Buckie and Portessie Branch
After 1919 consideration was given to reopening the entire line to all traffic, but this was never done, and only short lengths at each end operated to serve industrial premises.
A connection to Inverness was seen as an important objective, and the Great North of Scotland Railway (GNoSR) was formed in 1845 to build a line between those places.
Over time the network of routes in the area developed, and in particular, in 1863 the Inverness and Perth Junction Railway was opened, from Forres southwards.
The coastal region was the home to the herring fishing industry, but the absence of satisfactory harbour facilities and transport links limited it.
The establishment of the harbour encouraging the acquisition of larger fishing boats now that they did not have to be hauled up the foreshore; and trawling became the dominant method, bringing in a bigger catch than the former drifters.
[3]: 12–14 The Great North of Scotland Railway proposed a line running west along the coast from Portsoy, where it already had a branch terminus, to Portgordon.
The Highland proposed a line from Keith to Buckie and Portessie, extending eastward along the coast nearly to Cullen.
[3]: 15–17 The two companies' Bills went through, receiving the Royal Assent on 12 July 1882; it the Highland Buckie branch was to be 13 miles and 3 furlongs long.
[2]: 86, 87 The GNoSR route along the coast, authorised on the same day, was to be known as the Buckie Extension Railway; it would be over 25 miles in length, including a long viaduct over the River Spey.
[1]: 108 The Highland Railway's Act did not now extend east of Portessie, obtaining running powers over the (future) GNoSR line instead.
Some notion of making the most of the company's position at Keith presumably played a part, as well as a reluctance to see the Great North monopolise a rich fish trade.The line climbed from the level of the River Spey at Keith to an altitude of 670 feet, through rather undeveloped country, then descending again to sea level at Buckie.
Its premises were adjacent to Forgie Station; two extra sidings were laid down to accommodate the distillery traffic.
The Highland Railway decided to close the Buckie branch to release men and matériel, and this took effect on 7 August 1915.
However in 1917 the Government ordered distilleries to cease production, and the residual goods business on the line was virtually nothing.
[2]: 86, 87 At the cessation of hostilities, some reinstatement of track took place, and the line between Keith and Aultmore was back in operation at the end of 1919.
On 4 May 1926, railway workers participated in what became known as the General Strike, and the government encouraged the use of alternative forms of transport.
When the strike was over, the railway industry implemented deep economy measures, and the revival of the Keith to Portessie line was no longer possible.
[2]: 86, 87 During the first part of World War II, the Aultmore distillery continued to be served from the Keith end until 1943, when once again the Government required cessation of production.
