Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway

Introduction

This railway is closed. The railway provided a service from Grange to Portsoy [1st] and Banff. Later the Great North of Scotland Railway extended the Portsoy line to Lossie Junction on the Morayshire Railway; the Moray Coast Railway (Great North of Scotland Railway). Following this the line provided a service from Cairnie Junction to Elgin East with a branch to Banff. The line was also known as the Banffshire Railway after 1863.






Dates

27/06/1857Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Act receives Royal assent.
30/07/1859Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Line opened (including Portsoy Harbour); stations at Knock, Cornhill, Tillynaught, Ladysbridge, Banff and Portsoy [1st]. Conditional halts were at Barry [GNSR], Ordens and Millegan.
21/07/1863Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Line re-named Banffshire Railway.
21/07/1863Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Extension from Portsoy [2nd] to Portgordon authorised.
  /  /1864Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Conditional halts closed.
30/07/1866Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Extension of time limit for 1863 authorisation.
12/08/1867Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway Great North of Scotland Railway
Banffshire Railway absorbed by Great North of Scotland Railway.
12/08/1867Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Extension authorisation allowed to lapse.
  /  /1872Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Barry [GNSR] reopened as Glenbarry.
  /  /1874Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Portsoy Harbour branch closed.
01/04/1884Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
A new Portsoy [2nd] station opened on the Moray Coast Railway (Great North of Scotland Railway) and old one, Portsoy [1st], closed.
01/05/1886Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway Moray Coast Railway (Great North of Scotland Railway)
Cairnie Junction to Grange North Junction curve opened.
19/07/1887Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway Moray Coast Railway (Great North of Scotland Railway)
Cairnie Junction to Grange North Junction curve authorised retrospectively.
  /  /1898Great North of Scotland Railway
Cairnie Junction station opened to save dividing trains for portions for the Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway at Huntly.
17/01/1898Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway Moray Coast Railway (Great North of Scotland Railway)
Cairnie Junction to Grange North Junction doubled.
  /  /1910Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Portsoy Harbour branch dismantled.
  /  /1910Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Banff Harbour branch dismantled.
  /  /1913Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Bridgefoot Halt and Golf Club House Halt opened.
  /01/1917Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Ordens re-opened.
  /09/1920Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Ordens closed.
07/03/1960Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Grange to Grange North Junction closed to all traffic.
06/07/1964Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Banff to Tillynaught closed to passengers.
06/05/1968Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Banff to Tillynaught closed to freight.
06/05/1968Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway Moray Coast Railway (Great North of Scotland Railway) Morayshire Railway
Elgin East to Buckie [GNSR] to Cairnie Junction closed to passengers.
06/05/1968Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway Moray Coast Railway (Great North of Scotland Railway)
Buckie [GNSR] to Cairnie Junction closed to all traffic. Grange North Junction to Cairnie Junction remained double until the end.
  /  /1980Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
Banff buildings demolished.
  /  /1984Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
West Buchan Railway opened on former trackbed at Banff.
  /  /1985Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway
West Buchan Railway closed.

Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.


Grange to Tillynaught

Grange junction to Tillynaught junction.

This was a two platform station for much of its existence. From 1859 to 1886 it was the junction station for the Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway with the junction at the east end of the station. Because of this it had a turntable at the east end, north of the line. There was a bay at the east end of the eastbound platform. The station had a loop before the main line was doubled. The main ...

More details

See also
Great North of Scotland Railway
View of Grange station in 1964, taken from the front of a DMU bound for Cairnie Junction. ...
Brian Haslehust 31/08/1964
The site of Grange station on the Aberdeen - Inverness line with only the remains of the down platform left.
...
John Williamson 19/04/2009
Sprinter passing Grange, view looking east. ...
Ewan Crawford //
3 of 3 images.


This was one of the junctions of the triangular junction former between the Great North of Scotland Railway and the Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway, the other junctions being Grange Junction (to the west) and Grange South Junction (later Cairnie Junction) to the south. Grange North was actually in the east but was clearly named for the distinction from the south junction.
...

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See also
Moray Coast Railway (Great North of Scotland Railway)
Looking south at the former Grange North Junction. ...
Ewan Crawford //
1 of 1 images.


This was a short lived station. Probably spelt Millegin and marked on a contemporary OS map as Millegin Siding.. It was to the north of a road bridge close to the Bridge of Millegin. The platform was on the east side of the line and to the south there was a siding for a loading bank contiguous with the platform on the east side of the line, approached from the south.
...

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Looking north at the former Millegan station. ...
Ewan Crawford //
1 of 1 images.


This station was originally located to the south of the overbridge, with a siding approached from the south on the east side of the line. The single platform station was located on the east side of the line.
...

