This pioneering railway is entirely closed. The route included three inclined planes which required stationary steam engines to haul the trains uphill. These steep sections were later deviated by three new railways. It was a 4 ft 6.5 in line.
The company provided a service between Dundee Ward Road and Newtyle [1st]. The line was unusual for its time in not being a connection between coal pits and water, eg harbours or canals.
The original station at Newtyle still stands (in altered form see Newtyle [1st]).
The line passed for most of its length through the lands of the Earl of Airlie and Lord Wharncliffe.
/ /1821 | Elgin Railway Re-aligned again to avoid inclined planes, engineer; Mr Charles Landale (later the Dundee and Newtyle Railway engineer). |
26/05/1826 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Act receives Royal assent, engineer Charles Landale (previously engineer to the Elgin Railway). |
11/01/1827 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Construction work goes out to tender. |
/02/1827 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Construction work begins on line. |
/ /1830 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Dundee Harbour tramway extension from Dundee Ward Road authorised. |
16/12/1831 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Line partially opened from Law Engine House to Hatton Engine House with stations at Dundee Top of the Law, Baldovan, Baldragon, Balbeuchley Foot, Balbeuchley Top, Auchterhouse [1st] and Hatton Engine House. Stationary engines for inclines were provided by J&C Carmichael, Ward Foundry. At this time only the Balbeuchley Incline was in operation. Line horse operated. |
03/04/1832 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Line full opened. At Dundee it is extended down the Law Incline to Dundee Ward Road and at Hatton it is extended down the Hatton Incline to Newtyle [1st]. Additional Cross Roads station opened on existing line to the north of the Law. |
/ /1833 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Two locomotives for level sections provided by J&C Carmichael, Ward Foundry. |
/05/1833 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Offset at Back of Law opened as a halt by Offset at Back of Law Workshops which accommodated the locomotives. |
/ /1834 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Locomotive for level sections provided by Stirling & Co (Dundee Foundry). |
/ /1836 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Locomotive for level sections provided by Robert Stephenson. |
/02/1837 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Line extended from Dundee Ward Road station to Dundee Earl Grey Dock in Dundee Harbour. |
/ /1839 | Newtyle and Glammis Railway Dundee and Newtyle Railway takes over operation of line. Connecting coaches operated to Kirriemuir and Forfar. |
/08/1846 | Dundee and Perth Railway Dundee and Newtyle Railway An Act to allow the Dundee and Perth Railway to take a long term lease of the Dundee and Newtyle Railway is passed. The same Act allows for alteration of the crossing of the River Tay in Perth and purchase of land at Barnhill (east side of river). |
14/10/1846 | Dundee and Perth Railway
Dundee and Newtyle Railway The Dundee and Perth Railway takes a 999 year least of the Dundee and Newtyle Railway. |
21/10/1846 | Dundee and Perth Railway
Dundee and Newtyle Railway The Dundee and Perth Railway purchases the Dundee and Newtyle Railway's harbour line. |
/ /1847 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Authorisation of a deviation at Auchterhouse [1st] given. This incarnation of the deviation was not built. |
/ /1847 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Authorisation of alterations to the line including conversation to standard gauge and easing of curves. |
/08/1848 | Dundee, Perth and Aberdeen Junction Railway The Dundee and Perth Railway, having take a lease of the Dundee and Newtyle Railway in 1846 and entered into a long term operational agreement with the Dundee and Arbroath Railway in 1848, changes its name to the Dundee, Perth and Aberdeen Junction Railway. |
01/10/1849 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Re-gauging to standard gauge, under contractor Falshaw, begins. Work completed in a month and handed back after the three month period set aside for the work. The former Newtyle and Glammis Railway section from Newtyle [1st] to Meigle Upper Junction was subsequently re-gauged. |
/ /1855 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Cross Roads station closed. |
/ /1857 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Dundee magistrates order the Dundee, Perth and Aberdeen Junction Railway to remove the Dundee and Newtyle Railway's harbour branch which ran as a street tramway between Dundee Ward Road and the Dundee Earl Grey Dock. Negotiations led to the DP&AJR having to promote a deviation (the Lochee Deviation, owned by the DP&AJR) avoiding the Law Incline and removal of the street tramway, replacing it with a locomotive worked line. |
