List of Highland Railway stations explained

The Highland Railway was one of the smaller British railways before the Railways Act 1921, operating north of Perth railway station in Scotland and serving the farthest north of Britain. Based in Inverness, the company was formed by merger in 1865, absorbing over of line. It continued to expand, reaching Wick and Thurso in the north and Kyle of Lochalsh in the west, eventually serving the counties of Caithness, Sutherland, Ross & Cromarty, Inverness, Perth, Nairn, Moray and Banff. Southward it connected with the Caledonian Railway at Stanley Junction, north of Perth, and eastward with the Great North of Scotland Railway at Boat of Garten, Elgin, Keith and Portessie.[1]

In 1923, the company passed on approximately of line as it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. Although its shorter branches have closed, former Highland Railway lines remain open from Inverness to Wick and Thurso, Kyle of Lochalsh, Keith (as part of the Aberdeen to Inverness Line), as well as the direct main line south to Perth.

Main line

The Highland Railway main line between Inverness and Perth, which opened in 1863, left the Caledonian Railway at Stanley and then ran north over the Grampian Mountains. After 1898 the line followed a more direct route via, leaving the earlier line via at a junction at .

Between 1865 and 1965 the Highland operated one branch from to .

StationDistanceOpenedClosedNotes
Perth0chain0chain22 May 1842Opened as Perth General, Joint station, renamed 1952.
4chain16chain2 August 184818 June 1951Caledonian Railway station
5chain12chain2 August 184813 April 1931Opened as Dunkeld Road, renamed Strathord siding 1 February 1857, the 'siding' was dropped August 1866. Caledonian Railway station
Stanley7chain18chain2 August 184811 June 1956Caledonian Railway station, Highland Railway main line left Caledonian line here.
10chain28chain7 April 18563 May 1965
7 April 1856October 1864
15chain45chain7 April 1856Renamed Dunkeld in 1861; name been changed from Dunkeld & Birnam to Dunkeld and back again several times
20chain23chain1 June 18633 May 1965
21chain36chain1 June 18633 August 1959
23chain44chain1 June 18633 May 1965Junction for Aberfeldy branch from 1865 to 1965.
28chain36chain1 June 1863
32chain16chain18653 May 1965
35chain20chain9 September 1863Opened as Blair Athole, renamed 7 September 1893
36chain16chain11 April 1959Private
39chain65chain9 September 18633 May 1965
44chain49chain
50chain79chain18653 May 1965
53chain0chain9 September 1863
68chain58chain9 September 1863
71chain48chain9 September 1863
77chain33chain9 September 186318 October 1965Opened as Boat of Insch, renamed 1 September 1871
79chain49chain3 August 1863Junction for Forres line.
90chain2chain6 July 1892Opened as Carr Bridge, renamed 16 May 1983
98chain79chain8 July 18973 May 1965
103chain10chain8 July 18973 May 1965
107chain4chain8 July 18973 May 1965
111chain27chain1 November 18983 May 1965
117chain78chain5 November 1855

Aberfeldy branch

The Aberfeldy branch left the main line at Ballinluig. The line opened on 3 July 1865 and was closed to passengers on 3 May 1965.

StationDistanceOpenedClosedNotes
0chain0chainOn main line, 23chain44chain from Perth
2chain11chain2 December 19353 May 1965
4chain27chain3 July 18653 May 1965
8chain59chain3 July 18653 May 1965

