Strathspey Railway

Introduction

This railway is closed and much of the former trackbed now forms the Speyside Way (Speyside Way ).

The line ran by the River Spey serving Whisky country. The line was single track.

The railway provided a service from Boat of Garten to Dufftown. Connections were provided at Craigellachie to Elgin (via the Morayshire Railway) and Dufftown to Aberdeen (via the Keith and Dufftown Railway and the Great North of Scotland Railway). Connections were provided at Boat of Garten to Inverness and Perth (via the Inverness and Perth Junction Railway and later the Highland Railway).






Dates

17/05/1861Strathspey Railway
Act receives Royal assent for line from Dufftown to Abernethy [Strathspey].
17/05/1861Morayshire Railway
Extension from Craigellachie [1st] to join the Strathspey Railway authorised.
01/07/1863Strathspey Railway
Line opened from Dufftown to Abernethy [Strathspey] via Strathspey Junction. Stations opened at: Strathspey Junction, Aberlour, Carron, Blacksboat, Ballindalloch, Advie [1st], Dalvey [2nd], Cromdale, Grantown-on-Spey East and Abernethy [Strathspey].
  /  /1864Morayshire RailwayStrathspey Railway
Craigellachie [1st] renamed Dandaleith and Strathspey Junction renamed Craigellachie.
05/07/1865Strathspey Railway
Extension from Abernethy [Strathspey] to Boat of Garten authorised.
30/07/1866Strathspey RailwayGreat North of Scotland Railway
Strathspey Railway absorbed by Great North of Scotland Railway.
01/08/1866Strathspey Railway
Abernethy [Strathspey] to Boat of Garten opened.
01/11/1867Strathspey Railway
Abernethy [Strathspey] renamed Nethy Bridge.
  /  /1868Strathspey Railway
Dalvey [2nd] closed.
01/09/1868Strathspey Railway
Advie [1st] closed.
01/09/1868Strathspey Railway
Advie [2nd] opened, 1.21 km east of former station.
  /  /1869Strathspey Railway
Knockando [House Halt] opened (Private).
01/07/1899Strathspey Railway
Dalbeallie Distillery Siding converted to a station - Dalbeallie.
  /  /1905Strathspey Railway
Knockando [House Halt] renamed Knockando House Halt.
  /  /1905Strathspey Railway
Dalbeallie renamed Knockando.
  /  /1958Inverness and Perth Junction Railway
Boat of Garten Shed, north of Boat of Garten station, closed on introduction of diesel railbus on the Strathspey Railway services.
03/11/1958Strathspey Railway
Royal Railbus introduced on Aviemore to Elgin [East] service via the Speyside line. This leads to a near doubling of the passenger traffic.
18/10/1965Strathspey Railway
Advie [2nd] closed.
18/10/1965Strathspey Railway
Boat of Garten to Craigellachie closed to passengers.
18/10/1965Strathspey Railway
Aberlour closed.
06/05/1968Keith and Dufftown RailwayMorayshire RailwayStrathspey Railway
Elgin East to Craigellachie to Keith Junction closed to passengers.
04/11/1968Strathspey Railway
Boat of Garten (excluded) to Aberlour (excluded) closed to freight.
04/11/1968Morayshire RailwayStrathspey Railway
Elgin East (excluded) to Craigellachie (excluded) closed to freight.
15/11/1971Strathspey Railway
Aberlour to Craigellachie to Dufftown (excluded) closed to freight.

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

This is a preserved two platform station, one of the platforms being a bay and the other the former westbound through platform. Dufftown is the terminus of the Keith and Dufftown Railway Association line, a heritage railway. The original station building still stands on the platform. As with many former GNoSR stations the station name is displayed in a window above the platform frontage. A ...

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See also
Keith and Dufftown Railway
The crest of the Keith and Dufftown Railway Company displayed in the waiting room at Dufftown on 20 May 2012. Also on display along the mantlepiece ...
John Furnevel 20/05/2012
Scene on the Keith and Dufftown Railway in May 2012, with the DMU operating the shuttle service to Keith Town awaiting its scheduled departure time at ...
John Furnevel 20/05/2012
Scene on the Keith and Dufftown Railway in the spring of 2012, looking vack towards the platforms at Dufftown. The DMU operating the shuttle service ...
John Furnevel 20/05/2012
The 'Spirit of Banffshire' prepares for departure at Dufftown. ...
John Yellowlees 18/08/2017
4 of 65 images. more




