Wick and Lybster Light Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wick and Lybster Light Railway |
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Remains of Thrumster railway station
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| Overview | |
| Locale | Scotland |
| Stations | 8 |
| History | |
| Opened | 1 July 1903 |
| Closed | 3 April 1944 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 13 miles 39 chains (21.7 km) |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
The Wick and Lybster Light Railway was a special type of railway line. It opened in 1903 in Scotland. The main goal was to connect the fishing town of Lybster to the bigger railway network at Wick. This would help Lybster's fishing port grow.
Local government and the national Treasury gave a lot of money to build this railway. The Highland Railway company operated the trains. However, the railway was not used as much as people hoped. The fishing trade did not expand as expected. In the 1930s, a new, modern road was built. This road made travel from Lybster much faster and shorter. Because of this, the railway closed completely in 1944.
Contents
Building the Lybster Railway
Lybster is a fishing village about 13 miles (21 km) south of Wick. Before the late 1800s, it was hard to reach by land. People thought about building a railway there as early as 1864. But nothing happened with that idea at the time.
The government passed a law called the Light Railways Act 1896. This law aimed to help build cheaper railways. These railways would connect smaller towns and areas.
When a new railway was suggested for Lybster, local people were very supportive. Wick was already a major railway stop. It was one end of the Far North Line from Inverness. The Highland Railway company owned and ran this line.
Getting Permission for the Railway
Caithness County Council led the effort to get permission. They applied for a Light Railway Order on March 5, 1896. This order was officially granted on November 27, 1899.
The railway company needed £30,000 to start. But the actual building cost was much higher. They hoped to get grants from the County Council and the Treasury.
Many important people and groups helped financially. The Duke of Portland, a big landowner, gave £15,000. The Highland Railway gave £1,000. Caithness County Council provided £15,000. The towns of Wick and Pultenytown also contributed. The Treasury gave a large grant of £25,000.
Starting Construction and Opening Day
The Highland Railway agreed to manage the building work. But they did not want to lose money if funds ran short. William Whitelaw, a leader at Highland Railway, asked for personal promises from local directors. After some discussion, the directors agreed.
They also convinced the Treasury to add another £5,000 in 1900. A final agreement with the Highland Railway was made on February 27, 1901. These talks caused a year's delay in building the line.
Construction began on April 1, 1901. William Roberts, the chief engineer for the Highland Railway, designed the plans. The line was checked by an inspector in August 1902.
The railway officially opened on July 1, 1903. The first train left Wick at 11:00 AM. The engine was named Lybster and was decorated with flags. Mrs. Miller, whose husband was the chairman, signaled the train's departure. She received a gold whistle as a souvenir. The first train went straight to Lybster in about 30 minutes.
Three trains ran each way every weekday. The trip took 40 minutes. Trains could go up to 25 mph (40 km/h).
Railway Performance and Changes
The railway never made much money. Its profit was always very low, never more than 1.5%.
In 1903, a special train engine was moved to the Wick and Lybster Light Railway. It was an 0-4-4 tank locomotive. It had been built in 1890 and changed in 1901.
How the Railway Changed Ownership
The Wick and Lybster Light Railway Company mostly managed money. The Railways Act 1921 was a new law. It aimed to combine many smaller railway companies in Great Britain.
The Highland Railway became part of a new, larger company. This new company was called the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS). The Wick and Lybster Light Railway was also taken over by the LMS. Its shares were exchanged for cash.
The Railway's Path
The railway line was 13 miles 39 chains (21.7 km) long. It had only one track, so trains could not pass each other.
A new platform was built at Wick station just for these trains. The Lybster line started near Wick station and curved south. It then ran inland for about one mile (1.5 kilometres). After that, it curved west, following the coast to Lybster.
There were stations along the way at Thrumster, Ulbster, Mid Clyth, and Occumster.
Hills and Slopes
The area is rocky and hilly. The railway line had steep slopes. From Wick, the line went uphill almost all the way. The steepest part was 1 in 50. It reached its highest point, 100 metres (328 ft) above sea level, before the 7-mile mark.
The line went up and down with other steep slopes. The last mile went downhill into Lybster station. Lybster station was higher than Wick station. Lybster station was at 65 m or 214 ft. Wick station was at 12 m or 38 ft. The station in Lybster was at the north end of the main street. It was a bit far from the harbor.
The line also had many level crossings where roads crossed the tracks.
Why the Railway Closed
In the 1930s, a modern road was built over the Ord of Caithness. This road was good for the area. But it meant the end for the railway.
Traveling from Lybster to Helmsdale by train through Wick was 74 miles (119 km). But by the new road, it was just over 20 miles (32 km). The road made travel much quicker.
The railway closed completely after its last train on April 1, 1944. John Skene, who drove the first train in 1903, also started the engine for the very last trip. Many people gathered at Lybster station for the final train. It was decorated with flags for the occasion. By September, the railway tracks were being taken apart.
See also
