inspected the line, and approved it, while commenting that the curves and gradients required special care in operation; and that a quantity of second-hand rails should be changed without delay, as otherwise they "would set a precedent". Opening The line opened for traffic on 1 July 1863 between Dufftown and Abernethy (later Nethy Bridge), with stations at Aberlour, Carron, Blacksboat, Ballindalloch, Advie, Dalvey, Cromdale and Grantown. The passenger train service consisted of three trains each way daily, with an additional round trip on Saturday evenings. On the same day the Morayshire Railway opened its extension across the River Spey from Dandaleith to Strathspey Junction, renamed Craigellachie on 1 June 1864. The GNoSR was now physically linked to the Morayshire Railway, gaining an independent route to Elgin; it started to work the smaller company's traffic. After a delay, the line was extended to meet up with the Inverness and Perth Junction Railway at Boat of Garten on 1 August 1866. The two lines converged at Tullochgorum, about 3 miles north of Boat of Garten, but did not make a junction: the two single lines ran alongside one another as far as Boat of Garten, with the railway connection taking place at the southern end of Boat of Garten station. When this extension was being proposed, the GNoSR had reservations, fearing that traffic heading south would run by the Aviemore route rather than via Aberdeen. The line just about covered its operating costs, but there was almost no surplus to pay dividends or the interest on loans. Amalgamations On 1 February 1865, the Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway and the Inverness and Perth Junction Railway amalgamated. On 29 June 1865, the combined under­taking was authorised to be known as the Highland Railway; this took effect on 1 August 1886. Also on 1 August 1866 the Strathspey Railway and the Keith and Dufftown Railway were formally incorporated into the Great North of Scotland Railway. During World War I the timber resources sought by the GNoSR came to be exploited. The Great North laid down a timber siding near Knockando, and two more at Nethy Bridge, one of which had a narrow gauge railway connecting it with the surrounding woods. Passenger train services There appear to have been no regular through workings connecting the Strathspey line with the Perth, Dufftown or Elgin lines in either direction. According to Bradshaw's Guide of May 1864, there