The Duke of Sutherland's Railway was a railway built by the Duke of Sutherland. The Sutherland Railway, which opened in 1868, stopped at Golspie. The Duke paid for the continuation of the line to Brora, thus ensuring a service for his home, Dunrobin Castle. The Duke also built another 11 miles to West Helmsdale, also known as Gartymore.
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History
The Duke ran the line from opening on 1 November 1870 until the following year when (with the extension to Helmsdale), the Highland Railway took over the running of the line. When the line was extended to Helmsdale on 9 November 1871, West Helmsdale closed with Loth opening. The Highland Railway absorbed the line into their own network on 31 July 1884. Loth closed on 13 June 1960. Dunrobin Castle having opened with the line, has closed, reopened and closed, with the most recent reopening was in 30 June 1985.
Connections of other lines
The line today
The line is still open, being part of the Far North Line.
Regrets
The Duke of Sutherland expressed regrets that he hadn't known about the narrow gauge Festiniog Railway six years sooner, as he could have saved a lot of money.