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.
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".
The Scottish Region (ScR) was one of the six regions created on British Railways (BR) and consisted of ex-London,Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) and ex-London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) lines in Scotland. It existed from the creation of BR in 1948,and was renamed to ScotRail in the mid-1980s.
Muir of Ord railway station is a railway station on the Kyle of Lochalsh Line and the Far North Line,serving the village of Muir of Ord in the Highland council area of Scotland. The station is 13 miles 4 chains from Inverness,between Beauly and Conon Bridge,and is the location of the sole remaining passing loop on the single line between Dingwall and Inverness.
Fearn railway station is a railway station serving the village of Hill of Fearn in the Highland council area of Scotland,located around 1.3 miles (2.1 km) from the village. It is situated on the Far North Line,40 miles 60 chains (65.6 km) form Inverness,between Tain and Invergordon,and is also the nearest station to Balintore,Hilton and Shandwick,Portmahomack and the Nigg Bay area of Easter Ross. ScotRail,who manage the station,operate all services.
Tain railway station is an unstaffed railway station serving the area of Tain in the Highland council area of Scotland. The station is on the Far North Line,44 miles 23 chains (71.3 km) from Inverness,between Fearn and Ardgay. 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.
Thurso railway station is a railway station located in Thurso,in the Highland council area in the far north of Scotland. It serves the town and its surrounding areas,along with ferry services linking the mainland with Stromness on the Orkney Islands.
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.
The Wick and Lybster Light Railway was a light railway opened in 1903,with the intention of opening up the fishing port of Lybster,in Caithness,Scotland,to the railway network at Wick. Its construction was heavily supported financially by local government and the Treasury. It was worked by the Highland Railway.
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 Dornoch Light Railway was a branch railway in Scotland that ran from The Mound on the Far North Line to Dornoch,the county town of Sutherland.
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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