Insch: A train on its way to Aberdeen just after leaving Insch.
Ewan Crawford 06/10/2018
This is a two platform station with a fine single storey stone building on the eastbound platform, dating from 1880. A modern has been added over the street entrance. There is a good example of a Great North of Scotland Railway waiting shelter on the westbound platform. The station is at Rothney, to the south of Insch. There is a fine footbridge between the platforms.
There was a goods yard at the east end of the station on the north side of the line, approached from the east. This was one of the stations equipped with a passing loop when the railway was single track. After doubling there were two long sidings here, one to the east of the station on the south side of the line and one to the west of the station level crossing. Both were approached from the station.
North and South signal boxes opened in 1886. The present box was the north box. This controls
- the level crossing to the west of the station
- the east end of the double track section (which commences at Kennethmont and ends at the east end of Insch station)
Opposite the box is the base of a former water tank tower.
The line from the east was doubled in 1888 from Inveramsay. This led to the closure of the south box, now controlled from the north box which was renamed simply 'Insch'.
To the west was doubled as far as Huntly in 1896.
In 1969 the line east to Inverurie was singled.
There is a museum in the station building. Insch Connection Museum
Nearby stations Buchanstone Oyne Wardhouse Kennethmont Wartle Pitcaple Inveramsay Gartly Rothienorman Whitehouse Alford Lethenty Monymusk Fingask Halt Huntly | Wardhouse Drive Bridge Kennethmont Summit Leith Hall East Drive Bridge Howets of Kennethmont Bridge Alford Shed [1st] Tourist/other Hill of Dunnideer Picardy Symbol Stone Wardhouse [House] Ardmore Distillery Maiden Stone Leith Hall Gartly Castle Loanhead Stone Circle East Aquhorthies Stone Circle Grampian Transport Museum |
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. |
12/09/1854 | Great North of Scotland Railway Huntly to Aberdeen Kittybrewster opened to freight. Passing places at: Aberdeen Kittybrewster, Kintore [1st], Inverurie, Insch and Huntly. |
20/09/1854 | Great North of Scotland Railway Huntly to Aberdeen Kittybrewster opened to passengers. Stations at: Aberdeen Kittybrewster, Buxsburn, Dyce [1st], Kintore [1st], Inverurie [1st], Pitcaple, Oyne, Insch, Kennethmont, Gartly, Huntly. |
27/10/1888 | Great North of Scotland Railway Doubled Inveramsay to Insch opened. |
01/08/1896 | Great North of Scotland Railway Doubled Insch to Kennethmont opened. |
07/12/1969 | Great North of Scotland Railway Insch to Inveramsay to Inverurie singled. |