Strathpeffer railway station
Encyclopedia
Strathpeffer railway station was a former station serving the small town of Strathpeffer
in the county of Ross and Cromarty
, (later Highland Region), Scotland
.
and was located two miles to the north of the town on the Dingwall and Skye Railway
s line to Kyle of Lochalsh. It was renamed Achterneed railway station
on 3 June 1885.
, leaving the main line at Fodderty Junction near the hamlet of Fodderty
. The route was composed of a single line, with a run round loop in the station, and terminated near the centre of Strathpeffer. The new station was opened on 3 June 1885.
Goods trains also served Strathpeffer and a goods yard was provided to the east of the passenger station. Freight trains continued to operate to the yard until 26 March 1951, when British Railways Scottish Region completely closed the branch and station facilities.
with Highland Railway (HR) trains from and to Inverness, and to the far north of Scotland and Kyle of Lochalsh. In July 1922, six HR trains were operated each way over the five-mile long route from Dingwall. The journey time was ten minutes. The first train left Dingwall for Strathpeffer at 8.20 a.m. and the last at 6.15 p.m. In the other direction, the first train left Strathpeffer for Dingwall at 9.00 a.m. and the last at 6.35 p.m.
The HR was absorbed into the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMSR) on 1 January 1923. The frequency of the branch line passenger train service was reduced by the LMSR during World War II
, and in October 1942 four trains were operated in each direction. The first Strathpeffer train left Dingwall at 7.53 a.m. and the last at 4.00 p.m. The first train to Dingwall left Strathpeffer at 8.30 a.m. and the last left at 4.30 p.m. In 1922 and 1942, no trains were operated on Sundays..
Strathpeffer station was closed by the LMSR and the passenger train service terminated on 23 February 1946.
, several retail shops and a cafe.
Strathpeffer
Strathpeffer is a village and former spa town in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland, with a population of 1,469.-Geography:It lies in a glen 5 miles west of Dingwall, with varying elevation from 200 to 400 feet above sea level...
in the county of Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty is a variously defined area in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. There is a registration county and a lieutenancy area in current use...
, (later Highland Region), Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
First station
The first station to serve Strathpeffer was opened on 19 August 1870 by the Highland RailwayHighland Railway
The Highland Railway was one of the smaller British railways before the Railways Act 1921; it operated north of Perth railway station in Scotland and served the farthest north of Britain...
and was located two miles to the north of the town on the Dingwall and Skye Railway
Dingwall and Skye Railway
The Dingwall and Skye Railway was authorised on 5 July 1865 with the aim of providing a route to Skye and the Herbrides. However due to local objections, another Act of Parliament was required before work could commence. This was passed on 29 May 1868...
s line to Kyle of Lochalsh. It was renamed Achterneed railway station
Achterneed railway station
Achterneed railway station was a railway station serving Strathpeffer and located on the Kyle of Lochalsh Line, in Wester Ross, Scotland. Opened in 1870, the station was sited to the north of Strathpeffer between Dingwall and Garve...
on 3 June 1885.
Second station
The attraction of the spa facilities in Strathpeffer led to growing numbers of visitors. In 1885, the Highland Railway therefore built a branch line from the railway running from Dingwall to Kyle of LochalshKyle of Lochalsh
Kyle of Lochalsh is a village on the northwest coast of Scotland, 63 miles west of Inverness. It is located at the entrance to Loch Alsh, opposite the village of Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye...
, leaving the main line at Fodderty Junction near the hamlet of Fodderty
Fodderty
Fodderty is a small hamlet, close to Dingwall, Ross-shire in the Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland.The small hamlet of Bottacks is located 1 mile to the west and just to the east is Brae or Brea, formed in 1777 from the lands of Davochcarn, Davochmaluag and...
. The route was composed of a single line, with a run round loop in the station, and terminated near the centre of Strathpeffer. The new station was opened on 3 June 1885.
Station facilities
The station building was constructed to a substantial specification. The attractive main structure is timber cladded. The canopy over what was the platform area is supported by the original decorative cast iron columns and supports. Provision was made for a booking hall, waiting rooms, parcel facilities, toilets, etc., as befitted a terminal station intended to cater for long distance travellers to the spa town from many parts of Scotland and England.Goods trains also served Strathpeffer and a goods yard was provided to the east of the passenger station. Freight trains continued to operate to the yard until 26 March 1951, when British Railways Scottish Region completely closed the branch and station facilities.
Train services
The passenger train service to Strathpeffer was designed to connect at DingwallDingwall railway station
Dingwall railway station serves Dingwall, in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is located just south of the junction of the Far North Line and the Kyle of Lochalsh Line, and is served by First ScotRail. To the south is the proposed station of...
with Highland Railway (HR) trains from and to Inverness, and to the far north of Scotland and Kyle of Lochalsh. In July 1922, six HR trains were operated each way over the five-mile long route from Dingwall. The journey time was ten minutes. The first train left Dingwall for Strathpeffer at 8.20 a.m. and the last at 6.15 p.m. In the other direction, the first train left Strathpeffer for Dingwall at 9.00 a.m. and the last at 6.35 p.m.
The HR was absorbed into the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMSR) on 1 January 1923. The frequency of the branch line passenger train service was reduced by the LMSR during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and in October 1942 four trains were operated in each direction. The first Strathpeffer train left Dingwall at 7.53 a.m. and the last at 4.00 p.m. The first train to Dingwall left Strathpeffer at 8.30 a.m. and the last left at 4.30 p.m. In 1922 and 1942, no trains were operated on Sundays..
Strathpeffer station was closed by the LMSR and the passenger train service terminated on 23 February 1946.
Current use
The old railway station currently performs an important role in the town's tourist trade and cultural activities. It houses the Highland Museum of ChildhoodHighland Museum of Childhood
Highland Museum of Childhood is a museum in the restored railway station in Strathpeffer, Scotland.-History and background:The Highland Museum of Childhood is located in Strathpeffer’s restored Victorian railway station, built by the Highland Railway in 1885 to bring visitors to the Spa village of...
, several retail shops and a cafe.