RAILSCOT | Highland Railway

Dates

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.
03/07/1865	Aberfeldy Branch (Highland Railway) Ballinluig to Aberfeldy opened.
/ /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.
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.
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.
/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 RailwayHighland Railway Duke of Sutherland's Railway absorbed by Highland Railway.
/ /1884	Sutherland Railway Highland Railway Sutherland Railway absorbed by Highland Railway.
/ /1884	Perth General Enlargement (Perth Station Committee (Caledonian Railway, North British Railway and Highland Railway)) Perth General station enlargement authorised.
28/07/1884	Sutherland and Caithness Railway Highland Railway Sutherland and Caithness Railway absorbed by Highland Railway.
28/07/1884	Inverness and Aviemore Direct Railway (Highland Railway) Act passed. This was partly in response to the proposed incursion of the North British Railway's Glasgow and North Western Railway from Glasgow to Inverness via Loch Lomond, Crianlarich, Glencoe, Fort William and the Great Glen.
01/08/1884	Buckie and Portessie Branch (Highland Railway) Line opened.
/ /1885	Strathpeffer Branch (Highland Railway) Strathpeffer [2nd] station built to design of Murdoch Paterson.
01/06/1885	Dingwall and Skye Railway Strathpeffer [1st] renamed Auchterneed for opening of Strathpeffer Branch (Highland Railway).
03/06/1885	Strathpeffer Branch (Highland Railway) Line opens.
01/05/1886	Buckie and Portessie Branch (Highland Railway) Combined Portessie [GNSR] and Portessie [HR] station and junction opened with the opening of the Moray Coast Railway (Great North of Scotland Railway).
/ /1887	Perth General Enlargement (Perth Station Committee (Caledonian Railway, North British Railway and Highland Railway)) Reconstruction and enlargement of Perth General completed.
/ /1889	West Highland Railway Fort William [Fort]'s wall breached for railway building.
29/01/1889	West Highland Railway Charles Forman (of engineers Forman & McCall), James Bulloch (Forman's chief engineer), J.E. Harrison (assistant engineer), Robert McAlpine (contractor), John Bett (factor of the Breadalbane Estates), Major Martin (factor of the Poltalloch estates) and N.B. MacKenzie (solicitor, local agent for the railway company) meet at a hotel in Spean Bridge to conduct a survey of the proposed route of the line over Rannoch Moor.
30/01/1889	West Highland Railway The party are taken by coach from Spean Bridge to Inverlair Lodge. The party set out to walk from Inverlair Lodge to the north end of Loch Treig. The party are rowed from the north end of Loch Treig to the south end and stay overnight at William Frederick Scarlett's (Lord Abinger) Craig-uaine-ach Lodge.
31/01/1889	West Highland Railway The party set out to walk to Rannoch Lodge, then the walkers change their minds and decide to continue to Inveroran. The party split in poor weather conditions as it darkens, Robert McAlpine decided to go on to Inveroran and James Bulloch heads to Gorton cottage. Bulloch reaches Gorton. Charles Forman, McKenzie, Martin, Harrison and Bett are taken to a nearby hut by shepherds from Gorton.
01/02/1889	West Highland Railway Robert McAlpine reaches a cottage by Loch Tulla. Charles Forman, McKenzie, Martin, Harrison and Bett are taken to Gorton to join Bulloch. The party are taken to Inveroran, via Loch Tulla to pick up Robert McAlpine.
02/02/1889	West Highland Railway A blizzard covers Rannoch Moor and the party have to work their way through deep drifting to reach Tyndrum [CandO] station on the Callander and Oban Railway.
12/08/1889	West Highland Railway Act passed and West Highland Railway authorised. Proposed by Charles Forman.
10/10/1889	Caledonian Railway Highland Railway Highland Railway agreement with Caledonian Railway over land in Perth.
23/10/1889	West Highland Railway First sod cut by William Frederick Scarlett (Lord Abinger) near Fort William.
/ /1890	Scottish Midland Junction Railway Agreement over land at Dovecotland (for Dovecotland Goods) between the Caledonian Railway and Highland Railway.
20/07/1890	West Highland Railway Banavie [1st] branch authorised.
