The Strathspey Railway offers a nostalgic train journey from Aviemore to Boat of Garten and on to Broomhill. Run almost completely by enthusiastic volunteers, it is a comfortable, relaxing way to enjoy the glorious Scottish scenery as in the more leisurely days of steam.
History of the Strathspey Railway Line
During the 19th century, Aviemore, on the banks of the River Spey, was developed as a railway junction after the main line to Inverness was completed in 1898. The railway was essential for the economy of the area by the late 1800s. As well as bringing goods to the highland area, it allowed the transport of Scottish timber.
During the First World War, the Canadian Forestry Corps helped to fell trees in the area and they built their own 3’0” gauge railway line which ran from the woods into the loading bank at Aviemore Station.
When the main line route to Forres closed in 1965, Aviemore was no longer required as a railway junction and, as a consequence, the trains stopped running.
The Reopening of Strathspey Railway
Aviemore soon became a leading winter sports centre, offering visitors a good range of restaurants, shops and leisure facilities, including excellent skiing in the Cairngorms. Tourism was the biggest source of income to the town and it was the main reason that the old railway line was eventually reopened.
By 1978, the Strathspey Railway was opened between Speyside Station, on the outskirts of Aviemore, and Boat of Garten. Aviemore itself suffered a halt to its tourist plans during the 1980s and 90s but once its station was restored in 1998, due to a generous donation from Historic Scotland, it became the new terminus for the Strathspey Railway.
Steam Train Journey from Aviemore to Boat of Garten
The first part of the journey runs from Aviemore to Boat of Garten. Once past the outskirts of Aviemore and Dalfaber, passengers can enjoy the sight of the same kind of heather moors and woodland that are little changed since the 1860s. The Cairngorms are off to the east, partly bordered by the tall pine trees from a section of the ancient Caledonian Forest. Off to the west are the Monadhliath Mountains.
Nearer to the railway line are rowan, larch and Scots pine trees, while some of the wildlife often seen include red squirrels, roe deer and buzzards. Half way along the route lies Kinchurdy farm which has contained a settlement since medieval times.
The stations along the Strathspey Railway route are small and attractive, some being built at the opening of the railway in 1863, or at the end of the 1890s, or even rebuilt in more recent times.
Boat of Garten
Boat of Garten was the junction of the Speyside Branch of the Great North of Scotland Railway from 1866. During the Edwardian era, many villas were built in the village to accommodate staff and settlers.
Sometimes known as the ‘Osprey Village’, there is an observation hide for ospreys at Boat of Garten, about three miles from the village, which is maintained for the Protection of Birds. The large birds-of-prey have been returning to the loch side since the 1950s.
Boat of Garten to Broomhill
As the train chugs its way along from the station, passengers can look out for the ice house at Milltown of Drumullie. Built into a bank, the ice house stored ice from the nearby mill pond during the winter to keep salmon and food cool throughout the summer months.
The railway line eventually passes through the more agricultural landscape of Strathspey, and the River Spey itself is visible to passengers as the train steams alongside it. The hillside rises above Nethy Bridge and the pretty 18th century town of Grantown-on-Spey.
End of the Train Journey at Broomhill
The present Broomhill Station was rebuilt in 1997 on the original foundations. It used to be the station which took the timber traffic that once floated down the Spey, but it has now become famous as the railway station, Glenbogle, in the TV programme Monarch of the Glen.
There is a pleasant walk along a footpath from Broomhill, by the side of the River Spey, to Nethy Bridge Village, where there are shops and a visitor centre.
Although the train terminates at Broomhill, soon there will be a new terminus at Grantown-on-Spey, which will let passengers enjoy another three and a half miles of the leisurely steam train journey.
The Strathspey Steam Railway is a wonderful day out for all the family. There are special events run throughout the year and full details are on their website. One special treat is the Traditional Sunday Lunch on certain Sundays and Fridays which is served at the passengers’ tables. It is an ideal way to experience the nostalgia of steam train journeys as they once were in the past.
Another steam train journey worth experiencing is the Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William to Mallaig, which featured in the Harry Potter films.
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