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.Conolly (2004)

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 .

Station Distance Opened Closed Notes Perth22 May 1842Opened as Perth General, Joint station, renamed 1952. 2 August 184818 June 1951Caledonian Railway station 2 August 184813 April 1931Opened as Dunkeld Road, renamed Strathord siding 1 February 1857, the 'siding' was dropped August 1866. Caledonian Railway station Stanley2 August 184811 June 1956Caledonian Railway station, Highland Railway main line left Caledonian line here. 7 April 18563 May 1965 7 April 1856October 1864 7 April 1856Renamed Dunkeld in 1861; name been changed from Dunkeld & Birnam to Dunkeld and back again several times 1 June 18633 May 1965 1 June 18633 August 1959 1 June 18633 May 1965Junction for Aberfeldy branch from 1865 to 1965. 1 June 1863 18653 May 1965 9 September 1863Opened as Blair Athole, renamed 7 September 1893 11 April 1959Private 9 September 18633 May 1965 18653 May 1965 9 September 1863 9 September 1863 9 September 1863 9 September 186318 October 1965Opened as Boat of Insch, renamed 1 September 1871 3 August 1863Junction for Forres line. 6 July 1892Opened as Carr Bridge, renamed 16 May 1983 8 July 18973 May 1965 8 July 18973 May 1965 8 July 18973 May 1965 1 November 18983 May 1965 5 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. Station Distance Opened Closed Notes On main line, from Perth 2 December 19353 May 1965 3 July 18653 May 1965 3 July 18653 May 1965

Keith and Aviemore to Inverness Station Distance Opened Closed Notes 18 August 1858GnoSR station had opened 10 October 1856. Renamed Keith Junction by LMS, renamed Keith 12 May 1980. Junction with the Portessie branch After 19237 December 1964 18 August 18587 December 1964 18 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. 23 October 1858 Opened as Fochabers, renamed in 1893, when the junction to Fochabers Town opened, and renamed Orbliston in 1960. 18 August 18587 December 1964 25 March 1858Morayshire had opened their station 10 August 1852, and the two stations were linked. The GNoSR reached here in xxx. 25 March 18587 March 1955 25 March 18583 May 1965Junction for Burghead and Hopeman branch. 25 March 18583 May 1965Moved in 1860 when Findhorn branch opened, moved back in 1904 25 March 1858Moved in 1863, when line to Perth opened. Junction with line from Aviemore, continues to Inverness. Station Distance from Perth Opened Closed Notes 3 August 1863Junction for Direct line via Carrbridge 3 August 186318 October 1965Joint station with GnoSR. Heritage Railway 3 August 186318 October 1965Broomhill for Nethy Bridge in some timetables 3 August 186318 October 1965Opened as Grantown, renamed Grantown-on-Spey 1912, West added 1950 3 August 1863Private 6 February 190518 October 1965 3 August 186318 October 1965 3 August 186331 May 1865 Joins line from Keith 22 December 18573 May 1965 10 March 19056 June 1960 5 November 1855 5 November 18553 May 1965Opened as Fort George, renamed Gollanfield Junction 1899 and renamed Gollanfield 1959. 5 November 18553 May 1965 Private 5 November 18553 May 1965Opened as Culloden, renamed 1898 5 November 1855

Portessie branch Station Distance Opened Closed Notes 1 August 18849 August 1915Opened as Forgie, renamed 1899. 1 August 18849 August 1915 1 August 18849 August 1915 186414 September 1931Opened as Wards, renamed Coltfield 1865, and Coltfield Platform about 1880. 23 December 186214 September 1931 10 October 189214 September 1931. Junction with GNoSR

Fochabers branch Station Distance Opened Closed Notes On Keith to Inverness line, from Keith 14 September 1931 23 October 189314 September 1931Opened as Fochabers, renamed in 1894.

