RAILSCOT | Highland Railway

Highland Railway

Introduction

This company provided services between Perth, Inverness, Elgin, Keith, Kyle of Lochalsh, Thurso and Wick. Most routes are still open and today passengers services are provided by ScotRail. The company came into being by a series of amalgamations. In particular, the Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway and Inverness and Perth Junction Railway merged to form the Highland Railway. The Highland Railway Society studies and preserves the memory of the former company.

Dates

/ /1865	Dugald Drummond Became foreman erector in the Highland Railway's Lochgorm Works, under William Stroudley.
29/06/1865	Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway Inverness and Perth Junction Railway Highland Railway Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway and Inverness and Perth Junction Railway merger: company named the Highland Railway.
31/12/1865	Railway Clearing House By this date, Cambrian Railways, Highland Railway, South Eastern Railway, London, Brighton and South Coast Railway and London, Chatham and Dover Railway join.
/ /1866	Scottish North Eastern Railway Caledonian Railway Scottish North Eastern Railway absorbed by Caledonian Railway. Confirmation of running powers for the Highland Railway between Perth General and Stanley Junction. Confirmation of running powers for North British Railway, London and North Western Railway, Midland Railway and Glasgow and South Western Railway. The SNER's running powers over the Montrose and Bervie Railway are transferred to the Caledonian.
/ /1866	Highland Railway Scottish Central Railway Highland Railway granted access to Perth Harbour over the former Scottish Central Railway.
/ /1870	Dugald Drummond William Stroudley leaves to take up the post of locomotive, carriage and wagon superintendent of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. Drummond resigns from the Highland Railway to go with him.
19/06/1871	Duke of Sutherland's Railway Golspie (Sutherland Railway) to Dunrobin opened, Dunrobin becomes private station for the Duke of Sutherland. West Helmsdale to Helmsdale opened. Highland Railway works line.
24/04/1877	Dingwall and Skye Railway Highland Railway takes over steamer operations. (Including PS Carham.)
17/04/1880	Dingwall and Skye Railway Highland Railway abandons steamer operations in favour of David MacBrayne.
01/09/1880	Dingwall and Skye Railway Highland Railway Amalgamation of the Dingwall and Skye Railway with Highland Railway.
/ /1882	PS Carham Sold by the Highland Railway to the Bournemouth Steam Packet Company. (Date uncertain.)
/11/1882	Glasgow and North Western Railway Glasgow and North Western Railway proposed, the Bill presented to Parliament to seek approval. The route was to have been a 167 mile long railway from Glasgow to Inverness via Fort William. Supported by the North British Railway and opposed by the Highland Railway, Caledonian Railway (part owners of the Callander and Oban Railway), Caledonian Canal, David MacBrayne and some landowners. The Bill was rejected in 1883. It was not built (a less ambitious variation of it, the West Highland Railway with an Act in 1889, did open).
/ /1884	Duke of Sutherland's Railway Highland Railway Duke of Sutherland's Railway absorbed by Highland Railway.
/ /1884	Sutherland Railway Highland Railway Sutherland Railway absorbed by Highland Railway.
28/07/1884	Sutherland and Caithness Railway Highland Railway Sutherland and Caithness Railway absorbed by Highland Railway.
/10/1885	Clyde Locomotive Works Begins work on locomotives for the Highland Railway.
10/10/1889	Caledonian Railway Highland Railway Highland Railway agreement with Caledonian Railway over land in Perth.
/ /1890	Scottish Midland Junction Railway Agreement over land at Dovecotland (for Dovecotland Goods) between the Caledonian Railway and Highland Railway.
/ /1894	Sharp, Stewart and Co Highland Railway Build a 4-6-0 for the Highland Railway, who number it 103.
/ /1894	Sharp, Stewart & Co At the Atlas Works [2nd] work begins on the first of fifteen 'Jones' goods, 4-6-0s, the most power locomotives in Britain at the time, for the Highland Railway. (Loco no 103 survives today.)
/ /1897	West Highland Railway North British Railway The proposed Bill by the West Highland Railway and North British Railway for extension of the West Highland to Inverness is rejected by the Commons. (The Highland Railway's route via Carrbridge was partly open and would be completed in 1989.)
01/07/1897	Highland Railway Bill for railway from Inverness to Fort Augustus is rejected in the House of Lords (was passed by the Commons).
06/03/1902	Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway Working agreement with Highland Railway drawn up.
21/07/1903	Highland Railway Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway Act passed which allows the Highland Railway to operate the services over the Fort Augustus line.
22/07/1903	Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway Highland Railway Line opened by Eliza Stewart Ellice of Invergarry House. The service was operated by the Highland Railway who were keen to keep the North British Railway away from Inverness. Connecting David Hutcheson and Co steamers operating along the Caledonian Canal connecting the line to Inverness via Loch Ness and the canal. Stations opened at Gairlochy, Invergarry, Aberchalder, Fort Augustus and Fort Augustus Pier. The Lovat Arms and Station Hotel was rebuilt and reopened in connection with new line.
17/12/1905	Great North of Scotland Railway Highland Railway Provisional order produced for the merger of the Great North of Scotland Railway and Highland Railway.
/ /1906	Great North of Scotland Railway Highland Railway Amalgamation of the Great North of Scotland Railway with the Highland Railway falls through.
30/04/1907	Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway Highland Railway Highland Railway withdraws locomotives and rolling stock from the Invergarry line and ceases its operation.
/ /1920	Dingwall and Skye Railway Highland Railway purchases Loan Crossing from Admiralty.
01/01/1923	Dundee and Newtyle Railway Arbroath and Forfar Railway Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway Caledonian Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Callander and Oban Railway Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway Highland Railway Cathcart District Railway Killin Railway Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Committee Brechin and Edzell District Railway Dornoch Light Railway Wick and Lybster Light Railway Grouped into London, Midland and Scottish Railway.
/ /1934	Highland Railway London, Midland and Scottish Railway withdraw locomotive 103.