A BEERLESS DAY!

This post starts in Wick, a real ale desert. I believe that even the Wetherspoons has been sold. This is Bridge Street many years ago.

Here's a more modern view.

The town's railway station, in Highland Railway days.

In 1905, the branch to Lybster was opened.

Wick loco shed in LMS times.

Wick station in 1976, when it still had a goods yard.

26042 & 26013 at Wick in 1979.

Class 156 DMUs later took over.

Now to the buses. Here's the John O'Groats mail bus (Photographer unknown).

Dunnet's of Keiss later ran the John O'Groats service.

Highland Omnibuses was the main operator. Here's a selection of vehicles in Wick.

Leaving Wick behind, we follow the branch line down to Lybster and it's the opening day.

There was a small engine shed at Lybster.

We now head inland to the HR line at Forsinard, a remote passing place on the Far North Line.

We follow the railway back to the coast, at the small town of Helmsdale.

Here's the harbour.

Helmsdale station, with one of its signal boxes.

The mail van meets the next train.

A pair of class 26 locos depart from Helmsdale.

Further down the coast is Brora, where this scruffy ex Southdown Leyland Leopard of Rapsons Coaches was found.

As the railway heads back inland, Rogart station is reached.

At Lairg station, a good distance from the village of the same name, trains pass, the train crews change over and the mail bus of the Sutherland Transport & Trading Company waits for passengers.

We conclude this post back near the coast at Dornoch.

Next time, we'll be heading for Inverness. Follow the route here.