259.8 km) long; the Thurso branch has a length of 6 miles 50 chains (10.7 km). The whole line is unelectrified . Despite its considerable length and passing through
11495-447: The other houses built along the canal. The B8084 road crosses the canal on a swing bridge at the upstream end of Gairlochy lower lock, but it is unclear whether it is part of the scheduled monument, since it is not specifically mentioned in the listing, whereas most bridges are either included or excluded. About 1.25 miles (2.01 km) further downstream is Moy Swing Bridge, an original accommodation bridge. It consists of two halves, and
11616-515: The other workers, and wherever possible, the work was done by piecework, so that earthworks were paid at 6 pence (2.5p) per cubic yard, cutting rock in Corpach Basin was paid at two shillings (10p) per cubic yard, and rubble masonry work was paid at 11 shillings (55p) per cubic yard, for example. The number of men employed fluctuated widely, not least because many would take time off to attend to peat cutting, herring fishing or harvesting. John Telford
11737-494: The passing place for any scheduled passenger services, but they can be used as such during major disruption on the line. The whole line north of the former Clunes station (about 7 miles (11 km) west of Inverness), together with the Kyle of Lochalsh line , are signalled using the Radio Electronic Token Block system, which is very cost-effective in both implementation and maintenance, but significantly limits
11858-456: The point where the line crosses the A9 again. Adjoining the station on the south side is a freight terminal built in 2012 by Direct Rail Services ; this was used by trains taking nuclear material from Dounreay to Sellafield . At Georgemas Junction, which is not a request stop, the lines to Thurso and Wick diverge; this is the northernmost railway junction in the United Kingdom. The Wick-facing Thurso branch curves north immediately west of
11979-472: The primary source of traffic at the station, it is also the nearest railway stop to the Seaboard Villages . The railway then takes a sharp turn to run northwest for approximately 3 miles (5 km) until it reaches Tain station on the south side of the Dornoch Firth . A short distance west of Tain , the Far North Line and the A9 part ways again – while the road crosses the Dornoch Firth by means of
12100-446: The protection that the canal offered to shipping from attacks by French privateers . Telford also looked at the possibility of a canal to link Loch Eil to Loch Shiel , both to the west of Fort William, but ruled out the scheme because of the depth of cuttings that would have been required. The canal, as well as a number of projects to build roads, harbours and bridges, was the first time that public works of this sort had been funded by
12221-410: The rest of the line (and most of the Scottish Highlands ), the topography of the surrounding area becomes flat and low-lying, and will remain so until the railway's two northern termini. The line carries on northwards alongside the A897 for seven and a half more miles (12.1 km) until it reaches Forsinard station which, despite its isolation, is not a request stop. With two platforms, this station
12342-455: The route for the canal, Telford agreed to increase the size of the locks to accommodate 32-gun frigates for the Royal Navy, and Jessop insisted that the locks should be built of stone, rather than having turf sides, as Telford had suggested. The highest point on the route was at Laggan, between Lock Oich and Loch Lochy. A deep cutting was required, so that the canal continued at the same level as Loch Oich. The loch would need dredging, because it
12463-624: The shoreline of the Cromarty Firth; the railway meets the A9 again shortly after, at the north end of the Cromarty Bridge . The next station on the line is Alness , which closed in 1960 but reopened 13 years later. After Alness the line turns gently eastwards to reach Invergordon station before turning northeast again. The line continues in this direction for nearly 10 miles (16 km) without another station until Fearn . Located approximately 1.2 miles (1.9 km) west of Hill of Fearn ,
12584-509: The shoreline, passing through Brora station before reaching the village of Helmsdale , located at the mouth of the river of the same name . Helmsdale station lies on the other side of the river from most of the village. Beyond Helmsdale, the railway is forced to divert away from the Moray Firth coast and from the A9 once again, avoiding the unfavourable terrain of the Ord of Caithness . Instead,
12705-474: The slightly larger village of Bonar Bridge on the opposite side of the Kyle of Sutherland . From Ardgay, the line runs northwards alongside the Kyle, and after just over 3 miles (5 km) it reaches the first two request stops en route – Culrain and Invershin , which lie on either side of the Invershin Viaduct over the Kyle. At just 34 chains (680 m), the distance between these two stations
12826-550: The station and runs alongside the River Thurso , paralleling the A9 until it reaches Thurso station – the northernmost railway station in Britain, by the northern coast of Scotland. Thurso is the nearest station to the ferry terminal at Scrabster , which has ferry services to and from the town of Stromness in the Orkney Islands . Meanwhile, the main line to Wick continues in an east-southeasterly direction, sandwiched between
12947-464: The station the line curves sharply eastwards and heads back towards the Moray Firth along Strath Fleet, now paralleling the A839 road . The line then passes through another request stop, Rogart , which actually lies in the small hamlet of Pittentrail and about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of Rogart itself; the station briefly closed in 1960, only to be reopened less than 9 months later. Immediately east of
13068-473: The station there is an open level crossing – the only such crossing on the line. Four miles (6.4 km) after Rogart, the railway meets the A9 again, as it passes by Mound Alderwoods and Loch Fleet . This was once the site of The Mound station and a junction with the Dornoch Light Railway to Dornoch; both the station and the branch closed in 1960. The railway then turns northeast and returns to