This disused single track girder viaduct crosses the River Fiddich south of the site of Craigellachie [2nd] station. It now carries a footpath.
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This was a three platform station and junction. There were two platforms on the route between Elgin East and Keith via Dufftown and one platform on the Strathspey route to Boat of Garten. To the north on the Elgin route the line almost immediately crossed the Craigellachie Bridge to reach Dandaleith.
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See also
Morayshire Railway
The trackbed and platform that once served the Strathspey route through Craigellachie. Photograph taken in 2012, looking west below the bridge that ...
John Furnevel 20/05/2012
A Cravens DMU calling at Craigellachie with an Elgin to Cairnie Junction service in 1965. The bridge over the Spey is visible in the background. The ...
Brian Haslehust 12/08/1965
The Scottish Region's 'Grand Tour No 1' is at Ferndearn Pool, just south of Craigellachie, on 25 March 1967. It is on the Speyside 'Whisky Line', ...
Colin Kirkwood 25/03/1967
A BR Sulzer Type 2, on an Elgin-Aviemore service, pictured halfway through shunting operations at Craigellachie in August 1965. The single coach train ...
Brian Haslehust 12/08/1965
4 of 23 images. more


This was a two platform station. One platform survives with a station building which has been greatly extended at the southern end.
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The former station at Aberlour, viewed platform side looking south east in May 2012 , with the river Spey behind the camera. The old station closed to ...
John Furnevel 24/05/2012
Station at Aberlour, now the Speyside Way Visitor Centre. ...
Crinan Dunbar 14/10/2015
The Old Station Tearoom at Aberlour in February 2017. Once the main station entrance from Victoria Terrace. The station closed to passengers in ...
Andy Furnevel 01/02/2017
Approach to the 1863 station building at Aberlour from Victoria Terrace in May 2012. ...
John Furnevel 24/05/2012
4 of 18 images. more


This was a single platform halt to the north of Dailuaine Distillery. The platform still exists on the south side of the former line.
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The former Dailuaine Halt on the Speyside line seen in May 2012 looking towards Carron. Located some two and a half miles south west of Aberlour and a ...
John Furnevel 24/05/2012
The platform still exists but is showing a marked deterioration since my last visit. The name board has gone and there is evidence of subsidence. See ...
John Gray 26/07/2008
Dailuanie Halt platform. ...
John Gray //
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This distillery is close to the former Dailuaine Halt. It was served by a branch from just east of the Bridge of Carron on the Strathspey Railway which opened around 1885 and closed in November 1968. The locomotive shed still exists.
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See also
Rail Served Distilleries
The distillery pug at rest outside the locomotive shed at the Dailuaine Distillery on the Speyside Line, in 1967. ...
Frank Spaven Collection (Courtesy David Spaven) //1967
The distillery pug hard at work in Dailuaine Distillery, by Carron on the Speyside Line, in 1967. ...
Frank Spaven Collection (Courtesy David Spaven) //1967
Careful with that! 0-4-0ST Dailuaine, seen here in charge of a precious cargo near the Dailuaine distillery between Carron and Aberlour ...
Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //
Located between Carron and Aberlour on the Speyside line, the Dailuaine distillery boasted its own steam locomotive, seen here in charge of a precious ...
Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //
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This bridge carried both the Strathspey Railway and a road over the River Spey. Today the railway is closed but road remains open. It is also known as Carron Bridge (a name which can lead to confusion with Carron Bridge on the Glasgow and South Western Railway).
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This is the rail and road viaduct at Bridge of Carron, just east of Carron station seen in 2012. It now carries an unclassified road and the Speyside ...
Ewan Crawford 24/05/2012
Combined road and rail bridge at Carron. This bridge over the River Spey was built 1863 for the Great North of Scotland Railway by engineers McKinnon ...
John Gray 27/05/2018
This is Carron Bridge, once shared by both road and rail. Looking towards Aberlour, this is a view of the railway trackbed with the road on the left. ...
John Gray 26/07/2008
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This was a two platform station with a goods yard to the north, approached from the east. There was a level crossing to the immediate west of the station, access to the Imperial Distillery.
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Looking east from the level crossing at Carron in April 1977, with some rails remaining in the roadway. On the left is the station building and ...
John McIntyre 18/04/1977
The once extensive goods yard at Carron with the old station to the right. Notice the extensive platform, once used to load whiskey, cattle and all ...
Clive Meredith 05/06/2016
Carron Station. This delightful little station nestled deep in the Strathspey hills commands an admiring glimpse into a long past era. The platforms ...
Clive Meredith 05/06/2016
Carron Station. The building still stands and appears to be in good condition,over fifty years after closure.It would be nice to see it used for ...
John Gray 27/05/2018
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Imperial Distillery was demolished in 2013 having been stripped for many years after final closure in 1998. Production ceased on a number of occasions.
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See also
Rail Served Distilleries