/07/1891	West Highland Railway Runs out of money when the contractor requests further funds, and construction is abandoned.
/08/1891	West Highland Railway In a court case held in Dumbarton the contractor is told that the line must be built for the amount specified in the contract.
14/10/1891	West Highland Railway Work re-starts, though the West Highland Railway agrees to pay an extra £10,000.
08/07/1892	Inverness and Aviemore Direct Railway (Highland Railway) Aviemore to Carrbridge opened.
/ /1893	West Highland Railway Financial crisis; Mr James Hall Renton, a director of the line, used part of his personal fortune to get the line completed.
/ /1893	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Extension from Stromeferry to Kyle of Lochalsh authorised.
03/09/1893	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Contracts for extension let to John Best.
05/09/1893	West Highland Railway Last spike driven by Mr James Hall Renton on Rannoch Moor.
16/10/1893	Fochabers Branch (Highland Railway) Line opened.
/ /1894	Sharp, Stewart and Co Ltd Highlan Railway Build a 4-6-0 for the Highland Railway, who number it 103.
01/02/1894	Fortrose Branch (Highland Railway) Line opened.
01/07/1894	Fochabers Branch (Highland Railway) Fochabers renamed Fochabers Town.
31/07/1894	West Highland Railway West Highland Railway (Mallaig Extension Railway) Act Passed.
03/08/1894	West Highland Railway Opened from Craigendoran Junction to Fort William [1st].
03/08/1894	West Highland Railway Inspection by Board of Trade.
07/08/1894	West Highland Railway Public opening from Fort William to Craigendoran. Stations opened at Craigendoran Upper, Helensburgh Upper, Row, Garelochhead, Arrochar and Tarbet, Ardlui, Crianlarich, Tyndrum [WHR], Bridge of Orchy, Gortan (private), Rannoch, Corrour (private), Inverlair, Roy Bridge, Spean Bridge and Fort William [1st].
11/08/1894	West Highland Railway Ceremonial opening.
04/09/1894	West Highland Railway Helensburgh to Garelochhead train de-railed at Woodend Farm Crossing by a stone placed on the line.
01/11/1894	West Highland Railway Refreshment baskets available at Arrochar and Tarbet.
20/12/1894	Callander and Oban Railway Spur from Crianlarich station (West Highland Railway) to Crianlarich Junction [CandO] opened. New passing loop at Crianlarich Junction [CandO] allows removal of up platform and loop at Crianlarich [CandO] station.
01/01/1895	West Highland Railway Inverlair renamed Tulloch.
27/05/1895	West Highland Railway Glen Douglas siding opened.
01/06/1895	West Highland Railway Banavie [1st] branch opened.
/07/1895	West Highland Railway Refreshment baskets available at Crianlarich [WHR].
01/05/1896	West Highland Railway Whistlefield opened.
06/05/1896	West Highland Railway Derailment at Banavie Junction [1st] (now Fort William Junction).
/08/1896	West Highland Railway West Highland Railway (Ballachulish Extension Act) passed, but not built.
/ /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.)
21/01/1897	West Highland Railway First sod of Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway) cut at Corpach by Lady Margaret Cameron of Lochiel.
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).
19/07/1897	Inverness and Aviemore Direct Railway (Highland Railway) Carrbridge to Daviot opened. This section includes the Aultnaslanach Viaduct, (currently the only in use timber railway viaduct left in Scotland).
02/11/1897	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Line opened from Stromeferry to new terminus and pier at Kyle of Lochalsh. Stations at; Plockton, Duirinish and Kyle of Lochalsh.
20/12/1897	West Highland Railway Connection to Callander and Oban Railway at Crianlarich, from Crianlarich Junction to Crianlarich Junction [CandO].
01/11/1898	Inverness and Aviemore Direct Railway (Highland Railway) Daviot to Inverness, Millburn Junction, opened, completing the shortcut line from Aviemore to Inverness.
01/07/1899	Fort George Branch (Highland Railway) Line opened. The original Fort George [1st] station on the Inverness and Nairn Railway was sited slightly further west and renamed Gollanfield Junction.
