Complex sentence: The Great North of Scotland Railway Company promoted Cruden Bay as a Brighton of the North, only twelve hours from London and an ideal escape for gentry and "nouveau riche"; despite initial enthusiasm, neither railway nor hotel prospered.
Split into simpler sentences: The Great North of Scotland Railway Company promoted Cruden Bay as a Brighton of the North, only twelve hours from London and an ideal escape for gentry and "nouveau riche". However, despite initial enthusiasm, neither railway nor hotel prospered.