c. cxxiii) to construct and operate a railway line from north of Arbroath via Montrose to Kinnaber Junction, 38 miles (61 km) south of Aberdeen.

Construction of the line was delayed and, as a result of tests following the Tay Bridge disaster, one viaduct had to be dismantled and rebuilt.

Even so, travel time from Edinburgh to Aberdeen – over the Forth and Tay bridges – was reduced by one hour compared with the previous journey via Perth.

[12][note 3] Following the Tay Bridge disaster of 1879, the viaduct was inspected and, although the plans showed a straight structure, it was found to have a distinct curve.

[10] Tests in 1880, over a period of 36 hours, using both dead and rolling loads, led to the structure becoming seriously distorted, and eight of the piers were declared unsafe.

[10] South Esk Viaduct at Montrose was probably the last major bridge in the United Kingdom to be built with that type of bracing.

[16] The first train to Kinnaber Junction signalbox, 38 miles (61 km) south of Aberdeen, would always win because, from there on, the two routes ran along the same railway.

[16] Both trains would approach Kinnaber at very similar times, sometimes being in sight of each other across the Montrose Basin[11] – indeed it has been said that on one occasion the two bells rang together.