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View Full Version : Archived: GNSR Buckpool Former Station - 03/2010



ZombieSazza
10-03-2010, 01:50 AM
Not a lot left of this place, sadly. I remember when the bridge was closed off from the public as it was deemed 'unsafe' until some drunk guys threw the signs in Buckpool harbour. The only reason I know about this place is because I skipped classes and went down here looking for things in the trees. Sadly there isn't a lot left :(
Buckie train station has some remains which I forgot to go to today as I was meeting a model, Portessie has remains and so does Buckpool, (It's all Buckie but the yocals will argue with that) and allegedly so does Portgordon (All fishing towns that are tinsy) and this morning I noticed a water tower that's pretty intact in Mostodloch :D



At one time Buckie had excellent rail connections with the rest of North East Scotland. The Great North of Scotland Railway was laid out in the 1850s and served the Aberdeen to Inverness route until it was decommissioned in the late 1960s. In 1923 GNSR was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway before that itself was nationalised along with all other UK rail services into British Rail in 1948. This construction did not reach the coast until Nairn and various branch lines were built to link the peripheral areas to the mainline service.
The Moray Coast Railway was also constructed by GNSR and the part of it that served Buckie, opening in 1886, ran from Cairnie near Keith down to the coast at Portsoy and then swung west through Cullen, Portnockie and Findochty reaching its first stop in Buckie at Portessie. This station was built directly on top of the cliff and commanded panoramic views over the Strathlene House Hotel, Strathlene outdoor swimming pool and beach and onward to the offshore rocks of Craigenroan and the Moray Firth. Indeed a footpath led from the station down to the hotel and beach area and a visit to Strathlene was a popular day out by train before and during World War II. Indeed in 1936 Buckie Town Council proposed to change the name of the station to Strathlene but LNER declined suggesting instead that the Town Council erect their own large sign on Strathlene Golf Course that could be seen from the train. A retired passenger carriage was available for rent at the station. One mile to the west was Buckie Station which was located below the cliff and virtually across the street from Buckie Fish Market. To reach Buckie Station the railway gently descended to the west from the heights of Portessie on an embankment to the foot of the cliff whilst the parallel road lying parallel to the track rose to the west up the McLaren's Brae end of East Church Street to the town centre. One mile further west stood Buckpool Station and from there the line continued due west to Portgordon and onward to Spey Bay before crossing the River Spey and swinging inland to rejoin the mainline service at Elgin. Buckie was served by these three railway stations until 1968 when the line was finally closed.Banffshire.

Buckpool train station remains.

Remains of a bridge going toward the station
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/4420622615_74b804026b.jpg

Where the tracks once were
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4420623147_c62cd7cfff.jpg

The bridge
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4420622897_3bbbffd490.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4420623023_8192138b18.jpg

The tinsy platform
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4421388348_e67c7e3e59.jpg

And the bridge going from Buckpool (the other side of the bridge) to Buckie
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2757/4420622367_e27b60d930.jpg



Sources;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckie