Glenbirnie Jct. - St. Fort North Jct.
Date Closed to Passenger Services
12 Feb 1951
Mileage Closed
12m 70c
Stations Closed
Lindores; Luthrie; Kilmany
Services Operated
Perth - Dundee (Tay Bridge) via Newburgh
Timetable Reference
B1406 Oct 1950 939
Cobb Atlas Reference
564 25 17 - 565 41 24
Present Status
Dismantled
Map
RCH Scotland 1907 – reproduced with permission from the National Library of Scotland
Further Notes
ACD - Mon 12/02/1951 - PNM 1980 p69. No Sunday service, LTR - Sat 10/02/1951.
There was an interesting legal challenge to the closure of this line which presaged many of the battles to come, in particular the 'Bluebell Railway'.
The line was originally proposed for closure from Mon 03/07/1950, but "on June 30, the Court of Session granted an interim interdict", brought by Fife County Council, "against the discontinuance of the passenger service" - RM Aug 1950 p569.
The matter revolved around an Act of 1897, (RM Apr 1951 p281), authorising the transfer of the line to the N.B.R. "provided that the company should work it in perpetuity and it was this clause that caused the interim interdict to be granted", which was subsequently withdrawn by court order. "It seems possible, therefore, that the discontinuance of the passenger services is a contradiction of the Act of 1897".
It was on similar grounds that the doughty Madge Bessemer and her supporters successfully reversed the decision to close the East Grinstead - Lewes line, albeit only temporarily. The line finally closed from Mon 17/03/1958. See East Grinstead (Low Level) (excl.) - Horsted Keynes (excl.); Horsted Keynes Jct. - Culver Jct.
Page updated: 31/05/2022