/07/1859 | Dundee, Perth and Aberdeen Junction Railway Act for the Lochee Deviation, Ninewells Junction (on the Dundee and Perth Railway) to Fairmuir (on the Dundee and Newtyle Railway), passed. Dundee Ward Road and the Law Incline were to close and trains terminate at Dundee Union Street (later Dundee West). Also for the deviation from Rosemill Loop to Auchterhouse [2nd] replacing the Balbeuchley Incline. |
/ /1860 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Dundee and Newtyle Deviations (Dundee and Perth Railway) Auchterhouse [2nd] deviation opened. This first part of the improvements, the Dundee and Newtyle Deviations (Dundee and Perth Railway). Dronley and Auchterhouse [2nd] opened. Balbeuchley Top and Auchterhouse [1st] closed. |
/ /1861 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Dundee and Newtyle Deviations (Dundee and Perth Railway) Deviation from Ninewells Junction to by Fairmuir Junction opened. Liff, Victoria [Dundee], Lochee stations opened. |
08/06/1861 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway
Dundee and Newtyle Deviations (Dundee and Perth Railway) Dundee Ward Road, Law Tunnel and Law Incline closed with the opening of the deviation to Ninewells Junction. |
10/06/1861 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Dundee and Newtyle Deviations (Dundee and Perth Railway) Opening of the deviation to Ninewells Junction giving access to Dundee Union Street (later Dundee West). Dundee Ward Road closed (Dundee Top of Law probably closed around 1846, Offset at Back of Law and Cross Roads probably closed before 1853/1855, details are unclear). |
/09/1861 | Newtyle and Glammis Railway Portion of 73 chains closed north from Nethermill Junction to Meigle Upper Junction. New curve built from Nethermill Junction to Ardler Junction on more gentle curve than earlier Coupar Angus fork. The new curve was now the connection between the Dundee and Newtyle Railway and Strathmore main line. |
/ /1862 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Private Rosemill Halt opened |
/ /1863 | Scottish Central Railway
Dundee, Perth and Aberdeen Junction Railway
Dundee and Newtyle Railway The Scottish Central Railway absorbs the Dundee, Perth and Aberdeen Junction Railway and its lease of the Dundee and Newtyle Railway. The North British Railway is granted running powers over both the Dundee and Perth Railway and Dundee and Newtyle Railway routes. |
/ /1864 | Dundee and Perth Railway Dundee Union Street (later Dundee West) station rebuilt in Italianate style, expanded and reopened. Authorisation to divert Yeaman Shore (not done). Enlargement required due to larger trains, extra traffic arising from increased frequency of services and the diversion of Dundee and Newtyle Railway trains to the station. |
/ /1865 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Approval to replace level crossing at Baldovan with a bridge. |
/ /1867 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Dundee and Newtyle Deviations (Dundee and Perth Railway) Dundee and Newtyle Branch Junction Railway (the Forfarshire Works) and Alyth Junction Railway authorised. |
/ /1868 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Deviation of line opened at Rosemill Signal Box. |
03/08/1868 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Dundee and Newtyle Deviations (Dundee and Perth Railway) New line from Newtyle Junction to new platforms at Alyth Junction and line passing north of Alyth Junction to meet the Alyth Railway opened (the construction was known as the 'Forfarshire Works'). This replaced the earlier Newtyle and Glammis Railway curve north of Newtyle. |
31/08/1868 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway
Dundee and Newtyle Deviations (Dundee and Perth Railway) Newtyle [2nd] station opened (the Forfarshire Works) and new line running round the west of Newtyle to Pitnappie Junction to the south east. |
/ /1876 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Authorisation of further land purchase to expand Auchterhouse [2nd]. |
/ /1894 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Agreement to close level crossing at Baldovan. |
/ /1894 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Strathmartine Level Crossing, east of Baldragon station, authorised to be stopped up (not done). |
/ /1904 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Private Rosemill Halt closed. |
/ /1905 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Baldovan renamed Baldovan and Downfield. |
/ /1907 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Approval to improve the railway alignment and purchase land at Baldragon. |