Keith and Aviemore to Inverness

StationDistanceOpenedClosedNotes
0chain0chain18 August 1858GnoSR station had opened 10 October 1856. Renamed Keith Junction by LMS, renamed Keith 12 May 1980. Junction with the Portessie branch
3chain70chainAfter 19237 December 1964
4chain75chain18 August 18587 December 1964
8chain27chain18 August 18587 December 1964 From 1858 the Morayshire Railway operated a branch to Rothes. Through services operated until 1862 and services were withdrawn in 1866.
11chain61chain 23 October 1858Opened as Fochabers, renamed in 1893, when the junction to Fochabers Town opened, and renamed Orbliston in 1960.
14chain54chain18 August 18587 December 1964
18chain5chain25 March 1858Morayshire had opened their station 10 August 1852, and the two stations were linked. The GNoSR reached here in xxx.
21chain24chain25 March 18587 March 1955
23chain21chain25 March 18583 May 1965Junction for Burghead and Hopeman branch.
27chain8chain25 March 18583 May 1965Moved in 1860 when Findhorn branch opened, moved back in 1904
30chain20chain25 March 1858Moved in 1863, when line to Perth opened. Junction with line from Aviemore, continues to Inverness.
StationDistance from PerthOpenedClosedNotes
79chain49chain3 August 1863Junction for Direct line via Carrbridge
88chain44chain3 August 186318 October 1965Joint station with GnoSR. Heritage Railway
92chain55chain3 August 186318 October 1965Broomhill for Nethy Bridge in some timetables
95chain76chain3 August 186318 October 1965Opened as Grantown, renamed Grantown-on-Spey 1912, West added 1950
98chain21chain3 August 1863Private
104chain32chain6 February 190518 October 1965
110chain58chain3 August 186318 October 1965
3 August 186331 May 1865
119chain24chainJoins line from Keith
122chain55chain22 December 18573 May 1965
126chain31chain10 March 19056 June 1960
128chain63chain5 November 1855
134chain28chain5 November 18553 May 1965Opened as Fort George, renamed Gollanfield Junction 1899 and renamed Gollanfield 1959.
137chain10chain5 November 18553 May 1965
138chain23chainPrivate
140chain46chain5 November 18553 May 1965Opened as Culloden, renamed 1898
143chain75chain5 November 1855

Portessie branch

StationDistanceOpenedClosedNotes
0chain0chain
2chain27chain1 August 18849 August 1915Opened as Forgie, renamed 1899.
5chain63chain1 August 18849 August 1915
10chain3chain1 August 18849 August 1915
11chain29chain186414 September 1931Opened as Wards, renamed Coltfield 1865, and Coltfield Platform about 1880.
12chain26chain23 December 186214 September 1931
13chain64chain10 October 189214 September 1931.
Junction with GNoSR 13chain71chain

Fochabers branch

StationDistanceOpenedClosedNotes
0chain0chainOn Keith to Inverness line, 11miles from Keith
2chain19chain14 September 1931
3chain0chain23 October 189314 September 1931Opened as Fochabers, renamed in 1894.

Burghead and Hopeman branch

StationDistanceOpenedClosedNotes
0chain0chainOn Keith to Inverness line, 23miles from Keith
2chain20chain186414 September 1931Opened as Wards, renamed Coltfield 1865, and Coltfield Platform about 1880.
5chain37chain23 December 186214 September 1931Station moved in 1892, distance shown for original station
7chain5chain10 October 189214 September 1931Closed between 1917 and 1918/9.

Findhorn branch

An independent company built and opened the railway, and the line was taken over by the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway 1862. The line was closed by the Highland in 1869.

StationDistanceOpenedClosedNotes
0milesOn Keith to Inverness line, 27miles from Keith
3miles18 April 18601 January 1869

Fort George branch

StationDistanceOpenedClosedNotes
0chain0chainOn Aviemore to Inverness line, 134miles from Perth
134chain28chain1 July 18995 April 1943Restricted service after 1943

Far North Line

The Far North Line between Inverness and Wick and Thurso opened in stages between 1862 and 1874. As well as the Kyle of Lochalsh Line that branches at Dingwell, the Black Isle Branch left at Muir of Ord for Fortrose, the Dornoch Light Railway left at The Mound for Dornoch and the Wick & Lybster Light Railway ran from Wick to Lybster.

