At present there is no link to the mainline railway, but keith town is only about half a mile from the scotrail station at keith. Railways have an extremely long life time and are constructed to withstand natural. Santa trains are operated during december with visits to santas grotto on board. The line, which was reopened by volunteers during 2000 and 2001, passes through some of scotlands most picturesque scenery, with forest and farmland, lochs and glens, castles and distilleries. This railway is now a preserved line, the keith and dufftown railway. Views from the road bridge over the south end of the station. Media in category dufftown railway station the following 18 files are in this category, out of 18 total.
The isla way refresh your spirits with a walk or cycle along the isla way, a new mile route, which links the two famous distillery towns of dufftown and keith. Voucher is valid as a return ticket from keith to keith or as a return from dufftown to dufftown. See the railways website for more details on the whisky line. Its run from dufftown so first and last services start out and end up there which limits the time available if doing it from keith to dufftown and back. Campaign to reconnect whisky railway to main lines press. Restriction and condition as to working of the railway. The speyside way offers great opportunities for walkers and is a perfect way to get up close with the natural beauty of the area. There are currently 8 active directors and 1 active secretary according to the latest confirmation statement submitted on 1st april 2020. All aboard for the keith and dufftown railway 1940s.
The line is known as the whisky line due to dufftown being known as the whisky capital of the world. This website gives full details of our services, timetables and special events, click the menu buttons above for further information. We aim to provide quality leisure activities for the visiting public, in a. The isla way long distance paths moray scotland dufftown to keith. Please note that we reserve the right to cancel any of our services without prior notice. Some views in and around keith town station while waiting for the 12. Originally the former great north of scotland railway keith and dufftown railway which was part of the link aberdeen with elgin with the strathspey railway and morayshire railway, the line was latterly a freightonly branch for british rail, truncated at dufftown and serving the distillery there.
The keith and dufftown railway is one of the most northerly preserved railways in the country, and one of the longest and most scenic. At keith the line connected with the great north of scotland railway which was also joined by the highland railway at keith. It needs to be seen in the context of travel and movement. The keith and dufftown railway takes you on a memorable journey through time. On arrival at dufftown the driver checks out a problem with the dmu, which he delt with quite quickly. Let keith reveal itself to you through an extensive local.
It was the point where the line from inverness made an endon junction with the great north of scotland railway from aberdeen which opened in 1856 to. Great north of scotland railway the keith and dufftown railway is a historic railway in scotland that ran between dufftown and keith. Take a ride along one of scotlands most atmospheric preserved railways and discover what it must have been like to ride on one of the many highland branch lines in the last days before closure. An old heritage railway line runs northeeast through the hills to keith. The keith and dufftown railway the whisky line is a heritage railway in scotland, running. In 1907 almost all the rail companies were taken over by the government. This is a linear walk, but there is a heritage railway link between dufftown and keith on summer weekends, and a.
The railway operates a varied programme of special events, including special journeys run in conjunction with the spring and autumn whisky festivals. Operating dates owing to the coronavirus covid 19 outbreak, our opening date has been delayed. The isla way links the distillery towns of dufftown and keith, taking a varied route of woodland, minor roads and field paths. Fifekeith by contrast is a relatively new settlement established in 1817 by earl fife. We hope you enjoy your electronic visit do come to see us for real at.
The line basically runs weekends over the holiday period. At dufftown the line was joined by the strathspey railway which was joined by the morayshire railway at craigellachie. The station was originally owned by the highland railway and was known as keith junction, the line from the west having opened by the inverness and aberdeen junction railway in 1858 and becoming part of the highland railway in 1865. Spirit of speyside whisky festival 29 april 4 may 2020 tickets on. The kdra is a heritage railway run entirely by volunteers. Just after the trees a drainage ditch flows, in a culvert, below the line and then into the river isla. The earls of fife built the original castle around 1190, to guard the crossingpoint where the rivers bogie and deveron meet.
Travelling north from towiemore halt heading towards keith the train passes the site of the former towiemore distillery then a stand of trees. A trip on the last service dmu from keith town to dufftown on 26 september 2008, during the dufftown autumn whisky festival. Dufftown station opened in 1863, and it doesnt appear to have changed all. The former glory days of the railway can still be enjoyed on the authentic keith to dufftown line, run by a team of volunteers. Although there was a railway dufftown was on the line between craigellachie and keith, and indeed had access to speyside from craigellachie and to aberdeen and the south from keith. The company was formed in 1857, the line was opened in 1862, and it was absorbed by the great north of scotland railway in 1866. At keith town station, there is a booking office and a shop which sells railway memorabilia, books. Keith and dufftown railway will be back in the 1940s this weekend saturday 14 and sunday 15 june with special train trips between keith and dufftown, railway staff in 1940s costumes, and wartimethemed displays for visitors. The following year, the first electric locomotive made its.
The keith and dufftown railway the whisky line is a heritage railway in scotland, running for 11 miles 18 km from keith town railway station, keith to dufftown railway station, dufftown via drummuir. Dufftown highland games are held on the last saturday in july, a feature of which is the massed pipe bands. At the outbreak of the great war dufftown was a very busy, though small, place. Speyside cooperage keith and dufftown railway huntly castle balmenach distillery location cromdale, moray, the highlands. Return trip from dufftown to keith approx 1 hr 30mins 1hr 40 mins. Keith and dufftown railway permanent way handbook for. Dufftown to huntly huntly castle is a noble ruin, famous for both the quality of its architecture and for its eventful history. The keith and dufftown railway the whisky line is a heritage railway in scotland, running for 11 miles 18 km from keith town, keith ordnance survey grid reference to dufftown via drummuir and auchindachy originally the former great north of scotland railway keith and dufftown railway which was part of the link aberdeen with elgin with the strathspey railway and morayshire railway.
With over 10 miles of line your journey takes you from dufftown station, past the glenfiddich distillery and over the famous glenfidich viaduct. The railway only operates from easter to the end of september. Relive the days of the country branch line as you enjoy a round trip of 22 miles between the old market town. Overview using the valleys of the cromdale haughs as its water source, balmenach distillery then implements traditional methods to create whisky before it is matured in oak casks for many years until. The coach was repainted into br lined maroon and named spirit of dufftown soon after arriving. The keith and dufftown railway is an eleven mile line linking the worlds malt whisky capital, dufftown, to the market town of keith.
Steam weekend 150th anniverary on the keith to dufftowh railway. Drinking fountain, dufftown railway station, aberdeenshire. Due to reorganisation of local government in 1975, keith forfeited its coat. The keith and dufftown railway is run by volunteers. Last departure from duffown is 4pm, returning at 5. For the first time in its history, the railways began to make a profit. The railway provided a service between dufftown and keith. Enter the car park, pass to the right of the ticket office building there are public toilets here and turn left onto the platform. There is a whisky museum in fife street recalling illicit distilling and smuggling in auld lang syne days gone by.