Strathspey Railway

There is currently the chance to return photographic charters to this stunning 11 mile line in the Scottish Highlands after an absence of nearly 15 years. Using Ivatt 2-6-0 46512 (with nameplates removed) and a selection of the lines blood & custard/maroon mark ones over the weekend of the 19th & 20th March we will take in some of the stunning vistas which the railway has to offer. All proceeds from the event will go towards the overhaul of black five 5025 which is based on the line.

If anyone would like a few more details please PM me.

 

To add to the above post, the photo charters on the weekend of 19th/20th March 2016 are confirmed. Still a few places left, however the railway has offered to have the burnished areas of No. 46512 poster painted, and the engine to be left uncleaned over the winter maintenance period so as to allow a typical 50's/60's Ivatt mogul look.

This will also be the last opportunity to photograph a complete Mk1 maroon rake, as of the week following the charters, the Mk1 Brake coach from the maroon rake will be replaced with an Mk2 - with the removed coach being repainted in to Blood and Custard livery.



Anybody wishing to attend, please contact either Andrew (steam_mad) or myself through private message.

 

Out of curiosity, does the Strathspey Railway have any ambitions to extend over Dava moor?

 

I think that Grantown will suffice - providing a link between two sizeable (by Highlands criteria) towns. Not that I'd mind restoring the whole link between Aviemore and Forres, but how sustainable would that be?

John

 

It would be great but the triangle at Forres has been almost totally wiped out by housing, also from what I remember the drawings for the proposed grantown station show a wing of the station built over the tracked and blocking it I think. That should tell you how they feel about going any further, though they should just for the brilliant landscape of dava moor, another option is the GNoSR at boat of garden junction ,(a bridge is missing just past boat of garten, but that hasn't stopped them recently! ) plenty of stations intact on that line, plus the attractive whisky heritage. IMO grantown is a good stopping point at least for now

 

Sadly, just a month or so too early for me. Will be there late April.

 

Is there any news on when the next push for extending the line further than dulnain bridge? Or have all plans halted until the a95 improvements happen?(if ever)

 

I'll pass the question on to one of the Strathspey volunteers who would have more insight to the progress.

It was interesting that during the photo charter on 19th March, we ran the Official First Passenger Train hauled by a steam locomotive along the extension and on to the bridge. I'll get one of the photographs processed later to upload.

Just a couple of shots from our weekend :

Ivatt No. 46512 - Granish Moor by Jonathon Gourlay Photography, on Flickr

Ivatt No. 46512 - Broomhill by Jonathon Gourlay Photography, on Flickr

 

There has been an Officers Special steam hauled to just short of the Bridge in 2014.

Steven

 

Is 46512 the only loco in regular use these days? I've visited several times over the last few years and it's been the only loco in use.

 

Caley 828 due back in service some point before/in the summer I believe. Updates on the loco available here:
http://cr828.blogspot.co.uk or https://www.facebook.com/CR828-441998082656294/?fref=ts

 

Thanks for that, appreciated. I am there in 2 weeks or so and guess it will be too early but another summer visit planned and might be lucky then.

 

End of the line to date.

 

If I am not mistaken, Strathspey own the tracked all the way to Grantown.

What is the news with the road alignment tho? I haven't heard anything for what feels like an age!

 

I gather there are issues with access to the trackbed north of the bridge on the section before the proposed road crossing.

46512 at the current railhead a few weeks ago with a photo charter I organised - if anyone is interested in attending a future event please send me a message!

 

It's the gradient profile of the line north of Grantown that fascinates me. As mentioned above, the Forres end of the line has been built over, but according to good old Wikipedia, the main part of the climb begins near Rafford (see the link to the 1959 map).

http://www.npemap.org.uk/tiles/map.html#304,857,1

Due to the cuttings and embankments it's difficult to judge the height of the line near Rafford, but a little to the east the route crosses the 150 foot contour near Manachy Distilery.
If you then navigate south on the map, the line climbs steadily to Dava summit, which is documented elsewhere as being 1052 feet above sea level.

Judging by the contours and the watershed, this is about 3 miles south of Dava station, in the cutting near Anaboard.
Continuing south the route then descends to Grantown (West) station which is on the 750 foot contour.

It would be a huge project to rebuild it though.

 

Dava moor looks great but very remote from civilisation.