As a minor branch line inconveniently serving a modest town, its financial performance was poor.

[1] A line from Inverness along the coast and striking south from Nairn was proposed, but did not find favour in Parliament.

A Parliamentary Bill was passed, but there were serious difficulties in agreeing the terms for acquisition of necessary land from Sir William Drummond Stewart.

There were lengthy discussions among the titled and wealthy promoters as to the route to be adopted; in particular which side of the River Tay to follow.

[4][6] Construction began in July 1854; the engineer was John Stewart of Edinburgh and the contractors were William Leslie of Aberdeen "on behalf of" himself, J R Davidson and W Oughterson of London; their tender was £50,000.

[5][7] The construction was swiftly completed and Colonel Wynne of the Board of Trade carried out an inspection on 13 March 1856, and expressed himself satisfied.

[2] A private halt was constructed at Rohallion in 1859 for the benefit of the landowner, Sir William Drummond Stewart.

[note 2][9][5] Interests in Inverness continued to seek a direct railway to the south, and the obvious alignment would go through Perth.

There was to be a summit at Dava, 1,052 ft above sea level, and the route continued by way of Grantown-on-Spey and the west bank of the River Spey to Kingussie.