THE STRATHSPEY STEAM RAILWAY
THE HIGHLAND RAILWAY TO BRITISH RAILWAYS CLOSURE

Originally, it was local landowners who promoted the construction of a railway from Perth to Inverness, via Aviemore, Grantown and Forres. In 1863 the line was opened and in 1865 a merger with the Aberdeen to Inverness Railway resulted in the Highland Railway Company taking over and operating these routes. In 1898, the Highland Railway opened a direct line from Aviemore to Inverness, via Carrbridge, but this left the line through Grantown-on-Spey as a secondary route.

During both the First and Second World War the Highland lines saw huge increases in traffic in support of the war effort. In 1923, the Highland Railway had become part of London Midland Scottish (LMS) network but in 1948, with the rail infrastructure in need of huge investment, all UK lines were nationalised to become British Railways.

Unfortunately, rail traffic continued to decline through the 50’s and early 60’s as road transport became more popular, and convenient, for both passengers and goods.

As a result of the notorious “Beeching Cuts”, passenger services on the Aviemore - Grantown - Forres line were withdrawn in 1965 with goods continuing until full line closure in 1968. Aviemore remained open as a Station on the main line from Perth to Inverness.

PRESERVING HIGHLAND RAILWAY HERITAGE

The Strathspey Railway Company was established in 1971 and the Strathspey Railway Association (a voluntary supporting organisation) was formed the following year.

In 1972, the Company agreed to purchase the line from Aviemore to Grantown from British Rail. The Station at Boat of Garten was still standing but the remainder of the line to Grantown had been lifted and the bridge over the River Dulnain removed. A later road re-alignment at Gaich, near Grantown, caused embankments to be removed with the new road now crossing where the trackbed originally went through to Grantown.

After much renovation and restoration, the Company (with a great deal of volunteer help from the Association) began running trains from Aviemore, “Speyside Station”, to Boat of Garten in 1978.

The Company had no access to the main-line British Rail Station at Aviemore until 1998 when the privatised “Railtrack PLC” consented to lease station buildings, Platform 3 and the nearby Car Park.

In 2002, the line from Boat of Garten to Broomhill was re-opened with a new station, in traditional style, built at Broomhill.

The Strathspey Railway Company Ltd., Aviemore Station, Dalfaber Road, Aviemore, Inverness-shire, PH22 1PY, Scotland.
(A Not For Profit Company (Limited by Shares), Registered in Scotland – No. SC049011)