Tyndrum Lower railway station
Encyclopedia
Tyndrum Lower railway station is one of two railway stations serving the small village of Tyndrum
in Scotland
. This station is on the Oban
branch of the West Highland Line
, originally part of the Callander and Oban Railway
. Most trains currently serving Fort William
and Oban split or join at Crianlarich
, with the result that separate trains both heading in the same direction generally call at Tyndrum's two stations at about the same time. Services are operated by First ScotRail
.
. This was the first railway station in the village of Tyndrum. Until 1877, it was the western extremity of the Callander and Oban Railway.
In 1877, the Callander and Oban Railway was extended from Tyndrum to Dalmally
. Concurrently, the station was relocated 275m west, onto the new through alignment. The new station was on a higher level, as the line had to climb steeply to reach the summit about 1 km to the west. The old terminus then became the goods yard. The through station was originally laid out with two platforms, one on either side of a passing loop
.
In 1894, the West Highland Railway
opened a second station in Tyndrum
, north of the village. In 1953, the suffixes "Upper" and "Lower" were added to the station names.
On 12 October 1969, the passing loop, goods yard and one of the platforms were taken out of use. The platform on the north side was retained, it being located on the same side of the railway as the village. The site of the goods yard is now used as a caravan park.
Signalling
The 1891-built signal box
was located off the east end of the Down platform. It had 20 levers. The signal box closed on 12 October 1969 when the crossing loop was removed.
In 1988, the station became a Token Exchange Point in connection with the new Radio Electronic Token Block
signalling system.
Tyndrum
Tyndrum is a small village in Scotland. Its Gaelic name translates as "the house on the ridge". It lies in Strathfillan, at the southern edge of Rannoch Moor.The village is notable mainly for being at an important crossroads of transport routes...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. This station is on the 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...
branch of the West Highland Line
West Highland Line
The West Highland Line is considered the most scenic railway line in Britain, linking the ports of Mallaig and Oban on the west coast of Scotland to Glasgow. The line was voted the top rail journey in the world by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust in 2009, ahead of the iconic...
, originally part of the Callander and Oban Railway
Callander 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...
. Most trains currently serving Fort William
Fort William, Scotland
Fort William is the second largest settlement in the highlands of Scotland and the largest town: only the city of Inverness is larger.Fort William is a major tourist centre with Glen Coe just to the south, Aonach Mòr to the north and Glenfinnan to the west, on the Road to the Isles...
and Oban split or join at Crianlarich
Crianlarich railway station
Crianlarich railway station is a railway station serving the village of Crianlarich in Scotland. It is located on the West Highland Line. The routes to Fort William/Mallaig and Oban diverge after this station...
, with the result that separate trains both heading in the same direction generally call at Tyndrum's two stations at about the same time. Services are operated by First ScotRail
First ScotRail
ScotRail Railways Ltd. is the FirstGroup-owned train operating company running domestic passenger trains within Scotland, northern England and the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper service to London using the brand ScotRail which is the property of the Scottish Government...
.
History
This station opened on 1 August 1873 as a terminal stationTerminal Station
Terminal Station is a 1953 film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of the love affair between an Italian man and an American woman. The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Production:...
. This was the first railway station in the village of Tyndrum. Until 1877, it was the western extremity of the Callander and Oban Railway.
In 1877, the Callander and Oban Railway was extended from Tyndrum to Dalmally
Dalmally
Dalmally is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is located near the A85 road and is served by Dalmally railway station....
. Concurrently, the station was relocated 275m west, onto the new through alignment. The new station was on a higher level, as the line had to climb steeply to reach the summit about 1 km to the west. The old terminus then became the goods yard. The through station was originally laid out with two platforms, one on either side of a passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
.
In 1894, 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 :...
opened a second station in Tyndrum
Upper Tyndrum railway station
Upper Tyndrum railway station is one of two railway stations serving the small village of Tyndrum in Scotland. It is located on the Fort William route of the highly scenic West Highland Line. Services are operated by First ScotRail...
, north of the village. In 1953, the suffixes "Upper" and "Lower" were added to the station names.
On 12 October 1969, the passing loop, goods yard and one of the platforms were taken out of use. The platform on the north side was retained, it being located on the same side of the railway as the village. The site of the goods yard is now used as a caravan park.
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...
The 1891-built signal boxSignal 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...
was located off the east end of the Down platform. It had 20 levers. The signal box closed on 12 October 1969 when the crossing loop was removed.
In 1988, the station became a Token Exchange Point in connection with the new Radio Electronic Token Block
Radio Electronic Token Block
Radio Electronic Token Block is a system of railway signalling used in the United Kingdom. It is a development of the physical token system for controlling traffic on single lines.- How it works :...
signalling system.