Far North Railway Line from Rose Street Bridge

Far North Railway Line from Rose Street Bridge Inverness Scotland, originally uploaded by conner395.

Looking north (with Inverness Railway Station behind) the line to Dingwall (and thence to Kyle of Lochalsh and Wick & Thurso) stretches out in front.

A closer look will show that the line bends to the right, which is immediately after it has crossed the River Ness by viaduct (replaced 1990 after the orignal bridge was washed away in floods in 1989).

The first railway in the Highlands was that between Inverness and Nairn (opened Nov 1855) and the extension north as far as Dingwall did not open until 1862.

On the right of this photo however and separated from the main line by a fence, is the EQUAL first line in the Highlands, also opened in Nov 1855.

The Inverness Harbour Branch only remained open to passenger traffic until 1867 but goods traffic (and the extensive coal yard) remained in use until the 1980s.

Trains of goods vehicles descended a steep decline alongside the Ness Rail Bridge and then negotiated a very sharp right hand bend to bring the wagons alongside the harbour-side.

That branch was greatly expanded for the duration of the First World War for the war effort.

Sadly these two abandoned sidings are all that remain of that ancient line (and coal yard) and what was once a hive of industry.

Taken 4th September 2010