Dunblane, Doune and Callander Railway
Encyclopedia
The Dunblane, Doune and Callander Railway had been incorporated in 1846, but the powers were initially unexercised. Ten years later construction commenced, with Callander
being reached in 1858. In 1865 the line was absorbed into Scottish Central Railway
and then into the Caledonian Railway
.
This was the only railway in Britain
to include all of the stations that it served in its title.
in 1870.
After the opening of the Callander and Oban Railway, a passing loop was constructed at Drumvaich, half way between Doune and Callander. Local passenger services ran between Callander and Stirling
/Glasgow
, though stations along the line were also served by Glasgow/Edinburgh
- Oban
trains.
The section between Dunblane
and Doune
was doubled in 1902 by the Caledonian Railway in anticipation of an increase in business. It remained double track until the 1950s. There had been plans to double the track as far as Callander, but by 1905 these plans had been dropped and the section between Doune and Callander remained single track until closure.
In 1923, the line became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
(LMS), becoming part of British Railways in 1948.
The line was finally closed as part of the Beeching Cuts
on 1 November 1965, and the track was lifted two years later. A short spur survived at the Dunblane end to serve Springbank Mill. This section closed along with the mill in 1971.
Another short section of trackbed to the south of Callander has also been converted into a walk/cycle path to connect up with the Rob Roy Way
.
The impressive station building at Doune
was demolished in 1968 (although the former station master's house survives) and the site is now occupied by housing, as is the site of the original station in Callander
. Callander engine shed, closed in 1924, was finally demolished in 1974. The former goods yard at Dunblane
is now occupied by a car park, a Tescos and some sheltered housing.
Many of the underbridges along the route have been removed and/or demolished. However, the stone bridge over the Keltie Water south of Callender still survives, as do some of the metal bridges south of Doune.
Callander
Callander is a burgh in the region of Stirling, Scotland, situated on the River Teith. The town is located in the former county of Perthshire and is a popular tourist stop to and from the Highlands....
being reached in 1858. In 1865 the line was absorbed into Scottish Central Railway
Scottish Central Railway
The Scottish Central Railway was formed in 1845 to link the Caledonian Railway near Castlecary to the Scottish Midland Junction Railway at Perth...
and then into the Caledonian Railway
Caledonian Railway
The Caledonian Railway was a major Scottish railway company. It was formed in the early 19th century and it was absorbed almost a century later into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, in the 1923 railway grouping, by means of the Railways Act 1921...
.
This was the only railway in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to include all of the stations that it served in its title.
History
The original terminus at Callander was converted into a goods station, complete with 50ft turntable, upon the opening of the larger Callander Dreadnaught station by the Callander and Oban RailwayCallander and Oban Railway
The Callander and Oban Railway company was formed in 1864 with the objective of linking Callander, Scotland to the west coast port of Oban over challenging terrain, particularly at Glen Ogle and the Pass of Brander at Loch Awe. Callander had been reached in 1858 by the Dunblane, Doune and Callander...
in 1870.
After the opening of the Callander and Oban Railway, a passing loop was constructed at Drumvaich, half way between Doune and Callander. Local passenger services ran between Callander and Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
/Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, though stations along the line were also served by Glasgow/Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
- Oban
Oban
Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
trains.
The section between Dunblane
Dunblane
Dunblane is a small cathedral city and former burgh north of Stirling in the Stirling council area of Scotland. The town is situated off the A9 road, on the way north to Perth. Its main landmark is Dunblane Cathedral and the Allan Water runs through the town centre, with the Cathedral and the High...
and Doune
Doune
Doune is a burgh in the district of Stirling, Scotland, on the River Teith. Doune's postal address places the town in Perthshire, although geographically it lies within the District of Stirling, and administratively Doune is under the control of Stirling Council...
was doubled in 1902 by the Caledonian Railway in anticipation of an increase in business. It remained double track until the 1950s. There had been plans to double the track as far as Callander, but by 1905 these plans had been dropped and the section between Doune and Callander remained single track until closure.
In 1923, the line became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
(LMS), becoming part of British Railways in 1948.
The line was finally closed as part of the Beeching Cuts
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
on 1 November 1965, and the track was lifted two years later. A short spur survived at the Dunblane end to serve Springbank Mill. This section closed along with the mill in 1971.
Current use
Part of the trackbed south of Doune has been converted into a walk/cyclepath, which has been surfaced with tarmac. There are plans to extend the cyclepath to the outskirts of Dunblane, but these plans have been put on hold while land ownership issues are resolved. About a mile west of Dunblane, the trackbed has been severed by the A9 Dunblane by-pass, while in Dunblane itself most of the line has been obliterated by new housing.Another short section of trackbed to the south of Callander has also been converted into a walk/cycle path to connect up with the Rob Roy Way
Rob Roy Way
The Rob Roy Way is a Scottish long distance footpath that runs from Drymen to Pitlochry. The path was created in 2002 and runs for . The route crosses the Highland Boundary Fault, a geological fault where the Highlands meet the Lowlands...
.
The impressive station building at Doune
Doune railway station
Doune was a railway station located in Doune, Stirling .The station was rebuilt in typical Caledonian Railway style in the early 1900s after the completion of the Callander and Oban Railway in 1880. It closed on 5 November 1965 and was demolished around 1968. The site was used by a timber merchant...
was demolished in 1968 (although the former station master's house survives) and the site is now occupied by housing, as is the site of the original station in Callander
Callander railway station
Callander was a railway station located in Callander, Stirling .- History :This station opened on 1 June 1870 along with the first section of the Callander and Oban Railway, between Callander and Glenoglehead...
. Callander engine shed, closed in 1924, was finally demolished in 1974. The former goods yard at Dunblane
Dunblane railway station
Dunblane railway station serves the town of Dunblane in central Scotland.- Facilities :It has three platforms, one which serves as a terminus for trains from Glasgow and Edinburgh, one which serves trains heading north to , , and Inverness...
is now occupied by a car park, a Tescos and some sheltered housing.
Many of the underbridges along the route have been removed and/or demolished. However, the stone bridge over the Keltie Water south of Callender still survives, as do some of the metal bridges south of Doune.
Connections to other lines
- Scottish Central RailwayScottish Central RailwayThe Scottish Central Railway was formed in 1845 to link the Caledonian Railway near Castlecary to the Scottish Midland Junction Railway at Perth...
at DunblaneDunblane railway stationDunblane railway station serves the town of Dunblane in central Scotland.- Facilities :It has three platforms, one which serves as a terminus for trains from Glasgow and Edinburgh, one which serves trains heading north to , , and Inverness... - Callander and Oban RailwayCallander and Oban RailwayThe Callander and Oban Railway company was formed in 1864 with the objective of linking Callander, Scotland to the west coast port of Oban over challenging terrain, particularly at Glen Ogle and the Pass of Brander at Loch Awe. Callander had been reached in 1858 by the Dunblane, Doune and Callander...
at Callander and Oban Junction