Sutherland and Caithness Railway


The Sutherland and Caithness Railway was a railway worked by, and later absorbed by the Highland Railway running through Sutherland and Caithness, Scotland. Caithness and Sutherland are former counties, and former districts of the Highland region.

History

The company was formed on 13 July 1871 to take over from the Caithness Railway and construct the line from its junction with the Duke of Sutherland's Railway at Helmsdale onwards to Wick and Thurso. The 3rd Duke of Sutherland contributed £60,000 and the Highland Railway contributed £50,000 towards the £360,000 cost of construction. The engineers were Murdo Patterson for the Caithness section and Mr Baxter for the Sutherland section.
On completion on 28 July 1874, the company was absorbed by the Highland Railway, which opened and operated the line. Halkirk, Bower, Watten and Bilbster were closed in 1960, with Hoy, Borrobol Platform and Salzcraggie Platform being closed in 1965.

Connections to other lines

The line is now part of the Far North Line, offering services to Wick and Inverness.