Private company

Inverness and Perth Junction Railway

UK railway company

The Inverness and Perth Junction Railway (I&PJR) was a railway company that built a line providing a more direct route between Inverness and the south for passengers and goods. Up to the time of its opening, the only route was a circuitous way through Aberdeen. The I&PJR was built from a junction with the friendly Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway at Forres to the Perth and Dunkeld Railway at Dunkeld.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 20, 2026.

Overview

1861Founded1

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NJ0151 Inverness and Perth Junction Railway
Photo: Richard Webb, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons4

The Inverness and Perth Junction Railway (I&PJR) was a railway company that built a line providing a more direct route between Inverness and the south for passengers and goods. Up to the time of its opening, the only route was a circuitous way through Aberdeen. The I&PJR was built from a junction with the friendly Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway at Forres to the Perth and Dunkeld Railway at Dunkeld.2

Products and brands

Operational issues

The steep gradients on the line, both via Dava and via Carrbridge, required extensive double-heading of trains. The Highland Railway constructed a number of 0-6-4T locomotives for banking goods trains. In 1909, the North British Locomotive Company built four powerful 0-6-4 tank engines to the design of Peter Drummond, for use as banking engines. Four more were delivered in 1911. These were the HR's largest tank engines and worked mostly between Blair Atholl and Dalnaspidal on banking duties, and on local services between Blair Atholl and Perth. They were withdrawn between 1932 and the end of 1936.

Until 1907 all goods trains on the line had an additional brake van in the middle of the train to ensure sufficient brake power on the downhill sections. Two dozen sprags were kept, spaced at intervals, beside the line near Slochd summit in case of emergencies.

Locations

Forres; opened 25 March 1858 for Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway; replaced by station aligned for Dava route on 3 August 1863; still open;

Rafford; opened 3 August 1863; closed 31 May 1865;

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Dunphail; opened 3 August 1863; closed 18 October 1965;

Dava; opened 1 November 1864; closed 18 October 1965;

Dava summit; 1,052 feet;

Castle Grant Platform; opened 1938; closed 1949;

Grantown; opened 3 August 1863; renamed Grantown-on-Spey 1 June 1912; renamed Grantown-on-Spey West 5 June 1950; closed 18 October 1965;

Broom Hill; opened 3 August 1863; closed 18 October 1965;

Boat of Garten; junction with Strathspey Railway (GNoSR); opened 3 August 1863; closed 18 October 1965;

Aviemore; junction with Inverness and Aviemore Direct Railway; opened 3 August 1863; still open;

Boat of Insch; opened 9 September 1863; renamed Kincraig 1 September 1871; closed 18 October 1965;

Kingussie; opened 9 September 1863; still open;

Newtonmore; opened 9 September 1863; still open;

Dalwhinnie; opened 9 September 1863; still open;

Druimuachdar Summit; 1484 feet;

Dalnaspidal; opened June 1864; closed 3 May 1965;

Struan; opened 9 September 1863; closed 3 May 1965;

Black Island Platform; first used 17 June to 2 July 1904; not in public timetable; closed 11 April 1959;

Blair Athole; opened 9 September 1863; renamed Blair Atholl 7 September 1893; still open;

Killiecrankie; opened 1 July 1864; closed 3 May 1965;

Pitlochry; opened 1 June 1863; still open;

Aberfeldy Junction;

Ballinluig; opened 1 June 1863; closed 3 May 1965;

Guay; opened 1 June 1863; closed 3 August 1959;

Dalguise; opened 1 June 1863; closed 3 May 1965;

Dunkeld & Birnam; end on connection with Perth and Dunkeld Railway; opened 7 April 1856; still open

Rohillion;

Murthly;

Stanley Junction.

Aberfeldy branch

Aberfeldy; opened 3 July 1865; closed 3 May 1965;

Grandtully; opened 3 July 1865; closed 3 May 1965;

Balnaguard; opened 2 December 1935; closed 3 May 1965;

Ballinluig; main line station.

Current operations

The part of the line between Aviemore and Stanley Junction continues in use in 2022, as part of the Highland Main Line; passenger services are operated by ScotRail. The Strathspey Railway heritage line operates between Aviemore and Broomhill.

From Wikipedia’s article on Inverness and Perth Junction Railway, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Acquisitions

  1. Succeeded by Highland Railway1

Timeline

  1. 1861Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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