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The site of the goods yard at Knock station, given away by the distinctive railway gates. The goods loading bank is just behind with the remains of ...
John Williamson 05/08/2010
The remains of the passenger platform at Knock looking north towards Glenbarry, with the posts for the running in board still intact. Like so many ...
John Williamson 05/08/2010
Remains of Knock station, Banffshire, looking north towards Tillynaught in 1997, some 29 years after closure of the line. The Knockdhu distillery ...
Ewan Crawford //1997
3 of 3 images.


This was a two platform station with a loop. The main station building was on the southbound platform.
...

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Station sign from Glenbarry. ...
Roy Lambeth //1988
Base of the old water tank at the former Glenbarry station, photographed looking south in 1988. Located between Cornhill to the north and Knock to the ...
Ewan Crawford //1988
Glenbarry station when intact, view looking north. ...
Roy Lambeth //
3 of 3 images.


This was a single platform station with a goods yard at the south end, reached by reversal. The platform was on the west side and goods siding on the east. To the north was a bridge over the road to Cornhill, not far to the south east.
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The ex-GNSR station building at Cornhill, Aberdeenshire (closed May 1968) photographed in 1977. ...
Bill Roberton //1977
Platform scene at Cornhill, Aberdeenshire, looking north towards Tillynaught in 1997. ...
Ewan Crawford //1997
Cornhill station is now a private residence owned by a local joiner who has done a great job in restoring the classic GNSR wooden station to its ...
John Williamson 17/12/2011
3 of 3 images.


This was a three platform station. There were two through platforms on the line via the Moray Coast and Buckie [GNSR] to Elgin East and a single platform on the branch to Banff. The branch platform had a loop on the line.
...

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Standard Class 2MT 2-6-0 78045 at Tillynaught, with a branch service for Banff, on 18th June 1964. ...
Brian Haslehust 18/06/1964
Standard Class 2MT 2-6-0 78045 at Tillynaught, ready to depart for Banff, on 18th June 1964. ...
Brian Haslehust 18/06/1964
BR Standard class 2 2-6-0 78045 photographed near Tillynaught Junction on 23 August 1963 with a train for Banff. [Ref query 1003] ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 23/08/1963
BR Standard tank 80121 entering Tillynaught Junction on 18 August 1960 with a train destined for Elgin via the coast. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 18/08/1960
4 of 13 images. more





Tillynaught to Portsoy

Tillynaught junction to Portsoy [1st].

This was a three platform station. There were two through platforms on the line via the Moray Coast and Buckie [GNSR] to Elgin East and a single platform on the branch to Banff. The branch platform had a loop on the line.
...

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Standard Class 2MT 2-6-0 78045 at Tillynaught, with a branch service for Banff, on 18th June 1964. ...
Brian Haslehust 18/06/1964
Standard Class 2MT 2-6-0 78045 at Tillynaught, ready to depart for Banff, on 18th June 1964. ...
Brian Haslehust 18/06/1964
BR Standard class 2 2-6-0 78045 photographed near Tillynaught Junction on 23 August 1963 with a train for Banff. [Ref query 1003] ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 23/08/1963
BR Standard tank 80121 entering Tillynaught Junction on 18 August 1960 with a train destined for Elgin via the coast. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 18/08/1960
4 of 13 images. more




This former terminus is one of the most remarkable station survivors in Scotland. It has a station with a wooden trainshed dating from 1859. This has an attractive herring-bone pattern end from the panels which formed the screen, below this the entry has been blocked to create a shed. The station trainshed remains intact with an utterly out of keeping modern extension on the west side.
...

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The original 1859 terminus of the Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway at Portsoy, seen from the south west in 2012. The station served passengers ...
John Furnevel 23/05/2012
The booking office and passenger entrance to the original Portsoy terminus looking east on 23 May 2012, approximately 128 years after the last ticket ...
John Furnevel 23/05/2012
The 1859 terminus of the Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway at Portsoy, closed to passengers as long ago as 1884 when the line was extended west. ...
John Furnevel 23/05/2012
The 1859 terminus at Portsoy, replaced 25 years later by a new through station when the line was extended west. Seen here in September 1977, the old ...
Bill Roberton /09/1977
4 of 4 images.


The harbour was served by a short branch which extended north from Portsoy [1st] to the quaysides. This line bypassed the terminus on its east side. This was a steep line, its operation was limited to one wagon in transit at a time.
...

