Spotlight on crucial rail link

A historical Courier Country rail line is the subject of an evening talk organised by Dundee Civic Trust next week.

The third event in the organisation’s popular winter programme, on Thursday, will take a close look at the story of the almost 17-mile-long Dundee and Arbroath Railway.

Civic Trust member Neale Elder, who has worked on the railways for 35 years and takes a keen interest in the history of the industry, will be leading the discussion on the theme of the Angus link’s transition from a pioneering line to a trunk route.

He will tell the story of the ‘D and A’ from its inauguration as an independent company and on through nearly 70 years’ stewardship by a joint board of two rival companies to the ups and downs of the late 20th Century.

Coming round to the present day, Neale will touch on the promise of a bright future through proposed enhancements to the east coast route to Aberdeen.

The trust’s events organiser Roderick Stewart says: “When the idea of a railway between Dundee and Arbroath was conceived in the 1830s, none of its promoters could have imagined it would be anything other than a local line. By 1850, however, it had been cemented into the developing national network and remains a route of strategic importance to this day.”

Mr Elder’s talk will take place at the Dundee Art Society gallery at 17 Roseangle, starting at 7pm, with a glass of wine on offer to all attendees. The free event is open to all, with existing DCT members being encouraged to bring along guests.

Dundee’s Nethergate Writers launch their latest tome at the DCA today at 2pm, with readings and some gift ideas for readers.