Английская Википедия:Georgemas Junction railway station

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Use British English Шаблон:Infobox station Georgemas Junction railway station is a railway station located in the Highland council area in the far north of Scotland. It serves several rural hamlets in the historic county of Caithness, including Georgemas, Roadside and Banniskirk. It is also the nearest station to the village of Halkirk, which lies approximately Шаблон:Convert west of the station.

Georgemas Junction is the penultimate station on the Far North Line from Шаблон:Rws to Шаблон:Rws, Шаблон:Convert down the line from Inverness. Immediately to the west of the station lies a junction of the same name, where the branch to Шаблон:Rws spurs off northwards; mileages on this branch are measured from the station. This junction is the northernmost railway junction in the United Kingdom.

The station has a single platform which is long enough to accommodate a six-carriage train.Шаблон:Sfn The station is managed by ScotRail, who operate the services at the station.

History

Файл:Georgemas Junction.jpg

Georgemas Junction station in 2007, before removal of the footbridge and second platform in connection with provision of a new freight handling facility

The station was built by the Sutherland and Caithness Railway (S&CR). The station buildings were designed by Murdoch Paterson and it opened on 28 July 1874 and on that date the Highland Railway absorbed the S&CR and operated the newly completed line from Helmsdale to Thurso and Wick. A wrought-iron turntable of Шаблон:Convert diameter built by the Railway Steel and Plant Company of Manchester was installed at the station.

In 1902, Donald Mackenzie, station master was appointed first station master of Dornoch railway station.

From 1 January 1923 the station was operated by the London Midland and Scottish Railway.

Accidents and incidents

At the end of February 1937 trains were stranded at Georgemas Junction because of heavy snow. A goods train from Inverness got stuck in a drift Шаблон:Convert deep. An engine with a snow plough was also stuck at the same location.

Trains to and from Thurso

Until diesel multiple unit trains were introduced by British Rail in the early 1990s, all trains on the Far North Line were locomotive-hauled, initially by Highland Railway steam locomotives, then by LMSR steam locomotives and latterly by British Railways steam and finally Class 37 diesel locomotives. Northbound passenger trains would divide at Georgemas Junction, with the rear portion for Thurso and the front portion for Wick. A locomotive was stabled at Georgemas Junction to haul the Thurso carriages.

Following the introduction of Class 156 diesel multiple units on the line, trains were always composed of two trainsets (four cars) and at Georgemas, these would split in half with the front portion heading to Wick, the rear to Thurso. This practice was halted with the introduction of Class 158 sets which operate as single sets - on arrival at Georgemas Junction from Inverness, trains reverse to reach Thurso, and then reverse again from Thurso back to Georgemas Junction (stopping a second time) and on to Wick. An easement to the National Routeing Guide allows passengers for Wick to stay on the train between Georgemas Junction and Thurso, which would otherwise technically be off-route.

Georgemas Junction station has been used for several freight services. In the early 2000s, EWS operated a freight train for Safeway supermarket, running from Mossend to Georgemas. Containers were unloaded at Georgemas, then transported by road to Wick and Thurso, and by ferry to Orkney. In 2012, the former platform 1 and the footbridge was removed when Direct Rail Services constructed a new freight terminal at Georgemas - this has been used by trains taking nuclear material from Dounreay to Sellafield. As this platform was located on a passing loop which did not connect directly to the Thurso branch, it was very little-used by passenger trains, since all services through the station run to or from Thurso. The purpose of the passing loop dates back to the era of loco-hauled trains which divided/attached at the station Шаблон:En dash an Inverness-bound train from Wick would loop around the Thurso portion standing on the second (remaining) platform, and attach to it from behind.

Facilities

Facilities at this station include a payphone that accepts card and coins, a waiting room and designated seating area, a cycle rack with 10 spaces, and a free car park with 2 spaces. The nearest bus stop to the station is located Шаблон:Convert to the north.

Passenger volume

Passenger Volume at Georgemas Junction

	2002–03	2004–05	2005–06	2006–07	2007–08	2008–09	2009–10	2010–11	2011–12	2012–13	2013–14	2014–15	2015–16	2016–17	2017–18	2018–19	2019–20	2020–21	2021–22	2022–23
Entries and exits	1,129	1,108	1,018	989	893	1,500	1,482	1,630	1,682	1,906	1,652	1,696	1,572	1,502	1,320	1,576	1,570	234	1,032	1,318

The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.

Services

Файл:158717 Georgemas Junction.jpg

A Class 158 at Georgemas Junction

On weekdays and Saturdays, there are four trains per day each way between Шаблон:Rws and Шаблон:Rws, resulting in 8 trains per day to Thurso, as all trains in both directions go to Thurso on their way to Inverness or Wick. On Sundays, the frequency is reduced to one train per day each way, meaning two trains go to Thurso.

Bibliography

• Шаблон:Cite book
• Шаблон:Butt-Stations
• Шаблон:Jowett-Atlas