Banff, Macduff and Turriff Junction Railway

Banff, Macduff
and Turriff Junction

Locale	Scotland
Dates of operation	1857 – 1966
Track gauge	4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in (1,435 mm)

Legend

Banff & Macduff

to Inverness

Inveramsay

to Aberdeen

The Banff, Macduff and Turriff Junction Railway connected the Aberdeenshire town of Turriff with the Great North of Scotland Railway's (GNSR) main line at Inveramsay. A separate company, the Banff, Macduff and Turriff Extension Railway, built extension to a station called Banff and Macduff. The junction railway, together with the junction station at Inveramsay, opened on 5 September 1857 and the extension opened on 4 June 1860.^[1] Both railways were absorbed by the Great North of Scotland Railway on 1 August 1866,^[2] and the line was extended ¹⁄₂-mile (0.80 km) to a new Macduff station in 1872.^[3]

Following the grouping in 1923, the line became part of London and North Eastern Railway and was nationalised, becoming part of British Railways. The Macduff branch closed to passengers on 1 October 1951, completely to the north of Turiff on 1 August 1961 and the remaining line on 3 January 1966.^[4]

Macduff Railway station photographed prior to WW2.

Gordon Highlander takes on coal in 1964.

Introduction

This line was built to connect the coastal towns of Banff and Macduff with Aberdeen on the east coast of Scotland. It ran for 29 miles across the open Aberdeenshire countryside. The railway was opened as far as Turriff in 1857, then on to Gellymill, just outside Macduff, in 1860. It was finally taken into the town of Macduff itself in 1872.^[5] The Banff, Macduff and Turriff Railway Company was absorbed into the Great North of Scotland Railway network in 1866. Following the grouping in 1923, it became part of LNER. On nationalisation, in 1947, LNER itself was taken over by British Railways.

Construction

While the line was being built the company board walked the line to meet the local population to assure them that the coming of the railway would bring great benefits to them. There was such a hurry to open the line, the board even considered running trains before the ballast had been laid. Fortunately this did not happen. The station at Macduff was above the town and, such was the gradient, it was not possible to continue the line down to the harbour nor build a bridge across the River Deveron to reach Banff. In spite of the fact that Banff and Macduff are only separated by the river, to travel between the two towns by rail was a distance of 75 miles. In 1910 this it would have taken 3¼ hours.^[6] A year following the opening of the line much of the fencing had rotted. A horse strayed onto the railway and a derailment occurred. The company were forced to renew the fencing at considerable cost.^[5]

Running

The early locomotives to work the line were Class 1 2-4-0s designed by D.K.Clark and built by William Fairbairn & Sons of Manchester. These were fitted with Clark's patent smoke preventing system. They had a series of holes in the sides of the firebox above the fuel, that allowed jets of steam to be projected. The steam circulated air in the firebox. This better combustion is also reported to have resulted in improved fuel economy. Later Class F 4-4-0s were used. One of these employed was the LNER Class D40 Gordon Highlander currently in preservation owned by Glasgow Museum of Transport and on display at the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, Bo'ness. Coaches used were of the 4 and 6 wheeled variety. Various types of trucks were used by the freight trains.

Using

This line was never particularly busy. The first timetable showed three passenger trains and a freight train each way daily. This was soon reduced to three mixed trains. Traffic continued to go down. The line suffered competition from the Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway. This route was quicker to the main Inverness to Aberdeen line.^[6] Traders in Banff could not be expected to transport their goods across the bridge over the river, then up the hill to the station, when there was a more convenient station in Banff. The company's directors were particularly incensed with the Post Office. Instead of the mails been carried at a fixed rate they sent the postman up the line with the mailbags, while only purchasing a ticket like an ordinary passenger.^[5]

Special rail excursion at Fyvie en route to Turriff in May 1965 just before the line was shut completely.

Closure

By 1951 the line had become totally uneconomic and British Railways, who now owned the line, closed it to passengers. Freight traffic continued till 1966. While several item of rolling stock have been preserved some of which are in the museum of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, many of them can be found on farms across the county.

References

↑ Vallance 1991, pp. 57–58.
↑ Vallance 1991, appendix 5.
↑ Vallance 1991, p. 59.
↑ Vallance 1991, Appendix 3.
1 2 3 Thomas, chapter 10
1 2 Thomas & Turnock, Page 178

Sources

Thomas, John (1976) Forgotten Railways Scotland Chapter 10 pages 171 - 177 David & Charles ISBN 0-7153-7185-1
Thomas, John & Turnock, David (1989) A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain. Volume 15 North of Scotland Chapter 5 pages 157 & 168 David & Charles ISBN 0-946537-03-8
Vallance, H. A. (27 June 1991). Great North of Scotland railway. The History of the Railways of the Scottish Highlands vol 3. David St John Thomas. ISBN 978-0-946537-60-0.

