Strathspey Railway

No point on a Bulleid, the injector controls are under the fireman’s seat.

 

Standing was the order of the day back in SR steam days; much easier to get a fairly detailed footplate log!

Bryan

 

Potential for a Bidet?

 

Is there any news on the Grantown extension?

 

What you must first ask is ‘has the devolved government started caring about improving roads and other sensible things that voters want’ the answer to that is still no so any question that follows is also no.

 

Great answer. Very political.

Would you like to explain in some more detail the current status?

 

Yes please!

 

Essentially the Strathspey Railway require Scottish Government to undertake major improvement works to the main road which is blocking access to Grantown, they can then 'piggy back' on this. This work has been 'promised' for a very long time now.
All that has happened in the intervening time is planning permission was granted for a new whiskey distillery, for which the access road has made the Strathspey Railway's task more difficult.
The last magazine stated a pessimistic picture unfortunately.

 

That’s the Gordon & macphail cairn distillery, a striking building and visitor experience, however, you would think that if a road like the a95 needs investment/re-alignment particularly on safety grounds then it’s best to do that before granting permission for a business that gets multiple hgv deliveries now turning across the single carriageway into the access road. But what do I know. You can see on Google maps just how close it is to where the bridge would need to be, whiskey is a big earner for the Scottish economy and the planning authority would likely have seen that road improvement plans weren’t happening any time soon. Would’ve been best for everyone if some heads came together but alas.

If the long wait drives the railway to insanity they could always take a punt at grantown east, a nicely restored station now vacant after being a stint as a cultural centre/restaurant that quickly became a Covid casualty. I’m joking of course, the challenges are even worse getting to that one, I believe it’s been purchased by the Tormore distillery owned by the Singh brothers (of whiskey exchange fame) as the distillery lacks a visitor centre, so hopefully it won’t deteriorate too much before coming back to life.
Before:

As it looks presently, awaiting a new purpose:

 

I was reading the GCR black 5 45491 thread where a couple of posters speculated if the latest Steam railway magazine report was correct. Then my copy arrived, and I had to laugh, in The Roster section it has a report on the progress of 92219. It states that the boiler has been lifted from the frames, which it hasn’t, it was still firmly in the frames two days ago, where do they get these things from?

92219 hasn’t had any work done to it since the start of the year. The smoke box has been removed, and the boiler has been separated from its mounting points and the ash pan. This is so that when the time comes it should be a straight forward lift.

Shed work has been the annual boiler inspections and maintenance on 5025, 46512 and 46464 prior to the start of the season. Then concentrated on the overhaul of Austerity number 9’s bottom end, which is now very close to being re-wheeled. A blog on number 9’s progress can be found by using the link at the bottom of the Strathspey railway web site.

 

The Rail 200 exhibition train will be visiting the Strathspey Railway on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th of October. To mark this the railway are planning to hold a mixed traffic gala type event using all available diesel and steam locomotives. This will run for three days, the 16th, 17th and Saturday 18th
This is advance notice, it is at the planning stage so no details available as such, but it is hoped to include two train running, frequent loco changes, engine and brake van rides between Aviemore and Boat, signal box visits and drive a shunter for a small fee type events.

 

Strathspey Railway | Family Heritage Railway Attraction in the Highlands of Scotland. Homepage

Strathspey Railway Rail 200 event October 16, 17 and 18th

 

Shame that it appears the mixed traffic weekend the highland mainline is closed and the IS sleeper diverted via Aberdeen .

Excellent idea that hopefully will be repeated in 2026 without the exhibition train .

 

Real shame this isn't the following weekend as we're up there for half term..

 

That's probably why it isn't the week after. Trying to make some cash when it would be quiet.

 

The date is decided for you. Earlier in the year you are invited to apply to host the Rail 200 exhibition train, which the strathspey did. Then later in the year you get a message confirming when it is coming, you don’t get a choice in the matter. Then a decision was taken to put on an event around the visit, after which you start to find the problems. Highland main line closed at the weekend for example, although the event runs on a Thursday, Friday as well as the Saturday. I have heard it said that it is half term up here during the event.

 

Quite possibly, Wales half term is often a week later. We will still try and get a run in though.

 

During local school holidays? Cmon now.

 

True, forgot Scotland have different holidays! I remember years ago at the Dean Forest there was a school trip from Scotland in August, had me perplex as a child.

 

Some unexpected good news for the railway.

https://strathspeyrailwayassociation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SRC-Announcement-291025.pdf

Enjoyed a very good run behind 46464 on Sunday, train very busy and full of holiday makers.