Donation of Dunphail objects to The Falconer Museum, 15th May 2015

It is amazing to think that it is exactly fifty years since regular passenger trains ceased to operate over the Divie Viaduct on the original Highland main line to Inverness, or through Craigellachie to Keith on the one-time Speyside route towards Aberdeen.  At least it is still possible to walk over most of these former railways and appreciate what it must have been like when trains graced such a wonderful scenic environment.  We are unlikely to see such services again, but that doesn’t mean that we cannot savour the atmosphere of times long gone, or leave some kind of legacy for future generations.

The closed Grantown on Spey East station in June 1968 – G N Turnbull/GNSRA

Karen Blesington and partner Dave Garman (owners of the Revack Estate, near Grantown-on-Spey,) intend to do their part by investing £2 million of their own money to resurrect the currently decrepit Grantown-on-Spey East station on the former ‘Speyside Line’.  The intention is to rebuild this one-time station into its former Great North of Scotland origin, but showing the area in the state it was at the time of closure in 1965.   Once Cairngorm National Park approval has been obtained, work will start immediately to turn the surrounding area into an overall Highland heritage complex.

Meanwhile, they have been placing their support and encouragement to the preserved Strathspey Railway regarding that group’s “Rails to Grantown” project.  On hearing that specific items from the former Dunphail station were about to be sent for auction, Karen purchased them and in turn, donated them to the Falconer Museum in Forres, so ensuring that these artefacts remained in the area.

Liz Trevethick, (Moray Council Museums Service – right) is about to receive the former Dunphail station artifacts from (LtoR) Sandy Ross (Revack Estate Manager), Karen Blesington and Dave Garman (owners of the Revack Esate). Picture – Ian Lamb