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Scottish Steam Railways

The Strathspey Railway

Route:  Aviemore - Boat of Garten - Broomhill - (future extension to Grantown on Spey)

Nearest Rail Station - Aviemore on the Perth - Inverness main line.  Cross platform transfers from mainline trains.  First Scotrail and GNER serve Aviemore (including the Caledonian Sleeper service).  Direct trains run to Aviemore from Inverness, Perth, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. 

The railway follows the route of the River Spey from Aviemore to Broomhill, travelling through the Cairngorm National Park.  Famous for its appearances on the BBC 'Monarch of the Glen' series, this line offers spectacular scenery.  Throughout the journey passengers enjoy views of the Cairngorm mountains as the trains travel through some of the last remnants of the Caledonian Pine Forrest.  Beyond Boat of Garten the scenery opens up and views of the River Spey are offered.  Although it's a long journey north, the line must have some of the best scenery on any steam railway. 

The line uses typical 1950's / 1960's Mark 1 rolling stock, with the main steam locomotive currently being an 0-6-0 industrial tank (returned to service 2005).  The tank locomotive is unique in coming originally from the Wemyss Private Railway in Fife.  The railway also has a selection of other steam locomotives under repair including a large Black 5 number 5025 which originally worked over the line for the London Midland and Scottish railway in the 1930's. 

Also not to be missed are the railways stations.  Aviemore is the largest outside of Inverness on the former Highland Railway.  The station has been restored to it's original condition and today steam and modern trains meet under it's ornate canopies.  Further North Boat of Garten has been fully restored and offers visitors a taste of a 1950's country station complete with signal boxes, flower beds, waiting room and station house.  The last station on the line, Broomhill, is a new structure, built as a replica to the original on the site.  It shows how small country halts were constructed in the day's before 'bus shelter' type stations! 

The railway offers an excellent day out for the entire family.  As well as scenic rail trips there are also many walks from stations along the line or take your bike on the train for a day's cycling!   

The Keith & Dufftown Railway

Route:  Keith - Dufftown

Nearest Rail Station - Keith on the Inverness - Aberdeen railway.  First Scotrail serves the main Keith station, while the Keith & Dufftown Railway (K&DR) station at Keith town is approximately a half mile walk away through Keith.  It is hoped to return services to the mainline station in the future.  

Known as the Whiskey line, this railway was famous for serving the large number of distilleries along its length.  Faced with closure, more recently it hosted the 'Northern Belle' rail cruise train.  This stopped running in the 90's and since then the line has remained closed until a private preservation group took it over and returned passenger services for tourists. 

The line is particularly scenic moving from farmland down into scenic wooded valleys as you make your way towards Dufftown.  The railway currently uses 'heritage' first generation multiple units as in the picture above.  These trains have windows behind the driver so you get a drivers eye view of the line ahead!  Seats are arranged in rows behind looking out. 

While in Dufftown make sure to allow enough time to visit one of the Distilleries or the castle, both a short walk from the station.

The Caledonian Railway

Route:  Brechin - Bridge of Dun

Nearest Rail Station - Montrose on the Glasgow / Edinburgh - Aberdeen mainline.  First Scotrail and GNER serve the station.  At Montrose take a Strathtay Scottish bus to Brechin.  The bus arrives opposite the Caledonian Railway Station.    
 

The original Caledonian Railway was formed in 1848 and become one of the most important railways in Scotland.  Today's railway of the same name uses a four mile stretch of the former Caledonian Railway which was closed to traffic as early as 1952.  Today the line has been restored from the town of Brechin to Bridge of Dun.  The unique Victorian terminus at Brechin has lots of period charm and atmosphere, and having boarded your train you will journey back in time as you travel the falling grade to Bridge of Dun. The Station at Bridge of Dun was a junction on the former Strathmore main line and a frequent stopping point for Royal Trains. It is set in remote countryside next to one of the UK's finest bird sanctuaries, the Montrose Basin. A short walk from the station tourists can access interesting walks along both banks of the river South Esk and part of the bird sanctuary. Within a short distance of Bridge of Dun station is the National Trust for Scotland property House of Dun, built by William Adam in 1730.