This halt was alongside the Imperial Cottages and to the west of the Imperial Distillery and Carron station. The distillery cottages were built on the north side of the line.
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This was a private short single platform halt built in timber on the north side of the line serving Knockando House, to the north.
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This distillery was founded in 1898. It was close to Gilbey's Cottage Halt which served the worker cottages built by Gilbey for the Knockando Distillery.
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See also
Rail Served Distilleries
Knockando Timber Extraction Railway




This was a two platform station with a passing loop. The station did not open with the line in 1863, but much later in 1899. It was initially named Dalbeallie for a farm to the east, becoming Knockando in 1905. (This avoided confusion with Dalbeattie.)
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Approaching Knockando from the north on a fine May morning in 2012 along what is now part of The Speyside Way. The old station, opened in 1899 as ...
John Furnevel 26/05/2012
The signalbox at Knockando during cosmetic restoration in April 1977. ...
John McIntyre 18/04/1977
A view west from the end of the platform at Knockando in April 1977 with part of the trackbed being used as an access road by the distillery. The two ...
John McIntyre 18/04/1977
Room with a view. Looking out of Knockando's main station building on the eastbound platform to the now nameless westbound platform in May 2012. Which ...
Ewan Crawford 24/05/2012
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This is a well preserved closed station on the former Strathspey Railway. It had a single platform, on the west side of the line, and a goods yard to the south, also on the west side of the line, approached from the south.
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Blacksboat, looking north eastwards along the cycle path, in July 2012. One of those closed stations that seem to be crying out for a train to call ...
Mark Bartlett 06/07/2012
Weak sunshine filters through the foliage to illuminate the well preserved old station building at Blacksboat on the former Strathspey line in May ...
John Furnevel 24/05/2012
A low winter sun illuminates the former station at Blacksboat. The view is to the south on 1st Febrary 1997. ...
Ewan Crawford 01/02/1997
In 1964 the Great North of Scotland trespass sign remained on one of the station doors at Blacksboat, 41 years after the company was grouped into the ...
Andrew Saunders 12/08/1964
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This timber siding was north of Ballindalloch, on the west bank of the River Spey and north of the Ballindalloch Viaduct. The siding was on the west side of the line.
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Byeeeeeeeee......... EC about to set off towards Dufftown along the Speyside way near Ballindalloch on 24 May 2012. Heading north proved to be ...
John Furnevel 24/05/2012
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This is a single track viaduct crossing the River Spey with a 198ft lattice girder and short plate bridges at either end. The train ran through the lattice. Craigellachie Bridge (now demolished) was of a similar design.
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The former railway bridge over the Spey at Ballindalloch, photographed during a period when it was closed for maintenance in the spring of 2012. View ...
John Furnevel 24/05/2012
The old railway viaduct over the Spey at Ballindalloch seen from the north on 24 May 2012, during a period when the structure was undergoing some ...
John Furnevel 24/05/2012
An aerial view of Ballindalloch Girder Bridge.Photographed from a drone, the 198ft long lattice girder bridge that once carried the railway across the ...
John Gray 27/05/2018
The 198ft long lattice girder bridge that once carried the railway across the River Spey at Ballindalloch. Built by G.Macfarlane of Dundee in 1863 it ...
John Gray 20/10/2009
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This was a two platform station at Cragganmore, Ballindalloch Castle was two miles away by road. Nearer was the Cragganmore distillery. The distillery was intentionally opened here due to the proximity of the railway.
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Approaching Ballindalloch station from the west in May 2012. The Spey viaduct lies off to the left just beyond the curve. See image 39157 ...
John Furnevel 24/05/2012
Former Ballindalloch Station building now used as hostel accommodation and is in very good condition. ...
John Gray //
The former station at Ballindalloch in May 2012 looking south west towards Grantown-on-Spey. ...
John Furnevel 24/05/2012
Ballindalloch Station had a passing loop and quite a large goods yard. The yard itself had two loops and four sidings. The view looks towards Advie. ...
John Gray 20/10/2009
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A single platform station with a short platform and siding at the west end, the platform was extended, a new building (in timber) provided and goods yard expanded. The platform was on the south side of the line.
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View south west along the trackbed of the Strathspey Railway at Advie on 25 May 2012, with the long single platform of the former station visible on ...
John Furnevel 25/05/2012
The overgrown single platform at Advie (closed 1965), seen here from the road bridge on 25 May 2012. View is south west in the general direction of ...
John Furnevel 25/05/2012
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This halt was at Main of Dalvey, the halt separated from the farm by the main road. The platform was on the south side of the line close to Bridge of Dalvey.
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This was a single platform station. The single storey station building is now a house. Cromdale itself is a little to the south.
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See also
Balmenach Railway
Cromdale station nameboard. This station has been well restored by its owner and is one of the highlights of the Speyside Way. A five star attraction. ...
John Gray 03/08/2006
Elgin-Aviemore line. Bridge at Cromdale Station looking South in August 1986. ...
John Gray /08/1986
This is an old coach on the Speyside Way near Ardbeg Farm, North of Cromdale, this is a mile or so from the Speyside railway line. ...
Alan Cormack 06/04/2015
Cromdale Station on the former Elgin-Aviemore line in August 2006. This is now a private dwelling and has been largely restored by the owner. You must ...
John Gray 03/08/2006
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This long siding served a gravel pit south west of Cromdale station. Approach was from the Boat of Garten direction, the siding was on the southern/eastern side of the line.
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Ballast Sidings


