Highland Railway

The Highland Railway was Scotland's most dramatically-placed railway, formed in 1865 from the merger of the Inverness and Perth Junction and Inverness and Aberdeen Junction companies to create a system stretching from Perth across the Grampians to Inverness and north to the extremities of the British mainland at Wick and Thurso — the most northerly railway termini in Britain. The Highland's routes crossed some of the most demanding terrain of any British railway: the Drumochter Pass at 1,484 ft above sea level, the highest point on any British main line, and the Slochd Summit at 1,315 ft imposed severe operational constraints that defined the railway's engineering and motive power throughout its existence.

The locomotive engineering at Lochgorm Works, Inverness produced one design of lasting historical significance: David Jones's Jones Goods class 4-6-0 of 1894, which was the first 4-6-0 locomotive in Britain — a wheel arrangement that would become the definitive British express and mixed-traffic type of the twentieth century in the hands of Churchward, Robinson, and Stanier. The preserved Jones Goods No. 103 is displayed at the Riverside Museum, Glasgow. The Highland's subsequent CMEs — Peter Drummond, F.G. Smith (whose River Class disaster left the railway without adequate motive power), and Christopher Cumming — worked within severe constraints of track weight, loading gauge, and limited capital.

At the 1923 Grouping the Highland became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, which rapidly improved the Highland route's track standards and introduced Stanier locomotives to routes that had previously been the exclusive preserve of Highland and LMS small-engine practice. The Strathspey Railway at Aviemore preserves a section of the former Highland main line through the Cairngorms National Park.

About

The Highland Railway was a Scottish pre-grouping railway company formed on 29 June 1865 by the amalgamation of the Inverness & Perth Junction and the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction railways. Its system covered the trunk routes north of Perth, the Highland Main Line via Aviemore, the Far North Line to Wick and Thurso, and the Kyle of Lochalsh branch, and represented the most northerly British railway empire.

The Highland's geography, single-track, lightly-laid, and with severe gradients over Drumochter and Slochd summits, gave it particular operating challenges. Locomotive engineering at Lochgorm Works, Inverness, was carried out under successive Locomotive Superintendents, William Stroudley (1865–1869), David Jones (1869–1896), Peter Drummond (1896–1911), F. G. Smith (1912–1915) and Christopher Cumming (1915–1922).

David Jones's Jones Goods Class of 1894 was the first 4-6-0 in Britain and decisively settled the case for the type as the British heavy goods and mixed-traffic standard. Cumming's Clan Goods 4-6-0 of 1917 and Clan Class passenger 4-6-0 of 1919 were the company's last express designs. The first Jones Goods, No. 103, is preserved at the Riverside Museum, Glasgow.

At Grouping on 1 January 1923 the Highland became part of the LMS. The LMS rapidly upgraded the Highland route's track standards and introduced larger Stanier engines that the Highland's permanent way had previously not allowed.

Locomotives owned

Highland Railway Barney Class — Jones's 1893 Highland Railway "Barney" class 0-6-0 — the HR's standard goods engine, named after Barnard Castle. 12 built; worked Highland goods traffic until grouping.
Highland Railway Baron Class — David Jones's 1874 Highland Railway 4-4-0 passenger class — the railway's first 4-4-0s, built at Lochgorm Works for HR Inverness–Perth expresses across the Drumochter and Slochd summits.
Highland Railway Bruce Class — Jones's 1884 Highland Railway 4-4-0 — successors of the Baron class and the Highland's principal express engines of the 1880s.
Highland Railway Castle Class — Peter Drummond's 1900 Highland Railway "Castle" class 4-6-0 — Drummond's large mixed-traffic 4-6-0 for Highland gradients, named after Scottish castles. 19 built between 1900 and 1917. None preserved.
Highland Railway Castle Goods Class — Variant of Highland Castle class used for goods work — see Castle class.
Highland Railway Clan Class — Christopher Cumming's 1919 Highland Railway "Clan" class 4-6-0 — Cumming's redesign after the River debacle. 8 built, named after Highland clans. Worked HR/LMS expresses to Inverness until withdrawn in the late 1940s. None preserved.
Highland Railway Clan Goods Class — Peter Drummond's 1917 Highland Railway "Clan Goods" 4-6-0 — heavy goods 4-6-0 named after Highland clans. None preserved.
Highland Railway Cluny Class — An 1865 Inverness & Perth Junction Railway / Highland Railway 2-4-0 passenger class, contractor-built for HR services on the Inverness–Perth main line.
Highland Railway Dalvey Class — An 1858 series of 2-2-2 inside-cylinder passenger engines built by Hawthorns of Leith for the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway (later absorbed into the Highland Railway). Worked Highland passenger services into the 1880s.
Highland Railway Jones — David Jones's 1894 Highland Railway "Jones Goods" class 4-6-0 — Britain's first 4-6-0 and the world's first 4-6-0 to enter regular service. 15 built at Sharp Stewart for HR mineral traffic over the steep Highland gradients. Worked the Highland's heaviest goods until 1934. The first engine of the class, HR No. 103, is preserved at the Riverside Museum, Glasgow in Highland yellow livery.
Highland Railway Loch Class — David Jones's 1896 Highland Railway "Loch" class 4-4-0 — the railway's standard express engine of the late 1890s, named after Highland lochs. 18 built; worked HR expresses for nearly 50 years.
Highland Railway Raigmore Class — An 1862 series of inside-cylinder 2-4-0 passenger engines built by Hawthorns of Leith for the Inverness & Aberdeen Junction Railway (later absorbed into the Highland Railway), the railway's standard mid-Victorian passenger type.
Highland Railway River Class — Frederick Smith's 1915 Highland Railway "River" class 4-6-0 — six locomotives ordered from Hawthorn Leslie. The HR Civil Engineer, Alexander Newlands, declared them too heavy for HR bridges before delivery; they were sold instead to the Caledonian Railway, where they ran successfully (proving the rejection an embarrassment). The episode caused Smith's resignation. None preserved.
Highland Railway Skye Bogie Class — David Jones's 1882 Highland Railway 4-4-0 — small but capable 4-4-0s designed for the Dingwall & Skye Railway between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh, with its severe gradients and tight curves. The class earned its nickname from the line it was built for. Worked the Skye line for over 50 years.
Highland Railway Small Ben Class — Peter Drummond's 1898 Highland Railway "Small Ben" class 4-4-0 — named after Highland mountains. The HR's principal express engine of the early 1900s; 20 built. None preserved.
Highland Railway Small Bens — Reference to Highland Railway Small Ben class — see that entry.
Highland Railway Strath Class — David Jones's 1889 Highland Railway 4-4-0 — successors of the Bruce class for Highland Railway expresses across the Drumochter and Slochd summits.
Highland Railway W Class — Peter Drummond's 1905 Highland Railway W class 0-4-4T suburban tank.

Founded	29 June 1865
Dissolved	1 January 1923
Country	Scotland
Headquarters	Inverness