As the Scottish railway network developed, the
Scottish Central Railway (SCR) was authorised by the
Scottish Central Railway Act 1845 (
8 & 9 Vict. c. clxi) and opened its line from Castlecary, near Falkirk, to Perth in 1848. It was linked with the
Caledonian Railway, giving a continuous line of railway from Carlisle, Glasgow, and London. The
Scottish Midland Junction Railway (SMJR) was authorised by the
Scottish Midland Junction Railway Act 1845 (
8 & 9 Vict. c. clxx) at the same time as the SCR and opened its main line in 1848, between Perth and Forfar, connecting there with other lines to connect to Aberdeen. Towns that were not on the line of railway saw that they were at a disadvantage as the price of minerals brought in was high, and local manufacturers could not compete against connected towns' produce, because of the cost of transport to market. Local interests in Methven promoted a railway connection to the SMJR; the route would be easy, following the valley of the
River Almond and a parliamentary bill was submitted. The
Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Railway Act 1856 (
19 & 20 Vict. c. cxxxvi) obtained
royal assent on 29 July 1856, authorising the
Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Railway; authorised capital was £25,000 with borrowing powers of £8,000. The SMJR had amalgamated with the
Aberdeen Railway, forming the
Scottish North Eastern Railway (SNER) in 1856, and the SNER inherited the obligation undertaken by the SMJR to contribute £7,000 to the shareholding. The line opened on 1 January 1858. The railway was worked by the SNER, and it was taken over by the larger company on 1 January 1864. However, parliamentary authorisation of the acquisition was obtained in the
Scottish North Eastern and Perth Almond Valley and Methven Railways Act 1864 (
27 & 28 Vict. c. lxxxiii) the following June. The town of Methven declined considerably towards the end of the nineteenth century, and the Methven section beyond the junction for the Crieff line was eventually closed to passengers on 27 September 1937. The remaining section from Almond Valley Junction ran as a continuous route to Crieff until that too closed on 1 October 1951. Goods traffic continued to serve Methven until 25 January 1965, and the entire route closed on 11 September 1967. == Topography ==