Burghead and Hopeman branch Station Distance Opened Closed Notes On Keith to Inverness line, from Keith 186414 September 1931Opened as Wards, renamed Coltfield 1865, and Coltfield Platform about 1880. 23 December 186214 September 1931Station moved in 1892, distance shown for original station 10 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. Station Distance Opened Closed Notes On Keith to Inverness line, from Keith 18 April 18601 January 1869

Fort George branch Station Distance Opened Closed Notes On Aviemore to Inverness line, from Perth 1 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. Station Distance from Perth Opened Closed Notes 5 November 1855 11 June 186213 June 1960 11 June 186213 June 1960Reopened briefly during March 1982 Clunes1864 11 June 186213 June 1960Reopened 2002 11 June 1862Junction for the Black Isle Branch. Closed 1960–76. 11 June 186213 June 1960Reopened 2013 as Conon Bridge 11 June 1862Junction for Kyle of Lochalsh Line 23 May 186313 June 1960Opened as Fowlis, renamed 1916 23 May 186313 June 1960Opened as Novar, renamed 1937 23 May 1863Closed 1960–73 23 May 1863 1 June 186413 June 1960 1 June 186413 June 1960Opened as Parkhill, renamed May 1868 1 June 186413 June 1960 1 June 1864 1 June 1864 1 October 186413 June 1960 19261928Briefly open as Mid Fearn Halt in 1864/5 1 October 1864Bonar Bridge until May 1977 1871 13 April 1868 13 April 1868 13 April 1868Closed 1960/1 13 April 186813 June 1960Junction for the Dornoch Light Railway. 13 April 1868 1 November 1870Private after 1871, closed 1965. Reopened for irregular services after 1985 19 June 1871 19 June 187113 June 1960 19 June 1871 28 July 187429 November 1965Restricted use after 1907 28 July 1874 187829 November 1965Known as Borrobol Platform until 1962 28 July 1874 28 July 1874 28 July 1874 28 July 1874 28 July 1874 28 July 1874Junction for Thurso 28 July 187413 June 1960 28 July 187413 June 1960 28 July 187413 June 1960 28 July 1874

Black Isle branch Station Distance Opened Closed Notes On Far North Line, from Perth 1 February 18941 October 1951 1 February 18941 October 1951 1 February 18941 October 1951 1 February 18941 October 1951 1 February 18941 October 1951

Dornoch Light Railway Station Distance Opened Closed Notes On Far North Line, from Perth 2 June 190213 June 1960 2 June 190213 June 1960 2 June 190213 June 1960 2 June 190213 June 1960

Georgemas Branch Station Distance Opened Closed Notes On Far North Line, from Perth 28 July 187429 November 1965 28 July 1874

Wick & Lybster Light Railway Station Distance Opened Closed Notes On Far North Line, from Perth 1 July 19031 April 1944 1 April 1944 1 July 19031 April 1944 1 July 19031 April 1944 1 April 1944 1 July 19031 April 1944 1 April 1944 1 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, 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.

Station Distance Opened Closed Notes from Perth on Far North Line 19 August 18707 December 1965Opened as Strathpeffer, renamed 1885. 19 August 1870 1 August 1871Station and line moved in 1954 19 August 1870 19 August 1870 1 August 18717 December 1964Opened as Glencarron Platform, renamed 1962 1871 19 August 1870 1880 19 August 1870 23 May 1949Opened as Duncraig platform, renamed 1962. Closed between 1964 and 1976 2 November 1897 2 November 1897 2 November 1897

Strathpeffer Branch Station Distance Opened Closed Notes from Perth on Far North Line 3 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. Station Distance Opened Closed Notes 7 August 1894 22 July 19031 December 1933Closed 1911–13 22 July 19031 December 1933Closed 1911–13 22 July 19031 December 1933Closed 1911–13 22 July 19031 December 1933Closed 1911–13 22 July 19031 December 1933Closed 1911–13 22 July 19031 October 1906

Notes and references

Footnotes

References

Sources

External links

The Highland Railway Society The Highland Railway, includes a map of the system