01/04/1901	Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway) Line opened from Banavie to Mallaig, extending the West Highland Railway to Mallaig.
22/07/1901	West Highland Railway Sleeper cars from Kings Cross to Fort William commence.
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.
08/08/1906	West Highland Railway Accident at Pulpit Rock, by Loch Lomond.
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.
31/12/1908	North British Railway West Highland Railway North British Railway formally takes over the West Highland Railway line from Craigendoran to Fort William [1st], Mallaig and the branch to Banavie [1st].
06/12/1909	West Highland Railway Accident at Glen Douglas.
18/06/1914	Inverness and Aviemore Direct Railway (Highland Railway) Heavy rainfall causes a bridge washout of the Baddengorm Burn Viaduct (north of Carrbridge). As a result a train crashes down into the riverbed with loss of life.
09/08/1915	Buckie and Portessie Branch (Highland Railway) Closed to passengers, and to freight between Aultmore (excluded) and Buckie [HR] (excluded).
/ /1917	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Rail served American Mine base operating in Kyle of Lochalsh.
/ /1918	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) American Mine base closed. This received mines to be transported to US Naval Base 18.
/ /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.
01/06/1924	West Highland Railway Row renamed Rhu.
01/05/1926	West Highland Railway Gortan renamed Gorton.
08/07/1929	West Highland Railway Restaurant car introduced.
/10/1929	West Highland Railway Sleepers start to operate all year round.
27/01/1931	West Highland Railway De-railment in Rannoch Moor.
06/07/1931	West Highland Railway A loop added at Rhu.
01/08/1931	West Highland Railway Fersit Halt and branch opened, Loch Treig was to be converted into a reservoir to serve the smelter at Fort William.
14/09/1931	Fochabers Branch (Highland Railway) Fochabers Town to Orbliston Junction closed to passengers.
07/08/1932	West Highland Railway Loch Treig diversion and tunnel opened. The line was re-aligned at a higher level as the Loch became a reservoir, part of the Lochaber Smelter scheme.
/ /1934	Highland Railway London, Midland and Scottish Railway withdraw locomotive 103.
09/07/1934	Welsh Highland Railway Nantmor Halt renamed Aberglaslyn.
15/09/1934	West Highland Railway Corrour opened to the public having been a private halt.
01/01/1935	West Highland Railway Fersit closed.
28/09/1936	Welsh Highland Railway Aberglaslyn closed.
/09/1937	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Stromeferry pier demolished.
02/09/1939	West Highland Railway Banavie Pier to Fort William (Banavie Junction [2nd]) closed to passengers.
02/10/1939	West Highland Railway Sleeper withdrawn.
28/04/1940	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Box opened at Duirinish.
27/04/1941	West Highland Railway Faslane Junction (Croy) opened with exchange sidings for a double track railway to Military Port #1, Faslane Military Port.
21/12/1941	West Highland Railway New signal box and longer loop opened at Helensburgh Upper to help with Faslane traffic.
15/11/1942	West Highland Railway Camus-na-ha Signal Box opened.
26/03/1943	West Highland Railway Corpach Naval Sidings opened.
05/04/1943	Fort George Branch (Highland Railway) Fort George to Gollanfield Junction closed to passengers.
01/04/1944	Buckie and Portessie Branch (Highland Railway) Closed to freight between Portessie [HR] and Buckie [HR].
05/04/1944	West Highland Railway Restaurant cars withdrawn.
26/08/1945	West Highland Railway Faslane Platform opened, for moving prisoners of war to the halts at Inveruglas Platform and Glenfalloch Platform in connection with the building of the Loch Sloy Hydro Electric scheme.
28/10/1945	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Temporary box at Duirinish closed.
29/10/1945	West Highland Railway Inveruglas Platform, signal box and loop opened.
23/02/1946	Strathpeffer Branch (Highland Railway) Strathpeffer [2nd] branch closes to passengers (Alternative date: 2 March 1946).
02/03/1946	Strathpeffer Branch (Highland Railway) Strathpeffer [2nd] branch closes to passengers (Alternative date: 23 February 1946).
10/04/1946	West Highland Railway Glenfalloch Platform opened.
