Sutherland and Caithness Railway

Sutherland and Caithness Railway
Overview
LocaleScotland
Dates of operation28 July 1874–30 July 1884
SuccessorHighland Railway[1]
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Sutherland and
Caithness Railway
Thurso
Hoy
Georgemas Junction
Halkirk
Bower
Scotscalder
Watten
Altnabreac
Bilbster
Forsinard
Kinbrace
Wick
Borrobol
Platform
Kildonan
Salzcraggie
Platform
Helmsdale

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.

Its roundabout route was forced by the difficult topography north of Helmsdale. It opened in 1874 and continues in use at the present day as the northern part of the Far North Line.

  1. ^ Awdry (1990), page 105