Craigellachie heritage project on track
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THE story of Craigellachie's railway heritage has been brought to life at the village's Fiddich Park.
A new interpretation panel has been erected along with a raft of other improvements by Craigellachie Village Council at the Fiddich Park as part of a railway heritage project, led by Jack Thornley, a local railway enthusiast.
Last year Craigellachie Village Council was awarded funding from Money for Moray.
With Mr Thornley’s enthusiasm and the funding, the village council was able to highlight Craigellachie's historical importance as a railway interchange.
The station opened in 1863 and provided a link between the Strathspey Railway and the Morayshire Railway, later the Great North of Scotland Railway. It closed to passengers in 1968.
The village council has erected an aluminium interpretation panel near the car park, along with indicator posts and signs showing locations of former sites within the railway yard, such as the station halt, signal box, turntable, water tower and station throat.
The old turntable has been made a focal point, with a picnic bench placed in the centre, to encourage visitors to stay longer and explore the park and its railway heritage.
Brenda Cooper, village council secretary, said: "Revealing the turntable brings the history of the park to life as the public can see the size the actual turntable used to be."
The project is one of many the village council has carried out for the benefit of the community. The group is responsible for the village hall, playing field, tennis courts and tennis pavilion. Members also recently worked with Craigellachie Primary School to plant daffodil bulbs and snowdrops in the Highlander Park.
Other activities over the past year included planting summer bedding, fundraising bingos, a popular whisky auction, and a soup and sweet lunch for over-60s villagers.
The village council will hold its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, November 21, and is on the lookout for more members. Anyone interested in helping out is encouraged to attend.
