Altnabreac station and the various legal disputes around it

[zwk500]

Well, in my opinion, it's time she realised that she is not a suitable person represent herself in court. Had the two of them retained a solicitor, even if that solicitor told them what they didn't want to hear, this would have been over long ago - with less costs to all the parties concerned.

IIRC they have had solicitors represent them. Who presumably told them what they didn't want to hear, and so were told to sod off by the couple.

When this all comes to an end the likelihood is that they will be on the losing side in all of their cases.

Indeed. Although how much of anything will there be left for the winning side to recover costs from?

 

[styles]

Well, in my opinion, it's time she realised that she is not a suitable person represent herself in court. Had the two of them retained a solicitor, even if that solicitor told them what they didn't want to hear, this would have been over long ago - with less costs to all the parties concerned.

When this all comes to an end the likelihood is that they will be on the losing side in all of their cases.

Quite possibly.

Can't force people to get legal representation though.

I think Elizabeth does a better job than the 'average person' would. But I do think it's a far cry from what a qualified advocate would deliver.

I've a funny feeling that this will end up being quite a sorry tale of a couple losing their house, gaining criminal records, and a railway station cottage sat empty.

 

[EYFanatic]

I've a funny feeling that this will end up being quite a sorry tale of a couple losing their house, gaining criminal records, and a railway station cottage sat empty.

At least there is a good place for RUF to expand into AirB&B...

 

[styles]

At least there is a good place for RUF to expand into AirB&B...

I've joked a few times that I'd buy the place and offer tea and cake to passers-by. But it's only half a joke really - I work remotely and without a need to get to a major city for 9am it would actually be ideal. Elizabeth keeps chickens and that's something I'm very onboard with myself. There is actually a holiday cottage nearby (which confuses a little who the people with suitcases are arriving at the station). Some fantastic mountain biking to be had. Trout fishing to the north. And evidently very peaceful. It's the kind of place I've dreamed of owning before now but couldn't quite commit because of a need to get to a major city for work. At this point I'd feel bad for snapping it up though, and wouldn't really want Kevin Booth as a neighbour!

Altnabreac is a particularly interesting station for me because nobody actually seems to know why it exists. The building of the station pre-dates the station cottage (can't have a station cottage without a station!), the school house, and pretty much everything nearby. There's a water tower which suggests maybe it was built as a halt for operational reasons but nobody actually seems to know.

 

[najaB]

Altnabreac is a particularly interesting station for me because nobody actually seems to know why it exists. The building of the station pre-dates the station cottage (can't have a station cottage without a station!), the school house, and pretty much everything nearby. There's a water tower which suggests maybe it was built as a halt for operational reasons but nobody actually seems to know.

Perhaps an aborted scheme by one of the landowners?

 

[D6130]

Wasn't it built for the original owners of Lochdhu Lodge for their own use and that of their rich huntin', fishin' an' shootin' pals?

 

[styles]

Wasn't it built for the original owners of Lochdhu Lodge for their own use and that of their rich huntin', fishin' an' shootin' pals?

Lochdu Lodge was built over 20 years after the railway station opened, so probably not!

 

[The exile]

Lochdu Lodge was built over 20 years after the railway station opened, so probably not!

Though a landowner could easily have made it a condition of construction so that they could build a hunting lodge and then not got round to it for a while (or even a generation).

 

[styles]

Though a landowner could easily have made it a condition of construction so that they could build a hunting lodge and then not got round to it for a while (or even a generation).

This is true, it's possible. With 1800s planning laws (or lack thereof), I'd think a developer would have to be pretty lazy to take 20 years to build a house, but I suppose stranger things have happened at Altnabreac!

 

[The exile]

This is true, it's possible. With 1800s planning laws (or lack thereof), I'd think a developer would have to be pretty lazy to take 20 years to build a house, but I suppose stranger things have happened at Altnabreac!

Assuming the landowner was the Duke of Sutherland, there wouldn’t have been any pressure - it was to all intents and purposes “his” railway.

 

[reb0118]

My understanding was that it (Altnabreac Station) was required purely for operational reasons. It being a suitable location for passing & watering.

Although, AFAIUI, it was never a private station and open to all. Most of the other buildings in the area followed the railway such as the post office and school house.

 

[styles]

My understanding was that it (Altnabreac Station) was required purely for operational reasons. It being a suitable location for passing & watering.

Although, AFAIUI, it was never a private station and open to all. Most of the other buildings in the area followed the railway such as the post office and school house.

I'd quite enjoy a postcard franked from Altnabreac.

 

[reb0118]

I'd quite enjoy a postcard franked from Altnabreac.

You could apply for a sub postmasters's licence after your purchase of the station house. Paint one half in Scottish Region light blue, & the other in Royal Mail red.

 

[ejstubbs]

My understanding was that it (Altnabreac Station) was required purely for operational reasons. It being a suitable location for passing & watering.

