Formatine and Buchan Railway

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Can anyone shed any light upon a supposed short-lived halt that was supposed to have been constructed in-between the two stations of Philorth and of Rathen ?

I have, in my railway archives, a hand-written document dated 1925, in which this halt is mentioned briefly in passing, but no dates of opening or closure are mentioned in it.

 

[Bill EWS]

Philorth halt was a private station built by some landowner/Laird or whatever. I forget who he was at the moment.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Philorth halt was a private station built by some landowner/Laird or whatever. I forget who he was at the moment.

The station of Philorth was the private station built for Lord Saltoun. It is the supposed halt that was situated somewhere in-between Rathen and Philorth that I am seeking information upon.

 

[Bill EWS]

The 'station' you are looking for was Philorth Bridge Halt. I knew I had seen two Philorth stations in a map but was thinking that the other one was on the St. Combs branch. However, I found the map and Philorth Bridge Halt was situated between Rathan Station and Philorth Private Halt. Hope that helps.

Edit: Sorry I was correct first time, Philorth Bridge Halt WAS on the St Combs branch, between Cairbulg and Kirkton Bridge Halt.. My apologies.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

This now appears to have solved that particular problem for me. It appears whoever wrote the hand-written document in 1925 was not clear as he could have been.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

From Quick - Philorth Bridge opened on 01 July 1903, appearing in Bradshaw's as P B PLATFORM for a decade until becoming P B HALT from 1914. It closed 03 May 1965.

 

[Bill EWS]

I woud have rattled that off the top of my head a few years back. I worked over the two routes as a second man back in th 60's. However, that was along time ago. The St Combs branch was very interesting, even in a DMU, especially passing through the Golf Course when a ball would often bounce off the train. The branch had an atmosphere all of it's own. It would have probably been more successful if it had continued on to Peterhead but as with a few other places, because it was all under the GNSR, they wouldn't join some sections up as it would draw custom away from the main routes.