01/01/1917 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Lochee West station closed. |
01/01/1923 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Arbroath and Forfar Railway Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway Caledonian Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Callander and Oban Railway Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway Highland Railway Cathcart District Railway Killin Railway Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Committee Brechin and Edzell District Railway Dornoch Light Railway Wick and Lybster Light Railway Grouped into London, Midland and Scottish Railway. |
15/01/1951 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Dundee and Newtyle Deviations (Dundee and Perth Railway) Alyth Railway Dundee West to Alyth passenger train withdrawn. Alyth Junction to Newtyle [2nd] essentially closed to passengers until 1952 when Ardler Junction to Newtyle [2nd] is closed and Dundee West to Blairgowrie trains diverted via Alyth Junction. |
10/01/1955 | Newtyle and Glammis Railway Dundee and Newtyle Railway Dundee and Newtyle Deviations (Dundee and Perth Railway) Alyth Junction to Dundee West closed to passengers. Newtyle [2nd], Auchterhouse [2nd], Dronley, Baldragon, Baldovan and Downfield, Lochee, Liff closed. |
05/05/1958 | Dundee and Newtyle Deviations (Dundee and Perth Railway) Dundee and Newtyle Railway Newtyle Junction (excluded) to Auchterhouse [2nd] (excluded) closed to freight. Track remains in place for wagon storage. |
/ /1962 | Dundee and Newtyle Deviations (Dundee and Perth Railway) Dundee and Newtyle Railway Newtyle Junction (excluded) to Auchterhouse [2nd] (excluded) entirely closed around 1962. |
07/09/1964 | Newtyle and Glammis Railway Dundee and Newtyle Railway Newtyle [1st] (Newtyle Goods) to Alyth Junction closed to goods and completely. |
25/01/1965 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Auchterhouse [2nd] to Fairmuir Junction (excluded) closed to goods and completely. |
06/11/1967 | Dundee and Newtyle Railway Fairmuir and Maryfield Goods (Scottish Central Railway) Ninewells Junction (excluded) to Fairmuir Junction to Fairmuir Goods and Maryfield Goods closed to freight. |
This 4 ft 6.5 in line was engineered by Charles Landale and was 11 miles long crossing the high ground of the Sidlaw Hills.
There were several major engineering features:
- Law Incline (leaving Dundee northbound; 1060yds climbing at 1 in 10 with 40hp engine)
- Law Tunnel of 330 yds, followed by the Southern Level
- Balbeuchly Incline (climbing the Sidlaws; 1700yds climbing at 1 in 25 with 20hp engine), followed by the Northern Level
- Hatton Incline (dropping down to Newtyle; 1025yds climbing at 1 in 12 with 20hp engine)
The 3 stationary engines by J & C Carmichael, Ward Foundry, for £4,300.
Passing places were provided every half mile before locomotives were employed.
4 locomotives
1833 two by J & C Carmichael, Ward Foundry
1834 one by James Stirling & Co, Dundee Foundry
1836 one by Robert Stephenson.
This line is divided into a number of portions.
This was the Dundee terminus of the line from Newtyle [1st]. The station was just south of the Law Incline and Law Tunnel. Being the first station in Dundee its first name was probably simply 'Dundee'.
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The Law Incline started north of Dundee Ward Road and terminated just south of Law Tunnel. The incline was 3180 ft long. It rose 233 ft at a gradient of 1 in 10. At the north end was an incline engine of 40 hp. Ascent took around 6 minutes.
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This engine, of 20hp, was at the north end of the Law Incline and immediately south of the Law Tunnel. The engine was on the west side of the line and entrance to the tunnel. There was little development here while open, on the modern road system it was immediately south of Kinghorn Road (formerly Hospital Wynd) and west of Upper Constitution Street.
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This is a disused 330 yds long single bore and single track tunnel. Construction was completed in January 1829 at a cost of £5000. The line passed under the eastern part of Dundee Law in a tunnel. To the south was the Law Incline which dropped down to Dundee Ward Road. It was troublesome to build and had to be lined in brick.
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The Dundee and Newtyle Railway's workshops were located at Offset at Back of Law, loops on either side of the line and sidings at the north end of the Law Tunnel and directly east of Lawton. The works were at the southern end of the railway's 'Southern Level', north of the Law Tunnel and the Law Incline. Once the line was locomotive operated this was a good location to have the ...
More detailsThis was a halt, probably opened in 1833 when locomotives were introduced. The Dundee and Newtyle Railway's workshops were located at Back of Law (near the north portal of the Law Tunnel) - Offset at Back of Law Workshops.
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This former station was to the north of Dundee Law and the Law Tunnel. A station house remains standing which was on the east side of the line immediately south of a level crossing with Clepington Road.
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This was not a true junction, but exists in the Act for the Lochee deviation. It is where the original course of the Dundee and Newtyle Railway was met by the Lochee deviation which avoided the Law Tunnel and Law Incline. A connection here would probably be used to deliver materials for the latter and to remove materials from the former on closure. The embankment of the original ...
More detailsThis station was located on the west side of the Downfield Tavern (at a slight angle to the line) near where Strathmartine Road crossed the railway.
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This level crossing was a little east of Baldragon Farm (New). It was between Baldovan and Downfield and Baldragon stations. By the 1960s it was on the northern outskirts of Dundee, which it remains to this day.
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The former line rests on a embankment with a retaining wall here, it is best seen from the north. Encroachment of housing on the north west of the station site has obliterated the goods yard.
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This was a rail served bone crushing mill with a mill lead off the Dighty Water. It was east of Rosemill Level Crossing and served by an east to north siding, approached from the Dundee direction. At the mill ground bone was mixed with guano to produce fertiliser.
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This was a short public siding with a loading bank and small hut immediately to the east of Rosemill level crossing and Rosemill Loop. It was accessed from the east and on the south side of the line.
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This level crossing was between the Balbeuchley Incline (west) and Baldragon station (east). A single track crossed Fallaws Burn road on the level. There was a crossing keeper's hut on the north side of the line, west side of the road.
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This was a halt at the lower end of the Balbeuchley Incline where trains stopped to have the rope attached for hauling up the incline. There was a 'station' here until around 1855, although trains would have continued to halt here until 1860 when the incline was bypassed.
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This incline was 5100 ft long with a 1 in 25 gradient and gained 200 ft. The higher end was to the north with an engine house. Ascent of the incline took about six minutes.
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This siding was on the south side of the line and approached from the east and had a loading bank on its south side. It was on the east side of Pitpointie Farm.
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This level crossing was west of Pitpointie Farm where the Dundee and Newtyle Railway crossing a minor road running south from Kirkton of Auchterhouse on the level. To the east the trackbed is now used as access for the farm and to the west the trackbed has been largely ploughed out. Suspected level crossing gate posts remained here until recent years.
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This road bridge crossed over the original course of the Dundee and Newtyle Railway north of Eastfield Farm, east of Auchterhouse. Few road bridges remain on the course of the line replaced by the various deviations in the 1860s, this may be the only one still carrying a road.
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This halt was at Burnhead. There was a short passing loop on the line crossing a level crossing.
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Bonnyton is to the north of the railway. A siding, served from the Newtyle direction, was on the south side of the line.
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This siding was for Pitnappie Quarry. It was a long siding on the west side of line, and was approached from Dundee direction. The quarry was just to south west, over the main road.
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This was not a true junction, but was the location where the new Newtyle Deviation met the alignment of the older railway it replaced, the Hatton Incline approach to Newtyle [1st] from the south.
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This engine house was at the top of the Hatton Incline, south east of Newtyle [1st].
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This incline was 3000 ft long with a gradient of 1 in 13. Newtyle [1st] station was at the north end and, climbing to the south east, the engine house at Hatton Engine House was reached.
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This was the northern terminus of the Dundee and Newtyle Railway. The terminus building still stands. It is one of the oldest stations in Britain and probably the oldest trainshed in existence.
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Owned by the Newtyle Chemical Company. This chemical works was located by Newtyle [1st] station. It was served by a turnplate and later by a siding which was approached from the Nethermill Junction / Newtyle Junction direction.
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Dundee and Newtyle Railway Including the Alyth and Blairgowrie Branches (Oakwood Library of Railway History) | Railways of Dundee (Oakwood Library of Railway History) |