Railway trips to Dundee became quite popular, especially on Fridays, when the cottar women found a ready market for their weekly supplies of eggs, butter and cheese in the city. At Hillhead, the carriages were unhooked from the engine and lowered down the sleep incline by a wire rope from an engine house, and on one occasion, half way down, the rope snapped, with the result that the open carriages came to such an abrupt stop at the buffers, that they fell on their side much to the discomfiture of the passengers. The experience of Auld Jess - one of the unfortunates and a bit of a "local character" - might well give an idea of the episode. "My. my, it wis a gran' fest hurl doon the brae, bit the open karridges stoppit owre quick. We wir a' coupit oot on tae the girse amon' oor parcels and groceries. Maist o's wir sick wi' the fricht, bit a drap brandy oot o a bottle fae the hotel worked the oracle. Eh, sirs, bit ma' airms an' legs dirlt for near a week efter".
When the original railway track was extended westward to Coupar Angus. and north eastward to top the parishes of Eassie and Glamis about 1837, and the Gullet extension completed in 1870, the amount of goods and passenger traffic both ways across the main road near the village increased immensely. In the interests of public safely, a small hut was erected for the use of the permanent official crossing-keeper, whose chief duly was to open and close the gates when necessary. For many years, the keeper, known locally as "Robbie" Anderson. in typical velveteen uniform and characteristic cap with C.R. in front to indicate his railway status, proved an obliging and conscientious public servant. Even a small building for generating coal gas was erected near the railway terminus and was still active until 1886, when it was closed down, due to the excessive costs of coal and its freight charges by rail from distant coal fields. However, about 1850, near the gaswork, were erected the old Bone Mill and Chemical Works, where bones used to be ground and linseed crushed to make oil and oilcake, pioneered by Mr Hugh Watson of Keillor Farm near Newtyle, as feeding stuff for the improvement of Aberdeen Angus cattle. This proved a great boon for increase in railway traffic and Strathmore farmers, who were spending £10,000 per annum on this commodity. Mr John Henry. Newtyle's first Stationmaster at the terminus, acted as mill manager for almost 50 years, until the mill was purchased and closed down in 1910 by the land superior. Sir C. Cayzer, Bart. That industry alone helped to set Newtyle on its feet by providing steady employment to its workers, whose wages helped to lay the foundation of a prosperous and contented community.
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Nov 2005