/06/1946	West Highland Railway Restaurant cars re-start.
23/05/1949	West Highland Railway Passenger services between Glasgow Queen Street High Level, Crianlarich and Oban start.
23/05/1949	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Duncraig Halt opened to public.
26/03/1951	Strathpeffer Branch (Highland Railway) Strathpeffer [2nd] to Dingwall (Fodderty Junction) closed to freight (complete closure).
06/08/1951	West Highland Railway Banavie Pier to Fort William (Banavie Junction [2nd]) (excluded) closed to freight.
01/10/1951	Fortrose Branch (Highland Railway) Fortrose to Muir of Ord closed to passengers.
01/02/1954	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Duirinish closed to goods.
17/04/1954	West Highland Railway Collision at Bridge of Orchy.
09/01/1956	West Highland Railway Rhu closed.
24/09/1956	West Highland Railway Television train runs.
11/08/1958	Fort George Branch (Highland Railway) Fort George to Gollanfield Junction closed to freight.
04/04/1960	West Highland Railway Rhu re-opened.
13/06/1960	Fortrose Branch (Highland Railway) Fortrose to Muir of Ord closed to freight.
14/06/1964	West Highland Railway Craigendoran (West Highland, high level), Rhu, Shandon, Whistlefield and Glen Douglas closed as the local service from Craigendoran to Arrochar and Tarbet is withdrawn.
07/09/1964	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Plockton closed to goods.
07/09/1964	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Duncraig closed to passengers .
03/05/1965	Aberfeldy Branch (Highland Railway) Aberfeldy to Ballinluig closed to passengers.
28/03/1966	Fochabers Branch (Highland Railway) Fochabers Town to Orbliston Junction closed to freight.
03/10/1966	Buckie and Portessie Branch (Highland Railway) Closed to freight between Keith (excluded) and Aultmore.
21/07/1968	West Highland Railway Glasgow bound track at Helensburgh Upper lifted and signal box closed.
/11/1969	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Building of first road along south shore of Loch Carron leads to temporary blockage of line near Stromeferry.
13/03/1970	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Strathcarron to Strome Ferry re-opens.
/12/1971	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Announcement of line closure on 31 December 1973 by Secretary of State for Scotland.
26/03/1973	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Ullapool - Stornoway ferry service starts.
02/11/1973	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Line reprieved until 31 December 1974.
31/12/1973	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Original planned closure.
/ /1974	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Decision taken to retain line and use in connection with Loch Kishorn Fabrication Yard.
31/12/1974	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) End of second reprieval period.
/ /1975	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Loch Kishorn Fabrication Yard depot opened at Strome Ferry.
17/03/1975	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Kyle of Lochalsh to Portree mailboat service ends.
13/06/1975	West Highland Railway New Fort William station opened, old station Fort William [1st], by the pier, closed.
/ /1980	West Highland Railway As the Pulp Mill at Scottish Pulp and Paper Mills, Corpach, closes much traffic is lost.
/ /1982	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Depot at Strome Ferry closed and track disconnected from main line.
/ /1983	Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway) Re-introduction of observation cars in the summer.
/ /1983	West Highland Railway Sunday service introduced.
/ /1984	West Highland Railway Steam trains return to the line.
/ /1984	Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway) Steam trains return to the line. This is now a regular occurrence each summer.
27/05/1984	Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway) Steam returns to the West Highland Line as a tourist attraction. The first such train ran on Sunday the 27th of May.
03/06/1984	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Kyle of Lochalsh signal box closes.
13/07/1984	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Radio Electric Token Block introduced.
/ /1985	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Considerable track reduction at Kyle of Lochalsh.
/ /1988	Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway) Disused depot track at Strome Ferry lifted.
14/05/1990	West Highland Railway Motorail service commences running to Fort William.
28/05/1995	West Highland Railway Motorail service withdrawn.
27/06/1995	Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway) The West Coast Railway Company commences running the steam service on the Mallaig Extension as The Jacobite.
26/09/2001	West Highland Railway Fort William Oil Depot re-opened.
08/09/2002	Inverness and Nairn Railway Inverness and Aviemore Direct Railway (Highland Railway) Blocked by flood-water.

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