End of the Line: Howe 'o Buchan Crossing to Peterhead

Immediately after the site of the Howe o' Buchan level crossing the walkway crosses a building site. This is an area being developed by Scotia Homes for new housing and is currently largely a vast extent of bare earth although, astonishingly, we did see a charm of goldfinches.

The line crosses a new dual carriage way and is bounded by Horsa fencing until it reaches the back of the ASDA store.

The Collie Burn has been redirected through the channel close to  ASDA

The remainder of the Line passes through housing developments, there is much litter and graffiti, despite reasonable landscaping and frequent litter bins. Some original bridges have been dismantled, here a bridge has been constructed in roughly the style of a railway bridge to carry a new road over the Line.

This undistinguished looking  lane marks the end of the Formartine Buchan Way. The photograph was taken from the car park of Peterhead Academy, built on the site of the former Peterhead Station and goods yard. Disappointingly there is nothing to indicate that this is the case. From the station between 1865 and 1939 a a mile long branch line, used by freight trains, led down to Peterhead harbour.

Peterhead Station opened in July 1862 and closed to passengers in May 1965.  Goods traffic continued until September 1970, largely due to the output of the Crosse and Blackwell Factory.  When 'Crossies' custom was changed to Freightliner the line closure was inevitable since fish traffic, the mainstay of the line, had gradually transferred to road during the 1960's. Much fish was taken to Aberdeen by lorry where it could be containerised for onward transportation by rail.

Peterhead to Fraserburgh by rail was an inconvenient 39 miles by rail as opposed to 19 by road. The journey involved changing trains at Maud and depending on the next connection could take well over 2 hours. The rail route from Peterhead to Aberdeen was 15 miles longer than by road. By the 1960's road travel, firstly by bus and then by private transport proved to be cheaper and more convenient than taking the train leading to a great reduction in rail passengers.