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The trackbed of the Portsoy Harbour branch, on 15th June 2019. ...
David Bosher 15/06/2019
The top of the former Portsoy Harbour branch, looking down the slight incline towards the harbour, on 15th June 2019. ...
David Bosher 15/06/2019
The bottom end of the Portsoy Harbour branch looking south towards harbour junction and Portsoy station on 22 August 2010. The former trackbed is now ...
John Gray 22/08/2010
3 of 3 images.





Tillynaught to Banff

Tillynaught Junction to Banff.

This was a three platform station. There were two through platforms on the line via the Moray Coast and Buckie [GNSR] to Elgin East and a single platform on the branch to Banff. The branch platform had a loop on the line.
...

More details
Standard Class 2MT 2-6-0 78045 at Tillynaught, with a branch service for Banff, on 18th June 1964. ...
Brian Haslehust 18/06/1964
Standard Class 2MT 2-6-0 78045 at Tillynaught, ready to depart for Banff, on 18th June 1964. ...
Brian Haslehust 18/06/1964
BR Standard class 2 2-6-0 78045 photographed near Tillynaught Junction on 23 August 1963 with a train for Banff. [Ref query 1003] ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 23/08/1963
BR Standard tank 80121 entering Tillynaught Junction on 18 August 1960 with a train destined for Elgin via the coast. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 18/08/1960
4 of 13 images. more


This was a single platform halt with a simple wooden shelter. The platform was on the south side of the line.
...

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This was a single platform station. The platform was on the north side of the line with a siding on the south side, approached from the west. Later a second and then a third siding was added.
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View of Ladysbridge, taken from a Tillynaught - Banff branch service, in June 1964. ...
Brian Haslehust 18/06/1964
78054 with a train at Ladysbridge in the summer of 1960 on its way from Banff to Tillynaught. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 11/08/1960
A Banff - Tillynaught train arrives at Ladysbridge station on 18 August 1960 hauled by BR Standard class 2 2--6-0 no 78054. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 18/08/1960
Ladysbridge on the Banff line. ...
Ewan Crawford //
4 of 4 images.


Looking east towards Banff at Inverboyndie level crossing on 23 August 1963. [Ref query 6 November 2017] ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 23/08/1963
BR Standard class 2 2-6-0 78045, approaching with a train from the Banff direction, is about to pass over Inverboyndie level crossing on 23 August ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 23/08/1963
2 of 2 images.


This siding was on the north side of the line just east of Bridgefoot Halt. It served the Banff Distillery, which was to the north. Approach was from the east. Also known as the Boyndie Siding.
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The siding serving the Banff Distillery at Inverboyndie. View east towards Banff station in the summer of 1963. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 23/08/1963
1 of 1 images.


This short platform was located on the north side of the line at Bridgefoot, just to the east of the Banff Distillery at Inverboyndie.
...

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This halt served the Boyndie Links Golf Course or Banff Golf Club, the clubhouse of which was located just to the north. The golf club was sandwiched between the railway and the sea. This is not the same course as at Duff House. The course at Inverboyndie does not.
...

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The site of Golf Club House Halt from above, in 1999. See image 6729 for how the line looked when open in 1961. ...
Ewan Crawford //1999
BR Standard class 2 2-6-0 no 78053 photographed at Golf Club House Halt, shortly after leaving Banff for Tillynaught on 11 August 1961. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 11/08/1961
BR Standard class 2 2-6-0 no 78053 returning to Banff through the links on 11 August 1961. See image 37750 ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 11/08/1961
Trackbed of the Banff branch, just before Golf Club House Halt, looking towards Tillynaught in May 2010. Around 46 years too late to alight for the ...
Brian Taylor 03/05/2010
4 of 6 images. more


This was a two platform terminus station, with an island platform. One platform was covered by a station trainshed and the other was outside the trainshed, to the seaward side. The goods yard was also to the seaward side, approached from Tillynaught. The station building was two storey, having a timber roof trainshed with stone walls. (The trainshed was similar to those surviving on the former ...

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View at Banff in 1963, with Standard Class 2MT 2-6-0 78054 shunting an interesting looking carriage into the train shed. I'm afraid my rolling stock ...
Brian Haslehust 21/08/1963
1962 view of Banff, with Standard Class 2MT 2-6-0 78045 on the right, and an English Electric Type 1 in the siding on the left, complete with at least ...
Brian Haslehust 16/06/1962
Standard Class 2MT 2-6-0 78045 at Banff, awaiting departure with a branch service for Tillynaught, on 18th June 1964. ...
Brian Haslehust 18/06/1964
View across the bay, towards the branch terminus at Banff, in June 1964. The locomotive beside the water tower at the engine shed was Standard Class 2 ...
Brian Haslehust 18/06/1964
4 of 30 images. more