This refers to the actual junction. For the station see Keith. This junction was formed in 1858 between the Great North of Scotland Railway and the Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway further added to with the opening of the Keith and Dufftown Railway in 1862.
Originally the HR line kinked quite hard north away from the east end of the station from a point immediately west of the junction between the original GNSR mainline (the bay platforms) and the Keith and Dufftown Railway. The curve for the latter line was somewhat easier.
The line east to Rothiemay was doubled in 1898. With this several new boxes opened. Keith North (at the west end of the Dufftown platform), South (at the junction) and Newmill Signal Box (to the east of the station and junction at a level crossing). The level crossing was taken out in 1898 when the line was doubled, the road lifted up onto a girder bridge crossing the line.
Keith Junction was re-built in 1905 and and allowed slightly faster running between the Great North of Scotland Railway and Highland Railway. Whereas the GNSR's line had favoured the bay platforms it was now aligned for the Dufftown route.
Keith North and Newmill signal Box were closed, during this 1905 alteration, all to be replaced by today's Keith Junction signal box. A small engine shed to the north of the original junction was removed during the re-alignment.
In the late 1960s it was rebuilt again to entirely remove the kink on the Inverness route, assisted by a general track rationalisation. The signal box is aligned for the older route of the line, which explains its slight angle to the track.
In 1970, when the line to Aberdeen was singled to Huntly, the bay platform lines were removed and a loop created at the junction.
Nearby stations Keith Strathisla Mills Platform Keith Town Aultmore Auchindachy Tauchers Platform Grange Towiemore Halt Cairnie Junction Mulben Millegan Drummuir Enzie Letterfourie Drummuir Curlers Platform | Chivas Bros Siding [Keith] Keith Shed [GNSR] [1st] Keith Shed [HR] Keith West Signal Box Keith Air Ministry Siding Strathmill Distillery Siding Crooksmill Siding Tourist/other Newmill Signal Box Keith North Signal Box Strathisla Distillery Strathmill Distillery Mill o^ Wood Signal Box Aultmore Distillery Glentauchers Distillery Towiemore Distillery |
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. |
06/05/1968 | Keith and Dufftown RailwayMorayshire RailwayStrathspey Railway Elgin East to Craigellachie to Keith Junction closed to passengers. |
/05/1995 | Keith and Dufftown Railway Closure from Keith Junction to Strathisla Mills Platform. |