External links

Great North of Scotland Railway

Constituent railways	Aberdeen and Turriff (originally Banff, Macduff and Turriff Junction) Aboyne & Braemar Alford Valley Banff, Macduff and Turriff Extension Banffshire (originally Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla) Deeside Formartine and Buchan Inverury and Old Meldrum Junction Keith and Dufftown Morayshire Strathspey

Successor railway	London and North Eastern

Heritage railways	Alford Valley Keith and Dufftown Royal Deeside Strathspey

Rail trails	Deeside Way Formartine and Buchan Way

Aberdeen to Inverness Line List of Great North of Scotland Railway stations Locomotives of the Great North of Scotland Railway

Historical Scottish railway companies

Primary companies	Caledonian Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Great North of Scotland Railway Highland Railway North British Railway

Caledonian Railway	Aberdeen Railway Alloa Railway Alyth Arbroath and Forfar Busby Railway Cathcart District Clydesdale Junction Crieff Junction Crieff and Comrie Crieff and Methven Junction Dumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerbie Dunblane, Doune and Callander Dundee and Perth Dundee and Perth and Aberdeen Forfar and Brechin General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Garnkirk and Glasgow Glasgow Central Railway Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Greenock and Wemyss Bay Hamilton and Strathaven Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Leadhills and Wanlockhead Lesmahagow Railway Lochearnhead, St Fillans and Comrie Paisley and Barrhead District Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Polloc and Govan Rutherglen and Coatbridge Scottish Central Scottish Midland Junction Scottish North Eastern Solway Junction Symington, Biggar and Broughton Talla Railway Wishaw and Coltness Lines built by the Caledonian Railway Balerno line CR Cleland and Midcalder CR Main Line CR Douglas Branch CR Hamilton Branch CR Hamiltonhill Branch CR The Switchback Independent lines worked by the Caledonian Railway Callander and Oban Killin Railway

Glasgow and South Western Railway	Ardrossan Railway Ardrossan and Johnstone Ayr and Dalmellington Ayr and Maybole Junction Ayr to Mauchline Ayrshire and Wigtownshire Barrhead Branch Bridge of Weir Railway Cairn Valley Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Junction Castle Douglas and Dumfries Dalry and North Johnstone Darvel Branch Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Greenock and Ayrshire Kilmarnock and Troon Largs Branch Maidens and Dunure Maybole and Girvan Paisley and Renfrew Paisley Canal Line

Great North of Scotland Railway	Aberdeen and Turriff Aboyne and Braemar Alford Valley Banff, Macduff and Turriff Junction Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Boddam Branch Deeside Denburn Valley Formartine and Buchan Inverury and Old Meldrum Junction Keith and Dufftown Moray Coast Morayshire St Combs Light Railway Strathspey Railway

Highland Railway	Buckie and Portessie Branch Dingwall and Skye Duke of Sutherland Findhorn Railway Fortrose Branch Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Inverness and Aviemore Direct Inverness and Nairn Inverness and Perth Junction Inverness and Ross-shire Kyle of Lochalsh Extension Perth and Dunkeld Sutherland and Caithness Sutherland Railway Independent lines worked by the Highland Railway Dornoch Light Railway Wick and Lybster Light Railway

North British Railway	Aberlady, Gullane and North Berwick Anstruther and St Andrews Railway Ballochney Bathgate and Coatbridge Blane Valley Border Counties Railway Border Union Railway Campsie Branch Carlisle and Silloth Bay Railway and Dock Company Charlestown Railway and Harbour Company Coatbridge Branch Devon Valley Railway Dunfermline and Queensferry East of Fife Railway Edinburgh and Bathgate Edinburgh and Dalkeith Edinburgh and Glasgow Edinburgh and Hawick Edinburgh, Leith and Newhaven Railway Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway Edinburgh and Northern Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Esk Valley Eyemouth Railway Fife and Kinross Railway Forth and Clyde Junction Gifford and Garvald Glasgow, Bothwell, Hamilton and Coatbridge Glasgow City and District Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Glasgow and Milngavie Junction Glasgow, Yoker and Clydebank Kelvin Valley Railway Kincardine Line Kinross-shire Railway Kirkcaldy and District Railway Leadburn, Linton and Dolphinton Leven Railway Leven and East of Fife Railway Macmerry Branch Monkland and Kirkintilloch Monkland Railways Montrose and Bervie Mallaig Extension Newburgh and North Fife Railway (worked by NBR) Newport Railway North Berwick Branch North British, Arbroath and Montrose Peebles Railway The St. Andrews Railway Stirling and Dunfermline Strathendrick and Aberfoyle Slamannan Slamannan and Borrowstounness Wemyss and Buckhaven Railway West Highland Railway West of Fife Mineral Railway Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness

Joint lines	Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Junction City Union Dundee and Arbroath Darvel and Strathaven Glasgow and Paisley Joint Glasgow and Renfrew District Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Kilsyth and Bonnybridge Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint

Other lines	Brechin and Edzell District Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway Cromarty and Dingwall Light Railway Dundee and Arbroath Hagdale Chromate Railway Invergarry and Fort Augustus Lealt Valley Diatomite Railway Lochaber Narrow Gauge Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Rothesay and Ettrick Bay Light Railway Skye Marble Railway Tranent to Cockenzie Waggonway

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