Golspie railway station

Golspie railway station is a railway station serving the village of Golspie in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is on the Far North Line.

Golspie Scottish Gaelic: Goillspidh[1]
Location	Golspie, Highland Scotland
Coordinates	57.9712°N 3.9874°W
Grid reference	NH825997
Managed by	Abellio ScotRail
Platforms	1
Other information
Station code	GOL
History
Original company	Sutherland Railway
Pre-grouping	Highland Railway
Post-grouping	LMSR
Key dates
13 April 1868	Opened as terminus
19 June 1871	Line extended to Helmsdale
Passengers
2015/16	5,192
2016/17	5,718
2017/18	5,786
2018/19	6,150
2019/20	5,586
Listed Building – Category B
Designated	7 March 1984
Reference no.	LB7009[2]
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

It was designed in 1868 (with a combined post office) by the architect William Fowler.[3]

The station opened on 13 April 1868. Originally, it was the northern terminus of the Sutherland Railway, which had been intended to continue to Brora but had run out of money after reaching Golspie. The Duke of Sutherland used his own personal finances to build the line onwards through Brora to Helmsdale, this being the Duke of Sutherland's Railway, completed on 19 June 1871.[4][5][6]

Golspie station was designed by William Fowler and built in 1868, Golspie Station House which sits on the unmanned platform was converted in 2002/2003 to a four bedroom home.

The station formerly had two platforms and a passing loop. One platform remains in use and the loop has been lifted. The station building is in an excellent state of repair following recent renovation. The former goods yard is to the south of the station. The station was host to a LMS caravan from 1935 to 1939.[7] A camping coach was also positioned here by the Scottish Region from 1957 to 1959 and 1964, no coaches were at the station in 1960 and 1961, then a Pullman camping coach was here in 1962, 1963 and 1965 and finally two ordinary coaches were here in 1966 and 1967.[8]

The 'Golspie North' and 'Golspie South' signalboxes are demolished. The Duke of Sutherland had an engine shed for his engine Dunrobin (and replacement with the same name).

The station is 84 miles 30 chains (135.8 km) from Inverness, and has a single platform which is long enough for a seven-coach train.[9]

References

1. Brailsford, Martyn, ed. (December 2017) [1987]. "Gaelic/English Station Index". Railway Track Diagrams 1: Scotland & Isle of Man (6th ed.). Frome: Trackmaps. ISBN 978-0-9549866-9-8.
2. "GOLSPIE RAILWAY STATION". Historic Scotland. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
3. "DSA Architect Biography Report: William Fowler". Dictionary of Scottish Architects, 1660-1980.
4. Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd. pp. 71–72, 106. ISBN 1-85260-508-1. R508.
5. Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. London: Guild Publishing. p. 105. CN 8983.
6. Vallance, H.A.; Clinker, C.R.; Lambert, Anthony J. (1985) [1938]. The Highland Railway (4th ed.). Newton Abbot: David & Charles. pp. 35–36. ISBN 0-946537-24-0.
7. McRae, Andrew (1997). British Railway Camping Coach Holidays: The 1930s & British Railways (London Midland Region). Scenes from the Past: 30 (Part One). Foxline. p. 22. ISBN 1-870119-48-7.
8. McRae, Andrew (1998). British Railways Camping Coach Holidays: A Tour of Britain in the 1950s and 1960s. Scenes from the Past: 30 (Part Two). Foxline. p. 13. ISBN 1-870119-53-3.
9. Brailsford 2017, map 20B.

External links

• Train times and station information for Golspie railway station from National Rail