Ballachulish
Ballachulish railway station in 1961
General information
LocationGlencoe, Highland
Scotland
Coordinates56°40′42″N 5°07′51″W / 56.6783°N 5.1308°W / 56.6783; -5.1308
Line(s)Ballachulish branch line
Platforms2
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyCallander and Oban Railway
Pre-groupingCallander and Oban Railway operated by Caledonian Railway
Post-groupingLMS
Key dates
24 August 1903Opened as Ballachulish[1]
July 1905Renamed as Ballachulish & Glencoe[1]
1908Renamed as Ballachulish (Glencoe) for Kinlochleven[1]
25 May 1953Closed[1]
24 August 1953Re-opened[1]
28 March 1966Closed[1]

Ballachulish was a railway station at Ballachulish on the southern shore of Loch Leven at East Laroch (south Ballachulish) in Highland. It was the terminus of the Ballachulish branch line that linked to the main line of the Callander and Oban Railway at Connel Ferry.

History

Train arriving in pouring rain at Ballachulish to form last train to Oban, 26 March 1966

This station opened as Ballachulish on 24 August 1903[1] with two platforms. There was a goods yard on the north side of the station. Within two years it was renamed as Ballachulish & Glencoe[1] and renamed again following the opening of the 'new' road between Glencoe Village and Kinlochleven in 1908 as Ballachulish (Glencoe) for Kinlochleven.[1] Apart for a short closure in 1953, this latter name remained until closure in 1966.[1] In the railway timetables the name was shortened to simply Ballachulish with a note stating "Ballachulish is the Station for Glencoe and Kinlochleven".[2]

The station was opened by the Callander and Oban Railway, which was absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway during the Grouping of 1923. The station then passed to the Scottish Region of British Railways on nationalisation in 1948, and was closed by the British Railways Board in 1966,[1] when the Ballachulish Branch closed.

In the early 1990s the station buildings were converted into a medical centre.

Houses have been built in the station yard. The engine shed remained, being used by a local garage until 2015, when it was demolished to make way for more private housing.

Stationmasters

  • James Skinner 1903 - 1914[3]
  • William Reid 1938 - 1941[4] (afterwards station master at Callander)
  • George Roger 1941[5] - 1943 (formerly station master at Burrelton)
  • Duncan Donald MacNaughton 1943 - 1947[6] (formerly station master at Errol, afterwards station master at Coupar Angus)
  • James Matthewson from 1959[7] (formerly station master at Kirriemuir)
Preceding station Historical railways Following station
Ballachulish Ferry
Line and station closed		   Callander and Oban Railway
Ballachulish Branch
Caledonian Railway
   Terminus

Signalling

Throughout its existence, the Ballachulish Branch was worked by the electric token system. Ballachulish signal box was located west of the platforms, on the north side of the railway. It had 21 levers.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Butt (1995), page 23
  2. ↑ Table 33, British Railways, Passenger Services Scotland summer 1962.
  3. ↑ "Oban L.M.S. Official". Aberdeen Press and Journal. Scotland. 8 April 1937. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ↑ "Railway Official Changes". Perthshire Advertiser. Scotland. 29 November 1941. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ↑ "New Post for County Stationmaster". Perthshire Advertiser. Scotland. 26 November 1941. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ↑ "Perthshire Stationmasters". Perthshire Advertiser. Scotland. 6 September 1947. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ↑ "Stationmasters's New Post". Kirriemuir Free Press and Angus Advertiser. Scotland. 3 December 1959. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.

Sources

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