Slochd (or Slochd Mor or The Slochd) is a summit, 1,315 ft above sea level, and passing loop between Carrbridge station and the former Tomatin station. There was no station here. The railway and road both make use of a narrow pass in the hills.
On the east side of the line were two railway cottages, separated from the railway by the original course of the road over Slochd Summit.
Trains could stop here to remove pilots, which had assisted with the climb to Slochd from either Aviemore or Inverness. There was little let-up in the 23 mile climb from Inverness, from near sea level to the 1,315 ft summit.
The loop opened in 1898 - after completion through to Inverness. (This portion of the line had opened in 1897 with a temporary terminus at Daviot. The loop had north and south cabins. The north box was on the north/east side of the line and the south box on the south/west side.
The boxes were replaced in 1944 with a cabin relocated from Millburn Junction (where the junction was remodelled for Millburn Yard in 1943). The replacement box was on the north/east side midway along the loop. The box had a brick base and timber upper. The southbound line was the loop, the northbound being straight through. A the south end was a refuge siding, accessed by reversing from the northbound line.
The loop closed in 1963 and box and loop lifted.
The crossing was re-opened in 1979, now controlled from Aviemore box.
With improvements to the A9 the road was relocated a little to the east, obliterating the site of the railway cottage.
Slochd itself is a very small settlement about half a mile to the south. Nearby Slochd and on the railway route is Slochd Viaduct.
Nearby stations Tomatin Carrbridge Moy Boat of Garten Aviemore Speyside Aviemore Broomhill Daviot Nethy Bridge Ballifurth Farm Halt Grantown-on-Spey West Kincraig Castle Grant Platform Grantown-on-Spey East Culloden Moor | Slochd Viaduct Findhorn Viaduct [Tomatin] Tomatin Viaduct Baddengorm Burn Viaduct Inverlaidnan Siding Dulnain Viaduct [Carrbridge] Old Pack Horse Bridge Carrbridge Heritage Park Laggantygown Loop Aultnaslanach Viaduct Boat of Garten Shed Tourist/other Tomatin House Tomatin Distillery Carrbridge Golf Club Loch Moy |
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. |
/ /1963 | Inverness and Aviemore Direct Railway (Highland Railway) Slochd Summit loop closed. |
/ /1979 | Inverness and Aviemore Direct Railway (Highland Railway) Slochd Summit loop re-opened. |