Dornoch Light Railway
ALSO VISIT |
The Route Described
Upon leaving the branch platform at Mound Station the train would cross the four 50 feet spans of the Fleet viaduct on a falling gradient of 1: 45 to travel along the west side of Telford’s embankment until crossing the main Inverness to Wick road at the embankment’s southern end. Skirting the upper reaches of Loch Fleet the line reached Cambusavie Platform and immediately crossed the motor road to Embo and Dornoch. It now travelled almost parallel with the road before again crossing it near Skelbo Castle just a short distance from Skelbo Station and, the track to Littleferry. On the right is the house sold by the Duke for use of the Station Master or Gate Keeper. It then left Loch Fleet, through the dunes on a wide right hand bend past Coul Farm overlooking the North Sea to cross the road and to Embo Station, then again through the dunes adjacent to the famous Royal Dornoch Golf Course, one final crossing of the road at Achinchanter to terminate in the shadow of Dornoch Cathedral. Today, much remains of the railway. All the crossing keepers’ houses, the Station Master’s house at Dornoch and the Mound Station buildings have survived to become private dwellings. The platforms at Skelbo and Dornoch remain, as does Dornoch Station building which is now a Take-Away (Shown below in 2002). The shelter from Skelbo can be seen in a field at Cambusavie and is now used by Cambusmore Estate. The track bed is not difficult to follow for much of its length, two permanent way buildings are passed on the route but the Fleet Viaduct is gone, only the pier bases are left as a reminder of days gone by. The Dornoch Hotel flourishes now owned by Shearings, the hotel and coach group. CONTENTS The Early Years | Working the Railway | Changing Times | Motive Power | The Route Described | A Journey in 1954 Last Loco | The Mound | Cambusavie | Skelbo | Embo | Dornoch | The Dornoch Hotel | More Images
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