13189-460: The top of the flight, the canal continues southwards to Tomnahurich swing bridge, which carries the A82 road over the canal. The original timber bridge was replaced by a steel structure in 1938, designed by Crouch and Hogg, which included a control box, as levels of traffic on the road and canal were increasing. Nearby is the former bridge keeper's cottage, built in the 1820s. It was no longer needed to house
13310-420: The towns of Wick and Thurso at the northeastern tip of Britain. Like the A9 trunk road north of Inverness, the Far North Line broadly follows the east-facing coastline of the Moray Firth , with all three termini located on the coast. As such, the railway links many of the same places as the road. Many more places were served by both the railway and the road before three new road bridges were built: across
13431-612: The train at these stations must press a button at a designated kiosk on the platform (except at Altnabreac, where passengers need to flag the train by raising their arm – see above ), while those wishing to alight must inform the on-board guard to arrange for the train to stop. If there are no passengers wishing to get on or off the train, it will pass through without stopping. Since 2000, trains to and from Wick have run via Thurso. On arrival at Georgemas Junction from Inverness, trains reverse to serve Thurso, then reverse again from Thurso to run back to Georgemas Junction (stopping there for
13552-539: The two villages via Dornoch , which led to the existing route via Lairg being sometimes unofficially called the "Lairg loop". Soon after the A9 splits away, the line crosses the lieutenancy area boundary from Ross and Cromarty into Sutherland . The track follows the route of the A836 until the next station on the line, Ardgay , at the end of the Dornoch Firth. The station is in the village of Ardgay and also serves
13673-453: The venture was not a success, but the dramatic scenery through which it passes led to it becoming a tourist attraction. Queen Victoria took a trip along it in 1873, and the publicity surrounding the trip resulted in a large increase in visitors to the region and the canal. The arrival of the railways at Fort William, Fort Augustus and Inverness did little to harm the canal, as trains were scheduled to connect with steamboat services. There
13794-522: The west bank of the loch, with the River Oich to the north and the River Tarff to the south. The A82 road crosses the canal on a swing bridge, at the foot of the five locks that rise through the centre of the village of Fort Augustus. In 1975 only the locks were included in the scheduled monument designation, but that was subsequently extended to include all of the canal between them and Loch Ness, including
13915-532: Was added at Dunrobin Castle in May 2023. The last kiosk, at Altnabreac , was also expected to be in operation from spring 2023; however, this has been delayed indefinitely, reportedly due to local homeowners blocking access to the station, and as of December 2023 the kiosk is yet to be installed. The line was built in several stages: Much of the work was done by the Inverness -based Highland Railway company or, when completed, taken over by that company. In 1923
14036-518: Was an upsurge in commercial traffic during the First World War , when components for the construction of mines were shipped through the canal on their way from America to “U.S. Naval Base 18” ( Muirtown Basin , Inverness), and fishing boats used it to avoid possible enemy action on the longer route around the north of Scotland. During this period there was 24-hour operation, facilitated by buoyage and lighting throughout its length. Ownership passed to
14157-471: Was asked to survey, design and build the waterway. He worked with William Jessop on the survey, and the two men oversaw the construction until Jessop died in 1814. The canal was expected to take seven years to complete, and to cost £474,000, to be funded by the Government, but both estimates were inadequate. Telford understood the need for competent men to be involved in such a grand project, and convinced most of those who had been involved with him on building
14278-421: Was constructed in the early nineteenth century by Scottish engineer Thomas Telford . The canal runs some 60 miles (100 kilometres) from northeast to southwest and reaches 106 feet (32 metres) above sea level. Only one third of the entire length is man-made, the rest being formed by Loch Dochfour , Loch Ness , Loch Oich , and Loch Lochy . These lochs are located in the Great Glen , on a geological fault in
14399-401: Was once a pair of cottages but was converted into a single dwelling in the late 20th century. Ivy Cottage was also built for lock keepers, but was completed for the opening of the canal, and so is older than Glenjade cottages. Loch Lochy is about 10 miles (16 km) long, and the next canal section starts at its southern end. Its entrance is marked by a small lighthouse, while to the east of
14520-501: Was too shallow in places, but it was fed by water from Loch Garry and Loch Quoich to the west, which would provide a suitable supply for the canal. To reduce the depth of cutting between Loch Oich and Loch Lochy, a dam would be built at the south end of Loch Lochy, to raise its level by 12 feet (3.7 m). A new channel for the River Lochy would be cut, allowing it to flow into the River Spean , so that its previous course could be used for
14641-400: Was upset because many of his men did not return after the harvest, but they were not used to working during the winter months. Many saw working on the canal as a way to supplement their meagre income, not as a way to escape from their subsistence livelihood. At Clachnaharry, to the west of Inverness, Davidson was overseeing the construction. Clachnaharry Lock was the first to be constructed at
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