Thurso is a town and former burgh on the north coast of the Highland council area of Scotland. Situated in the historical County of Caithness,it is the northernmost town on the island of Great Britain. From a latitudinal standpoint,Thurso is located further north than the southernmost point of Norway and in addition lies more than 500 miles (800 km) north of London.
The Highland Railway (HR) was one of the smaller British railways before the Railways Act 1921,operating north of Perth railway station in Scotland and serving the farthest north of Britain. Based in Inverness,the company was formed by merger in 1865,absorbing over 249 miles (401 km) of line. It continued to expand,reaching Wick and Thurso in the north and Kyle of Lochalsh in the west,eventually serving the counties of Caithness,Sutherland,Ross &Cromarty,Inverness,Perth,Nairn,Moray and Banff. Southward it connected with the Caledonian Railway at Stanley Junction,north of Perth,and eastward with the Great North of Scotland Railway at Boat of Garten,Elgin,Keith and Portessie.
Lairg is a village and parish in Sutherland,Scotland. It has a population of 891 and is at the south-eastern end of Loch Shin.
The Far North Line is a rural railway line entirely within the Highland area of Scotland,extending from Inverness to Thurso and Wick. As 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. In common with other railway lines in the Highlands and northern Lowlands,it is not electrified and all trains are diesel-powered.
Dingwall railway station serves Dingwall,Scotland. It is located just south of the junction of the Far North Line and the Kyle of Lochalsh Line,and is managed and served by ScotRail. The station is 18 miles 58 chains (30.1 km) from Inverness,and is the zero point for the Kyle of Lochalsh Line. It is sited after Conon Bridge heading northbound,with the next station being either Garve or Alness.
Inverness railway station is the railway station serving the Scottish city of Inverness. It is the terminus of the Highland Main Line,the Aberdeen–Inverness line,the Kyle of Lochalsh line and the Far North Line.
Altnabreac railway station is a rural railway station in the Highland council area of Scotland. It serves the area of Altnabreac –a settlement in which the station itself is the main component –in the historic county of Caithness. The name Altnabreac derives from the Scots Gaelic Allt nam Breac,meaning "the stream of the trout".
Alness railway station is a railway station on the Far North Line,serving the town of Alness,on the Cromarty Firth,in the Highland council area of Scotland. The station is 28 miles 70 chains (46.5 km) from Inverness,between Dingwall and Invergordon. ScotRail,who manage the station,operate all services.
Invergordon railway station is a railway station serving the town of Invergordon on the Cromarty Firth,in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is located on the Far North Line,31 miles 37 chains (50.6 km) from Inverness,between Alness and Fearn. ScotRail,who manage the station,operate all services.
Lairg railway station is a railway station just south of the village of Lairg in the Highland council area of Scotland. The station is on the Far North Line,66 miles 78 chains (107.8 km) from Inverness,between Invershin and Rogart. ScotRail,who manage the station,operate all services.
Helmsdale railway station is a railway station serving the village of Helmsdale in the Highland council area,northern Scotland. It is located on the Far North Line,between Brora and Kildonan,101 miles 40 chains (163.3 km) from Inverness. ScotRail,who manage the station,operate all services.
Kildonan railway station is a railway station near Kildonan Lodge in the Highland council area in the north of Scotland. It is located on the Far North Line,between Helmsdale and Kinbrace,111 miles 5 chains (178.7 km) from Inverness,and has a single platform which is long enough for a three-coach train. All services are operated by ScotRail,who manage the station.
Kinbrace railway station is a railway station serving the village of Kinbrace in the Highland council area in the north of Scotland. It is located on the Far North Line,118 miles 20 chains from Inverness,between Kildonan and Forsinard. The station is managed by ScotRail,who operate the services at the station.
Forsinard railway station is a railway station serving the village of Forsinard in the Highland council area in the north of Scotland. It is located on the Far North Line,125 miles 69 chains from Inverness,between Kinbrace and Altnabreac. The station is managed by ScotRail,who operate the services at the station.
Scotscalder railway station is a railway station located in the Highland council area in the far north of Scotland. It serves several rural hamlets in the historic county of Caithness,including Scotscalder,Olgrinmore,Westerdale and Calder. It is accessed from the B870 road,two miles (3 km) south of Scotscalder Hall.
Georgemas Junction railway station is a railway station located in the Highland council area in the far north of Scotland. It serves several rural hamlets in the historic county of Caithness,including Georgemas,Roadside and Banniskirk. It is also the nearest station to the village of Halkirk,which lies approximately 1.6 miles (2.6 km) west of the station.
Wick railway station is a railway station located in Wick,in the Highland council area in the far north of Scotland. It serves the town of Wick and other surrounding areas in the historic county of Caithness,including Staxigoe,Papigoe and Haster. The station is the terminus of the Far North Line,161 miles 36 chains from Inverness. It is managed by ScotRail,who operate all trains serving the station.
Elgin railway station is a railway station serving the town of Elgin,Moray in Scotland. The station is managed and served by ScotRail and is on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line,between Keith and Forres,measured 12 miles 18 chains (19.7 km) from Forres.
The Sutherland and Caithness Railway was a Scottish railway company that built a line from Helmsdale,the terminus of the Duke of Sutherland's Railway to Wick and Thurso in Caithness,giving the northern towns access to Inverness. It was driven through by the efforts of the 3rd Duke of Sutherland and the engineer Joseph Mitchell in the face of apathy from interests in Wick.
The Far North Line was built in several stages through sparsely populated and undulating terrain. Extending to 161 miles (259 km),it runs north from Inverness to Wick and Thurso in Caithness,and currently carries a regular passenger train service.
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