Shandon railway station
Encyclopedia
Shandon is a closed railway station located at Shandon
on the east shore of Gare Loch
, in Argyll and Bute
. It is located towards the southern end of the West Highland Railway
.
The station was laid out with a crossing loop around an island platform
. There was a siding
with a loading bank on the east side of the station.
The station closed on 14 June 1964.
Signalling
From the time of its opening in 1894, the West Highland Railway was worked throughout by the electric token system
. Shandon signal box
, which had 15 levers, was situated at the south end of the island platform
.
The signal box and crossing loop were taken out of use on 2 April 1967. The single line
was subsequently realigned through the site of the island platform. As a result, very little trace can be seen of this station today, although the loading bank remains.
Shandon, Argyll and Bute
Shandon is a village 4 miles north-north west of Rhu on the Gare Loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.Formerly in the county of Dunbartonshire, it developed alongside other similar settlements in the area from a hamlet to a fashionable residential area for wealthy Glasgow merchants.West Shandon House,...
on the east shore of Gare Loch
Gare Loch
The Gare Loch or Gareloch is a sea loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.-Geography:A sea loch aligned north-south, Gare Loch is 10 kilometres long with an average width of 1.5 kilometres. At its southern end it opens into the Firth of Clyde through the Rhu narrows...
, in Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute is both one of 32 unitary council areas; and a Lieutenancy area in Scotland. The administrative centre for the council area is located in Lochgilphead.Argyll and Bute covers the second largest administrative area of any Scottish council...
. It is located towards the southern end of the West Highland Railway
West Highland Railway
The West Highland Railway was one of the last main lines to be built in Scotland. It is one of the most scenic railway lines in Britain, linking Fort William on the west coast to Glasgow. It was originally operated by the North British Railway.- History :...
.
History
This station opened to passengers on 7 August 1894.The station was laid out with a crossing loop around an island platform
Island platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
. There was a siding
Rail siding
A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line or branch line or spur. It may connect to through track or to other sidings at either end...
with a loading bank on the east side of the station.
The station closed on 14 June 1964.
SignallingRailway signallingRailway signalling is a system used to control railway traffic safely, essentially to prevent trains from colliding. Being guided by fixed rails, trains are uniquely susceptible to collision; furthermore, trains cannot stop quickly, and frequently operate at speeds that do not enable them to stop...
From the time of its opening in 1894, the West Highland Railway was worked throughout by the electric token systemToken (railway signalling)
In railway signalling, a token is a physical object which a locomotive driver is required to have or see before entering onto a particular section of single track. The token is clearly endorsed with the name of the section it belongs to...
. Shandon signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
, which had 15 levers, was situated at the south end of the island platform
Island platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
.
The signal box and crossing loop were taken out of use on 2 April 1967. The single line
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
was subsequently realigned through the site of the island platform. As a result, very little trace can be seen of this station today, although the loading bank remains.