Rathen

Location type

Station

Name and dates

Rathen (1865-1965)

Opened on the Formartine and Buchan Railway.

Description

This was a single platform station, although it may briefly have had a second platform in 1894. There was a signal box in 1894 and loop, which may predate the box.

The station platform was on the east side of the line with a goods yard on the east side, approached from the north where the signal box was located. It would appear there was a recess for a second station building on the west side.

Certainly a box opened and then closed (ie ceased to be a block post) in 1894, in common with boxes at other minor stations on the line. The box remains as a ground frame operating signals.

Confusingly OS maps show two signal boxes until the 1950s, although one may be an abbreviation for station building.

The station building remains, which became ruinous after closure to passengers, is in use as a house, the trackbed is now the Formartine and Buchan Way .

The bridge to the south of the station has been removed, this gave clearance for two tracks.

Tags

Station footpath

External links

Canmore site record
NLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67
NLS Map
NLS Map




Chronology Dates

24/04/1865Formartine and Buchan Railway
Maud to Fraserburgh opened. Stations opened at Brucklay [2nd], Strichen, Mormond, Rathen and Fraserburgh.
  /  /1894Formartine and Buchan Railway
Rathen loop removed.
02/10/1965Formartine and Buchan Railway
Fraserburgh to Dyce junction closed to passengers. (Alternative date 4/10/1965). Fraserburgh, Rathen, Mormond Halt, Strichen, Brucklay [2nd], Maud, Arnage, Ellon, Logierieve, Udny and Newmachar closed.

Books


Scotland’s Lost Branch Lines: Where Beeching Got It Wrong