That pretty much tallies with the history of the station in Railscot (which I cannot quote here as they are very protective of their copyright).

 

[Cowley]

I have to say, @styles ending up living in Altnabreac Station and opening a post office really would be the ultimate thread twist.

 

[Dai Corner]

I have to say, @styles ending up living in Altnabreac Station and opening a post office really would be the ultimate thread twist.

If the station has little passenger use, no operational value and @styles decides not to move there perhaps it could be closed and sold to adjacent landowners? Would they prefer the privacy or a train service?

(Sorry, we shouldn't start speculating really)

 

[najaB]

If the station has little passenger use, no operational value and @styles decides not to move there perhaps it could be closed and sold to adjacent landowners? Would they prefer the privacy or a train service?

Suggesting station closure on RailUK Forums is an automatic foul. Off to the penalty box for you.

 

[takno]

Suggesting station closure on RailUK Forums is an automatic foul. Off to the penalty box for you.

Does lead me to wonder if there's a station house they could perhaps buy next to Reston

 

[Bletchleyite]

Suggesting station closure on RailUK Forums is an automatic foul. Off to the penalty box for you.

It shouldn't be closed in this case specifically because doing so would not only let them win but also set a precedent that landowners who dislike the railway can just act totally inappropriately and get stations (and even lines?) closed.

Had this not happened, closure would be easily justified. But as it has, the station must not be closed until they have moved out of the property as to do so lets them win. What might or might not happen to it after that is an entirely separate discussion.

 

[zwk500]

It shouldn't be closed in this case specifically because doing so would not only let them win but also set a precedent that landowners who dislike the railway can just act totally inappropriately and get stations (and even lines?) closed.

Had this not happened, closure would be easily justified. But as it has, the station must not be closed until they have moved out of the property as to do so lets them win. What might or might not happen to it after that is an entirely separate discussion.

Agree. Get it open again, restore service and then run for 3+ years to allow traffic to return to its normal level.
Then it cam be reevaluated on a proper basis.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Agree. Get it open again, restore service and then run for 3+ years to allow traffic to return to its normal level.
Then it cam be reevaluated on a proper basis.

It is open and has been for some time now. The only reason there are no services today is that the whole line is closed for engineering work for a few weeks and the buses can't reach it as there are no public roads.

 

[Narrowgauge725]

Next Forum walk, a circular from and back to the station, of course we can make use of the Scottish Right to Roam and walk all over the land they claim to be theirs? It will increase station usage significantly.

 

[styles]

Next Forum walk, a circular from and back to the station, of course we can make use of the Scottish Right to Roam and walk all over the land they claim to be theirs? It will increase station usage significantly.

There are actually some stunning walks and bike rides around the area. Also trout fishing to the north.

 

[TheWierdOne]

re the suggestions about closure, for whatever reason. Does the station actually cost all that much, legal disputes notwithstanding. It is after all an unmanned platform. Perhaps it doesn’t cover the cost of maintenance/inspection visits in ticket sales alone, but the economic contributions of visitors to the (much) wider area is probably appreciable.

 

[najaB]

Perhaps it doesn’t cover the cost of maintenance/inspection visits in ticket sales alone, but the economic contributions of visitors to the (much) wider area is probably appreciable.

Not really. There isn't much to attract visitors to the area.

 

[Mainliner]

Next Forum walk, a circular from and back to the station, of course we can make use of the Scottish Right to Roam and walk all over the land they claim to be theirs? It will increase station usage significantly.

I’d be up for that (but not in midge season, of course)

 

[Bald Rick]

I have to say, @styles ending up living in Altnabreac Station and opening a post office really would be the ultimate thread twist.

only as long as the post office couldn’t be used by Royal Mail staff delivering letters to the local community.

 

[JohnofWessex]

How about a tour of the Great Legal Cases of Scotland and a must for fans of Jarndyce v Jarndyce

 

[styles]

For anyone wanting to follow the civil hearing with EE, you can email supreme.courts@scotcourts.gov.uk for a WebEx link.

It's scheduled for 4 days from Tuesday 30th this week coming.

I am a little surprised that given this should be the 'main' hearing if you like, and the previous non-attendance issues, that it is being permitted to participate virtually. But I appreciate Altnabreac to Edinburgh is quite the distance and would basically require staying overnight near Edinburgh for 4 nights. Lord Lake did say months back that he would give consideration as to whether remote hearings would be permitted, but I had expected it to be allowed for preliminary hearings but not the proof before answer. We will see how this works out I suppose.

By the end of this week we should have a clearer idea of EE's claimed costs, as well as the general direction this will end up going. Arguably this is a more significant case than the contempt hearings or the criminal case for the level crossing incident.

 

[AlterEgo]

By the end of this week we should have a clearer idea of EE's claimed costs, as well as the general direction this will end up going. Arguably this is a more significant case than the contempt hearings or the criminal case for the level crossing incident.

As in, this could bankrupt the Applebys and force the sale of the property anyway?