page_title: Forfar and Brechin Railway
section_title: A Scottish network
hierarchical_section_title: Forfar and Brechin Railway / History / A Scottish network
caption_attribution_description: English: System map of the Forfar and Brechin Railway, Scotland
context_page_description: The Forfar and Brechin Railway was promoted as a possible alternative main line to part of the Caledonian Railway route between Perth and Aberdeen. It was opened in 1895, having been sold while incomplete to the Caledonian Railway.
  The hopes to become a main line were never realised and it remained a purely local concern. Its low traffic volumes led to early closure to passengers in 1952 and completely in 1967.
context_section_description: In the 1840s serious consideration was given to the connection of central Scotland to London, and considerable public controversy took place over the optimal route, as it was assumed at first that only one line could be supported. The public debate encouraged consideration of a Scottish railway network, and the availability of easy money led to a considerable number of schemes being presented to Parliament for the 1845 session.
  Prime among these was the Caledonian Railway, with capital of £1.5 million, to build from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Carlisle. Several other Scottish lines were authorised on the same day, 31 July 1845, including the Scottish Central Railway, to build from Castlecary to Perth, the Scottish Midland Junction Railway, to build from Perth to Forfar, and the Scottish Midland Junction Railway, to build from Perth to Forfar. The last link in this particular chain was the Aberdeen Railway.
caption: System map of the Forfar and Brechin Railway