The future of a jewel in Angus’s “treasure trove” of tourist attractions has been secured thanks to funding from the council.
The platforms at the historic Bridge of Dun station near Montrose have been refurbished and brought back into use through the hard work of volunteers and financing from Angus Council’s Survive and Thrive Heritage Fund.
The quaint station and its platforms once a busy stop-off point on one of Scotland’s main lines were being maintained by the hard-working volunteers of the Brechin Railway Preservation Society as part of the Caledonian Railway.
However, despite only being used for tourism purposes, the train line and its platforms are subject to the same scrutiny and regulations that the busy commuter lines throughout the rest of Scotland are, and work had to be done immediately to keep the station open.
Angus Council helped provide the £60,000 backing to see that work through and the three platforms were opened by Provost Helen Oswald.
The provost and a number of council representatives, as well as local business representatives, arrived at the station on board a train pulled by the No 1863, 1926 Andrew Barclay steam engine, to herald the event, which formed part of the council’s Business Doors Open Day.
Opening the new facilities, the provost spoke of her own memories and experiences of using the line with her family and relatives and said she was delighted that the Caledonian Railway continued to flourish.
“The railway is a wonderful and unique heritage attraction in Angus that delights hundreds of visitors every year,” said Mrs Oswald.
“It is a jewel in the Angus treasure trove of tourism, but we don’t get these kinds of things without the work of the volunteers.
“If it wasn’t for their hard work, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
“This latest investment is another enhancement of the facilities and it’s good that other tourism-related businesses have the chance through Business Doors Open day to see first-hand what’s on offer and how they as businesses might work together to make the Angus visitor experience even better.”
The line from Brechin to Bridge of Dun was closed to passenger trains on August 4 1952. Freight trains continued to run on the line but the decline in the economy of the country’s railways from the 1960s onwards hit the line hard and it closed on May 4 1981.
The Brechin Railway Preservation Society was formed in 1979 while the Brechin branch line was still in use and today it boasts a volunteer-run tourist destination that still attracts more than 16,000 visitors each year.
Project manager for the refurbishment, Tommy Henderson, said the new platforms should secure the station’s future for years to come.
Mr Henderson added: “I feel really proud about the work and being here when it’s all finished. It’s such a huge, vast improvement and the Survive and Thrive fund has been a superb thing for us.
“Without the platform, we can’t run the train it’s the spine of the station so that’s what makes it so important.
“The station is of great value to the community and hopefully this will encourage more people to come along and others to come back and visit it.”
Commenting on Business Doors Open Day, Mr Henderson said: “Caledonian Railway was keen to take part along with other heritage attractions, accommodation providers and key food and drink businesses to find out more about what visitors are offered in Angus.
“We’re hoping to share ideas and create opportunities to work together.”
For more information, opening times and train schedules, visit www.caledonianrailway.com.
mdalziel@thecourier.co.uk