Note: text in square brackets is added for clarity and was not part of the location's name.
Opened on the Scottish Midland Junction Railway.This was one of the busiest stations on the Strathmore main line having main line trains from Perth to Aberdeen, branch trains to Alyth, and Dundee West to Newtyle [2nd] to Alyth trains.
This was originally a three platform station at the end of the road from Newtyle close to Nethermill and the Belmont Arms with goods facilities to its west, north side of the line. The station opened with the Alyth Railway (1861). It had two through platforms and a bay platform on the north side at the east end of the station. A further platform opened on the new flyover from Newtyle Junction (1868) and it become a four platform station. The flyover had a platform line and a goods line / loop which bypassed it. The flyover line connected with the Alyth branch so branch to Newtyle movements could be made without fouling the main line.
There was a tall two storey station building on the westbound platform, the upper floor being at road level (the west end of the passenger station was crossed by the road between Newtyle and Meigle). (The surviving building at Auldbar Road has a little in common with it and a large bay window.) There were waiting rooms on the platforms.
The station's two signal boxes, west and east, were replaced in 1911 with a single box. The originals had been on the south side of the line. The west box was opposite the goods yard. The east box was opposite the junction.
The new box was on the north side of the main line junction at the east end of the mainline eastbound platform. The flyover line passed behind (to the north of) the box to reach the branch.
The Alyth branch closed to passengers in 1951 and passenger trains ceased to use the flyover route between Alyth Junction and Newtyle Junction. However, in 1952 the line between Newtyle Junction and Ardler Junction closed, with Blairgowrie branch trains being diverted to Alyth Junction.
After calling at the flyover platform trains would make an awkward run round and reversal on the Alyth branch and then pause at the northbound platform ('wrong line') and crossover to the southbound line west of the station before continuing its run to Coupar Angus and Blairgowrie.
The Dundee West to Blairgowrie service ended in 1955 and the Alyth Junction to Ninewells Junction (Dundee) closed to passengers.
The flyover, latterly only used to access Newtyle [1st] goods, closed in 1964 and the Alyth branch closed completely branch in 1965.
The station closed in 1967 with the end of the passenger service on the Strathmore Line. The signal box was closed. The line survived until 1982 as a freight only branch from Stanley Junction to Forfar [2nd]. Sidings in the goods yard remained open (with a carriage as a bothy).
The loading bank, parts of the main platforms, portions of the other two platforms and some station cottages remain. The road bridge over the west end of the station's main line platforms remains. The embankment of the flyover to the west of the station remains, the bridge over the line removed.
After the opening of the Alyth Railway the name should perhaps have changed, that line having a station named Fullarton which was closer to Meigle. The name Meigle also applies to the district which perhaps allowed some leeway and the branch station was roughly half way between Fullarton and Meigle. Not long after the Caledonian Railway owned both the main line and branch Meigle was renamed Alyth Junction.
Nearby stations Meigle Upper Junction Newtyle [2nd] Meigle [2nd] Newtyle [1st] Meigle [3rd] Kirkinch Washington [N and CAR] Ardler Leason Hill Jordanstone Pitcrocknie Platform Auchterhouse [1st] Auchterhouse [2nd] Eassie Alyth | Nethermill Junction Newtyle Incline Newtyle Junction Newtyle Junction Turntable Newtyle Mill Ardler Junction Meigle Burn Bridge Hatton Incline Tourist/other Camno Crossing Belmont Castle Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum Meigle House Hatton Castle Drumkilbo House Nevay Church |
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. |
Belmont CastleTo the north west is Belmont Castle, once the home of James Key Caird, jute baron and mathematician. His name was given to the whaleboat James Caird, famous for the Voyage of the James Caird which led to the rescue of the members of Ernest Shackleton's Endurance expedition. |