Local area 

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This line runs through a low population district and across peat-moss. The highest populations are at either ends of the line. The route is slightly circuitous; the main road to Thurso and Wick runs up the coast and the line runs inland. The coast is mostly high cliff with very large cuts into it which would have necessitated many very large viaducts had the line taken this route. The inland route is considerably more level. After the opening of the line a branch was opened from Wick to Occumster and Lybster on the coast which had been missed out by taking the inland route. There was a brief goldrush in the Strath of Kildonan with a large temporary population of prospectors. The area is now given over to deer-stalking.

Wick was known for its quarries and very large fishing harbour. In 1912 quarries closed and a large part of the population used the railway to emigrate. Thurso is close to the Dounreay Nuclear Plant which has added to the prosperity of the town.

Chronology 

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Description of route

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From Helmsdale to Thurso and Wick.

Helmsdale 

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This was the terminus of the Duke of Sutherland's Railway's extension of 1871 from Gartymore. (See that line for details of the station). The Sutherland and Caithness Railway started from the north end of the station and ran north toThurso and Wick.

This halt is closed. This was a single platform station used in connection with deer stalking.

This station had a passing loop and two platforms. The passing loop has been lifted and only one platform is in use today. The Strath of Kildonan was the site of a gold rush in the nineteen hundreds with many men living in poor timber accomodation. The 'Kildonan South' and 'Kildonan North' signalboxes have been demolished.

Some bits of wood remain, perhaps the platform, on the right side of the level crossing gates. This halt was used in connection with deer stalking but is now closed.

This was a two platform station with a passing loop. The passing loop has been lifted and only the former southbound platform is today in use. The 'Kinbrace South' and 'Kinbrace North' signalboxes have been demolished.

This is a two platform station with a passing loop. The former 'Forsinard North' signalbox still stands ('Forsinard South' has been demolished), and the windows are occasional victims of vandalism. The waiting shelter on the southbound platform still stands and has a heavy roll-back door. There is a siding to the west of the station. The platforms are extended at the eastend with timber.

This is a high isolated spot far from roads and the highest point on the line at 708 feet.

This was a two platform station with a passing loop. Today one platform is in use, the base of the former water tank and a sidings exists here. A station building still stands, in use as a private residence. This site is subject to heavy snow in winter. The 'Altnabreac South' and 'Altnabreac North' signalboxes have been demolished.

This station is at an isolated spot approached by forestry commision roads.

This station formerly had two platforms and a passing loop. Today the northbound platform remains in use and the loop has been lifted. The remaining platform and former station building are in a good state of repair and have won awards. The 'Scotscalder South' and 'Scotscalder North' signalboxes have been demolished.

This station is now closed. The low mound of the platform remains.

This station is the junction between the line from Inverness to Wick and the Thurso branch. The station has two main platforms, the station building, a footbridge, passing loop and sidings parallel to the Inverness to Wick platform. The station is crossed by a road bridge at the east end and there is a shed at the south end of the station. There was a bay platform for the Thurso branch (track now lifted) and the Thurso branch had a loop track now lifted. 'Georgemas Junction' signalbox has been demolished, it was a tall signalbox and lasted a good few years after it fell out of use. 'Georgemas North' signalbox was demolished many years before.

The left photograph looks towards the junction. The centre photograph looks towards Wick. The station is open to freight at the time of writing.

The right hand photograph shows the junction. Thurso line to the left, Wick straight on, and rest of Britain to the right. The turntable pit is nicely picked out by wild plants in the foreground. A signal-box used to stand in the "V" of the junction.

This station is closed. The photograph looks towards Thurso, with Georgemas station behind.

Thurso is the most northerly station in Britain. It is at the end of a short branch from Georgemas Junction. The station has a overall roof, goods shed and goods yard (formerly used by UKAEA - the UK Atomic Energy Authority - for Dounreay). The station formerly had an engine shed and signalbox. The passenger part of the station has a long platform, partly covered by an overall roof (also partly covering a line and rounding loop). The second face of the platform has a second track which is not covered. Thurso and Wick stations are similar.

This station is closed.

This station is closed. It had two platforms and a passing loop. The 'Watten South' and 'Watten North' signalboxes have been demolished.

This station is closed.

This station is the end of the line. It has a long platform, partly covered by a over-all roof which also partly covered a track and passing loop. The second face of the platform was formerly served by a track, now lifted. There is a goods yard (in 1956 sidings were used by Scottish Oils & Shell-Mex) and a goods shed. There was formerly a signalbox and engine shed (a two road shed, 60D, closed in 1962). To the west of the station was the east (Wick) facing junction with the now closed line to Lybster (See also the Wick and Lybster Light Railway). Thurso and Wick stations are similar.