This was a two platform station to the south of the town of Grantown-on-Spey, and on the south bank of the Spey. The main station building was on the eastbound platform.
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The appropriate play area and miniature railway at Grantown-on-Spey East. ...
John Gray 23/08/2023
Grantown-on-Spey East looking to Aviemore. ...
John Gray 23/08/2023
The 7 & 1/4 inch gauge 0-4-0T steam locomotive 'Lady Susan', on loan to the
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John Gray 09/12/2018
Grantown-on-Spey East is up for sale. The lockdowns hit hard, apparently. This view looks over the site in the Dufftown direction. ...
John Gray 23/08/2023
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This farm halt was alongside Balliefurth Farm on the line to the immediate west. The halt was alongside the road bridge crossing the line. It was opened by British Railways.
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Ballifurth Farm is off to the left in this 1999 view, which looks south to Nethy Bridge. ...
Ewan Crawford //1999
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The old station at Nethy Bridge on the Strathspey line, seen from the west in 2012, by which time the building had been converted for use as a ...
John Furnevel 21/05/2012
Nethy Bridge station, closed to passengers and goods in 1965, seen in 1977. The building is still in use nearly sixty years after the last train.
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Bill Roberton //1977
Unexpectedly fine weather on New Year's Eve was good for flying, allowing a drone shot of Nethy Bridge in the late afternoon winter sun. Prominent in ...
John Gray 31/12/2022
The old station at Nethy Bridge in May 2002 looking south along the Strathspey route towards Aviemore. By this time the building had been converted ...
John Furnevel 15/05/2002
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During a spell of hot, dry weather the Strathspey Railway had a lineside fire and had to go over to diesel operation and suspend the use of steam ...
John Gray 25/07/2021
The remains of the GNSR bridge over the River Spey near Nethy Bridge en route to Boat of Garten in August 1982. The view looks north. ...
Peter Todd /08/1982
Another view of the old viaduct piers at Nethy Bridge, this time from the Boat of Garten side of the River Spey. ...
John Gray 13/07/2007
The Speyside Line ran from Craigellachie to Boat of Garten. It opened throughout in 1866 and closed throughout in 1968. It connected The Great North ...
John Gray 11/08/2018
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This was the point of divergence for the Strathspey Railway from the Inverness and Perth Junction Railway. It was not a junction in the conventional sense.
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Nearly an hour late, Strathspey Railway's Ivatt Class 2 No.46512 with the first Festive Special passing Lower Lackgie. ...
John Gray 27/11/2021
Black 5 No.5025 pictured at Lower Lackgie on the way to Broomhill. ...
John Gray 23/08/2023
Ivatt Class 2MT 2-6-0 46512 leads the second train of the day away from Aviemore and across Grainish Moor on the way to Boat of Garten and Broomhill ...
John Gray 19/04/2023
Twenty seven years have passed since Black 5 No. 5025 last hauled a train on the Strathspey Railway. Now fully restored and in gleaming LMS lined ...
John Gray 07/08/2021
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This was a two road stone built locomotive shed just north of Boat of Garten station.
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This is a preserved station on the Strathspey Railway. The architect of the station building, (dating from around 1904), was William Roberts. A 1860s stone portion, house styled like at Dava, is extended by the newer timber portion. It was a junction station, the line from Perth dividing here to go north to Forres or north east via Strathspey to Keith. The station is 712 ft ...

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Inverness and Perth Junction Railway
Andrew Barclay, works number 2315 of 1951 sat in the platform at Boat of Garten in 1977 as Strathspey Railway No.3 'Clyde'. The loco was one of a ...
John McIntyre /04/1977
Visiting the Strathspey Railway for their Autumn 2023 Steam Gala was 0-4-0ST 'BON
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John Gray 15/09/2023
Seen in the hot summer of 1976, Barclay 2315/1951 0-4-0ST 'Clyde' at Boat of Garten. ...
Roger Geach /08/1976
Strathspey Railway's Ivatt Class 2MT 2-6-0 46512 arriving at Boat of Garten with a train for Broomhill on 24th September 2022.
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John Gray 24/09/2022
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