The railway was fairly frequently referred to in the Dundee Courier. Typical of these items was the following, which had found its way into the envelope in which I kept the photos - year of publication unknown.
Did you know a railway train with a sail once ran from Dundee?
In Auchterhouse Old and New, by the Rev. J. Kirkland Carneron and M. Oliphant Valentine, the authors say this about the old railway from Dundee to Newtyle (the first in Scotland) "On the level sections of the line traffic was wrought by horse haulage. When the wind was favourable, speed was accelerated by the hoisting of a wagon sheet on a pole attached to the carriage. When the breeze failed or the wind was contrary, William Whitelaw and his horse brought the train to the station."
One picture taken in 1898 showed a railway coach, with sail hoisted, approaching Ardler on the Newtyle to Coupar Angus line. On the track behind the train is the "driver" on horseback, ready with his mount to come into action. In these days a single coach made up the train.
When trawling the internet, I was interested to see that the railway continues to make appearances in contemporary documents, such as the Dundee Royal Infirmary Site Planning Brief *
In the description of the site, there is noted that "there is a clear change in level between the site of the original building and the Gilroy/Caird/Dalgleish/Loftus wings to the north. This is marked by a series of retaining walls. The site falls sharply to the south boundary from the parterre. To the east the former Burns Unit, Pharmacy and Maternity Wings mark the change in level between Clarence House and the east site. It is through these buildings that the route of the former Dundee and Newtyle railway line runs."
In another version of this Brief, * it is said that "The site is split midway along its north boundary by the line of the former Dundee to Newtyle railway. This line is formed by a north-south masonry wall. There is evidence of a tunnel viaduct entrance to the north east of the Caird block".
The next page shows the map which accompanied these papers.
* these links no longer connect
Please feel free to contact me by e-mail atelliottsimpson@hotmail.com
July 2006