Sub-fonds MS 17/3 - Dundee and Arbroath Joint Railway; Kirkcaldy District Railways: miscellaneous papers

The Dundee and Arbroath Railway Company was incorporated in May 1836, the line opening in October 1838 from a temporary station at Craigie, Dundee, and becoming fully operational by April 1840. A proposed junction with the Arbroath and Forfar Railway was never built which left the line somewhat isolated, accentuated by stiff competition from a thriving waterborne coastal trade and a good existing road between Arbroath and Dundee. In August 1848 the line was leased to the Dundee and Perth Railway Company, and in 1862 this company was absorbed by the Scottish North Eastern Railway Company. Control then passed to the Caledonian Railway Company, who latterly leased it to the Aberdeen Railway Company. In 1880 it was passed to the Caledonian Railway/North British Railway Company, and finally in 1923 to the London & North Eastern Railway/London, Midland & Scottish Railway Company. The Kirkcaldy District Railways ran between Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy. It was used for freight only and was built to relieve the neighbouring mainlines of some traffic.