On return to the station at Brechin there is a railway museum, gift shop and buffet car.  Visitors can also enjoy looking around the town of Brechin.  The railway has a fleet of nine steam engines and ten diesel locomotives Some are working, others are undergoing overhaul and the rest are awaiting finance and their turn for restoration. Steam hauled trains operate every Sunday from the last Sunday in May through to the middle of September. Throughout July and August trains also operate on selected Saturdays.

The Scottish Railway Preservation Society /

Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway

Route:  Bo'ness - Birkhill

Nearest Rail Station - Linlithgow which is served by frequent ScotRail trains from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling/Dunblane.  The journey time from Edinburgh is only a few minutes.  When buying your ticket, be sure to ask for PlusBus tickets which include travel to Bo'ness for an additional fare of £1.50 (cheaper and more convenient than buying a separate bus ticket). 
Leave the station by the main building, walk down to the main road, then turn left. Catch a bus from the bus stop about 100 yards away, on the same side of the road as the station. There is a regular service to Bo'ness.  Either alight at the bus station, or preferably outside the Tesco supermarket.  Bus services are operated by First Edinburgh (formerly Midland Bluebird).

The Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway is operated by the Scottish Railway Preservation Socity.  The Scoceity is Scotland's premier rail preservation group with it's own rail line, large collection of trains and regular mainline tours.  The site at Bo'ness has been rebuilt with restored railway buildings and now has a museum.  Falkirk Council is working with the SRPS to set up the Scottish Railway Museum. The first part of the museum was opened in 1995 as the Scottish Railway Exhibition. The first phase of the planned development can be seen at Bo'ness where the refreshment room of the large new station building opened in 1998. This provides improved facilities for coach parties. In the near future it is planned to extend the passenger service to Manuel.

The line is situated on the banks of the Firth of Forth and passengers leaving Bo'ness Station have views over the Firth.  This area of the line was previously mines, docks and railway sidings.  Since the decline of these industries the railway has landscaped and restored the land to the pleasant conditions it is now in.  The line then heads south through the woods to the Birkhill station.  Here passengers can go for a walk or enjoy a tour of the Birkhill Firelay mine. 

The 'Jacobite' Fort William - Mallaig by Steam

Route:  Fort William - Mallaig 

Nearest Rail Station - Fort William.  The Steam train departs from the same station and uses the same line as scheduled Scotrail services.  There is a frequent service to Glasgow and a daily overnight train to London.  

The Jacobite takes passengers on one of the great rail journey's of the world.  Starting under the shadow of Britain's highest mountain - Ben Nevis, in Fort William, the train takes passengers for a day out in the fishing port of Mallaig. 

The day out isn't just a 42 mile journey by steam.  It's the opportunity to travel through some of the most beautiful scenery in Britain.  The line takes in some of the most remote and rugged countryside the UK has to offer with lochs, mountains and islands.  After crossing the Caledonian Canal the train steams alongside Loch Eil.  It then takes an up hill journey to Glenfinnan and over the 21 arch viaduct with views of the Jacobite monument, now in the care of the National Trust for Scotland.  The train stops at Glenfinnan station where you can stretch your legs or view the West Highland Railway Museum. 

From there the line heads down to sea level again and the most westerly point on the British railway system - Arisaig Station.  This is a request stop for the service.  Journeys end is the terminus at Mallaig.  The town is the ferry terminal for the western isles and has many attractions of interest during the lunchtime stopover. 

The West Highlands and Fort William may be a long way away from where you are, but if you ask is it worth it, the answer is definitely yes!  Don't miss out on the chance to see this wonderful line by steam. 

The Jacobite departs Fort William at 10.20 and arrives back at 16.00.  To find out more call the West Coast Railway Company on 01524 737751. 

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