StationDistance from PerthOpenedClosedNotes
117chain34chain5 November 1855
121chain34chain11 June 186213 June 1960
123chain45chain11 June 186213 June 1960Reopened briefly during March 1982
Clunes124chain29chain1864
127chain67chain11 June 186213 June 1960Reopened 2002
130chain61chain11 June 1862Junction for the Black Isle Branch. Closed 1960–76.
133chain78chain11 June 186213 June 1960Reopened 2013 as Conon Bridge
136chain34chain11 June 1862Junction for Kyle of Lochalsh Line
140chain51chain23 May 186313 June 1960Opened as Fowlis, renamed 1916
142chain58chain23 May 186313 June 1960Opened as Novar, renamed 1937
146chain25chain23 May 1863Closed 1960–73
149chain12chain23 May 1863
152chain53chain1 June 186413 June 1960
154chain35chain1 June 186413 June 1960Opened as Parkhill, renamed May 1868
156chain79chain1 June 186413 June 1960
158chain34chain1 June 1864
162chain0chain1 June 1864
167chain29chain1 October 186413 June 1960
172chain78chain19261928Briefly open as Mid Fearn Halt in 1864/5
175chain43chain1 October 1864Bonar Bridge until May 1977
178chain51chain1871
179chain7chain13 April 1868
184chain49chain13 April 1868
194chain47chain13 April 1868Closed 1960/1
198chain44chain13 April 186813 June 1960Junction for the Dornoch Light Railway.
202chain6chain13 April 1868
203chain72chain1 November 1870Private after 1871, closed 1965. Reopened for irregular services after 1985
208chain15chain19 June 1871
213chain39chain19 June 187113 June 1960
219chain10chain19 June 1871
221chain70chain28 July 187429 November 1965Restricted use after 1907
228chain52chain28 July 1874
232chain42chain187829 November 1965Known as Borrobol Platform until 1962
235chain71chain28 July 1874
243chain34chain28 July 1874
251chain56chain28 July 1874
260chain61chain28 July 1874
263chain39chain28 July 1874
264chain79chain28 July 1874Junction for Thurso
267chain59chain28 July 187413 June 1960
271chain50chain28 July 187413 June 1960
275chain7chain28 July 187413 June 1960
279chain14chain28 July 1874

Black Isle branch

StationDistanceOpenedClosedNotes
0chain0chainOn Far North Line, 130chain61chain from Perth
3chain58chain1 February 18941 October 1951
5chain39chain1 February 18941 October 1951
8chain2chain1 February 18941 October 1951
11chain25chain1 February 18941 October 1951
13chain45chain1 February 18941 October 1951

Dornoch Light Railway

StationDistanceOpenedClosedNotes
0chain0chainOn Far North Line, 198chain44chain from Perth
1chain28chain2 June 190213 June 1960
3chain60chain2 June 190213 June 1960
5chain33chain2 June 190213 June 1960
7chain51chain2 June 190213 June 1960

Georgemas Branch

StationDistanceOpenedClosedNotes
0chain0chainOn Far North Line, 264miles from Perth
0chain75chain28 July 187429 November 1965
6chain52chain28 July 1874

Wick & Lybster Light Railway

StationDistanceOpenedClosedNotes
0chain0chainOn Far North Line, 279miles from Perth
4chain32chain1 July 19031 April 1944
6chain52chain1 April 1944
7chain47chain1 July 19031 April 1944
9chain52chain1 July 19031 April 1944
10chain9chain1 April 1944
12chain32chain1 July 19031 April 1944
12chain72chain1 April 1944
13chain63chain1 July 19031 April 1944

Kyle of Lochalsh Line

The Kyle of Lochalsh Line leaves the Far North Line at Dingwall. Between 1885 and 1946 a branch left the line at Fodderty Junction, 138miles from Perth. The line was diverted in 1954, as part of a hydro electric project that raised the level of Loch Luichart, the distances are measured from Perth via this new line.

StationDistanceOpenedClosedNotes
136chain34chain from Perth on Far North Line
141chain7chain19 August 18707 December 1965Opened as Strathpeffer, renamed 1885.
148chain23chain19 August 1870
153chain44chain1 August 1871Station and line moved in 1954
157chain74chain19 August 1870
164chain24chain19 August 1870
172chain52chain1 August 18717 December 1964Opened as Glencarron Platform, renamed 1962
176chain66chain1871
182chain23chain19 August 1870
184chain49chain1880
189chain42chain19 August 1870
193chain36chain23 May 1949Opened as Duncraig platform, renamed 1962. Closed between 1964 and 1976
194chain49chain2 November 1897
196chain3chain2 November 1897
200chain6chain2 November 1897

Strathpeffer Branch

StationDistanceOpenedClosedNotes
136chain34chain from Perth on Far North Line
141chain14chain3 June 188523 February 1946

Invergarry & Fort Augustus Railway

The Invergarry & Fort Augustus Railway was an isolated branch from that was worked by the Highland from when it opened in 1903 until 1 May 1907, when the North British Railway took over.

StationDistanceOpenedClosedNotes
0chain0chain7 August 1894
2chain58chain22 July 19031 December 1933Closed 1911–13
7chain29chain22 July 19031 December 1933Closed 1911–13
15chain12chain22 July 19031 December 1933Closed 1911–13
19chain34chain22 July 19031 December 1933Closed 1911–13
23chain19chain22 July 19031 December 1933Closed 1911–13
24chain16chain22 July 19031 October 1906

Notes and references

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Conolly (2004)

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