Compared with other Highland lines the Inverness – Aberdeen line was considered a bit boring in terms of scenery and loco performance. DMU’s (class 120’s augmented by a few “Bubbles”) worked most of the lines services until 1980 so it was avoided where possible!
By 2026 the line has a lot more appeal, HST’s work many of the services and there are still islands of semaphore signalling to enjoy. Scenically the middle sections seems wild enough, especially in Winter
As listed below i have had proper loco hauled moves at Inverness, Nairn, Elgin, Keith, Huntly, Insch, Dyce and Aberdeen, the rest being units. Back in the day Forres was the principal leaping point, as you safely made the incoming Aberdeen – Inverness unlike Elgin where you would be bowled!.
Key – AM – Ancient move (1969-79)
OM – Old move (1980-99)
MM – Modern move (2000 onwards)
LM – Latest move
Inverness
OM 27108 1446 Inverness – Aberdeen 250180
LM – 66304} 2020 Inverness – Euston (via Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth) 220126
73966}
Diverted due flooding on Highland Line
A platform level view from the late Tony Ewer of 27109 steaming nicely with the 0830 Inverness – Aberdeen on May 29th 1982
“Proper pair!”, 26043 and 26030 at Inverness with the 1048 Aberdeen service on August 2nd 1983
47541″The Queen Mother” arrives at Inverness with the 0735 from Aberdeen on June 21st 1986
37059 is shunt released at Inverness after arrival with the 1524 from Aberdeen on August 19th 1992
Inverness Airport
MM- 43179} 1713 Inverness – Aberdeen 060223 onto
43145}
MM – 158720 1525 Aberdeen – Inverness 060223
A couple of days after opening, 43179 is atop the 1713 Inverness – Aberdeen at Inverness Airport awaiting a down service to clear the single line on February 6th 2023
New station opened 3rd Feb 2023, a surfaced path means the airport terminal is just a 15 minute walk away.
Nairn
OM – 47211 1240 Inverness-Aberdeen 290582 onto
OM – 26008 1155 Aberdeen-Inverness
the Nairn signalmen used his bike to release signals from different boxes!
Forres
OM – 27108 2A37 1446 Inverness – Aberdeen 250980 onto
OM – 27007 2N27 1357 Aberdeen – Inverness 250980
43148} 1720 Inverness – Aberdeen (rare plat 2 at Forres) 200126 onto
43168}
158725 1750 Elgin – Inverness 200126
The late Tony Ewer captures 26031 piloting 47271 on the 1448 Inverness – Aberdeen on August 30th 1983
Forres station was rebuilt on a new alignment to the North of the old station in October 2017, heres 43168 tailing the 1720 Inverness – Aberdeen on January 20th 2026.
Elgin
OM – 27109 0830 Inverness-Aberdeen 290582!
leapt here for 47211 on the 0740 Ab-In which was already in. Half way over the footbridge 47211 moved off, we quickly u turned and rejoined 27109! Electronic token at Elgin we were later advised!
27005 0447 Aberdeen-Inverness 260185 onto
47118 0600 Inverness-Aberdeen 260185
The late Tony Ewer liked the Inverness – Aberdeen route!, here captures 47002 at Elgin with the 0548 Inverness – Aberdeen on September 1st 1993
Keith
OM – 27008 1255 Inverness-St. Pancras Railtour 171184 onto
OM – 47210 1340 Aberdeen-Inverness 171184
Bailing off the RESL tour here, the RESL big chief asked if we were sure a train was coming! We did the wrong move here though missing out on the long closed Dufftown and Burghead branches but did see, first hand, 27008 slipping on the bank big time out of Keith towards Dufftown!
We’d bailed off the tour by now, heres 27008 slipping to a stand on the climb out of Keith towards Dufftown, 3 attempts were needed. Taken on November 17th 1984, this section of track is now sadly lifted
LM – 43144} 1720 Inverness – Aberdeen 190126 onto
43147}
LM – 158720} 1439 Glasgow QS – Inverness 190126
170429}
Keith’s long surviving semaphores look good as 158711 passes the box with the 0701 Inverness – Aberdeen on February 7th 2023
Huntly
OM- 27109 0830 Inverness-Aberdeen 290582 onto
OM – 27003 0955 Aberdeen-Inverness 290582
Nice station close to rushing River Bogie
67007 passes Huntly box with a diverted down Euston – Inverness Caledonian Sleeper on March 25th 2019, the station can be seen in the distance
Insch
OM – 47640 1126 Aberdeen – Inverness 210690 onto
OM – 47617 1030 Inverness – Aberdeen 210690
Inverurie
158719 1042 Aberdeen – Inverurie 110124 onto
158731 1157 Aberdeen – Inverness 110124
Nice station and town with rich railway history, the football team being called Inverurie Loco Works despite the works closing in 1969.
Kintore
158736 1005 Aberdeen – Inverness 110124 onto
158726 1029 Inverurie – Aberdeen 110124
New station opened October 2020, previously closed under Beeching.
Taken from the station footbridge, 158706 leaves Kintore on the double track section with the 0701 Inverness – Aberdeen on February 8th 2023
Dyce
OM – 47578 0928 Stonehaven – Inverness 210690 onto
OM – 47640 0815 Inverness – Aberdeen 210690
Aberdeen
OM – 26028 0900 Inverness-Aberdeen 300582 onto
OM – 43091} 1205 Aberdeen-Kings X 300582
OM – 43109}
OM – 27056 0105 Perth-Aberdeen 260185 onto
OM – 27005 0447 Aberdeen-Inverness 260185
Unfortunately the only time i did “the round the coast overnight”.
Thanks to Dave Spencer for this fine view of 27008 at Aberdeen after thrashing “over the top” with the 0900 ex Inverness on September 7th 1980
Looking and sounding the part, 40013 rests at Aberdeen with the return Whistling Highlander tour from Inverness on February 25th 2024
end
Leighton Lists 